COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

How come someone voted in favor?

Is this a prank? But we are taking an exam now, don’t do such!

3rd time? Let’s try!

“The result of 3rd round was 1 vote in favor and 39 votes against.”

“....?”

The students discovered something was wrong.

It is true that some people have been voting in favor of dropping out of school.

Entered into discussion phase.

As class representative, Ichinose stood up, and started to fool people with her ideas, “I think it is a very lucky and happy thing to be able to come to this school and be classmates with you all. And as a class representative, I admit that I didn’t do well. But, I don’t think playing pranks is a good thing at a time like this, and if you have any objections to my ideas, you can bring them up and we can discuss it together.”

She looked at Himeno Yuki with a side glance of her eyes.

“So, you Ichinose Honami admit. Those methods dealing with exams were pitiful and lack of your ability?”

“Himeno-san!!”

“Indeed.” Kanzaki-kun also agreed but whether it’s Ichinose or Himeno, boy didn’t clear out loud, “If you have any objections, please raise now. After all, there is not much time left.”

But unfortunately, no one stood up to oppose it. Even Himeno looked bored.

A new voting phase has been initiated.

“The result of 4th round is 1 vote in favor and 39 votes against.”

There are only 40 minutes left in exam. It started to become urgent.

It also means there is a dissenter in class. In this exam where everyone can accept that no one will drop out, they actually want to sacrifice their companions.

“What? Do you have any problem. If you look at me again, I will stab your eyes with my cigarette.”

Snort! Snort!

“Himeno-san, can you please co-operate?” Ichinose decided to use a little force in her voice, as if she was deliberately holding some anger.

“It’s not me. And if you try to use moral kidnapping, then don’t blame me for being rude!”

One of them looked at the clock and immediately started to self-destruct.



“I’m actually the one who’s been voting in favor. Because, I think it is crucial for our class to drop a certain person out of school. Especially, from Top 3 of OAA.”

“ah……!!” Shibata-kun seemed frightened.

Because the person who stood up and spoke now was none other than the very reliable Kanzaki-kun, glaring fiercely at Chihiro-chan for being a plague of this class’s development.

Even his photo seemed Black & white.

Shibata’s physical fitness is best in class OAA.

But since Kanzaki-kun said this, does that mean he wants him to drop out?

Shibata said he was ready to drop out of school. But isn’t it possible now that no student can drop out?

If he needs to drop out of school... then willing to do so...

However, just as Shibata was about to stand up, he heard Kanzaki-kun say, “So, just choose to drop me out of school. I am the second most physically fit student in class and second most academically competent student. I meet this requirement. So as long as you drop me out, you can get a class evaluation score of 400 in this exam.”

Kanzaki-kun left his seat and walked to the podium, shouted with a roar, “Because, this will be our class’s last chance! If we’re aiming for Class A, we can’t let this opportunity slip by! We’re not sure if there will be another exam with such a high score for class points in the future. So” He looked at Ichinose with a dark look, “Like you said, your leadership is questionable, and don’t fool with me Ichinose, I have given you many ideas over the months for exams but you kept listening to your own voice, and did stupid things that brought our situation as of now. So, it’s impossible not to hurt anyone! We are not President Horikita, and our starting point is only Class B, not Class A, so we can’t do it. We can’t get 0 dropouts to achieve Class A. Your naive ideas will destroy everyone’s future, if you can’t take action!”

“No...why is this happening! Kanzaki-kun, why are you so rude to Ichinose-san!”

“Yeah, she has always done what’s best for our class.”

“That’s right, what you said is too much!”

Many girls and boys were now seen trying to comfort Ichinose who almost had tears in her eyes, and trying to maintain her image.

Ready to beat Kanzaki into a pulp.

“Is that so? Then do you think we can compete with others if we go on like this. You barely have enough money to survive! How can we face exams without points?”

“But, but----!”

“Shut up, I have enough of your brainwashing ideas of playing in kindergarten. If you don’t have opinions of graduating as Class A, then say so and I will stop doing work for class.”

