I'm in a real religion, why are all the people who confess to me girls?

"Ahem, due to illness, Ms. Chabashira is temporarily unable to preside over this special exam. Therefore, I will temporarily take over as the presiding teacher and supervisor for this unanimous special exam. Next, I will announce the voting results: 35 people agreed to withdraw Maya Sato from school, and 1 person opposed it. The condition of unanimity was not met. Now we will have a break. You are free to move around in the classroom."

After the proctor finished speaking, he stood in the corner of the classroom. Although he seemed a bit unreliable, he was a qualified supervisor when it came to handling special exams.

After confirming that the person temporarily replacing the tea stalk teacher had no intention of interfering with the special exam, Ichinose was slightly relieved. However, she was about to face an even bigger problem: how to persuade the stubborn Hirata to come back.

Ichinose looked at Katsuragi. At this moment, if either she or Horikita were to try to persuade Hirata, he would probably say something like, "You're girls too, why can't you put yourselves in Sato's shoes?" Considering Hirata's extremely unstable emotions, it would be better for Katsuragi, who was also a boy, to step in.

Katsuragi nodded silently, but was interrupted by Hirata just as he was about to speak.

“I cast the dissenting vote. I know I have let everyone down, so no matter how much you scold or criticize me, I will not refute you. If you want to take your anger out on me, find a secluded place and beat me up, I will absolutely not fight back.”

As he spoke, Hirata slowly walked to the front of the class, making sure everyone could see him. His resolute yet haggard face left many speechless, unsure how to criticize his actions.

Because everyone knows that Hirata could never have wanted to protect Sato out of personal motives.

“Hirata, we’re not trying to accuse you, but we want to know your purpose in doing this. Sato’s actions have undoubtedly angered everyone. You can’t protect her. Even if you do your best to protect Sato this time, Miyako will expel her next time. Miyako will never allow someone like Sato to stay.”

Although Ge Cheng's words sounded cold and ruthless, those familiar with Tianyin knew that he was absolutely telling the truth. Although Tianyin usually acted as a hands-off manager and didn't care about anything, no one dared to fool her. In addition to her personal strength being enough to suppress the students in the entire class, Tianyin's decisiveness and ruthlessness in handling matters were also terrifying.

Since Ichinose, a crucial figure capable of stabilizing the class, joined Class A, Amane began cracking down on all cliques and factions. She wouldn't interfere with groups of students playing together normally, but if several tried to speak with one voice, she would talk to each of them individually. Ultimately, with the combined efforts of Amane and Ichinose, almost all cliques in Class A were eliminated. Katsuragi initially thought that restricting even cliques would provoke protests from the students, but in the end, not a single person dared to protest.

From that moment on, Katsuragi knew that the best way to deal with Amane was to play it safe, and Amane would naturally bring back any personal points or other things you wanted to Class A.

Someone like Sato, Amane would never let her go no matter what. Therefore, Katsuragi judged that Hirata could not protect Sato no matter what. Since that was the case, there was no need to stand up and offend Amane.

“I know, but… I swore I would never abandon any of my classmates again. No matter how unpopular Sato is, she is still one of our classmates. I strongly dislike what Sato is doing and think she is being unreasonable. If Amane wants to punish Sato, whether it's scolding or physical punishment, I will not interfere as long as it's not too excessive. But Amane wants Sato to drop out of school, which is something I cannot accept.”

After Hirata finished speaking, he lowered his head deeply.

"I know how important this special exam is to everyone, but I can't break my promise or my principles. So I have a suggestion: since Sato-san initially wanted 200 class points to cast the acceptance vote, then I'll take the place of expulsion. Everyone, please vote for me. This way, we can satisfy Sato-san's needs, keep my promise, and maintain Miyako-san's dignity—a win-win-win situation... Please help me!"

Before anyone could react, Hirata knelt down and slammed his head heavily on the ground in a standard dogeza (vertical kowtow).

"Please, everyone! Just vote for me!"

"Hirata-kun, what are you doing? Get up now!"

"Hirata, what nonsense are you talking about? This matter has nothing to do with you at all!"

"Why do you insist on making Hirata-kun drop out of school? Why did you go to save that Sato guy?"

Katsuragi grabbed Hirata's body first, trying to pull him up from the ground, but Hirata, who had already made up his mind, was prepared. Katsuragi tried to pull him up several times but failed. He could only look helplessly at Ichinose.

