Chapter 323 Honami: Not Eating for a Month for Hachiman's Sake
"Eliminating harmful students from the class—isn't that exactly what you are, Koenji!"
Okitani Kyosuke denounced him loudly with an air of self-righteousness.
This sight even left Hikigaya stunned.
'Whose general is this?'
He originally thought Yamauchi was already "otherworldly" enough, but he didn't expect someone to be even more valiant!
"Even if you managed to get some points on a whim, no one can guarantee you'll contribute in the future.
I heard that during the training camp, you refused to train properly and even went to provoke a wild boar. You're a total troublemaker!"
To be fair, Okitani Kyosuke's accusations were essentially factual.
Koenji Rokusuke didn't deny it; instead, he started making empty promises: "That is indeed how it was. However, from now on, I will reflect on my actions and strive to contribute to the class in the next special exam, becoming a good student who benefits the class."
It sounded nice, but not a single person in the class—Hikigaya included—believed him.
"Who would believe such lies?
Anyway, as soon as this exam is over, you'll just go back to doing whatever you want!"
Shinohara Satsuki took the opportunity to join the judgment.
She did this to protect herself. After all, with her academic and athletic scores sitting in the lower-middle tier, she was a very easy target for critical votes.
"Heh~ even if that's the case, what do you intend to do about it?"
Koenji Rokusuke retorted: "On the other hand, you lot are not only low in ability and low in awareness, but you're also ugly. Even if you have the heart to contribute to the class, in reality, you can achieve nothing."
Telling the truth is sometimes the ultimate way to offend people!
"Just look at the results of the previous matching exam. The total score of Ayanokouji and myself reached a lead over the rest of the grade that is like a cliffside.
This is what you call a hidden Big Boss!
As long as we are willing to take action, we can crush the other classes at any time.
While certain individuals who only know how to talk big are just a waste of food if kept around."
It seemed that in order to avoid being selected by critical votes, Koenji Rokusuke was pulling out all the stops, even dragging in the "innocent bystander" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka to help draw the fire.
Hikigaya found it amusing as he listened.
That blonde young master seemed to hold the school rules in contempt, but he didn't actually want to be expelled. It wasn't a matter of fear, but rather that he would find it embarrassing.
"Tch! No matter what you say, I'm casting my critical vote for you, Koenji!"
Okitani Kyosuke couldn't argue with the logic, so he could only resort to being unreasonable.
"I also feel that Koenji's presence is detrimental to class unity!"
"Right, and then there's that pervert Ayanokouji who peeks at girls!!"
Each person can cast three critical votes. Shinohara Satsuki deliberately dragged Ayanokouji into it; as for the final slot, she would write down Okitani Kyosuke's name.
"Shinohara, you've been trying to incite conflict within the class since a moment ago."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was clearly not someone who would let himself be slaughtered. He immediately counterattacked: "Could it be that you're following Class A's orders and deliberately causing sabotage?"
"You're lying! Satoshi-kun would never let me—"
Shinohara Satsuki subconsiously retorted, but realized that such words would only make her look more suspicious.
Sure enough, quite a few people in Class D looked at her with increased wariness.
Bang!
Hirata Yousuke slammed his fist onto the table. His face was ashen as he roared: "Attacking each other just to save yourselves—do you want to destroy the entire class?"
Persuading people with a fist proved exceptionally effective.
At least on the surface, the Class D crowd didn't dare to fight openly. But secret plotting was inevitable.
'What a pain...'
Instead of studying properly in high school, they spent all day pondering these nonsensical "intellectual battles."
Hikigaya did something out of character and pulled out his math textbook. His math score had dropped slightly in the recent end-of-month quiz.
'Better put in a little effort.'
Unlike Hikigaya's calm mindset for studying, the vast majority of Class D had no heart for it, and it stayed that way until school ended.
Hirata Yousuke's "stability through force" was destined to be short-lived.
As soon as school was out, Class D students naturally gathered in their respective small cliques to plot out the voting. Hirata Yousuke was so angry he kicked a table in a fit of powerless rage.
Even after "darkening," Hirata was still immersed in the fantasy of "the whole class staying together," and refused to give up on any student no matter what.
