COTE - Short Stories

1 - Loose Ends

Saturday morning, the day of the Class Poll exam, had finally arrived to which, not everyone wanted to arrive.

Every class had come to a conclusion, Class A has chosen its student that would be granted with expulsion.

Class D had chosen to expel Ryuuen, or at least what's to be expected.

Class B was moving forward with the intention of not losing anybody in their class with absolute confidence.

Class C have multiple candidates for expulsion this time. Me, Horikita, Kouenji, Yamauchi, Ike, and Sudo.

There's no telling what would the expected outcome of this exam. Even if I had to do something about Ichinose's and Ryuuen's case.

Then again, there was a possibility none of the preparations and planning would turn out as expected. Expecially at Class C, there had been multiple twists and targets for expulsion. Desperation and hatred altogether blew up in this particular class.

But despite all that, I never once doubted my calculations in my life. Not once, not ever.

None would know for sure what the outcomes would be for each class.

Even if a group were to be formed at try to get rid of someone, that wouldn't matter very much if the target had enough praise votes to cancel the collected censure votes from the other classes.

But, of course, I wasn't 100% safe. I was still at the door of expulsion. One of us is going through that door and walk out of this school by anonymous, majority vote as a reason.

There were no guarantees in this special exam.

Even though we were expected to be in the classroom at the same time as always, the exam was going to start a bit later, at nine.

It was currently just half-past eight.

Should this short time-extension be taken as the school showing us some sort of consideration...or is there another reason?

Perhaps it was just a simple trick to try to keep our on our toes and heighten our guards always.

No matter what the outcome this class should face, no doubt that it wouldn't affect us positively. No matter who walks out of this classroom.

"You didn't really do anything?"

"What?"

"I'm asking if you really just stayed spectated in the sidelines, despite you being in a dire situation?"

"Does this face did do something to protect myself?"

"...Of course, not on the surface."

"That should be your answer. I didn't really do anything this time. Rather, you're the one who pulled me out of the lava pit."

"Then it wouldn't be funny if my very first friend got expelled because of carelessness."

"Even more so if I got expelled after retorting back like you did."

"Besides, my very existence is the reason, why I'm confident that I won't be expelled."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just saying that this exam's objective will not be my downfall."

"Heh, my my, how arrogant."

Horikita ended the conversation with a smirk.

Of course, this would possibly be my last conversation with my neighbor. Just a possibility.

Now, the class welcomed the exam with forceful open hands in negative silence.