First-year Class D.
Horikita Suzune and the others sat in the classroom waiting for the results. The classroom was silent, except for the sound of Yamauchi Haruki's feet tapping rapidly, which was particularly grating.
"Hey, Haruki, be a little quiet."
Ike Kanji looked at Yamauchi behind him and reminded him in a lowered voice.
"Shutup, I know already".
"Hehehe".
Koenji laughed nonchalantly: "No need to be so nervous. After all, your defeat seems to be set in stone, doesn't it?".
"There's no such thing".
Hirata Yosuke quickly stepped in to stop the potential conflict: "The one who will be expelled this time is me".
"That's right".
Yamauchi stood up quickly, as if trying to encourage himself: "The one getting expelled this time is Hirata. I voted for Hirata, and I'm sure you guys did the same, right?".
"It looks like you can't see anything at all".
Ignoring Yamauchi's posturing, Koenji took out his phone and looked at Hirata.
"Several girls in the class sent me messages. It says:"
[I think Hirata-kun plans to sacrifice himself and get expelled tomorrow. Even if he says bad things about everyone or acts excessively, please believe that it's not his true heart, and please only cast praise votes for him].
"Except for you and Yamauchi, everyone should have received it, right?".
Looking at the message before him, Hirata's expression turned bitter, mixed with a hint of despair.
"How could this happen...".
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but turn their gazes toward Yamauchi Haruki. The person most anxiously waiting for the result was likely only him.
"Humph".
Feeling the pitying and sympathetic gazes of the crowd, Yamauchi Haruki snorted coldly, appearing as if he were psyching himself up.
"Even if you say it out loud, it doesn't matter. The person getting expelled won't be me".
"Oh, let me hear the reason?".
"Fine, then I'll tell you".
Yamauchi Haruki could no longer stand being judged at will. A smirk of pride appeared on his face: "How many people here cast criticism votes for me? Twenty? Thirty? I clearly didn't betray everyone, this attitude is really too much!".
"But it's okay, I forgive you guys!".
"There are several candidates for expulsion here".
Yamauchi Haruki glanced at several people in the class, his confidence growing as he spoke.
"Me, Kanji, Ken, Koenji, Ayanokouji... that's probably the list. But how many praise votes can they even receive?".
"That way of speaking makes it sound like you can receive a massive amount of praise votes".
"Of course".
Yamauchi Haruki raised his hands, his face full of pride: "Me, I've already made a promise with Sakayanagi to receive twenty praise votes. In short, even if most of the class casts criticism votes, I won't be expelled!".
"In that case," Koenji's smile was elegant as he continued to provoke: "is there any need for you to be so uneasy?".
"That's...".
"Usually, verbal agreements end in broken promises. Little-girl is not that kind".
"I know that, but it's fine!".
Yamauchi Haruki argued loudly, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. His contradictory words lacked any logic.
Even he, somewhere deep in his heart, probably knew clearly that he had likely been tricked by Sakayanagi.
And the reason for being tricked was very simple.
It was just Sakayanagi saying, "Does Yamauchi-kun not believe me?"—simple words like that.
Decisions made in the heat of the moment often do not end well.
But Yamauchi had no other choice right now; he could only talk tough and pray for that slim possibility.
"Quiet".
"Yamauchi, your shouting can be heard even in the hallway".
Just then, Chabashira Sae, wearing black stockings and a business suit, walked into the classroom.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I will now announce the results. Everyone, take your seats".
The moment of judgment had arrived.
Yamauchi Haruki and the others returned to their seats uneasily.
"First place—Ayanokouji Kiyotaka".
"Wh... why?!".
Yamauchi Haruki became even more panicked and stood up again.
"Teacher, isn't this a mistake with the first place for criticism votes!".
"No".
The look in Chabashira Sae's eyes as she looked at Ayanokouji was somewhat gratified. If he was there, this class could surely return to Class A.
"He has forty-one praise votes. The result is beyond doubt; he is the first place for praise votes".
Hearing this, the whole class looked at Ayanokouji with surprise.
In everyone's eyes, Ayanokouji had always communicated very little with others. Except for running fast during the sports festival, he seemed entirely unremarkable.
Yet he managed to surpass Hirata and Kushida Kikyo.
He became the first place for praise votes in the class and obtained a Protection Point.
"What did you do...".
Horikita Suzune looked at her seatmate, equally surprised. This man's strength seemed unfathomable.
He clearly looked like he did nothing, yet the results were always unexpected.
"I told you, I didn't do anything".
Ayanokouji's expression was flat.
He had expected this result; it was all thanks to Sakayanagi.
It was probably because Yamauchi Haruki had accidentally offended Sakayanagi at some point, drawing her attention and suffering her revenge.
Offending Sakayanagi was a very dangerous thing.
"And then".
Chabashira Sae looked at Yamauchi Haruki with pity. This kind of scene was hard to accept no matter how many times she saw it.
Unfortunately, it was unavoidable.
"First place for criticism votes, the student who received thirty-three votes... unfortunately, it is you, Yamauchi Haruki".
"Thirty-three votes...".
Yamauchi Haruki's body swayed, his mind going blank.
Clearly, he really had been tricked by Sakayanagi, and so many people in the class had cast criticism votes for him.
Why?.
It was the first time a girl was willing to approach him. Even though Sakayanagi had trouble with her legs, he still wanted to take care of her for the rest of his life.
But... why did she lie to him?.
He clearly hadn't betrayed the class and hadn't leaked a single bit of information to Sakayanagi. Why did these people still insist on casting criticism votes for him!.
Why?.
Seeing Chabashira Sae's reaching arm, Yamauchi Haruki slapped it away, his expression twisting.
"Why, why, why! Why? I clearly didn't betray the class!".
"I just didn't want to be expelled, what did I do wrong?".
"We agreed to get Ayanokouji expelled together, so why did you lie to me? Why did you lie to me, why did Sakayanagi lie to me!".
"Why did you all lie to me? Why is there such a reckless exam? Why!".
Yamauchi Haruki's unwilling tears flowed slowly, his hands flailing wildly to stop anyone from approaching.
"You are free to think what you want, but this decision cannot be cancelled, Yamauchi".
"Shut up!".
Yamauchi Haruki's eyes were red as he glared at his homeroom teacher, letting out an unwilling roar with all his strength.
"And so,".
Just then, Koenji continued to agitate his remaining logic: "Are you going to be a pathetic, ugly, and beyond-saving defect until the very last moment?".
"Aaaaaah!".
Facing expulsion and hearing such mockery, Yamauchi Haruki could no longer endure it. He grabbed a chair next to him and rushed at Koenji.
"You released killing intent toward me".
However, Koenji easily caught a corner of the chair and pulled it back. His lazy gaze suddenly sharpened.
"So you can't complain no matter what I do to you!".
Feeling Koenji's gaze, as if being stared at by a fierce beast, Yamauchi Haruki's face froze.
"That's enough!".
Hearing Chabashira Sae's words, Yamauchi Haruki slumped to the floor, letting out a helpless cry.
It started so smoothly and felt so safe.
In the end, the person being expelled was him.
Why? Why did they all lie to him?.
Meanwhile, in the Year 1 Class B classroom.
Hoshinomiya Chie stood at the podium.
She gazed at the exam results in her hand with a complex expression.
Finally, Hoshinomiya Chie pursed her lips and said somewhat helplessly: "Last place—Hikigaya Hachiman!".