’At the beginning, I was depressed. I was very aware of the weaknesses of this class. I had experienced repeated failures in bargaining with the chairman’s agent. I had to borrow money from so many people, and I would even have to borrow in the future, eventually filling the bottomless pit. I finally couldn’t bear it anymore.’

The vice representative of Ichinose’s class, Kanzaki Ryuji, finally exploded.

It was not until this time that students in Ichinose’s class were completely sure this was not a prank, but Kanzaki’s true intention.

He actually... wants to drop out of school, and criticised Ichinose’s methods so harshly.

“Think about it for yourself. Although our class has been to A, did we get there by relying on our own strength? Can you truly say it, Ichinose?”

“.....” For a moment, she couldn’t meet Kanzaki’s ruthless eyes because what he said is correct. ’Climb with... your own strength. No. It was because other classes performed poorly that A, led by Katsuragi-kun, fell behind. But that was not result of my class’s efforts. Rather, our class had been at a disadvantage since last year’s island exam. Although Ryuen-kun’s class was very extreme, they were trying their best to face exam, and Horikita-san’s class was also using their individual combat advantages to move forward. Only my class has been stagnant. Then during sports for the whole grade, everyone thought red and white team was going to lose, but at the very end, a miracle happened in competition. Later I found out that it was Nagumo-senpai who controlled entire grade and did the whole thing. So at that time, we just happened to take advantage of the situation.’

“…” Thinking about this caused many students to fall silent.

“What about you ’Chihiro-chan?’ Do you have anything to say for yourself. Previously, I kept my mouth shut. But it’s because of you, we lost many chances of scoring points last year. And than you escaped from scrutiny using sympathy card!”

Boom! Boom!

“Wooo....ahhh!!” There was one student who was especially scared now, Chihiro-chan.

She is thinking about last year’s island exam, in which she was chosen to be the class leader, but points were deducted in guessing of leader because of her exposure.

So, if she could have hidden herself better and her identity as team leader had not been discovered by Kaneda, then perhaps class would not have lost points.

Even because of her poor physical fitness, Ichinose didn’t ask her to come down and scan that admin hut to score points, even in VIP, she was discovered.

For a moment, random gazes shifted towards Chihiro-chan with doubtful eyes of wanting to know about more behind the scenes.

“Everyone.” Ichinose was very keenly aware that atmosphere in class was not right. It seems that everyone has started to reflect on past.

But she thought of much more.

’Because along the way, had many shortcomings in class competition, but now the evaluation score has not dropped too much, and all members are present, which is also a record, isn’t it?’ Ichinose will not deny the past, but she will not be completely pessimistic either.

There is actually a problem in this class that has not been solved.

That was the case when, during last year’s Command Tower exam, a contestant from our class felt unwell and was unable to take exam.

The conclusion drawn from analysis is... there is a traitor in class.

For the sake of class unity and to trust her classmates, Ichinose did not go and find them out.

But now. This person...

She seemed to understand person who betrayed the class was.

’It’s Kanzaki Ryuji. At the same time, I am not stupid enough to understand why Kanzaki-kun, who was willing to drop out of school voluntarily, would do such a thing. Because he has been working hard on the exams, aiming to get into Class A. However, my ideals and actions of spending high school life together and working hard with everyone are absolutely flawed. I knew that too. That is, even if you follow the practice of not losing any companions, you cannot continue. That’s why Hikigaya-kun and Sakayanagi-san stopped lending me points. Because it’s a bottomless pit. Both of them judged this plan could not be implemented. And that was indeed case now, so difficult to get all the points. But what about next time?’

“No, you had enough time to speak last year and helping ’Chihiro-chan’ who kept giving you foolish ideas and degrading everyone around her. I have been keeping my ears and eyes open to notice changes of what damage she caused here. So, Ichinose, you let me speak! My decision to drop out of school was not a sudden idea. I’m mentally prepared.”

“But Kanzaki...” Shibata felt cheated.

Because he thought he dropped out of school by himself, but it turned out that it was Kanzaki who exploded and launched attacks on Ichinose, plus her best friend.

