I followed the teacher into the guidance room. Well, it was just an ordinary guidance room with a sofa and a table. Still, I had no idea what she intended to talk about here.

“So, what is it? Why did you call me?”

“Well, about that… before we talk, could you come over here for a moment?”

The teacher opened another door deeper inside. Looking inside, it seemed to be a small kitchenette. There was a gas stove and various types of tea were laid out. Without much thought, I stepped inside and picked up the kettle.

“Am I supposed to make tea or something? There’s coffee here too, right?”

“You don’t need to do anything unnecessary. Just keep quiet and stay here. Understood? Stay in here as if you were dead silent until I say you can come out. The moment you disobey me, you’re expelled.”

“…What?”

At the same time she said that, the kitchenette door closed. I couldn’t understand the situation at all, so I put the kettle down and reached for the door.

Just then, I heard the sound of another door opening from outside and instinctively froze.

“Come in. So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about, Horikita?”

The person who entered the guidance room was my seatmate, Horikita Suzune. Sensing something was off, I took my hand off the doorknob and pressed my ear against the wall to listen. Thankfully, the walls here were thin, so I could hear everything clearly.

“I’ll ask directly, without beating around the bush. Why was I assigned to Class D?”

“You really aren’t beating around the bush, are you?”

“Today, you said that students were assigned to Class A in order of excellence. And that Class D is the last refuge where the dropouts gather.”

“Everything I said is true. From the looks of it, you seem to believe you’re an excellent student?”

“I’m confident I got almost all of the entrance exam questions right and I don’t recall making any major mistakes during the interview. At the very least, I don’t think I belong in Class D.”

Listening to this, it was hard to keep from laughing.

I had already more or less grasped what kind of woman Horikita was, but I hadn’t expected her to be this oblivious to her own position and this arrogantly self-righteous. I already knew exactly why she was placed in Class D—from the interviewer’s comments.

Horikita Suzune:
[She has consistently achieved high grades since elementary school and her interview attitude was appropriate. Her motivation to pursue higher education and improve her academic ability is commendable. In middle school, she recorded perfect attendance for three consecutive years, showing no issues with self-management. Judging from these points alone, she qualifies as an A-Class-level capable student. However, she lacks consideration for others and cooperation and frequently clashed with classmates or teachers in middle school. As she appears to require significant correction before being sent into society, she is assigned to Class D.]

In short, she’s nothing more than an incompetent person who believes academic ability is everything and deludes herself into thinking she’s a noble, flawless elite. Depending on the situation, Shinohara or Karuizawa might even be less incompetent than Horikita.

But seriously—why is the teacher letting me hear all this? Did she know I was feeling depressed over points and decide to prepare some premium entertainment for me?

“Horikita Suzune, just as you expected, your entrance exam results placed you in a tie for third among all first-year students this year. The gap between you and first or second place was minimal. You did exceptionally well. We didn’t find any particularly noteworthy problems during your interview either—in fact, you received a rather high evaluation.”

“Thank you. Then… why?”

“Before that, why are you dissatisfied with being in Class D?”

“Who would be happy about being evaluated unfairly? Especially when this school’s class placement has such a massive impact on one’s future. Of course I’m dissatisfied.”

At that, Chabashira-sensei let out a dry laugh. To be honest, I almost laughed too.

“I do acknowledge that your academic ability is excellent. You’re certainly intelligent. But tell me—who ever said that students with high academic ability must be placed into superior classes? We’ve never said such a thing.”

“Well… that’s just common sense, isn’t it?”

After hearing about this school’s system, she still spouts such hopeful nonsense. Horikita truly is an undeniably pathetic incompetent.

“Think about it calmly. If superiority were judged purely by academics, wouldn’t people like Sudō or Ike have been unable to enroll in the first place?”

“Th-that’s…”

“Besides, as you probably realized from the recent pop quiz, Ayanokoji ranked first in the entrance exam with perfect scores in all subjects. She possesses even greater academic ability than you, who pride yourself on intelligence. By your logic, Ayanokoji would unquestionably be an A-Class candidate.”

“Ugh… that’s only because she said something strange during the interview—”

“Exactly. Ayanokoji openly expressed a meritocratic ideology that thoroughly dismisses incompetents. However, in terms of interview content and attitude, she was evaluated far more favorably than you.”

“Impossible…”

If this school determined classes solely by grades, idiots like Sudō wouldn’t have been admitted at all. This alone proves that the school evaluates cooperation and physical ability in addition to academics.

That said, something still doesn’t add up. If physical ability is also evaluated, then Sakayanagi—whose disability makes physical assessment impossible—shouldn’t have been assigned to Class A. And yet Sakayanagi is undeniably a top-tier student, positioned in the highest caste among first-years. It seems there’s still much about the school’s placement system that I don’t understand.

“I’m sorry, but your assignment to Class D was not a mistake. You had to go to Class D. That’s simply the level of student you are.”

“…I see. Then I’ll ask the school again.”

This conversation is completely pointless. If I were Chabashira-sensei, I’d just send her away. The most effective way to deal with someone you can’t reason with is not to engage with them at all.

“Oh, right. I also called one more person to the guidance room. Someone related to you as well.”

And now she’s calling me out at this time? I really don’t get it.

“Someone related to me? Don’t tell me… my brother…”

“Come out now, Ayanokoji.”

For a moment, I genuinely couldn’t process what was happening and seriously debated whether I should go out.

“If you don’t come out, you’re expelled.”

Expelling someone over something like this is obviously absurd, but it would only become more troublesome if I resisted. With a bitter chuckle, I opened the door.

