Problem Children Cause Trouble

After several days of preparation, the midterm exams arrived right on schedule.

In Chiba Yu's view, as long as one had paid even a little attention in class, the exams were essentially effortless. More importantly, after Ayanokoji and Kushida retrieved the past years' exam papers, the entire class's scores had been raised to a terrifying level.

It could be said that this time, even Class B or Class A would likely pale in comparison to their class.

Therefore, the moment Chabashira Sae posted the class results on the blackboard, a massive cheer erupted throughout the room.

Just as the class was immersed in this wave of excitement, Karuizawa Kei turned her head to look at Chiba Yu, exclaiming in surprise:

"Eighty in every subject? Did you really control your scores again this time?!"

"I just feel that this score is safer than a sixty..."

Before he could finish, Chiba Yu noticed Karuizawa looking at him as if he were a monster, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Tell me, is it possible that you could actually score perfect marks across the board—that kind of ridiculous thing?"

"...If I said I couldn't, would you believe me?"

Karuizawa shook her head immediately. Chiba Yu shrugged in response, "See? Since you already think that way, my opinion doesn't seem to mean much."

"But that's different!"

"What's different about it? Come to think of it, why are you so concerned about my scores?"

"Uh... I was just asking because I had nothing better to do, is that not allowed?"

What a troublesome woman. He truly didn't know how Ayanokoji would eventually notice the potential in Karuizawa, but for now, Chiba Yu only found her to be a nuisance.

He couldn't even imagine how pitiful her future boyfriend would be if she ever started dating; he could only pray for that guy's future in advance.

"I get the feeling you're thinking about something very rude." Karuizawa frowned, sensing that someone was badmouthing her behind her back, and she strongly suspected it was the "annoying" guy in front of her.

"However!"

Bang! The sound of Chabashira Sae slapping the blackboard instantly drew the entire class's attention.

Following that, she used a red pen to draw a circle around Sudo's name. "You failed, Sudo. Therefore, according to the rules, you will be expelled."

Bang!

"Are you kidding me? Why did I fail?!" Sudo stood up in a panic, staring at Chabashira on the podium in disbelief.

Chabashira then explained that the passing grade for the midterm was 40, and Sudo had only scored 39. He was just one point short of passing, but due to school regulations, even if you were only one point short, you had to obediently accept the fate of expulsion.

Ah... even with the answers in hand, he still failed? Should I call him thick-headed, or just plain stupid?

Chiba Yu sat in his seat, thinking leisurely, without a shred of urgency or reluctance regarding his classmate's impending expulsion.

Under the gaze of the entire class, Chabashira instructed Sudo to come to her office later to handle the withdrawal paperwork before gathering her things and leaving the classroom.

Even though Hirata and Kushida stood up to plead with Chabashira and seek a remedy, it was to no avail, and they eventually had to sit back down in defeat.

After Chabashira left, the whole class fell into silence. Sudo stood at the classroom door, looking utterly devastated, as if he had lost his soul.

If he had known it would come to this, why act that way in the first place?

Watching this scene silently, Chiba Yu couldn't help but think to himself: he was the one who refused Horikita's tutoring, and now that he was facing expulsion, he started regretting his past actions. Humans really are such foolish creatures.

Only after truly experiencing it once can one truly understand how foolish their behavior was at the time—including his own.

"Does everyone think this is really okay? If things go on like this, Sudo-kun is really going to be expelled!"

The response she received was the cold, avoidant gazes of the class. Everyone felt that Sudo's expulsion was a foregone conclusion, and some even felt from the bottom of their hearts that his expulsion was a benefit that outweighed the costs for the class.

Therefore, at this moment, aside from Kushida and Hirata, almost no one stood up to speak for Sudo.

Just as Chiba Yu was coldly watching this farce, a sudden, ominous premonition washed over his entire body, causing him to instinctively look left and right.

Finally, his gaze landed on the person sitting diagonally to his left.

There, Hirata was looking at him with an almost pleading expression, his words and demeanor conveying one thing—was there any way to save Sudo?

"Sigh," Chiba Yu sighed, shaking his head to express his helplessness. He hoped Hirata would understand one thing: he was just an ordinary person, and he had neither the ability nor the necessity to do anything beyond his means for Sudo's sake.

Clack!

At this moment, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who sat two seats to Chiba Yu's left, stood up. Facing the gaze of everyone, he remained completely calm.

"I'm going to the restroom."

After dropping that line, Ayanokoji walked out of the classroom leisurely under the eyes of the entire class.

Immediately after, under the bizarre stares of everyone, Horikita Suzune followed him out.

"Could it be that there really is no way?" Hirata walked over to Chiba Yu, looking at him with a bitter smile, but Chiba Yu only gave him a cold glance and shook his head in response:

"Don't overestimate me, Hirata. In the end, we are just ordinary students; we have no way to defy the rules of the entire school."

For a moment, Hirata's face looked slightly dejected. Although he knew it was a pipe dream, he still didn't want to give up.

"I've never understood—this result is ultimately Sudo's own fault, isn't it?" As he said this, Chiba Yu glanced at Sudo, who was still standing there in despair, and continued mercilessly:

"If he had followed Horikita's advice to study, or even just memorized the answers Kushida provided before the exam, he wouldn't have ended up in this state."

Chiba Yu's words fell clearly into Sudo's ears, causing him to flare up with rage, his eyes glaring fiercely at Chiba Yu.

Ah... can't even handle a few words? No wonder Sudo was always seen as a troublemaker by everyone until the sports festival, and was even used as a pawn by Ryuen multiple times. It's not without reason.

"What do you mean by that, you bastard!"

"Sudo!"

"Sudo, please calm down. I don't think Chiba meant it that way; he was just..."

Seeing that the situation was taking a turn for the worse, Kushida and Hirata immediately tried to de-escalate Sudo's temper, but Chiba Yu acted as if he hadn't seen them at all and continued, "Am I wrong? You refuse to follow orders, you act on your own whims, and even at the very last moment, you're still trying to cause trouble for the class. Honestly, right until the end, you've been nothing but a clown, Sudo."