The faces of the students, initially brightening at the news that they could save another classmate, instantly fell as soon as they heard points needed to be pooled together. Looks of difficulty spread across everyone's expressions.
While everyone still had some personal points left, due to the Sudō incident, no points would be distributed on the first of the coming month.
Basically, no one dared to spend points recklessly at a time like this.
Usually, everyone was just getting by on the relief meals—the Mountain Vegetable Set—and free bottled water.
Only when they absolutely couldn't take it anymore would they buy a pack of snacks or some meat to reward their stomachs.
That was just how strapped for cash Class D was.
"Hirata, I know you mean well, but we really don't have any points left. Mine were completely spent by last month," said a boy Amane didn't really recognize, urged on by those around him to speak up.
Hirata saw it all clearly. He knew perfectly well that what this boy was saying wasn't just his own stance—it represented the attitude of the small cliques around him, and even most of Class D as a whole.
"I know everyone is struggling," Hirata said, "but this donation drive is to save our classmate. I'm not forcing anyone to give all the points they have. I just hope everyone can contribute what they can, within their means. Please."
He bowed his head deeply, his pleading tone moving many of the girls.
"My points are relatively sufficient. I'll donate ten thousand points," Horikita Suzune said, leading by example with a donation of ten thousand personal points.
Because Amane had instructed Hirata beforehand not to reveal their hand too early, he hadn't yet disclosed that Ayanokōji would contribute fifty thousand points, or that Amane would cover the remaining shortfall.
Everyone still thought they only needed fifty thousand points to save one class member.
Seeing Horikita donate ten thousand points in one go, many couldn't help but look at her with envy. Most of them were down to just a few hundred points, or even completely broke.
For Horikita to casually donate ten thousand meant she definitely still had points to spare. Some couldn't help but gaze at her with jealous eyes.
Beside her, Kushida raised an eyebrow. "I'll also donate ten thousand points," she said, not to be outdone, offering the same amount.
This put the previously uneasy crowd somewhat at ease.
They'd already raised twenty thousand points right off the bat—was fifty thousand really that far off? Maybe the meeting would end before they even had to donate their own meager few hundred points.
The third donor was Hirata himself. "I'll donate twelve thousand, seven hundred and sixty-three points," he said.
Everyone was shocked by the precise, odd amount.
"Hirata-kun, don't tell me you're donating all your points?" Kushida asked.
Facing her question, Hirata nodded solemnly. "To save a classmate we see every day, a few points are nothing."
His words inspired many others to start offering up their own points to join the effort to save their classmate.
But by the time everyone who was willing to donate had done so, the total was only a little over thirty-nine thousand points.
They were still short by over ten thousand points to reach fifty thousand.
Just Horikita, Kushida, and Hirata alone had contributed thirty-two thousand points combined, while the several dozen others together had only scraped up seven thousand.
Hirata knew everyone had tried their best, but he also knew that many were still holding back.
He could choose to end the collection here and just let Amane cover the rest. But he wasn't willing to accept it—he was frustrated that a significant number of people had refused to donate entirely.
Some had even left the classroom before the collection was over.
His expression darkened.
Seeing Hirata like this, Karuizawa next to him reluctantly offered to donate a bit more.
She had initially pledged one thousand points—less than a tenth of the nearly ten thousand points she actually had.
She'd figured she'd just contribute enough to get by, assuming that with so many people, they'd surely find a way to gather the points.
It was with that mindset that she'd only donated one thousand.
"Fine, I'll donate another two thousand," she said.
"But honestly, for us in Class D, after two months, everyone's points are pretty much spent. For the rest, why don't we borrow from friends in other classes?"
Her suggestion was immediately supported by some of the other girls.
"She's right," Shinohara chimed in.
"Just relying on us, we won't make it even if we wait until 5:30. With Kei's two thousand, we're at forty-one thousand now, right? If we only need nine thousand more, borrowing from a few people should cover it."
Matsushita nodded in agreement. "I also think Karuizawa-san and Shinohara-san's suggestion is more practical. If we contact friends in other classes now, we might still have time."
Seeing that some were still willing to take action for Class D, Hirata felt slightly relieved.
His gaze subtly shifted toward Amane.
Catching Hirata's look, Amane gestured for him to be patient, then turned to Horikita, who had switched seats with Ayanokōji.
"So, Suzune, what are your thoughts on seeing everyone's donations?" Amane's question felt like a needle, pricking right at Horikita's heart.
About a third of the seats in the classroom were now empty.
These people had all chosen to leave, using the excuse of having no points.
Some of them had even been among those previously expelled. When faced with someone in need of help, they had chosen to turn a blind eye.
Horikita let out a heavy sigh. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even know how to handle a situation like this," she admitted.
If she had recklessly tried to collect points from the class without Amane's promise beforehand, and they still came up short by a few thousand points even after everyone's best efforts... what would she, Horikita Suzune, have done?
Other than borrowing from other classes as a stopgap, she had no better ideas. After all, she couldn't magically create points out of thin air.
"And do you still have confidence leading a Class D like this to rise to Class A?" Amane deliberately chose to twist the knife.
Horikita shot a glare at Amane. "There's no turning back once the arrow is loose. At this point, we have to press on regardless. If I gave up now, my brother would definitely laugh at me."
Horikita Suzune was fully aware of the various major hidden flaws within this class.
The driving ambition in her heart couldn't help but weaken considerably. But whenever she remembered her promise to her brother, Horikita Manabu, that night—how she had confidently declared that she would definitely lead Class D to Class A—a bitter taste filled her mouth.
Things had already come this far. The only option was to keep moving forward. Otherwise... she would never be able to prove to Horikita Manabu that she was just as exceptional as he was.
Seeing the shift in Horikita's resolve, Amane smiled in satisfaction.
Then, she slowly raised her hand.
"I'll donate ten thousand points."
The moment these words left her mouth, the classroom erupted in murmurs. Even Wang Mei Yu, sitting in front of her, couldn't help but turn around to look at Amane.
"It's not really my place to say," Wang Mei Yu whispered, "but Amane, you know they don't have to pay these donated points back, right?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Amane replied, giving Wang Mei Yu a wink.
She then stood up.
"Now, shouldn't we discuss exactly who we're saving with these fifty thousand points?"
--+--
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!
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If you guys wanna check it out.