Chapter 2.1

Sae: Good morning, everyone. You all seem more restless than usual today.

Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom as the bell rang to start the class.

Ike: Sae-chan-sensei! Do we have zero points again this month? When I checked this morning, I didn't see a single point deposited in my account!

Sae: Oh, so that's why you all are so restless?

Ike: We worked ourselves to death last month! We passed the exam, so why are we still at zero? Nobody has been late or absent, and no one has been talking in class!

Sae: Don't jump to conclusions. Listen to what I have to say first. You're right, Ike. You all have worked harder than ever before. I acknowledge that. Naturally, the school understands how everyone feels.

After being scolded by the teacher, Ike closed his mouth and sat down.

Sae: So, fine. Without further ado, here are the point totals for this month.

She placed a paper on the blackboard listing the points, starting with Class A at the top. All the other classes had nearly 100 points more than last month. Class A now had 1004 points, slightly above where everyone had started when we were admitted to the school.

However, Ike and most of the other Class D students didn't care much about the points of the other classes. The key question for them was whether we had received more points as a class. What was written next to Class D was our total points: 197 points.

Ike: Huh? Wait, 197? Does that mean we actually went up? Yahoo!

Ike jumped up excitedly as soon as he saw our score.

Sae: It's too soon to celebrate. All the other classes saw a similar increase in their points. We didn't close the gap at all. This could be just a reward that first-year students get for passing the semester. Each class gained at least 100 points.

Ayanokouji: Are you disappointed because the gap between the classes has widened, Horikita?

Horikita: No, it's not that. We managed to get something this time.

Ike: Get something? Get what? - Ike asked, now standing up.

Horikita, after attracting everyone's attention, remained silent. It was as if she didn't want to give an answer. The class leader, Hirata Yousuke, responded for her.

Hirata: I think Horikita-san is referring to the deductions we incurred during the months of April and May. In other words, we didn't see any point reduction for talking in class or being late.

The sharp and perceptive Hirata didn't waste any time, as expected from my "brilliant" best friend.

Ike: Ah, I see. I guess even if we had 100 points, many deductions would have brought us down. - Ike, after this simple explanation, raised his arms in victory. - Wait. But then, why didn't we get any points?

He posed his original question again to Chabashira-sensei. It was really strange that we didn't receive 19700 private points in our accounts.

But if we think carefully, there aren't many possibilities. The most obvious one would be:

Option 1: An error in the school system, as it seems the other classes didn't receive anything either.

Option 2: An incident involving one or more classes.

Sae: Well, this time there was a little problem. The distribution of first-year students' points has been delayed. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait a little longer - she said.

Really? If this is the school's fault, shouldn't we receive some kind of compensation as a bonus?

The students grumbled in discontent. Once they found out they were going to get their points, their attitude changed drastically.

Sae: Don't blame me. This was a decision by the school; there's nothing I can do about it. Once the problem is resolved, you'll receive your points. If there are any points left, that is.

There was a deeper meaning behind Chabashira-sensei's words. She implied that whatever is going on might change the amount of points, leaving two possibilities: either a student from our class caused trouble, or another class is attacking us, or...

BOTH THINGS

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The day continued calmly, and after lunch, accompanied by my group of friends, we returned from class. Chabashira-sensei entered with a more severe expression than usual.

Sae: Sudou, I need to talk to you about something. Come to the teachers' room - Chabashira-sensei called Sudou, who was trying to escape hurriedly from the classroom. I snapped my fingers in his place, getting Hirata's attention.

Sudou: Eh? What do you want from me? I have basketball practice now - Sudou lazily opened his backpack to show the sports uniform inside.

Sae: I already spoke with the coach. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to, but you'll face the consequences later - Chabashira-sensei's threatening words made Sudou a bit nervous.

Sudou: What? Will it be quick?

Sae: It all depends on you. The longer you stay there, the more time you'll lose.

It seemed like he had no choice but to go with her. Sudou clicked his tongue and followed Chabashira-sensei out of the classroom.

Hirata: What's happening, Yuuichi? - Hirata asked, quite worried about Sudou.

Yuuichi: I think I've figured it out - with a progressively serious look.

Everyone around me fell silent and started paying attention.

Yuuichi: I came up with two possible options, but they have the same consequences, only that one is solvable.

