The late afternoon sunlight slanted across the battered schoolyard, casting long shadows over the students of Class 3-E.
The atmosphere was heavy with defeat.
The midterm results had finally arrived.
And the numbers painted a harsh reality.
At the front of the classroom, Koro-sensei stood facing the blackboard.
His tentacles drooped slightly, and his usually energetic voice sounded unusually quiet.
"This… is my responsibility."
The classroom remained silent.
"I underestimated the mechanisms of this school."
His voice lowered further.
"I have no right to face any of you…"
No one answered him.
The entire class sat there quietly, weighed down by disappointment.
Then—
THUNK.
A knife suddenly flew toward Koro-sensei.
"Nuuuh?!"
He barely dodged it in a fluster.
A familiar mocking voice cut through the silence.
"You sure about that?"
Karma stood near the doorway, lazily twirling another knife in his hand.
"If you can't even look us in the eye…"
His grin widened.
"How are you supposed to see me coming to kill you?"
Koro-sensei's face immediately twisted with irritation.
"Karma-kun! Sensei is currently very depressed and—"
Karma casually walked forward and slapped several answer sheets onto Koro-sensei's desk.
"My scores are basically full marks across the board."
Then he smirked slightly.
"And there's even one guy who actually got full marks on everything."
Every single head in the classroom slowly turned toward Akira.
Akira simply sat there calmly as if nothing unusual had happened.
"Oh, that?"
He shrugged casually.
"That was inevitable."
The classroom immediately exploded into chaos.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'INEVITABLE'?!"
"IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!"
"ARE YOU HUMAN!"
At this point, most of the class had already accepted Akira as some kind of terrifying supercomputer disguised as a middle school student.
Meanwhile, Koro-sensei stared wide-eyed at the test scores.
"But Koro-sensei," Akira continued casually, "you actually managed to raise Erika's math score to ninety-six."
He nodded seriously.
"That's a new record. Honestly, it's a miracle."
Erika instantly turned bright red and kicked him hard under the desk.
"I TOLD YOU MANY TIMES I'M NOT BAD AT MATH!"
In reality, Erika's scores were also excellent.
She had placed roughly third in the class and fourth in overall school despite only recently transferring in and having far less time to prepare than everyone else.
Karma smirked faintly.
"In the end, changing the test scope didn't matter."
He crossed his arms.
"With what you taught us, we still made it this far."
His grin sharpened slightly.
"So why not keep moving forward?"
He tapped his answer sheets lightly.
"I could still handle the questions even after the changes."
Then he shrugged.
"Besides, I'm not leaving this class."
His smile became openly cruel.
"Assassination's way more fun than going back to my old classroom."
Karma looked directly at Koro-sensei.
"So what's your plan now, Sensei?"
His eyes gleamed sharply.
"You gonna use the excuse that not everyone made top fifty and run away from here?"
A dangerous grin spread across his face.
"From us?"
Silence.
Then Karma tilted his head slightly.
"In the end…"
"…you're just scared of getting killed, aren't you?"
Koro-sensei visibly twitched.
The students looked at each other.
Then—
someone laughed.
Maehara grinned.
"Ohhhh, so THAT'S what this was about?"
Kataoka laughed too.
"You should've just said that from the start!"
Nakamura smirked.
"Right? Like, 'Sensei is scared and wants to run away~!'"
Koro-sensei instantly turned bright red and flailed his tentacles around.
"Nuuuuuh! I AM NOT RUNNING AWAY!"
Karma tilted his head lazily.
"Oh? Then what?"
Koro-sensei suddenly snapped back into his usual bright yellow form.
"We shall take our revenge twofold during the end-of-term exams!"
The class burst into laughter again.
Koro-sensei flailed dramatically.
"This is not a laughing matter!"
But nobody stopped laughing.
Then—
the classroom door slid open.
Karasuma entered.
Immediately, the atmosphere changed.
He looked directly at Akira and Erika.
"The principal wants to meet both of you. Now."
The classroom instantly fell silent again.
Even Koro-sensei froze mid-wiggle.
Erika let out a tired sigh, though her eyes remained calm and determined as she stood up.
Beside her, Akira slowly rose from his seat with a faint grin.
"Hehehe…"
His eyes sparkled dangerously.
"It's finally time for the boss battle."
Erika immediately grabbed his sleeve tightly.
"Don't you dare do anything stupid."
Several students looked genuinely worried.
Meanwhile, Karma smirked.
"Heh. I kinda wish I could watch this."
Karasuma's expression twitched slightly.
"…Please try not to make things worse."
Koro-sensei immediately pointed a tentacle dramatically.
"Erika-san! Please make sure Akira-kun doesn't cause trouble!"
The rest of the class immediately joined in.
"Yeah, keep him under control!"
"Don't let him go wild!"
"Put him on a leash or something!"
Akira screamed.
"Exactly WHAT do you people think I am?!"
---
The entire school was in an uproar.
News of the midterm rankings had spread through Kunugigaoka like wildfire. Hallways buzzed with disbelief as students crowded around the posted results.
