You Will Regret This Ichinose! [26]
A deathly silence engulfed the classroom.
This plan was insane. Expelling more than ten students in one go—something like that had probably never happened before, even in a school as cutthroat as Advanced Nurturing High School.
But on the flip side, if the plan succeeded, the benefits for Class B would be immeasurable. The only cost was points, and the risk was practically nonexistent—after all, Class B was never going to use the archived test papers.
No one spoke. The students of Class B sat frozen in their seats, heads lowered.
Then—
A voice broke the silence.
"I support this plan."
A calm voice came from the back of the classroom. All eyes turned toward it, only to see Kanzaki Ryūji raising his hand with a composed expression.
"If our goal is to rise to Class A, then the other classes will inevitably target us. Instead of waiting to be struck down, it's better to make the first move and eliminate them."
As he faced the gazes of his classmates, Kanzaki spoke with unwavering conviction.
Uesugi looked at Kanzaki, and for a moment, he felt a pang of emotion—fake crocodile tears welling up inside him.
Kanzaki, you really are my best bro. It was wrong of me to call you Ichinose's lapdog before. Just you wait—once I become class president, I'll make you my right-hand man.
"I support it too."
A voice rang out from the edges of the classroom—Himeno Yuki, who had always been an outsider in class, silently raised her hand in support of Uesugi.
Shibata looked at the two people beside him, clenched his teeth, and shut his eyes before raising his own hand.
"...I'll support it too."
Soon after, voices began rising one after another from different corners of the room.
"I agree with the plan…"
"Count me in…"
"I…"
Uesugi swept his gaze across the room, silently noting the names of those who had raised their hands.
Not even ten of them, huh.
Well, no surprise there. To personally sever someone else's future—that was not an easy decision for most.
His gaze shifted toward the lone figure sitting quietly with her head lowered.
Now then, Ichinose—what will you do?
If you support my plan, you will keep the trust of Class B and continue being their beloved leader.
If you oppose me, you will betray the interests of the entire class… just to protect the students of the other classes. Even then, you can still be friends with them.
But if Class B ultimately fails to graduate from Class A, will your conscience be able to bear it?
Support me, and I will crush the other classes. Oppose me, and your carefully built prestige will crumble.
Either way, I don't lose.
Will you stand with me, or—
"No. I don't agree with this plan."
Ichinose's voice rang through the classroom. She lifted her head sharply, blue eyes staring straight at Uesugi with unwavering determination.
Uesugi met her gaze calmly, then asked in a quiet voice,
"Ichinose, you do realize that if we don't act first, the other classes will come for us eventually, right?"
"I know." Ichinose's voice was steady.
"You know that every class in the second year has already had students expelled, right? Even if you stop me now, eventually, people will still get expelled."
"I know." Her tone remained unchanged.
"You understand that this school values power above all else? If they're expelled, it's because they weren't strong enough to survive."
"I know." There was no hesitation in her voice.
Uesugi's voice grew sharper.
"Then tell me, why are you still opposing this plan?!"
"Graduating from Class A means guaranteed success in university and employment—a bright future."
"As the leader of Class B, your classmates entrusted you with that responsibility when they chose you to lead them."
"And now, here you are, leading the charge against the one plan that could secure Class A for us in one fell swoop."
Uesugi gestured toward the students of Class B, suppressing his emotions as he spoke.
"Look around you. Thirty-nine classmates. Shirakawa, Wakakura, Kobashi—every single one of them voted for you."
"I know that expelling more than ten people at once is a tough decision."
"But you carry the futures of these thirty-nine people on your shoulders."
"If we don't graduate from Class A—"
"If one day, the next expulsion falls upon Class B—"
"Ichinose, you will regret it!"
His voice reverberated throughout the classroom, leaving everyone in stunned silence.
Facing Uesugi's questioning, Ichinose stepped forward, walked up to him, and softly said,
"And what about you, Uesugi-kun?"
"...What?"
"You also voted for me, didn't you?"
Uesugi's body tensed.
"I carry the futures of thirty-eight people. But yours… is the only future I haven't been able to carry."
"Expelling people might be a difficult decision for some. But for the one who proposed this plan—wouldn't it be even harder?"
"I know that you want to bring our class to Class A."
"But if you go through with this plan—"
"Against a still-standing Class A, against the remnants of a devastated Class C and D, against the resentment of those ten-plus expelled students—"
"Uesugi-kun, you will become the sole target of every special exam from now on."
"For the next three years, how will you survive in this school? Will you just hide away in your dorm and play games?"
"One day, those students might band together, all of them targeting you, forcing you to drop out."
"If that day ever comes… then I might never see you again."
"Uesugi-kun, I will regret it!"
Ichinose's resolute voice echoed throughout Class B.
Uesugi remained silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"...Then let's include Class A in the plan. That way, the pressure gets distributed evenly. We can leave Class A for the next exam instead."
This was his final attempt to deceive Ichinose.
From the very start, he knew this plan had risks—not for Class B, but for himself.
He personally didn't care about those risks.
But that didn't mean his classmates wouldn't.
And the moment Ichinose pointed that out, Uesugi knew—he had lost.
After all, if they couldn't reach Class A, no matter how many points they stole from the lower classes, it would be meaningless. It would only benefit Class A, who had done nothing.
More importantly, once Class B realized the risks involved, they would never agree to it.
Watching Uesugi's silence, Ichinose continued,
"I know that Uesugi-kun is incredibly smart. You have unparalleled talent and can come up with strategies I'd never even think of."
"But—" Ichinose's gaze sharpened.
"Don't underestimate me!"
"Class B isn't just about you. If sacrifices must be made, then I will be the first to step forward."
With unwavering determination, Ichinose declared the failure of Uesugi's plan.
The entire classroom fell silent.
Shibata stood up hastily.
"I—I refuse! Uesugi, I absolutely won't agree to this plan!"
Kanzaki sighed.
"I hadn't considered this angle. I oppose it as well. Sacrificing our friends for success isn't my way."
Himeno gritted her teeth and glared at Uesugi as she raised her hand.
"I take back my support. I'll oppose this plan to the very end!"
One by one, students voiced their opposition.
Uesugi stood at the podium, gazing at his classmates, then sighed.
"This is your decision. If you don't graduate from Class A, don't come crying to me. Blame yourselves."
He turned and left the classroom.
What a bunch of naive fools. No wonder you were all placed in the same class.
At the door, Hoshinomiya waited. Uesugi lowered his voice apologetically.
"Sorry, Hoshinomiya-sensei. The plan to wipe out Class D failed. I'll make it up to you next time."
Hoshinomiya pulled him into a hug, whispering,
"It's okay. I know you tried your best, Uesugi-chan."
"Winning against Class D can wait… but I only have one favorite student."
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T/N: wow... speech 100...