With Bitch-sensei safely back, our classroom was starting to return to its usual daily routine.

In the middle of that, we got our hands on some information and once we got curious, we infiltrated a cafe far away from the school.

clink clink

"Welcome, ah, thanks as always."

"Harabe-san and Itō-san."

"Yūma-chan, are you doing well?"

"I'm not here for coffee anymore, I’m here for Yūma-chan♪"

"Come on, if you say that, the manager’s going to sulk."

"Harada-san is a mocha and Itō-san is the usual espresso, right?"

"Also, today the manager recommended chiffon cake, we’ve got some..."

"Then two of those, please."

"Thank you so much♪"

After taking the order, Isogai walked over our way.

"He really is ridiculously handsome, our leader."

"I wanna kill him..."

"You guys sure are persistent, hanging around over one cup of tea..."

"Who cares, right?"

"I’m keeping quiet about you working a part-time job."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, I’ll do it since you’re blackmailing me."

"It’s just dregs but I’ll throw in some extra tea♪"

'He's so handsome...'

Without paying any attention to Okajima’s flames of jealousy, Isogai smoothly kept up with his work.

"What, did your mom get sick again?"

"Yeah, well, it’s just us, a single-mother household..."

"I’ve got to help out with the bills even a little."

'He's so handsome...'

"His only flaw is that he’s poor but even that he turns into something handsome, you know?"

"He wears cheap clothes from bargain stores and still looks clean without making them look cheap."

'He's so handsome...'

"Hey, Ayanokōji, remember when I caught goldfish at the festival the other day?"

"He let me eat some and his goldfish dish is insanely good."

'He's so handsome...'

Seriously?

Back then I had no idea what was going on and turned him down but if it was that good, I should’ve tried it...

"And also... after he used the bathroom, the toilet paper was folded into a triangle."

'He's so handsome...'

"Oh, I fold the paper too, into triangles..."

'Filthy!!'

"And look at that, that natural-born madam-killer vibe of his..."

'He's so handsome...'

"Yeah, I also get treated like a toy by the neighborhood aunties a lot..."

'Get it together!!'

"Even now he still sometimes gets love letters from students in the main school building."

'He's so handsome...'

"Some things only a handsome guy can pull off, Isogai-kun and sensei, for example..."

"Handso... who the hell are you?!"

"Yeah, yeah, the honey toast here is incredible."

"Because of that, I’ve been turning a blind eye to Isogai-kun’s part-time job."

"But you all aren’t that mad even if he’s handsome, right?"

"Well..."

"And why’s that?"

"Because he’s just a good guy, that’s all."

"He is, you don’t need any other reason."

clink clink

"Welcome."

"Oh my, oh my, oh my, just like the information said, there’s a student working part-time here, that’s bad, Isogai-kun♪ This makes your second serious violation of school rules, I’m disappointed in you, Isogai Yūma-kun."

Asano Gakushū.

The chairman’s only son…

This feels like it’s going to turn into another mess…

"Previously, your part-time job was discovered and you were demoted to Class E. And yet, it seems you haven’t reflected on that at all since then…"

"Wait, Asano, could you keep quiet about this? I can earn the money I need by the end of this month."

"Yeah, I’d like to give you a chance if possible."

As he said that, the face he made while thinking up something unpleasant really did look exactly like the chairman’s.

"Then shall I give you one condition? If you can show fighting spirit, I’ll pretend I never saw this."

"…Fighting spirit?"

"Our school’s ethos is to value above all those who possess the will to fight in society and to show enough fighting spirit to earn respect so great it can even wipe violations clean means…"

"Pole-toppling at the sports festival?"

"Yeah. If you beat Class A, he’ll turn a blind eye, apparently."

"Tch, it’s obvious he’s trying to make us embarrass ourselves."

"What do we do… if we don’t accept, Isogai gets penalized again, right? Worst case, he might even get expelled."

"No, there’s no need, everyone. It’s Asano, who knows what he’d do… This is my mess so I’ll take full responsibility. Expulsion, bring it on. Assassination’s something you can aim for even from outside the school building."

