Only Liam.

... Ralli couldn't think of how to turn this into a teachable moment. The whole thing was just too bizarre. Her head hurt trying to make sense of it. In a situation like that...

"Nobody caught me. Nobody is getting a reward," she tried, immediately receiving a chorus of boos, even from Harley and Harvey.

Liam swallowed his frustration and moved closer to Ralli, speaking in a quiet voice. "Teach... Ms. Ralli... Sergeant. Respectfully... nobody is going to accept this. The whole class is going to be slumping around and moaning for a week. Even though I didn't run, I physically caught you. Try tempering your punishment a little. Admit I should get something, as long as it isn't much. That's fine, isn't it? Then, next class, you can simply reset the stakes. Tell them that's the last little carrot anyone is getting with dirty cheating, and make them really earn it."

Ralli didn't trust Liam in the slightest, but she had to admit... the crushing sound of dissatisfaction from around her was driving her crazy, after she'd expected to end the day with a guaranteed success. She was eager to do anything to get out of this situation. There was probably some part of her as a deathspeaker that was **** to having suggestions planted to fill the empty parts of her imagination, although those would ordinarily come from a braineater.

She cleared her throat. "Ahem. Nobody is getting a reward... Except for Liam. He will get a small reward for his small victory," she declared, facing Liam again and walking a bit closer so that she towered over him. "If his requested reward is reasonably small, I will grant it to him."

There wasn't exactly a chorus of praise in response to that, but at the very least, everyone shut up grumbling. The roller coaster of Ralli public opinion had started today low, gone high, gone to the bottom... then ended a little above low again. For better or worse, this felt like the sergeant all of them knew.

"Tch! Liam, you bastard, you used me..." Harvey muttered, then waved his hand. "Forget you, punk. I proved I got what it takes. Next time, I'll be the one getting a reward.

Harley didn't say anything, but seemed to regard Liam warily. Her concern went unnoticed by her instructor.

There was, of course, one person who was excited. Liam stressed every muscle in his face to stop his spreading smile from splitting into an obscene grin. "It's here! It's here! It's finally here!"

"You made the right decision, Teach. Now, as for what I want..."