Chapter 349: A Method That Isn't Exactly a "Sure-Win" / The King of Fists, Hirata, Loosens His Grip
Kushida Kikyo opened her eyes around five in the morning.
Upon waking, she found herself pillowed on Shimizu Akira's arm, one leg unceremoniously draped over him. She gently pulled her leg back.
To state the conclusion first: the petty thrill of making Horikita Suzune suffer previously was in a completely different league compared to the deep intimacy shared with her boyfriend. However, she instinctively rubbed her lower back.
...She was definitely feeling a bit sore.
"Tch... maybe I should have Haruka and Airi come over on a rotation?" she muttered under her breath. A few days ago, Haruka had jokingly suggested it.
At the time, Kikyo felt they hadn't been dating long enough and tactfully rejected the proposal. But looking at it now... given last night's "exertion," it really was time to let them take shifts to share the load.
At that moment, Shimizu Akira also woke up and slowly opened his eyes.
"Good morning."
"Good morning~" Kikyo replied with a sweet morning kiss.
She then got out of bed, picking up her scattered underwear and dressing herself unhurriedly.
Akira openly appreciated the scene of his girlfriend getting dressed. Kikyo didn't mind at all; it wasn't the first time, and she had long since grown accustomed to it.
"By the way, Akira-kun," she asked casually while pulling on her stockings, "do you want Class C to choose saving or voting someone out?"
"I'm fine with either," Akira's attitude was relaxed. If it was saving, it was just a matter of splitting 500,000 points. If it was voting... unlike Hirata Yosuke, he didn't view every classmate as a bosom friend.
As long as the person voted out wasn't someone he cared about, he had no objections.
"That's very much your style." Kikyo finished her stockings, stood up to straighten her skirt, and smiled back at him.
"Since you're fine with either, I'll guide things according to my own thoughts. If saving doesn't work, I happen to find a few guys in class quite eyesores."
"Who?" Akira was genuinely curious.
"Who else?!" Kikyo sneered, counting on her fingers.
"Hondo Ryotaro, Miyamoto Soshi, Onizuka, and Koenji Rokusuke! The first three said bad things about you behind your back during the VIP exam. I've disliked them for a long time. As for Koenji... on the first day in the bus, he acted all high and mighty and refused to give up his seat for me! I've been annoyed with those four forever."
Akira's lip twitched. His girlfriend's ability to hold a grudge was truly top-tier. She remembered a tiny incident on a bus from the first day of school and idle gossip from the VIP exam clear as day.
Seeing Akira's "You're really something..." expression, Kikyo tilted her chin up and added righteously: "What? Is that a problem? I can ignore people talking bad about me, but not you! Besides, this isn't purely a personal vendetta."
She raised a finger to analyze: "First, Hondo, Miyamoto, and Onizuka don't just talk behind people's backs; they're the type to form small cliques and spread negative energy while contributing virtually nothing to the class. During the VIP exam, their negligence almost dragged their groups down.
Such unstable elements are hidden dangers for a Class C that needs to improve."
"Secondly, Koenji Rokusuke. He's capable, but he is completely self-centered and disregards all rules and collective constraints. The VIP exam proved that. An unpredictable, uncontrollable guy can be more dangerous than a known weakness at times."
She spread her hands, her face returning to that calculating, sweet smile.
"See? My dislike for them and my choice of them as potential targets are logically consistent—perfectly integrated, even. I vent my personal frustrations while pre-filtering the optimal solution for the class. Two birds with one stone, right?"
From a neutral perspective, her words were flawless. She had masterfully woven personal likes and dislikes with objective interests. Perhaps this was the most terrifying thing about his girlfriend.
"So," Akira summarized, "your plan is to push for the saving option first. But if that fails and we have to vote, you'll guide public opinion to focus on those four?"
"Bingo~" Kikyo snapped her fingers. "If handled correctly, mentioning the risks and burdens these people bring while pushing for the save might actually make more people choose to save. After all, who wants to waste 20 million points just to keep these troublemakers around?"
It was a solid tactic. "Sounds good," Akira praised. "But... are you sure about Koenji? That man isn't easy to control."
"I don't intend to control him," Kikyo shook her head.
"I just need to use him. His arrogant attitude makes him the perfect target. With a little guidance, many in class will naturally find him an eyesore. I won't even need to say much; the votes will lean that way naturally."
Akira nodded in understanding.
"Still, it's infuriating!" Kikyo's anger flared up again.
