Chapter Summaries

Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona’s openly intimate relationship left no doubt among their classmates that they were a couple. When Shiina Hiyori saw them together in the library, she realized that their closeness had made her feel like an outsider in the reading group.

• Class D’s students concluded that Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona were unmistakably a couple after seeing their public displays of affection.
• Hoshino Kanade chose to treasure her relationship with Kiyona rather than dwell on other possibilities or future uncertainties.
• Shiina Hiyori arrived at the library and saw Kiyona nestled in Hoshino Kanade’s arms as they read together.
• Shiina Hiyori greeted them and joined the reading group, but felt the easy atmosphere between them had changed.
• Shiina Hiyori realized that she had become a polite outsider in the intimate world Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona shared.

Shiina Hiyori recognized that she wanted genuine closeness with Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona, though she feared the vulnerability intimacy required. In Class D, Hirata Yosuke proposed a study group for the Midterm Exam, but Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi held back.

• Shiina Hiyori questioned whether her feelings for Hoshino Kanade were admiration or a need for warmth and connection.
• Shiina offered Hoshino coffee and awkwardly tried to make physical contact, then realized that her fear of rejection had helped create distance from Kiyona.
• Kiyona invited Shiina to bring The Klein Bottle to the next book club, and Shiina decided she wanted to show her genuine feelings rather than remain a perfect observer.
• Hirata Yosuke invited Class D to join daily study sessions to prepare for the Midterm Exam.
• Sudō rejected Hirata’s invitation with silence, while Ike and Yamauchi hesitated and stayed seated under pressure from Sudō and their own reluctance.

Horikita Suzune struggled to find a way to help Class D students at risk of failing, then confronted her older brother and recognized that she had used her goal of catching up to him to avoid facing herself. She decided to surpass her present self and, despite distrusting Kushida Kikyo, prepared to contact her for help.

• Horikita Suzune considered tutoring Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi but realized she could not approach them, and she reluctantly thought of asking Kushida Kikyo for help.
• Horikita Manabu confronted Suzune near the dormitory, accused her of hiding behind his goal, and demanded that she drop out.
• After Manabu left, Suzune recognized that her pride and isolation had kept her from facing herself and accepting help from others.
• Suzune vowed to surpass the person she was and, back in her room, took out her phone to contact Kushida Kikyo.

Horikita Suzune asked Kushida Kikyo to help bring Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi into a study group so their poor grades would not hurt Class D. After seeing how little the boys knew, Horikita changed the plan to start with first-year middle school math, leaving them reluctantly studying under her direction.

• Horikita called Kushida and asked her to get Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi to join Hirata's study group.
• Kushida persuaded the three boys to meet Horikita in the library for tutoring.
• Horikita tried to teach them basic linear equations, but Ike could not solve one and Sudō admitted he could barely recognize the alphabet.
• Horikita realized the boys needed a much more basic lesson plan and asked Kushida to find first-year middle school math textbooks.
• The three boys opened the textbooks and reluctantly began studying under Horikita's guidance.

As midterms approached, Hoshino Kanade, Ayanokoji Kiyona, and Shiina Hiyori studied together in the library, where classmates’ stares and whispers disrupted their concentration. They agreed to continue studying in Hoshino’s dorm room and left the library together.

• Hoshino Kanade gave Shiina Hiyori the Modern History Outline Summary notes while Ayanokoji Kiyona studied with them.
• Nearby Class C and Class D students watched and whispered about Shiina’s friendship with the two Class D students.
• Hoshino Kanade said Ryuen Kakeru had likely investigated them, and Kiyona continued reading without responding.
• Shiina Hiyori said the attention was distracting, and Kiyona and Hoshino agreed that the library was too noisy for studying.
• Kiyona suggested studying in a dorm room, and Hoshino invited them to use hers.
• The three packed their books and left for the dormitory area.

Shiina Hiyori and Ayanokoji Kiyona studied in Hoshino Kanade’s room, where Shiina’s brief touch left both her and Kanade flustered. Afterward, Kanade invited them to make his room their regular study spot and gave each of them a key card.

• Hoshino Kanade welcomed Shiina Hiyori and Ayanokoji Kiyona into his tidy dorm room and made them hot water.
• Shiina examined Kanade’s practical bookshelves before the three settled in to study.
• Shiina brushed a lock of hair from Kanade’s forehead, leaving them both embarrassed while Kiyona noticed their tension.
• After studying, the three discussed how crowded the library had become.
• Kanade offered his room as their regular study meeting place and gave Shiina and Kiyona key cards.

As Class D prepared for the Midterm Exam, Hoshino learned that the exam material had been changed without warning and chose not to sell her knowledge of the school’s reused past papers. The exams took place, leaving the students waiting for their results.

• Hoshino saw Ken Sudō, Yamauchi Haruki, and Kanji Ike struggling to study in the library.
• Class D students confronted Chabashira Sae, who admitted she had forgotten to tell them the Midterm Exam material had changed the previous Friday.
• Hoshino considered sharing information about past exam papers but decided the risks outweighed the possible reward.
• Hoshino watched Ken Sudō struggle with English and doubted he would pass.
• Hoshino and the other students sat the Midterm Exam, then waited for their report cards.