Hikigaya couldn't understand people like that and could only keep his distance. It was none of his business anyway. With this free time, he'd rather do a few math problems to make up for his falling grades.
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The Class C classroom was currently filled with a heavy atmosphere.
Without a doubt, they were equally deeply unsettled by this unreasonable special exam. But no one complained, and no one made a scene. Everyone focused their gaze on their autocratic leader.
"What are you looking at me for?
Do I have the answers on my face?
If you have thoughts, speak them out boldly."
Ryuen Kakeru had his arms crossed and his feet propped up on the table, maintaining an arrogant and haughty attitude.
"Ryuen-kun, may I say a few words?"
In the silence, a mushroom-haired boy wearing glasses stood up.
"Kaneda, huh? It's rare for you to speak up."
Ryuen glanced at him and nodded in permission.
Kaneda Satoru was one of the few students in Class C with excellent academic marks. In the previous matching exam, Ryuen had failed six out of eight subjects, but thanks to Kaneda's score pulling him up, he easily passed the threshold.
"Everyone might be a bit confused about the 'Class Vote' exam announced this morning, but after half a day of thinking, your heads should have cooled down. So please listen patiently to my suggestion..."
After a brief intro, Kaneda got to the point: "First, let's discuss the candidates for the praise votes."
Right now, the Class C students were most worried about the critical votes, but if he brought that up first, the class would inevitably fall into chaos or even break out into infighting, much like Class D. By going from easy to difficult, it was clear Kaneda's style was quite stable.
"The person with the most praise votes receives a 'Protection Point'.
Depending on how it's used, I believe this will be a tool of great strategic value.
Considering class competition, the most effective method is to target the enemy's leader...
Just like how Class A targeted Ichinose last time, it easily threw Class B into chaos."
Kaneda gave a very good example. The logic of "capturing the king to catch the rebels" was something everyone understood without explanation.
"I believe that in future attacks from other classes against Class C, there is a high probability they will fall upon Ryuen-kun.
Therefore, for the 'Protection Point' which functions as a life-saving charm, there is no other candidate but Ryuen-kun."
Ishizaki Daichi was the first to voice support: "I agree! Big Brother Ryuen has always led us forward; this is what a leader deserves!"
Although there was a fair amount of brown-nosing involved, from an objective standpoint, Ryuen's strength was obvious to all.
Ryuen Kakeru had once led the class up to Class B, and they were even a step away from Class A. Though they failed in the training camp and dropped back to Class C, the fact that they had won at least once was enough for the class to believe Ryuen could lead them.
"Hmph! I'm not forcing you. You can cast your praise votes for whoever you want."
The corners of Ryuen's mouth curled up, full of pride. Clearly, in his own view, he was indeed qualified to take the top praise votes.
"Tch! Look at you acting all smug!
Stop stalling, the main point is the critical votes!"
Ibuki Mio pointed out the issue everyone cared about most. As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere in the room instantly froze.
Kaneda looked helpless. He had originally wanted to build up the mood longer before bringing up the biggest problem. Unfortunately, he ran into Ibuki Mio—a "dummy" who couldn't read the room!
"The meaning of this exam is to eliminate the most unnecessary students."
Kaneda reached out to adjust his glasses, his gaze inadvertently scanning the surroundings. Some people guiltily lowered their heads, nervously awaiting their fate.
"Ryuen-kun?"
Kaneda passed the decision-making power to Ryuen.
"Why has everyone gone silent?"
"Don't you have a sense in your own hearts of who the most unnecessary student is?"
Ryuen wore a mocking expression.
"…"
The crowd was as silent as cicadas in winter, none of them daring to speak.
"Fine! Since none of you are willing to step forward, I'll name names!"
Ryuen made his domineering declaration: "Manabe Shiho, Tokito Hiroya, Morofuji Rika—the critical votes will be cast among these three!"
"Ah?!"
"What!"
"Uuuu~"
The three named individuals reacted differently.
Manabe Shiho was panicked, but she knew why. It was because she carried the stigma of being a traitor who was tricked by Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, causing the class to lose points.
Tokito Hiroya shouted loudly in protest: "On what grounds? My academic grades are above average and my athletics are top-tier. There's no way you'd pick me!"
