Chabashira Sae had been in a good mood these past few days. Even her typically expressionless face had softened considerably. When speaking with others, her tone held more patience, and she even managed to clock in half an hour early for work.
To outsiders, this change led many to wonder—Had Chabashira-sensei fallen in love recently?
But the reality was quite different.
The real reason was actually very simple: the class she was in charge of, Class D, had been performing better and better lately, rekindling that faint hope in her heart of rising to Class A.
The fact that Class D had secured a full 530 class points in the very first month was truly something that put her at ease.
This number had even made her double-check a week ago.
After all, based on her years of teaching experience, it was rare for Class D to even break 400 points in the first month, let alone reach 530.
But on second thought, the result seemed perfectly reasonable.
This year's class of students had not only obtained hidden intel in advance but also rented surveillance equipment.
If they couldn't manage 500 points even with that, then these students really should consider dropping out en masse.
Although the 530 class points still placed Class D at the bottom among the four classes, the evaluation standard shouldn't be based solely on comparison with this year's cohort.
Compared to the historical average of around 350 points for Class D, this result was nearly 200 points higher—a quite respectable achievement.
(This should be the result of the combined efforts of Shimizu Akira and myself!)
The thought surfaced naturally in Chabashira Sae's mind. She wasn't just comforting herself; she genuinely believed it.
It was true that Shimizu Akira had initially obtained the intel from a second-year senpai.
But the crucial step was her spending 1,000,000 personal points to purchase that intel and skillfully arranging for Shimizu to indirectly relay it to Class D through Kushida Kikyō or Hirata Yōsuke.
Without her maneuvering, Shimizu Akira would never have shared the intel with the class for free.
As for the surveillance matter, Chabashira Sae was even more certain about the mastermind behind it.
(The one who rented the cameras was undoubtedly Shimizu Akira, right?)
She had practically confirmed it as fact.
After all, she was the one who had personally set up that alternate account for Shimizu Akira.
When Hirata Yōsuke mentioned the source was someone named "Yue Qing," she immediately realized it must be Shimizu Akira using that alt account.
Later, when the camera rental incident occurred, she specifically asked Hirata for confirmation: "Was it the same person as last time?" The affirmative reply solidified her judgment.
This realization evoked complex emotions in her.
First was confusion—why would Shimizu Akira prefer to contact others to rent the cameras rather than come directly to her, his homeroom teacher?
This deliberate distancing felt almost like he was avoiding her.
(I'm his homeroom teacher, after all...)
Following that was shock.
The sophistication of the surveillance strategy far exceeded her expectations.
In all her years of teaching, she had never seen a student devise such a thorough plan.
For a moment, she almost called Shimizu Akira to confirm directly, but in the end, she restrained the impulse.
She had only casually tested the waters last week, suggesting he could rely on her a little.
Because she already knew he had sought out the Student Council President. The President was his collaborator.
The rental fee for the cameras was originally paid by Kushida Kikyō from her class to the student council.
She just didn't know if Shimizu Akira had picked up on the subtle hint in her words back then.
Thinking of this, Chabashira Sae's thoughts grew even more tangled.
She knew full well that she could never use the matter of the alt account to threaten Shimizu Akira.
The reason was simple—she was afraid of losing this student, and Class D losing this student.
(2,000,000 personal points allows you to apply for a class transfer... With the points he has now, what leverage do I have to restrain him?)
She calculated silently: just from this single scheme, Shimizu Akira had collected a total of 12,000,000 points from the four classes.
And this was only the first month!
(The total personal points I saved up over an entire year back then don't even come close to the amount he has now...)
At this rate, it would be effortless for Shimizu Akira to save up the 20,000,000 points needed for a transfer within a few months.
(If my actions cause him to transfer... wouldn't the hope we finally saw for Class D be shattered again?)
The possibility made her feel suffocated.
She had to admit that the current situation was completely beyond her control.
As a homeroom teacher, she felt, for the first time, a sense of powerlessness at being constrained by a student.
If she rashly revealed Shimizu Akira's identity, the consequences would be even more unthinkable.
(How would the other classes view this?)
She analyzed coolly.
(They might feel they were played, but more likely... they would scramble to poach the person who managed to outmaneuver all four classes right after enrollment!)
Shimizu Akira already possessed 12,000,000 personal points. This meant other classes would only need to pool another 8,000,000 points to easily meet the 20,000,000 transfer requirement.
And this kind of thing was already commonplace among the upper years—past records showed classes willing to spend the hefty 20,000,000 sum to poach elite talent from other classes.
(Fortunately, during the homeroom meeting in the second month, I didn't tell the Class D students about the 20,000,000 point transfer rule.)
This fact inexplicably calmed her somewhat.
Shimizu Akira probably didn't know about the 20,000,000 point transfer rule.
Therefore, it meant that even if he acquired 20,000,000 points, he wouldn't transfer and would remain in Class D.
Actually, logically speaking, even if Shimizu Akira stayed in Class D, it didn't offer any particular advantage for the class as a whole.
Because this person intended to stay in Class D without contributing to the class, operating on a strict quid pro quo basis.
Whether selling information or renting cameras, Class D seemed no different from the other classes to him.
However, she could also tell that Shimizu Akira was probably the type to be swayed by softness rather than hardness.
Perhaps spending more time with his classmates could gradually change his mindset.
Maybe, just maybe, he would genuinely want to lead Class D forward—although the possibility was low, what if?
At the very least, as long as he remained in Class D, the class would retain the right of first refusal for purchasing information, and it would prevent the other classes' hard power from being strengthened.
(Therefore, not only must I not reveal his identity...)
(I must instead do everything in my power to protect the "Yue Qing" alias.)
(Even if it means Class D has to pay Shimizu Akira a few more points, it's fine! As long as we can successfully rise to Class A in the end!)
(This is the optimal strategy I can currently devise for Class D.)