Things have developed beyond their expectations. Originally, they only wanted to persuade Hirata to give up helping Sato, but now Hirata actually wants to save Sato by sacrificing himself.

Should we call him foolish or great?

Seeing that Katsuragi couldn't lift Hirata, many boys and girls got up from their seats and came to Hirata's side. With everyone working together, they managed to pull Hirata up.

But when everyone saw Hirata, who was already in tears, they were speechless and could only silently surround him.

Just then, Horikita stood up from her seat. Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control, she felt that she could not wait any longer. She had to stabilize Hirata's emotions before Amane returned.

“Hirata-kun, I can understand your desire to protect everyone, but the problem is that what you’re doing is meaningless. Katsuragi-kun just said that even if you protect Sato this time, Amane will abandon her without hesitation next time. So what’s the point of what you’re doing?”

Horikita tried to awaken Hirata's 'rationality' so that he would understand that what he was doing would not change the outcome. He hoped that Hirata could offer some conditions so that everyone could sit down and talk. Horikita even felt that it would be fine to let Sato go now as long as Hirata did not take such an extreme approach. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future, so there was no need to rush.

However, Hirata's attitude was clearly more resolute than Horikita had imagined.

"I know what you're saying, Horikita-kun, but if I do nothing, the outcome won't change, will it? Even if it only saves Sato-kun temporarily, I'll try my best to find a way..."

Hirata said, taking a survival medal out of his pocket and holding it up in his hand.

“This commemorative medal is worth the equivalent of 20 million personal points. I know that only those who have taken the Special Survival Exam can hold it to trigger the penalty of avoiding expulsion with 1 million personal points, and it can only be used once. However… the school doesn’t stipulate that each person can only hold one. I’m willing to exchange this medal for 15 million personal points. Right now, each class should have a fair amount of personal points, and there will definitely be classes willing to buy this opportunity to protect a student who took that special exam. And these points, plus the personal points I’ve accumulated, are almost enough for Sato to change classes. So… I hope Horikita, you can give Sato a chance, a chance to stay at this school until graduation.”

"Furthermore, to compensate everyone, I am willing to exchange my withdrawal from school for 200 class points. With these 200 class points, everyone can not only earn an extra 20,000 personal points per month, but also almost guarantee a future graduation opportunity from Class A. In short, I will not let anyone or the class suffer any losses."

Hirata placed the commemorative medal in Horikita's hand and then looked at Horikita sincerely.

"Horikita-kun, can you agree to my deal on Amane's behalf? This is the second time I've made a deal with someone. The first time was when I promised Amane that if she could lead everyone to Class A, I would follow her orders. The second time, I want to use everything I have to fulfill my promise to protect everyone. This is my final request."

Chapter 243: Please Begin Your Performance

Amane carried Chabazusa and ran away from the teaching building. Then her pace gradually slowed down. Rather than being in a hurry to get the person to the infirmary, it was more like she was taking a leisurely stroll.

Chabashira Sae noticed Amane's unusual behavior and, forcing herself to stay alert, patted Amane's arm.

"Put me down."

"Are you still going to try to be strong in this condition? Patients should lie down properly; we'll be at the infirmary soon."

Tianyin said she was almost at the infirmary, but her feet were walking towards the playground.

Although the second graders are taking a special exam today, and will be on holiday after the exam, students in other grades will still have to attend classes as usual. It is currently the time for the first class of the afternoon. On the playground behind the teaching building, apart from one class of students warming up before their physical education class, there are no students from other classes. The usually bustling playground is unusually quiet.

"I'm not sick!"

Chabashira Sae argued with Amane while struggling to get up from Amane's embrace. After all, she was a teacher, and it was inappropriate for her to be carried around by a student. She didn't just teach one class of students; if a student who knew her saw them... Chabashira Sae felt like dying.

However, after thinking about the current situation of Class A, her face turned ashen, and she stopped struggling.

If you still don't know what Chashu is thinking after seeing her expression, then all those years Amane spent in the White House and the special training that followed have been wasted.

"Are you really that obsessed with producing students in Class A? To be honest, Chabashira-sensei, there's something you might not want to hear: regrets are called regrets because they can't be made up for. Even if you produce another class of students who go from Class D to Class A, what difference will it make? It still won't change the fact that you failed that special exam."

