Class D's Reality Check

MAY 1st.

The classroom buzzed with confusion as students checked their devices, expecting their monthly points. However, the numbers were not what they expected. Kudo Shinichi, leaning back in his chair, glanced at Haibara Ai, who merely raised an eyebrow, unbothered by the commotion.

"Oi, teacher! We only got 50,000 points this month!" Yamauchi whined.

Chabashira Sae didn't even bother hiding her disdain. "Of course. The administration has distributed this month's points accordingly."

"Why did we only get half of what we were supposed to?" Ike demanded.

Chabashira smirked. "Because your behavior has consequences." She walked to the board and wrote a number: 500. "That's your new class point total. You lost half of what you originally had. Congratulations, you're now Class C."

Gasps and murmurs filled the room. Kudo folded his arms, unsurprised. So, they deducted points, but we still managed to outrank another class? Interesting.

"What did we lose points for?" Hirata asked, his usual calmness tinged with concern.

Chabashira listed off violations—tardiness, disruptions, phone use during class. The realization dawned upon the students. They hadn't lost everything, thanks to Kudo's early warnings.

Kushida's cheerful voice broke through the tension. "But we can earn points back, right?"

"Of course. Work hard, follow the rules, and in midterms, you'll have the chance to increase your points and rise in rank," Chabashira confirmed. "But there's another way to boost your class points—Special Exams."

The class quieted down at the unfamiliar term.

"Special Exams?" Hirata repeated.

Chabashira nodded. "These are unique tests designed by the school to assess your strategic thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Succeed in them, and your class points can rise dramatically. Fail, and you could lose everything."

A tense silence settled over the room.

Horikita, who had remained silent, now spoke up. "If I want to reach Class A, I can't afford mistakes, and we'll need to be prepared for these Special Exams."

Hirata nodded. "Then we should start a study group."

--

Hirata quickly gathered willing students to form study groups. Naturally, Kudo and Haibara were roped in.

Haibara took charge of helping the girls, effortlessly guiding them through the material. Despite her blunt manner, she explained concepts with precision, making even the least studious students understand. Kushida, the ever-popular girl, assisted as well, though Haibara eyed her with mild suspicion.

Meanwhile, Horikita and Ayanokoji attempted to convince Sudou, Ike, and Yamauchi to join the study group. Unsurprisingly, their efforts were met with resistance.

"I don't need to study," Sudou scoffed. "Basketball's my future."

"Yeah, this is pointless," Ike muttered. "I'll just cram the night before."

Horikita sighed, clearly frustrated. "If you fail, you'll be expelled. It's as simple as that."

Ayanokoji, sensing that Horikita's blunt approach wasn't working, decided to seek another strategy. Later that day, he approached Kudo, who was reviewing some notes on his own.

"Kudo, I need a favor."

Kudo glanced up. "Oh? And here I thought you preferred handling things yourself."

Ayanokoji remained expressionless. "Horikita's trying to get Sudou and the others to study, but they're not listening. I was hoping you could help."

Kudo leaned back, considering the request. "They won't listen to reason, huh? Sounds about right."

"They respect you more than Horikita. If anyone can convince them, it's you."

Kudo exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. I'll give it a shot."

The following day, Kudo casually joined the conversation while Sudou and the others were slacking off. Instead of directly telling them to study, he approached the topic from a different angle.

"You know, failing means getting expelled, right?" Kudo said, leaning against the desk.

"So what?" Sudou scoffed. "Studying's useless."

Kudo smirked. "You planning on making a living off basketball? You do realize even pros need some education, right?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ever heard of contract negotiations? Endorsements? If you don't know basic math and legal terms, people will walk all over you. You'll get scammed out of your money before you even realize what happened."

Sudou hesitated, but still looked unconvinced.

"And Ike, you want to coast by and hope for the best? What if there's a special exam that requires actual knowledge?"

Ike frowned, clearly uncertain now.

Yamauchi still seemed skeptical, but Kudo knew when to stop pressing. "Look, I don't care if you guys become top students or not. But at least pass. Otherwise, you'll be gone before you even have a chance to do whatever you actually want."

After some grumbling, the trio reluctantly agreed to join the study group.

--

Later, as the study session wound down, Kudo approached Horikita. She was rereading the material, her expression sharp and focused.

"You're working hard," he noted.

"I have to. If I want to reach Class A, I can't afford mistakes," Horikita replied, glancing at him. "I assume you didn't come over just to compliment me."

Kudo smirked. "Perceptive. Actually, I wanted to give you some advice."

Horikita narrowed her eyes. "Advice?"

Kudo leaned against the desk. "Your behavior—it's holding you back."

She stiffened. "Excuse me?"

"You're smart, no doubt. But your way of dealing with people? It's terrible," Kudo continued. "You talk down to them, act like they're beneath you, and then wonder why they won't listen. If you actually want to lead this class to Class A, you need to understand them, not just look down on them."

Horikita clenched her fists. "And what do you suggest? That I sugarcoat everything?"

"No. Just learn how to communicate better. Objective arguments don't work on emotional people," Kudo said. "And whether you like it or not, most people are emotional."

Horikita looked away, deep in thought.

"Just something to consider," Kudo said, walking off. "You're too smart to be this blind."

As he left, Horikita sighed, staring at the study materials. Am I really that bad at dealing with people?

Meanwhile, Haibara, who had been listening, smirked. "You enjoy stirring up trouble, don't you?"

Kudo grinned. "Only when it's necessary."

With the study groups in motion, Class D—or rather, Class C—was now better prepared than ever. Whether that would be enough to survive the upcoming midterms, however, was another matter entirely.