"Thank you so much for your help!"
Ichinose Honami bowed deeply to the other party.
"But have you really thought this through? Are you sure you want to go through with this trade?"
Ibuki Mio narrowed her eyes as she looked at Ichinose Honami.
She hadn't expected the other party to go to such lengths to ensure no one in her class would be expelled.
Twenty million points to save one student—this price was far too high.
"Yes, I've made up my mind."
"Didn't you do something similar for Ryuen Kakeru?"
"You and I are different... Besides, someone in our class will have to take the fall for Ryuen, and that someone might very well be me."
Ibuki Mio spoke slowly.
If Ryuen Kakeru were to be expelled, the next person to face the same fate would be either Ibuki Mio or Ishizaki Daichi.
"Even so, you'd still save Ryuen, wouldn't you?"
"I just... don't like the idea of owing him a strange favor."
Ibuki Mio quickly swiped her fingers across the screen, transferring the points to Ichinose Honami.
"Confirm it."
"Okay."
Ichinose Honami nodded seriously.
"Thank you so much."
[This way, we can avoid anyone in our class being expelled!]
Ichinose Honami thought to herself, then turned to look at Saiki as if she had just remembered something.
[Could it be... that Saiki-kun arranged for us to meet on purpose?]
'This is really just a coincidence... I only just thought of this method...'
Saiki thought to himself.
"In that case, this matter is settled. It seems both of our class issues have been perfectly resolved."
Shiina Hiyori smiled and turned her gaze to Saiki.
"We've troubled you tonight, Saiki-kun."
"Not at all. I didn't really do much to help."
Saiki replied.
[This must have been arranged by Saiki-kun.]
Shiina Hiyori smiled and nodded.
"Then we'll take our leave now."
"Okay."
With that, Ichinose Honami and the other two left Saiki's room, finally bringing this troublesome day to an end.
'Yare yare, can I finally get some rest now?'
Saiki let out a long sigh.
"I didn't expect to run into Ichinose."
On the way back to the dorm, Ibuki Mio said, holding her head. The events of the day had gone surprisingly smoothly—almost too smoothly.
"It seems we got really lucky."
"It's not luck."
Shiina Hiyori, who was walking beside her, smiled.
"Not luck?"
Ibuki Mio looked puzzled.
"That's right. We needed to find a way to save Ryuen-kun, and Class C just happened to need points. Do you really think such a coincidence exists in this world?"
"You're right... It does feel too coincidental..."
Hearing Shiina Hiyori's words, Ibuki Mio fell into deep thought, feeling that her words made a lot of sense.
"So, I think Saiki-kun might have anticipated this situation. He might have even guessed that we'd come to him today and arranged for us to meet Ichinose."
"Was this all arranged by that guy Saiki?"
Ibuki Mio pursed her lips. At first, she wouldn't have believed such a thing, but upon further reflection, if it were Saiki, it was indeed possible.
In Ibuki Mio's mind, Saiki was an enigmatic figure. It was entirely possible that everything was part of his calculations.
As she thought this, Ibuki Mio grew even more wary of Saiki.
[There's actually such a monster in Class B...]
"Also, there's one more thing we need to do."
"What?"
"If we're going to protect Ryuen-kun, then someone else will have to be sacrificed. We need to decide who that person will be."
Shiina Hiyori's expression grew serious as she spoke.
"Sacrificing someone..."
Ibuki Mio looked at Shiina Hiyori, narrowing her eyes slightly. She felt that the Shiina Hiyori before her now seemed somewhat unfamiliar.
In her understanding, Shiina Hiyori was an absolute pacifist who stayed out of any class conflicts.
But now, Shiina Hiyori was talking about sacrificing someone.
"I didn't expect... to hear such words from you, Shiina. I always thought you were someone who disliked conflict."
Ibuki Mio said hesitantly.
"That's true. I don't want to see anyone leave the class... But everything I do is based on my position as a Class D student. For the sake of the other students in Class D being able to move forward in the future, I have to make a choice."
Shiina Hiyori spoke slowly.
"Ibuki, do you have anyone in mind?"
"Well..."
Ibuki Mio thought for a moment, recalling her tense confrontation with Manabe Shiho earlier that day. Manabe Shiho had already positioned herself as Ryuen Kakeru's opponent.
Whether it was personal dislike or for the sake of the class's future, Manabe Shiho was the best candidate.
"Let's go with Manabe."
"Manabe, huh?"
Shiina Hiyori nodded, not surprised by Ibuki Mio's choice.
"I'll handle the rest."
"You... what are you planning to do?"
"Although I'm not good at handling interpersonal relationships, thanks to these past exams, I've made a few friends in class. If I talk to them, I should be able to influence the class vote a bit."
"Okay..."
Ibuki Mio nodded, looking at Shiina Hiyori.
She could feel that Shiina Hiyori had changed significantly since the first time they met.
[Did Saiki have some kind of influence on her?]
Ibuki Mio wondered.
As time passed, although the exam results wouldn't be announced until Saturday, the students to be expelled from each class had already been decided.
In Class A, the person to be expelled was Totsuka Yahiko, though the person in question had no idea. Totsuka Yahiko thought Katsuragi Kohei would be the one expelled and never imagined he was the target.
For Sakayanagi Arisu, Katsuragi Kohei could still be useful to Class A, and he posed no threat to her. Expelling Totsuka Yahiko would serve as a warning to others.
