The Echo of Decisions

The day of the special exam had finally arrived. We settled quietly in the classroom, each at our respective desks, exchanging curious and expectant glances. In front of us lay a kind of tablet that Hoshinomiya-sensei had left upon entering. She warned us not to touch it until she gave her instructions, awakening a hint of intrigue. Perhaps these tablets would serve a purpose beyond just taking notes; maybe they would be used for voting.

Hoshinomiya-sensei stood at the podium, maintaining her usual cheerful tone, although this time she seemed more serious, almost solemn. She began to explain again the information she had given us days before, preparing the atmosphere for what was to come.

—As you know, today we will conduct the special exam known as the 'Class Voting' —she announced, capturing our attention—. This exam consists of each student having three praise votes and three criticism votes, along with an additional praise vote for a student from another class. You are not allowed to vote for yourself or give multiple votes to the same person. The tablets at your desks will be used to cast your votes; in a moment, they will light up, and I will give you the signal to begin.

I observed my classmates. Unlike what I would have expected, most seemed calm, with no anxiety on their faces. They remained focused on their dark tablets, tranquil and with an almost calculated confidence, as if they had control over the exam and its results. Perhaps that serenity was a strategy, or maybe they simply trusted their alliances and previous decisions.

A few minutes later, Hoshinomiya-sensei gave the signal, and the tablets lit up in unison, casting a soft light that illuminated our faces. The countdown began, and we all started voting quickly. We had discussed our strategies beforehand, so the process was smooth. Within minutes, most of us had finished, although the air remained thick with doubt about whether our plans would work as we expected or if something unexpected would change the course of the voting.

After finishing, I shifted my gaze toward the window, trying to imagine how the voting was unfolding in the other classes. Had they taken the same precautions? Would they follow similar strategies, or would they be swayed by sympathies and resentments? The cloudy sky outside somehow reflected the tense atmosphere inside the classroom.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the murmur starting to fill the room as some classmates began speculating about the possible results. I tried to ignore them, focusing on maintaining my calm and concentrating on what was to come. At that moment, I realized that this exam was not just about who would receive positive or negative votes, but about how connections, loyalties, and tensions within our class had been built and worn down until now.

...

The day of the special exam had finally arrived, and the atmosphere in Class C was surprisingly calm. For a class known for its noise, this time the silence was almost absolute. Each student seemed at peace with the outcome, as if they all knew what was going to happen. But the most curious of all was Yamauchi's attitude. Despite his poor reputation in class, today he was different; I saw him speaking quietly with some classmates who usually ignored him. This behavior, while intriguing, only intensified the strange tension hanging in the air.

However, this apparent calm was immediately shattered when Horikita Suzune, the leader of Class D, stood up from her seat with a determined expression. After careful consideration, she concluded that the only logical solution was to eliminate whoever had performed the worst in the class.

—Yamauchi Haruki —she declared, pronouncing his name without a hint of doubt.

Yamauchi's face turned pale instantly. The confidence he seemed to have gained crumbled. In a panic, he tried to find an excuse, something that could convince the others that his expulsion would be a mistake.

—H-Horikita-san, please… you can't expel me! I'm useful to the class, why don't you expel Shinohara? She's useless! —he pleaded, his voice choked with fear.

—What the hell are you saying, Yamauchi? You're more useless than I am… and besides, you're a pervert —Shinohara responded, visibly annoyed.

—At least I wasn't a... in middle school! —Yamauchi shouted, his voice filled with resentment and desperation.

His comment immediately caused chaos. Shouts and reproaches flooded the classroom as students verbally attacked each other, and the strategy they had tried to conceal from Horikita collapsed before their own eyes due to Yamauchi's recklessness.

Amidst the disorder, Professor Chabashira struck the podium to regain everyone's attention and announced coldly:

—Time's up. It's time for you to start voting.

One by one, everyone began to cast their votes. Despite Horikita pointing to Yamauchi as the most likely to be expelled, he still harbored the hope that the class would stick to the previous strategy, the one aiming to eliminate Ayanokouji. He was convinced that his classmates would support that plan, clinging to the illusion that he would manage to save himself. However, reality was about to shatter his expectations.

