First-year Class C.
When Sakagami-sensei walked into the classroom, the faces of Class C were relaxed and happy, having already anticipated the result.
"First place, Kaneda, with a total of 26 praise votes."
Below the podium.
Hearing this result.
A confident smile appeared at the corner of Kaneda's mouth, and he pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
Everything was under control.
A few of Ryuuen's former lackeys still gave him criticism votes.
These foolish people still didn't understand the current situation—they didn't know who was in charge of Class C now.
Forget it.
Kaneda considered himself generous and wouldn't bother with the people below.
After Ryuuen was expelled, Ishizaki and his group of lackeys would naturally understand who the truly strong one was.
"Hehe."
Manabe Shiho and others also glanced at Ishizaki and the others, letting out a burst of giggles. Fools who didn't know the times.
Wait until Ryuuen was expelled.
Let's see how arrogant Ibuki Mio can still be; when that time comes, the girls will definitely look up to her.
"The last place—"
Hearing Sakagami-sensei's words.
Kaneda and Manabe Shiho couldn't help but glance at Ryuuen Kakeru at the back of the classroom.
"Manabe Shiho, who accumulated twenty-four criticism votes!"
"Hmm?"
Then they glanced at Ibuki Mio.
For such a result to appear, it was clear that Ibuki and the others had done something behind the scenes.
But.
No matter how he thought about it, Ryuuen simply couldn't figure out—with only five million, how could Ibuki Mio possibly convince Class B?
Ryuuen also judged very clearly.
As long as the demand to prevent an expulsion in Class B couldn't be met, Ichinose and the others would definitely not cast their extra-class praise votes for him.
Even if Ichinose was kind.
But by casting the extra-class praise votes for him, another person in Class C would be expelled. Ichinose had no need to save him, and even less would she choose to sacrifice others.
Ichinose probably couldn't do such a thing yet.
Doing nothing.
That would be more in line with Ichinose's character.
And.
Ryuuen knew very well how bad his reputation was in the school.
His expulsion would be the best choice for classes A, B, and D. It was impossible for someone from another class to cast an extra-class praise vote for him.
"Teacher, this is impossible!"
Manabe Shiho panicked instantly and hurriedly stood up: "Was there a mistake?"
"Yeah."
Kaneda was also a bit confused: "Teacher, we already decided to have Ryuuen expelled and cast all our criticism votes for him."
"The result is correct."
Sakagami breathed a sigh of relief, and his gaze toward Manabe Shiho also had a trace of pity.
"Ryuuen got a total of 9 praise votes."
"Hmm?"
Kaneda was suddenly bewildered. He turned back to look at Ryuuen with confusion, and then looked at the others in Class C.
"I voted for Ryuuen."
"I also gave Ryuuen a criticism vote."
"Really!"
Several people hurriedly explained, only Ishizaki and the others sneered, making no attempt to hide it.
I just cast a praise vote, so what?
Watching the scene before him, Kaneda was even more bewildered.
This was clearly another class, and a single class at that, casting all their extra-class praise votes for Katsuragi.
But.
Class B's extra-class praise votes were cast for Katsuragi in Class A, just like theirs.
The only ones left were A and D.
Impossible, right?
In the eyes of other classes, Ryuuen was like a rat crossing the street. How could they possibly vote for him? Besides, Ryuuen had looked like he accepted his fate and was ready to be expelled.
Someone must be lying to him!
First, rule out Hikigaya.
After all, Hikigaya had given him all the benefits—money, fame, reputation, credit—he'd even given him leverage.
Moreover, the plan was very much in line with Class B's interests.
He was a great guy; he couldn't possibly be lying to him!
Ryuuen didn't look like he was faking it either. What's more, nobody in another class would want to keep a guy like him around.
"Ishizaki, Ibuki."
Kaneda glared at the group with extreme fury: "Did you guys do something?"
Class C wasn't as rational as Class A.
Manabe Shiho was already terrified of being expelled, and hearing Kaneda's guess, she exploded with rage.
