Just Want to Be a Slacker

On the male side... besides Hirata and Nagumo, there were only Ayanokoji and Ike.

Sigh, a bit heavy on the feminine side... not bad at all.

Time quickly arrived at Friday. After the first class ended, Hirata, as the leader of Class D, took advantage of the students still being in the classroom and swiftly stepped up to the podium.

"The Midterm Exam is coming soon. As you all know, if you fail the exam, you'll be expelled immediately. So I'd like to set up a study group for two hours after school every day. Everyone is welcome to join."

The moment Hirata's words fell, people immediately responded enthusiastically. Not only those who failed the last exam, but also students hovering near the passing line were very eager.

"I absolutely don't want anyone to be expelled for failing the written exam. Plus, the midterms affect our Class Points, so we should seize this opportunity. Several top-performing students are already preparing exam strategies, so I hope anyone worried about the midterms will come to our study group. We welcome everyone, no matter who you are."

As he said this, Hirata's gaze gently fell on Sudo, who sat in the corner of the last row. Who he was talking to was obvious without saying.

Seeing this, Kamio Tatsuya shook his head inwardly.

If it were an ordinary person, they'd probably have been moved by Hirata's kindness by now.

Too bad it was Sudo. With his stubborn, face-saving personality, there was absolutely no way he'd attend the study group.

And Hirata, by saying it like that, you're basically announcing outright—Sudo's grades are bad, we need to help him.

Sure, Sudo's poor performance was a fact, but the more that was true, the stronger his pride in that area.

As the saying goes, the more someone lacks something, the more they care about it.

So while Sudo acted like he couldn't care less about studying, try calling him a dummy to his face—he'd definitely blow up at you.

And not just Sudo. Yamauchi and Ike, who were full of envy and jealousy toward Hirata, probably wouldn't go either.

Well, it's fine if they don't.

If those three got expelled, the class might even be more peaceful.

As for whether it would affect the goal of reaching Class A? Hah, what does that have to do with me, Kamio Tatsuya, a lazy fish just trying to coast through these three years?

After Hirata finished speaking, several students who had failed or barely passed immediately crowded around his seat.

And just as Kamio Tatsuya had guessed, Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo remained unmoved, even showing looks of disgust on their faces.

Looked like they had no intention of joining Hirata's study group.

At noon, Horikita Suzune turned to Kamio Tatsuya.

"Do you have time at noon? If you're free, want to eat together?"

Hearing Horikita's words, Kamio Tatsuya flinched.

Because overseas, asking that usually meant you were treating.

You, Horikita Suzune, are going to treat me to a meal?

Heavens, is the world ending?

"I already have plans at noon. Thanks."

Kamio Tatsuya immediately stood up and left the classroom.

No good deed goes unasked—there's got to be a catch. Me, eat with you? You must be joking.

After school, Kamio Tatsuya went to the library as usual. Horikita Suzune also came with him and sat down across from him.

"For tomorrow's lessons, I can only tutor you in the afternoon or evening. During the day, I plan to invite Ike and the other two to join the study group."

Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Horikita Suzune, a skeptical look on his face.

Of course, he wasn't doubting whether Horikita Suzune had actually invited Ike and the others—he was doubting whether she could actually get those three to show up.

Chapter 45: Kamuro: Take My Elbow Strike

Kamio Tatsuya's barely concealed look of doubt irritated Horikita Suzune.

"What's that expression? You think I can't do it?"

Holy crap!

You actually guessed it!

Good for you—here's a verbal pat on the back!

"Let's not talk about that." Kamio Tatsuya directly changed the subject. "Anyway, you shouldn't have any obligation to help them study. After all, not joining Hirata's study group was their own choice."

"See, you're surprised."

"Yes, I am surprised."

Watching Kamio Tatsuya's dead-serious expression, Horikita Suzune felt her breath catch and a wave of irritation rise in her chest.

"They left the classroom right after school today. They probably won't join Hirata's study group later either. If things keep going like this, there's a high chance they'll fail. But this exam's results will affect our Class Points. I don't want to be held back by them."

Kamio Tatsuya nodded. Honest enough.

But...

Compared to a lowered average score, the loss of population itself was more likely to put Class D in a tough spot.

"You're sure you can get them to come to your study session?"

"So I asked Ayanokoji."

I'm shocked—you actually asked Ayanokoji.

Sure, that guy seems close with Ike and the others, but in reality, Ike's bunch just treats Ayanokoji as an errand boy. They don't respect him at all.

