"Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort." - John Ruskin

Law 17: Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability

This law suggests that by being unpredictable and keeping others in suspense about your intentions and actions, you can gain an advantage in various situations. It recommends creating an aura of uncertainty to make others cautious and less likely to challenge or oppose you. However, this law should be used with care, as excessive unpredictability can also breed mistrust and anxiety. -Robert Greene; The 48 Laws of Power

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Panic is a natural human response to stress, danger, or crisis. However, it can lead to various problems that complicate the situation. Understanding these issues and how they manifest with real-world examples can provide valuable insights into managing panic effectively.

Loss of Rationality: Panic often leads to irrational thinking and impulsive decision-making. For example, in a building fire, panicked individuals may rush for exits without assessing which route is safer or pausing to help others.

Impaired Judgment: Panic can cloud judgment, making it difficult to assess situations accurately. In a natural disaster, individuals may disregard evacuation plans and make risky decisions, such as driving into floodwaters.

Ineffective Communication: Clear communication is vital in crises. However, panic can disrupt it. For instance, during a medical emergency, people may shout instructions at the same time, leading to confusion and mismanagement of the situation.

Physical Impairments: Panic triggers a "fight or flight" response, leading to physical symptoms like increased heart rate and shallow breathing. For instance, during a severe thunderstorm, someone might panic, forget basic safety precautions, and become injured while seeking shelter.

Herd Mentality: Panic can lead to a herd mentality, where individuals follow the crowd without critical thinking. In a crowded public event, if panic ensues due to a false alarm, people may stampede in a rush to exit, potentially injuring themselves or others.

Misallocation of Resources: In anticipation of a crisis, panic can cause people to hoard essential supplies, potentially leading to shortages. For example, during a public health scare, individuals may stockpile masks and disinfectants, creating shortages for those in greater need.

Risk of Harm: Panic can lead to accidents, injuries, or even fatalities. For example, in a crowded space during a sudden evacuation, people may push and trample one another in a desperate bid to escape, resulting in physical harm or even fatalities.

Addressing these problems associated with panic is crucial. Encouraging calmness, clear communication, and preparation is key. In emergencies, level-headed individuals who maintain composure often serve as effective leaders, guiding others and making rational decisions. Training, preparation, and awareness are vital components of managing panic effectively. Individuals and groups should undergo training and drills to prepare for various emergency scenarios. This preparation can reduce panic and help people respond more effectively during a crisis.

In conclusion, recognizing the problems that accompany panic and taking proactive steps to manage it can make a significant difference in crisis response and overall safety. Panic is a natural human response, but understanding how it can manifest and having strategies to mitigate its effects can save lives and minimize the impact of emergencies.

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1st May, Tuesday

Usually, everyone would joke around, compare their progressions in video games, or talk about other kinds of things. However...

Today was different. Students didn't care about the amount of points spent with their eyes closed. Not even thinking about buying something unnecessary twice. And thus, some burned out their points in four weeks. 

Which shouldn't be that bad, since it was said that we get points every month. And that was an undeniable fact. And it just happened like I originally predicted it to happen.

The points I received this month were ZERO.

Well, now the question arises, what if it was a mistake from the school? But I am damn sure, that it was intentional. After all, nothing in this world is given free with no strings attached. 

The classroom was quiet, and it was raining outside, just like it was the days before. However, this time, the mood of each student in our class matched the depressing weather. 

I couldn't sense one student who was smiling, of course, except Koenji. 

That guy was smiling regardless of the situation. 

Back to topic: What was about to happen, will burn into everyone's eyes. 

This school is a school, built for individuals who will rise to lead Japan into the future. The expectations of these students are set extremely high. 

My class, Class D, was a disappointment. Nobody met the standard of being a true elite student.

Not even Horikita, Not even Kujou. 

It was bound to happen. After all, how are you supposed to lead a country into the future with these students? Nobody gets along with students that are completely different from each other.

Right, all the signs we were given from the beginning, and nobody even tried to do something. More like, they had nothing to begin with, after all, nobody of them understood the true problems this was going to bring.

"Nobody received points?!"

"T-This must be a mistake in the system!"

The cries of everybody, nobody accepting reality.

As soon as the bell rang, Chabashira entered the classroom, and as soon as she did that, the questioning of the situation we are currently in started.

"Sensei, why didn't we receive any points this month? Could it be that the school made a mistake on that?"

"No, Ike. All the points this month were already successfully distributed among each class. The school hasn't made a mistake on that. Any other questions?"

"If that's the case, then why haven't we received any points this month?"

"Are you really that stupid?"

"H-Huh sensei--"

Any attempt to ask questions was quickly interrupted by her. We were left no room to talk by Chabashira.

"I already said back then, that this school values every student based on their performance. Being accepted to this school was already an accomplishment itself, thus you received a hundred thousand points in the very first month."

Before she continued, she stared at every single student in this class, she started to walk around, from desk to desk, until she stopped at mine.