First Place Overall: Hoshino Akira (Class 3-E)
Fourth Place Overall: Sendo Erika (Class 3-E)
Students from Classes A through D were openly panicking.
"Did you see that?! Some E-Class nobody took first place overall?!"
"No way… Hoshino? Who the hell is that guy?!"
"Wait, the girl from E-Class got fourth too?!"
"What is happening?!"
A group of Class D students stared at the rankings in horror.
"Didn't those two just transfer in?!"
"How does someone transfer straight into the End Class and immediately crush everyone?!"
Meanwhile, in the teachers' lounge, several instructors looked equally shaken.
One teacher muttered nervously,
"How did an E-Class student take first place…? Akabane is one thing, but who exactly are these two?"
Another wiped sweat from his forehead.
"This can't be real… The principal is going to lose it…"
---
Inside an empty classroom, the Big Five sat gathered around a table.
The atmosphere was tense.
For the first time in a long while, cracks had appeared in their usual composure.
Asano Gakushu finally broke the silence.
"How did this happen?"
His expression remained calm, but his sharp eyes were cold.
"Who are they?"
Araki Teppei slammed his fist onto the table.
"There's basically no information on them at all! Who the hell transfers directly into the End Class and then takes first place overall?! This is bullshit!"
Sakakibara Ren leaned back in his chair calmly, arms crossed.
"He's right. There are no previous records, no proper entrance exam data, nothing."
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"It's too clean. Those two aren't normal transfer students."
Koyama Natsuhiko sneered while flipping his hair dramatically.
"Nychetchetchetchetchet! Some filthy E-Class rats actually climbing the rankings? Disgusting."
Seo Tomoya smirked lightly as he spun a pen between his fingers.
"Interesting though… If they're really this capable, why were they placed in E-Class to begin with?"
His grin sharpened.
"Feels like a setup."
At the head of the table, Asano Gakushu remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Why would they transfer directly into Class 3-E…?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"What exactly is my father hiding?"
The room fell silent once more.
---
Meanwhile, inside the principal's office, the atmosphere was deceptively calm.
Asano Gakuho sat behind his large desk with a warm smile on his face as Akira and Erika stood before him.
His voice was smooth and fatherly.
"Ah, Hoshino-kun. Sendo-san."
He smiled pleasantly.
"I've been looking forward to meeting both of you."
His eyes moved toward the documents on his desk.
"Your midterm results were extraordinary. First and fourth place overall… truly impressive."
He folded his hands together calmly.
"You both possess incredibly bright futures."
Then he leaned forward slightly, his smile never wavering.
"It would be a terrible waste for talents like yours to remain trapped in Class 3-E."
His tone remained gentle.
"That environment simply is not suited for students of your caliber."
Asano Gakuho's eyes gleamed with carefully calculated kindness.
"So… I would like to offer both of you the opportunity to transfer out of the End Class immediately."
Before Akira could open his mouth, Erika placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. She stepped forward and spoke calmly.
"We were not here for school in the first place."
Asano's expression remained pleasant.
"I know. It's for Koro-sensei, right? Or perhaps for the bounty money?"
He tilted his head slightly, still smiling.
"But as young students, isn't it better to raise your own skills and learn to earn that money yourself? Money earned without ability won't last long."
Erika shook her head.
"Money isn't the only problem here. The world is at stake, you know."
Asano chuckled softly, still perfectly composed.
"Sure, the world might need saving. But what happens after the world is saved? As an educator, I must also consider what your future should be if the Earth survives into next year."
Erika replied firmly,
"But the Earth still needs to be saved. So we can't leave Class 3-E. Besides, we are doing perfectly well in Class 3-E anyway."
Asano nodded thoughtfully, his tone remaining calm and reasonable.
"Well, that's unfortunate. But I would suggest you think this through. Class E does not have as many privileges as the other classes. It would be better if both of you reconsider."
Erika took a deep breath.
"Principal Asano… don't you think what you are doing to Class 3-E is unfair?"
Asano's smile didn't waver.
"Oh? You think so?"
Erika continued,
"The whole Class E system is unfair. Putting students through that kind of environment and allowing the bullying from other classes… Why would you do this?"
Asano leaned back slightly, his voice still calm and measured.
"Are you familiar with the the worker ant principle? In any group, twenty percent become lazy, twenty percent will work hard, and the remaining sixty percent stay average. What I aim for is a more refined balance: five percent slackers, and ninety-five percent who diligently work hard."
His smile sharpened, almost predatory, yet his tone stayed polite and composed.
"I have no desire for this school to become like the E-Class, nor do I wish for students to fall into it. When ninety-five percent of the student body fiercely believes 'I don't want to end up like them,' that ideal ratio becomes achievable."
Erika pressed on, irritation starting to show.
"But sabotaging them by increasing the scope of the exam without telling Class 3-E is not legal. You should know that. If the parents of the students decided to sue the school, I am sure the school will suffer for this action."
Asano remained unfazed, his voice still calm.
"This is a prep school. The parents know what they were sending their children into. Besides, no parent will publicize that their child is in E-Class. For them their child is in E-Class because they did something wrong. They won't question us or do anything here. Most parents prefer silence over public humiliation."
