COTE : Is Talent Everything? (Rewrite)-Chapter 103 - 100: Back

10th Voting Results: 39 in Favor, 0 Against

"...Regarding Okabe's expulsion, the final task is concluded with a unanimous vote in favor. The choice is valid, and 100 class points will be awarded."

With a tone of surprise, Sakagami-sensei brought the exam to a close. However, Okabe, still unable to accept the outcome, remained dumbfounded, his mouth opening and closing wordlessly. But once his senses returned, he erupted.

"Wh—WHAT THE HELL?!?!"

Okabe's first instinct was to glare at Ryuuen, but in his line of sight was Ryuuen himself, lounging with his feet on the desk, looking utterly unbothered. Things were about to get messy, but before that, there was someone I needed to acknowledge.

"Tokitou, that was some fine acting."

"Hell yeah. Oscar-worthy, right, Leader?"

"Yeah. Perfect execution."

"Wh—what the hell is going on?!?"

Hearing my exchange with Tokitou, who gave me a thumbs-up, only deepened Okabe's confusion.

"You really are a hopeless idiot, Okabe."

"Ryuuen...!! What the hell does this mean?! I don't get it at all!!"

Ryuuen sighed like dealing with him was a chore, then pointed at me instead of answering. I didn't appreciate him dumping the explanation on me, but fine, I'd humor him.

"Okabe, your expulsion was decided from the very beginning."

"Huh?!?!"

Okabe's glare was now completely devoid of comprehension. I decided to jog his memory by bringing up yesterday's events.

"Ryuuen and I were working together. That whole conflict during this exam? It was just to make you believe you wouldn't be expelled."

"Teaming up with this bastard again was the last thing I wanted, but cancer's gotta be cut out before it rots."

Nominating someone for expulsion was easy, but getting unanimous approval for it was the real challenge. To steer Okabe into voting for his own expulsion, we had to distract him—hence the fake rivalry between me and Ryuuen.

Yesterday, Ryuuen deliberately left Okabe in the classroom to give him false hope, only to drag him straight into despair. This entire script was Ryuuen's doing. The guy's a real piece of work.

"B—but that still doesn't make sense!! How the hell did you get a unanimous vote?!?"

"Like I said. From the start, the entire class wanted you gone. All we had to do was coordinate a little."

Though, even I was surprised by the vote on whether Ryuuen or I should be class leader. That part was completely unscripted. So the vote distribution there was genuine.

"Honestly, didn't you find it even a little suspicious? Maybe it's arrogant of me to say, but if it were me or Ryuuen up for expulsion, there would've been at least some opposition. But for you? Nothing."

Then again, Tokitou's acting probably played a part too. Still, you'd think he'd be a little more skeptical.

"Arrogant? Hell no! If I hadn't been told beforehand, I would've fought tooth and nail against it!"

"Same here!"

"Yes."

"Fufufu~ I'm so glad this was just a strategy. If Ryuuen-kun had actually meant those things... I don't even know what I would've done to him."

"Uh, someone just said something really scary..."

Ishizaki, Komiya, and Albert all chimed in with their support, while Hiyori's words carried an undercurrent of terror. You're right, Nishino—that was terrifying.

Ryuuen's pretending not to care, but I can see him trembling a little.

"The result is the result. Accept your expulsion quietly."

"DON'T FUCK WITH ME!!!!!"

Okabe kicked his desk away and screamed loud enough to rupture eardrums. He raised his fist to swing at me, but before he could, Albert punched him clean across the room.

"GAH—!!!!"

Okabe flew back, crashing into three desks before sliding to a stop. Albert casually blew on his fist.

"Thanks. Saved me the trouble."

"OK."

He gave me a thumbs-up in response.

"Nice one, Albert!"

"Damn, that felt good! I was pissed when that bastard badmouthed Hachiman!"

"I hope he suffers as much as possible~ ♪"

"Uh, guys, you're kinda scaring me here..."

Yeah, Nishino. Hiyori's smile while saying that makes it even more terrifying.

Okabe, now sprawled on the floor, glared at us with pure rage.

"I WON'T ACCEPT THIS!!! THERE'S NO WAY I'M GETTING EXPELLED!!"

"The only thing that shouldn't exist here is you, trash."

Something in Okabe snapped at Ryuuen's words. He grabbed a chair and charged—not at Ryuuen, but at Hiyori, who was standing beside me.

"IT'S NOT ME!!!! IT'S ALL HIS FAULT—AND YOURS, YOU BITCH!!!!"

A cornered animal is the most dangerous. I couldn't let him drag Hiyori back into the fear she'd just overcome.

I shielded Hiyori with my back, then kicked Okabe's arm upward, sending the chair flying harmlessly away. Pivoting, I followed up with a spinning kick to his solar plexus.

