Horikita Route

Chapter 3 - V2

"To be honest, I'm impressed. I never thought you'd be able to get such high scores. I acknowledge your efforts. However, you got a failing score, Sudo."

With a flick, the cold teacher drew a straight line above Sudo's 41. (Remember, with Ayano helping, more people are influenced by his presence, a downside to this is a higher class average = harder grades to get for Sudo, Ike and Yamauchi.)

"What? You're kidding! How did I fail?! I made sure to study so hard this time!"

"The threshold for failure on this midterm test was 50. The average score on the midterm test was 83.6. Divided by two ... Since we round that up, you needed a score of 42 or higher to pass."

"I-I'm.... one point short...."

"We only knew each other for a short time, but I appreciate your efforts. I'll issue your notice of expulsion after class." Chabashira glanced to Ayanokouji, as if daring him to make a move. Unfortunately, it was another boy that spoke up first.

"Wait a minute! Isn't there any way to save him?" Hirata tried to reason with the woman. Losing a comrade this early in the year, he couldn't bare to see something like that happen. Not... not after all the hard work they did.

"A failing score means you're finished."

"Isn't there anything we can do? We can't let Sudō-kun be expelled! Ayanokouji-kun, Horikita-san, what do we do?" This time, it was Kushida that piped up, either because of the need or want to be seen as the IT girl of Class D or otherwise, who knows.

"Rules are rules. Give it up." Even though Chabashira said this, the glint of excitement in her eyes is unmistakable. Oh, for how long has she yearned to find a class that could rise to Class A, to achieve what she failed to not do in the past.

A few pregnant seconds passed, and no movement was seen in the room, the tension palpable and thick in the air. Some looked at their de facto leaders looking for support, but most of them were disheartened to what they just heard.

Ayanakouji, on his part, had no want to do anything about the matter. He helped the class by supplying the papers which came from his own pocket money. It was the fault of Sudo that he failed, nobody else's. He was determined to let this go and let Sudo be whisked away until a hand tugged on his sleeve.

Looking to his side, he saw his best friend's eyes looking at him in defeat and in need of guidance.

"Kiyotaka, what do we do?" the soft voice of Horikita reverberated on his brain. 

Sigh. How troublesome.

How could he forget? It wasn't only his efforts that should be taken into account. He should also remember the effort Horikita put into the study groups as well. Not just hers, but by everyone in Class D. To lose someone this early in the game would be...

"To lose someone this early in the game would be... disheartening... to say the least.... all our efforts into bettering ourselves and the determination to rise up would just be forgotten and replaced by the memory of losing a classmate." His voice, although soft, boomed through the quiet classroom, making it be heard by everyone present.

Looking at his right, he looked Sudo straight into the eye and said; "Let this be a lesson to you, Sudo, because the next time would probably not be as easy to get out of."

"Huh? What do you mean, Ayanokouji-kun?"

Ignoring the red haired basketball player, Ayanokouji whispered to Horikita and said;

"Do you have some points saved up?"

Confused, Horikita fished out her phone and showed her balance to her best friend, a total of 74 thousand points.

"Hmm... I don't think that would be enough, but let me ask Sensei first."

Upon hearing her name, Chabashira looked at Ayanokouji in anticipation, obviously wishing for him to pull something from his sleeve.

"How much is one point, Sensei?"

"HAAA?" "What?" "WHAA?"

"HAHAHAHA, You really are a curious one, Ayanokouji-kun. to figure it out, and this early in the year too. Where did you get the idea that you could buy points off of me?"

"Sigh...let's not busy ourselves around the bush, Sensei. You already know how I did it, so why ask?"

Class D was obviously confused as to what they are pertaining to. Except for a few key students, not many got the hint that Sensei kept hammering in their brains in the first few days of class. Every time she spoke about point consumption, the word ANYTHING was always with it. The hint was obvious if you knew it was there, but hard enough if you had no idea to begin with.

"Okay, class. Settle down. 100 thousand points, I'll give you Sudo's point for that much."

"How cruel, Sensei." Monotone as ever, the clever ones like Matsushita, Keisei and Horikita had the feeling that Ayanokouji had a feeling that the price would be around that ballpark.

Addressing the whole class now, Ayanokouji said;

"Now that we know the price, if some of you are willing to donate some points for Sudo, I'd be happy to accept it."

Like ants scrambling for scraps, the majority of Sudo's conglomerate, meaning Ike, Yamauchi, Professor and the like were quick to add their remaining points in the pile. Even if they were perverts and were some of the dumbest people in the class, the students seeing them purposefully lose their month's allowance for the survival of their friend lit a flame in the hearts of the remaining students. Not long after, even students like Shonahara and Onodera added some of their money to help.

Chabashira stood on the side of the room, completely surprised by the tone of the class. It was obvious from day 1 that this set was more than it seems, but to see them willingly giving out their points like that was remarkable in her eyes. Some might call it getting peer pressured, while others might call it unity, whatever is the case, Ayanokouji is the key to this happening. For a second, she feared that the boy would do nothing and let the hot head get booted out. It was only until he saw his seatmate's expression did he proceed to make a move.

With this information, Chabashira could conclude that the boy had no want to get to Class A. It was only his friend's resolve and their connection that's making him do these things. Interesting....

_______________________________________________

With a great sigh, Chabashira sat down on hear desk at the faculty, relieved that all that fuss about her student's expulsion is done with.

"Haaa? What's with the long face, Sae-chan? Tell me, tell me!" 

Across her cubicle, the ever-energetic teacher of Class B, Chie, worriedly looked at her long time friend, rival and colleague. It isn't the first time that she saw this side of Sae, but unlike the previous times, she looks a bit more relieved than anything else.

Unknowingly, the cold Class D advisor cracked a tired smile.

"It's nothing my friend.... nothing at all...."