Tenon's words caused a sudden blush to flash across Chabashira Sae's ashen face. Anger instantly filled Chabashira Sae's chest, but just as she was about to refute Tenon, she didn't know where to begin. Tenon's words were not wrong at all; the facts were just as Tenon said.

Let alone the fact that Chabashira Sae has never managed to train a single class of students in Class A, even if she did, so what? At most, people would just call her a lucky homeroom teacher.

As for why not outstanding homeroom teachers? Because the main characters in this school have never been the homeroom teachers, principals, or even board members and chairpersons—the truly powerful high-ranking officials who control part or all of the school's discourse—but rather those seemingly ordinary students.

For a class advisor, each new class is like drawing cards. The more geniuses a class has and the better they can coordinate with each other, the further they can go. Even if only one or two prodigies emerge, or even just one person, if that one person is enough to make the class famous, there is still hope of leading the class to compete for the A class.

The role of the class advisor is minimal; at most, they can "leak" information by telling the students how previous students passed this special exam. Aside from this role, the class advisor's role is primarily focused on teaching.

To put it bluntly, the class's progress has almost nothing to do with the homeroom teacher, and Chabashira Sae, who places her dreams and regrets on her students, is simply playing house with herself.

Just like what Hoshinomiya-sensei said, Chabashira Sae-kame never regrets anything, but when the topic of what happened back then comes up, she becomes hysterical.

This special test is enough to prove that the person who failed to overcome that hurdle was Chabashira Sae herself.

"Humans cannot survive without goals."

Chashu Sakae uttered these words with a bitter expression.

Everyone sets many goals in their lives, some big, such as getting into a certain school, becoming a certain profession, or becoming a big star or a well-known entrepreneur.

From planning your monthly living expenses to setting goals like exercising to lose weight or waking up early.

A person's life is a continuous journey toward a series of set goals. Some people reach the end of their goal and then set a new one, while others find that they cannot achieve their goal halfway through and change their goal. Still others simply give up and change their goal as soon as they start moving toward it.

But no matter which choice you make, you are moving forward on the path of life; the only difference is the speed and the outcome.

Time keeps moving forward, and as people get older, the time they set for their next goals will inevitably be ahead of their own life's timeline.

This is something that every normal person will inevitably experience.

But Chabashira Sae is different. She left a mark on a point in her life where she failed, and then her body crossed that point while her eyes were always looking in that direction. Since there were no new points in her life's timeline, no matter how hard Chabashira Sae ran, the direction she would eventually reach would be the direction of the last point.

Thus, Chabashira Sae completed a life-altering act of clinging to outdated ideas. She returned to the school and witnessed generation after generation of D-class students fall on the path of life, only to begin looking forward to the next generation. Her life was trapped at this goal, and to cross it, she had to achieve the goals she had set for herself.

'To pass the exam with the best possible result, unanimously approved by the entire audience.'

Graduated as a member of Class A.

To make up for the regrets of the past.

These three goals don't seem too difficult, after all, Tianyin has already transformed the former Class D into a hexagonal class with many outstanding talents and strong capabilities, which can be said to be impeccable.

Passing the exam and graduating from Class A was not difficult for Amane, so could this make up for the regret of that year and free Chabashira Sae from this predicament?

Does not.

Because, Chasashi Sae's true regret is...

The person she was protecting left her.

The more a person emphasizes something, the more it means they lack that thing.

That's why Hoshinomiya always smiles especially happily whenever Chabashira emphasizes again and again that she has no regrets.

It's immoral to build your happiness on the suffering of others, but it feels good.

Especially when the person who suffered ruined someone else's life, only to end up suffering even more than the person who suffered.

"But setting an impossible goal for yourself is pure torture, isn't it? I can hardly tell now whether you, Chabashira-sensei, really want to make up for your regrets, or whether you want to use this as an excuse to atone for what happened back then by constantly torturing yourself?"

Tianyin raised her hand and waved to someone on the playground, a smile appearing on her face.

Upon seeing Tianyin, the figure in the distance excitedly jumped up and down and waved at her, just like a child.

Chabashira Sae was able to stand on the ground with Amane holding her with one arm.

"If it's the former, I can only say that you've got the wrong goal, Chabashira-sensei. I suggest you let go of that irreparable regret and start a new life. But if it's the latter... then I can only say that you, Chabashira Sae, are just as foolish as Hirata Yosuke. Foolish enough to think that hurting yourself can solve all the problems and that others can be redeemed. You people are too naive."

