Cote: Elite in Action

The day of the special exam had finally arrived. We settled quietly in the classroom, each at our respective desks, exchanging curious and expectant glances. In front of us lay a kind of tablet that Hoshinomiya-sensei had left upon entering. She warned us not to touch it until she gave her instructions, awakening a hint of intrigue. Perhaps these tablets would serve a purpose beyond just taking notes; maybe they would be used for voting.

Hoshinomiya-sensei stood at the podium, maintaining her usual cheerful tone, although this time she seemed more serious, almost solemn. She began to explain again the information she had given us days before, preparing the atmosphere for what was to come.

—As you know, today we will conduct the special exam known as the 'Class Voting' —she announced, capturing our attention—. This exam consists of each student having three praise votes and three criticism votes, along with an additional praise vote for a student from another class. You are not allowed to vote for yourself or give multiple votes to the same person. The tablets at your desks will be used to cast your votes; in a moment, they will light up, and I will give you the signal to begin.

I observed my classmates. Unlike what I would have expected, most seemed calm, with no anxiety on their faces. They remained focused on their dark tablets, tranquil and with an almost calculated confidence, as if they had control over the exam and its results. Perhaps that serenity was a strategy, or maybe they simply trusted their alliances and previous decisions.

A few minutes later, Hoshinomiya-sensei gave the signal, and the tablets lit up in unison, casting a soft light that illuminated our faces. The countdown began, and we all started voting quickly. We had discussed our strategies beforehand, so the process was smooth. Within minutes, most of us had finished, although the air remained thick with doubt about whether our plans would work as we expected or if something unexpected would change the course of the voting.

After finishing, I shifted my gaze toward the window, trying to imagine how the voting was unfolding in the other classes. Had they taken the same precautions? Would they follow similar strategies, or would they be swayed by sympathies and resentments? The cloudy sky outside somehow reflected the tense atmosphere inside the classroom.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed the murmur starting to fill the room as some classmates began speculating about the possible results. I tried to ignore them, focusing on maintaining my calm and concentrating on what was to come. At that moment, I realized that this exam was not just about who would receive positive or negative votes, but about how connections, loyalties, and tensions within our class had been built and worn down until now.

...

The day of the special exam had finally arrived, and the atmosphere in Class C was surprisingly calm. For a class known for its noise, this time the silence was almost absolute. Each student seemed at peace with the outcome, as if they all knew what was going to happen. But the most curious of all was Yamauchi's attitude. Despite his poor reputation in class, today he was different; I saw him speaking quietly with some classmates who usually ignored him. This behavior, while intriguing, only intensified the strange tension hanging in the air.

However, this apparent calm was immediately shattered when Horikita Suzune, the leader of Class D, stood up from her seat with a determined expression. After careful consideration, she concluded that the only logical solution was to eliminate whoever had performed the worst in the class.

—Yamauchi Haruki —she declared, pronouncing his name without a hint of doubt.

Yamauchi's face turned pale instantly. The confidence he seemed to have gained crumbled. In a panic, he tried to find an excuse, something that could convince the others that his expulsion would be a mistake.