"As expected..."
Almost everyone's expression turned serious. Peaceful days were always limited, and it was time for another special exam.
Compared to regular tests, special exams were unpredictable and could also lead to expulsion.
However, Saiki Kusuo noticed this special exam might be different from previous ones.
[Using those rules... After Tsukishiro becomes the acting chairman, the entire school will undergo drastic changes.]
Saiki Kusuo clearly heard Chabashira Sae's thoughts.
*'Tsukishiro as acting chairman? I thought the chairman was Sakayanagi's father. Did he leave for some reason?'*
Saiki Kusuo thought,
*'And what changes are coming?'*
"As usual, the exams will start on March 8th."
Chabashira Sae's previous smile was gone, replaced by seriousness.
"Don't slack off. Next week's final exam will be tough."
[This time, there will definitely be expulsions in every class, not just ours.]
Chabashira Sae's thoughts reached Saiki Kusuo's ears almost simultaneously.
*'Definitely expulsions?'*
Saiki Kusuo narrowed his eyes. Chabashira Sae's concern wasn't about Class B's ability but because this exam was destined to have expulsions.
This was completely different from previous exams. Even with the strict rules of the last special exam, the chance of no expulsions was high if everyone performed adequately. That was the final result.
But would this exam force someone to be expelled?
This seemed to contradict the school's previous philosophy.
"Because this year is different from previous years."
Chabashira Sae continued.
"Different?"
Sensing the gravity, Hirata Yōsuke asked immediately.
[Chabashira-sensei's tone and expression are off.]
"No expulsions after the final exams or up to this point is unprecedented in this school."
"Does that mean we're excellent?"
Ike Kanji interjected.
"Yes, the school agrees—normally, this would be something to celebrate. We want more students to graduate, but this deviation from the norm also indicates a problem."
Chabashira Sae's brows furrowed, and her tone grew heavier.
"The school has noticed that no first-year students have dropped out—"
She paused, then pushed out the words she'd almost swallowed.
"So, they've decided to hold an additional special exam starting tomorrow."
She wrote on the board: *March 2nd, Tuesday, Additional Special Exam*.
The moment she spoke, the class erupted.
"What? A sudden special exam tomorrow?"
"No time to prepare at all?"
"Adding an exam just because no one dropped out? That's ridiculous!"
"This is absurd! An additional special exam? Just because no one dropped out? It's like something a kid would come up with!" Ike Kanji shouted, voicing his confusion.
"This is different from what's happened so far," Horikita Suzune muttered quietly.
"I agree, Ike. But this is reality. The rules are in the hands of those in power. As students, you can't refuse. And as teachers, neither can we."
Chabashira's gaze swept over Ike before she continued.
"Only those who pass this special exam will be eligible for the exam on March 8th."
She went on,
"You're right to be upset. Adding an unscheduled exam, even just one, will burden you. We teachers take this seriously. But the exam is extremely simple. The dropout rate is under 3% per class—not high."
Despite her words, Saiki Kusuo noticed something off.
*She mentioned a dropout rate? That's new. Exams are too unpredictable to predict dropouts. Why now?*
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, beside him, also caught the key detail.
*Under 3%... Why 3%? With around 40 students per class, under 3% means... exactly one person. This exam will force one dropout.*
"What kind of exam is it?" Hirata Yōsuke asked urgently.
"You're worried, but there's no need to fear. This exam has nothing to do with intelligence or physical ability. On the day, you'll do something anyone can manage—like writing your name on a paper. If the dropout chance is 3%, it's pretty low, right?"
Chabashira explained slowly.
"The exam is called—Classroom Voting."
"Classroom… voting?"
As she wrote the name on the board, she continued.
"Here's how it works: Over the next four days, you'll evaluate your classmates. On Saturday, you'll vote for three students you admire and three you criticize. That's it."
The simple rules left the students even more confused.
"Voting? What's this about?"
"Does this even count as an exam?"
"The simpler the rules, the more likely there's a catch."
The students grew more uneasy after hearing the rules.
*Is this about deciding grades through votes? If I'm right, the student with the most praise votes might get a reward, while the one with the most criticism votes risks dropping out. Is this exam about controlling the class vote?*
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was already guessing the exam's purpose.
Saiki Kusuo, however, focused on something else.
*What? Saturday? So no rest this weekend?*
For him, the exam's biggest impact was losing his precious free time.
"How will this exam determine our grades?" Hirata Yōsuke asked immediately.
"I'll explain that now."
Chabashira gripped her chalk and wrote more on the board.
"The key is the number of praise and criticism votes. The student with the most praise votes will get a special reward—not personal points, but something called 'Protection Points.'"
*Protection Points?* Everyone's attention turned to this new term.
"Protection Points can nullify a dropout. Even if you fail an exam, these points can save you. But they can't be transferred to others."
The students stared in shock.
A dropout requires 20 million personal points and 300 class points to avoid—Protection Points can directly counter that.
These points are worth at least 20 million.
"You see how powerful these points are? They're worth 20 million. Of course, for top students with no dropout risk, they might not seem valuable."
Chabashira said slowly.
"But… what happens to the student with the most criticism votes?" Hirata Yōsuke asked seriously.
"Only the student with the most criticism votes will be punished. Others won't, no matter how many criticism votes they get. This exam is about choosing first and last place."
"What's the punishment?" Hirata Yōsuke pressed.
But Ayanokōji Kiyotaka and Saiki Kusuo already guessed the outcome.
"This exam is different. Its purpose is to address the issue—no one dropped out. It's simple, not hard for those with low grades or poor sports skills. But why offer Protection Points? Because this exam won't let you all advance to second year without dropouts."
Chabashira narrowed her eyes.
"Yes, the school will… expel the last-place student."
Her words sent the class into chaos.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka fell into thought.
*The exam's content must be the chairman's decision—Sakayanagi's father. I've only met him once. He doesn't seem like someone who'd create such an unfair exam... Unless...*
An idea struck Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
*Did that man interfere?*
"Hmm, is this the situation?" Saiki Kusuo tilted his head, glancing at Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
Even without his powers, he guessed the truth.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's annoying father likely manipulated Tsukishiro to replace Sakayanagi and force this exam.
His goal was simple: expel Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
*As long as it doesn't involve me, I don't care.* Saiki Kusuo thought.
"You'll find this unfair—I do too. But we can't resist. We must follow the rules and face this exam."
Chabashira shook her head, disapproving of the forced dropout exam.
Especially since it risked her own plans.
Her gaze fell on Ayanokōji Kiyotaka as she continued.
"Time is limited. Let me explain further. The voting results for praise and criticism will be public after the exam. Everyone's results will be revealed, but votes will be anonymous."
"Praise and criticism votes affect each other. If you get criticism votes from ten people, praise votes from thirty will offset them, leaving twenty points. You can't vote for yourself or repeat names. No abstaining—you must fill in three names for praise and criticism, even if you're sick."
"This exam won't end until 'first and last place' are decided. If everyone gets zero votes, we'll vote again—until someone is expelled."
Chabashira explained the rules, clearly designed to prevent loopholes.
One dropout is inevitable.
*Just when I wanted peace, this happens.* Saiki Kusuo sighed inwardly.
---
Meanwhile, in the chairman's office.
Tsukishiro picked up his phone and dialed an unknown number.
"Ayanokōji-san..."
"...Yes, the plan is in motion. I'll ensure his expulsion."
"...Also, I've found something about another student."