Chabashira Sae announced Class D’s Midterm Exam results and explained that Ken Sudō alone had fallen below the adjusted Passing Line. She confirmed that he would be expelled, leaving the class stunned and Horikita Suzune feeling helpless.

• Chabashira Sae posted the Midterm Exam results, prompting Yamauchi Haruki and other students to protest their scores and the late change to the exam scope.
• Chabashira Sae marked Ken Sudō’s name and explained that his English score was the only one below the adjusted Passing Line.
• Hirata Yosuke asked whether Ken Sudō could make up for his failing score, but Chabashira Sae confirmed that he would be expelled.
• Horikita Suzune considered speaking up but lowered her hand, unable to find a way to help Ken Sudō.
• Chabashira Sae told Ken Sudō to come to the teachers’ office after school and left the classroom, while some students felt secretly relieved at his coming expulsion.

Ken Sudō left school after confronting his uncertain future on the basketball court, while his classmates learned his expulsion had reduced Class D’s points to zero. The class turned its grief into resentment, and Hirata and Horikita were left facing the consequences of Sudō’s departure.

• Ken Sudō went to the basketball court, played alone, and tried to convince himself he could pursue basketball after leaving school.
• Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, and Horikita Suzune found Sudō but let him have time alone.
• The next morning, Class D found Sudō’s desk and chair gone and wondered who might leave next.
• Chabashira Sae announced that Sudō’s expulsion had deducted 100 class points, leaving Class D with zero points for the month.
• Kanji Ike and other classmates blamed Sudō, while Hirata tried to protest and Horikita gripped her book in silence.

Class D’s Class Points remained at zero, leaving many students unable to afford more than basic food and making them wary of lending or spending what little they had. Kiyona playfully asked Hoshino Kanade to support her, and Hoshino Kanade agreed while wondering if Kiyona might someday support her instead.

• Kiyona pointed out two Class D girls hesitating over bread before buying the cheapest items, and Hoshino Kanade explained that most of the class had spent all their points.
• Hoshino Kanade observed that only cautious students and misers still had points because poverty spread through the class as students borrowed from one another.
• Kiyona leaned against Hoshino Kanade and claimed she was nearly out of points, asking her to support her.
• Hoshino Kanade agreed to support Kiyona but asked what she would offer in return.
• Kiyona teased Hoshino Kanade about doing something in public, and Hoshino Kanade reminded her they were in a convenience store.
• Hoshino Kanade held Kiyona close and reflected that Kiyona might one day be the one supporting her.

Horikita Suzune watched D class sink into despair under insults and humiliating free meals, then realized their buried resentment could become the force that united them. At dusk, the latest Class Points still showed D class at zero, but Horikita was determined to find a way to act.

• Horikita Suzune saw B-class girls and a C-class boy mock D class as its students ate in silence.
• Horikita recognized that her classmates' apparent numbness concealed anger buried beneath despair and helplessness.
• Horikita decided that D class's resentment could be gathered and turned into motivation to change their situation.
• The bulletin board showed Class A at 1040 points, Class B at 1033, Class C at 838, and Class D at 0.
• Horikita watched D-class students hurry past the scores and resolved not to let them continue sinking into despair.

Hoshino Kanade arranged for Hoshinomiya Chie to confront the Electronics Store clerk he suspected of targeting Sakura Airi, hoping to expose him with undeniable evidence. When the clerk refused to show his phone, Kanade took it from his pocket, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Hoshino Kanade decided to prepare for threats to Kiyona and sought Hoshinomiya Chie's help against the clerk targeting Sakura Airi.
• Hoshinomiya deliberately broke an old camera and took it to the Electronics Store, where she accused the clerk of secretly photographing her.
• Hoshino Kanade joined the confrontation and urged the clerk to let them inspect his phone as students gathered to watch.
• When the clerk refused and tried to hide his phone, Hoshino Kanade pulled it from his pocket and dodged the clerk's attempt to grab it back.

Hoshino Kanade helped expose an electronics store employee’s secret photos and harassment of female students, while Class D endured three months with zero points. Horikita Suzune continued organizing support for struggling classmates and relied on Kushida Kikyo’s social skills as the class awaited a chance to improve its situation.

• Hoshino Kanade unlocked Hoshinomiya’s phone and found secretly taken photos of female students and evidence of sexual harassment and threats.
• Hoshino Kanade contacted the authorities, and Hoshinomiya cooperated with the police as Sakura Airi helped identify the victim; the employee was arrested.
• Class D continued to suffer with zero Class Points and no Personal Points for three months, leaving students unable to afford basic purchases.
• Horikita Suzune tutored Ike Kanji and other struggling students, warning them about the risk of expulsion.
• Horikita Suzune asked Kushida Kikyo to coordinate the next study session, recognizing that Kushida’s social network and organizational skills were useful to Class D.

During class, Hoshino Kanade and Ayanokoji Kina flirted and teased each other beneath their desks. After catching Kina’s foot and making her beg for mercy, Kanade stole her sock, leaving Kina’s reaction unresolved.