"However, due to the lack of performance, this class, which was getting ranked as a whole, received zero points in total. Making it the first class in history of this school, to reach the bottom in a single month."

She chuckled, sadistically, she is a black-haired woman, they come with the sadism starter pack at birth.

"In short, this school deemed every single student in this class as worthless." Even though she was a teacher, she had no reason to hold back in insulting us.

As if she was continuing to beat up a dead person.

Horikita and Kujou, the two 'best' students in our class, were hit by this critically, yet they tried to overlap their feelings with the sense of realization.

Horikita, who was acting on arrogance, elegance, and logic, just couldn't accept this. It was clear, yet she was noting everything that the teacher told us.

Pretty impressive to remain cool in such a situation.

Kujou however, just froze on the spot. Not even moving an inch.

"Let's see, Suou."

Chabashira suddenly said my name. Many were surprised that somebody in this class with the name 'Suou' even existed.

Hoshinomiya, Mashima, and most of the other teachers resorted to calling me by my old name 'Ayanokouji'.

Thus, barely any students knew my actual name.

"Hmm?"

"What do you think, seeing all of your classmates in the terror of this situation?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Why? You are impacted by this as well. Why would you feel nothing."

"Because. You are not necessarily wrong either sensei, however, what somehow troubled me was, that you kept hidden many things from us. A sudden test yesterday was quite surprising to many students here."

"You think so? I am quite impressed how you are still defending the horrendous performances of the class, by the fact it came as a surprise. Other classes managed it well."

That was a lie. Hoshinomiya told Yuki and her class on the weekend before, that there was an exam coming.

Yet she also told them, that if they fail, they won't face any consequences.

Chabashira was still lying. Just as expected, she was just as rotten as some other students in this class.

"And yet, the fact was undeniable that if you told us this beforehand, this situation would have never happened. But just as you said, sensei. This school put me into the 'worthless' category, so my opinion doesn't matter, does it?"

As to my words, she just laughed. Not even trying to care about anything that I just said.

"Haha! Well said, Suou! Either way, each class gets a certain amount of points, as I said. And this one reached the lowest point possible. Zero."

She took out a roll of paper and placed it on the blackboard, using some magnets.

'Class-A: 940 CP.

This meant that it was over for us. Class B with 910 Points was quite surprising, to be honest.

That they even are that close to Class-A is impressive.

Now. The only thing that Chabashira hasn't told us, is the Classpoint-System.

Or, the S-Point System.

Well, one would say: 'But it already got announced on the first day of school?'

Yeah, but actually no. There were just some points of it explained. Missing out around 70% of the actual information needed for us to succeed.

Back when Sudou was being pressured by the senpais, we were called 'defects' just by the fact that we were placed in Class D.

"You will eventually face hell anyway," They said.

Now, Sudou and Horikita are realizing what they meant.

Not that it matters now, rather, that they made huge mistakes. Which will affect their lives in the future.

"Oh, I almost forgot. There is the Class-Ranking system. While Class-A is the highest, Class-D will be the lowest, which will also not benefit from any of the advantages that this school provides."

In other words, whoever graduates from any class except the A-Class, will achieve absolutely nothing: no 100% Employment rate, No elite status.

Just worthless in the end.

"In this school, there is one unspoken rule.

The best or nothing."

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After this type of manslaughter, it was lunchtime, and as of now, Class D students will start to get treated as trash regularly.

And I already know, who exactly won't accept it. Even if she didn't know, I was watching Horikita and Kujou every single minute.

My sister, apparently already was in the cafeteria. Afternoon classes were canceled for an unknown reason.

So just like every other day of the week, Akito and I made ourselves on the way to the cafeteria. Amikura and Hasebe didn't have time apparently, so we needed to hurry up a little.

To not let my sister wait alone for too long.

"Hey...Kiyotaka. What was that about back when Chabashira dunked on us?" Akito began to talk, not too loud, in his usual calm and rather quiet voice.

We got to be friends over time, as we both shared some similarities and started to get along very well.

"What do you mean?"

"I never thought you were going to criticize her. To be honest, that surprised me more than the class system thing. I fail to imagine what was going on in your head then." He chuckled a little at the end of his sentence.

Akito was always a rather simple and cautious man. He probably also realized what was going on, yet, it was too late for him to react.

"Huh? No. It wasn't a critique. I was just stating facts, just like she was. In the end, she came with something to me and I answered."

"You are weird, Kiyotaka. But, did you know about anything? Like I don't know how to say that, but why didn't you tell anybody about what your sister reported to you?"

"The short test, you mean?"

He nodded to my question.

But why did I do this?

"I don't know how to describe it. But let's just say, I just wanted to make sure of something. What is done, is done in the end."

To my reasoning, he then nodded in agreement.

After all, what was he supposed to do with that piece of information? Blackmail me? Frame me for not spreading important information to the class.

