Chapter 250 076: A Unified Class C, A Cohesive Class C, With No Possibility of Internal Division

"2.4 million points." Hirata said, "Class D must pay 2.4 million points to Class C as compensation."

The classroom erupted again.

"2.4 million? Why doesn't he just go rob someone?"

"Where are we supposed to get 2.4 million? We are currently in negative points; we don't have a single cent for living expenses!"

"Exactly! We don't even have enough for ourselves, how could we have money to give them?"

Hirata raised his hand, signaling for everyone to be quiet. "I know everyone is unwilling. This money will not be deducted from the funds issued by the school. It will come from each of our personal points. In other words, it is the 800,000 points that Hikigaya-kun transfers to us every month. This means we will have no living expenses for the next three months. The saved money will be pooled to reach 2.4 million and given to Class C."

The classroom fell silent.

Three months without living expenses. What does that mean in this school? It means you can't go to the cafeteria to eat, you can't buy things at the shopping street, you can't buy drinks, and you can't buy snacks. You can only chew on bread and drink plain water every day.

Dammit!

Although the VIP exam left some students with a surplus, that is still 3 months without additional income.

"I don't agree!" Yamauchi Haruki's voice came from the back row, filled with obvious dissatisfaction. "Why should we be the ones to pay? It was Ayanokouji who caused this mess, not us! Make him pay!"

"That's right!" Ike Kanji echoed, "It's Ayanokouji's own doing, why should we foot the bill for him?"

"You are right." Hirata's voice was very calm, "However, Ayanokouji will not pay this money. And if this money is not paid, the deal is void. If the deal is void, we won't get Class C's exam papers. Without the papers, we won't have the answers. Without the answers, how do you plan to pass?"

Yamauchi opened his mouth but didn't speak.

"Do you remember the rules? The pairing exam requires groups of two. Therefore, it is a collective responsibility. If the total score is less than 700 points, or if both people in a single subject score below 87, they will be expelled." Hirata's voice slowed down slightly, "If we don't get the answers, do you think you can pass on your own?"

The classroom went quiet again. Yamauchi lowered his head, Ike Kanji looked away, and no one spoke.

"Furthermore," Hirata continued, "the exam paper we receive is very likely the one Ayanokouji created. The difficulty of that paper is not something you can handle."

"Then we can just get the real exam paper from Ayanokouji, right?" A girl's voice came from the crowd, "Didn't he provide the paper to Class C students to submit? So, can't we just find him and get it?"

But soon, Hasabe Haruka's voice came from the side. And it was laced with sarcasm.

"You believe him? Are you sure the paper he gives us is the real one? If he can pull so many tricks behind the scenes, why couldn't he do it again on the exam paper?

So, do you dare to bet on it?"

That girl opened her mouth but didn't speak.

"If Ayanokouji gives us the wrong paper," Hasabe's voice lowered, "and we follow the wrong paper to study, we will only discover the mistake during the exam. By then, not 100%, but 60% or 70% of the class will be expelled. Because Hirata-kun didn't force the top students to pair with the bottom ones; it was matched directly according to student IDs. If two bottom students are paired together, both will fail and be expelled. Even a top student paired with a bottom student isn't safe; even if the top student does well on the exam, they might still be dragged down by the bottom student and expelled together."

As Hasabe said this, a new emotion emerged in the classroom.

It was fear.

Yes.

At this moment, everyone was calculating in their hearts—who is my partner, what is their academic ability, can they carry me to a passing grade? Without relying on the answers, can I pass?

And the result... was terrible.

Even a top student like Yukimura, when thinking about being paired with Yamauchi Haruki, felt a sense of hopelessness.

"So," Shinohara Satsuki's voice came from the corner, "we have no choice?"

Hirata looked at her. "None."

Shinohara lowered her head, remained silent for a few seconds, and then looked up. "Then let it be. Three months without living expenses; I accept."

"I accept too," another voice followed.

"Me too."

"Me too."

The voices rang out one after another; some felt helpless, some felt unwilling, and some simply accepted it calmly. Hirata took a stack of papers from his folder; it was an agreement he had prepared in advance. It stated that all students of Class D voluntarily forfeit three months of living expenses to pool 2.4 million points to pay Class C as compensation. Everyone needed to sign it.

