"Chabashira-sensei, I'd like to ask you a question."
A classic opening line to buy time.
Chabashira-sensei shot Amane a knowing glance.
"Go ahead. If it's something I can answer, I'll do my best to help." She felt a faint flicker of anticipation.
She had just seen Horikita speaking with Amane. Now, Amane was stepping forward to speak. And Horikita wasn't making any move to stop her—which meant whatever Amane was about to ask had Horikita's approval.
With that reassurance, Chabashira felt comfortable giving her response.
"I'd like to know, Chabashira-sensei—have you reported the current expulsion procedures to the school administration?"
Amane's question caught Chabashira off guard.
The rule that failing an exam leads to expulsion had been established long ago. Yet, over all these years, almost no student had ever been expelled for failing an exam.
As a result, the school had never really prepared for the possibility of actual expulsions. But the procedures were already in place.
What Chabashira was doing now was simply following those pre-established steps.
In theory, since the procedure was decided by the school, it should be considered school-approved by default. But up to this point, the school likely had no idea that Class D was about to expel so many students.
Only after the expulsion process was complete—that is, after all the expulsion forms were submitted—would the school find out just how many students were being removed.
"I think I see what you're getting at. But these students really did fail. I don't believe the school would change its own rules because of these expulsions. If that happened, the whole game would fall apart. Do you understand what I mean?"
Chabashira was impressed that Amane had found this angle of attack.
Still, based on her own experience, she dismissed the idea. Put simply, Amane hoped that by notifying the school about the large number of impending expulsions before the forms were submitted, they could gauge the school's reaction.
Amane believed the school wouldn't sit back and allow so many students to be expelled.
So there was a chance the expulsion outcome could be changed.
Chabashira, on the other hand, believed the school's rules were fair, transparent, and absolute. Everything she was doing fell within the established procedure.
"Merit above all" was this school's motto.
The weak were meant to be weeded out.
Especially when it came to academic performance—the most basic requirement of being a student.
Even if there was some pressure, if the school changed the rules to save those who couldn't even pass their exams, it would be no different than destroying the reputation it had built over so many years.
So Chabashira was certain the school would never compromise.
"Then why not test the school's reaction? It wouldn't take much time, anyway."
Amane's approach was straightforward and practical.
Chabashira had no objection to that. Right in front of Amane, she sent a notification message to the school's higher-ups.
"Then let's wait and see." Chabashira Sae sat at the lectern, quietly waiting for a reply.
All the students facing expulsion stared anxiously in her direction.
Amane swapped seats with Wang Meiyu.
This new spot was closer to Chabashira-sensei. As she waited, Amane observed Chabashira Sae closely.
She realized that Chabashira was a deeply conflicted person. She wanted her class to rise to the top, yet she refused to offer any special support to the class—or its leader.
In short, she was constantly wavering between her personal desires and her professional duties.
Whether it was Hirata or Horikita…
If Chabashira had offered just a little help…
Even if they couldn't reach Class A immediately, the class would've at least grown more stable. Only with stability could they compete for ranking. But Chabashira's approach was to test the leader's capabilities from the very beginning, even deliberately creating setbacks to temper them—so they would develop the ability to fulfill her wish.
Unfortunately…
She overlooked one thing.
Setbacks can indeed strengthen people.
But they can also destroy a class.
This situation was clearly a result of Chabashira intentionally not informing Hirata about the changes in the exam scope. That led to his study sessions being useless, indirectly causing a large number of average students to fail and face expulsion.
This setback might help Hirata grow, but losing fifteen students at once…
Shattered the class's unity.
Without unity, even the strongest leader would be useless.
Chabashira Sae's actions were like picking up a sesame seed only to drop a watermelon—utterly ridiculous.
But on second thought…
Amane could understand where Chabashira was coming from. The reason she occasionally interfered in class affairs was fundamentally about her desire for involvement.
Chabashira still wanted to feel like she was the one leading the class to A.
But this kind of remote control was fatal to the class.
Beep.
Chabashira-sensei's phone buzzed.
The classroom instantly erupted into noise. Many students stood up, desperate to learn their fate.
Chabashira herself hesitated a moment before opening her phone.
Soon, a pleased look spread across her face.
"Expulsion procedures are suspended. The Student Council will re-examine the scores of Class D's failing students. Once confirmed, specific measures will be handled entirely by the Student Council."
"Yes! We're not getting expelled after all!"
Yamauchi shouted excitedly.
The other failing students burst into cheers.
It should have been a happy moment, but Hirata's expression was grim.
"What if the Student Council reviews the results and confirms that we really did fail… and still approves the expulsions?"
He didn't want to dampen the mood, but it was too soon to relax.
Yamauchi, however, brushed it off.
"What's there to worry about? Horikita's brother is the Student Council president, right? If Horikita just asks him for a favor, everything will go smoothly."
After the last incident, everyone knew the Student Council president and Horikita Suzune were siblings. They naturally assumed that with the matter in the Student Council's hands, it was as good as settled.
"My brother may be the president, but I have no intention of interfering with his judgment."
Horikita chose to remain neutral.
Under normal circumstances, she might just be called strict or inflexible.
But now…
The students on the verge of expulsion took her neutrality as a betrayal.
"What are you saying, Horikita? So you're just going to abandon us?"
"Yeah, I never thought you'd be so heartless. You won't even put in a good word with your own brother? You're siblings—there's no way he wouldn't care what you think!"
Ike chimed in as well.
In an instant, the class erupted into chaos.
Everyone was talking over each other. Most of the comments were accusations aimed at Horikita.
In their eyes, one word from Horikita Suzune could save them from expulsion. By refusing to help, she was basically watching them get expelled.
The situation had spiraled into turmoil.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.