"—GUH!!!!!"

The pain must've been excruciating. Okabe crumpled to the floor, writhing.

"If you'd just stayed quiet, I wouldn't have had to do that."

I wasn't sure if he could even hear me, but I had to say it.

"But you tried to lay a hand on what's important to me."

"——"

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hiyori's eyes tremble.

"That's why it came to this. Next time, think before you act."

The teachers would handle the rest. Sakagami-sensei and a staff member carried the immobilized Okabe away, finally ridding the class of its impurity.

Though a heavy atmosphere lingered, no one seemed saddened or regretful over Okabe's expulsion—it was nothing short of karma. Slowly, the usual classroom vibe began to return.

"Speaking of which, Hachiman! Even as a joke, you actually fought Ryuuen for leadership? That scared the hell outta me!"

"I couldn't think of a better way to divert attention."

Komiya's playful jab seemed aimed at lightening the mood. I responded in kind, but then Tokitou called out to me from a short distance away, so I walked over.

"Leader, mission accomplished?"

"Of course. Ryuuen and I did cooperate, but that class leader vote was pure class sentiment. Now I know nearly half the class supports me."

That confrontation wasn't just to distract Okabe—it was also a chance to gauge how much influence I really had here.

"You really do think ahead, huh? No wonder you're the leader."

"You played your part well too."

"Heh, flattery won't get you anything. ...Oh, Leader, Shiina's coming this way."

Following his gaze, I saw Hiyori slowly approaching. Wondering what was up, I turned to her—only for her to collapse into my arms, hugging me tightly.

"WH—WHOA!!?"

"Wait, Hachiman and Shiina!?"

"So they were a thing...!!"

"KYAAAAAAAH!!!!"

Naturally, our embrace drew shocked stares from the entire class.

Tokitou had already vanished at some point. And Ryuuen—stop filming this, you bastard.

...Anyway, Hiyori. She'd always been careful not to show affection in public before.

"Hiyori, what's wrong?"

"...I'm sorry, Hachiman."

When she looked up, her eyes were glistening—so much so that it was almost mesmerizing.

"Your words made me so happy... so happy I couldn't stand it."

Her fingers clutched at my shirt.

"I didn't know what to do. You're so precious to me... I love you, I love you so much, I just—"

Her grip tightened, as if she couldn't contain herself otherwise.

"Why do you always say exactly what I want to hear?"

"I don't remember saying anything that grand."

At that, her eyes narrowed like she couldn't take it anymore.

"That's exactly what I mean."

"Hiyori?"

"—I can't hold back anymore."

Before I could react, she rose onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to mine.

Instantly, the classroom erupted into a mix of cheers and shocked screams. There was no hiding our relationship after this.

"The secret's out now. I'm sorry."

"It's fine. If you're happy, then so am I."

"I'm very happy."

I should've been thinking of an excuse, but seeing Hiyori's blissful smile made it all irrelevant.

"Hiyori. Did my words really make you that happy?"

"Of course they did. ...How could I not be happy when you called me 'precious'?"

"I see."

She tilted her head curiously.

But if it made her happy, then that was enough.

I hadn't lied. Every word had been sincere.

Hiyori is precious to me—that's all there is to it.

Gently patting her head, I watched as she smiled contentedly.

......

After nearly five hours, the Unanimous Special Exam came to an end. Soon after, word spread that only Horikita's class and ours had expelled anyone.

It was unexpected, but I could guess Ayanokouji had something to do with it.

For me, this exam had been highly productive—securing a Protection Point, confirming my support within the class, and eliminating Okabe. I'd achieved almost everything I needed.

As I walked down the hallway, a message popped up on my phone. The sender was unknown—just a single line of text.

[Was my assistance helpful? My finest masterpiece—Yagami Hachiman.]

My old surname. And the term "finest masterpiece."

"So you were behind this."

I'd suspected as much.

Why had Okabe called Hiyori out and attacked her?

And the location—a spot with surveillance cameras but no foot traffic, a perfect hidden spot. How had Okabe known about it?

Someone had been pulling the strings from the start.

For all I knew, Ayanokouji's class might've been manipulated too.

With that thought, I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

R𝑒ad lat𝒆st chapt𝒆rs at free𝑤ebnovel.com Only.

.....

"I wonder if Nii-san got my message."

Takuya's lips curled into an irrepressibly gleeful smile as he stared at his phone, knowing full well no reply would come.

"I helped eliminate the nuisance for you, but I suppose you didn't even need my interference."

He'd been certain his brother could handle it alone.

"Ichika's in a great mood too, thanks to whatever Senpai did... It's about time, isn't it?"

Takuya quietly pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the emotions buried within.

"Soon, Nii-san."

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