Thus, at Tsukishiro's request, the first-year homeroom teachers—Hoshinomiya, Sakagami, and Chabashira—arrived together and met the newly appointed Acting Chairman, Tsukishiro, who would be their superior for the foreseeable future.
Only then did Mashima step forward and respectfully ask, "Chairman Tsukishiro, all the first-year homeroom teachers are present. May we ask what matter requires our assistance?"
Tsukishiro didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took a moment to carefully observe each of them, then nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. You're all very capable individuals."
"There's no need to be nervous. What I need from you is quite simple: just announce to your respective classes that there will be an additional special exam."
"!"
Realizing Tsukishiro's intent, all four homeroom teachers—including Mashima—simultaneously frowned, their expressions growing serious.
Even Hoshinomiya, who usually liked to act like a playful schoolgirl, looked grave. They had all expected Tsukishiro to make a splash with his arrival—but to open with this? Wasn't that a little too disruptive?
Sakagami especially didn't want any unexpected complications. After all, the class he was in charge of—Yukio's class—was now the undisputed top performer among the first years, firmly holding the leading position.
If Tsukishiro went ahead with some ill-conceived special exam and another class managed to catch up, it would be disastrous.
So, Sakagami responded with a smile that mirrored Tsukishiro's ever-squinting eyes. "Chairman Tsukishiro, as you know, the chairman does have the authority to establish special exams. However, we are already nearing the end of the third semester, and a final special exam is already scheduled."
"Might I suggest that your intended special exam be integrated into the existing final exam structure instead?"
He wasn't rejecting the idea outright, but proposing a compromise—not adding another exam, but simply using Tsukishiro's ideas for the one already planned.
Tsukishiro nodded slightly, as if in agreement with Sakagami's proposal, and Sakagami allowed himself three seconds of relief—before Tsukishiro casually shut it down.
"Mr. Sakagami's suggestion is a fine one. But I won't be changing my decision."
"..."
Sakagami froze for a second. Internally, he was already cursing. What the hell? Was this just a show of dominance? Or did Tsukishiro simply enjoy rejecting others to assert his authority?
Perhaps sensing Sakagami's displeasure, Tsukishiro earnestly offered an explanation. "I'm well aware of the final exam plans for the third semester."
"To be frank, I'm not some outsider playing expert. My appointment was finalized in late February, and I spent nearly ten full days at home studying every aspect of your school's system before taking the post."
"So while I won't claim to know everything about AN High School, I'm certainly familiar with its fundamental mechanisms." He then cited several specific rules and their intended purposes, clearly demonstrating his grasp of the institution—enough to quell any doubts.
Having seen this level of understanding, Sakagami chose not to press the issue further. Instead, it was Hoshinomiya who now looked curious. "In that case, Chairman Tsukishiro, what kind of special exam do you intend to add?"
"Ah, that." Tsukishiro didn't hesitate to reveal his thoughts. "Before arriving, I reviewed this year's first-year data. It's safe to say that this cohort is exceptionally outstanding—far above previous years."
At those words, all four teachers unconsciously stood a bit straighter. A sense of pride welled up in each of them. This year's batch truly was the best they had ever taught—an undeniable fact. There was no way they could force out the classic teacher line. "You're the worst class I've ever had."
"But…" Tsukishiro, evidently fond of dramatic turns, shifted gears mid-sentence. "It's precisely because they're so outstanding that they require even more rigorous training."
"Among the first-years, aside from that Sudo from Class D who voluntarily withdrew, there hasn't been a single student expelled due to academic performance, correct?"
"That won't do. Advanced Nurturing is a school with an inherent elimination system—it's not some mindless amusement park for students. They need to feel a sense of crisis."
"Therefore, I plan to introduce a special exam guaranteed to result in expulsions across every class."
The pride didn't even last two seconds before every homeroom teacher's expression collapsed. What did he just say? Every class must have someone expelled? Was this new boss out of his mind?
Expelling students because they were too excellent? That logic, rephrased in business terms, would be like this: the former CEO sells the company, and the new CEO's first move is—under the pretext of creating a sense of crisis—to fire the best-performing employees. If that's not insanity, then what is?
"I–I'd like to ask a question, Chairman Tsukishiro," said Mashima, who had earlier shown deference toward him but now couldn't hold back.
Usually known for being tight-lipped and strict, Mashima had a cold reputation among students—unlike the more popular Hoshinomiya or Sakagami. But there was no doubt he was a genuine teacher who cared about his students. Faced with an unreasonable exam proposal, he was bound to speak up.
Sakagami, Hoshinomiya, and Chabashira all turned to look at him. At this moment, all the homeroom teachers were in the same boat. Of course, they hoped someone would step up and persuade Tsukishiro to withdraw such an absurd decision, and so all eyes were on Mashima, hoping he would argue the point with conviction.
"Of course," Tsukishiro replied without hesitation. He knew how outrageous his proposal sounded. If none of the four spoke up, he would've lost respect for them.
Mashima first steadied his breath, suppressing the anxiety and tension of confronting a superior. Once composed, his face turned stern.
"Please forgive me if my words are out of line. I understand that Chairman Tsukishiro made this decision fully aware of AN's system and after studying past exam precedents extensively."
"However, to impose forced expulsions simply because this first-year cohort is too outstanding—because no one has been expelled—is a decision that serves neither the students' growth nor any logical purpose."
Despite Mashima's firm protest, Tsukishiro didn't so much as twitch a facial muscle. "Mr. Mashima, I must ask—what exactly do you mean? If such logic doesn't serve the students' growth, then isn't the current policy of expelling students who fail midterms or finals just as senseless?"
"What school would expel a student over one failed subject on a midterm?"
"That's completely different." Mashima, with his years of teaching experience, rebutted without hesitation. "Expulsions tied to midterms or finals exist to push students to meet a baseline academic standard. Studying is their primary responsibility."
"But your kind of forced expulsion doesn't carry that kind of constructive pressure, does it?"
Tsukishiro remained smiling, like a patient old man explaining something to a child. "That's where you're mistaken, Mr. Mashima. How can you say that a sense of crisis doesn't serve as motivation?"
"A crisis mindset pushes people to move forward on their own. Is that not, in essence, the same thing as a push or a prod?"
...
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