First-year Class A.
Saturday, the day the results were announced.
Mashima-sensei walked into the classroom as the bell for announcing the exam results rang.
Even though Mashima-sensei had seen several students be expelled before, his heart didn't feel good right now.
After all.
Unlike previous exams.
This kind of exam was simply too unreasonable.
However, even if he had many dissatisfactions, he still had to do it. This was the helplessness of being an adult.
"Next."
Mashima-sensei stood in front of the podium and spoke in a deep voice:
"I'm going to announce the results of the additional special exam. First, in last place, the student who accumulated thirty-six criticism votes—"
Mashima-sensei was suddenly silent for a moment, while the faces of Class A were calm and indifferent.
After all, they had known the result long ago.
"Totsuka Yahiko!"
"How is that possible? What's going on?"
Katsuragi stood up instantly, staring at Mashima-sensei in disbelief.
"Teacher, what is going on? The one who should be expelled is clearly me..."
"Eh... Eh, what's going on?"
Totsuka was also panicked, and hurriedly left his seat to run to Katsuragi's side:
"Katsuragi-aniki, what's going on?"
"It seems Katsuragi-kun gave his praise vote to you."
At that moment.
Sakayanagi, in the center of the classroom, looked at Totsuka, her mouth curling with pleasure: "That's truly wonderful."
"Wait."
Katsuragi turned to glare at this demon:
"Sakayanagi, weren't you supposed to have me expelled? You definitely said it, you said you were going to kick me out."
"Come to think of it, it seems so?"
Sakayanagi gave a gentle smile, admiring Katsuragi's anger and Totsuka's bewilderment, and said nonchalantly:
"I said I would kick you out... that was a lie~"
"The answer is simple. Because Totsuka-kun brings no benefit to Class A. On the other hand, Katsuragi-kun, you're quick-witted, and your athletic nerves are definitely not bad."
"Being calm, you can be quite useful. No idiot would discard excellent talent in an exam purely meant to deal with non-essential classmates."
"Damn it..."
Katsuragi took a deep breath and couldn't help but clench his fists.
If he could tolerate Sakayanagi's ways before, now he could no longer stand it.
Sakayanagi had expelled his most precious companion in such a roundabout way.
Even though he had already volunteered to be expelled.
Why.
Just why?
Being so roundabout was probably just to avoid risks. Before, he only thought Sakayanagi was a leader who wanted to hold the top position even if she disregarded the class's interests.
However.
Now he realized.
Sakayanagi was a cold-blooded leader who only focused on her own interests and had zero regard for her companions' feelings.
Katsuragi had never felt such hatred.
He had never hated his own incompetence so much.
Why was someone like Sakayanagi leading Class A? At this rate, many more people would be expelled because of Sakayanagi in the future.
Whoever dared to disobey Sakayanagi's orders.
That person would suffer the heartless punishment of expulsion.
However.
Katsuragi's expression was pained; he was powerless. If he continued to resist, Sakayanagi would definitely continue to heartlessly make the next person get expelled.
"Thank you for your hard work, Totsuka-kun. Please take care of yourself after leaving this school."
Mashima-sensei said in a softened tone.
Fortunately.
The students of Class A were still rational; as long as they recognized reality, they could only accept it no matter what.
"You go wait in the staff room first, or go back to the dorm to pack your luggage."
Saying that.
Totsuka didn't know what to say and could only nod slowly, leaving the classroom with a look of grief.
Watching the scene before her.
The gentle smile on Sakayanagi's face didn't change at all.
The weak should be expelled.
"Well then—————next."
Mashima-sensei adjusted his emotions and continued:
"The first place is—"
Sakayanagi's smile remained unchanged.
She didn't take this certain-win reward to heart at all.
But if she had the protection point, she could have a few more showdowns with Ayanokouji, so it wouldn't be a bad thing.
"The one who accumulated fifty praise votes is————————Katsuragi Kohei!"
"..."
As soon as these words were said.
Sakayanagi's smile froze on her face.