This way, Katsuragi Kohei would have no choice but to obey Sakayanagi Arisu and become her tool.
Class C had already decided to focus their criticism votes on Kanzaki Ryuji and then use points to save him.
In Class D, Manabe Shiho thought she had successfully orchestrated Ryuen Kakeru's expulsion, completely unaware of Ibuki Mio's behind-the-scenes maneuvers. Instead, she had become the most at-risk person.
As for Class B... Yamauchi Haruki was still making his last stand.
He continued to urge others to vote for Saiki every day, but of course, no one listened to him. Instead, it only deepened the class's dislike for him.
Hirata Yosuke noticed this. He didn't want the class to descend into internal conflict, and an idea formed in his mind.
[If that's the case, even if it means sacrificing myself, I can't let anyone in the class be expelled!]
On Friday, the day before the exam, Hirata Yosuke made up his mind. During the final class vote, he would deliberately self-destruct and draw all the votes to himself.
His past experiences had given him a pathological need to protect others.
However, Hirata Yosuke's plan was seen through by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
[Hirata Yosuke will probably try to sacrifice himself by deliberately tarnishing his own reputation. But for our class, Hirata's value is greater than Yamauchi's. Although Saiki definitely won't be expelled, to prevent any accidents, we need to ensure Yamauchi's expulsion goes smoothly.]
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka also took action.
Finally, Saturday arrived—the day of the exam.
The entire class gathered in the classroom. The voting hadn't officially started yet, but Hirata Yosuke stepped up to the podium.
"Everyone, I hope you'll listen to me. On Tuesday, I heard what Horikita-san said, as well as everyone else's opinions. I've come to a conclusion in my own way. The focus of this exam... is who to cast the criticism votes on, right?"
Hirata Yosuke spoke slowly, his eyes filled with determination.
"First, I want to apologize for saying I'd cast a criticism vote for Horikita-san."
"You don't need to apologize. What are you planning to do?"
Horikita Suzune frowned.
"You're an essential student for the class. That's just my judgment."
"If that's the case, have you figured out who you think is unnecessary?"
"Yes, I have—I love this class. I believe everyone is essential. No matter what anyone says, that conclusion won't change. But I also know that won't solve the problem."
Hirata Yosuke took a deep breath, then continued.
"I want everyone... to write my name on the criticism votes."
As soon as he said this, the entire class erupted.
"There's no way we're letting Hirata be expelled!"
"You're the most important person in this class!"
"Absolutely not!"
Amid the chorus of objections, only one person voiced agreement.
"For Hirata's sake, I'll do it!"
Yamauchi Haruki.
The day before, he had practically begged Hirata Yosuke with tears in his eyes to find a way to prevent his own expulsion.
However, Yamauchi Haruki felt no gratitude now. Instead, he hoped Hirata Yosuke would leave the class as soon as possible to ensure his own safety.
'Yare yare, Hirata's really going this far, huh?'
Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly.
Hirata Yosuke was very important to the class, and he had always been kind to Saiki. If necessary, Saiki would take some measures.
But...
It seemed that wouldn't be necessary.
[Hirata-kun really is prepared to sacrifice himself.]
[Hirata is... too noble.]
[Thankfully, someone sent us a message in advance, letting us know what Hirata-kun might do.]
Saiki could hear the thoughts of the other students.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already taken action. He had prepared a message in advance: "I think Hirata-kun plans to sacrifice himself and get expelled tomorrow. He might say bad things about everyone or act overly harsh, but that won't be his true feelings. Please believe in him and only cast praise votes for him." He sent this message to the other students in the class, except for Hirata Yosuke himself, of course, and Yamauchi Haruki.
This completely blocked Hirata Yosuke's plan to sacrifice himself.
"Now, let's begin the class voting. When your name is called, please proceed to the voting room one by one."
Chabashira Sae, who had been standing by the podium, spoke up as the time came, instructing the students to take turns going to the voting room.
Meanwhile, in Class A's classroom.
"Now, let's begin the class voting. When your name is called, please proceed to the voting room one by one."
As their homeroom teacher, Mashima Tomonari, finished speaking, the students began to file into the voting room.
Sakayanagi Arisu watched as the students left, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"It seems you're like Ayanokoji, preferring to hide in the shadows—"
"In that case, I'll drag you into the spotlight."
Sakayanagi Arisu narrowed her eyes slightly. The outcome of Class A's vote had already been decided.
On Saturday afternoon, as the exam results were about to be announced, the students gathered in the classroom once more.
Yamauchi Haruki had just entered the classroom when he bumped into a chair, creating a loud noise as if trying to draw the entire class's attention.
"Hey... quiet down, Haruki."
Ike Kanji whispered a reminder.
"Shut up, I know."
Yamauchi Haruki responded dismissively.
"Heh heh, it seems your defeat is inevitable, isn't it?"
Behind him, Koenji Rokusuke was fixing his hair as he spoke, not even looking at Yamauchi Haruki.
"What are you talking about, Koenji? I'm not going to be expelled."
"Oh? I'm sure plenty of people in the class will write your name."
In Class B, Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken had once been Yamauchi Haruki's friends. However, after Yamauchi's true feelings were exposed, their relationship had soured.
"That's not necessarily true."