Chapter 28: A Battle Before The Real Battle [5]
15th March.
Monday.
It was the day on which, the ten events that were finalized by each of the classes for the year-end special exam shall be disclosed.
Class C's opponent was class A and class B's was class D.
Although on surface, things were going smoothly for the exam, but behind the scenes, there were too many things happening that the students had no idea.
Among those ten events that, both the classes had declared, on the exam day, 22nd March, only five would be finalized from each team, making a total of ten events.
And seven random events from those combined ten would be practiced as the exam.
So, the five events that our class would discard on the exam day, can be used as bluff against class A, because they have to prepare for all the ten events that we propose today.
The same goes for us too.
Therefore today was a big day for us, especially because we can prepare for the exam in full throttle after getting an idea of what exactly class A has proposed.
Or so it was supposed to be, if not for the messed up situation our class is in.
But, there was another big event for us before that declaration.
On Saturday, as planned, I, Horikita Suzune, proposed the rechecking plan to our class and they all agreed.
Then I turned in the letter to Chabashira sensei.
She was hesitant at first, but when I said that mass bunk of classes might happen if our request was not fulfilled, she, seemingly exasperated, agreed to present this matter to the school's authorities.
Well, the warning of mass bunk was actually a bluff and Chabashira sensei understood it well too.
But she agreed to cooperate with us for the time being, maybe because, she is aware of the situation our class is in.
That's why, the event declaration would occur after lunch.
Before that, the rechecking of results by exam coordinators would take place.
And that would be the time when I would obtain that evidence, which would result in our victory.
***
As the morning sun filtered through the classroom windows, the students of Class 1-C filed in, their expressions a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.
The air was thick with tension, each person acutely aware of the importance of the day.
Whispers floated around the room, hushed conversations about the upcoming events, and the rechecking that Horikita had orchestrated.
At the back of the room, Horikita Suzune sat calmly, her expression unreadable.
She knew the weight of the day's events, but she had already steeled herself for what was to come.
Beside her, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka leaned back in his seat, seemingly indifferent to the tension, though his eyes occasionally flicked around the room, observing the reactions of his classmates.
Horikita's plan had been bold, and while most of the class had agreed to it, the uncertainty of the outcome weighed heavily on their minds.
What if the rechecking didn't yield the results they hoped for?
What if the evidence she sought wasn't there?
The stakes were high, and everyone knew it.
If they are unable to expel Yamauchi Haruki, then he would go on to become the commander for the upcoming special exam.
From then on, there were two possible outcomes.
If by any chance, class C wins, then they would be forced to deposit 10,000 private points to Yamauchi every month.
And, if they lose, Yamauchi would be surely expelled, but they would lose the chance to gain a significant amount of class points, which would have taken their class close to class B in ranking.
Therefore, either of the two outcomes, was a loss for class C according to it's students.
So, they sought for the third possible outcome, and that is to expel Yamauchi Haruki way before the exam, then appoint someone capable as their commander and aim to win the special exam.
While this was the most welcomed outcome, things would not go that smoothly for neither of the parties involved.
So, it was interesting to see who would have the last laugh.
As the students waited for their homeroom teacher, Chabashira's entrance, the clock ticked slowly, as if time was a moving a lot bit slower than usual.
And, at last, their wait was over, when Chabashira entered class 1C, with an expressionless face.
She took her place at the podium and started entailing the orders that were given by the school's authorities.
"Class 1C had requested for rechecking of results of the in-class voting special exam. According to the request, we have calculated the resultant number of votes after cancelling praise and criticism votes."
She paused for a moment and then continued.
"We found that, the resultant turned out to be 159 votes instead of the calculated 160."
At Chabashira's announcement, the classroom erupted into chaos.
The students, who had been on edge, couldn't contain their emotions any longer.
Whispers quickly escalated into loud chatter, with everyone talking over each other, trying to make sense of what they had just heard.
"One vote off? How could that happen?"
"Does this mean someone tampered with the votes?"
"Is this enough to expel Yamauchi?"
The questions flew across the room, fueled by a mixture of anxiety, anger, and desperation.
Some students stood up from their seats, turning to their neighbors to voice their concerns, while others simply sat in stunned silence, their minds racing.
Amidst the chaos, Horikita stood up from her seat garnering everyone's attention, as she started speaking.
"I request all of you to calm down."
Then she turned towards Chabashira.
She was as expressionless as ever, but Horikita felt a little victorious after that declaration.
"Please continue, Chabashira sensei." Horikita urged her to continue reading the orders from school authorities.
"All of the ballots are being rechecked by examiners to find out the reason behind such an abnormality. As the process is currently going on, students are advised to continue the classes as usual. Results would be declared after lunch break." Chabashira concluded.
That was the order from higher ups.
The resultant number of votes of all the classes was supposed to be 160.
But, it turned out to be 159, which is one vote short.
That clearly indicates some kind of discrepancy.
Then, if the reason of discrepancy is found out, and Horikita presents her intended evidence for the discrepancy, then it would be all over for Yamauchi Haruki.
Moreover, just one vote short might not have any significant impact, if not for the difference in the number of criticism votes obtained by Sakura Airi (20) and Yamauchi Haruki (19).
That last vote could change the whole result for class 1C.
And due to such discrepancy from the school's side, an innocent was sacrificed.
However, as it was found out early, there was a chance for Sakura's expulsion to be annulled.
Therefore, the students of class 1C were all feeling victorious inside, except for one.
Yamauchi Haruki.
If it was found out that the discrepancy was caused by him, then he would be expelled immediately, with heavy punishment from the government.
He might not get admission into any normal high school too.
Therefore, it was particularly a sensitive case for sure.
And as the classes continued as usual, students couldn't suppress their urge to know about the result of this whole ordeal.
Meanwhile, lunchtime descended upon this chaotic classroom.
As soon as the bell rang, Yamauchi Haruki went out of the class. It was usual routine for him.
Horikita also got up from her seat and after checking that Yamauchi was gone, she stood up at the podium and started speaking.
"As Chabashira sensei told us before, there was one vote short from the calculated number of resultant votes of all the classes, which indicates clear discrepancy. This implies that the ballots in which we put our votes on, would be rechecked manually. Then the question of who got the most number of criticism votes would be cleared."
Indeed it would be.
Actually, Yamauchi got the highest number of criticism votes and it was a fact, which the students of class 1C knew very well.
While he manipulated just the result, he can't manipulate the actual ballot papers put in by the students.
"Therefore, this is our win."
Everyone was surprised and taken aback by the sight unfolding before their eyes.
This has never happened before.
Or rather, they just had never seen anything like that.
Horikita Suzune was smiling faintly, while pointing her fist upwards in a victorious pose.
They were all taken aback, and the same time, they felt the same.
It was a victory for class 1C.
"And about the evidence of Yamauchi-kun's involvement,.....", she continued.
"I would like to invite someone who is knowledgeable about computers and such aspects to come here and explain the matter."
Then she turned towards a chubby male student.
"Sotomura-kun, please."
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