Once the voting concluded, Chabashira-sensei turned to the class and began reading the results.

—The student with the highest number of negative votes is… Yamauchi Haruki.

Yamauchi was in shock, his face filled with disbelief and despair.

—W-what? This can't be…! Why didn't you follow the strategy?! —he shouted, looking at everyone with pleading eyes, but his classmates ignored him, returning cold and indifferent looks. Horikita watched him, confused about what "strategy" he was referring to, just like others who also seemed not to understand what he was talking about.

Koenji, who had remained silent until that moment, decided to add a final blow.

—Oh, ugly extension-kun, why don't you do something useful for once and leave school? That way we won't have to endure your... unpleasant presence —he commented while grooming himself and casually resting his feet on the desk, smiling disdainfully.

—W-what… the hell are you saying, you bastard? —Yamauchi shouted, completely beside himself. In a fit of rage, he lifted a chair, ready to attack Koenji.

Without losing his smile, Koenji lowered his right foot slightly and pushed the table with a firm movement, impacting Yamauchi's stomach and making him fall to the ground, where he immediately ended up vomiting.

As Yamauchi gasped and cried on the floor, the classroom fell into an uncomfortable silence. Chabashira-sensei completely ignored the scene and, without pause, announced the next result.

—And now, the student with the highest number of praise votes is… Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

Amazement spread through the room. Everyone knew that, in theory, Ayanokouji was the one who was originally going to be expelled, but now, somehow, he had become the most praised in the class. Confusion seized Class C. Yamauchi, still on the floor, paled as he realized that his plan had completely failed.

Thus, amid total disorder and with a mix of surprise and tension in the air, the special exam came to an end. But after that exam, the balance of the class had changed. Perhaps some would remain the same, but for others, nothing would ever be the same again.

...

In Class B, the atmosphere during the special exam was different. Unlike the ever-impeccable serenity of Class A, the silence in Class B seemed to hide something deeper, a forced calm. Behind the seemingly tranquil gazes lay a latent tension that only a few could perceive. As the exam progressed, each student remained on high alert, especially Katsuragi, who kept casting glances at his companion and leader, Sakayanagi, trying to decipher her true intentions.

Finally, when Mashima-sensei stood up and began to read the results, everyone held their breath. Katsuragi's expression hardened upon hearing the first words from the teacher.

—The person with the highest number of critical points is… Yahiko Totsuka —she announced coldly.

The classroom fell silent, and the surprise was immediate and devastating. The impact on Yahiko was evident; his face paled instantly, and his eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and fear. Katsuragi felt the air grow heavy around him, and the surprise quickly turned into indignation. He turned to Sakayanagi, seeking an explanation.

—Sakayanagi! This wasn't what we agreed upon —he protested, unable to control his frustration.

Sakayanagi, as was her custom, maintained the same unruffled smile, revealing an absolute calm. In a soft, calculated tone, she replied:

—Oh, Katsuragi-kun, I don't recall agreeing to expel you. The only promise I made was to expel the least useful student. And despite our differences, you've proven to be quite useful… unlike the green-haired boy —she said, casting a disdainful glance at Yahiko.

Katsuragi felt his blood boil, but he couldn't find an argument to defend himself. What hurt the most was that, deep down, he knew Sakayanagi was right: he had accepted the condition without anticipating the consequences. Still, he had trusted that his position was the one in danger, not Yahiko's. Yahiko, who had supported him all this time, who had always been by his side, the only person he truly trusted in this school full of intrigues.

He looked at his friend, who was on the verge of tears, struggling to contain the despair that shimmered in his eyes. Katsuragi felt a knot in his chest, a mix of helplessness and guilt that left him speechless. For a moment, he wished he could switch places with him, do something to save him. But he was trapped. The rules were set, and the final decision had been made.

As silence stretched in the classroom, Sakayanagi observed the scene with her characteristic calm, relishing her silent triumph. She knew perfectly the pain she was causing Katsuragi, and perhaps that was part of her plan, a reminder of who truly held the power in Class B. To her, Yahiko was nothing more than a disposable pawn, a sacrifice that reinforced her position of power and weakened any attempts at opposition.