"You’re not handso— you’re not cool at all!!"

"What are you doing, getting drunk on yourself, ahoge-poor!" [TL: Ahoge-poor = broke goofy guy.]

"Ahoge-poor?!"

"Don’t overthink it, Isogai. We just have to beat those Class A bookworms at pole-toppling, right? Easy."

"That’s true. Honestly, it’s lucky they found out about your part-time job."

"It’s our chance to pay back all the grudges we’ve built up, all at once, lol."

"Not just knock it down, let’s snap it in half. Right, handsome guy!"

"You guys… alright, let’s do it!"

"Yeah!!"

It’s his usual conduct.

He acts by putting class harmony first instead of himself.

And what he’s gained from piling that up is 'personal virtue', one of the essential qualities a leader needs.

But pole-toppling isn’t assassination, it’s war.

No matter how much training we’ve done, the difference in numbers is almost double.

If we challenge them without a plan, we’re the ones who’ll be crushed.

And since Isogai kept things smooth about the fact I’d been hiding my ability and I owe him for that favor back then, I’ll repay that debt here…

* * *

On the day of the sports festival, the praised target next to me, despite having nothing to do with it, is loudly going full doting-parent mode and is incredibly annoying.

"Kyah, Kimura-kun, you’re so cool! Smile more while you run, yes, justice!"

It’s not for nothing that we’ve been receiving assassination training for half a year, everyone’s basic stamina, balance and dynamic vision are excellent and those effects are being fully demonstrated in these non-everyday events.

Each person’s individuality, of course, also becomes a weapon.

How to make use of that depends on Isogai but his expression is somehow gloomy.

"You okay, Isogai?"

"…Ayanokōji, no matter how you put it, Asano really is amazing. I don’t think someone like me can measure up…"

"Maybe so. No matter how versatile you are, once you go out into society, there are plenty of people above you, like him…"

"What if… because of me, everyone ends up getting hurt…"

"But in society, one person’s strength has limits. The ability to lead companions and fight, in that regard, you already surpass Asano. That comes from the personal virtue you’ve built up until now. Just like you protected me and helped me back then, I’ll help you if you’re in trouble. The others should be the same. So you can relax and fight. You’re not alone."

"Ayanokōji… alright everyone, we’re going in like we mean to kill!"

"Yeah!!"

* * *

Isogai POV

“Next up is the exhibition. And what’s this, Class E has thrown down the gauntlet to Class A! Don’t lose, our school’s elite!”

Seeing Class A’s lineup, all of us in Class E were left speechless.

Because standing there were…

"F-foreigners?!"

"That’s against the rules!"

“For this exhibition, exchange students will be participating for the purpose of cultural exchange!”

Asano, no matter what tricks you try to pull, for the sake of everyone fighting with me, there’s no way I can lose this match.

Bang!

With the signal, the curtain rose on the war.

Come on, bring it.

"Complete Defense Form!"

I gave orders to my classmates as planned, everyone took up a defensive posture and prepared to meet Class A’s assault.

Just as we intended, Asano gave instructions to his vanguard and began the attack.

Terrifying tackles driven by the massive frames of the foreign athletes.

But there’s no way we’re just going to take it.

For defense, Yoshida and Muramatsu have already sprung out.

"Damn it, like hell I’m going down without a fight!"

"Wooo!"

We stop them for a moment but can’t completely kill their momentum and end up taking the tackle.

"Gah!”, “Ah"!"

“That’s two already! They got blown all the way into the stands!”

We’re already outnumbered.

We’re all defending but if we get picked off one by one like this, we’ll be bled dry.

Seeing an opening, Class A’s vanguard attacks again but… this is exactly according to plan.

"Now everyone, Operation Tentacle!"

At my signal, my classmates dodge at the very last moment before impact and instead pin down the vanguard using grappling holds.

But we’re tied up just defending and if we don’t attack, nothing will change and Asano knows that too.

"Both wings, roaming strike unit, Command K!"

Orders immediately fly and the attack units close in.