"Whether we save or vote, we're forced to dance to that bastard Acting Chairman's tune! Even if we protest or intentionally tie the votes, he'll just make a new rule to punish us. I asked the senpai in the Council; there has never been a mandatory expulsion exam like this before! It's all his doing!"
She began to rant about Tsukishiro.
"I heard that in previous years, there were special exams involving expulsions. But! One, those were final exams for the third years. Two, they weren't mandatory; you could choose not to vote, you'd just lose massive Class Points. Nothing as disgusting as this!"
Akira patted her shoulder.
"Alright, alright. I've actually thought of a way... it's not exactly a 'sure-win' strategy, but it might give us a chance to strike back at that guy."
"Really?!" Kikyo looked up instantly. If Akira said he had a way, she believed him.
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8:00 AM
When Akira arrived at the classroom, Kikyo was already there.
"Good morning, Akira-kun!" she greeted him naturally. Despite having shared an intimate morning kiss hours earlier, she acted as if nothing had happened. It wasn't the first time she had slipped out of his room at dawn.
"Good morning, Kikyo." He nodded and returned to his seat. Then, he checked his three daily pieces of intelligence:
Himeno Yuki of Class 1-B believes that having one person expelled would actually benefit Class B's unity. Class 1-D has decided to give the Protection Point obtained this time to Shiina Hiyori. Ishigami Kyo's goal is to eliminate Tsukishiro and the White Room students entering the school in the future.
'Himeno Yuki thinks expulsion promotes unity? A bit extreme.'
It might have logic, but Ichinose Honami would never agree.
'Class D giving the point to Hiyori?'
Did Kaneda Satoru not fight for it, or was it a concession? That was good news; Akira was fine with either Hiyori or Ibuki getting it.
As for the last one... that was vital.
It meant Ishigami Kyo's goals aligned with Ayanokouji's, his own, and Sakayanagi Arisu's.
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After the Last Morning Class
The atmosphere in the room was taut. The usual lunchtime bustle was replaced by a heavy silence.
No one stood up; eyes darted between the podium and acquaintances.
Kushida Kikyo and Hirata Yosuke exchanged a look.
Hirata took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. His usual gentle smile was strained. "Everyone, we need to make the final decision today. Saving or voting... this affects us all and our future."
He scanned the room. Some looked away; some looked at him with hope.
"Personally... I truly hope everyone chooses to save. These 20 million points were gathered bit by bit since the start of school. To exchange them for the survival of a comrade, to show our class won't easily give up on anyone—I believe it's worth it." This time, he didn't force the sentiment; he stated it plainly.
However, different voices immediately rose.
"Hirata, easy for you to say!" a male student stood up.
"That's 20 million! That's several hundred thousand per person! Why should we spend our hard-earned points on... people who contribute nothing?"
"Exactly! Some people have caused more trouble than they've contributed. Now we all have to pay for them?"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean!" Ike Kanji shouted.
"We're a class! Don't talk about contribution!"
"It's a fact!" Ijuin Wataru joined in.
"Guys like Koenji never follow orders. What's the point of keeping him? I think we should just...!"
"Oh? You dare put me, Koenji Rokusuke, on that vulgar list, Ijuin-boy? Who gave you such courage and confidence? Was it the expelled Yamauchi Haruki?" Koenji put down his mirror and leaned back lazily.
Ijuin choked on his words. But after a few seconds, he found his voice again.
"Who else then? Have you ever once cooperated with the class's plans?!"
"Heh heh! I haven't followed orders, true," Koenji said, crossing his legs elegantly. "But I've contributed plenty. I guessed the VIP, giving the class 50 points. At the training camp, my group took first place under my lead. Is that not contribution?"
"Hey! Koenji, aren't you giving yourself too much credit?!"
"Exactly! The VIP guess was your own whim, and the training camp was mostly Shimizu's hard work! You only did anything on the last day!"
Koenji remained unfazed.
"Isn't this an exam to vote out the lowest ability student? Relatively speaking, I am excellent. I didn't study for the last final and got second in the grade. My physical abilities are top-tier. I excel at chess, Go, tea ceremony, and survival... and most importantly, I am a beautiful man." He looked at Ijuin.
"In contrast, Ijuin-boy? Poor grades, hideous to an appalling degree, and terrible physical stats. It's clear who the 'lowest ability' is, no?"
"You...!" Ijuin stammered, then caught a point.
