"So, karaoke next? Might be a bit crowded though".

"No way, we're not going to play that punishment game again are we...?".

"Of course we're going to play. For the sake of Yukimu~'s revenge".

I stopped walking while everyone was in the middle of discussion their next course of action.

"What's wrong, Kiyotaka-kun?".

"Sorry but I'm going to head back".

"It's not even 2 o'clock yet though?".

Akito said while checking the time on his phone.

"Truth is, I stayed up all night yesterday so I'm feeling quite sleepy now. Please invite me again over the holidays".

Airi looked disappointed at that but there won't be any inconvenience for her now even if I'm gone.

Haruka will take care of it properly for me too so I suppose I can rest assured. I bid farewell to the group and turned my back on them.

I then took out my phone and called my homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei.

"It's me".

"Hello. I have something to discuss with you. Are you free now?".

"What do you want? Haven't you stopped associating with me?".

"Yes that would be right. But I just remembered there are still things left to settle. If possible, I'd like to meet you face-to-face rather than over the phone. Can we meet at school?".

"...I'll be waiting in the classroom".

"Understood. I'll be there in a few minutes".

After that conversation, I immediately headed back to the Class D classroom. There aren't any students left in there and near my seat, Chabashira-sensei alone looked out through the window.

"Assuming this year is also your average year then it'll snow a fair bit this year too".

"Do you like snow?".

"I used to. But when I became an adult, I grew to hate it".

Chabashira-sensei shut the curtains and slowly turned around.

"So you have something to discuss with me. What is it?".

"I thought I haven't heard your answer yet. Why do you want to rise to Class A so badly to the point you'd even use me?".

Unless there's a very good reason behind it, a teacher won't use a lie to manipulate a student.

"This school makes not only students, but also teachers compete with one another. If one considers their own position, it's obvious they'd want to aim for the upper classes even if it's just a cut above".

"I don't think that's the real reason. If you were aiming for Class A from the start, you wouldn't have made remarks that could have put Class D's students at a disadvantage".

During the midterm test of our first semester, Chabashira-sensei intentionally withheld information to put Class D at a disadvantage.

"...that's already something different from the school's rules. It's a personal matter. I've got nothing to say to you".

"You were unsure at that point despite having quietly made preparations to rise to Class A, weren't you? Whether or not this class really has what it takes to become Class A or whether you should even be aiming for it".

I don't particularly care what feelings this teacher is keeping bottled up. The important thing is whether she's worth making use of or not.

"Looks like this has been a waste of time. I'm heading back to work".

I spoke again towards the teacher who had turned her back as though fleeing.

"If you won't answer, then please give up on using me".

"So that's how it is. No need to emphasize that. You've already stopped associating with me, no?".

"This is the important part. If you let this day go to waste, Class D won't ever rise to Class A. On the contrary, we may not even be able to rise to Class C".

"What are you talking about?".

I explicitly looked at the classroom's clock.

"It's now 2 o'clock. Right now, Ryuuen's probably putting on an interesting show on the rooftop after calling Karuizawa out there".

"...Ryuuen is? To Karuizawa?".

"So even you aren't aware of it, sensei. The fact that Karuizawa used to be the victim of severe bullying in the past, I mean".

"First time I've heard that...".

It's hard to imagine from the way Karuizawa normally is that she'd be the victim of bullying.

"And in all likelihood, news of this will spread throughout school tomorrow. Once that happens, Karuizawa may choose to withdraw into herself and drop out. If we can prove Class C is involved in it, we may be able to retaliate but the damage we'd have dealt each other would be immeasurable".

It still isn't clear the sort of penalty that an expulsion entails but it must be quite the penalty. That much is clear from seeing Chabashira-sensei's face.

But then she immediately regained her composure and looked at me with her usual, fierce gaze.

"I see. I've got the gist of your scheme. From what I understand, it would be difficult for you to resolve this matter on your own. But it'd be a different story for a school teacher like myself. Not only won't the problem be resolved, but your identity would even be kept secret. It couldn't be better, could it?".

"Will you lend me a hand if I asked for your cooperation?".

"Don't get too cocky, Ayanokouji. I have no intention of cooperating with you".

"Of course you don't".

"This school doesn't look favorably upon teachers intervening in students' problems".

That is true. A teacher going up to the rooftop alone to not only stop Ryuuen's bullying but also seal their lips regarding Karuizawa's past. That sort of favorable outcome is impossible.

It's also natural that Chabashira-sensei would decline.

"But can you afford to decline that easily? There's no guarantee that I won't sabotage Class D in the future, is there? I can deftly make sure we won't be able to rise to the upper classes".

"...to think a student would threaten a teacher. It should be the other way around".

"If you return the favor and restore our relationship to an equal student-teacher one then at the very least I can say I won't commit sabotage. I think that alone carries a huge merit, no?".

"If, by turning you down here, it means rising to Class A becomes impossible then it's all the same".

Chabashira-sensei stubbornly refused to lend a hand.

"Please rest assured, I had no intention of asking you for help from the start".

"What?".

The idea of relying on this teacher never once factored into my calculations.

"I was just teasing you for a bit there. Why don't you observe from afar then? The conclusion of this incident, that is".

After saying that, I invited Chabashira-sensei to play the role of observer for this story.