June mornings are noisier than usual. The reason is obvious. It is a day when we can receive points for the first time in a while since enrollment. Everyone must be filled with anticipation, expecting to receive points, though probably fewer than on the first day of school because everyone has already worked so hard.

However, the reason for the noise is not because the points have been deposited.

“Hey, Ayanokoji, did you get your points by any chance?”

Sato asks me whether my points came in. The reason is obvious. Even though it is already morning, not a single person in Class D has received any points.

“No. Nothing came in at all.”

“Not even you, Ayanokoji?! Th-then… don’t tell me… are we at zero points again this month?”

Sato wears an extremely anxious expression. Looking closely, everyone has the same uneasy look on their faces. It seems they are already thinking about how they are supposed to survive this month.

Of course, my thinking is different.

“If that were the case, the points Katsuragi promised me from our bet would not have come in either. They are supposed to be automatically settled when Class A receives their points. In other words, it means Class A did not receive points either. Then it is probably just a system issue or a matter of exact timing for the deposit, so it is better to wait.”

“Really? Really, Class D is going to get points, right?”

“It is an acknowledged fact that Class D was the main player of this midterm. It would be unacceptable for the points not to come in. If they still do not arrive by today, I intend to formally raise the issue with the school tomorrow.”

“If Ayanokoji says so, then it must be right! Everyone, it looks like we can wait~!”

It seems Sato stepped forward because the class wanted to hear my opinion. Karuizawa and Shinohara, who have a history of conflict with me, still seem uncomfortable around me and the rest are either awkward or afraid to talk to me. Sato, who previously played a major role as my chess piece, is the perfect person to casually ask for my opinion.

For now, since Sato follows me well, I can use her effectively later and I already have plans for her. She might be a one-time piece but I have obtained a usable chess piece. Unlike the other pawns, perhaps she can at least be a knight.

With the bell signaling the start of morning assembly, Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom.

“Sae-sensei! Are our points zero again this month?! I checked this morning and not even a single yen came in!”

“So that is why the atmosphere was so restless?”

“We really worked ourselves to death this past month. We did well on the midterms too… and yet it is still zero. Isn’t that too cruel?! We did not have any tardiness, absences or idle chatter at all!”

Everyone agrees with Ike. This class knows, through me, that academic performance affects class points. If points do not come in here, my information will be doubted.

But all of my information is true. If there are no points, I will personally raise an objection.

“Do not jump to conclusions and listen to me first. Ike, as you said, you all worked incredibly hard this time. Especially Ayanokoji’s performance exceeded expectations. The school side naturally acknowledges it and if they did not, I was prepared to raise an objection.”

At Chabashira-sensei’s tone, which contained both admonishment and strong resolve, we stopped complaining and Ike returned to his seat.

“Then I will announce this month’s points right away.”

The paper in Chabashira-sensei’s hand was spread on the blackboard and the results were revealed in order starting from Class A.

Class A: 950 + 74 = 1024 cp
Class B: 650 + 13 = 663 cp
Class C: 530 + 80 = 610 cp
Class D: 0 + 97 = 97 cp

Every class increased compared to last month. None of them went down.

Class A was originally strong overall and Katsuragi worked hard for our bet. On top of that, Sakayanagi thought the same way as I did and used the same strategy on her own faction, so this increase is perfectly understandable.

There is no information on Class B so I will pass on them. However, they showed the lowest growth rate among all classes. In other words, not a single person thought about the answer sheets like I did, like Ryūen did or like Sakayanagi did. It is likely there is no one there worthy of satisfying me.

Class C also posted an enormous number, second highest overall. I shared information with Shiina and Ryūen’s control must have influenced their point growth. Considering the gap with B, if their average academic level were as high as A’s, they might have risen to B by now.

As for our Class D… Even considering the cause, it is a number beyond imagination.

“Huh? What, 97… then that means we are in the plus now?! We finally did it!”

Ike jumped up in joy when he saw the points and everyone shouted in victory. Some even called out the Ayanokoji chant that has now become Class D’s trademark.

“It is too early to celebrate. Although your growth is the highest, the gap has not closed at all. If you think about it, this is merely a kind of reward for first-year students who passed the midterms. You just gained more points than the others.”

The points certainly went up but with this level of growth, catching up to Class C, let alone Class A, is still difficult. Above all, as long as Ryūen rules Class C, their class points are unlikely to fall. Since the gap with B is only 53 points, they may rise to B soon.

Meanwhile, Horikita, who is aiming for Class A, did not seem happy at all with the first class points she has received since enrollment. There was no smile on her face.

“Are you disappointed, Horikita? Well, the gap between the classes is still huge.”

“I am not disappointed. If anything, I gained something from this announcement.”

“What did you gain?”

Ike asked but Horikita remained silent. Perhaps since being ‘forgiven’ by me, she has been reluctant to speak up in class. I sigh and answer in her place.

“Horikita is saying that the debts you built up in April and May… in other words, the invisible negatives from idle chatter and tardiness, did not turn into minus points.”

At my words, Ike raised both arms as if he understood.

“I see. Even if we got 100 points, if the negatives piled up like a mountain, it would have become zero, right? … Huh? But then why did the points not come in?”