Erika asked,
"What about the education department? What you are doing is definitely illegal. If they hear about it, they won't let this go."
Asano smiled gently.
"Kunugigaoka is a top-tier school with excellent results in national exams. All they want to see are the results, so they will not interfere. Besides, my family is not powerless here. And what we are doing is not illegal. All I am doing is making sure the E-Class students feel the pressure to improve themselves and the main building students make sure they won't end up there. The real world is tougher than when you are children. It's a world of the strong eating the weak, while the weak have no say in this. All I am doing is making sure they are ready for that cruel reality. So it is not illegal as an educator."
Erika looked irritated but didn't know what else to say.
Asano leaned forward, still speaking in that same calm, reasonable tone.
"Sendo-san, someone as capable and responsible as you should understand the necessity of structure. So please consider transferring classes. It would be better for your future, after all."
Erika looked frustrated. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find the right words to break through Asano's calm, logical defense. His methods were extreme and morally wrong, but he presented them so reasonably that she felt trapped.
Just as she opened her mouth to argue again, Akira placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Erika looked at him
"Akira..."
Akira's have a calm smile but, she felt it's a bit unsettling.
He said.
"Let me have a talk."
He stepped forward and casually took a seat in front of Asano's desk, leaning back relaxedly.
Asano smiled politely.
"Oh, Hoshino-kun. Are you going to tell me it's illegal too?"
Akira returned the smile, but his eyes were cold and calm.
"No. Talking about legality isn't really my style. Let's talk about you, Principal."
Asano raised an eyebrow, still perfectly composed.
"Oh? Me?"
Akira smiled.
"Yes. Your whole speech about the strong eating the weak was quite impressive. Creating strong people who can only feel superior by tormenting the weak… truly a great contribution to society. Strong trash, as it were."
Asano's smile didn't falter.
"The society is already like that. What I am doing is simply making sure my students can handle it. The weak have no say in this."
Akira's voice remained calm, almost conversational.
"That's for the strong to say. Are you that strong, Principal?"
Asano chuckled softly.
"That's for others to say, isn't it?"
Akira nodded.
"Yeah, that's right. Now, as the strongest here, let me tell you what I can do — legally."
He leaned back further, eyes half-lidded.
"Let's see… I promised my sister and Erika I wouldn't do anything directly to the students of this school. But I didn't promise anything about their families, did I?"
Erika looked at him in shock.
Akira continued, voice steady and emotionless.
"let me ask a question principal. What is the most important thing for a student to get good marks is peace of mind."
Asano answered smoothly.
"A proper education."
Akira shook his head. "No. A peaceful environment. Basically… family.
Then he smiled faintly.
"So let's talk about how easy it is to legally destroy that peace."
He listed it out casually, as if discussing the weather.
"Most adults accumulate small violations throughout their lives. Tax irregularities. Unreported income. Workplace misconduct. Illegal favors. Academic fraud. Nothing large enough to matter individually. But once someone starts collecting them seriously… patterns emerge."
His purple eyes were calm. Too calm.
"And if someone gathers all that evidence, files cases, and makes sure people care… what happens then? Even small cases can destroy reputations. Neighbors, friends, family, colleagues — everyone talks. And what happens to their children when it comes out that everything happened because they bullied someone in school? How will the parents handle it? Will those children still get good marks? And the students who already graduated from this system… will they be kind people, or will they have skeletons under their beds?"
Akira's tone never rose.
"And what if someone exposes it all? Will your education save them from that? And what if it comes out everything ties back to this school's Class E system? Will the parents and the education department view that favorably? Will the kingdom you created withstand that?"
Absolute silence filled the room.
Erika stared at Akira, she tightened her grip unconsciously.
This didn't feel like the Akira she knew.
Not her silly idiot Akira, but a cold and indifferent one.
And she knew.
All he said Akira could actually do all of it.
Asano remained outwardly calm, but his eyes had sharpened.
"Ohhh… That's interesting. But can you actually hurt so many innocent people for that?"
Akira's expression didn't change. His beautiful purple eyes stayed cold and indifferent, as if human lives were no more significant than insects.
"I am completely capable of burning down the world if I decide to."
His voice remained calm.
"So why should I care about people I will never know or care about?"
For a moment the entire room plunged into silence.
No one said anything.
Erika immediately grabbed his hand.
"Akira."
"Huh?" Akira a bit confused by being interrupted in the middle of his evil monologue.
Erika said.
"We need to leave. Now."
Akira blinked.
"What? Why? I almost got him — look, he's shaking in his boots."
Asano replied smoothly,
"I am not."
Erika pulled him toward the door.
"Just come."
She turned back to Asano and gave a small, polite bow.
"Principal Asano, we will not be transferring out of Class 3-E. Thank you for your time. We'll take our leave."
Despite Akira's protests, Erika dragged him out of the office.
The door closed behind them.
Asano Gakuho remained seated silently for a long moment, staring at the closed door.
Finally, he murmured softly to himself,
"Hoshino Akira…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…those eyes."
A faint smile slowly appeared.
"It seems I need to revise my plans a little."