"Tokito, you have the nerve to talk. During the training camp, your group came in dead last, forcing us to spend 20 million points to bail you out!"
Ibuki Mio accused him coldly.
"That... that was due to force majeure...
Who could have predicted a wild boar attack!"
Tokito Hiroya cried out that it was unfair. He had practiced martial arts and was good at fighting, but he wouldn't dare go up against a wild boar!
Morofuji Rika wept softly, not daring to resist.
These three respectively represented the attributes of "traitor," "mistake," and "weakling." Ryuen naming them was truly intended to weed out the least needed students.
"I'm leaving the choice to you.
You have the next few days to think carefully about who is the most valueless person in the class."
Having said his piece, Ryuen left the classroom alone, leaving the space for discussion to the rest of Class C.
"What... what do we do? The situation looks very bad for me!"
Manabe Shiho looked terrified, but luckily she still had two close friends by her side.
"Calm down, Shiho."
"At least we'll give you our praise votes."
Yamashita Saki and Yabu Nanami leaned in, and the three began whispering. Actually, Manabe's small girl group included Morofuji Rika. It was just that the latter had always been a peripheral character used for errands; now that she was useless, she was naturally abandoned!
"..."
The isolated Morofuji Rika lowered her head, a flash of hatred crossing her dark eyes.
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At the same time, Class B was holding a class meeting regarding the exam.
Unlike the serious atmosphere of Class C, Class B's atmosphere was very active. Everyone was discussing positively, and their words were full of "positive energy."
"I've already decided!
I will absolutely not give up on any classmate and let them be expelled."
Ichinose Honami was the first to state her stance.
"I've tallied it up. Currently, the total personal points gathered from everyone in the class is 20.26 million.
That is enough to pay the point cost for an expulsion waiver!"
Kanzaki Ryuji spoke with a very firm tone, not showing a hint of heartache over exhausting their entire savings.
"Mm-hmm!"
"Points are just material things. As long as we can protect everyone, it's all worth it."
Kobashi Yume expressed her support.
"With 260,000 left, everyone just needs to grit their teeth and get through this month."
"Just think of it as eating a diet meal~"
Amakura Mako joked optimistically.
Dividing 260,000 among 40 students meant each person would only average 6,500 personal points. To make 6,500 last from the start of the month to the end was practically equivalent to everyone in Class B eating the free mountain vegetable set for a month.
Class D had tried this treatment before—the price was a bunch of people becoming spies for other classes!
However, Class B's unity was exceptionally solid; one could only say that people are different.
"It's just a pity we won't be able to give gifts for Valentine's Day..."
Shiranami Chihiro looked at Ichinose with a bit of regret; she had originally planned to give her chocolate.
"Valentine's Day, huh."
Ichinose Honami muttered softly.
6,500 wouldn't buy very good chocolate, but for purchasing raw materials, it was more than enough. As the saying goes, when there is love, even water is filling!
'For Hachiman-kun's sake, even if I don't eat for a month, it's no big deal!'
Ichinose Honami made up her mind in her heart!
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In the Class A classroom, an unexpectedly fierce argument broke out.
Under the pressure of the expulsion crisis, these students—who considered themselves elites—finally lost their cool.
"I believe the critical votes should be cast for the student with the worst comprehensive evaluation! Kamuro, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Yahiko was the first to strike.
"Who are you calling the worst?"
Kamuro Masumi's face was as cold as frost.
Although her academic scores were a bit poor, her athletic scores were top-tier in Class A. No matter how you looked at it, the "worst student" title shouldn't fall on her.
"Hmph, based on the things you've done, you're a disgrace to Class A's face!"
Yahiko attacked further.
"Hey, hey, can you be clear? Didn't the Student Council already clarify that?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi voiced his disagreement.
"That kind of 'trying to cover things up' announcement—do you take everyone for a fool?
This is clearly that Hikigaya using his official position to wipe Kamuro's ass!"
Although the words were harsh, every single one was true.
Kamuro Masumi stayed silent, essentially admitting it.
She thought to herself: Hachiman doesn't just wipe it, he even spanks it!
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