"I am not only surprised by that, but even after you were told that there was a test on Monday, you scored 25 points. Why?"

"Do you think it was intentional?"

"I don't know if it was, but I assume so."

"Well, no it was unintentional. I knew that it was coming. But there was no reason to waste time studying. One single individual won't make that much of a difference in this situation.

After all, one single Joker card doesn't mean that you won the whole game, does it?"

He laughed a little at my humorous way of describing the situation, and we finally arrived at the cafeteria.

Yuki, sitting at a lone table with only her phone in her hand. Her expression already told me what her mood was.

And I should prepare myself for some insult and disappointment.

Just as we sat down, she stared at me. Akito on the other side of the table already knew what his task was and stood up, going to the coffee machine.

"Really?" She said, with a slightly irritated tone in her voice.

"Really what?"

"You didn't even bother to tell them? I mean, even if you didn't care, at least tell someone that did care about it. Who could help the situation."

Even if I did so, I believe that even they would have realized that you can't help something, that isn't to be helped.

My class didn't even bother to take notes during lessons. Thus, it was only meant to happen this way.

"So?"

"What do you mean by 'so?', Kiyotaka?"

"I don't know where you are getting at, Yuki."

"Ara~ You didn't have the tiniest bit of motivation inside you, to make a change huh? Impressive, what would mother have thought about that?"

What mother would have thought?  I don't think that she would have even been mad. No, rather, she would be glad.

She isn't the type of human to order me around, but rather, she would support us in any kind of situation.

By us, I mean Yuki. Not me.

"Bringing our mother into this is quite messed up, is it? We both know where this conversation will lead. Please don't make me leave, Yuki. I wanted to drink some coffee with my sister, just like every other day."

"Come on~ But what are you going to do now? Special exams, class points, and even competitions! This is the perfect layout for you, Onii-chan!"

"You are hypermotivated. This is nothing to be excited about, rather it's quite sad. But well, I don't know if I should even do anything."

After that last sentence of mine, Akito returned with our favorite sort of coffee.

A cold one, since Yuki is quite the weird person who likes cold coffee more than warm ones.

And this then jumped over to me. And then to Akito.

"Akito-kun~ thanks. By the way, what do you think of the situation, as of now?"

"Hmm? Well, what should I say? It came quite suddenly, to be honest. But what did we even expect? Nothing in this world is free."

"That's a valid answer. But what do you think of it, Yuki?" I said, shooting the question back to her.

As she cutely put her index finger on her lower lip, she then began to talk.

"I think, that it was not unexpected. But not expected either. It was just a 50/50 chance of happening. Class B wasn't hit drastically by this, and well-"

"Let me rephrase that. What have you done to make your class succeed that well, you barely lost 9.000 Private points this month, am I right?"

She smirked a little.

"Something, that you could've done as well ~ Ichinose and I created some 'study classes' on the weekend since some students were probably not passing that test. And well, looks like it worked just as I expected."

"Yet it failed to beat Class-A, which didn't possess any preparation time."

"I don't think that you could've done that better~ Kiyotaka."

"Seems like you want to compete with me huh? Unfortunately, I don't have the motivation for that currently."

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May 2nd,

Not long after, every student finally realized what happened yesterday. Their whole reputation was going to sink, just by the fact that they were members of the D class. 

Since that meant as much as being worthless, we were set under almost inhuman conditions. Like an open-air prison, however, we had the choice to drop out. Yet, nobody did. Not even Horikita or Kujou, who had a pride higher than their height have done so. 

I am truly impressed, I originally expected some to drop out by the first day of this, but apparently, their stamina and pulling-through power were still there, but not on their usual strength. 

As of now, we had to focus on something, that can cause expulsion. The upcoming mid-terms. 

In the latest short test, there were a whole of 8 students, who had achieved a failing grade. Sudou was the one who scored the worst. 

If it were a real test, 8 would have been expelled already, and I was thankfully none of them. 

But what makes me worry is, if suddenly the better and average students start to study harder after getting this new source of motivation, the class average will rise to the limit, to the point where these 8 students don't even get a real chance of staying.

Only if-

"Could everybody stay here a bit longer?"

-it wasn't for Hirata's interference. 

"Thank you, I would like to propose an idea since the midterms will be a rough milestone to beat, I would like to create some study groups for academically weaker students, don't get me wrong in any way, this is not an insult, rather, there are students which would like to achieve better ideals for everyone here. Just as Chabashira-sensei said. There is no bond in this class, so I would like to start improving slowly." Hirata said.

His proposal was almost ideal for every single individual in this class. Koenji was Koenji and scored the second best, with a 99. So he didn't even bother to stay, since it was quite obvious about what was about to happen. 

However... This looked quite unnatural to me.

Someone had their fingers in this game. Hirata's proposal sounded almost scripted. Something which wouldn't have gotten noticed at first glance, but as soon as he didn't even bother to make a pause once, you could notice that this was a speech by memory.

And I have