Chapter 8 – Zero-point strategy is not wise

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Seeing the class teacher entering, the students of Class C immediately started asking eagerly, "Sakagami-sensei, our points have decreased this month. How exactly were they deducted? Could you explain it to us in detail?"

"Sakagami-sensei, is there any way to recover the deducted private points? For instance, like Yukio-san mentioned, can participating in club competitions and winning help us regain our private points?"

One question followed another, clearly showing the students' concern for their private points. People are always particularly sensitive when it comes to their own interests.

Sakagami-sensei seemed to have anticipated this scene and calmly pulled out several magnets from the teacher's desk drawer, beginning to stick sheets of paper on the blackboard.

There were two sheets in total. The one on the left seemed to list the point scores of different classes.

Class A: 940 points;

Class B: 650 points;

Class C: 560 points;

Class D: 0 points.

Some students already understood that these points could be converted to the private points of each student in Class C at a ratio of 1:100.

The other sheet posted was a list of grades from a recent baseline test conducted at the end of April. It was an ungraded test that hadn't attracted much attention, but now, seeing the grade sheet, many students with poor scores began to feel nervous.

"Alright," Sakagami said after setting everything up, "As you can see, the left side shows the class point rankings. Each class initially has one thousand class points."

"The class points and private points are converted at a ratio of 1:100. This determines the amount of private points you can receive each month and also your class placement."

"If your class points exceed those of another class, you can move up from Class C to Class B, and even to Class A."

"The privileges of choosing any job or further studies after graduation, as you initially thought, are only available to students who graduate from Class A. Students from the other three classes will be abandoned by the school."

"This is the strength-based educational policy of Advanced Nurturing High School."

"As for how your points were specifically deducted? It's simple. Over the course of a month, there were thirteen absences from class, numerous instances of being distracted in class, playing with phones, and more."

The mysterious veil of Advanced Nurturing High School was finally lifted on the first day of May, in front of the new students.

When mentioning the specific deductions, Sakagami seemed slightly disappointed. The absences were all due to Yukio's behavior, accounting for the bulk of the deductions.

Other minor misconduct occurred during Yukio's absences, when Class C students, realizing the big demon wasn't there, sneakily slacked off.

If Yukio had been regular, perhaps they could have overtaken Class B, Sakagami thought with a bit of regret.

However, Sakagami was unaware that Yukio didn't realize his own problem and instead found it interesting. This was just the tip of the iceberg at Advanced Nurturing High School. To uncover all the rules, a slow and steady approach was needed.

While Yukio found it interesting, the rest of Class C reacted oppositely, boiling with indignation: "The school is discriminating! Openly categorizing students into different classes is wrong! It's too much!"

"How can they do this? We are students too! Why should we be considered inferior to those in Class A and B? Damn!"

"Only those graduating from Class A get access to various resources? That's so unfair to us!"

Sakagami watched the students coldly as their swearing and complaints gradually ceased under his gaze, and the classroom returned to silence.

"Have you said enough?" Sakagami looked around the room, seemingly intending to provoke the students' dissatisfaction to ignite their spirit: "Whether you accept it or not, this is the reality."

"The initial class assignment was based on your overall abilities. According to the school's admission evaluation, each of you was rated as 'C,' hence your placement in Class C."

"Not satisfied? If you're not content, then climb up. Surpass Class B, advance to Class A. The ultimate winner deserves to enjoy the best rewards. Isn't that a universal truth?"

The students of Class C were reprimanded until they blushed, each feeling as if a fire was burning inside them, eager to surpass Class A and step on Class B to reach the pinnacle.

"Oh, by the way," Sakagami intentionally controlled the class's rhythm and tapped on the right-hand grade sheet, "the mid-term exams are in three weeks."

"Here's an important piece of information for you: if any student fails even one subject in the mid-term or final exams, they will be expelled."

"The passing grade for each subject in every class is half the class average for that subject. According to this calculation, twelve students would have been expelled based on the baseline test."

"Fortunately, the baseline test doesn't count towards your grades. After feeling relieved, you should really start studying hard."

"What?!"

"Expelled for failing?!"

This news was like a bomb dropped in Class C, causing a huge uproar. This was a pain they could not bear!

Many delinquent students in Class C had poor academic performances. Now, being expelled for failing once was like being kicked out with their bedding. Thinking about this made them sweat coldly, their faces tense, even feeling breathless from the rapid heartbeat.

Yukio carefully pondered Sakagami's words and couldn't help but raise his hand to ask humorously, "Sensei, based on what you said, if the whole class unites and everyone turns in a blank paper, that should work, right?"

"Since the passing grade is half the class average, if we adopt a zero-score strategy and everyone scores zero, then the half-average passing grade would also be zero. Wouldn't everyone pass and meet the grade then?"

Yukio's statement sounded like a lifesaving straw to the poor performers in the class. It seemed like a glimpse of hope, something to cling onto desperately.

"Handing in a blank paper? I'm good at that!"

"Sensei! What Yukio-san said is right! If we all score zero, then no one would be expelled!"

"Yeah! It's very likely we can't make the grade, but I'm 100% sure I can hand in a blank paper!"

Ryuen looked at Yukio with admiration, his eyes conveying unspoken praise: "Yukio, you really have a way with ideas!"

Ibuki also looked at Yukio in awe, as if looking up to a mountain, unable to deny the vast difference between individuals. How did Yukio come up with such a perfect idea?

Sakagami staggered a bit, barely maintaining his balance, and coughed as he leaned on the podium: "Uh, Yukio-kun, the zero-score strategy is not advisable. Although the school strongly supports students actively thinking and coming up with various strategies, there are still certain requirements for basic learning."

"If the whole class scores zero..." Sakagami fake coughed as he tapped on the class point rankings, clearly conveying the message.

Thinking of a zero-score strategy? A collective failure? The school would deduct class points for poor performance. A few students scoring zero might be acceptable, but the school does not permit such cheating behavior from the entire class.