After Amane broached the crucial topic, the cheerful buzz of discussion in the classroom came to an abrupt halt.
Right. Gathering the fifty thousand points was only their first hurdle.
They wouldn't truly be safe until they'd cleared every single challenge.
A tense atmosphere instantly descended upon the class.
The two students at the center of it all, Airi Sakura and Ruri Ichihashi, grew visibly uneasy.
Both had the same score, both were just one point away from expulsion, so when faced with this final choice, it was only natural they'd be on edge.
Hirata, for his part, remained quiet.
In his view, both classmates were equal. If he were to choose, he'd inevitably be tempted to offer himself up in place of the one facing expulsion.
Amane and the others had anticipated this very reaction, which is why they'd barred Hirata from participating in these discussions.
He could still cast a vote of confidence as a member of Class D.
But he was forbidden from actively steering the conversation, to prevent him from resorting to some extreme measure or using his influence to sway the class's genuine decision.
"Now, thanks to everyone's efforts, the fifty thousand personal points have been gathered," Amane announced. "The next step is the final discussion: deciding which student will remain. I've asked the two students facing expulsion to come here. Let's hear what they have to say."
Hirata kept his promise, withholding his personal opinion to avoid influencing anyone.
The first to step onto the platform was Ruri Ichihashi.
As a member of the Kushida group, she was quite socially active and got along well with many in class.
Add to that her identity as a sporty girl, with a lightly tanned complexion that helped her fit in with the class's gal-style clique, and she shone in almost every area except academics.
It seemed those supporting Ruri's stay would hold an overwhelming advantage.
"Who do you think will stay, Suzune?" Amane asked, leaning slightly towards Horikita behind her.
Horikita recalled the two girls' usual conduct in class and, without hesitation, chose Ruri.
"It might sound cruel to Sakura-san, but she doesn't stand a chance. Unless something happens to completely turn the situation around, it's hard to imagine her competing with the popular Ichihashi-san."
Horikita's assessment was brutally fair.
Amane thought the same.
As the two exchanged quiet words, Ruri Ichihashi stepped onto the platform with a smile.
Anyone unaware might have thought she was there to deliver an award acceptance speech.
"Hello everyone, I'm Ruri Ichihashi, one of the students failing this exam and facing expulsion."
Right from the start, Ruri acknowledged she was part of the failing group.
That alone took more courage than those like Yamauchi and Sudō, who refused to accept reality—at least she dared to confront her shortcomings.
"My performance in this exam was a bit off, leading to a low score, but it wasn't due to a lack of studying."
"I'm a member of the baseball club, and we've been training intensively lately to prepare for an upcoming tournament. This diverted my focus from studying, resulting in this unexpected accident..."
Ruri paused to gauge the class's reaction.
Many wore expressions of understanding.
After all, sports clubs in high school kept you busy. It was understandable if your grades slipped a little.
So, after just this brief explanation, many had already mentally cast their vote in Ruri's favor.
"But I didn't fail on purpose. There were a few subjects I didn't have enough time to review, which led to my overall score being low."
Ruri produced her transcript.
Over half her subjects were around sixty points.
The remaining two were in the twenties.
That was the unfortunate reason she'd fallen during the second review, landing her among those facing expulsion.
All in all, her circumstances were understandable. Nothing spectacular, but for an average student, Ruri Ichihashi was relatively capable.
"This exam result was a complete accident. I really love it here. I love living alongside everyone, striving for the class, and graduating from this school together. The thought of leaving truly pains me. Please, help me. I promise I'll turn over a new leaf, study hard, and never cause trouble for anyone again."
With that, Ruri bowed deeply to the class.
Her sincere gesture moved many who were still on the fence.
Kushida Kikyō, leader of her social circle, was the first to stand and applaud, triggering a chain reaction. Even those who found Ruri's speech a bit clichéd felt compelled to join in.
Still, Ruri's delivery had been quite impressive.
Even Amane offered a few claps of encouragement.
Looking satisfied, Ruri stepped down from the platform and returned to her seat.
Hirata's gaze shifted to the other Class D student.
Airi Sakura.
To be honest, Hirata had almost already decided in his heart that Airi Sakura would undoubtedly lose this contest.
Forget academics; in terms of physical presence alone, Ruri Ichihashi practically overwhelmed Airi.
And then there was the performance just now. Ruri first admitted she was a failure, then explained the reason for her predicament while emphasizing it was a one-time accident, finally pleading for a chance to graduate with everyone.
In Hirata's eyes, that speech was Ruri, under the pressure of expulsion, performing exceptionally—leveraging her abilities and social skills to their absolute limit.
Now, without a doubt, the pressure to be expelled shifted squarely onto Airi Sakura.
What kind of performance could this girl, whom the class usually subconsciously ignored, possibly deliver?
Airi Sakura timidly climbed onto the platform.
Facing countless stares, Airi took a deep breath and opened her mouth.
Only to find she had no idea what to say.
She began to grow nervous.
Her tightly clenched hands grew damp with sweat.
No matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn't conjure the kind of polished speech Ruri had delivered.
"H-Hello everyone... I'm... I'm Airi Sakura..."
Just stating her name seemed to use up all her courage.
Watching Airi stand there dumbly on the platform, falling silent, many began whispering amongst themselves.
"Since when did we have a student named Sakura in our class?"
"I don't know either... I feel like I never noticed her before. Seems like the type with zero presence."
On the platform, Airi bowed her head deeply.
She had no rebuttal.
'Zero presence' might sound like she was just inconspicuous, but what it really meant was that she didn't fit in.
As the murmurs grew louder,
Airi squeezed her eyes shut.
If possible...
Maybe ending like this wouldn't be so bad.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.