Serve me like a king

May began uneventfully, with no deposit of 100,000 points, only the brutal truth of reality and the pressure of the looming midterms. Their once-wonderful school life now bared its hidden fangs. Most of the people in Class D had no value.

After announcing all the bombshells, including the class having zero points and the midterms being tied to points, Chabashira Sae stepped aside from the podium. She walked back to the side of the platform with an indifferent expression, leaving the students to conduct the rest of the class meeting themselves.

But the atmosphere in the classroom was tense and restless. Almost everyone was on edge over being defective products, Class D sitting at the bottom with zero points, and the upcoming midterms. Kazami could say for certain that Ayanokoji and Koenji were not worried in the slightest. One was expressionless and showed no reaction whatsoever, while the other was still admiring himself in a mirror.

Kazami really could not understand Koenji. Even if his own current behavior was also incomprehensible, that did not stop him from finding Koenji incomprehensible. He could only chalk it up to the blond boy being a free spirit. He had originally thought his behavior would make him an oddball in everyone's eyes throughout his time at school. He had to say, it was all thanks to the competition making him look good by comparison.

After Chabashira-sensei left, the class's resident nice guy, Yosuke Hirata, took the initiative to walk up to the podium and take charge. As the class's acknowledged most dependable and popular leader, he now shouldered the heavy responsibility of steadying everyone's nerves. He raised a hand to quiet the scattered murmurs, his tone serious. "Everyone should understand our current situation. Class D's points have dropped to zero, putting us in the most dangerous position. The upcoming midterms are very important. They'll also determine whether our Class Points rise or fall, affecting everyone's circumstances at school. So I'd like to hear everyone's opinions. What should we do going forward, and how should we handle the upcoming midterms?"

A brief silence fell over the classroom. Everyone exchanged glances, some anxious, others at a loss. For a moment, no one volunteered to speak. Just as the whole class reached an impasse, Kazami rose from his seat, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

Everyone's eyes turned toward him. Delighted to see someone step forward, Hirata asked gently, "What is it, Kazami? Is there something you'd like to say? Do you have an idea for preparing for the exams, or some other plan?"

Under everyone's curious gazes, Kazami walked up to the podium, stood in the center of the platform, and swept his eyes over the class before declaring firmly, "The first thing I want to say is that what our class lacks most right now isn't a plan for what to do next, or a way to prepare for the exams. It's unified command-a central leader. First, we need to choose a boss for the class. I imagine the other three classes already have one. After all, a good organization needs a leader first."

Teruhiko Yukimura adjusted his glasses and agreed. "That's true. Then who would be the best choice for leader?"

Hirata, Kushida, and the others also strongly agreed.

Just as everyone was considering the question, Kazami cleared his throat twice at the podium. "Ahem. Then I'll come right out and say it. I nominate myself."

The boy puffed out his chest and lifted his chin, looking full of confidence. "Starting today, I'll lead all of Class D. I'll coordinate everything, from the upcoming exams to class affairs. All you have to do from now on is serve me like a king. Hahahahaha!!!"

Kazami's self-nomination... well, unsurprisingly, the whole class unanimously rejected it. No vote, no hesitation. Everyone turned him down at the speed of light.

Kazami was deeply indignant. "You guys are going way too far."

Sitting in her seat, Horikita pressed a hand to her forehead, utterly speechless, her gaze impossibly complicated. I was such an idiot for actually thinking Kazami might finally be dependable for once. He's completely driven by selfish interests. He actually took the opportunity to get up there and dream about being king of the class. Only he could pull something like this.

Hasebe covered her face outright, so embarrassed her toes curled, and grumbled inwardly. I really don't want to admit this guy spouting all that nonsense is one of my few friends. This is so humiliating.

Sakura, on the other hand, gazed at Kazami on the platform with sparkling eyes, her face full of admiration. When everyone else was shrinking back, afraid to step forward, only Kazami dared to stand up. Even if what he said was funny, being brave enough to speak boldly in front of the whole class and take the initiative to fight for something is seriously amazing.

Kei Karuizawa frowned and objected without hesitation. "No way! Even if we're choosing a leader, we definitely aren't choosing you. If we're picking anyone, it's Hirata."

Satsuki Shinohara nodded in agreement, her face full of distaste. "Exactly! Who wants to serve you like a king? You started throwing your weight around right away, wanting to be the boss. You had bad intentions from the start. You aren't sincerely trying to help the class at all!"

Kanji Ike raised both hands and joined the clamor. "I vote for Kushida! Kikyo's the sweetest. She's the best choice for boss!"

Haruki Yamauchi did the same. "That's right, that's right! Kikyo's unbeatable. You can't go wrong picking her!"

Kazami was speechless. Are you people choosing a leader? Every last one of you is just thinking with your hormones.

Standing at the podium, Kazami watched the entire class turn against him and collectively undermine him. What a bunch of bastards. Still, I'm collecting plenty of Emotion Points.

Although he had failed to become the class boss and had instead been rejected with disdain by everyone, he had harvested a huge wave of Emotion Points this time. It was pure profit!

After a brief moment of heartache, Kazami quickly adjusted his attitude. He waved for everyone to quiet down and continued trying to persuade them. "Don't reject me so quickly! Don't be so quick to dismiss me, everyone! I'm not just trying to become the boss so I can throw my weight around. I really do have a plan to save our Class Points! Can you hear my proposal out before deciding whether to reject me?"

Seeing his earnest expression, everyone who had been about to put an immediate end to the subject paused.

Yosuke Hirata also took the initiative to speak up for him. "Everyone, please settle down. There's no harm in hearing Kazami's idea first. We don't have any ideas ourselves right now, so one more plan means one more bit of hope."

Kikyo Kushida also took the opportunity to smooth things over and ease the atmosphere. "That's right. Don't be so quick to dismiss him, everyone. Maybe Kazami really does have a great plan for preparing for the exams! Let's hear him out properly before discussing it."

With the two most popular people in the class backing him up and persuading everyone, the restless classroom finally quieted down. Everyone looked at Kazami Saku at the podium as though watching a show.

Seeing this, Kazami nodded inwardly. Good thing Hirata and Kushida are reasonable enough to give me a chance to show what I can do. Otherwise, I'd have been chased off before I even got to explain my plan today.

He spoke seriously. "First, I admit I was partly joking when I said I wanted to be king of the class. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with what I said about choosing a central leader. The biggest reason Class D has stayed at the bottom is that everyone is pulling in different directions. We're not working in sync at all."