My class had a serious problem, ironically linked to its greatest strength: unity. This class was incredibly close-knit, more than any group of forty people usually is. In most large groups, there are always differences in tastes, attitudes, or simply minor frictions that create tensions among members. But that wasn't the case here. I talked to everyone, knew each person, and the surprising thing was that none seemed to harbor any enmity or even dislike towards each other. It's rare, isn't it? It's not impossible, but definitely uncommon, especially for adolescents, where differences tend to be more pronounced.
The intensity of this bond was especially felt during exams like this one, where the fear of expulsion was palpable. Each person knew that anyone in the class, a close friend or even themselves, could be expelled. Someone they had shared every day of this year with, laughed and fought alongside, could simply vanish. However, when the possibility of avoiding expulsion by paying a specific sum was mentioned, the mood calmed somewhat. The idea of collaborating to gather the necessary 20 million points ignited a spark of hope.
Honami, who had been saving points with everyone's cooperation for emergencies, was our first option. Although the accumulated amount did not reach the total needed, her commitment inspired others to contribute. Slowly, several classmates offered significant amounts of their own points to reach that figure and protect one of our own.
I found it fascinating to see how they could build such strong bonds in such a short time. Perhaps their closeness stemmed from the challenges we had faced as a class, each of us forcing each other to support one another. Maybe it was in those trials where they forged a deep friendship, an almost indestructible unity. It was admirable yet unsettling because the more united we were, the more it hurt to think that one of us could be expelled.
—Kayden, we currently have 13 million points in our account, which is what we've been saving for all these months —Honami said, her voice firm but with a veiled concern—. So we need to gather 7 million more to prevent one of our classmates from being expelled.
The amount was considerable, especially considering the time we had spent at school. We had been prudent in saving points, but still, 7 million extra was no easy feat to gather. Until now, we had not accepted any additional contributions from the classmates who had voluntarily offered to put nearly all their points into the common fund.
—Seven million, huh? Not a trivial sum —I said, thinking out loud.
I knew it wouldn't be a problem to gather the 7 million if each of us contributed a good portion of our points, but I also understood what that meant: our savings would disappear. If in the next exam, especially the end-of-year one, another similar situation arose, we could be in serious trouble and likely lose someone without remedy. The security we had built by saving month by month would literally be at zero.
—If every classmate contributes at least 150,000 points, we can reach the sum of 20 million —Honami continued calmly, though her gaze showed the worry of asking for so much.
She knew everyone would agree, that they would put the well-being of the group before their own security. We had formed a special bond, one that made even such a large sum of points seem a fair price if it meant saving one of our own.
—If you ask me —I said, thinking aloud—, if it's worth spending 20 million to save one of our classmates, I would say yes. Even if we lose so many points, keeping one student could give us a great advantage in future exams. Having everyone here means having more strength and unity, something that no other resource can buy.
Honami listened to me intently, her eyes shining with determination. She knew she was thinking the same thing. Rescuing any classmate didn't just mean avoiding expulsion; it meant strengthening the entire class and reaffirming that mutual trust we had built together. Unity was our greatest treasure, and to preserve it, we were willing to risk it all.
I thought about the importance of money in this school, an obvious fact I had overlooked until now. I had put so much effort into earning class points that I ignored the true value of private points, a currency that could make the difference between staying and being expelled. This situation made me realize I needed an additional source of private points, a significant and constant income. However, achieving that wouldn't be easy, and I had to find a method that was not only effective but also completely legal.
After a while of mulling over the idea, an interesting strategy occurred to me. But before moving forward, I needed the approval of the school administration; the last thing I wanted was to face any consequences that could put the class at risk. With this plan in mind, I felt I had one less problem to think about. Although I still needed to fine-tune the details, the possibility of increasing our private points was a relief amid so much tension.
The conversation with Honami continued. According to our estimates from the beginning, we needed to collect a considerable sum from our classmates, and while this contribution would impact their economy, at least it would be temporary. With the new month, the monthly points would return to fill their accounts, and we could breathe easy again. In the meantime, Honami would be in charge of managing the donations of private points to reach the goal of 20 million.
For my part, I needed to prepare a concise and direct speech. I needed everyone to understand the situation we were facing and the real cost it entailed. I didn't just want them to commit to donating points; I wanted them to comprehend that if this happened again soon, we would be in the same situation. We wouldn't always be able to avoid an expulsion, and they needed to be mentally prepared for that possibility, even if at this moment we had the means to prevent it.
It was time to face a harsh reality: in this school, the consequences are as real as the points we wager. We could work together to avoid expelling a classmate now, but in the long term, this situation could strengthen us if we all learned the lesson. Adversity could be a relentless teacher, but it could also be an effective one.
In the end, everyone needed to know that this crisis was an opportunity to evolve, to acquire skills that would allow us to excel. If they could understand it, perhaps we wouldn't just secure the permanence of one of our own, but also take a step forward as a class, facing future challenges with a new perspective and with the firm determination to protect one another.
Uncertainty might tighten, but it would not destroy us.