Welcome to Class D, Part 4

(Dazai Crowley's POV)

Cerulean Academy, Present Day

"So you analyzed our character traits?"

"You could say that, yes. You see, the school wanted to understand the type of people that we were dealing with first. Your pros and cons. Your strengths and weaknesses. That sort of thing."

"So we also performed a couple of basic background checks on you all as well."

"B—background checks!?"

Skeptical comments of that nature were voiced. I'm not surprised though. Usually when a person tells you they did a "background check" on you, all sorts of concerns are bound to arise.

After all, we all have secrets we don't want revealed. Myself, included.

"Relax, relax. Remember we have a reputation to uphold here too, you know. So all we did was perform a surface level examination. Anything deeper than that would be borderline illegal."

Gwein immediately addressed those concerns.

"In that case, if you have already gone to that extent, why bother with the Personality test you guys had implemented during the exams?"

"To see both sides of the same coin, I suppose. In other words, we wanted to see how you would see yourself from a subjective standpoint. For example, some of you consider yourselves to be humble, while others, conceited and perfect."

The "Personality Discernment" test. I remember those odd questions they asked us about ourselves.

In addition to the entrance exams we had to take before applying here, they also asked us some rather personal questions. In short, it was an interview.

Course, at the time, we assumed it was done for the school to get to know their students better.

And technically, that was correct.

—But to think it would be used in "this" way.

"And these types of facts are all something in which you factored into our "performance", huh?"

"Indeed."

In the end, even our own opinions of ourselves was another factor in a very ambiguous equation.

Ryoku sighed.

Having now received her answers, she sits back down and begins to hash out her thoughts.

"Right then, any other questions?"

The next person to raise their hand was Emmel.

As such, as if to say she was annoyed, Gwein sighed before acknowledging him.

"Yes?"

"If I remember correctly, you said that the four classes will be competing against each other soon. When that time comes, we will be expected to win against every one that comes our way, correct?"

She nods.

"My question is though, aside from losing out on our points, are there any other consequences for failing to uphold that responsibility?"

In other words, what was the penalty for losing.

It took a moment for Gwein to think about his question, but soon enough, she had an answer.

"—No, not necessarily."

"Oh?"

"Let's say, hypothetically, that Class D lost in every exam, games and competitions the school would prepare. The only thing you all would lose out on would "most likely" be the opportunity to increase Class D's Set Amount and whatnot."

Emmel smiles.

"In that case, then, if we were to put aside the points itself, what exactly is our motive as Class D to even try in the first place? What's stopping us from avoiding the competitions themselves?"

A bold question.

Gwein sighed.

"Nothing."

"Huh?"

"You heard me. Absolutely nothing."

She repeats herself.

"Eh!??"

"Then what's even the point in fighting then?"

Comments of that nature were softly uttered.

"Although the school highly encourages you to participate in our games to some degree, it's not like there is some law in place that prevents you, or any of the other classes, from outright giving up. That's why, if any of you decided to give up and not put in the effort to win, then certainly we would have no way to stop that."

This was an unexpected answer, even by my standards. Usually, under the circumstances given, you would think this school, the same school who pursues the idea of ambition, would enforce some sort of harsh rule that would punish quitters. And yet, to all of our surprise, they were unexpectedly lax in that respect.

"However—"

Hmm?

Suddenly, Gwein grabbed our attention yet again.

"It's true. If this class was to disregard everything and give up, that would certainly be the end of it all. However, I highly doubt that the class as a whole would dare take such drastic action."

"What makes you say that?"

She smiled slightly.

"Motive."

"Motive?"

Some students furrowed their brows.

"It's simple. Who in their right mind would give up on the one chance to seize their dreams?"

"....Give up? What are you talking about?"

Puzzled, many students asked that question.

"—Pft, heh..."

Suddenly, she startled chuckling.

"Oh? You mean guys haven't realized it by now? Hah, no wonder you all were placed into Class D. Take a good look at the chart and use your brain for a minute. I want you to really consider all of the facts. Maybe, just maybe then, you'll realize just how fucked Class D's position really is."

As Gwein said that in a mocking tone, she pointed to the diagram she wrote on the board.

Class A — 1500 CP

Class B — 900 CP

Class C — 750 CP

Class D — 500 CP.

The truth behind our current situation, and the special "motive" that would stop Class D as a whole from quitting entirely. Somewhere within this chart lies the answers to it all. It makes me wonder who will be the first to understand it.

"Oh, I get it."

Suddenly, from one corner of the room, one woman uttered those words aloud.

Curious, the students turned to face them.

It was Esmes Montoya.

Her expression spoke as if she realized something.

"The Class Points. They aren't being used as a special system to reward the students for their efforts. But rather, they are the factors used to determine who and who is in first place."

"...The ranking of places?" said one student, puzzled.

"Certainly. Look at the chart closely. More specifically, how the points are distributed. If you think of it in terms of how a race works, you could say that Class D is in 4th place and so forth."

She's absolutely right. In short, depending on the number of points each class has, we can use that to determine the general placement of each class.

Having walked down to the board, Esmes grabbed a piece of chalk and wrote the following:

Class A — 1st Place ( Most Amount of CP )

Class B — 2nd Place ( 2nd Most Amount of CP )

Class C — 3rd Place ( 3rd Most Amount of CP )

Class D — 4th Place ( Least Amount of CP )

Writing down the diagram in this manner alongside the one Gwein wrote, some things started to click.

The Class Point System that they introduced us to was a hint in itself. A hint to the greater truth.

"It's a race to get more points…"

As Ryoku suspected that, she immediately stood up and threw an accusatory look at our teacher.

And where there is a race, there is a prize.

"Mrs. Gwein. Are there any specific privileges that only the students of Class A are allowed to have?"

She nods.

"Isn't it obvious? It's the privilege of being granted one wish upon graduation."

"—!!?"

"What!!?"

There it finally was. The dreadful truth and the crushing reality of our situation.