Chapter 8: Average

Ayanokoji POV

The time for the break came as Horikita hurried out of the class, most probably in search of Miss Chabashira for answers

I was just about to start eating the rice and curry bento I had learnt to make as I heard the intercom telling me to go to the teacher's lounge as Miss Chabashira was looking for me

My classmates look at me, wondering If I had done anything wrong as I made my way to the student lounge where I see Miss Hoshinomiya, the biology teacher who was also the homeroom teacher of Class B

"Ara, who are you?" she asked me as she got closer to me by an uncomfortable amount

"I am Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from class D, I was called here" I explained as she beamed with energy and said

"Oh! Sae chan's class! well I see. Judging from your looks, you are very popular aren't you?" she said as I shook my head

"No, I am more of a loner if anything." I said as she tried to get even closer before Miss Chabashira finally came

"Ayanokoji, sorry for making you wait. Chie, stay away from my student" she said as Miss Hoshinomiya pouted at Miss Chabashira's reply

"Come in with me to the guidance room, Chie, stay where you are" Miss Chabashira said as Miss Hoshinomiya said that she was being mean to her

"I can give guidance to! besides why do you want to be alone with him.... do you have a goal?" Miss Hoshinomiya said as Miss Chabashira sneered at her

"Are you perhaps..... looking to be dominated by a younger man?" she said as Miss Chabashira said it was impossible

What did they even mean by dominated in this context? It isn't like me and miss Chabashira are competing or fighting.

After a bit of convincing, Miss Hoshinomiya left us alone as we went into the guidance room where as soon as I entered I heard

"Get into the kitchen, close the door and stay in there quietly. If you fail to follow then you will be expelled" she said as I followed her requests not wanting to anger her

I don't want to be expelled and I know better than to mess with a Sadist's wants

"Here, come in. Well then, what do you have to say to me? Horikita." Miss Chabashira asked as Horikita started

"I will be blunt. You explained how the classes were divided and I don't think I was put in the right class" she said as miss Chabashira shook her head

"No, you were put in the right class. There isn't any doubt about that" Miss Chabashira explained as Horikita replied

"I am doing quite well academically, why was I evaluated at class D?" she asked, a little frustrated

"I'm a teacher. I understand the students to some degree at the very least. Horikita Suzune. As you thought, on the entrance examination, you were 3rd place among the incoming first-years. Your scores were behind first and second by only a small margin. You did very well. There were no particular problems that we observed during the interview either. Rather, you were highly rated." Miss Chabashira said as Horikita asked again

"Thank you but then why was I put here?" she asked as Miss Chabashira simply asked

"Before that, why are you dissatisfied with class D?" Miss Chabashira said as Horikita replied in what she saw as sensible

"There is no one that would be happy when they are not correctly evaluated. Also, the differences between classes also greatly affect future prospects. It's only natural that I'm unhappy." Horikita explained as she wasn't happy with her placement

"Correctly evaluated? your evaluation of yourself is too high." Miss Chabashira said as she laughed a little at Horikita's pride

"I recognize that your academic ability is high. You are definitely smart. However, who decided that smart people were the ones who got into the superior classes? We never said that." Miss Chabashira explained as Horikita looked down, Remembering how I had said the same thing

"If academics were the only reason, people like Sudo would have never been selected" Miss Chabashira explained as Horikita looked down, disappointed in her own inability that she failed to understand

"You'll get the same result if you try to talk to anyone in a higher position. There's no need to be that disappointed. As I said this morning, classes can overtake and surpass one another. Remember that there is the possibility of rising up to class A before graduation." Miss Chabashira consoled her to a degree as Horikita shook her head

"It does not seem like a very easy path. How will the immature class D ever get more points than class A? No matter how I look at it, it is impossible." Horikita said as she felt hopelessness in her current situation

"I suppose I will be leaving then... there isn't much else I have left to ask" Horikita asked as Miss Chabashira suddenly said

"Well, I have called another person here, someone relevant to you" she said as Horikita surprised, said

"What? my broth-" Horikita was about to say as Miss Chabashira said

"Ayanokoji come out" Miss Chabashira called out for me as I mentally sighed and walked in

"Hey.... Horikita, didn't expect to see you there" I lied as naturally as I breathed. Fooling neither of the women in this room

"I don't understand, Why is Ayanokoji here?" she asked as Miss Chabashira spoke up

"Ayanokoji, You are quite an interesting student if I do say so myself" Miss Chabashira said, Oh no. I know where this is going

"Not as interesting as your name Miss Chabashira" I said as she smiled in annoyance

"Hah? would you like to say that to every Chabashira in the country?" she said as I mentally noted

I don't think I would be even able to find another Chabashira in the world

"After your entrance examination results, I was thinking about potential individual teaching methods, but after seeing your test results, my interest was piqued. I was surprised at first." Miss Chabashira said as the thing I was fearing, came true

