The Whole Class Fell Apart and Shifted Blame? Clearing Up the Joke Face-to-Face

"How could this happen? We don't have a single point left?"

Yamauchi Haruki clutched his head and slumped over his desk, staring blankly at the ceiling.

"I spent almost all my remaining points yesterday. I can't even afford dinner tonight. Is the school trying to starve us to death?"

"You've got to be kidding me."

Ike Kanji slammed his fist on the desk and complained loudly.

"Nobody told us about this rule when school started. How is that fair? It's not fair at all."

"Exactly. Who would've acted like that if we'd known the rules?"

"We're all responsible for losing a thousand points, aren't we?"

"It's your fault, Yamauchi. You sleep through class every day."

Voices rose one after another, each student shifting blame and accusing someone else. The atmosphere in Class 1-D grew stifling.

The loss of all their points shattered the false harmony they had maintained for a month.

Just as the conflict threatened to escalate into a physical fight, a gentle yet firm voice rang out from the front of the classroom.

"Everyone, please calm down."

Hirata Yousuke stepped up to the podium, his expression earnest and anxious.

"I know everyone's panicking and that this is hard to accept. But blaming each other won't solve anything."

Hirata's words quieted the classroom somewhat, though many still looked at him with irritation and doubt.

Hirata Yousuke surveyed the class, took a deep breath, and continued gravely.

"You all heard what Chabashira-sensei said. Besides explaining why our points fell to zero, she gave us even more important information."

"The passing mark for the midterm is half the class average."

"Even by the most generous count, we have less than three weeks until the exam."

Hirata Yousuke urged them sincerely.

"We can't change the past, but we can change the future."

"If we give up now, or keep fighting among ourselves, someone really will be forced to leave this school after the midterm."

"We're classmates. What we need most right now is to pull together and use every minute we have to study."

"Easy for you to say, Hirata."

A boy cut him off irritably.

"Without points, we can't even eat properly. How are we supposed to focus on studying? And half the class average? How can the people who never study possibly pass in three weeks?"

"The school cafeteria offers a free fruit-and-vegetable meal, so everyone can at least get enough to eat."

Hirata explained patiently.

"As for studying, students with better grades can help those who are struggling. If we work together, we can get through this."

Hirata Yousuke did everything he could to rebuild the class's unity, but the blow was simply too heavy.

Most of the students were still reeling from the loss of their points and terrified of what lay ahead.

Tatsuya Sakuya watched the scene unfold with a calm expression.

Hirata Yousuke was excellent at smoothing things over, but gentle words and moral appeals alone could never establish real order in such a short time.

To take the lead, someone had to offer something concrete.

Tatsuya Sakuya stood and quietly left through the back door.

Tatsuya Sakuya walked down the central corridor of the school building to the bulletin board in the main hall on the ground floor.

Only a few students stood before it, looking at the newly posted Class Points for the first-year classes.

Tatsuya Sakuya studied the figures.

First-year Class Points for May:

Class 1-A: 990 Class Points

Class 1-B: 800 Class Points

Class 1-C: 700 Class Points

Class 1-D: 0 Class Points

Class 1-A had lost very few points, displaying the self-discipline and keen awareness expected of top students.

Class 1-B had suffered some losses but retained most of its points.

Class 1-C was clearly in the stage where Ryuen Kakeru was testing the limits of his control.

And Class 1-D had played its part perfectly as a gathering place for rejects.

"This school's rules really are harsh."

A clear, gentle voice came from beside Tatsuya Sakuya, accompanied by the faint scent of citrus.

Ichinose Honami.

She was looking at the figures on the bulletin board, unable to hide the sympathy and concern on her face.

"Ichinose."

Tatsuya Sakuya greeted her politely.

Ichinose turned toward him, seeming unsure what to say. Then she gave him a warm, reassuring smile.

"I heard what happened to your class, Tatsuya. Everyone must be feeling awful."

"They are. The class is in chaos right now."

Tatsuya Sakuya smiled frankly, with little trace of dejection in his voice.

"Try not to lose heart."

Ichinose offered her encouragement sincerely.

"Class 1-D's Class Points may have fallen to zero this month, but you can still earn more by doing well on the upcoming exam."

"And if you're having trouble making ends meet, please tell me anytime. I'll help however I can."

Tatsuya Sakuya looked at the central figure of Class 1-B, who always treated others with kindness, and smiled.

"Thank you for the offer, Ichinose, but I can manage for now. As for Class 1-B, your leadership really does live up to its reputation."

"I'm not that impressive..."

Ichinose answered, a little embarrassed.

"Our class didn't realize something was wrong until about two weeks after school started. If I'd noticed sooner, maybe we could've saved more points."

They chatted idly, and the tension around them gradually eased.

Ichinose Honami seemed to remember something.

She cleared her throat awkwardly and looked at Tatsuya Sakuya with a hint of shyness.

"Um... Tatsuya."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"It's... about what happened in the teachers' office."

Ichinose waved her hands in a fluster, her words coming faster.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei is always so casual. She loves making jokes without thinking about how they sound... Please don't take what she said that day about 'dating' seriously."

Ichinose Honami still felt embarrassed whenever she remembered Hoshinomiya Chie teasing her right there at the office door.

She had been so flustered that she'd run all the way back to the classroom, and she hadn't found a chance to explain herself to Tatsuya Sakuya in person until now.

"You're saying I absolutely should take it seriously?"

Tatsuya Sakuya stroked his chin as though deep in thought, then joked:

"Hoshinomiya-sensei's suggestion was pretty creative. But since you've gone out of your way to clear it up, I'll take it as a friendly joke."

"Honestly... Please don't tease me too, Tatsuya."

A blush spread across Ichinose Honami's face.

But seeing how at ease Tatsuya Sakuya was, she finally felt the weight lift from her shoulders.

"Whew... I'm glad I could clear that up."

Ichinose breathed a sigh of relief, then returned to her usual sunny smile.

"Well then, let's both do our best on the midterm. Our classes may be competing, but I don't want to see you expelled, Tatsuya."

"Thanks. I'm looking forward to seeing how Class 1-B does, too."