Chapter 182: A New Semester
School starts on September 1st.
As the new semester began, the students returning to the teaching building should have been filled with excitement and noise. But at this moment, their moods were a complex mix of emotions.
The Class B plaque was replaced with Class A. Ichinose's class, amidst their joy, was also accompanied by a strong sense of crisis. The intensity of the class competitions during the two special exams over the summer break had truly taught them a lesson.
The Class C plaque was replaced with Class B. "Long live Boss Ryuen!" Loud cheers erupted from Ryuen's class. The victories in the two special exams had brought Ryuen Kakeru's prestige to its peak! People no longer merely feared his physical force; instead, they were genuinely won over. It was foreseeable that Ryuen Kakeru's dominance over his class would reach a height far exceeding that of other classes.
The Class A plaque was replaced with Class C. Although they already knew this outcome during the summer break, when the cruel reality was laid out before their eyes, they were still inevitably struck hard by it.
"Please raise your heads, everyone." Sakayanagi Arisu, leaning on her cane, walked step by step onto the podium.
"From today onwards, I will be the sole leader of the class."
Below, the former members of the Katsuragi faction looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Katsuragi-kun, do you have any objections?" Sakayanagi Arisu looked at the latter.
"I support Sakayanagi-san as the leader of the class," Katsuragi Kohei spoke up readily to declare his stance.
"..." As a die-hard supporter, Yahiko seemed to want to say something more.
"No need to say more, Yahiko. The responsibility for the failure of the two special exams lies primarily with me. It is only natural for me to take the blame and step down." Katsuragi Kohei very calmly accepted his fate as the loser.
"Although I still reserve my opinions on Sakayanagi's leadership philosophy, from now on, I will also support Sakayanagi's actions to the best of my ability as an ordinary member of the class."
'I don't agree with you, but I will do as you command.'
"Thank you for your cooperation, Katsuragi-kun." Sakayanagi Arisu smiled slightly; everything was under control.
Class D was the only class whose ranking had not changed. Their class points were steadily at the bottom. However, compared to the points, the three empty seats in the Class D classroom were even harder to accept.
As the king of "normies" in Class D, the usually talkative Hirata Yosuke was now sitting silently in his seat, not saying a word, with a cold aura of "do not approach" radiating from him.
"Yamauchi, Ike, and Sotomura... they really got expelled..." His best friend, Sudou Ken, was staring blankly at his former friends' empty seats with a dejected expression.
"Even though I knew they were stupid, I didn't expect them to actually do something like secret filming in the girls' changing room."
"It's truly disgusting!"
"They deserve to be expelled!!"
The girls generally reacted coldly, their words filled with disgust.
The boys, on the other hand, felt a sense of "the fox mourning the death of the rabbit."
"Ayanokouji!" "It was you who reported Yamauchi and the others!!" Okutani Kyosuke stormed up to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, pressing his arms onto the desk and staring at him with a face full of rage. The rest of Class D also focused their gaze on Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
"This guy, even though he was involved in Ike's plan from the start, turned around and reported them to the Student Council!"
"Betraying your companions—how despicable!"
Shinohara Satsuki also pointed the spearhead at Ayanokouji.
She was personally close to Ike Kanji and believed his peeping must have been an impulsive mistake.
There was originally an opportunity to stop them before it happened, making a big deal small and a small deal nothing.
"While it's true I reported it, I wasn't the one who brought the Student Council here in the first place, was I?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka looked significantly in Hikigaya's direction. Feeling himself being isolated and antagonized by the class, his first instinct was to drag Hikigaya down with him!
"Hmph!
So what if I was?
My goal was to catch the peeping culprits, regardless of which class they belonged to."
Hikigaya wasn't afraid of being dragged in at all. Moreover, he never cared about being isolated by the class.
However, after a series of events, the people of Class D gradually realized that Hikigaya was not someone to be messed with. Even though they knew Hikigaya was the "prime culprit" who caused Yamauchi's group to be expelled, no one dared to take the initiative to attack him. This is what they call bullying the weak and fearing the strong!
"Tch! You disgusting guy, how do you have the face to compare yourself with Hachiman-kun?" Karuizawa Kei lashed out without hesitation.
"Hikigaya's goal was to catch criminals, whereas you sold out your companions just to save your own skin!" Matsushita Chiaki's point was well-reasoned and hit the nail on the head.
"Exactly, exactly!" Sato Maya chimed in.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka once again fell into a situation of being isolated and without help. It wasn't that he was afraid of being bullied by the class, but rather, it went against his desire to lead a "peaceful high school life."
Additionally, there was one more crucial point. The rules of the special exams were very harsh; he had a premonition that he might face a difficult exam in the future where "someone must be expelled." In such a case, being isolated and helpless, he would face the crisis of expulsion!
Therefore, he had to win over powerful teammates.
"Hirata-kun...
I'm being bullied.
Could you say something for me?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka put on a pitiful, bullied look. It's just that his acting was truly nauseating!
Yet, Hirata Yosuke, as if triggered by something, suddenly stood up from his seat. He had a look of pure rage on his face, his eyes glaring fiercely at everyone present.
"Who! Who is bullying a classmate?!"
Hirata Yosuke's sudden roar instantly stunned everyone in Class D.
"Uh, Hirata-kun, what's wrong with you... Why are you suddenly so angry?"
Shinohara Satsuki was startled and asked cautiously.
"Shinohara! It's been like this since last semester—you're always the one who loves to stir up trouble and gossip!"
Hirata Yosuke rebuked her coldly.
'Well said!'
Hikigaya's eyes lit up, and he almost couldn't resist clapping.
"Hirata-kun, how... how could you say that to me... sob sob~" Shinohara Satsuki was immediately devastated and couldn't help but start crying.
"Reflect on your own actions!" Hirata Yosuke furrowed his brows and then swept his intimidating gaze across the others.
"Our Class D has already lost three companions. From today onwards, if anyone dares to stir up conflict or opposition between classmates—I will absolutely not forgive them!!!"
Not just a verbal warning, Hirata Yosuke clenched his fist and slammed it hard onto the desk, letting out a loud bang!
"Bam!"
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