"Chabashira-sensei, I'll take this student to the infirmary. Could you please inform Hoshinomiya-sensei? Regarding the subsequent expulsion procedures, they must be completed by 5:30 PM. If the paperwork hasn't been processed by then, the student council will enforce compulsory execution."
Compulsory Execution.
The brief term sent a visible shiver down Chabashira Sae's spine.
"I'll handle it."
Chabashira-sensei nodded and dialed Hoshinomiya-sensei's number.
The school didn't have a permanent medical team.
While there was a pharmacy and regular comprehensive health checks for all students, its ability to handle emergencies was noticeably lacking.
Ironically, Hoshinomiya-sensei, a homeroom teacher, was the school's most skilled health teacher.
If you'd never met her in person, you'd probably feel a surge of deep respect for Hoshinomiya-sensei.
But once you saw Hoshinomiya herself, you couldn't help but wonder, 'Is she really okay?'
Watching the two leave one after the other, Tachibana Akane glanced at the chaotic classroom and sighed.
Horikita Manabu had carried Sato to the infirmary, but they couldn't just leave that idiot Yamauchi lying on the floor, could she?
Tachibana wasn't about to move him herself, so she turned to the Class D students for help.
"Can someone please help me take Yamauchi-kun to the infirmary?"
For a moment, Class D fell silent.
The few guys Yamauchi hung out with had basically all been ordered to expel. They had no energy to spare for him. As for the others, having just witnessed Yamauchi's frenzied outburst, they all kept their distance.
It was then that Ayanokouji raised his hand.
"Let me help."
"Thank you."
Ayanokouji didn't say another word. He hoisted Yamauchi up with one hand and followed Tachibana out of the classroom.
Once the student council members were completely gone...
Whoosh! Class D erupted like a boiling pot, launching into heated discussions.
The main topic was, without a doubt, those six unlucky souls.
The boys didn't seem too concerned. Around Ichihashi Ruri, a group of girls had gathered, trying to comfort the weeping girl.
Only Amane remained on the desk, sleeping soundly.
Horikita found herself sitting down in Ayanokouji's seat, gently patting Amane's back.
"Amane, wake up."
"Is it time to eat?"
Rubbing her eyes, Amane turned over and slumped onto the desk facing Horikita.
She looked so deeply asleep that even Horikita felt convinced Amane was utterly exhausted.
"Ichihashi-san is about to be expelled. Aren't you going to go comfort her?"
Although Horikita wanted to just take Amane back to sleep, she knew, more or less, that Amane and Ichihashi were on reasonably good terms.
So, she was willing to let Amane say a proper goodbye.
But Amane was acting out of character.
She just glanced toward Ichihashi and then paid her no more mind, instead blinking slowly as she gazed at Horikita.
"Suzune, do you remember what Chabashira-sensei said on the first day of school?"
Faced with Amane's sudden question, Horikita was taken aback. It wasn't that she couldn't recall the events of that day.
On the contrary, precisely because it was the day she first met Amane, every detail was deeply etched in Horikita's memory.
But even so, she didn't know which specific statement Amane was referring to.
"It was that one line…"
--+--
"'There is nothing at this school that cannot be bought with points.' I believe you said that, Chabashira-sensei, correct?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked up, meeting Chabashira-sensei's gaze.
"Oh? Did I say something like that?"
Chabashira-sensei's face showed appreciation.
But deep in her eyes, there was a flicker of disappointment.
The current situation wasn't something Ayanokouji could handle alone.
"You did say that. How many points would it cost to prevent their expulsions? I'd like to know the specific price."
Ayanokouji pressed on.
Chabashira-sensei first glanced around.
Seeing no one was approaching, she relaxed and lit a cigarette.
"Ayanokouji, your approach is correct. But the pity is; you can't save them all by yourself. The point cost to prevent one person's expulsion is twenty million points. If you could gather one hundred and twenty million personal points, you could save all six of them. The question is… can you do it?"
Chabashira-sensei's words made Ayanokouji frown slightly.
He had already anticipated that saving one person would require a sum of points that was likely astronomical for him, but he never thought it would be twenty million per person.
It was no exaggeration to say that even if you collected all the points currently held by the first-year students, it probably still wouldn't be enough to scrape together twenty million points.
Let alone a terrifying figure like one hundred and twenty million, a number so vast it was hard to even comprehend.
"Is there really no other way at all?"
This time, even Ayanokouji couldn't help but ask Chabashira-sensei directly.
He didn't believe the situation offered absolutely no room for maneuver. Ayanokouji had understood Horikita Manabu's hint.
If expulsions were inevitable, Ayanokouji could accept that. Saving as many as possible from expulsion was already the maximum effort one could make.
Moreover, Horikita Manabu had indeed hinted that there was a way to save a few more people. Ayanokouji had found that method.
But the cost of this method was something neither he nor the entire first year could possibly afford. Ayanokouji didn't think Horikita Manabu would hint at a completely impossible solution, telling them to gather 120 million personal points.
There had to be something else.
Something he was overlooking.
Seeing Ayanokouji circling the edges of the correct answer, Chabashira-sensei grew anxious.
She wanted to just tell Ayanokouji the real answer directly.
But that would be against the rules.
She could only painfully wait for Ayanokouji to figure it out himself.
Lost in thought, Ayanokouji suddenly seemed to remember something. His head snapped up as he looked at Chabashira-sensei.
"May I ask how many points they are short of reaching a passing score?"
If you can't afford to buy the person, then buy the points. If their scores surpass the passing threshold, the expulsion penalty naturally becomes void.
A smile spread across Chabashira-sensei's face.
Ayanokouji had lived up to her expectations and found the only possible answer.
"Sudo and the others are out of the question. The only ones you can help now are Sakura Airi and Ichihashi Ruri. Their total scores and averages are exactly the same. Which means…"
"Chabashira-sensei, please sell me two units of zero point five."
"I can only sell one full point at a time here, and I can only make one sale."
Chabashira laid out exactly what she could do without holding back.
Now it was up to Ayanokouji's choice.
"And what is the price for one point?"
Even though Ayanokouji knew the school would have safeguards in this area, he was still taken aback that purchasing grades with points was limited to a single transaction. This meant…
Even if he gave it his all, he could only save one more person.
"One point costs one hundred thousand personal points. Can you produce that?"
Faced with the number quoted by Chabashira-sensei, Ayanokouji shook his head.
"I don't have that many points."
"I know you don't. But you not having them doesn't mean others don't…"
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.