The agreement was passed from the first row to the back, signed one by one. Some signed quickly, some hesitated for a long time, but eventually, they all signed. When the last one was signed, Hirata collected the agreement and put it back into the folder.

"This matter ends here." Hirata's voice felt strained, "For the upcoming exam, everyone, prepare well. I will distribute the exam papers and answers to everyone before tomorrow."

No one spoke. The classroom was so quiet that the sound of the wind outside the window could be heard. Hirata stood on the podium, looking at the faces that had signed the agreement—some expressionless, some with their heads lowered, some looking out the window. He suddenly felt like a failure. He was the Class D representative, but he could do nothing. He could not protect anyone, nor could he change anything.

"Dismissed," Hirata said.

The students stood up one by one; some packed their things, some headed toward the door, and some remained in their seats, dazed. Hirata stood where he was, watching them leave. The classroom gradually emptied, leaving only a few people. Kushida Kikyo sat at her seat, holding her phone, looking at something. Karuizawa Kei leaned against the window, her golden ponytail standing out in the sunlight. Horikita Suzune sat by the window, a book in her hand, unopened. Matsushita Chiaki stood at the door, also holding her phone.

Matsushita lowered her head and opened the chat box with Hachiman. Her fingers tapped rapidly on the screen, typing a line of text.

Basically, it was about what happened, but there was one unexpected thing she felt she had to ask Hachiman about.

So, she edited it quickly and sent it.

[Hirata told everyone everything. Ayanokouji is pulling strings, and Ryuen wants 2.4 million. Everyone signed. Koenji said that if Ayanokouji is kicked out, he might take responsibility for Class D. Do you think he really would?]

After sending the message, she waited for a while. The reply came quickly.

[For Koenji, the people around him are all ordinary people, all mortals. There is no point in him winning; it's like bullying the weak. But if Ayanokouji is removed and Class D falls apart, it would be a challenge for Koenji. So, he might actually step forward.]

Matsushita stared at those words for a few seconds, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly. So Koenji doesn't want to save Class D; he just thinks it's more challenging if Class D is rotten. It's like playing a game—bored of the easy mode, he wants to try hell mode.

She sighed and typed another line.

[Isn't that just playing around?]

Hachiman's reply was quick.

[Pretty much.]

Matsushita put her phone away, leaned against the door frame, and looked at the silent faces in the classroom. She had thought Class D had a chance. But looking at it now, it still didn't work. Just as Hikigaya-kun said, Koenji is strong, but Koenji won't act because the "class needs him"; he will only act because it's "interesting." And the current state of Class D is probably just "boring" in his eyes.

Matsushita looked away and looked at Horikita Suzune. Horikita was still sitting by the window, holding a book without opening it. Horikita's state for the past few days had been a bit hazy, even she could tell, and even now, Horikita didn't seem to have anything to say about this lunatic Ayanokouji's situation.

So, what exactly is Horikita-san thinking?

Matsushita didn't know. But she knew that Horikita would leave Class D one day. When that day comes, she would have to take over Horikita's position. Not because she wanted to be the class representative, but because Hikigaya-kun wanted her to.

So, I envy Horikita-san.

Matsushita sighed softly.

Hirata walked down from the podium and went to Horikita's side. "Horikita-san, do you have anything else to say?"

Horikita looked up at him. "No."

Hirata nodded and turned to walk toward the door. After two steps, he stopped without looking back. "I'm sorry, Horikita-san. I had full responsibility for this exam, but... I failed to do what I promised you."

Horikita looked at him and suddenly remembered that Hachiman hadn't given her any instructions for this exam, so she wasn't prepared to participate, but Hirata was worried about something happening, so he took over the command of the class in order to save everyone in Class D. Hirata said everything was left to him, but looking at it now, Hirata did a terrible job.

Horikita remained silent for a second. "It's not your fault."

Hirata didn't respond. He pushed the door open and walked out.

Only a few people were left in the classroom. Kushida stood up from her seat and walked to Horikita's side. "Horikita-san, aren't you leaving?"

"I'll sit a little longer," Horikita said.

