Prof. Hibiki was continuously saying delusional things.
'You think you're so smart. You think you can beat me. You dare to challenge me?'
Looks like it did more than just touching a nerve.
'Is everything alright, Prof. Hibiki?'
The entire class turned towards the sound's direction and saw a man looking very confused, standing at the class's door.
It was the principal.
The class was so engrossed in witnessing a scenario in which a man had just lost it that they completely ignored everything else, including the principal coming and opening the door.
The principal was simply making rounds of the school and heard Prof. Hibiki's voice in a class nearby.
He had a soft spot for students. Knowing Prof. Hibiki's humiliating and cruel ways of disciplining students, he quickly went towards the classroom to ease the punishment, which was about to be inflicted on the poor student.
When he came and opened the door expecting a student to be in tears and Prof. Hibiki smiling balmily like always, he was confused to see it was the other way around.
'Principal, perfect timing!'
The principal was a lifesaver for Prof. Hibiki.
'How fortunate it is for you to come here at this moment.'
The principal came in, trying to come up with a situation that could lead to this.
'What happened here?
'Umm, you see-'
'I will tell him what happened.'
Prof. Hibiki abruptly cut Alex off.
Alex expected a complete twist in the story which Prof. Hibiki was about to tell. Judging from the man's desperate face, Alex wouldn't be surprised even if he said that Alex tried to harass him.
'You see, this boy has shown his utmost hatred towards me, belittling me, mocking and making my life in this wonderful school miserable.'
--Well, this is at least better than being falsely accused of harassing him.
Alex watched as the teacher tattled to the principal like a five-year-old telling his mother how an enormous, fierce monster that could breathe fire and had claws, attacked him, and he barely escaped with his life when it was actually a street dog which only barked at him.
'He even said that he is so smart that skipping this class and moving on to 2nd year is a breeze for him if he wants to, but stayed behind just so he could ruin my life. Please, help me!!'
The principal didn't know what to say. He never had seen a man pleading to him like this. --What just happened here?
He looked at Alex and then the whole class, seeing they were all just as clueless as he was. The principal was acquainted with Dean and also knew Alex. He knew Alex would never do this.
'And that is why he should be severely punished and then expelled, you agree, don't you?'
Prof. Hibiki finished his long, heart-breaking story and waited for the Principal's response.'
'So…um…basically, you are saying that Alexander was being mean, and you do not want to teach him anymore.'
The principal averted eye contact with Prof. Hibiki and tried to console him.
'But if he is so smart like you just said, then why don't we promote him to the next class um… Alexander, what do you say?'
'Huh! Me?'
Alex pointed a finger towards himself. A cold shiver ran down his spine when he heard this. --
This won't end well.
Upon hearing this, Prof. Hibiki saw a brilliant opportunity. With an almost villainous smile, he said,
'Very well, but he must give a test and must acquire 90% marks. Failure to do so will result in him being expelled. Is that alright, Alexander?'
'Um…uhhh….'
Not a word came out of our protagonist, who wondered what he had gotten himself into.
'Now, now, that is a little too much, Prof. Hibiki.'
The Principal thought this was overkill. He only meant to console Prof. Hibiki. He kept looking for a chance to take back his words and punish Alex by making him stand outside of the class. An acceptable way to end things.
--What the hell is happening?
Alex was the one regretting his choices now. He shouldn't have teased the teacher and should have kept his mouth shut. Just then, something inside him clicked again.
'It is alright, principal.'
The principal was surprised once more.
He had carelessly said those words to console Prof. Hibiki, but he forgot he was the principal, and his words had power.
'Uhh… Very well, then the exam will be taken on the same date next month.'
'Why an entire month? If he is a genius, then I am sure he will get bored waiting around an entire month.'
Prof. Hibiki wanted to make sure Alex couldn't get up from this blow.
'Let's have him take the exam next week. I will even quit my job as a teacher here if it means this will motivate him. That is what it means to be a teacher.'
Prof. Hibiki looked at Alex with a smugly.
--I have won, boy.
'Sure, why not?'
Alex looked back at Prof. Hibiki, returning the smug smile with his own.
--I accept your challenge. Bring it on.
'A-are you sure, Alexander?'
'Of course, sir.'
'Then Alexander, you have two options, either you can come to school and have the teachers prepare you for the exam or stay home and study for the exams yourself. Which do you choose?'
'Hmm…'
Alex gave it a thought.
'I would like to prepare for the exam myself.'
Confidence of certain victory leaked out of him.
'Alright. Then Alexander, you are now at this moment excused from school for a week till the exam.'
The principal looked at Alex, gravely realizing the situation he had just put a poor student in.
'Please study hard and good luck.'
--I am sorry.
The principal's eyes whispered.
The bell rang, and the period was over.
'Well, I will be going now.'
Alex took his leave and calmly walked out of the class.