"50 points in Japanese, 50 points in math, 50 points in english, 50 points in history, 50 points in science... and the result of the most recent test was also 50 points. Do you know what this means?" Miss Chabashira said with her usual sadistic smile

"Ayanokoji you....." Horikita started as she looked at me in betrayal

"Wow, that's a neat coincidence. I wonder how that happened. I could swear I studied harder for those exams" I had said as Miss Chabashira laughed

"You call these a coincidence? it's as obvious as daylight that you manipulated your scores" Miss Chabashira said in a coolly tone, calling my lie out

"If I could do as well as you are suggesting I can, wouldn't I try to go for perfect scores? the logic used by you here is flawed" I said as Miss Chabashira looked into her notepad and began speaking

"Honestly, you're a really weird student. Are you sure? Math problem #5 was only solved by 3% of all students this year. Additionally, you included a complex formula and used it flawlessly. On the other hand, the correct answer rate of #10 was 76%. Did you make a mistake? Or is that 'normal'?" Miss Chabashira said as I sighed

"I guess I prepared for the harder questions so much that I didn't even remember how to solve the easy ones" I said as she raised an eyebrow at my justification

"I admire your dedication to stay lowkey but this attitude will give you a lot of trouble in the future" Miss Chabashira said as I shrugged, indicating that I didn't know what she was talking about

"Ayanokoji.... why?" Horikita asked, completely feeling betrayed that I had hidden my ability

"Horikita....." I sighed, knowing there was no way around it

I don't want to lose Horikita, I really don't

"I just didn't want to be noticed much, just live a quieter life...." I explained as she slowly nodded

"I.... understand" she said as Miss Chabashira started to say something

"Ayanokoji might be even smarter than you Horikita, he noticed details that you didn't even bother to check. He might be the key to reaching class A" she said as I close my eyes

I wanted to live a happy life without problems, with me being forced into the class struggle. I would have nothing other than problems.....

But Horikita and presumably other people in the class would also want to rise up. And I guess I can help just a little for a friend.

"Alright, both of you should get back, you only have 15 minutes left to eat for your break. The food court is near so I reckon you just go there" she said as I nodded

"Come on, let's go eat Horikita" I said as she nodded, a little dazed from the revelations

As we walked to the food court, Horikita asked me

"Ayanokoji, why do you not want to reach class A? isn't that the reason you came to the school? for a better future?" she said as I shook my head

"It wasn't, I came for my own reasons that I don't wish to share at this moment" I explained as she looked down in silence, It seemed her trust me in is hurt

after we reached, she looked back up. This time with determination.

"It's my treat, get anything you want. Any expensive meal you wish to eat" she said as I tilted my head, a little confused at the offer, did she want something?

"It's just me treating my friend, let's get a meal and remember, it's my treat" she said as I shrugged, what could possibly go wrong

we both got our food, I didn't want to waste Horikita's points by splurging them on an overly expensive meal so I got a more modest one, potato curry with rice, it seemed filling enough

I took my first bite as Horikita began

"Ayanokoji, I will be blunt. I want you to help me reach class A" she said as I asked back

"Why me? there are plenty of other people in the class" I said as she shook her head

"Those people don't understand, I know I can trust you and I just want someone who has capability to help. That's why I want you" Horikita said as I replied, trying to joke

"Want me? It's a little early in our relationship to ask for that Horikita" I joked as Horikita blushed. I finally learnt from the internet that people's face may get red when they are embarrassed or angry

"S-shut up! I just want you to follow my orders and help me! like a chess piece on a board!" she said still embarrassed as I asked her in curiosity

"Oh? A chess piece, what piece am I to you?" I asked as she flashed a confidant smile as she said

"The queen, the strongest piece that I will move around the board to attain victory" she said as I saw the gears turning in her mind

To think she thinks I am chess piece on the board is quite hilarious if anything, but she is my friend and I will support her endeavors. Of course, while still maintaining minimum effort of course

"Well alright, I will help you Horikita" I said as she gave a surprised look

"Really? I didn't think you would accept so easily" Horikita said, surprised by my cooperation

"Well, normally I wouldn't want to involve myself with things as troublesome as this but if it's for you then I don't mind" I said nonchalantly as Horikita was embarrassed again

"F-for me!? are you even listening to yourself!?" she asked and accused me as I felt confused

"Yes? for you? I want to help my friend like any other person would" I said as Horikita slumped down a little

"Haah, what else did I expect" she said as I tilt my head in confusion

"What did you expect?" I asked as Horikita placed her head onto the table and said

"Forget it" she said as she gave me a small smile

"At the very least, I have you to help me now" she said with a smile that made me happy inside

"Well, I suppose our first order of business would be to get the people who failed some help. Should we help start study groups?" I asked as she nodded

"It is simple but most likely effective, we can go with that" I said as Horikita nodded

It seemed Class D's efforts to rise up in the class ranking shall begin now

(Note- I wrote a shorter chapter to finish up with this plot point, it is still 2000 words so I hope it suffices)