SS- Chabashira Sae

I left the classroom and strolled away, hoping my students wouldn't fail. It would be a setback, and I wasn't confident they'd view the experience positively.

"Sae-Sensei."

A familiar, gentle voice interrupted my thoughts—

Tatsuya.

Turning in confusion, I faced a smiling Tatsuya.

What did he want?

"Yes?"

"I've got a question if you don't mind."

Despite the odd timing, I agreed, optimistic about him leading the class toward my past ambitions.

"On the first day, you mentioned we can use private points to buy anything. Is that true?"

I nodded. 

I wonder, what did he have in mind?

"Yes, with a few exceptions."

"I see..." Tatsuya nodded thoughtfully, his charm was dangerous. His mature demeanor set him apart, though I remained indifferent.

After what happened years ago... Those repeating nightmares... I couldn't bear it— No.

I couldn't give way to such distractions because my heart had already turned cold. Every day I wished for one single thing, to somehow end those nightmares.

"Sensei, I want to buy something from you."

"Go ahead."

"I'd like to purchase the privilege of seeing the mid-term exam results before others in private."

What? Why would he want that?

But he seemed to have paused and frowned for a split second.

"Let me rephrase that, I want to be the sole person who views the exam results of Class D before anyone else, be they the teachers or students from other classes, even you, Sensei."

"That's fine. How much will you pay?"

I didn't give him a set price but asked him to give me how much he thought he should.

This was a test.

Would he realise that others could pay more than him to override his request? I hope he's smart enough.

"100,000 private points Sensei."

"Huh?"

I didn't want to sound confused but I broke character, my cold exterior cracking for a second.

"Why would you want to do that?" I asked, no longer able to keep my curiosity reigned in.

Even if I disregarded how he gained so many points, what made me more unsettled was why he had 100,000 points to spare on something like this. It couldn't be that because he came from a wealthy background he doesn't value points? 

No, that would be ludicrous. He definitely had something in mind but unknowingly I started to feel wary of this particular student.

He obviously knew someone could override his request and even 100,001 Points were enough to cancel his request.

But there was possibly no student who would spend so much money on something like that.

For some reason, he wanted to make sure that he would be the only person to see the exam results.

It was hard to guess what he wanted.

Suddenly his smile widened and he walked closer to me. The distance between us had been reduced to a mere inch.

I wanted to back away but my body froze for some reason. His tall frame shadowed my own.

His face was dangerously close to mine, for a second he seemed to be scanning me up and down.

It felt incredibly uncomfortable.

"You don't have to worry about that, Sae-Sensei~"

His usually gentle voice couldn't have sounded more unsettling.

"I'll give you a spectacular gift when you show me the results. I hope you look forward to it."

He walked away as I felt the unknown spell binding me in place disappear.

I could only look at his back as he walked away, trying to discern his thoughts.

Maybe I was overthinking it but Tatsuya wouldn't try to harm the class, would he?

"That's just ridiculous..." I whispered to myself, "I really need sleep."

...

Days passed and soon the exams ended.

The school had just sent me the report containing the scores of my class. Unfortunately, due to Yamamoto Tatsuya, I refrained from checking the scores.

I sent him a message and leaned back into my chair, closing my eyes.

I don't think anyone would fail.

I had to believe in them.

"Sae-Chan?" 

A sweet voice called out to me and I unwillingly opened my eyes.

"Chie," I muttered.

She was standing in front of my desk with a curious expression with her class' result in hand. Mashima had already left.

"What is it?"

I don't like the look in her eyes but who am I to say anything? I completely understand her and if I was in her place I would hate myself too.

"What are you doing sitting around, Sae-Chan? You'll be late for class!"

"Stop being nosy and leave. I like being late to class."

"Wah!? You and late?" She walked up to me and circled my desk comically while pointing at me with a baffled expression.

She's really annoying.

I glared at her and she cowered back.

"Well... What about your class did you check the results? Anyone failed?" She asked with a smile.

It was sad that my close friend from years would be happy if any of my students were expelled.

"No, I haven't checked the results yet."

"Eh? Why why?" She walked up to me once again and tilted her head with a confused expression.

"You don't need to kn-"

"Sae-Sensei." A voice came from behind Chie and I saw her turn around in surprise.

