"Who do you think it'll be?" Hashimoto studied his reaction.
Before Kaoru could answer, Mutou Hiromichi made his designation in the next moment.
"I designate Morita from Class 2-A!"
Silence.
A rare, heavy silence fell over the second-year crowd.
At first, some uninformed students from Class 2-C paled.
This designation was practically a direct challenge to Nagumo Miyabi—the consequences would be severe.
"Mutou, it seems you've prepared yourself."
Nagumo suppressed his fury. "Or are you acting recklessly because you know you're already doomed?"
Muto Hiromichi, on the other hand, laughed softly and said.
"I just never thought I'd be the one saying these lines one day. In the past, you were the only one who could decide who gets expelled."
Just last semester alone, over a dozen second-year students had dropped out, most from the lower classes.
Some perished due to exam rules, while others were chosen by Nagumo Miyabi to be sacrificial pawns—casualties from the lower classes.
"Hehehe, I know you don't have the guts for this. Spit it out—who put you up to this?"
Nagumo Miyabi knew the situation was beyond salvaging, so he could only pressure Muto Hiromichi into revealing the truth, shattering Tonokawa Sosuke and the others' illusions.
"There is someone."
Muto's answer sent a chill through many, but then he pivoted, "But this is also our own decision. You've always just dangled Personal Points in front of us, treating us like your dogs. But who knows if you'd ever actually let a dog into Class A?"
Nagumo raised an eyebrow. "I'm the student council president now. My proposal has been approved by the school—you'll see the results soon enough."
"You've been saying that for ages. You claim you'll break down class barriers, that anyone with ability can rise to Class A."
Muto scoffed. "Whether we'll ever make it to Class A, I don't know. But what I do know is that you've been exploiting us for a year or two!"
It was bad enough that Class 2-A had to pay tribute to their so-called "emperor," but even the lower classes had to cough up—not just in points, but in lives.
Even the so-called rewards were just scraps from what they had already handed over.
"So Kiriyama wants to rebel, and now you all do too?"
Nagumo sneered repeatedly. "What did Mitoma promise you?"
Only Kaoru could pull something like this.
He didn't even need to think—it had to be Kaoru luring these idiots with Personal Points or cash!
"Mitoma?"
Muto seemed puzzled. "You mean that first-year guy?"
"Who else could it be?!"
Nagumo snapped with certainty.
As he spoke, Nagumo glared coldly at Tonokawa Sosuke and Mizuto Mizowaki.
"See? This is the choice you made. Do you really think he cares more about Class 2-A than I do? To bring me down, he wouldn't hesitate to let all you fools get expelled!"
Tonokawa's face was equally pale, his mind buzzing.
So it was true—Kaoru had united the entire grade against Class 2-A.
"Muto, go ahead and name names. I won't lift a finger to save anyone."
Nagumo's voice was icy. "This exam, Class 2-A earned over a hundred points. That'll cover the losses. We don't have to sacrifice a thing."
Yes, this was the most rational choice—for the class, and for himself.
Class 2-A hadn't gotten this far without losing a student or two along the way.
Yet Muto, as if he had anticipated this, turned to the students of Class 2-C and 2-D behind him and shouted in one breath:
"Everyone, see his true colors now? This guy won't even save his own classmates—who here still believes he'll help us rise to Class A? Don't be fools! He's nothing but a selfish, stingy bastard. Why should we keep honoring that old contract?!"
As he spoke, his finger remained pointed squarely at Nagumo.
In that instant, Nagumo's expression froze.
"Rather than trust this guy, it's better to keep the points with us. How we use them is our own business!"
Although Nagumo Miyabi still had die-hard supporters who would endure anything for Class A, seeing him mercilessly abandon his comrades inevitably caused a momentary waver in their resolve.
And that fleeting moment might one day resurface—when they recall Muto Hiromichi's words or replay today's scene in their minds.
"Enough! Without me, do you really think you can climb to Class A?"
Nagumo, his face flushed with anger, noticed the doubt in their eyes.
"This guy has been brainwashed by Mitoma! Now he's trying to brainwash all of you!"
The next moment, an unexpected voice cut through the tension.
"You're wrong, Nagumo-kun."
Horikita Manabu stepped forward from the crowd, his expression calm. "I was the one who urged them to terminate the contract. Muto-kun hasn't been influenced by anyone—this is his own conviction."
At Horikita's appearance, Nagumo Miyabi sensed something amiss, and his fury only intensified.
To think they would shift the blame onto Horikita and have him step forward!
Just as Nagumo had feared, Horikita's intervention emboldened those who had previously lacked confidence.
Their dissatisfaction with the contract had been simmering, and whether or not they could rise to Class A in the future, seizing this chance to abolish it was undeniably in their favor.
At its core, the contract had always been Nagumo's tool to dominate the entire year and exploit everyone under the guise of "uniting for exams"—merely a more convenient way for him to control the grade.
Now, Nagumo found himself trapped in a dilemma of his own making.
"Fine. Terminate the contract if you want. But don't expect me to take responsibility for what happens next."
Nagumo glared at Muto Hiromichi.
"As for you, Muto... I hope we never cross paths again."
Class 2-C didn't have enough points to save Muto Hiromichi—unless Kaoru Mitoma intervened.
Nagumo doubted that would happen.
In fact, he secretly hoped Kaoru would step in, because if he did, the exam's objective would be indirectly achieved.