15. Aragaki Shun's Promise to All in Class B!
Ichinose, can you bear this responsibility!
The boy's question from the podium instantly shattered the pink-haired girl's overly abundant kindness.
Ichinose Honami's face still wore a beautiful smile, but her delicate eyelids were already cast in shadow.
In a daze, she felt as if she had been imprisoned back in those days when she had dropped out of school and stayed at home.
Nothing had changed, she could never escape in this lifetime.
What floated before her eyes was still that dusk when, because of theft, she had knelt down with her mother to atone for her sin.
Could she bear the future of thirty-nine classmates being bleak because of her?
If the price of stealing a hairpin was to kowtow in front of the public, then what would it take to atone for stealing the future of thirty-nine people?
The pink-haired girl lowered her gaze dejectedly.
Thinking about how she had righteously said before that she wanted to help Class C and Class D unconditionally, her breathing became difficult, and she was too ashamed to face her classmates who trusted her.
Ichinose Honami, you are truly a despicable woman, always generous with other people's things, always causing harm to those around you!
"Honami-chan..."
Looking at the dejected Ichinose Honami, everyone in the class who played well with her, both boys and girls, looked over with concerned eyes.
Shiranami Chihiro, whose seat was closer to her, even glared at Aragaki Shun on the podium, and worriedly moved closer to comfort the pink-haired girl.
Feeling her friends' gazes, Ichinose Honami finally realized her gaffe.
So she hurriedly adjusted her expression, not letting her emotions affect the mood of the entire class.
"Sorry, I'm just very ashamed. Everyone is clearly working hard for the future of everyone in the class, yet I'm spouting such empty words, and even shamelessly trying to drag everyone down."
"Aragaki-kun is right. What we need to do now is to first ensure that Class B can get the school's recommendation after three years. It was too presumptuous of me to think about helping students from Class C and Class D when we haven't even advanced to Class A yet!"
Looking at Ichinose Honami, who was so self-reproachful, her classmates also spoke up to comfort her, saying it wasn't a big deal.
"It's nothing, Honami-chan is just too kind."
"Honami just doesn't want to see her friends from other classes suffer too much."
"Aragaki-kun just doesn't agree with us harming the class's interests. Everyone can still make friends with students from other classes. If a friend encounters difficulties, we can all treat them to a meal then."
Under her friends' comfort, the girl swallowed all the sorrow in her heart.
Even if it was just for these classmates who cared about her, she couldn't continue to be dejected.
"Thank you, everyone. I'm fine, really fine."
Seeing the smile return to Ichinose's face as usual, her classmates all breathed a sigh of relief.
The two cores of the class suddenly had a disagreement, causing the atmosphere in Class B to drop to a freezing point. They didn't know what to do either.
"I'm sorry, Aragaki-kun, it was I who was too naive!"
Aragaki Shun had been coldly observing the class's movements.
Only after Ichinose Honami composed herself and bowed to state her position did he continue in a rational, almost indifferent voice:
"It seems Ichinose, you've thought it through. That's good. With so many classmates in the class, if anyone has different ideas, just say them out loud. As long as it's for Class B, I believe everyone can understand."
The implication was that if it wasn't for Class B, then don't talk about those miscellaneous things on this occasion.
You're so kind-hearted, why don't you care more about what difficulties your classmates are having?
"I hope that three years later, everyone can graduate from Class A together, without a single one missing!"
Sweeping his gaze across the quietly listening Class B students, Aragaki Shun's voice was very calm, yet it conveyed an unshakable determination that made people couldn't help but be convinced.
"Last night I asked about the number of students in each of the twelve classes in the second and third years. This list has also been sent to the class group chat."
"You should have all seen it, right? Besides Third Year Class A, can you find another full class?"
"In this school, the consequence of failing in competition is truly expulsion. Do you think the school is joking?"
Aragaki Shun's sharp gaze swept across the classroom.
All the students, both boys and girls, held their breath, no one daring to meet his eyes.
It was unknown if it was an illusion, but Ichinose Honami felt that Aragaki Shun had given her another pointed look.
The pink-haired girl lowered her head, her face full of guilt.
"Tell me, you came to Advanced Nurturing High from all over the country, dreaming that three years later you could enter your desired school or enterprise. Are you willing to leave with nothing? Or be expelled midway, leaving only a special record on your resume?"
"Absolutely not!"
"I want to graduate from Class A with everyone."
"There are forty people in the class, and there should be forty people graduating together!"
"With Aragaki-kun and Honami-chan here, we can definitely defeat the other classes!"
The entire classroom became active again, everyone eagerly displaying their will.
Undoubtedly, as high school students of the same age, no one would admit they were inferior to students from other classes.
And in this society with solidified class structures, the condition promised by Advanced Nurturing High School for students to choose any prestigious school or job was, for most students in Class B, almost their only chance to cross class barriers and realize their dreams.
If they really missed this precious opportunity, they wouldn't know how to face their parents and family after returning home three years later.
Aragaki Shun gestured for everyone to be quiet.
After the entire classroom fell silent again, he continued:
"Don't be so stressed. Firstly, we were originally Class B, the closest to Class A."
"Then, for this code of conduct exam, we've already got the answers."
"Regardless of what the school's class assignment criteria are, at least we are still at the same starting point as Class A. So, surpassing them is not a difficult task!"
"Of course, temporary leads or lags don't mean much. Our life at Advanced Nurturing High will last for three years. Only those who can finally graduate from Class A are the winners!"
At this point, Aragaki Shun once again looked at everyone in the class, one by one, imprinting their current appearances and expressions in his mind.
"I previously asked Ichinose Honami, if something went wrong, whether she could bear this responsibility."
Being stabbed again, the smile on the pink-haired girl's face finally became strained.
She thought she was going to be criticized again, but unexpectedly, the young man had no intention of relentlessly pursuing her, but instead chose to take everything upon himself.
"At the same time, this is also a question I need to face myself: can I bear the trust of everyone in Year 1 Class B?"
"My answer is: Yes!"
"Here, I, with the surname Aragaki, promise everyone: If everyone in Class B works together and follows commands, yet still cannot graduate from Class A, then all responsibility lies with me!"
"At that time, I will provide you with a well-paying job and support you in continuing to pursue your dreams!"
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