After Chiyabashira left, the room predictably descended into panic.
Most were more worried about their points than the actual implications.
Yukimura started ranting about being placed in Class D—sweating, shaking, the usual.
Someone else even wondered if the teacher personally hated them. Classic human deflection.
Hirata tried to stabilize the group, probably out of habit.
Admirable, though ultimately futile.
Yukimura, blinded by frustration, grabbed his collar. It almost got interesting—until Kushida stepped in, playing the peacekeeper.
Later, Hirata took charge again, lecturing us about how we should behave to earn points.
Sudou, unsurprisingly, refused to cooperate.
The rest of the class grumbled about him behind his back. No one proposed an actual solution.
.
.
Hirata stepped down from the podium and walked over to the front row.
"Horikita-san, Ayanokouji-kun, and Miyamizu-kun. Do you have time later? After school, I want to talk about how we can increase our points. I want you guys to participate. Can you?"
"Why us?"
"I want to hear everyone's thoughts. However, even if I ask for everyone to speak up, I think more than half will not listen seriously."
"You don't have to force yourself to say anything in particular. It's good enough to just be there."
"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of meeting for a pointless reason."
"I think that this is our first trial as a united class. So—"
"I already refused. I am not participating."
Horikita's blunt refusal left little room for interpretation. Hirata faltered.
"I-is that so. Sorry… If you ever change your mind, please participate."
Horikita didn't even acknowledge the rest of his words.
"How about you, Ayanokouji-kun?"
"Ah… I'll pass. Sorry."
"… No, I'm the one that should be sorry. If you ever change your mind though, feel free to join."
Hirata turned to Miyamizu, his last hope.
"Miyamizu-kun, what about you?"
There was a pause. Miyamizu didn't look up from his desk, simply tapping the side of his notebook with a finger.
"I'll join. Just don't expect much from me."
"Even so, I appreciate it. Thank you."
.
.
After school. Hirata was at the podium again—organizing, coordinating, trying to play the part of a leader. Most of the class stuck around. Horikita and Sudou didn't.
Then Yamauchi popped out from under a desk like some deranged goblin.
"Ayanokouji~" he whined, eyes dull but dramatic. "Buy this for 20,000 points~"
He dropped a handheld game console on the desk like it was worth its weight in gold.
Ayanokoji looked confused. Rightfully so. Yamauchi sounded half-dead and fully broke. The offer? ridiculous.
"I'll buy it if you lower it to 1,000," Ayanokoji said flatly.
Yamauchi did his best impression of a kicked puppy, and when that failed, he turned.
To me.
"Miyamizu~ You look rich! You're rich, right? You're smart, so maybe you made money somehow—"
I didn't answer. Just looked at him.
He took that as hesitation and inched closer, dragging his console like it was some sacred artifact.
"I'll throw in a handshake too. Limited time offer!"
"…I don't play games," I said.
"Oh, that's fine! You can just resell it!"
"I don't resell either."
"But—but come on, you have the vibe of someone who helps people in secret! Right? You look like that type."
I kept looking at him.
"Okay, maybe not," he mumbled, backing away like a crab.
Smart boy.
He wandered off, probably to find his next victim.
After dealing with the roach, I glanced around the classroom.
Then my eyes landed on the mosquito—Karuizawa Kei.
Buzzing around in her usual way, loud enough to be noticed, annoying enough to be remembered. She was clinging to Kushida, her voice all sugar and static.
"Just 2,000 points, okay~? I'm totally broke this month…"
Kushida laughed, too cheerful. "That much? Hmm… I guess it's fine…"
Of course she said yes. She had to. That mask of hers can't afford even a single crack.
Smart parasite. Picked a host who can't say no without damaging her image.
"Ayanokouji-kun and Miyamizu-kun from Class D. Chiyabashira-sensei is calling for you. Please come to the staff room."
A soft jingle echoed before the announcement cut off.
My calm and composed ac—personality—cracked like cheap glass.
What the fuck was going on?
Ayanokoji was the one who usually got dragged into this nonsense.
Me? I didn't do anything. At least, not anything that would raise a teacher's attention.
[Do you want me to analyze the possible causes?]
No. Not yet. I need more context.
I glanced over. Ayanokoji had already stood up.
He looked toward me, I was still stuck to my sit and then i met his gaze.
"You coming?" he asked, voice neutral, as if we were heading to lunch, not a potential execution.
I sighed, rising from my seat. 'Looks like I don't have a choice.'
We stepped out of the classroom after receiving some stares from our classmates, walking side by side in silence for a few seconds.
I'd already instructed Jarvis to fine-tune my body language—make it unreadable, or at least only express what I allowed it to. Especially when I was around Ayanokoji. Who knew? Maybe he could sense the unease I didn't even show.
Then, as we turned the corner:
"Do you have any idea what this might be about?" Ayanokoji asked.
"No. I wasn't expecting to be called either," I replied.
He gave a small nod.
"Might just be procedural."
"That seems likely."
A brief pause followed as we walked.
"How'd you do on the test?" Ayanokoji asked, not turning his head.
"73. You?"
"50."
I glanced at him for a second.
"That's a strange coincidence."
"Yeah," he replied.
Both of us continued in silence, the conversation ending just as quickly as it began.
[Probability of administrative reprimand: 8%. Probability of being drawn into Ayanokoji's nonsense: 71%.]
…Not helpful.
We reached the door.
