Part 1

The same day, after all the classes had ended…

Chabashira instructed the class to send the commander, whoever that may be, out into the hallway as soon as possible and left the classroom.

Hirata was the first person to stand up from their seat.

“Erm… The events… We’ll be discuss-”

One of the girls, Nishimura, hurriedly tried to call out to him.

However, her words didn’t seem to get through, as he just quietly left the classroom.

“Hirata-kun…”

Nishimura and many other students were taken back by the intense dejected atmosphere surrounding Hirata.

The only exception to this was Kōenji, who was casually looking at his phone as if he hadn’t noticed anything at all.

“I’m… going to the bathroom for a bit. I’ll be right back!”

The one to say this was none other than Mei-Yu Wang, a student that everyone called Mii-chan.

Although she said she was going to the bathroom, she had probably gone to chase after Hirata instead.

“Since he’s not being useful, I guess I’ll have to do it after all.”

Horikita took the initiative and began preparing to go up the teacher’s podium.

“Sorry, but I’ll leave this to you. I have my duties as the commander to deal with.”

“Yeah. Head to the multipurpose room to decide which class we’re going up against. If you’re given the choice, choose Class D.”

“I know. Just don’t expect too much out of me.”

I got up from my seat and left the classroom.

As the one who had taken on the responsibilities of the commander, I walked out into the hallway.

“So it’s you this time, Ayanokōji. Who on earth is the commander?”

With an exasperated sigh, Chabashira looked in the direction Hirata and Mii-chan had gone off to.

“It’s me. I’m the commander.”

“Oh…?”

Together, the two of us headed off to the special building.

“Isn’t the special building a bit far when we’re just selecting our opponents?”

“We’ll also be going over the details on how you’ll be managing things on the day of the exam.”

There was barely anybody around as we arrived at the special building, so the sound of our footsteps was notably louder than usual.

“You went through so much to get your hands on a protection point, only to be forced to become the commander. How unlucky.”

“I wasn’t forced. I volunteered for the position myself.”

Chahashira stopped walking for a moment.

“…You did?”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“I thought you hated attracting unnecessary attention?”

Chabashira questioned.

“The only difference was whether or not they forced me into it.”

“I see. You’re saying that in either case, you weren’t in much of a position where you could turn it down.”

At the end of the day, the students who had won a protection point were much more likely to become the commander.

If they refused, they would be only one safe from expulsion.

In which case, would they choose to be pushed off a cliff? Or would they choose to jump off on their own terms instead?

“Whatever happened aside, by becoming the commander, you’ve taken on a huge responsibility. If you cut any corners, Class C will be the one to pay the price.”

Since there was nobody around to hear her, Chabashira spoke boldly.

“Are you threatening me?”

As I turned to face her, she let show a slight grin.

“You’re free to think whatever you want. However, I’ll definitely be looking forward to it, Ayanokōji. Because now, after everything that’s happened, I’ll finally be able to see what you’re really made of.”

Her heart set on reaching Class A, Chabashira seemed like she had great expectations of me moving forward.

“There’s no guarantee I’ll win.”

“Is that so? Sorry, but I, for one, can’t possibly imagine that you’d lose.”

After that, the two of us didn’t say very much else as we made our way to the multipurpose room.