The most important element within groups is not trust or cooperation between individuals. Even loyalty is not the foundation of a group's success.
What makes armies win and teams succeed is, above all, the presence of a leader. If that leader disappears, the group becomes like a snake without a head—it no longer knows where it is or where it's going.
If the leader is absent, the closest outcome is disintegration. Each member will act according to what they see fit, and with so many differing opinions and no one to make the right decision, the group will know nothing but conflict.
This is the inevitable outcome now approaching Class D… if Hirata collapses and Kushida chooses not to intervene.
"Hirata-kun?" Karuizawa sounded confused by Hirata's silence and his lack of response even after she called out to him.
All eyes in the classroom fixed on Yosuke Hirata. It wasn't like him to stay silent in situations like this or to ignore his classmates when they called him.
He remained in the same position, holding his head and staring at his desk.
"Shut up!" Suddenly, a dark and hostile tone echoed.
No one could believe the source of it—it came from Hirata himself.
I couldn't believe that Hirata—the kind, handsome boy who got along with everyone—could speak like that.
Karuizawa stood frozen in shock, unable to move.
"Hahaha, isn't that right, Hirata? She's clearly the one at fault and still talking!" Yamauchi took the opportunity to continue what he had started.
It seemed he was the only one who hadn't realized that Hirata had already lost control.
"Damn it, shut up!" Hirata's voice rang loudly through the silent classroom.
"Uh…" Even Yamauchi was shocked by his aggressive response.
At this rate, everything would end soon—unless someone stepped in.
But the most important figure in the class had already withdrawn. Is there really anyone capable of calming things down before it reaches the point of no return?
I couldn't think of anyone who could do it. Thinking itself was pointless now.
There was no time.
There might be a way to do it… but it might not please someone.
Damn it… it's the only thing I can do. I can't think of any alternative.
Is everything over…?
No. I won't allow that—not after we've come this far.
There's no other choice.
The first thing I need is to draw their attention. Slamming a desk loudly should be enough.
I took a deep breath through my nose, then exhaled slowly through my mouth.
I raised my hand slightly, preparing to create a loud sound upon impact.
A loud bang echoed through the classroom, reaching everyone's ears. Maybe because everyone was silent, it sounded even louder than usual.
But…
It wasn't me. My hand was still hanging in the air.
The sound came from the front of the classroom… from Yukinoshita.
She was sitting at her seat at the very front, right in front of the blackboard. Her expression was cold, completely devoid of emotion.
"What is all this noise? Are you kindergarteners?" Yukinoshita's voice was as cold as ice.
Others might not notice the difference, but I was certain—the girl I was looking at right now wasn't Yukinoshita… she was a new queen.
Everyone's gaze shifted from Hirata to Yukinoshita, as if the center of the world had moved to the front of the room.
"Why can't you sit quietly until the next lesson starts? Haven't you learned basic manners?" Yukinoshita cast a glance toward Yamauchi.
He froze in place under her coldness.
"U-uh… but… she…" He tried to form a response, but she didn't give him the chance.
"What? You want to comment on her lateness? Do you even have the right to do that? Considering your behavior, you should fix yourself first." Yukinoshita began scolding him mercilessly.
"She's… disrupting the class…" Yamauchi muttered words that normally wouldn't be heard, but in the silence, they were clear to everyone.
"And your behavior isn't disrupting the class? Causing problems for trivial reasons just to satisfy your ego… do you have a persecution complex?" Yamauchi's face turned red with embarrassment after being scolded in front of the entire class. He couldn't even respond with a proper sentence.
He had no choice but to sit down silently.
It seemed Ike was trying to make himself as invisible as possible to avoid being scolded as well.
Karuizawa stood in place as if she had just been declared the winner of this confrontation.
Does she think it's over? She clearly doesn't know Yukinoshita yet.
"Karuizawa-san, you should be more punctual. Coming to class late is unacceptable, no matter the reason." Yukinoshita continued, this time addressing Karuizawa.
She looked like she was struggling to respond, but it was useless.
Everything Yukinoshita said was correct. Even if Karuizawa tried to find fault in her words, she wouldn't find any.
She truly was a perfect student—no tardiness, no absences, and excellent academic performance.
"But…" Karuizawa seemed determined to respond, but there was no room.
"Karuizawa-san, please don't escalate this further. Take your seat—the teacher is on the way. Also, it's better if everyone behaves properly and refrains from judging others while ignoring their own faults. Any kind of conflict is unacceptable. Anyone who still thinks they're in middle school has no place here. The problem we're facing is far bigger than you realize." Yukinoshita finished her speech with confidence. No one objected to her words.
Unlike Hirata, who tries to mediate peacefully without blaming anyone, Yukinoshita doesn't hesitate to confront others directly and point out their flaws.
She successfully restored order to the entire class—as if she had become the new leader.
The sound of the door opening was heard as Chabashira-sensei entered, as usual.
She paused for a moment at the door, as if sensing the tense atmosphere.
Then she walked to the podium and began her lesson in complete silence from the students.
---
Unlike the first lesson, I was fully attentive throughout the rest of the classes. The disaster that had been looming over us had been successfully avoided.
I don't think anyone would dare disrupt the class anymore. No one is ready to face Yukinoshita again in front of everyone.
Unlike usual—when Chabashira-sensei leaves immediately after finishing the lesson—this time she remained standing in place, as if she had something to tell us.
The rest of the students noticed and stayed in their seats.
"I want to inform you of something. There will be an end-of-month exam, so be prepared." Chabashira-sensei observed the students' reactions, but no one said a word.
Seriously? Exams already? That's bad.
"I also want to inform you that these exams will not directly affect you, but they are important and will mainly cover material from previous years." She calmly finished her announcement and stood silently once again.
But no one had the courage—or even the mood—to respond.
She took the silence as a sign that there were no objections or questions, then quietly left the room.
The students also began to leave. The only sound that could be heard was the slow scraping of chairs as they moved.
I remained seated, quietly watching them leave.
I couldn't help but wonder…
If they were always this disciplined and calm… would they be in Class A?
The answer is no.
It's more than just behavior.