How Am I, the Unremarkable Me, Still Forced to Step Forward!

"Clack!"

Chabashira Sae unrolled the scroll she had just brought in and plastered it onto the classroom blackboard.

"That's right, this is the S-System. It evaluates students in real-time and calculates numerical values. Look here: multiply each class's points by one hundred, and that is the amount of private points you receive this month. As for Class D, you have perfectly proven that you are the most inferior of defective goods—in other words, trash!"

"How could this be..."

"You've got to be kidding me, what is this..."

The students in the class voiced their disbelief one after another, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and confusion.

Clap, clap, clap!

Chabashira Sae clapped her hands, a look of undisguised contempt on her face. "Though, I must say, I'm actually impressed. You managed to burn through all your points in a single month. That's a first for any Class D in history; I can't help but look at you with a new level of disdain."

After explaining the various rules and functions of class points, and noting that only those who graduate from Class A can enjoy the benefits of job placement, Chabashira Sae immediately pinned a sheet of white paper to the board and gestured for everyone to look.

"These are your test results from this time. I can only say that you truly live up to your reputation—almost every score is garbage."

Chabashira Sae's icy gaze swept over everyone below. "From next time on, anyone who fails the midterm or final exams will be expelled."

"Expelled?! On what grounds? We never heard anything about that!"

"That is simply how it is. If you don't believe me, feel free to test it during the next exam." After delivering this heartless response to a student's heated outburst, Chabashira Sae began packing her things and walked out of the classroom without looking back.

A heavy, suffocating atmosphere permeated the room, as if an invisible mountain were pressing down on everyone's chests. Each student sat silently in their seat; no one spoke.

Just as everyone in the class remained silent, Hirata stood up directly from his seat and began walking through the room.

As Chiba Yu wondered what he was doing, the next second, Hirata's actions gave Chiba Yu a sense of foreboding.

No way, don't! Just as Chiba Yu was internally lamenting his dissatisfaction, Hirata walked straight toward him.

It's over, was Chiba Yu's first thought.

"I am very sorry, Chiba. Even though you warned me back then, I didn't take it seriously, which led to this situation. I am truly sorry."

Hirata's action immediately drew the attention of the entire class; some even stared at them, dumbfounded.

Yet, at this moment, everyone was filled with one question: what exactly was going on, and why would Hirata say such a thing?

Being watched by the whole class didn't feel good. To escape this atmosphere as soon as possible, Chiba Yu had to bite the bullet and respond: "It's not your fault, Hirata. I said at the time that it was just my guess; who knew it would actually turn out to be true."

"No, it is my fault. I knew there were potential risks, but I didn't take them seriously and let the students act as they pleased. This is a dereliction of my duty as class representative!"

Hirata lowered his head again, taking all the blame upon himself. Seeing this, Chiba Yu knew that Hirata had hit a dead end; he wouldn't listen to ordinary comfort right now.

Chiba Yu sighed and shook his head helplessly. The next second, his gaze turned sharp, staring straight at him.

"Yes, you're right—this is all your fault!"

At that moment, Hirata's already self-reproachful heart felt even more bitter, and his lowered head seemed to sink even lower.

"Hey! How can you say that? Hirata, he..." Karuizawa Kei, sitting in front of Chiba Yu, heard this and was about to stand up to defend Hirata, but she was met with a glance from Chiba Yu's deep, icy eyes, and she stammered into silence.

At this moment, the entire class was focused on this scene, which felt like a farce. To them, Chiba Yu, who had always been a background character, seemed like a different person—a stranger.

"Hirata, since the matter has already happened, we cannot dwell on the past. We must set our sights on the long-term future. Didn't Chabashira-sensei just say that class points are not set in stone? The turning point is the next midterm exam."

"What you need to do now is not sit here dejected, but think about how to lead the class through this crisis. Besides, look closely—the students are all waiting for you. Or are you saying that after just one failure, you've lost your confidence?"

Hirata looked up and saw the students in the class looking at him with concern.

"That's right, Hirata-kun. This was just a small failure; we'll just win it back next time!"

"Exactly, we can definitely do it!"

"Everyone..." Hirata murmured, the light in his eyes beginning to flicker once more.

"I understand!" Hirata took a deep breath, regained his confidence, and smiled at Chiba Yu. "Thank you, Chiba. I was overthinking things."

Only then did Chiba Yu's tense face finally relax, returning to the harmless appearance he had worn at the start.

"It's nothing. As long as you've recovered, that's what matters. Now, how about we go to swimming class to clear our heads?"

But for some reason, as he watched Hirata smile at him, Chiba Yu felt that something was not quite right.

"These people really have thick skin. It's as if what just happened didn't matter at all."

In swimming class, the very people who had been wallowing in regret were now playing together carefree, as if the recent events were not an issue.

"Perhaps they are just trying to relieve their worries?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune sat to the side, not joining in the revelry, like two lone wolves quietly staying in their own territory.

"Tell me, did he really know about this beforehand?" Changing the subject, Horikita began to steer the conversation in a different direction.

"Who are you talking about?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked, whether feigning ignorance or genuinely not catching on.

Seeing this, Horikita Suzune glared at him. "Aren't you close with him? I see you two walking to and from school together all the time."

"No, that really is just a coincidence." Recalling the probability of bumping into Chiba Yu every time he stepped out, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka still bit the bullet and insisted.

"So, he really did know about this all along, right?"

The same question came again, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't know how to answer.

"I told you, it was just a coincidence."

A familiar voice reached the ears of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune. Turning their heads, they saw the very person they were discussing walking toward them, and he sat down skillfully in the seat to Horikita Suzune's right...