Horikita, can't you even see that?

And Ayanokoji himself—being ordered around like that, coming and going at their beck and call, and he actually puts up with it. A normal person would've told those guys off by now.

"What if Ayanokoji doesn't bring them?"

"Then he doesn't deserve to live."

Heh, Horikita Suzune, do you think you sounded cool just now?

So you've never even considered the possibility that Ayanokoji might fail.

I'm not saying you need to plan three steps ahead, but you can't even see the next step. With this groping-in-the-dark approach, you think you can drag Class D's dead weight up to Class A?

You're way too overconfident.

No, maybe it's not overconfidence—it's arrogance.

"Good luck, then."

Horikita's decision didn't affect Kamio Tatsuya's study plans.

He could study just fine without her; she was more of a tool in this situation.

The next day, Saturday.

After waking up and eating breakfast, Kamio Tatsuya headed to the library alone. Lately, he felt like he'd returned to his past life's grad school exam phase.

Always holed up in the library.

Because studying requires persistence, as many proverbs make clear—like learning is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you fall back.

Or, three days without books, and your IQ's worse than a pig's.

So Kamio Tatsuya went to his usual seat, but today it had another occupant.

When he arrived, the other person happened to look up at the same time.

Their eyes met, and Kamio Tatsuya moved to sit down across from them.

"I thought you were going to run away."

"Heh, who do you think I am? Just some Kamuro—why would I need to run?"

Kamio Tatsuya's face was full of disdain.

No sooner had he spoken than he felt a foot step on his under the table.

Leaning back and glancing under the table, he saw Kamuro's foot, clad in a black stocking and indoor shoe, planted right on top of his.

But since the indoor shoe's sole was soft, it didn't hurt at all.

That said, her legs were pretty nice—wonder what they'd feel like to touch...

"What are you thinking?"

"Nothing." Kamio Tatsuya pulled his gaze away from Kamuro's leg, a hint of regret in his voice.

Kamuro stared at him for a long moment before spitting out a word: "Pervert."

What?

"How am I a pervert? You'd better give me an explanation. Even I won't accept baseless slander."

"Weren't you just looking at my legs?"

What?

Busted?

Kamio Tatsuya was shocked, then immediately launched into an unreasonable counterattack: "It's your fault for wearing a skirt. If you wore pants, I wouldn't have seen anything."

Kamuro was unmoved, her face twisting into a look of disgust. "Lecher."

Damn, there was really no refuting that.

Did a guy who wasn't into girls even exist in this world?

To avoid continuing this topic, Kamio Tatsuya quickly changed the subject: "So you're alone today? That White Hair not around?"

"How much do you hate her that you won't even say her name? And I'm not obligated to follow her around 24/7. She's just a cripple, not incapable of taking care of herself."

Kamuro pulled her foot back from Kamio Tatsuya's instep, sounding annoyed.

Kamio Tatsuya couldn't help but laugh at her words.

"Fair point, but I don't think that girl's problem is with her legs."

"Not her legs? Then why's she using a cane?"

"If her legs were really the issue, the muscles should be more atrophied. I've observed her legs—they look fairly shapely from the outside, not like they're completely immobile."

After Kamio Tatsuya finished speaking, Kamuro shot him another look of disgust.

"Pervert."

For fuck's sake.

Kamio Tatsuya felt pissed. Normally, when dealing with sharp-tongued types like Horikita and Sakayanagi, he could handle them easily. But why did Kamuro always manage to get under his skin like this?

Was this really a case of one thing subduing another?

No way. He had to fight back.

Kamio Tatsuya stood up, shoved the book he'd just taken out across the table toward the opposite seat, and then sat down right next to Kamuro.

"Kamuro, we're pretty familiar with each other by now, right?"

His move immediately put Kamuro on guard.

"What are you trying to do?"

"What else? The kind of thing a pervert does."

Before his words even faded, Kamio Tatsuya reached out and placed his hand directly on Kamuro's thigh—the one that looked incredibly soft to the touch—and even gave it a squeeze.

If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't have dared. But Kamuro was different, because he had leverage over her.

His reasoning was simple: I'm holding onto a major secret of yours, and the fact that our relationship hasn't devolved into something out of a doujin is already me being merciful.

And now you dare to provoke me? Time to make you reflect on your actions.

Mm.

So this was the thigh of a sixteen-year-old girl?

The feel was good. Seemed like she worked out.

As for Kamuro, the moment his hand landed on her thigh, her body went rigid, and her mind went completely blank.