Yahiko, with tears still in his eyes, cast one last look at Katsuragi. Without the need for words, they both understood that this was the end. The only person Katsuragi had considered a friend in that school was about to disappear, and he had been powerless to stop it.

...

The atmosphere in Class D was charged with tension. The special exam had awakened in everyone a desire for change, a feeling that someone had to be sacrificed to move forward. However, the shadow of doubt loomed over them. Although many believed Ryūen was the best candidate to be expelled, the underlying question was who could take over leadership in his absence. Even though Ryūen's methods were not precisely conventional and his actions often ruthless, he was the only one proposing strategies and making firm decisions in class. Without him, Class D's fate seemed uncertain.

Indecision permeated every corner of the classroom. Some glanced at Ryūen, hoping to catch a signal, but he remained in his seat, expressionless, unperturbed. Ryūen's calm was not that of someone ignorant of his possible expulsion; rather, it seemed the calm of someone with a plan. Despite the hostile glances and whispers filling the classroom, Ryūen did not flinch, and that silent confidence began to unsettle some of his classmates.

Among them, one voice resonated more fervently than the others. Manabe, a student who had always despised Ryūen, was the first to propose his expulsion. For her, this was the perfect opportunity to rid herself of someone who, in her opinion, had been a constant obstacle. Seeing her determination, other classmates began to support the idea. However, although the majority accepted the proposal, an uncertainty weighed upon them. They all knew that Class D was in a critical position and that any wrong decision could sink them even deeper.

Suddenly, Ryūen stood up from his seat and walked to the podium. His presence felt intimidating, and when his eyes scanned the classroom, absolute silence seized everyone. With a cold, calculating gaze, he began to speak:

—I know all of you want me expelled, and I don't blame you —he started with a calm voice, laced with contempt—. I really don't care. But is that the best your tiny brains can come up with? If I leave, who will be your leader? Who will plan the strategies so that at least you can compete with the other classes? Do you really think you can escape the hole you're in? Here's a spoiler: it's not going to happen. But as I said, do whatever you want and expel me if you want. Just remember that there are treacherous rats hiding among you.

Ryūen's last words were like a dagger aimed at Manabe, and the look he shot her was intense and penetrating, ensuring everyone noticed the implication. After that, he turned and returned to his desk, leaving a thick silence and a feeling of uncertainty in the class. His words had been a direct blow to their insecurities, awakening fear in those who, deep down, knew they needed a leader. Would it be possible to reach Class A without someone making tough, risky decisions? Doubt had been planted in their minds, and Ryūen knew it.

The moment of voting arrived, and Ryūen watched his classmates with a slight smile. He had sown the seed of doubt, but he also had an ace up his sleeve. No matter how many negative votes he received, he was sure he would not be expelled. In the previous weeks, he had done something he had never considered in the past: he had set aside his pride and sought external support. Through Ichizaki and Ibuki, he had negotiated with Osawa from Class A, offering five million points in exchange for votes of praise. Osawa accepted the deal, ensuring that Ryūen would not only survive this vote but would do so with an advantage.

For Ryūen, this exam was not just a test; it was an opportunity to demonstrate his evolution. After a year of failures and humiliations, of being crushed by the prodigy of Class C, he had decided to change. He had realized that his style needed to adapt if he wanted to defeat those who had previously outperformed him. And even if it meant temporarily allying with those he despised, he was willing to do it if it brought him closer to his ultimate goal.

Finally, Sakagami-sensei stood up and announced the voting results.

—The person with the most critical points is… Manabe Shiho.

A murmur swept through the class, followed by Manabe's explosion as she rose from her seat, screaming, unable to accept her fate. Her fury and desperation were evident. She yelled and cried, pleading for a second chance, as she looked at her classmates, searching for support that no longer existed.

The decision was made, and the members of Class D looked ahead, aware that they had made a choice that, although painful, offered them a glimmer of hope for a better future. Ryūen's presence remained an enigma, and while some still viewed him as a threat, others began to understand that his leadership could be the push they needed to face the challenges that lay ahead. With this uncertainty in the air and a newfound determination in their eyes, Class D took its first step toward an uncertain future, guided, for now, by a figure who could lead them to the top… or drag them even deeper down.