Horikita: And what would those be, Katagiri-kun? - she asked, quite interested in the matter.

Yuuichi: The first and most complicated to solve would be that Sudou-kun attacked someone from another class. - I paused to look at all of them. - While the second option, which I believe is more likely, is that another class is attacking us.

Hirata: W-What, and couldn't it be something simpler, like Sudou broke something or maybe insulted someone and they filed a complaint?

Yuuichi: I don't think so. Probably some of you here remember what Chabashira-sensei said at the beginning of the day, she implied that whatever is happening has a significant impact on our points.

Ike: Chabashira-sensei said that??? - scratching his head with a very (very) confused expression.

Horikita: Yes, Chabashira-sensei mentioned that we would receive our points "if there were any left."

Yuuichi: (nodding with a charming smile) Correct, Horikita-san.

Horikita: (slightly blushing) Ahem, and why do you think it's an attack from another class?

Yuuichi: Think about it carefully, Horikita-san. Sudou is not a bad person, but he has a very short fuse, anyone can see that. It's most likely that they lured

him to a place without cameras, tried to pick a fight with him without throwing any punches, and Sudou reacted by hitting them. Then, they went and filed a complaint, using the injuries as evidence. Direct attack.

Hirata: But who would do something like that? It's terrible!!

Yuuichi: (putting a hand on his shoulder) Yosuke, look at it this way, our whole future depends on what we do in this school. It's obvious that many people will be willing to do anything to win. And there are only two ways to win in this situation: either get more points than others or make others have fewer points than us.

Undoubtedly, Yuuichi is the leader of Class D.

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Sae: I have an announcement for all of you. There was a small problem the other day, an incident between the student sitting there, Sudou, and some students from Class C. In short, there was a fight.

Contrary to Chabashira-sensei's expectations, the whole class shouted:

"What the hell!!!!!" / "Wow, Yuuichi-kun is amazing!" / "H-How could he do that?"

Hirata: Why hasn't this matter been resolved yet? - Hirata asked a quite reasonable question.

Sae: The complaint came from Class C. They say the fight was one-sided. However, when we spoke with the accused, Sudou said their claims were false. He insists that the students from Class C provoked him and started the fight.

Sudou: It wasn't my fault! It was self-defense! I swear it was self-defense - Sudou shouted while enduring the icy glares of his classmates.

Sae: But there is no evidence of that. Am I wrong?

Sudou: Evidence? I have none.

Sae: In other words, we still don't know the truth. Therefore, we have suspended our decision for the moment. Our response and the punishment will come when we know who is at fault.

Sudou: All I know is that I'm innocent. If anything, I should get some compensation for the trouble.

Sae: That's what the accused says, but I don't think you have a high level of credibility right now. If there is an eyewitness, as Sudou seems to believe, then the situation may change. If anyone here witnessed the fight, please raise your hand.

Chabashira-sensei continued speaking with a robotic and plain voice. No student raised their hand in response to her question.

Sae: Too bad, Sudou. It seems there are no witnesses in this class.

Sudou: It seems so - he grumbled.

When Chabashira-sensei looked at Sudou with suspicion, he looked down.

Sae: To search for witnesses, each teacher will inform their classes of the details of this incident.

Sudou: Huh?! They'll tell everyone?!

The school had nothing to say about it. Because Sudou insisted it was a false accusation and mentioned a possible witness, the school had to make sure. It's quite useful; the only way to resolve this quickly would be with a witness from Class A or B, and in the worst case, Class C.

Sudou: Damn it!

Kushida: Guys, can you hear what I have to say? - Kushida stood up and tried to silence the commotion. She told them how Sudou was chosen as a candidate to play as a starter on the basketball team. She also described how some students from the club envied Sudou and how they called and threatened him to force him to leave the team. She also explained that Sudou, acting in self-defense, had beaten them up.

Most of the class listened to Kushida's sincere words in silence.

Kushida: I'd like to ask again. If anyone knows someone who saw what happened, whether someone from the class, a friend, or an upper-class student, please let me know. You can contact me anytime. I would sincerely appreciate it.

Although she basically said the same thing as Chabashira-sensei, the class had a very different response. She had an innate ability to connect with people. Her presence shone so brightly that you could almost feel it.

Jejeje i found a witness -Chan, or should I say Sakura Airi.