But with pressure from both sides, the center opens up and the enemy force spreads thin.

Thinking there’s no better timing, I lead our main force straight for the pole.

"Alright, move out! Attack unit, Operation Slime!"

"Yeah!!"

We cut through the central line with a small elite force.

But Asano read this move, turned the attack units deployed left and right back around and instantly completed a defensive formation that surrounded us.

Asano really is incredible.

A mind that perfectly reads our movements and command ability without a single opening.

There’s no way I can beat him no matter what.

But with these guys, I can say with confidence that I can fight.

I’ll show you the way the weak fight…

We change direction and sprint straight into the stands.

“W-what, Class E! They’re running into the stands! The stands are in total panic!”

"There was no rule saying out-of-bounds was forbidden. Come on, this whole school is a battlefield♪"

"It’s nothing more than desperate flailing. Pay special attention to Akabane, Kimura and Isogai, they’re the ones who could grab the tip of the pole!"

With Asano’s orders, the marking on the three of us tightens.

But while they’re focused on us, they haven’t noticed the real target.

Until then, we just endure.

"Isogai, about time, right?"

"Yeah, up to here, it’s all according to plan!"

Right after that, two shadows sprinted from the stands toward Class A’s pole.

'W-when did two from Class E… where did they come from?!'

"We’ve practiced breakfalls until we’re sick of it, the hard part was acting like we got thrown into the stands!"

They’re few but they’ve grabbed onto Asano’s body.

If we don’t push now, there won’t be another chance.

"We’re done running, everyone, Sonic Speed!"

"Roger!"

Using ourselves as bait, we carry out a surprise assault and succeed in getting into Class A’s inner circle.

But Asano skillfully uses martial arts movements and the pole itself to shake us off.

"You think the likes of you can stand on the same stage as me? You’re prepared to be kicked off, aren’t you?"

Asano kicks us down one after another with deft techniques.

Class A’s students begin returning and at this rate we’ll be completely surrounded.

After coming this far, Asano alone is changing the battle.

Frustrating…

How many times have I wished I had that kind of power…

On my own, it really isn’t a match.

But we haven’t lost yet.

Kicked down, I crouch and become a stepping stone, sending reinforcements even one meter higher.

And then there’s that problem child.

He always avoids standing out and hides his ability but when a classmate is in trouble, he always lends a hand.

"Asano, a secret weapon is something you save until the very last moment! Come on, Ayanokōji!"

"Yeah."

Despite his usual listless reply, the speed he comes at me with is terrifying.

I immediately take a volleyball receive stance and the instant Ayanokōji plants his foot in my hands, I throw him upward with all my strength.

Leaping into the air, he uses that momentum to kick the pole, twists his body and grabs the tip.

After that, we all put our weight on it and bring the tilted pole down together.

The whistle blows the moment the pole falls.

"Class E… wins!!"

"Woooo!!"

* * *

Ayanokōji POV

After safely finishing pole-toppling, we’re currently busy cleaning up.

"Still, you really nailed that last move, Ayanokōji!"

"It was the leader’s order, so I pushed myself a little."

My athletic ability being exposed too is a problem but thinking about what comes next, the disadvantages of hiding it are starting to shrink.

While thinking that, I spot Asano and the others ahead.

"Hey Asano, you won’t go back on your word, right? You said you’d keep quiet about that thing."

"I don’t lie. Unlike you, I don’t use underhanded methods. But next time, it won’t go like this. I’ll drive every last one of you into ruin."

"Tch, sore loser, lol."

"Don’t worry about it, Isogai. He can’t understand your hardships anyway."

"No, compared to him, I’m not some hard-luck guy at all. Today, with everyone helping me, I even thought it was good that I’m poor."

He doesn’t have Asano’s flashiness.

But Isogai is there, not in front and not behind and before you know it, he’s right beside you.

Class 3-E’s class representative is a leader, a handsome guy and an assassin.

And as an aside, after everything that happened, when we reached the midterm exams, because we couldn’t secure enough study time, almost all students except Karma ended up failing.