Seeing me suddenly appear, Horikita looked completely taken aback.

“You… you heard everything I said?”

“The walls are thin. I heard it all. An incompetent woman, ignorant of her own standing, screaming desperately about how great she thinks she is—it was so ridiculous I nearly burst out laughing several times. The teacher told me not to say anything, but honestly, it was hard to hold back. Sensei, if your goal was to cheer me up because I was feeling down over points, then I sincerely thank you. Thanks to this, I feel much better.”

At my openly mocking words, Horikita scowled and glared at Chabashira-sensei. She must’ve realized this entire situation was deliberately orchestrated by the teacher.

“Sensei, I need an explanation for why you did this.”

“I judged it to be necessary. Now then, Ayanokoji. I’ll tell you why I called you here.”

“I’m leaving now. And I’ll be sure to report this to the school.”

“Wait, Horikita. Hearing everything about Ayanokoji to the end will benefit you. Depending on how you take it, it might even be a hint on how to move up to Class A.”

At those words, Horikita hesitated, then sat back down. I also took a seat in front and urged Chabashira-sensei to continue.

“So why did you call me? What are you going to do to entertain me this time?”

“Well… for now, it won’t be something enjoyable for you.”

Chabashira-sensei picked up the remote on the table and turned on the TV monitor connected to a camcorder. The moment I saw the screen, my expression froze and I jumped to my feet.

“Sensei… what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

“I heard that you were the first-year who contacted us after seeing the student council notice and I found it interesting—so I recorded it. Ayanokoji Aoi… you’re far more shrewd and dangerous than I expected.”

The video she had recorded clearly showed Shiina and me realizing the truth behind point fluctuations and crying out in shock. Judging by the angle, it was filmed near a CCTV camera. Most likely, she had cleverly installed a miniature camera beside it and secretly recorded us without raising suspicion.

[Should we inform everyone in the class about this right now so they can prepare?]

[No one in Shiina’s class has spent all their points, right?]

[Right. Everyone saves at least a minimum.]

[Then Shiina, tell Class C about this as soon as the weekend ends. And instruct them to keep it absolutely secret from the other classes. Class D is no exception.]

[What about Ayanokoji?]

[I plan to keep this information hidden from Class D. Unlike Class C, which has a fair number of sensible people, our class already has many idiots who’ve spent almost all their points in anticipation of next month. If we tell them now, panic will break out. Our class has a lot of loose mouths, so the information could leak to A or B.]

[I see. When people lose what they rely on, you never know how they’ll change. Some might even blame Ayanokoji.]

There was audio too… Having heard the private conversation I shared with Shiina, Horikita stared at me with a hardened expression. Seeing my reaction, Chabashira-sensei turned off the monitor just as the footage showed Shiina and me leaving the library.

“Throughout the school’s long history, there have been quite a few who suspected point fluctuations before learning the truth of May. But you, Ayanokoji, are the first ever to completely deduce the rules. And on top of that, you thoroughly concealed the truth from your classmates for your own safety. You truly are Class D’s greatest defective product.”

This woman… For a moment, the urge to kill her surged right up to my throat.

“So what? Are you going to expel me for harming the class? If so, you’ll need to explain exactly which rule you’re using to justify my expulsion.”

“I’m not condemning you. On the contrary, I was impressed. You’re the greatest defective product—but at the same time, the greatest premium product.”

A defective product and a premium product? I have no idea what that’s supposed to mean.

“If you’re planning to use that footage to threaten me or Shiina, I won’t stay silent. I’ll be prepared to be expelled and retaliate.”

“Relax. I brought that video only to show it to you and Horikita. Now that its purpose is fulfilled, it’s no longer needed. I didn’t do something as tasteless as making copies, so do as you please.”

As she said that, Chabashira-sensei handed me the SD card from the connected camera. I clenched my fist and crushed the SD card on the spot, glaring fiercely at her—but… it seems true that there was no copy.

“Did you see that, Horikita? Complaints about not accepting your class placement only hold weight when made by someone like Ayanokoji—someone with enough ability that Class D itself can’t accept her placement. Her ability is something that cannot be ignored across all classes from A to D. I can say this with certainty: if Class D is to rise to Class A, Ayanokoji’s existence is absolutely essential. That should be more than enough of a hint for how Class D might advance, don’t you think?”

Horikita seemed deeply shaken and barely able to process Chabashira-sensei’s words. Chabashira-sensei stood up with an expression of indifference.

“I should be going now. The faculty meeting will be starting soon. I need to lock this room, so you two should leave as well.”

I stood up, threw the crushed remains of the SD card into the trash and opened the door. Seeing my expression, Chabashira-sensei seemed intent on provoking me further and added one last remark.

“This matter will be kept secret, since other students are involved. Don’t worry—this school is sensitive about bullying.”

I glared at Chabashira-sensei with rage-filled eyes.

“…Whether I get bullied, branded as trash, or even disciplined, I don’t care. But if you provoke me one more time and snap the last thread of my reason, then… my reason for expulsion will be murder. I sincerely hope you’ll take your student’s feelings toward their teacher into consideration.”

Without looking back, I walked out into the hallway.

…What an utterly irritating day. Feeling sympathy for incompetents, hearing bizarre rumors, getting tangled up with worthless women… and now even being humiliated by a teacher.

If anyone touched me now, I’d probably explode. Thankfully, it was well past dismissal time and no one else was around. Let’s just move… keep walking and calm down. Calm down, sleep it off and all these irritating things will fade from memory—

“Stop right there.”

In the end, someone did touch me.

Ah… today really is the worst day imaginable.