"Not necessarily."
Haruki's confident smile remained.
*I confirmed with Arisu many times! At least 20 from Class A will praise me! I'm safe!*
He thought, recalling his messages with Arisu.
"Even if I say it, it's fine... I won't be expelled."
"Oh? Why?"
Rokusuke's interest was piqued.
"I'll tell you."
Haruki's smile widened.
"How many criticized me? 20? 30? I didn't betray, but it's too much! But it's fine; I'll forgive. There are expulsion candidates, right? How many praises will they get? I'm worried!"
His tone was mocking.
"Sounds like you're getting many praises."
"I am."
"Even if friends sympathize, it's 4-5 praises. Is that the Safety Zone?"
Rokusuke's words hung in the air as the class awaited their fate.
As Kōenji Rokusuke spoke, he glanced at Ike Kanji, who looked completely baffled.
"Oh, I take it back. Maybe you don't have any friends left."
"I don't care about those guys anyway!"
Yamauchi Haruki dramatically raised his arm, exaggerating his movement.
"I've already made a deal with Sakayanagi. She promised me twenty praise votes. Even if most of the class votes against me, I won't be expelled!"
Haruki declared loudly,
"So it doesn't matter how many people write my name… I'm under A-Class's protection!"
"I told you, Little Girl isn't as kind as you think. Did you get a written contract with her?"
"Well… I know that! But it's fine!"
Haruki insisted, though his voice trembled slightly, lacking confidence.
*I trust Sakayanagi… I really do!*
Haruki thought to himself.
*Seriously, even now?*
Saiki Kusuo, sitting nearby, tilted his head slightly, observing Haruki. This guy had caused nothing but trouble for him and the class.
The outcome of this exam was already decided.
"Quiet, Yamauchi. Your shouting can be heard in the hallway."
At that moment, Chabashira Sae entered Class B.
"My apologies for the wait. I'll now announce the results for Class B. Everyone, take your seats."
As everyone returned to their seats, Kusuo looked up at Chabashira, speculating about the exam results.
*Hirata and Kushida are probably the top two in the class. Third place is harder to guess—maybe Horikita or Yukimura… Come to think of it, Ayanokōji could easily be first. The protection points would be more useful to him. Though I've drawn some unnecessary attention in class, I'm not particularly close to most people, so I should avoid the top three.*
The thought brought a slight smile to Kusuo's lips.
"Alright, I'll start with the top three for praise votes."
Chabashira glanced at the paper in her hand and continued slowly,
"Third place: Hirata Yōsuke."
"What?"
Hirata was confused when his name was called. He closed his eyes and tilted his head.
*Why… Why did they give me praise votes again?!*
Hirata was bewildered.
"Second place: Kushida Kikyō."
Hearing her name, Kushida smiled. With her popularity in class, it was no surprise she was in the top three. She might even have received votes from other classes.
But everyone shared the same question: Who was first?
*Probably Ayanokōji.*
Kusuo thought.
First place earned protection points, which would be crucial for Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, who might be targeted for expulsion.
Ayanokōji believed he could win in the end, so he must have done something to secure those points.
*It's all going according to plan.*
Kusuo heard Ayanokōji's thoughts.
"First place…"
Chabashira looked at the name, her expression puzzled. Clearly, this wasn't what she expected.
*Something's off.*
Kusuo narrowed his eyes, sensing something strange.
Chabashira knew Ayanokōji's background. If he were first, she shouldn't look so surprised.
"First place: Saiki Kusuo."
*???*
Kusuo's mind was filled with question marks.
He hadn't done anything in this exam, yet he was first?
What was going on???
Unbeknownst to Kusuo, Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A had instructed her classmates to vote for him.
Sakayanagi believed Kusuo was hiding his true strength and minimizing his presence. To force a confrontation, she made sure the entire grade noticed him.
Meanwhile, Ayanokōji thought it more beneficial to ally with Kusuo at this stage.
Working with Kusuo would make dealing with the White Room easier. It might also shift their attention to Kusuo, reducing his own troubles.
After sending information about Hirata to the class, Ayanokōji claimed it was Kusuo's idea. He even asked Kushida to campaign for Kusuo in class.
The protection points were important to Ayanokōji, but Kusuo's value far exceeded that.
