God doesn't exist in this world.
I mean, how unfortunate can one be to be toyed with like this?
Maybe I should start a campaign to protest and shut down shrines and temples worldwide. But hey, that's just another project for my already full schedule of misery.
I was running late for classes. So, I hastily took a bath, grabbed a questionable sandwich from the fridge, and changed into my uniform.
Going to school again at my age felt like stepping into a sitcom where I'm the punchline.
Today's date is March 5th, Friday.
It's the day before the in-class voting. Setting aside my existential dread for now, I headed toward the elevator.
Of course, given the time, the lobby and the outside world were devoid of human life. Figures.
I walked at my own pace, savoring the silent, refreshing feeling of solitude and the slow, reluctant transition of nature from winter to spring.
It was such a contrast to my previous life that I was momentarily bewildered. Or maybe just disoriented from lack of sleep.
After a few minutes of aimless wandering, I finally recognized where class 1C was and entered the room.
Homeroom hadn't started yet, and the students were merrily chatting away, aware of the impending doom of potential expulsion.
It was all thanks to my brilliant scheme of forming a large group of twenty-one people to cast our criticism votes for Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
Genius, right?
This special exam was deceptively simple yet annoyingly complex. I opened my phone and reread the rules of the exam.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Supplementary Exam – In-Class Voting
EXAM CONTENTS :
The exam consists of a poll, wherein students in each class will each
cast three praise votes and three criticism votes.
RULE 1:
Praise votes and criticism votes effectively cancel each other out.
Praise Votes minus Criticism Votes = Final Result.
RULE 2:
Students cannot cast votes for themselves, regardless of whether they
are praise or criticism votes.
RULE 3:
Voting multiple times for the same person, leaving the ballot blank
and/or abstaining from voting, etc., are not permitted under any
circumstances.
RULE 4:
The exam will be conducted repeatedly until a first place and last
place have been decided. The student in last place will be expelled.
RULE 5:
Each student will also be required to cast a separate praise vote
specifically for a student in one of the other three classes. This vote is
mandatory.
___________________________________________________________________________________
After that, I closed it and started observing my surroundings.
"Hey, Haruki, you alright?"
Someone called out to me from behind. It was Ike Kanji. He, along with me and Sudo Ken are known as 3 big idiots of this class. Sudo was immersed in staring at a long-black-haired girl with cold gaze of her.
"Yeah, just played some games till late last night. Don't worry about it," I said, trying to sound as casual as possible while suppressing the urge to roll my eyes.
These are new faces to me. But I know their personality from the novel. That would help me having conversations with them.
And such pointless conversation with a stupid ass friend is what I longed for in my own high school years too. Ah, talk about a huge load of trauma.
Ike chuckled. "Late-night gaming, huh? You better not pass out during the exam. Imagine getting expelled because you couldn't stay awake. That would be legendary."
"Legendary in the hall of shame," I snorted. "Anyway, what's the latest drama in our esteemed class of misfits?"
Ike grinned. "Well, Ken is still hopelessly staring at Horikita. You'd think by now he'd have figured out she's basically an ice queen."
I glanced over at Sudo, who was still lost in his unrequited admiration. "Yeah, he's got about as much chance with her as I do of winning a marathon. On crutches."
"Hey, miracles happen," Ike said, smirking. "Just not to us."
"True, we're like the universe's favorite punching bags," I replied. "Anything else exciting going on?"
"Nah, dude. I mean we are just being casual about all this. And you know, trying not to let any info slip out of us." He answered.
But I could sense conflicting thoughts within him.
Well, of course. Ike is not a total scumbag. He is just trying to protect himself. Moreover, he still doesn't know that I am the mastermind behind this voting manipulation.
"Don't worry, Kanji. We've got this. Worst-case scenario, we'll just blame Ken," I said, smirking.
"Hey, I heard that!" Sudo finally broke his trance and glared at us.
"Relax, Ken. We're just joking," I said, waving him off. "Now go back to staring at your ice queen. You're almost there."
Sudo grumbled something under his breath but returned his gaze to Horikita.
Ike and I exchanged amused glances, then settled into our seats.
At the same time, Chabashira entered the room and started homeroom class.
As the classes continued, I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me. It was almost like I had been freed from a detention center, the weight of adult responsibilities momentarily lifted.
Surrounded by these young students, absorbed in their learning, chatting animatedly, and living in the moment, I felt an odd, nostalgic comfort.
Their energy was infectious. It reminded me of simpler times, before life had become a relentless grind.
These kids were full of potential, dreams, and the kind of innocence that only youth can possess. They hadn't yet been beaten down by the harsh realities of the world.
My high school life was full of bitter memories. Due to rumors about my parents spreading throughout the neighborhood, everyone in my class became distant from me.
For the next three years, I lived the life of a loner. No one bothered to speak with me. Whenever I tried to start a conversation, they would just avoid me or hurl insults my way.
Eventually, I gave up trying. It was easier to stay silent than to face their scorn and rejection. I became a ghost, drifting through the hallways, invisible and ignored.
The classroom felt like a battlefield, and I was a casualty—bruised, but still standing.
Those years were a relentless cycle of isolation and despair.
The whispers, the sidelong glances, the snickers behind my back—they were my constant companions.
I tried to focus on my studies, thinking that maybe academic success would give me some semblance of worth, but even that felt hollow.
Achievements meant nothing when there was no one to share them with.
I found solace in books and video games, escaping into worlds where I wasn't judged or ostracized. They were my refuge, a temporary escape from the harsh reality of my existence.
In those virtual realms, I could be anyone I wanted to be—a hero, a leader, a friend.
But every time I logged off, I was dragged back to my grim reality.
Still, there was a part of me that wanted this type of normal high school life. No talking behind my back. No one to discuss what my parents are like. And a few friends who would stand for me in any situation.
.
.
.
That's right.
I understand now what that strange feeling was.
I was just envious of this life. That would be the most accurate description of what I am feeling right now.
However, this heavenly peace is going to be shattered in a few hours, once Horikita announces the name of the person she wants to expel.
So what will my stance be at that point? Will I just throw everything away and accept my fate?
Or will I fight back and make my survival my number one priority?
The answer was clear to me.
As I contemplated my decision, some memes came to mind from when I finished reading Year 1, Volume 10. People started calling Yamauchi, "Yamagod" in terms of trolling.
Well then, let me show you who the real Yamagod is.