The stolen moment behind the gymnasium had already faded into a distant memory, its heat replaced by the cool, detached routine of Ayanokoji's daily life. Upon returning to his dorm room, he reflected briefly on the encounter with Karuizawa. Despite the intimacy they had shared, he remained unfazed, his expression unreadable. He stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over his body, washing away any lingering traces of their encounter. As he toweled off and slipped into bed, he welcomed sleep with an emotionless calm.
The following days passed in a relative blur. The school administration had successfully quelled the rumor mill, taking a hard stance against anyone caught spreading malicious gossip. A sense of normalcy returned to the classroom, albeit a fragile one.
Ayanokoji went about his days with his usual stoicism, his interactions with his classmates seemingly unchanged. Despite the passionate encounters on Valentine's Day, he kept his distance from both Ichinose and Karuizawa. His focus shifted inward, his secret meetings with Sakura and Kushida taking precedence.
Sakura, with her playful demeanor and surprising depth, offered a welcome escape from the calculated gamesmanship that dominated his life. Their stolen moments were filled with whispered secrets, shy touches, and a burgeoning intimacy that resonated with a part of him he rarely acknowledged.
Kushida Kikyou, on the other hand, served a different purpose. Her visits were less about intimacy and more about information gathering. Ayanokoji subtly maneuvered their conversations, extracting details about Miyabi Nagumo, the enigmatic student council president, and the shifting politics of their second year. Kushida, with her keen observations and ability to manipulate, was a valuable source of intel.
March 1st arrived, and with it, the results of the exams. A collective sigh of relief swept through the classroom as perfect scores were announced. Sudo Ken surprised everyone with the most significant improvement, while Koenji maintained his second-place position seemingly without lifting a finger.
Chabashira greeted them with a rare, almost warm tone. There was a flicker of genuine curiosity in her eyes as she spoke, "Well, well, you all surprised me. Let's see how far you can climb from here."
A shadow of caution, however, tempered her words. "Don't get too comfortable," she warned. "This was a mere stepping stone. The real challenge, the ones that will test your limits, are yet to come."
The next announcement dropped like a bomb—a final special exam scheduled for March 8th. The tension in the air thickened. Hirata rose to the occasion, rallying the class to fight for a shot at Class A without any expulsions.
Chabashira's departing remark, "You might actually graduate in two years, but stay cautious and don't expect it to be easy because if you mess up somewhere, you and the class will pay dearly for that," hung heavy in the air, a tantalizing promise tinged with an unspoken threat.
As the class dispersed, Ayanokoji found himself face-to-face with an unexpected pair—Manabu Horikita, the imposing third-year from Class A and former Student Council President, and Miyabi Nagumo, his successor.
Nagumo's sharp eyes immediately landed on Ayanokoji. "Did you pass the exam, Ayanokoji?" he inquired, his voice laced with a condescending amusement.
Ayanokoji's response was a lukewarm shrug. "Barely passed," he said, his expression unchanged.
Nagumo scoffed. "Is that the kind of attitude you show to the Student Council President?"
Ayanokoji straightened up slightly, his face still devoid of emotion. Nagumo, however, wasn't finished.
"Are you aware," he began, his tone measured, "of the one who diverted the rumors surrounding Ichinose? They cleverly deflected the attention by posting fabricated rumors about other students on the school forum."
The weight of Nagumo's words hung in the air. Ayanokoji recognized it for what it was—a test. Nagumo, perhaps suspecting his involvement, was probing for a reaction. With a practiced innocence, Ayanokoji feigned ignorance.
"The school has forbidden discussion about that incident, Nagumo-senpai," he said, his voice flat. "That includes the Student Council President."
Manabu, who had been observing the exchange with a stoic expression, spoke up in support of Ayanokoji. "Nagumo, we should respect the school's decision to move on from this matter," he said firmly. His words held an undercurrent of authority that forced Nagumo to back down.
An air of uneasy anticipation hung heavy in Class D as Chabashira entered the room on the crisp morning of March 2nd. A subtle restlessness seemed to emanate from her usually composed demeanor. She cleared her throat, silencing the hushed whispers, and her voice echoed in the classroom as she made the announcement.
"Today, I have something quite different to present to you all," she began, a hint of intrigue flickering in her eyes. "This is an entirely new special exam, one that has never been implemented at this school before."
A ripple of excited murmurs traveled through the class. The surprise announcement piqued their curiosity, a welcome break from the usual monotony of classroom lectures.
