ตอน 12: Change Of Path

"Okay, I would be the commander, but I want something in return...."

Horikita raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. "And what would that be?"

"If I am going to risk my expulsion, then don't you think, it is a little bit unfair, if I don't get anything in return for my efforts?"

"That's understandable, but what is it that you want?"

Everyone's eyes were on me. It was a crucial step, a change of path.

I had already experienced this type of situation in my previous high school life.

That's why being hated and insulted is not something new for me. However, I took an inferior stance in that case. I tried to accept my fate, imposed on me by others.

But, this time, I would approach it, completely opposite to the first case. And this is the conclusion that I have come to.

There's not a single thing that can be gained by being at the short end of the stick. There's not a single cell in my body that would feel sympathy anymore.

That's why I would do, what I want to do.

What I am going to demand is not everything, there is to it. It's just the beginning.

"I want private points. In fact, if our class wins this special exam, then I want, 10,000 private points from each student of this class each month. Of course, that's 'if our class wins', so what I demand the most is all of your cooperation."

The classroom erupted into murmurs of shock and disbelief. Some students exchanged incredulous glances, while others looked outright angry. Horikita took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.

"Hey! Hey! Calm down, everyone. What's the big deal? If we win 4 events, then it's our victory. In that case, we can gain 30 class points for winning the events, and 100 more for winning the special exam, a total of 130 class points. That would mean 13,000 private points each month for everyone. As I am sacrificing myself for this very cause, wouldn't you say that 10,000 private points is a reasonable amount?"

They were still awe-struck by such ridiculous demands from me. Well, I am not stepping back though.

"You all are probably thinking things like, 'why the hell should we give our private points to someone else, that to each month?', but keep that aside for a moment, and give this a cool-headed thought. As I said before, if we win this exam, then the minimum number of class points we would get is 130. And according to our current position by class points..."

I copied what Chabashira had already written before, this morning, on the board.

Class points as of March 1

Class A: 1001 Points

Class B: 640 Points

Class C: 377 Points

Class D: 318 Points

"Gaining class points is not that easy, as you all must have already noticed. If we want to move to class A, then it's a good opportunity to obtain a good amount of class points in this special exam. However, that is not the important part. The point I am trying to make is, you are getting such a sweet offer with 0% risk. If we lose, then I, who is tagged as a traitor, would be expelled and you would get to keep the protection point, which you can use however you see fit. On the other hand, if we win, then everyone gains profit. Isn't that a wonderful proposition?"

Everyone fell silent, which was the indication of them giving this a deep thought.

Honestly, I don't care about my reputation in this class much, as Horikita told me before. Her only card to force me into taking the role of the commander was that fact alone.

Yes, looking at the situation, my social life in this class would be dead by now. I don't know what she told to Ike and Sudo, but it doesn't seem like they are on my side anymore.

Well, whatever. If they decline, then I would also refuse to take on the role. It's not like this decision depends upon a majority vote. In that case, Ayanokouji would have to take the role. Horikita is aware of Ayanokoji's capabilities to some extent, so she would probably be willing to appoint him. However, the proposition I presented is a golden opportunity for her.

She can dismiss a traitor from the class, if she is willing to let the opportunity of winning go. Intentionally losing the events is a suitable choice in that regard. It's just a possibility though. I am not sure of what she is thinking.

But, she knows that, according to the current disrupted condition of our class, combined with the difficulty of this special exam, we might as well face utter defeat, if things don't change.

In that sense, even Ayanokouji isn't guaranteed to win, if he becomes the commander, which is a fact Horikita is well aware of, I think. Moreover, as she is keeping silent for such a long time, things might turn out my way.

I peaked a glance at everyone's expression. There were a lot of disgusted faces mixed with disbelief and hatred. And among them was a face of indifference. Well, I know that I can never hope to fathom his thought process.

Apart from him, nearly everyone just wants to expel me, I guess. So, I doubt, there would be anyone who seriously wants to win this exam. I had hopes for Yukimura, but he is too shocked to make any rational decision.

At last, Horikita opened her mouth.

"Is that what you want?"

"Of course. There is no doubt about it."

"....How are you so sure that you would be able to win?"

Ah, is she trying to put me into confusion? So that I would change my proposition? But she is the one who told me to be the commander.

It's true that, my character, or rather Yamauchi's character was that of a predictable NPC. But since I entered into his body, students around me has noticed changes in his character, for sure.

As Horikita is not completely aware of my personality, she would not be able to predict my decisions and through back and forth of words, she would just test me, at best.

Whether it be a test or not, like hell I would change my demand now.

"Listen here. I proposed a contract, in which I would take the whole risk of expulsion in this special exam, and if we win, you all would just have to give me a part of your private points. That condition is not debatable. If you agree then say yes, if not then deny it, and I would refuse to be the commander in that case. That's all there is to it. Just give me an answer right here."

While this must seem difficult to accept for them, it's not impossible at all. That's because they can just vote me out if a similar special exam is being held, as last time, or plan to expel me using 'other methods'. If you know, you know.

Moreover, if they just give up on the current special exam, and use their focus on expelling me, then I wouldn't even have any way out of here.

That's why, if such an intense hatred towards me exist as I had hypothesized, then they would most probably accept my proposal. But as I said before, it is just the beginning. They have no idea what's in store of them at all.

Well, let's see how things play out in the end.

***

I had never thought that things would turn out so smoothly.

They agreed to my contract, but excluded 3 people from it. Koenji, Hirata, and Haruka. Students who were absent at that time.

That's fair enough, I guess. So, if our class wins, then I can get 10k private points from each of the remaining 35 people each month.

It might not amount to much initially, but if I survive for the next 2 years, then the total amount becomes 8.4 million private points.

That's if I survive, though.

I would cross that bridge of survival when that time demands. For now, I have to prepare everything for the upcoming special exam.

Moreover, she included a condition that no party would intentionally sabotage and try to lose on purpose. That's to prevent me from making a deal with any other class, by handing over all the 7 wins, if we have a match up with them, in exchange for a class transfer ticket, in other words 20 million private points.

However, I don't think there is any class other than Sakayanagi's, which can even gather a quarter of that amount of money. And, Sakayanagi would never strike a deal, that outrageous.

That's why this all depends upon whatever moves I would make, and what choice my fellow classmates would choose.

Then as launch break was nearly over, I sent a message through my phone.

"Sakayanagi, can we talk for a moment? I have something important to tell you."