"Yamamoto-kun?" She asked.

"Hmm? Hoshinomiya-sensei? What are you doing here?"

"Hey! That's my question! What are you doing here student!"

They seemed... friendly with each other? That was odd.

"Do you two know each other?" I asked.

"Well, not really," Tatsuya answered faster than Chie could and she pouted indignately. Alright, he was lying.

"Do whatever you need and finish quickly. I have to announce the results soon." I said coldly and handed him the paper roll with the results.

"I thought you'd like my company some more, Sae-Sensei." He asked with a smile and I sighed, opting not to reply to him.

Yet Chie's eyes sparkled with delight but I knew it was a facade. Hidden in her eyes was doubt and worry I could recognise.

She seemed to be confused about why I handed Tatsuya the results.

"I don't think you have anything to do here, Chie." I urged her to leave but Chie didn't respond and hummed in silence as Tatsuya opened the scroll and read through the results.

A second later he smiled, "It seems like none of our classmates have failed, Sae-Sensei."

"Eh!? Congrats! That's good for you huh Sae-Chan~" She cheered but no one in the room bought her act.

Tatsuya glanced at her before turning back to me.

"You guys did prepare well, I'll have to hand it to you, kids. Your results are the best among the first years this time around. An unprecedented spectacle for Class D to say the least."

Tatsuya seemed amused by the way Chie's lips were twitching. Did he have some kind of relationship with her?

Given Chie's attitude and behaviour, I wouldn't find it out of place.

"I'll have to admit that Sensei. Getting the old test papers from the seniors was a smart move from Class D."

Why was he talking as if he wasn't part of the class? His statement was more of a neutral observation.

"Wow, looks like a few of you cracked the code! Was it you Tatsuya-kun?" Chie asked animatedly while grabbing Tatsuya's sleeve.

When would she stop acting childish? I couldn't help but wonde-

Huh?

Why was he... patting her head?

"Mou! Tatsuya-kun tell me already!" She tried to brush his hand off but he kept on stroking her hair.

What the hell?

"Chie...?"

"What are you two doing!" I can't believe Chie, she first poked at Ayanokouji and now she was acting intimate with another one of my students.

It was getting out of hand!

I glared at her coldly and she scurried behind Tatsuya, poking her head out from behind his back hesitantly.

This woman...

"Tatsuya-kun, save me..." She whispered.

"Let's ignore the trivial details Sae-Sensei." Tatsuya seemed to be ignoring her antics as if used to it.

Just what the hell were both of them doing behind my back?

Was she manipulating Tatsuya? I really hope she hadn't tried anything dumb like seducing him.

"Trivial?"

"Sae-Sensei, do you remember my question from back then? When I bought this privilege from you?"

"Mm." I hummed in agreement, "What of it?"

Chie had also seperated from him and was looking at Tatsuya with sparkling eyes but whenever she glanced at me there was pity in her eyes.

Why...?

"Then I'd like to buy something Sae-Sensei."

What? Buy what?

I wanted to ask but the moment I met his gaze I froze in place as my heart skipped a beat.

Why was he looking at me with such an intense gaze? The glow in his eyes was penetrating and it caused me to shiver.

Wasn't things like these limited to fiction? Why could I feel it?

"Sae-Sensei," He walked close to me and pulled his phone out. He pressed a few buttons on his phone and suddenly my phone buzzed.

Did he... message me?

I felt confused and slowly took out my phone from my pocket. I looked at the notification I just received and I was startled.

"You! What's the meaning of this?" I asked, my voice laced with befuddlement.

3.1 million private points.

He had transferred me that many points just now.

But for what reason would he do that?

It felt as if time had stopped.

Tatsuya bought the privilege to see the exam marks before anyone else, why?

He paid me 3.1 million private points after looking through the scorecard, why?

My mind swirled with confusion as I quickly tried to connect the dots.

Exam marks... 3.1 million private points...

What could he possibly wan-

Wait.

No... No No No No No!

That can't be it, righ-

"Reduce Sudo, Yamauchi and Ike's score just below the passing grade." He spoke, and his frosty words brought me out of my thoughts.

My face paled and I stiffly turned to Chie, who also had a shocked look in her eyes. Did she not know what Tatsuya planned to do? Why was she looking at me with pity earlier then?