Ike returned to square one with the most natural question and looked at Chabashira-sensei. Normally, 9,700 private points should have been deposited.

“There was a minor problem this time. So the distribution of points for first-years is delayed. I am sorry about that, but please wait a little longer.”

“Eeeh?! Really? If the school messed up, shouldn’t they give us some kind of bonus or something?”

“Do not blame me too much. It is the school’s decision and not something I can control. Once the issue is resolved, the points will be paid. If there are any left, that is.”

Heh, so that is what it was.

The cause of this point distribution incident is probably the timing of Class C’s assault exposure. They likely reported the violence before the points were distributed this morning or at dawn, assigned a minus to the points that would be given to Class D and tried to make D’s points zero. I knew they would expose it after the points went up but I did not think they would try to interfere with this month’s points themselves.

Ryūen, that bastard, is more capable than I thought.

I glanced at Sakura and could feel her trembling slightly with an anxious expression. It seems my chess piece carried out her job smoothly. It would be nice if she even prepared physical evidence but it is not strictly necessary.

Then Ryūen, this is the start of our match. Come at me head-on so that my victory will be all the more precious and sweet.

* * *

“Sudō, I have something to talk to you about. Follow me to the staff room.”

After school, just as Sudō was about to quickly leave the classroom, Chabashira-sensei called out to him. The reason is obviously yesterday’s violence incident.

“Huh? Why me? I have to go to basketball practice.”

Looking at Sudō’s lethargic expression, it seems he still has not grasped the situation. Perhaps he thinks it is fine because yesterday’s violence was not his fault.

“I have already informed your advisor. Whether you come or not is your choice but I cannot take responsibility later.”

“What is it about… will it be quick?”

“That depends on you. Time is passing even now.”

When Chabashira-sensei’s tone became strong enough to sound like a threat, Sudō shrank back slightly. It seems he is finally starting to understand.

Sudō clicked his tongue openly and followed after Chabashira-sensei. After Sudō left, silence filled the classroom. It seems everyone is wondering whether Sudō might have caused some kind of trouble.

“He seems changed but also not changed. Maybe it would have been better if Sudō had been expelled after all.”

If murmurs like this spread, the class unity will surely crack. However, perhaps it was only a mutter because everyone quietly prepared to go home.

Unlike the person who muttered, most of them believed Sudō would not cause trouble.

“There must be something else going on. There is no way he would mess up, right?”

“Yeah. After barely avoiding expulsion, he is not an idiot. He would never do that.”

“Ayanokoji spent 100,000 points to save him. If he has any conscience, he could never do something like that.”

“Exactly. There is no way he would be stupid enough to cause trouble now. That would make him a real idiot.”

Poor fools. I look forward to seeing what expressions they will make when the thunderbolt strikes them. I pick up my bag and stand with a calm expression.

“Wait. Do you think that too? That it would have been better if Sudō was expelled?”

It is Horikita’s question. There are not many people left in the classroom, so she probably wants to hear my opinion. It is good timing for someone like you who does not have much influence in class.

“I do not really care. If he has even a speck of conscience, there is no way he caused trouble. What about you? As the one who helped him.”

“It is true that it is uncertain whether he will be a plus or a minus for the class. What the teacher said this morning bothers me.”

Her tone was quite calm and she grasped the point well. But she realized it too late. This is a Class C plan that has been in motion since at least two days ago.

“If it is just a hold on points, there is a high chance it is mere speculation. I do not think it is worth worrying about that much.”

“I hope so. If something happens, it will definitely affect the points.”

I predict that since the midterms, Horikita has been thinking about how to obtain class points. To raise her credibility, which has fallen almost to the bottom and to properly oppose me, who sees her classmates as incompetent livestock, she would need achievements.

Well, do your best. I do not particularly expect much.

With that, I left early for tomorrow while secretly looking forward to seeing what kind of foolish move Horikita would make next and how she would be ridiculed for it.

* * *

The next morning during assembly, what greeted us was Chabashira-sensei’s unpleasant announcement, delivered in her usual minimal words and leaving the classroom immediately after. It sounded oddly amusing to me alone because I already knew.

“Today I have something to tell you. A few days ago, there was a minor incident on school grounds. It seems something happened between the Sudō sitting there and some students from Class C. Simply put, it was a fight.”

Just as expected. When the predicted scenario hit perfectly, I barely managed to suppress a laugh. As expected, Ryūen thinks the same way I do. There are differences in the details but overall, we think alike.

As predicted, the class was thrown into confusion. Amidst that, Chabashira-sensei’s emotionless delivery of Sudō’s suspension and the class point reduction based on responsibility was almost beautiful.

“Um… why has no conclusion been reached yet?”

Now the contents of the match will be revealed.

“The ones who reported it to the school first were the Class C students. They claimed they were attacked one-sidedly. However, during the investigation, Sudō said that was not true. According to Sudō, he did not start the fight. He says the Class C students called him out and picked a fight with him.”

So proving Sudō’s innocence is my condition for victory. Alright, accepted. I will make him innocent no matter what.

“I did nothing wrong. It was self-defense. Self-defense.”