"Considering this is the first year you haven't had any expulsions," Chabashira continued, a hint of amusement creeping into her voice, "the administration has decided to deviate from the standard format."
This statement caused a collective gasp to erupt from the students.
"This special exam," Chabashira continued, holding up a tablet with a flourish, "is called the 'Class Poll'."
A flurry of questions filled the room after the title was revealed. Chabashira held up a hand, a wry smile playing on her lips. "Don't worry, I'll explain everything," she said.
Chabashira launched into the details of the exam. Each student would be given three "praise votes" and three "criticism votes" to be cast within their class. These votes would be anonymous, allowing students to freely express their opinions without fear of retaliation. Additionally, they could cast a single "praise vote" for a student from another class.
"This means," Chabashira explained, a hint of a predator circling its prey in her eyes, "even a student ostracized within their own class can be saved by praise votes from other classes."
A tense silence descended upon the room.
"These votes will be tallied, and the result will be calculated by subtracting the number of criticism votes from the praise votes," Chabashira explained. "The students with the highest positive results will be rewarded with 'protection points'."
The mention of protection points piqued everyone's interest. These points, according to Chabashira, were a valuable commodity.
"A single protection point," she said, her voice filled with gravity, "can be used to nullify expulsion. Think of it as a safety net in case you perform poorly in a future exam."
The weight of this information settled heavily on the students. This exam, then, wasn't just about competition, it was about survival. A poorly calculated vote could not only endanger oneself but also potentially benefit a rival class.
Chabashira then laid out the finer details of the exam. Students had one vote each, and self-voting was strictly prohibited.
"In the event of a statistical anomaly," Chabashira explained, "the exam will be repeated until the top and bottom students are definitively identified. The student with the lowest score will be expelled."
A wave of anxiety washed over the class. The possibility of expulsion, narrowly avoided before, loomed large once again. The bell finally rang, signaling the end of the homeroom period.
Koenji, being the narcissist that he was, launched into a tirade about his irreplaceable value to the class, sparking a heated argument with Sudo.
Hirata interjected as he tried to become the mediator between the two, his voice strained with worry. The weight of the impending class vote was already settling on them.
Later, during lunchtime, the Ayanokoji Group gathered in a secluded corner of the cafeteria. The group, comprised of Ayanokoji, Airi, Hasabe, Miyake, and Yukimura, maintained a casual facade while their minds buzzed with strategic calculations.
"This exam throws a wrench into things," Ayanokoji remarked, his voice devoid of emotion but his eyes sharp and focused. "It introduces a social element, a factor beyond academic ability."
Airi, her brows furrowed in thought, chimed in, "It's like… a popularity contest within the class."
"But with much higher stakes," Yukimura added, a hint of apprehension in his voice. "Getting voted out could mean expulsion."
Miyake, a naturally reserved student, spoke up hesitantly. "Do you think we should all vote for each other within the group?"
Ayanokoji shook his head. "That's too obvious. We need to be strategic. Chabashira said there'll be protection points awarded. We need to consider who in the class might need it the most."
A tense silence descended upon the group. The weight of the responsibility pressed down on them. Their votes could potentially seal a classmate's fate. They had to choose wisely.
"There's also the factor of praising students from other classes," Ayanokoji continued, breaking the silence. "Who do we think could potentially benefit us the most?"
Hasabe, usually the most outspoken of the group, surprised everyone by remaining quiet. She seemed to be thinking deeply about something.
"The key to this exam," Ayanokoji concluded, "is balance. We can't be too obvious in our voting patterns, and we have to anticipate the moves of other classes as well. It's not just about who we like or dislike; it's about strategy and survival."
Airi nodded thoughtfully. "So, who do we vote for?"
Ayanokoji leaned back, his eyes scanning the group. "We need to look at who has the most to lose and who could potentially gain from this. It's not just about keeping ourselves safe; it's about positioning our class for future challenges."
Yukimura sighed. "This is going to be a lot harder than any exam we've faced so far."
Ayanokoji had a calm look as he added ahead, "That's the point. This school isn't just testing our academic abilities. It's testing our ability to think, strategize, and survive. And if we play our cards right, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity to acquire the protection point for ourself."
The group fell into a thoughtful silence, each member lost in their own considerations and calculations. The stakes had never been higher, and the path ahead was fraught with uncertainty. But for Ayanokoji, this was just another game to master, another challenge to overcome. And he was determined to come out on top.