"Kouenji-san..."
Hirata saw Kouenji stop Sudo.
He quickly ran to Chabashira-sensei's side, moving her back to a safe position.
"You—!"
Sudo's words were cut short as his vision went black.
Followed by a chilling pain from his back.
Before he could react, his abdomen also hurt.
"Ah ah ah ah!!!"
Sudo let out a piercing shriek.
Kouenji drove his knee into Sudo's abdomen.
He grabbed Sudo's hair with one hand, pulling his face up to his.
"If your strength is lacking, you should learn to control your temper."
After Kouenji finished speaking, he stood up directly from Sudo.
Suddenly, Kouenji sensed some movement behind him.
He turned his head.
Sudo's left eye was struck by something.
At once, Sudo, who was in the middle of throwing a punch, stiffened abruptly.
Seeing this, Kouenji immediately delivered a direct punch to Sudo's face, knocking him to the ground.
"I almost fell for that, Miyako-san, well done."
This time, he didn't mix in any foreign words but praised Amane-san fluently.
That last strike, whether it was the speed, the force, or the precision, truly impressed Kouenji.
Kouenji compared it in his mind.
If it were a stationary target, he was confident he wouldn't be inferior to Amane.
However, to accurately hit Sudo with such a rapid sneak attack...
The other party must have practiced for a very long time, right? Kouenji admitted that in this aspect, Amane was a bit more formidable than him.
But as for almost falling for it...
He was just saying that casually.
Even without Amane's support...
Sudo was simply no match for Kouenji.
Airi, sitting nearby, saw something roll across the floor.
She couldn't help but bend down to pick it up.
It was a chocolate ball!!!
She had just seen Amane's cool throwing motion.
Originally, seeing someone as big as Sudo flinch from the impact, she couldn't help but assume it must have been something like a steel ball.
But she never expected it to be just a chocolate ball.
This is too... Just as Airi was still astonished that Amane had hit Sudo's eye with a chocolate ball, she saw Amane looking over.
Then, her lips opened and closed, repeating the motion continuously.
She seemed to be saying something.
Airi quickly mimicked her.
"This costs 150 points... Eh??!"
Airi couldn't help but laugh.
Amane-san, really.
Even in such a serious situation, she was still thinking about her 150-point chocolate ball.
However, chocolate balls at this price point should be especially light... Sudo was quickly taken away by the security guards.
The first class was English.
But seeing Class D in complete chaos, with many still whispering in despair, the teacher directly announced that this class would be self-study, allowing Class D to sort out their own matters first.
The morning passed just like that.
Even when it was lunchtime, no one left their seats without permission.
Because Chabashira-sensei would soon arrive to take the remaining failing students to process their withdrawal applications.
"Why is this happening? Do we really have to withdraw? I just started getting popular with girls here and now..."
Yamauchi complained loudly.
Hearing Yamauchi's complaints, many girls shot him disdainful glances, but no one said anything too harsh.
After all, Sudo was a cautionary tale.
Kouenji could beat Sudo, and if Yamauchi went berserk, these girls would be no match for him.
"Is there really nothing we can do? I don't want to withdraw!"
A boy named Outomura clutched his head, trying to seek help in anguish.
But by this point, no one could spare him any attention.
Among the girls, there were also many facing withdrawal.
If so many people were truly withdrawn at once...
Class D would undoubtedly suffer a severe blow.
Hirata covered his ears.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
He could see, and he could hear.
But the more he did, the harder it was to accept the fact that everyone he had spent so much time with would soon be leaving this classroom; they had only been together for less than two months and now they had to part... If anyone was genuinely pained and saddened by others leaving, it was probably only Hirata.
But what made Hirata so despairing...
It wasn't everyone's withdrawal.
It was that as the class leader, he was utterly helpless.
If it were withdrawals under other circumstances, he would undoubtedly step up to fight for one last chance for everyone.
But if the reason for withdrawal was due to exam results... he simply had no reason to stand up and speak for everyone.
He could complain about the school's strict rules.
He could also blame Chabashira-sensei for not informing them in time that the exam questions had changed.
But the most crucial problem still lay within themselves.
Even after providing everyone with the correct answers...
Some people still managed to score only ten-something points.
Hirata even wanted to ask them how they managed to score only ten-something points.
One must know that even if one only filled in the multiple-choice questions, it would be at least twenty points!
Coupled with the fact that Chabashira-sensei had indeed stated from the beginning that those who failed would be withdrawn.
Given this, even if he wanted to plead for everyone, he had no suitable reason.
He could only cowardly choose to avoid the situation.
"Amane, do you think there's still a chance to reverse this withdrawal situation?"
Horikita had pondered deeply but still couldn't find a solution to break the deadlock.
If she wanted to lead the class forward, she couldn't sit idly by while one-third of Class D was withdrawn.
If so many people were truly withdrawn, Class D would become a laughingstock in the future.
"Well, there is one way, but whether it works or not is hard to say."
Amane thought for a moment.
She realized there was only one way to prevent such a large-scale withdrawal.
That was to approach it from the school's perspective.
While the school's regulations were established long ago...
But looking at it from outside the school's circle, this school was merely a part of the social ecosystem.
A large-scale withdrawal all at once, even the school would have to consider the related public opinion... "What's your plan?"
Horikita grasped Amane's hand, asking eagerly.
But before Amane could even begin to explain...
Chabashira-sensei walked into the classroom.
"Why are you all still here? I only told the failing students to stay and wait for me. The rest of you, hurry up and eat and rest. Those who failed, come with me to process your withdrawal applications."
Chabashira-sensei finished speaking and prepared to leave the classroom.
"Amane."
Although Horikita didn't know what plan Amane had.
But now that the situation was imminent, Horikita couldn't afford to think about the rationality of any plan; she could only forcefully push Amane into action.
The duck being pushed was Amane.
Amane originally didn't want to get involved in this matter. In her opinion, using the most irrefutable reason to clear out the underachievers in Class D would mean she wouldn't have to worry or work hard for them in the future.
It would also make it easier for Horikita to lead the class.
But now that Horikita was insistent on saving people, Amane could only reluctantly go along with it.
However... there were some foolish individuals she had no intention of pleading for. Horikita should understand her, she thought.
Amane raised her hand.
Seeing Amane raise her hand even at this point, Chabashira-sensei, who had originally intended to ignore Amane, inexplicably stopped in her tracks as if possessed.
"Miyako-san, do you have something to say?"
"Chabashira-sensei..."
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