The next morning was quite busy one.
I got up early in the morning, and got ready for school, and.....well, for all the irritating things that will hapen from here on.
And about the fight from last night, I think the students might get suspension as punishment, but to what extent the school might go, is a mystery.
After all, multiple students got quite hurt, with fractures and all.
After Ryuen stepped down as their leader, Ishizaki emerged at the temporary leader, but that fight last night seemed a bit strange to me.
Was it Ishizaki's idea or someone else pulled the strings behind the scenes?
I had no way to gather any information about that, so I made my way to the class.
And just as I reached the school building, I got summoned to the staff office.
The stares from the ongoing students told me that this plan was a success after all.
The rest is upto how things go on the school's end, and what actions they take.
***
Chihiro Shiranami's POV:
There are numerous ways to spread rumors.
Among those methods, online rumors are the most vicious ones.
If the rumors were to spread through words of mouth, then it would be easy to exactly locate the one who started the rumors, by retro-tracing.
But, on online forums, or general chat groups, you can remain anonymous and spread anything you want.
The rumors would have spread everywhere by now, as the photo was aunthetic, and the topic itself was quite spicy in a sense.
I got to school, early in the morning, as I hadn't gotten much sleep last night.
Was it a really a right thing to do?
No, that was a dumb question to ask, now that the deed has already been done.
The question was, would it be really effective?
My class' motivation had been down, which was aggravated by the fight last night.
But, each one of my doubts cleared up, as soon as I entered the classroom.
"Hey! Chihiro-chan, have you seen this photo!?", Yume san a classmate exclaimed.
The entire class was flaming up with that particular photo, I spread on anonymous forums last night.
"I wonder how are things at Yamauchi-kun's end.", I thought to myself, joining on the converstion related to that photo with my classmates.
***
The tension was visible in the air.
After having a thoughtful conversation with all the first year teachers, including Chabashira sensei, the school concluded that, the photo was mere opportunistic in nature, and there was no further evidence implying illicit relations between me and Chabashira sensei.
Further, it was decided that stricter actions will be taken on spread of misinformation and such rumors, by taking down those anonymous online forums, and by finding the culprit who spread that photo.
Yet, whatever measure was to be taken, the damage was already done.
Chabashira sensei didn't tell a single word, and just looked at me with those dubious eyes, the other teachers had different expressions though.
Especially, it was quite amusing for Hoshinomiya sensei, as I could hear her giggle a few times during the meeting.
The idea was clear.
To deviate the focus of the student body from Ichinose's scandal, an even more scandalous rumor had to spread.
The photo Chihiro took of me and Chabashira behinf the school building that evening was the anchor point.
Fortunately, the school management accepted both our denial to the subject of trial, otherwise, disciplinary action was in order against me, and as for Chabashira, she might have had to lose her job.
The contract I made with Chihiro also stated that, after spreading the rumor, if investigations were made, I would do my best to deny any type of relationship with Chabashira.
In exchange I got 1 million private points from her.
As for my reputation, well, it was bad to begin with, so I don't really care.
For the rest, I have to face the prying questions of my classmates, that's all.
Anyway, the point of this deal was to gain those private points.
In this school, private points are the best weapon, any student can have.
And, as I want to stay in this school, for as long as the entire three years, I have to gather as many private points as possible.
Moreover, I got myself a temporary ally, that to from class B.
For now I am content with the result.
The downside is that I got on the badside of Chabashira.
Well, that's alright, as I am going to say her the truth as to why I did it.
Contrary to her appearance, she deeply cares about her class standing, so I don't think she would do anything jeopardize that.
Yet, there was things I hadn't even thought about as the complications arising from this action of mine.
***
I walked back to the classroom, my mind already drifting toward the million private points now sitting in my account. I expected some noise—perhaps some whistling from Ike or a barrage of envious questions from the guys about being caught in a scandal with someone like Chabashira-sensei.
What I didn't expect was the silence.
The moment I stepped through the door, the atmosphere shifted. It wasn't the usual morning chatter; it was a heavy, suffocating stillness.
I looked around, trying to gauge the room.
Usually, Sudō would be shouting or ignoring me entirely, but today his eyes were narrowed, filled with a visceral disgust that seemed completely out of place.
Even the girls, who usually treated me like background noise, were whispering behind their hands with expressions bordering on loathing.
I felt a pang of confusion.
Sure, I had been "caught" with a teacher, but was that really something to hate a classmate for?
In a school where everyone was constantly looking for an edge, I hadn't expected my own class to treat me like a social pariah for a rumor that had already been debunked by the faculty.
I made it halfway to my desk when a chair scraped harshly against the floor.
Horikita Suzune stood up.
She didn't have her usual look of bored dismissal; instead, her posture was rigid and her eyes were as sharp as needles. She didn't wait for me to sit down. She stepped into the aisle, effectively blocking my path and forcing me to face her.
"Yamauchi-kun," she began, her voice echoing clearly in the dead-quiet room. "I believe you owe this class more than just a silent walk to your seat."
***********
A/N :
Things would now involve the other classes as well.
Season 4 of the anime edition is going on, and its been crazy.
The light novel edition is going to have a new volume of Year 3.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please comment below.
Next chapter - The Predicament
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