Kushida nodded and didn't ask further.

She knew what Horikita was worried about recently.

She still had a little sympathy for someone who had a heartbreak before even being in a relationship.

So Kushida turned around to find Karuizawa; after all, Karuizawa was even more miserable than Horikita.

That one is destined to be a loser.

So, the two walked out of the classroom together.

They still have to work at the student council tonight.

Well, commonly known as going to work!

The day of the pairing exam soon arrived.

Four classes, each with their own thoughts. Class A and Class C didn't have any extra maneuvers—no bribery, no deals, no swapping papers in advance. Their plan was simple—head-to-head.

Whoever has the stronger academic ability wins.

Compared to them, Class B and Class D reached an agreement: exchanging test papers, transmitting answers to each other, and ensuring that both sides could pass. This was something Ryuen and Hirata had already settled in the office; although the process wasn't very pleasant, the result was ultimately good.

As for Ayanokouji—his evaluation dropped another level.

Now, no one in Class D is willing to talk to him, and even Hirata no longer defends him. Sudo detours when he sees him; Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki curse him as a "traitor" behind his back; the girls don't even look at him. He sat alone in the corner of the classroom, a circle of emptiness around him, like an isolated patient.

However, over at Class C, several people were discussing him.

"Ayanokouji from Class D seems to really have some tricks up his sleeve." A boy leaned back in his chair, his tone filled with a bit of admiration, "To be able to pull so many strings under Ryuen's nose and almost succeed. This kind of person is truly strong."

"What's the use of being strong?" The girl next to him retorted immediately, her brows knitted tightly, "Didn't you hear what Ryuen said? His ultimate goal is to get most of the students in

his own class expelled. For his own purpose, he can even betray his classmates. If you bring such a person over, can you be safe?"

The boy opened his mouth but didn't speak.

"Exactly," another girl took over, "he can betray Class D today, and he can betray us tomorrow. Ryuen is right; he doesn't want to transfer classes, he wants to find a stronger stepping stone. Once he has used us up, he will kick us aside all the same."

Several people nodded. No one mentioned "bringing Ayanokouji over" anymore. Strength is strength, but the danger is real. No one wants to put a ticking time bomb by their side.

And on the morning of the exam, the sun was shining brightly.

Hachiman walked on the path leading to the teaching building, carrying a school bag, his pace neither slow nor fast.

He was in a pretty good state, but when he passed the flower bed, he stopped and glanced at the flowers that had just been watered. The poppies had already faded; it was now the season for chrysanthemums.

"Hikigaya."

A voice came from behind. Hachiman turned around. He saw Katsuragi Kohei standing a few steps away, his expression steady, his brows slightly furrowed.

He was wearing a neat school uniform, his tie tied meticulously. But Hachiman noticed faint dark circles under his eyes; he probably didn't sleep well last night.

"Katsuragi." Hachiman nodded.

Katsuragi walked over and stopped beside him. The two stood side by side next to the flower bed, neither saying a word.

"Hikigaya," finally, Katsuragi couldn't help but ask, "For this exam, you aren't intervening at all?"

Hachiman glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"Class A and Class C are clashing. You didn't bribe anyone from Class C, didn't swap test papers in advance, and didn't pull any strings." Katsuragi's voice was slow, as if confirming something, "Do you really believe that you can win just by relying on academic ability?"

Hachiman leaned against the railing of the flower bed, his hands in his pockets. "The class I am currently in is Class A. If everything has to rely on planning, on scheming, on bribery, then what do I need strength for?"

Katsuragi's brows furrowed.

"The school gave us this exam not to see who is better at pulling strings." Hachiman's voice was very calm, "It's to see whose academic ability is stronger. A and C clash, head-on. Whichever side has better students wins. This is what the school wants to see."

Katsuragi fell silent. Or rather, he felt the pressure.

Yes.

The class Hikigaya is currently in is the real Class A, although they rose from the original Class B. So, once they win, the school will likely fully recognize them, or even... in the future, as Sakayanagi said, there will be no more special exams with so many opportunities to catch up to Class A.

As such.

Even though the exam hadn't started yet, Katsuragi felt a sudden increase in pressure.

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