"What's the meaning of this, Yamamoto Tatsuya?" I didn't want to sound weak but the suddenness of the situation had left my heart a jumbled mess.

Why... Why was he sabotaging his own class?

"Unlike a certain someone, I'm not an incompetent leader. I'll cut off those that I deem worthless."

The meaningful look in his eyes as well as the way Chie turned her head away made my heart chill...

"You... Chie... You told him...?" I couldn't believe it, I turned to Tatsuya as my heart pounded with anger, "Don't you dare talk about him like that..."

I couldn't stand anyone slandering him...

It was... It was...

"...It was my fault." I whispered before looking down, "It was my fault..."

My body trembled and he stepped closer to me.

"You may think however you like Sensei, but due to the deal I've made with Chie-Sensei I'll unfortunately have to destroy Class D. Sorry, sensei but soon there will be no Class D left."

"What the hell are you talking about...?" I muttered in disbelief as I shot a glare toward Chie, this time she didn't avoid my gaze.

Her face had turned serious as well.

"Sae... Had this year's Class D gotten your hopes up?" She asked with a cold voice, "Have you forgotten all about it years ago? Do you think you deserve to reach Class A? Tell me, Sae!!!" She was practically hissing towards the end.

"I... I... But I..." I stuttered.

Class A... It was everything for me... How could I stop? Not when I've been blessed with the best class ever.

If I give up here everything will be over, I can't.

Not now... Not when I've just gotten the chance to rise up...

"I'll tell the class about this... Do you really think you can do anything just because you have points? The exams in the future can't be dealt with just points, Yamamoto. Even you could be expelled if you antagonise your class."

I tried to reason, barely touching the taboo of giving students forbidden information. Even hinting towards it was forbidden.

"Hahaha," Mocking laughter echoed from Tatsuya as Chie shook her head and slowly turned around before leaving with light steps.

Only Tatsuya and I were left in the room.

"That's funny Sae-Sensei. Who do you think the class will believe, you, the cold teacher who does not care about her students and didn't even inform them of the changes in syllabus or me, the kind and gentle leader who helped them whenever he could?"

"But what if I expose you? I can easily do that."

"Then I'd like to buy the privilege of keeping this transaction a secret."

"No- Wait!" As I was fearing the worst another buzz came from my phone.

"49,999 points."

My eyes widened in surprise but I didn't say anything. I was surprised by the low amount he paid-

Suddenly he smiled mysteriously, the glint in his confused me, "I know I know, if anyone pays you 50,000 you can expose me. If anyone's smart enough to notice that is..."

I couldn't help but frown at his words, they should right?

Horikita, Ayanokouji, Hirata, Kushida, Koenji.

So many smart students, at least one of them was smart enough, right?

"Sensei," his voice was gentle again which made me tremble as I took a step back, my hip colliding against my desk.

"Don't worry, Sensei." His voice was soothing, I didn't understand this student, was he actually mentally ill? Maybe a dual personality?

"I've purposefully lowered the amount just enough for them to save the expelled students."

My eyes widened as I realised it, he had lowered their points just enough to have them fail.

"Class D currently does not possess the capability to reach Class A. You know that as well. Hidden gems were just that, hidden gems. Unless they were excavated they would remain buried. Consider this my help to the class. I'm sure you also realise that either Suzune or Ayanokouji have a high probability of exposing me. I'm sure with the help of Hirata they will be able to convince the class to save them."

He was right.

I don't know why he believes in Ayanokouji, who was pretending to be an average student but I was still perplexed, was he really wasting—

No, using so many points in a manner like this to help the class?

That was absurd...

Nonetheless—

If the class somehow collects 300,000 points they could just buy Sudo, Ike and Yamauchi's safety!

But that was on the premise that they realised it. I really hope they do.

But...

"Just what do you want, Yamamoto Tatsuya? I can't believe you're doing all this just for the class."

His behaviour was too suspicious, his deal with Chie was also making me worry.

Tatsuya froze upon hearing my words, this was the first time I had seen him like this. His expression had turned blank for a mili-second before his lips curved up gently.

"What do I want...?"

He sounded amused before his expression turned serious and he raised his hand placing it on my cheek, "I want you, Sensei."

What...?

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