Manabe Shiho rushed at Ibuki Mio without a care for anything else.
"Did you bitch do something? You slut, I'm going to tear you apart today!"
"Slap!"
The sound of a crisp slap rang out.
Ibuki Mio struck first, backhanding her across the face. She said with a flat expression:
"Manabe, it seems you really hate me. But, coincidentally, I actually quite hate you too."
"..."
Manabe Shiho covered her reddened face, staring at the nearby table in a daze, clearly stunned by the slap.
Feeling the gazes of her classmates, her heart was embarrassed to the extreme.
Not only had she failed to climb to the top of the class, but she had also fallen to the absolute bottom in this exam.
"Teacher, the exam is over. Is everything finished now?"
"Uh... yes..."
"..."
Hearing Sakagami's response, Ibuki Mio grabbed her bag, turned, and left the classroom. The people around her watched her leave with silent fear.
Girls fighting was truly too terrifying.
"Alright."
"Manabe, come with me to the staff office. I'll come back to pack your luggage later."
Watching Manabe Shiho being led out of the classroom by Sakagami-sensei.
The people of Class C looked at Kaneda, Ishizaki, and the others, then hurriedly fled the classroom as if escaping a disaster.
...
On the other side.
"Ibuki."
Looking at Ibuki Mio ahead, Ryuuen spoke in a cold voice.
"What exactly happened? What did you guys do?"
"We didn't do anything."
Ibuki Mio looked back at Ryuuen Kakeru. She just didn't want to have any regrets.
Ibuki Mio said in a flat voice:
"I gave your 4.9 million to Class B and had them cast all their extra-class praise votes for you. The only people willing to vote for you are probably them. You'd better say thank you to them."
"However, if you want to keep going like this, suit yourself."
"You said 'gave'? Not 'lent'?"
"Yeah. Since it wasn't enough for the six million Class B wanted, I just had to give it."
As soon as these words were said.
Ryuuen's face turned green instantly.
My money!
That's all my money!
They took 4.5 million, and I only got 500,000.
And I have to thank them too?
This was the little bit of family fortune he, Ryuuen, had painstakingly saved up by racking his brains and trading with Class A during the VIP exam.
If it was left for Class C to use.
Then so be it.
Whether Class C wanted to use those personal points as a weapon or just squander them, Ryuuen could accept it.
After all.
These were his own people.
Now, this money he'd worked so hard to save for a year was just snatched away by Class B like that?
The only question was.
What would Class B do? That amount of money wasn't enough for Class B to save an expelled student unless Class B chose to discard a companion and seek maximum benefit from it.
If that's the case.
After thinking for a while.
Ryuuen could actually accept it.
In his eyes.
The most terrifying thing about Class B was that unparalleled cohesion.
If Ichinose really chose to discard a companion for the sake of pursuing maximum benefit, it would undoubtedly be destroying their own walls.
If these five million could crush a class.
Then it was worth it.
"And Class B?"
Ryuuen asked with a dark face.
He just felt a bit pained thinking about how the money he'd saved for a year was gone.
"How should I know."
Ibuki Mio looked completely indifferent: "Fine, I'm leaving. You can do whatever you want."
Saying that.
Ibuki Mio turned and walked away.
In any case, Class B's business had nothing to do with her. What Hikigaya wanted to do was his business, and the same went for Ryuuen.
Even if Ryuuen continued to stay useless like this, it didn't matter.
She just didn't want to have any regrets.
"..."
Ryuuen's mouth twitched as he watched Ibuki Mio's retreating figure.
Although he'd known for a long time that Ibuki Mio was this kind of person, he really wished these guys could have some foresight.
To prevent him from being expelled.
They actually just wasted five million for nothing; they were practically being sold and still helping the buyer count the money.
But precisely because of that.
These idiots are truly hard to leave alone.
Taking a deep breath.
Ryuuen turned and left the school, still unable to figure out what Class B was trying to do.
Most importantly.
That idiot Kaneda was getting cocky again; it wouldn't do if he didn't press him down frequently.