During lunch break, after finishing our meal, the three of us—me, Ayanokoji-kun, and Horikita-san—began preparing for our respective tasks.
"Saito-kun, I'm sorry to bother you again, but could you please summarize the content from this to this page onto a single handout?"
"Hmm, okay."
Horikita-san handed me a handout with subjects and textbook pages written on it. This meant I had to summarize the content from these pages onto a single handout in a way that would be easy for Sudou-kun and the others to understand.
"...You have a tough job."
Horikita-san thanked me with a single word and headed to the library. Seeing our exchange, Ayanokoji-kun looked at me with sympathy.
"Nah, it's fun. Horikita-san is working so hard, so I have to do my part too."
"I see."
My job was to create review questions and explanations for Sudou-kun and the others to study at home after school. Horikita-san was making explanations for the content being taught in class.
I smiled, remembering Horikita-san speaking like a pro, "Although it's unstable, it's inefficient to have you do the explanations for Sudou-kun and the others since they're just building their foundation. Leave the teaching to us and focus on creating problems." It was amazing how well it was working.
Ayanokoji-kun saw me and laughed softly, patting me on the shoulder.
"Well, you're the one who instigated it, so I'm counting on you. And I'm still a little bitter about what happened before."
His bitterness was probably about how Horikita-san threatened him into going to Kushida-san.
"Haha... I'll treat you to a ridiculously fun place next time. Come on, hurry up. Horikita-san will get mad at you."
"Huh? Okay."
Ayanokoji-kun tilted his head in confusion and headed to the library. Well, there's the question of whether there's such an amusement facility in a school like this, which is a miniature garden. Well, that's a secret until we get there.
"Alright, let's get to it."
The deadline was after school tomorrow, and I had plenty of time since I only had to create about five problems and their answers. For now, I'll open the file on my phone and create similar problems based on the ones in it. The explanations will come after that.
"Tsugumi-kun. I'm sorry to bother you while you're studying, but could I have a moment?"
"It's totally fine. What's up, Yousuke-kun?"
As lunch break was nearing its end, Yousuke-kun, who I hadn't talked to much lately, came to talk to me.
"If you don't mind, could you join the study group again after school? I think everyone will be more motivated if you're there."
"Sure. What do you want to do? I can come starting today."
It only takes a little over an hour to create the problems at home, so there's no reason not to help.
"That's a big help... You're always helping me. Everyone was so happy about the past exams, too."
"Don't worry about it. I'm really grateful that the senior was so kind."
I got it after talking about how bad our class's grades were while we were eating together. I'm so grateful.
By the way, there's a certain secret about these past exams, but I haven't told them yet. I plan to tell them right before the test.
----------
The day of the test arrived without any problems... well, there was the problem of the test scope being changed, but I managed to figure it out after coincidentally talking to Arisu-chan about tests. We had done everything we could to prepare. I could confidently say that if we failed now, it would be impossible from the start.
"For you dropouts, the first hurdle has arrived. Are there any questions?"
"We've been studying seriously for the past few weeks. I don't think there will be any students in this class who get a failing grade."
"You're quite confident, Hirata."
Chabashira-sensei said that, but perhaps sensing the motivation spreading throughout D-class, she just laughed and didn't say anything more.
"Chabashira-sensei. I think I finally understand the secret strategy you were talking about."
"...I don't know what you're talking about. Well, it's good that you're confident. I have one more piece of good news for you."
...I don't have any good memories of her saying something was "good news," but what she said this time was truly wonderful news.
"If no one gets a failing grade on both this midterm test and the final test in July, I'll take all of you on a vacation during summer break."
"A vacation?"
"That's right. Let's see... I'll give you a dreamlike life on an island surrounded by a blue sea."
That sounds good. I'll set up a parasol on the beach and read a book with Arisu-chan. I was imagining that, but the other boys in the class were different, their eyes sparkling as they let out a roar. ...If they want to see swimsuits, they could just invite them to the pool.