Then her beautiful little face also slumped down instantly.
"Teacher, what is going on?"
Morishige Takuro stood up instantly and said with some anger: "How could it be Katsuragi? We all cast our praise votes for Sakayanagi, and how could he possibly have fifty votes?"
"The result is correct!"
Mashima-sensei's expression was flat; he was just performing official business.
"Katsuragi."
Someone stepped forward and grabbed Katsuragi by the collar, full of anger: "What exactly did you do? Do you still want to keep fighting with Sakayanagi?"
Katsuragi was also a bit confused.
He hadn't done anything; he didn't know anything at all!
Why did he get first place, and even got the precious protection point?
But.
There was no point in thinking about these things now.
Katsuragi's eyes, looking at Sakayanagi, hid fury. However, now his class companions were all on Sakayanagi's side.
Instead, they were blaming him for wanting to continue the internal conflict with Sakayanagi.
Forget it.
This was reality.
After all, provoking Sakayanagi did carry a risk of expulsion, but provoking Katsuragi didn't carry any risk at all.
They only dared to point their guns at the good person!
And.
Even Katsuragi was the same; if he continued to fight Sakayanagi, she would definitely target the students of Class A again without regard for the consequences.
This year.
Katsuragi had also become smarter.
In this class, he was indeed no match for the unscrupulous Sakayanagi Arisu. A good person was naturally at a disadvantage when facing a bad person.
"Who knows."
Katsuragi pulled the boy's hand away and said with a flat expression:
"This might be because other classes saw the internal conflict in Class A this year and felt it was an opportunity, so they wanted me to get the protection point and keep Class A in conflict."
"Don't worry, I won't be an enemy of Sakayanagi again. Such obvious tactics are a bit too underestimating of me."
He must.
Retreat in order to advance, and lie low!
As soon as these words were said.
The people of Class A looked at Katsuragi with complicated gazes.
The implication was: if Sakayanagi hadn't been causing trouble all year, how would it have turned out like this? Instead, you are coming to accuse me?
Katsuragi did possess a broad vision, and he was single-mindedly considering the class and taking care of his companions.
What a pity.
The original Katsuragi faction in Class A naturally felt some guilt. However, none of that compared to the fear of Sakayanagi and the temptation of graduating from Class A.
Katsuragi was still too honest... he was no match for Sakayanagi.
"Princess-sama..." Hashimoto Masayoshi went to Sakayanagi's side and asked tentatively, feeling that this ancestor might not be in a good mood right now.
"Since Katsuragi-kun got the protection point, then he should keep it. After all, this is something you obtained with your own strength."
Sakayanagi regained that smile once more, but it was noticeably less pleasant than before.
"It seems that in the first year, Katsuragi-kun's character has also been recognized, which is why there were people who wanted to give the protection point to you."
The underlying meaning:
The only thing Katsuragi has worth mentioning is his character. You onlookers better keep your eyes open—don't blame me for being unkind if you stand on the wrong side.
Soon.
Class A was declared dismissed.
Kamuro Masumi followed Sakayanagi out of the classroom until they left the school.
"Investigate..."
Sakayanagi kept a gentle fake smile on her face, but her ethereal voice made one feel a bit cold.
Fifty praise votes, plus the criticism votes Class A gave to Katsuragi.
It meant he had obtained at least eighty praise votes or more. Support from more than two classes—it was impossible for so many people to be simultaneously impressed by Katsuragi's character.
It was clearly a calculated plan.
The previous Ichinose incident was fine, after all, Hikigaya was also doing it to protect his class leader.
Sakayanagi could understand and even appreciated such methods.
However.
This time someone had actually plotted against her.
From childhood to adulthood.
Sakayanagi had never been this憋屈 (frustrated/suffocated).
And she hadn't even heard a single piece of intelligence—this was simply outrageous.
"Understood..."
Kamuro Masumi glanced at Sakayanagi beside her and responded listlessly. It looked like Sakayanagi was truly furious.