"I object."
Amane's objection left Tachibana Akane somewhat dumbfounded.
She hadn't expected someone to actually stand up and object to the ruling issued by the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, in such a situation where the overall outcome was already decided.
The most crucial thing was that apart from the slightly severe punishment for Hirata-san, the decision for a re-examination was entirely in favor of Class D, and could even be said to have saved Class D.
There were a few days of free time.
As long as someone gathered everyone in the class for high-intensity tutoring, even if everyone passed, it wouldn't be incomprehensible.
Tachibana Akane didn't understand why Amane would choose to object.
Horikita Manabu felt a little emotional.
He had seen determination on Amane's face just now.
He had a premonition that Amane would refute the Student Council's ruling.
But when she actually spoke it.
It still gave Horikita Manabu an unreal feeling.
Horikita Manabu even found Amane's actions somewhat incomprehensible.
When people make certain decisions, it is often to achieve some goal for themselves.
Even Amane was no exception.
But what purpose could Amane have in objecting to the Student Council's ruling?
After much thought, Horikita Manabu could only assume that Amane intended to save Hirata.
Save Hirata?
The goal seemed very simple and direct.
But it was almost impossible.
Firstly, Hirata had already admitted to buying and selling exam papers and leaking exam questions.
According to school regulations, Hirata was bound to be expelled.
And it was precisely Hirata's expulsion that brought about Horikita Manabu's extra leniency for Class D: a chance for all Class D students to retake the exam.
Even if Amane saved Hirata, what about the fifteen students in Class D who were going to be expelled?
To save Hirata, the cheating results would have to be overturned.
Sacrificing one person to save fifteen people is completely different from sacrificing fifteen people to save one person.
If considering quality, even Horikita Manabu would not hesitate to choose to save Hirata.
Because Hirata's value as an important talent surpassed that of the remaining fifteen people who were about to be expelled combined.
But unfortunately, this was just a simple numerical comparison.
If Hirata were to be saved, it would mean losing fifteen people at once.
Such a cost was something Class D could not bear.
Horikita Manabu was even confident that if all the students in Class D were asked whether it was better to save Hirata or save fifteen people.
If everyone in Class D could approach this matter objectively, Horikita Manabu could guarantee that at least thirty-nine out of forty people would choose to save the fifteen people and abandon Hirata, simply because the cost of losing Hirata was smaller.
These thirty-nine people would even include Hirata himself.
Because Hirata had long been prepared for expulsion; as long as his expulsion had value, he would have no regrets.
Yet, Amane publicly expressed her objection.
"Miyako-san! I appreciate your kindness, but this is a glimmer of hope I painstakingly gained. I don't want..."
"What you don't want has nothing to do with me. I just think what you're doing is very foolish, so I objected."
Foolish?
Hirata never expected it.
Amane actually gave him a foolish evaluation.
"Miyako-san!!! You can say it's because of my poor decisions, or my lack of ability, that I couldn't lead the class to the end, but you can't insult me like this!"
Hirata couldn't quite understand why, even after choosing the path of self-sacrifice, his choice was still being denied.
Hirata looked at Amane with confusion.
Amane, however, met his gaze without changing her expression.
"What? Hirata, do you really think what you're doing now is correct?"
Amane's gaze met Hirata's, who was about to retort.
Such a firm gaze made Hirata somewhat doubtful.
Amane's gaze showed her firm will to save him.
But even he himself had given up on self-salvation.
Why did Amane think she could save him?
"Perhaps numerically, 1 is indeed less than 15, but that's not a reason to easily abandon that 1, let alone make a self-sacrifice for those idiots. It sounds incredibly ridiculous. Hirata, could it be that you're just doing it for self-satisfaction?"
Amane's somewhat harsh words stung Hirata's heart.
"Sacrificing me alone can buy Class D a glimmer of hope. I don't think what I'm doing is wrong. Everything I've done is for Class D to go further, not for self-pity."
Hirata's explanation seemed to have used up all his strength.
As soon as he finished speaking, Hirata slumped back into his chair, powerless.
"You're wrong, Hirata Yousuke. How do you know your sacrifice is definitely valuable? The most absurd reason you're wrong is that you equated the retake decision for cheating with your own expulsion decision. Cheating is already a done deal. No matter who initiated it, the fate of a retake cannot be avoided. Therefore, the one who granted Class D its last glimmer of hope was President Horikita, not you, Hirata Yousuke."
Hirata's eyes suddenly widened.
It seemed Amane's words also made sense.
Since a retake was inevitable.
Why did he link Horikita Manabu's handling of the situation with himself?
Just because he was the one to be expelled, did he have the right to say that his sacrifice brought about such a result?
No, it shouldn't be like this.
He was just the one being punished.
He understood... Hirata finally understood. Although the outcome was inextricably linked to him, even if he were removed from the entire incident, the re-examination would still have to happen.
His so-called voluntary sacrifice was based on his violation of school rules. Being punished for violating school rules simply didn't deserve the word 'sacrifice'.
Amane saw Hirata's gaze gradually brighten.
She also knew that Hirata had completely understood.
Now, she was going to start refuting Hirata's other foolish idea.
Was it worth exchanging him for fifteen people?
The answer was no.
"Hirata, you're too easily trusting of others, which is why you accepted the theory that 15 people are greater than 1 person. If you were expelled now, who would organize the class to face the upcoming retake? Karuizawa? Or Kushida-san? Although what I'm about to say might be hurtful, they completely lack the ability to gather a disorganized group."
Amane's words made Kushida-san's expression beside her turn sour.
Although neither Horikita Manabu nor Hirata seemed to intend to change the ruling.
Amane, however, gave her the impression that as long as she was willing, even something as almost unsolvable as buying and selling exam papers, which violated school rules, she could easily handle it.
"Everyone should cooperate with Kushida-san and the others to study hard. After all, if they still don't study seriously, even if there's a re-examination, those who fail will still be expelled."
Hirata, at this point, still naively believed.
As long as those who failed could be saved.
They would study seriously for the upcoming exams.
Thereby avoiding the fate of expulsion.
"How ridiculous. Hirata, when will you stop being so naive?"
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!