"Hey! You're missing one thing—motivation! Your contribution is 0! No matter how capable you are, you're useless! The reason to vote you out is because you always act alone!"
"Precisely!" Koenji took the bait, a brilliant smile on his face.
"That's why I'm going to turn over a new leaf! I'll contribute properly to the class! As they say, a prodigal son's return is worth more than gold!"
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
"You? Listening to the class? That's hilarious!"
"Koenji, your skin is too thick! You'll say anything to avoid expulsion!"
The majority of the class was stunned. Koenji, the ultimate maverick, turning over a new leaf? No one believed it.
Horikita Suzune rubbed her temples. No one was a child here; those words were empty.
However, his first point had merit. Koenji's raw stats were among the best in the grade.
His only fatal flaw was his refusal to follow orders, which made him an unreliable asset.
Ijuin, conversely, had poor stats but was obedient and caused no trouble.
"Of course, my 'turning over a new leaf' has conditions." The laughter died down. Conditions?
"The condition is..." Koenji's gaze landed on Hirata and Kikyo.
"The class must make the correct choice. For instance, abandoning this meaningless internal friction and choosing a path of efficiency and beauty. If the class continues to make stupid decisions, asking someone like me to follow along is an insult to my talent."
His words promised nothing. He put the responsibility for being "smart" back on the class.
'If you're smart, I'll help; if you're stupid, don't expect me to follow.'
"That's just wordplay!"
"Why are we wasting time with him?!"
Seeing the argument spiral, Hirata coughed.
"Everyone! Why don't we..."
"Why don't we what? Still thinking of saving? Do you think Koenji looks like he'll cooperate?" someone interrupted.
"I bet he won't even pay his 500,000 share! Did he ever pay class fees? Hirata, didn't you pay his first month's 25,000 for him?"
That was the spark.
"What?! Is that true?! Koenji, you bastard!"
"Even if we save, will he even pay? Why should we save him!"
Hirata opened his mouth to say, "If we vote, vote for me," but when he caught Akira's calm gaze, he bit his tongue. Saying that now would only make things more chaotic.
After a few minutes, Kushida Kikyo brought out a simple cardboard ballot box.
"Since we can't agree, let's decide the direct way. We'll have a named vote. One choice: Save or Vote. Everyone must vote; no abstentions. We have 39 people, so no ties."
The students took the slips and wrote their choices. Ten minutes later, Kikyo opened the ballots and counted them on the blackboard. She turned to the class. "Vote: 25. Save: 14."
"Based on the results, Class C's plan for this exam is—Vote."
The room went quiet. Those who chose "Save" looked worried; those who chose "Vote" looked conflicted. Koenji Rokusuke wasn't angry; he looked toward Akira.
"Hahaha! Interesting. So the real target of this exam is me? This is getting interesting."
Hirata's face was pale, his hands clenched. But he looked at the composed Akira, thought for a moment, and slowly loosened his grip.
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Class A Classroom
The atmosphere was equally heavy. After Sakayanagi's "democratic" process, the result was clear. Totsuka Yahiko stood at his seat, face white.
"Totsuka Yahiko-kun," Sakayanagi said.
"After careful assessment and voting, it has been determined that you are the greatest drag and lowest value to Class A. Your earlier slanders against the class strategy failed to prove you have the value to offset these negatives."
She continued in a tone of finality: "Therefore, according to our rules, once the exam ends tomorrow, you can prepare to leave Class A.
Before you go... do you have anything to say to your classmates?"
Yahiko trembled with fury, not fear.
"Sakayanagi! This wasn't a fair vote! You... you manipulated everything! You—"
"Totsuka-kun," Sakayanagi interrupted gently.
"Mind your words. Every vote was cast based on the students' own judgment. Questioning the result is questioning the judgment of everyone in Class A. That... would be inappropriate, wouldn't it?"
"Hey, Sakayanagi! Enough!" Katsuragi Kohei stood up, glaring at her.
"Stop targeting Totsuka. If someone must leave... I'll take his place."
Sakayanagi shook her head.
"No can do, Katsuragi-kun. You are far too useful to this class and others. I can't let you leave."
Katsuragi glared.
"Sakayanagi! You promised Ichinose you wouldn't target me or Totsuka!"
"I'm not targeting you," Sakayanagi said matter-of-factly.
"This was the class's arrangement."
'The class's arrangement?'
Katsuragi almost laughed in anger.
She was shifting the blame to the entire class without blinking.
How was this any different from breaking a promise?
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