Even girls who wanted to get along well with Ichinose, or boys who had thoughts about her stopped giving pitiful looks or comforting Chihiro-chan, because this girl is irritating, always glaring at people who came to talk with Ichinose and stuff.

“But, isn’t there a plan to get through this exam without anyone dropping out? Why do you need to expel?”

“It’s useless.” But Kanzaki looked at her, another person brainwashed, “Because we can’t be sure if there will be another exam with such a high score next time, or in other words, this is a high score that our class can get. Do you want to let this opportunity slip away? For example, when we are about to graduate, we are only 100 points away from Class A. Would we feel relieved if we get 400 points now? Instead of waiting until that time, everyone will regret it, and break our friendship.”

So that random girl stopped talking because she couldn’t take responsibility.

But it also shows there is a debate in class now. It has never happened before.

Teacher Chie on the side remained silent, and she was ready to take back her evaluation of this class.

’Because isn’t Kanzaki-kun pretty good? The choice is to follow same path I myself took in the past. Faced with such a high score, you must get it, because if you don’t get it here, then if you can’t catch up in the next exams, really won’t be able to achieve our goals! Besides, Kanzaki-kun is right about his opinions of this Chihiro-chan. At first, I didn’t understand her evaluation by higher-ups regarding some mental issues, but now that he said it clearly, I can see the effect....this girl has victim-complex, and delusional.’

“I still don’t agree with what you did, Kanzaki-kun. Last year, class voted to drop out of school. We spent 20 million points together to ensure we didn’t have any missing players. And now that you, Kanzaki-kun, have chosen to drop out of school, are you denying our past efforts?” Ichinose spat mercilessly, and throwing blame on him after noticing Chihiro-chan’s terrified face, and crying loudly with no one helping her.

Kanzaki was silent after hearing this, but he was not convinced, but he knew that Ichinose was trying to change his concept.

His eyes fell on Ichinose’s figure, and then on faces of others brainwashed by her and Chihiro-chan, watching everyone’s blank expressions, of people with same thoughts, having no individuality, just like a sect.

Obviously, classmates did not approve of his approach.

His eyes then moved towards Himeno Yuki, who looked disgusted with these people.



Then gaze wandered towards Oreki, who was earlier looking down pretending just like others but when he felt Kanzaki’s gaze, he moved his face in direction of window, looking outside at the clouds.

Closed his eyes. Damn it, Kanzaki at this point was almost sure this bastard has been fooling around in class, and not helping even though he is a monster.

But...he didn’t have any means to threaten or force Oreki Houtarou for taking action.

I don’t want anyone to drop out of school.

Chihiro-chan’s victim card, with Ichinose has a great influence, and her core view of protecting her comrades is deeply rooted in everyone’s hearts.

This is also advantage that is different from other classes, extremely united.

Kanzaki knew that he had not done a very good job of supporting work along the way.

Also, during last year’s island exam, he gave up on exploring the base information that he had bought from Hikigaya because of caution by Ichinose for Chihiro-chan’s safety, and thus missed out on points.

He also failed to influence Ichinose to make up her mind to have Chihiro-chan of being changed as team leader, and even during Command tower exam, Kanzaki caused Ichinose to lose her place in the protection program for expulsion.

He knew he had done something very bad. However, choosing to drop out of school is also a way for him to make up for his mistakes.

Also, when he learned that Hikigaya intended to skip classes, Kanzaki was unable to recruit him, otherwise all the gains from uninhabited island exam would have belonged to their class.

In this class, he could only do auxiliary work.

Even though he excelled in physical fitness and academic ability, he could not gain an advantage compared to other classes.

This time, raising money became even more troublesome and difficult, and he deeply realized this was a bottomless pit.

However, he saw Shibata, Himeno Yuki, Oreki who was fishing, and he saw hope for awakening this class.

Then why not wake up this class at cost of dropping out of school?

Let them understand reality.

Then, because of Kanzaki himself, the class was able to get an additional 300 points in rewards.

In this way, maybe will not be able to graduate as Class A in the end, but at least he has tried his best.

xxxxxx

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