42 -42- The worst situation

The midterm exam, like the previous quiz, only covered the five main subjects.

With one hour allotted for each subject, the day passed smoothly.

Including breaks, it was equivalent to a regular day's schedule.

Therefore, when the usual dismissal time arrived, the exams were declared over.

"Your results will be announced tomorrow," Chabashira Sae, collecting all the papers, stated emotionlessly.

"Whether you're confident or not, enjoy your leisure tonight," she added before leaving the classroom, leaving behind unsettling words.

Once the door closed, the class erupted into noise.

"How was it?"

"Confident about passing?"

"I... I'm not sure..."

"I feel like I won't be able to sleep tonight..."

Students exchanged their anxieties openly.

Of course, those confident in their performance behaved as usual.

Kouenji Rokusuke, upon the dismissal bell, casually packed his bag and left without a second thought, displaying absolute confidence in his abilities.

As for Hirata Yousuke and Kushida Kikyou, they gathered around Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken.

"How did it go?"

"Are you okay?"

Hirata Yousuke and Kushida Kikyou seemed uneasy.

Normally, Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken might have brushed off the concern, but this time, they sat there, visibly distressed.

Looking at their expressions, it was clear to everyone the situation wasn't good.

"Haha... It's alright, don't worry. I've encountered situations like this countless times back in middle school. I've always made it through before, and this time will be no different!" Ike Kanji forced a laugh, unsure if he was comforting others or himself.

"I... I'm recognized by the United Nations as a highly knowledgeable individual. If the school aims to cultivate excellence, then I'll surely be fine. Yes, definitely fine!" Yamauchi Haruki echoed, but his tone lacked its usual confidence.

"...."

Sudou Ken couldn't even utter a word, sitting at his desk with a grim expression.

Everyone could see how dire the situation was for these three.

"Has it really come to this?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka could only observe from a distance.

Nanaya Hori glanced briefly before averting his gaze and continued packing his things.

At that moment, Horikita Suzune spoke up.

"Now you realize how much time you wasted before, right?" Horikita Suzune's voice was cold, almost like an impartial observer.

"Just like the past month of recklessness, now you need to face the consequences of not realizing the seriousness of the situation. Laugh at your own stupidity to your heart's content."

Perhaps this was Horikita Suzune's most genuine thought?

It wasn't meant to mock Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken but merely an objective expression of her thoughts.

However, regardless of the intent, such words in this situation had no effect other than sounding harsh.

This successfully ignited Sudou Ken's temper.

"Bang!"

Sudou Ken kicked his desk violently in frustration.

"Woah!"

Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, sitting directly in front of Sudou Ken, were immediately affected as the table behind them was knocked over.

By now, Sudou Ken had already risen to his feet.

"Do you think I won't hit you just because you're a girl!?" Sudou Ken's temples bulged with veins as he stormed towards Horikita Suzune in fury.

"Calm down, Sudou-kun!" Hirata Yousuke exclaimed, shocked, rushing to intervene.

But Hirata Yousuke couldn't stop Sudou Ken now.

"Get out of my way!" With a mere swing of his arm, Sudou Ken sent Hirata Yousuke flying, crashing into nearby desks and chairs.

"Yousuke!"

"Hirata-kun!"

Led by Karuizawa Kei, the girls hurriedly rushed to help Hirata Yousuke, expressing their concern, even casting angry glares at Sudou Ken.

However, at the same time, Karuizawa Kei's eyes betrayed a hint of fear.

For any girl facing Sudou Ken in his current state, fear was inevitable.

The only one left to reason with Sudou Ken was Kushida Kikyou.

"Please calm down, Sudou-kun," Kushida Kikyou pleaded, "While Horikita's words may have been harsh, resorting to violence might seriously violate the school's rules. Besides the potential loss of class points, Sudou-kun could face punishment from the school."

Kushida Kikyou's words were not only emotional but also logical.

Normally, even if Sudou Ken were violent, he would probably have swallowed his anger.

But Sudou Ken was beyond reasoning now.

"Anyway, we're all going to be expelled, so who cares!" Sudou Ken had completely lost his composure, his eyes bloodshot.

"I just want to teach that woman a lesson, so you'd better move, Kikyou!"

It seemed Sudou Ken had truly lost control.

The anxiety from the midterm exam's failure, combined with the looming possibility of expulsion, had pushed Sudou Ken over the edge.

Unfortunately, Horikita Suzune wasn't backing down.

"Turning a blind eye to your own incompetence and redirecting all blame into anger toward others? Quite pathetic, no wonder you're in Class D," Horikita Suzune remarked fearlessly.

"You...!" Sudou Ken couldn't contain his rage any longer, forcefully pushing aside Kushida Kikyou and charging towards Horikita Suzune.

"Ah!" Kushida Kikyou, pushed hard, lost her balance and could only let out a cry of distress.

"Ah!" The girls in the class seemed unable to bear witnessing what might happen to Horikita Suzune next, and screams filled the room.

In this moment, two people stepped forward.

One was Nanaya Hori.

However, Nanaya Hori didn't intervene in Sudou Ken's rampage but somehow appeared behind Kushida Kikyou, calmly helping the girl who had lost her balance.

The other was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka did intervene in Sudou Ken's rampage.

However, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't rush forward but instead threw something towards Sudou Ken.

Seeing that something, Sudou Ken, in the midst of his outburst, froze for a moment, almost instinctively reaching out and catching it.