This academy has multiple ways to force expulsions; deducing that isn't difficult.
At least, that's what Kiyotaka Ayanokōji believed.
Only Suzune Horikita would still naively think that the upper-year classes lacking their full complement of forty students was solely due to failing exams.
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji's sole remaining question was the scale of personal points required for such expulsion methods.
It couldn't be too low, nor too high.
If too low, the upper-year classes wouldn't have merely a few dropouts each, especially the third-year senpais.
If too high, it would be pointless; at minimum, it had to be a cost that an entire class could unite their strength to afford.
"Ayanokōji-kun, you, Horikita-san, or Yamauchi-kun—your values aren't the same."
"At enrollment, whether it was the homeroom teacher or the student council president, they made it abundantly clear."
"Everything in this academy is defined by strength."
Looking at Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Suzune Horikita, Natsuki Subaru smiled faintly.
"Although it's different from typical schools, academic ability is definitely a form of strength."
"Otherwise, there wouldn't be rules like failing exams leading to expulsion."
Hearing Natsuki Subaru's words, both Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Suzune Horikita showed looks of realization.
From what Natsuki Subaru implied, expelling someone like Haruki Yamauchi was easier and cheaper than for others, with the corresponding costs differing accordingly.
Perhaps Natsuki Subaru already had enough personal points to expel Haruki Yamauchi.
"I see."
"But is that really okay?"
Suzune Horikita nodded, grasping Natsuki Subaru's meaning. After a brief moment of thought, she said somewhat seriously,
"However, I think you should still consider it, Natsuki."
"After you left lunch last time, Ayanokōji and I discussed the class's future direction."
"We both feel that, unless absolutely necessary, we should avoid having anyone drop out as much as possible."
"Otherwise, we might step into another trap set by the school, making becoming Class A even more remote."
Haruki Yamauchi's behavior was indeed unworthy of the stage.
Suzune Horikita had witnessed his entire attack on Natsuki Subaru earlier, but considering Year 1, Class D's goal to rise to Class A, she still wanted to persuade Natsuki Subaru.
The current Year 1, Class D was already incredibly difficult to lead.
If dropouts occurred—likely a major pitfall—Suzune Horikita truly wouldn't know what to do. She genuinely wanted to prove herself to her brother.
"Horikita-san."
"Your and Ayanokōji-kun's analysis is extremely rigorous, with no logical flaws."
Listening to Suzune Horikita's clear and structured persuasion, Natsuki Subaru responded mildly,
"But I'm not particularly concerned about these matters, and regarding Yamauchi-kun, I have no specific intent to target him."
As he spoke, Natsuki Subaru glanced at Suzune Horikita's serious gaze and at Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, who was listening silently ahead.
"This topic, I've already told you many times before, Horikita-san."
"I don't care if Class D ends up as Class A or remains Class D."
"I also don't care if it falls into some supposed 'trap' or 'disadvantage' due to someone leaving."
"…"
Suzune Horikita fell silent.
In the end, they circled back to the original issue.
Natsuki Subaru was utterly uninterested in what she was saying; without his interest, no matter how eloquently Suzune Horikita argued, she couldn't sway him.
'To truly move Natsuki Subaru, I must understand what he truly wants.'
'Natsuki Subaru has only proactively done two things: going to The Library every day to read, and last time accompanying Kikyō Kushida to 'accidentally' encounter Horikita-san at her request.'
Kiyotaka Ayanokōji silently watched Suzune Horikita, who was at a complete loss with Natsuki Subaru, pondering matters related to him.
Currently, Natsuki Subaru's demonstrated initiative amounted to just these two points; he showed little concern for anything else, at most adding a pursuit of luxury in food and drink.
What even Kiyotaka Ayanokōji couldn't fathom was the common trait between going to The Library to read and accompanying Kikyō Kushida to encounter Horikita that could attract Natsuki Subaru.
The topic between Natsuki Subaru and Suzune Horikita thus fizzled out inconclusively.
Even after morning classes ended, Suzune Horikita didn't speak to Natsuki Subaru again, but from her expression, Natsuki Subaru could tell she hadn't abandoned her goal of preventing dropouts in Year 1, Class D.
'Looks like personal points are running a bit low again.'
Gazing at the scenery outside the window, Natsuki Subaru began considering how to earn more personal points before the midterms.
Since he'd decided to make the annoying fly Haruki Yamauchi vanish completely from his sight, the personal points he currently had weren't quite sufficient.
Not to mention that Suzune Horikita would likely oppose him to prevent dropouts in Year 1, Class D.
'A new month, and Year 1, Class B has accumulated quite a few personal points again. Continue trading with Year 1, Class B?'
'As trading partners, they're quite qualified.'
If possible, Natsuki Subaru still felt that trading with Year 1, Class B was the smoothest option.
However, at present, he lacked intelligence of sufficient weight, and to guarantee 100% expulsion of one person this time, one or two million personal points still wasn't entirely safe.
He needed more.
Barring surprises, personal points were like an alternative health bar: you could consume yours to strike the opponent, and they could consume theirs for self-protection.
Without enough personal points, achieving Natsuki Subaru's aims would be difficult.
As for whether he'd have sufficient personal points by the midterms?
Definitely.
Intelligence was never an issue for Natsuki Subaru.
With his Return by Death ability, he'd never needed to rack his brains for information; in this school, he'd never even tried. To obtain intelligence, the most direct method sufficed.
Once wasn't enough? Twice. Twice not? Three times.
Not everyone could withstand the Purge King.
___
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