• Hoshino Kanade ignored the physics lesson to read a history book while Ayanokoji Kina secretly traced messages on her back.
• Kina teased Kanade by brushing her sock-covered foot against Kanade’s leg, and Kanade caught her ankle.
• Kanade found Kina’s sensitive spot on her arch and rubbed it until Kina silently pleaded for her to stop.
• Kina resumed teasing Kanade, who pretended not to notice before catching her ankle again and stealing her sock.

Hoshino Kanade discreetly kept Kiyona’s foot trapped beneath his desk after she gasped, fooling the class into looking away. Matsushita Chiaki witnessed the incident and was left stunned by what she had seen.

• Kiyona gasped when Hoshino Kanade held her ankle, drawing the attention of Kanji Ike, Onodera, and the physics teacher.
• Hoshino Kanade pinned Kiyona’s foot beneath the desk and concealed it from the class with his posture.
• Kanji Ike, Onodera, and the teacher assumed nothing was wrong and returned their attention to class.
• Kiyona slumped over her desk and vowed not to speak to Hoshino Kanade for the rest of the class period.
• Matsushita Chiaki watched the incident and was shocked by what Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona had done.

Matsushita Chiaki watched Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona’s strange classroom interaction, then realized Kanade had noticed her spying. He gave her his contact information and hinted that he knew about her concealed abilities, leaving her anxious as she entered his number into her terminal.

• Matsushita Chiaki was shocked by Hoshino Kanade and Kiyona’s intimate, unusual interaction in class and wondered whether they were ordinary students.
• Hoshino Kanade caught Matsushita watching him and asked whether she was interested in history.
• Class D’s students grew anxious when someone complained that they did not understand material likely to appear on the final.
• Hoshino Kanade gave Matsushita his contact information and proposed discussing her “mediocre” abilities.
• Matsushita feared Kanade might expose her secrets and entered his number into her terminal.

Matsushita Chiaki met Hoshino Kanade in the library after he summoned her, while struggling to hide her embarrassment over watching him touch Kiyona’s foot. Hoshino revealed that he had seen through Chiaki’s deliberate efforts to keep her grades and profile unremarkable, and she demanded to know why he had called her out.

• Matsushita Chiaki received Hoshino Kanade’s message telling her to meet him in the deepest part of the library’s Ancient Texts Area.
• On her way there, Matsushita Chiaki recalled Hoshino Kanade touching Kiyona’s foot and felt ashamed of her own fantasies about his hands.
• Matsushita Chiaki found Hoshino Kanade by the library window and sat opposite him at his instruction.
• Hoshino Kanade accused Matsushita Chiaki of deliberately adjusting her performance and fitting in with Karuizawa’s group to avoid attention.
• Matsushita Chiaki reacted with shock, then asked Hoshino Kanade why he had exposed her deception.

Hoshino Kanade confronted Matsushita Chiaki about hiding her abilities and offered her a deal: gather information in Class D in exchange for his protection and support. She questioned whether he was truly just a Class D student, and he reached into his pocket without answering.

• Hoshino Kanade told Matsushita Chiaki that staying unnoticed would not keep her safe when Class D faced a crisis.
• Hoshino Kanade identified Chiaki's observational, analytical, and disguising abilities and invited her to become his eyes and hands.
• Hoshino Kanade offered to keep her secret and provide support in exchange for information about classmates, factions, and teachers.
• Matsushita Chiaki questioned whether Hoshino Kanade was really just a Class D student.
• Hoshino Kanade pulled something from his pocket instead of answering.

Hoshino Kanade showed Matsushita Chiaki her balance of 3,021,300 points to prove she could support her and had no interest in Class A. Chiaki accepted Kanade’s proposed partnership and asked what she should do.

• Hoshino Kanade revealed her terminal’s 3,021,300-point balance, shocking Matsushita Chiaki.
• Kanade said her points proved she could support Chiaki and that she was staying in Class D for her own reasons.
• Chiaki weighed the risks of accepting Kanade’s offer against the dangers of refusing it.
• Matsushita Chiaki agreed to the arrangement and asked Kanade what she needed her to observe and do.
• Hoshino Kanade concluded that Chiaki would be a useful and reliable observer in Class D.

Hoshino Kanade assigned Matsushita Chiaki to remain on standby and gather information while keeping her cover intact. Later, Ichinose Honami confided that pressure from Ryuen Kakeru and Sakayanagi Arisu was weighing on her.

• Hoshino Kanade told Matsushita Chiaki to blend into Karuizawa's circle, monitor Hirata's side, and share information when she chose.
• Matsushita Chiaki refused regular points to avoid attracting Karuizawa's attention, but said she would contact Hoshino if she needed help.
• After class, Matsushita Chiaki told Hoshino that other classes seemed to have stopped treating Class D as a rival.
• Hoshino noticed that Ichinose Honami's messages seemed less cheerful and asked if something was bothering her.
• Ichinose told Hoshino that friction with other classes, including Ryuen Kakeru's threats and Sakayanagi Arisu's schemes, was causing her pressure.