Amane's words swept over Chabashira Sae like a biting cold wind, making her shiver involuntarily. She then looked at Amane in horror, who was only a little over half her age.

"I...I'm not..."

Chazhu's pearly teeth trembled as she tried to explain that she did not intend to atone for her sins by torturing herself.

Before she could even finish speaking, she heard hurried footsteps approaching. Tianyin naturally pulled her arm away from Tianyin's.

The tea pillar, having lost its support, stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, after being blown by the wind for a while and awakened by Tenon's words, the tea pillar regained its mobility, thus avoiding embarrassment in front of the younger students.

"Heavenly Sound~ Ahhh, I miss you so much!"

A youthful and energetic figure suddenly rushed into Tianyin's arms and began to nuzzle affectionately against Tianyin's chest, completely ignoring the stunned classmates and physical education teacher behind them.

"I miss you too! How about we go sing karaoke together sometime?"

"Okay, okay~ Eh? Right, listen... who was it again? It seems like the second graders are having a special exam today. Amane, have you finished your special exam yet?"

"Not yet, but everything is under control and it will be over soon."

Amane's answer made Nanase's eyes almost turn into little stars.

"Tianyin is really amazing...so cool! Oh right! Write this down, I need to tell my classmates how to say it next time... Hmm? Tianyin, who is that old lady next to you...cough cough, who is she?"

Just as Nanase was pulling out her phone from somewhere in her gymnastics uniform, or perhaps recording Amane's quotes, she glanced at the tea stalk Sae behind Amane and immediately realized something was amiss.

Nanase, who originally intended to call the other woman an old woman, quickly changed her address after seeing the other woman's teacher's uniform and somewhat familiar face. However, the awkward change of address made Chabashira Sae's face darken.

"She is our homeroom teacher, Chazhu. We originally came out to discuss the content of the special exam, but we didn't expect to run into Yi and your class during PE."

Upon hearing the name of her real teacher, Nanase suddenly remembered that she had indeed seen Chabashira during the special exam, but this meant her plans were ruined.

Nanase had originally wanted Amane to kiss her. Although Nanase was much bolder now and could let Amane kiss her even when others were watching, being stared at so closely by the teacher still made Nanase feel a little shy.

"So that's how it is... Oh dear! Everyone's still waiting for me over there. I have to go back to class now. Amane and Chabashira-sensei, I'll take my leave now."

Nanase nodded politely to the two of them, then turned to leave.

"wing."

Hearing Amane call her name, Nanase instinctively stopped, but Amane seized the opportunity to grab her wrist and pull her back into Amane's arms.

Before Nanase could react, still a little dazed, Amane covered her mouth.

Nanase's eyes widened in surprise. She never expected that Amane would actually dare to do such a thing to her with the homeroom teacher right there. In an instant, a mix of emotions, including joy, shyness, panic, and nervousness, surged into Nanase's heart. But under Amane's gentle gaze, Nanase's heart, which had been pounding like a deer, gradually calmed down.

Nanase began to relax and enjoy Amane's gentleness.

After an unknown amount of time, Nanase was suddenly jolted awake from her reverie by the sound of a whistle coming from afar.

"No, I can't go on now, I really have to go back, otherwise the teacher will be angry. Next time, I will make it up to you, Tianyin."

After Nanase finished speaking, she shyly pushed Amane away and covered her cheeks as she ran back to her class's line.

As soon as I got back, I saw a group of people surrounding Nanase. It seemed like they wanted to tease Nanase and gossip about something.

"Another naive girl has been completely fooled by you."

"Itsuki said sourly."

For Chabashira Sae, who has never even had a proper relationship but is almost thirty, such a youthful and energetic scene is no different from pouring vinegar down her throat.

"If you, Mr. Chabashira, would also like to experience it, I wouldn't mind at all. I'll gladly accompany you."

"..."

Chabashira Sae looked at Amane with a black line on her forehead. Not only was she trying to take advantage of her, but she also said something about sacrificing herself to accompany her. It was as if kissing her was a huge loss.

This made Chabashira Sae want to grab the little rascal in front of her and teach him a lesson.

"Take care of this special exam first before bringing it up with me."

"So, Mr. Chabashira, you agree?"