Ayanokoji looked at me with that same blank expression. "Ready?"
"No."
"Let's go anyway."
He opened the door.
.
.
We reached the staff room, and Ayanokoji quietly slid the door open. His steps were cautious, like he expected something strange to be waiting inside.
We scanned the room. No sign of Chabashira-sensei.
I already knew that. I'd distanced myself from Ayanokoji before we even stepped in—just enough that no one passing by could tell we were together. He noticed, of course, but as expected, he didn't say a word.
This was going to bite him in the ass and i wasn't going to intervine.
"Um, is Chiyabashira-sensei here?" he asked, addressing one of the teachers who was adjusting her makeup in a compact mirror.
"Hmm? Sae-chan? She was here just a moment ago…" came the voice of Hoshinomiya Chie—the sexy, hot, and pedo teacher of Class B, who looked very smashable.
(A/n: Uh.. I will try to be more professional from now on.)
She turned around, flashing a playful smile.
"Looks like she stepped out for something. Want to wait inside?"
"No, I'll wait in the hallway," Ayanokoji replied, glancing back at me briefly. He was probably theorizing in his mind that i knew something like this would happen.
"I'm Hoshinomiya Chie. I handle Class B. Been besties with Sae since high school. We're so close we call each other Sae-chan and Chie-chan~!"
Ayanokoji gave a polite nod.
"So? Why did Sae-chan call you here? Hmm? Hmm?"
"I'm not sure. She didn't say."
"Ehh? You got summoned without a reason? Weird~ What's your name?"
"Ayanokoji."
"Ooh, Ayanokoji-kun, huh? That's a cool name~ Bet you're popular with the girls, right?"
"No… I wouldn't say that."
"Hmm~ really? If we were in the same class, I'd totally go for you. Maybe you're just too pure? Or are you one of those quiet, aloof types?"
She leaned in with a mischievous grin. Ayanokoji instinctively looked toward me. I looked away, pretending not to notice—but I was mentally sighing. 'Why me?'
It was then that she finally noticed I was standing nearby.
"Oh? And who's—"
Before she could finish, the door slid open with force.
"What are you doing, Hoshinomiya?"
Chabashira-sensei had returned, holding a clipboard—and promptly smacked it on Hoshinomiya's head with a dull thunk.
"Oww! What the hell, Sae-chan!?" Hoshinomiya crouched, holding her head.
"That's for messing around with students. Again."
"I was just making conversation while he waited~ You're always so uptight!"
Chabashira ignored her protests and turned to Ayanokoji and me.
"Just leave it at that. Sorry for making you wait, Ayanokouji, Miyamizu. Well then, let's move to the guidance room."
"No, I didn't wait long. Also, the guidance room… did I do something? I thought I was living a non-conspicuous school life."
"A good response. Come with me."
She turned, walking ahead.
.
.
I walked behind Chabashira-sensei in silence, the sound of our footsteps echoing lightly through the hall.
Ayanokoji trailed beside me,
Before we could reach the end of the hallway, a familiar presence sidled up next to us. Hoshinomiya-sensei, with her usual smile that never quite reached her eyes.
Chiyabashira-sensei turned at the sound of her heels clicking against the floor. Her expression shifted in an instant—unmistakably irritated.
"Not you. Stay back."
"Aww, don't be so cold, Sae-chan~ It's not like I'm here to cause trouble. Can't I tag along just a little bit?" Hoshinomiya grinned. "Besides, dragging both Ayanokoji-kun and Miyamizu-kun to the guidance room out of nowhere… You're not planning anything shady, are you?"
Before anyone could respond, she stepped behind me and rested her hands lightly on my shoulders. Her nails tapped rhythmically, on my uniform.
I couldn't see her face from this angle, but I didn't need to. I could feel the sharp static in the air as Chiyabashira's mood plummeted.
"Are you after a younger men, Sae-chan?" Hoshinomiya teased.
'I think you are mistaking yourself with Chabashira sensei here.' I thought.
"Don't say idiotic things. That's not even possible," Chabashira responded flatly.
"Fufu~ well, yeah, it would be impossible for you, huh?"
Despite the cold glare being thrown her way, Hoshinomiya continued walking with us, heels clicking cheerfully.
"How long are you planning to follow us? This matter concerns Class D."
"Eh? Why so exclusive? I can give advice too, you know. A third-party perspective is healthy~"
She was persistent, but Chiyabashira didn't humor her for long.
Before the situation could escalate further, a girl stepped into view from around the corner, cutting directly into our path. She had soft pink hair, neatly styled, and an aura that practically screamed honor student.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, do you have a moment? The student council would like to speak with you."
She gave us a brief glance but addressed Hoshinomiya directly and firmly.
"Looks like someone's looking for you. Go on." Chiyabashira said as she swatted Hoshinomiya's backside with her clipboard.
"Mouu~ Sae-chan's being so harsh today. See you later, Ayanokoji-kun~ Miyamizu-kun~"
She flashed a wink before turning to the girl.
"Well then, let's go, Ichinose-san."
With that, the two of them walked off toward the staff room.
Chiyabashira exhaled through her nose and scratched her head slightly as if brushing off static irritation. Without another word, she turned and resumed walking toward the guidance room—just a few steps away now.
Neither Ayanokoji nor I said anything. There wasn't anything worth saying yet.
We reached the door and stopped.
Time for the next act. This was going to be mentally painful.
.
.