"Pervert."
At Horikita-san's mutter, Ayanokoji-kun, who was shouting next to me, became visibly flustered. He's so funny. After the subjects other than English were over, we went to Sudou-kun's desk, who was our biggest concern.
"Hey, how'd it go, Sudou-kun? Were you able to study without falling asleep?"
"Yeah... You really saved me. If you hadn't called, I might have been desperately looking at the past exams right now."
"You were about to fall asleep!? Even after Saito brought you the past exams..."
Ike-kun, who was also in the study group, cut into our conversation. Sudou-kun grumbled at Ike-kun, who was accusing him in disbelief.
"Shut up, I was tired. I ended up waking up and doing it properly, so what's the problem?"
"That's not the point."
Before I knew it, all the members of the study group had gathered. It must be a talent to be worried about this much, huh, Sudou-kun?
"No, but still, you're amazing! I would have never thought of using the past exams!"
"It was just a coincidence. A coincidence."
Other classmates who heard Ike's voice also came over to thank me. If it was just a regular past exam, I wouldn't be treated like a hero. And the reason I was being thanked so much was because of the aforementioned 'secret.'
"Nah, even if it was a coincidence, I think it's amazing. I was worried about my score too, so it was a big help."
The secret was that these past exams were exactly the same as the questions on this test. I had a feeling there was something to them when a senior told me that they would "definitely be useful," but I never thought they would be identical, down to every single word.
"Well, you can thank me after you pass the test. Let's just do a final check."
I was starting to feel a little embarrassed, so I changed the subject. And the English test, which followed, went without a hitch, and I was able to solve all the problems.
----------
The moment she stepped into the classroom, Chabashira-sensei looked around at us in surprise. The students were waiting with bated breath for the midterm test results, and the atmosphere was tense.
"Sensei. I heard the results will be announced today, but when?"
"You don't need to be so anxious, Hirata. A test like that should have been easy for you."
"...When?"
Her jokes didn't seem to work on students whose expulsion was on the line. Chabashira-sensei shrugged her shoulders and pulled out a large sheet of paper. It would probably be posted all at once, just like the quizzes.
"Honestly, I'm impressed. I didn't think you could get such high scores. Math, Japanese, and Social Studies all had more than 10 people with perfect scores, so they were tied for first place."
The number 100 was displayed, and the students cheered and rejoiced. The scores of the three idiots, including Sudou-kun, who I was worried about, were in the high 70s on average, which was a good effort.
"The lowest score was Sudou's English at 60 points. Rejoice, everyone. At this point, the possibility of expulsion is gone. No matter how much the failing grade changes."
"Oh, so it does change."
"W-what do you mean? Wasn't the failing grade 31 points?"
Ike-kun, who was confused by the conversation between Chabashira-sensei and me, muttered.
"I'll teach you the criteria for a failing grade in this school."
Chabashira-sensei wrote a simple equation on the blackboard. The numbers 84.2 ÷ 2 = 42.1 were written on it.
"The failing grade for the last and current test is set for each class. And the way to find it is to take the average score and divide it by two. You need to get a score higher than that."
"So, it wasn't enough to just get 32 points..."
Ike-kun's voice trembled at the fact that he could have been expelled if he had made a mistake. This person really doesn't explain things enough, does she? If I hadn't told them about the test scope, we probably would have been doomed.
"Well, I think you would have been fine even without the past exams. I'm guessing you would have gotten around 50 points, at least."
"You think so...?"
Ike-kun's voice echoed, but we, D-class, successfully survived the first regular test.
----------
As everyone was celebrating, I left the classroom alone and chased after Chabashira-sensei, calling out to her. We were in a secluded part of the school, and there were no other students around.
"What's wrong? Did you forget to ask something? Well, a guy who got a perfect score in every subject probably doesn't need to ask anything."
