Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

The morning classes have all ended, and the lunch break bell rings throughout the campus.

However, not a single student left the classroom.

The cruel message left by Chashu, "Failure to pass the midterm exam will result in expulsion," pinned the feet of all the students to the floor.

As a suffocating silence filled the air, click! Accompanied by the sound of a chair being roughly pulled out, a man stood up.

"In that case, we'll just have to hold a review session!"

The one who made the sound was Takeru Sudo.

Upon hearing this, the entire class stared wide-eyed at Sudo.

This was none other than that delinquent teenager who loved to sleep in class and should have hated studying the most, who was the first to suggest a review session.

"Sudo actually used the word 'review meeting'... Is it going to snow tomorrow?"

Kanji Ike looked at him with an expression of disbelief and made a comment.

"Stop arguing! Don't treat me like a fool!"

Sudo blushed and retorted loudly, but then looked away somewhat awkwardly.

"Although my grades aren't good, I'm not a complete idiot. This school has top-notch dorms, food, and training facilities. With such good conditions, I don't want to be expelled so easily!"

Watching this interaction, Hirata Yosuke, the class's "lubricant," stood up with a gentle smile.

"I don't want to see any students drop out of the class. I agree. As long as we teach each other, we can definitely avoid failing. If you don't mind, I'll teach you no matter how many times it takes."

"I'll help too! Let's all get through this difficult midterm exam together!"

Kikyo Kushida also raised her hand in a cheerful voice.

With the central figures from both the male and female sides of the class volunteering, a glimmer of hope began to seep into the previously heavy classroom atmosphere.

However, at that moment, Ike Kanji grinned, looking as if he had come up with a terrible idea.

"Wait, even if we don't go through all that trouble, isn't there an easier way?"

"A simple way?"

"Ms. Chabashira said it before, right? The failing score is half the class average. If that's the case, why don't we all deliberately go easy on everyone and lower our scores? To put it extremely, if everyone gets 0, the average score is also 0, then nobody will fail! In that case, Hanayama definitely won't drop out!"

Chi recounted with great pride what he considered a brilliant flash of inspiration.

That was a blend of his sense of duty to save Huashan and his laziness in not wanting to study.

A group of male students made a commotion, exclaiming "Oh!" and were about to agree—at that very moment.

"Don't resort to those underhanded tricks."

A heavy, deep voice completely dominated the classroom; it belonged to Kaoru Hanayama, who was sitting in the last row.

"As students, taking exams seriously is an unquestionable obligation."

Huashan continued speaking in a calm but resolute tone, his arms still crossed.

"Making others submit blank papers to lower the average score is something only a despicable person would do. Don't mind me. You guys, just give it your all in the exam."

This means that even if he faces expulsion, he will never allow his companions to be dragged into it or to survive by despicable means; this is precisely the benevolence and righteousness of the Yakuza.

The entire classroom was stunned by that aura and fell into complete silence.

(What a hopeless idiot.)

In the seat next to her, Horikita Suzune sighed softly.

She had originally planned to use her usual sarcasm to fiercely criticize the foolish suggestion to lower the average score.

But before she could even speak, Hanayama, the person involved, personally rejected her proposal outright.

"I commend you for not agreeing with those foolish suggestions."

Horikita crossed her arms and looked away, then softened her voice slightly.

"When you first entered school, you couldn't even do single-digit multiplication, but you were able to get 20 points on the quiz recently... So you're showing signs of improvement."

Those were words of clear comfort and encouragement that were hard to believe coming from someone as aloof as her.

"There are still about twenty days until the midterm exams. If I give it my all, I should be able to find a way to avoid failing."

Hanayama quietly raised his head and looked at Horikita.

"Will you help me, Horikita?"

"Don't get me wrong. This is just a spur-of-the-moment gesture of returning the favor for helping you save the class points. Besides, ignoring someone who's dragging us down would hinder my goals."

Facing Horikita, who arrogantly turned his head away, Hanayama lowered his head deeply.

"I am deeply grateful. ... I will remember this kindness."

"...Lift your head up. That's too much."

After school.

In a corner of a large, quiet library, a strange scene unfolds at a table by the window.

Huashan was huddled in front of his small study desk, staring intently at the notebook in his hands.

Opposite him, Horikita Suzune held a mechanical pencil and calmly explained the steps of the equation.

Cluck, cluck, cluck.

In the quiet library corridor, the rhythmic sound of a walking stick could be heard.

Hanayama looked up and saw Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A, leaning on her brand-new silver cane, standing there with an elegant smile.

Behind her followed Masumi Kamuro, who looked annoyed by the trouble.

"Oh my. It's quite a coincidence to run into you in a place like this, Hanayama-kun. It seems you're struggling with your studies."

Horikita grew more wary and cast a cold gaze at Sakayanagi.

"Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A... what do you need us for?"

"Hehe, please don't glare at me like that. I just think it would be too boring if someone I consider an interesting rival were expelled for failing a paper-and-pencil test."

Sakayanagi tapped the ground lightly with the tip of his cane.

"This school is indeed very strict, but it doesn't just abandon students irrationally. In order to cultivate pillars who will shoulder the future of Japan, this is a place where various flexibility is allowed."

Hanayama put down his pencil and silently watched Sakayanagi.

"Hanayama-kun, you've amassed a large amount of personal points, haven't you?"

"...So what?"

Sakayanagi revealed a smile that was as cute as a young girl's, yet also concealed a mischievous undertone.

"Learning in a fair and honest way is certainly excellent, but if there's really not enough time, isn't it also quite interesting to try other methods?"

"Then I wish you a good day, Mr. Hanayama."

Sakayanagi turned around and left, accompanied by the clattering of his cane once more.

Huashan stared at the clumsy mathematical formulas left on his notebook, then quietly closed his eyes and fell into a sea of ​​thought.