Masterpiece: One final Test

Chapter 3: Rumours and Presidents.

When I arrived in class the next morning, the atmosphere was noticeably different. The chatter and laughter from yesterday had been replaced by worried murmurs, students huddled together in small groups, whispering frantically. I walked to my seat, quietly observing the conversations around me. It didn't take long to figure out what was going on—rumors were spreading. Fast.

Everyone was talking about points. Their faces were marked by confusion, anxiety, and disbelief. I could already guess what they were discussing.

So, it's started.

I took my seat and glanced around, noting how some students kept glancing in my direction. Others seemed preoccupied, talking in hushed voices as if trying to avoid being overheard. It was clear that the conversation I'd had with Sudo the day before had ignited something. I'd warned him not to tell anyone from other classes, but the moment I let Ike and Yamauchi into the mix, I knew the probability of that discretion going out the window. It was inevitable that rumors would start circulating.

I leaned back in my chair, listening in as best I could without making it obvious. The topic was unmistakable: the points.

Students were starting to question whether they'd actually receive the same 100,000 private points next month. The realization that the system might not be as generous as they'd first thought was creeping into their conversations.

Before I could ponder how far the rumors had spread, the door slid open, and Chabashira-sensei entered the room. Homeroom was about to begin.

I glanced over at Sudo, who was seated a few desks away, trying to look nonchalant. He caught my eye for a brief moment and quickly averted his gaze, as if already anticipating what was coming. I knew the reason for the tension—it was the inevitable fallout from the conversation we'd had. He probably hadn't expected things to spiral this quickly.

Suddenly, a group of girls in the front row turned to Hirata, encouraging him to speak up. I couldn't hear their exact words, but it was obvious they were pushing him to address the elephant in the room. Hirata, assuming the position of leader, nodded and raised his hand.

"Sensei," Hirata said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of the entire class's unease, "may I use a bit of homeroom time to address something?"

Chabashira-sensei, who had just finished setting down her things, looked mildly intrigued. She gave a small nod. "Go ahead."

She remained in the classroom. Her expression was unreadable, but I could sense that she knew exactly what was coming. After all, she had given me that cryptic explanation on the rooftop just the day before.

Hirata stood up, his calm and friendly demeanor now tinged with a hint of seriousness. "I'm sure most of you have heard the rumors going around about the points system," he began, addressing the entire class. "A lot of people are worried that we might not receive the same 100,000 private points next month."

The class immediately broke into murmurs, confirming that the rumors had indeed taken hold. Hirata raised his hand slightly to regain their attention.

"I wanted to personally ask Ayanokoji-kun and Horikita-san if they could help clarify things for us. From what I've heard, they've had some conversations with Chabashira-sensei and might have a better understanding of how the points system actually works. I already tried talking to her before homeroom started, but she told me that she is not allowed to confirm anything."

He turned to look at me and Horikita, and I felt a dozen pairs of eyes shift in our direction. I kept my expression neutral, though internally, I wasn't surprised that Hirata had brought this up. He was trying to calm the class, and given the position Horikita and I were in, it made sense that we would be dragged into this conversation.