*Just as I expected—Sakayanagi voted for Kusuo too. Him being first might be part of his plan.*
*Not at all!*
*Kusuo's recent actions suggest he's increasing his influence. Sakayanagi's move played right into his hands, giving him both personal points and protection. He's still the winner.*
*??? I was completely forced into this!*
*He probably manipulated other classes' votes too. If I'm right, Ryūen will be saved because he's still useful to Kusuo.*
*??? That's got nothing to do with me!*
Being first was the last thing Kusuo wanted.
"What did you do?"
Horikita Suzune stared at Kusuo, shocked. She hadn't expected him to be first.
"I… didn't do anything."
Kusuo replied honestly.
But Suzune didn't believe him.
Chabashira looked just as confused.
*Kusuo? Why him? I checked—he's not special, right?*
*Wait… Was Ayanokōji hiding something?*
*And when Tsukishiro visited, he asked about Kusuo right away.*
Chabashira's gaze intensified as she looked at Kusuo.
*Uh-oh… This is trouble.*
Kusuo felt helpless.
Chabashira had stopped suspecting him, but now her attention was back on him…
Damn it!
"Teacher, is there a mistake in the tally?"
Haruki looked at Chabashira, his tone rude.
"There's no way Kusuo is first!"
*How the hell did that guy get first place?! What gives?!*
He complained loudly in his mind.
"The tally is correct. Kusuo received over fifty votes."
Chabashira's words sent the class into an uproar.
*Fifty votes? Seriously?*
*Did other classes vote for him too?*
*This is ridiculous. I thought he'd get a lot of votes, but this is too much.*
"Now, the bottom three."
"Third from last: Sudō Ken."
"Second from last: Ike Kanji."
Though they were at the bottom, both sighed in relief.
As long as they weren't last, it was enough.
Haruki's breathing quickened.
*Why? Why aren't those two last?!*
He couldn't understand why his former friends weren't at the bottom.
In fact, they received far fewer criticism votes than he expected.
"Last place… It's you, Yamauchi Haruki. Thirty-five votes."
Chabashira smirked, looking at Haruki.
His mind went blank. After a few seconds, he exploded:
"Why?! Why me?! In this stupid exam, I'm the one expelled?! Those two aren't better than me!"
Haruki stood up, pointing at Sudō and Ike.
"You!"
Sudō's forehead veins popped, and Ike gritted his teeth.
They had genuinely considered Haruki a friend.
"Think what you want, but this decision is final, Yamauchi."
Chabashira stepped beside him—
"This is bullshit!!!"
Haruki screamed hysterically, turning to Chabashira.
"Ask Sakayanagi! She promised to vote for me! Is breaking promises allowed?!"
"Do you have proof of a clear agreement?"
Chabashira asked.
"We agreed at the KTV! We did!"
"I want to believe you, but that's not proof."
"Get out, Yamauchi."
Chabashira's gaze turned icy—
Haruki's focus wasn't on her, but on Kusuo.
*Saiki Kusuo, you did something, didn't you?! How dare you be first?!*
*Why are you so important to the class? Why are you liked by others?! How?!*
*I'm expelled, and I'll make you pay!*
Anger, sadness, regret, jealousy—all overwhelmed Haruki, shattering his rationality.
"Saiki, it's all your fault!"
Yamauchi Haruki suddenly snapped, grabbing his chair and hurling it towards Saiki Kusuo's head with all his might.
If it were an ordinary student, the impact could've been fatal. But just as Haruki took a step forward, an invisible force pushed him, causing him to stumble and fall.
Saiki, aware of Haruki's intentions, had used his psychic abilities to counter the attack.
As Haruki tried to get up, Chabashira Sae restrained him: "Yamauchi, any more outbursts, and you'll face the consequences."
Her tone was icy, with a hint of menace.
"Ahhhh!" Haruki's mind shattered, and he collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Leave the classroom."
An hour later, a devastated Yamauchi Haruki, with his meager belongings, was escorted off school grounds by bus.
Amidst his despair, a strange hatred emerged.
"Saiki Kusuo, you'll graduate someday, leave this school! I'll make you pay!"
"You insignificant fool, who are you to utter that name?"
A chilling aura enveloped Haruki as Saiki Kûsuke appeared before him.