"I didn't expect Miyako-san to care so much about this. I thought you'd choose to stand by... Please, don't look at me like that. I've brought the item."
Ayanokoji said, pulling out a memo.
Amane took the memo and read it carefully.
She had originally thought that buying exam scores with points would be a troublesome matter, but she didn't expect it to be so easy when it came down to it.
A memo, plus a sentence: "The student has paid 100,000 personal points to purchase one point in the English subject."
Signed by Chabashira Sae.
It cost a full 100,000 points just like that!
Chabashira was also very shrewd, writing on the memo: "For school verification purposes only."
Amane had originally intended to use this item for other purposes.
But she didn't expect Chabashira to have anticipated this.
To prevent Amane from doing anything too outrageous, Chabashira even specified the usage purpose on both sides of the memo and in the blank spaces of the text. Chabashira-sensei was truly cautious.
"Well done."
After praising him, Amane casually handed it to Kouenji, who was watching nearby.
At first, Kouenji was wondering when Ayanokoji had gone outside.
But when Kouenji saw the handwriting on the note, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"100,000 points? I remember you, Ayanokoji, said it only takes 50,000 to save a dropout. How did it jump to 100,000 points?"
Kouenji asked in surprise.
If he remembered correctly, Hirata had said from the start that it only took 50,000 points to save a classmate, and there was also something about only being able to buy one point... Was all of this a lie?
"We said it only takes 50,000 points because Ayanokoji planned to contribute 50,000 points himself. The remaining 50,000 points were originally for me to help with, but I wanted to save some points, so I had Hirata organize a fundraising drive to gather everyone's strength. From beginning to end, we never said..."
"...that buying one point only costs 50,000 points."
Kouenji was a bit dumbfounded. Wasn't this using the information asymmetry trick on their classmates?
However... it did fit his perception of Amane.
"But if that's the case, Ichihashi-san is in big trouble. Everyone has already dispersed, and even if she wanted to gather the points, it would be very difficult to collect 50,000 points in just a few minutes..."
Kouenji thought of Ichihashi's cheering expression when she grabbed the coin.
It was quite ridiculous.
"Perhaps, but we didn't deceive Ichihashi. I said that the person who grabbed the coin first would receive 50,000 personal points from me, and I did transfer 50,000 points to Ichihashi. As for whether she can buy the points, that's up to her fate."
Amane showed a beautiful smile.
Kouenji, however, subconsciously tensed up all over.
This person, who looked harmless with her smile, was extremely dangerous.
Kouenji gave Amane a deep look, then returned the memo to her, and thoughtfully left the classroom.
"What a strange fellow."
Ayanokoji's evaluation of him was 'strange'.
"Rather than strange, I'd say unfathomable. I was just about to test his strength, but I didn't expect him to leave so decisively. It's a bit of a shame."
Sakura Airi had been waiting for a chance to talk to Amane-san alone.
Seeing that Ayanokoji and Amane-san's conversation had come to an end, Sakura Airi, who had been standing in the corner the whole time, finally dared to step forward.
"Is there something you need, Sakura-san?"
Amane-san thought Sakura Airi had overheard their conversation and wanted to ask about the 100,000-point memo.
"Today… I'm truly grateful to Miyako-san. I sincerely want to thank you."
Seeing that Sakura Airi had come to thank her, Amane-san blinked.
"Thank you? I don't recall doing anything that would warrant your thanks, Sakura."
On the surface, Amane-san, throughout the entire discussion, seemed to lean towards Ichihashi Ruri, except for her initial support of Sakura Airi.
Even for the crucial competition segment, she chose an event that required physical prowess.
These were all Ichihashi's strengths.
To defeat an opponent in their area of expertise required more than just a momentary effort.
And in the end, it was as expected.
Sakura Airi lost terribly, even being forced to forfeit the final competition. Yet, even so, Sakura Airi had something she absolutely had to express gratitude for.
"Perhaps Miyako-san has forgotten, but for me… that was an encouragement I will never forget, no matter what happens in the future. It was because of Miyako-san that I had the courage to stand here and truly contend with Ichihashi-san for the last spot to avoid expulsion. Although I lost badly in the end… I'm still quite satisfied with this outcome."
Sakura's words made Ayanokoji suddenly look at Amane-san.
No matter how he looked at it, Sakura didn't seem to know that Amane-san had prepared a small gift for her.
"I'll accept your thanks, but are you truly satisfied with this outcome? You'll be forcibly expelled in five minutes, you know."
Amane-san deliberately emphasized the word "expelled."
Sakura pondered for a moment, then nodded with some difficulty.
"I can accept this outcome… Although I'm very reluctant to leave everyone, I also know that all good things must come to an end. I'm happy to have met Miyako-san and…"
Sakura glanced at Ayanokoji. She didn't quite remember his name, but it felt a bit strange to only mention Amane-san's name in this situation.
"But do you think this outcome is perfect?"
Amane-san didn't believe Airi could easily accept the outcome of expulsion.
No matter how beautifully she spoke, when she truly had to pick up her suitcase and leave the school, the expression on her face would definitely not be happy.
Hearing the word "perfect," Sakura clasped her hands in front of her, her two fingers nervously intertwining.
"Perfection? I haven't thought about such a thing. Life presents many challenges, and if you aim for perfection in everything, you'll live a very tiring life. Besides… isn't a life with regrets more worth remembering?"
Seeing Sakura Airi suddenly become somewhat different, a mischievous idea suddenly arose in Amane-san's mind.
"Then why didn't you participate in the final competition, Sakura? Although life can have regrets, isn't it more worth remembering to have pursued something with all your might, even if you ultimately failed, than to just give up like that?"
Amane-san asked the question she had wanted to ask since the competition began.
Amane-san couldn't understand giving up victory so easily.
"Aside from the huge disparity in physical strength between Ichihashi-san and me, I saw that she really wanted to win. I've already come to terms with it anyway, so if Ichihashi-san wants to win, all I can do is help her."
Sakura Airi smiled very happily this time.
This idea sounded a bit foolish.
However, if Sakura Airi said such a thing… even Amane-san had to admit that some people, no matter how weak, would always have a place of kindness in their hearts.
"Sakura-san, if I remember correctly, you said that a life with regrets is more worth remembering, right?"
"Hmm… Is there a problem with that statement?"
"What would you think if I told you I bought a point for you, and that I've already made up for your regret?"
"Eh?"
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