Chabashira-sensei looked at me with a teasing smirk. Normally, I would have a witty retort, but this time it was a serious matter.
"Yes, just one thing. It's about your goal."
"What's with the sudden change? My goal? I'm just doing my job as a teacher."
That's a lie. At first glance, she gives the impression of being an unmotivated teacher with little interest in her students, but underneath, she holds a great ambition. Well, I hope my guess is right.
"I heard from a senior that the class's evaluation at graduation is reflected in the homeroom teacher's record, is that right?"
"That's right. So what? Are you saying that I'm desperately trying to get you delinquents to A-class for that reason?"
"Yes. And I was wondering. Why do you have such a complex about the upper classes?"
At my words, Chabashira-sensei's eyes widened for a moment. Bingo. She has an unusual obsession with A-class. And it's not for a materialistic reason like her evaluation, but something much deeper.
"...The test must have made you overconfident. I'll let it slide for now, but if you insult a teacher again, I'll take appropriate action—"
"I—"
I intentionally cut off Chabashira-sensei's words as she tried to brush me off. My voice, which was chillingly cold, echoed through the empty hallway. A look of surprise and awe pierced through me at my demeanor, which was the complete opposite of my usual jovial one. I took a breath and fulfilled the purpose of my visit once more.
"I absolutely despise your methods. The way you trample on the landmines of the students you're supposed to protect and even threaten them with expulsion."
Adults should cherish and protect children. Even a worthless person like me doesn't change that core belief. It should never be shaken.
"If you truly want to go to A-class, you should stop that method. If you don't, something irreversible will happen."
"Is that a threat? You're being quite presumptuous, but you're aware that you're being marked as a person of interest, aren't you? And your evaluation and reports are entrusted to me. Do you understand what that means?"
"That's what I'm talking about, Sae Chabashira. You may think you have control right now, but if you think I'm the only one who will show his fangs, you need to reevaluate that."
The face of a male student, who I could confidently say was my closest friend in D-class, came to my mind. After interacting with him for a little less than two months, I've come to realize that he's a monster. And at the same time, there's also a high chance that he can return to being human.
I have no way of knowing why Chabashira-sensei is so obsessed, and I don't want to. However, knowing that Chabashira-sensei forced Horikita-san to listen to her story, it's easy to imagine her using expulsion to force him to cooperate.
"You know, don't you? About his past, 'Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.' Teachers are given access to students' past information."
And I had a hypothesis about Ayanokoji-kun's past. That "Kiyotaka Ayanokoji was abused by his parents and came to this Advanced Nurturing High School to escape from it."
"...You said it to me before, didn't you? 'What are you so obsessed with?'"
"You heard that?"
It was quite a loud voice... Without a care for my dejected look, Chabashira-sensei spat out.
"It's true that I strongly desire to go to A-class, just as you said. But what about you?"
"...What do you mean?"
I see, that way of speaking is certainly irritating. I can understand why Chabashira-sensei is in a bad mood.
"This is just my intuition, but you haven't shown your true colors yet, have you? At least not in your communication with others."
"I have plenty of friends."
"Heh, I see. But I'll tell you one thing."
Unlike before, Chabashira-sensei looked at me with a strong-willed gaze. I felt the tables turn, but I decided to listen to her words with acceptance.
"Don't think that you can hold Ayanokoji's reins by holding back... or in your case, keeping secrets? Whichever it is, he fundamentally doesn't trust others."
"...That's not for you to decide."
She seems to have the wrong idea, but I have no intention of making Ayanokoji-kun my slave. ...It's just that I couldn't stand by and watch my first friend in high school be tossed around by the convenience of the adults around him. That's all.
"Are you done talking? Then I'll be leaving. I'm busy."
Saying that, Chabashira-sensei turned on her heel and left. The hallway she left behind was dark and filled with stagnant air, as if foreshadowing the dark clouds ahead.
============
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