Guardianship

"Ryuen and Sakayanagi really are hard to deal with," Hoshino Kanade replied.

He wasn't being entirely altruistic. Ichinose's honesty was mutual.

Her confidences mostly concerned her personal feelings and the difficulties facing her as a whole. She never discussed specific class strategies or how their points were allocated.

Even though she trusted Hoshino Kanade, she only talked about personal matters, carefully respecting the boundary around class secrets.

That sense of propriety actually put Hoshino Kanade at ease.

From the bits of information she occasionally let slip, he could piece together that Class A, under Ichinose's leadership, was under immense pressure.

Interestingly, though, even beneath that mountain of pressure, he could sense how astonishingly fast the students in Class A were growing.

If that weren't the case, they would likely have already crumbled under the combined pressure from Ryuen and Sakayanagi, even with their unity.

"Hoshino, thank you so much for listening to all this..." Another message popped up on the screen.

Hoshino Kanade's fingers hovered over the screen for a moment.

Class A bore the title of the top class, yet its current situation was like that of a fat sheep surrounded by wolves. The phrase "not worthy of its position" could hardly have been more fitting, and the pressure within the class was easy to imagine.

As the class's central figure, Ichinose felt that pressure magnified several times over.

Unexpectedly, she was willing to show signs of exhaustion and vulnerability in front of him, a student from another class.

That inexplicable trust stirred something faint within Hoshino Kanade.

By now, messaging with Ichinose had become, to a large extent, a way for her to relieve stress.

Looking at the screen, Hoshino Kanade could picture her forcing herself to stay upbeat in front of everyone in Class A.

But with him, the outsider "Hoshino," she had unexpectedly let down some of her guard.

She showed him her vulnerability under pressure, yet always upheld her responsibilities and kept her secrets as Class A's leader.

As a result, almost everything she confided in him revolved around the troubles caused by external conflicts and her own personal stress.

He began typing a careful reply, weighing every word: "You're under far more pressure than most people. Looking for a way to relieve it isn't weakness. As for Ryuen and Sakayanagi..."

He frowned slightly as his fingers tapped out the words. "Remember, their main goal is always to achieve their objective. Conflict is just a means to an end.

"Sometimes, the conflict you see on the surface is their way of testing Class A. Don't let them lead you around by the nose... Try to separate their true 'objective' from their actions. That'll help you respond more effectively."

Thinking back over the snippets in her messages, Hoshino Kanade pondered.

Ichinose had mentioned that "everyone in the class has grown closer," that "their strategies are being adjusted quickly," and that "things are tough, but they can still hold on for now"...

It all confirmed his judgment: under pressure, Class A was showing remarkable resilience and an ability to adapt.

Come to think of it, he had Ichinose's Class A to thank for bearing the brunt of the pressure. That way, the trouble wouldn't reach Class D, where he was, and he and his classmates could enjoy a relatively peaceful life.

For that, Hoshino Kanade didn't mind playing the role of comforter and adviser in their messages, whether by offering seemingly casual suggestions or helping her sort through her thoughts.

"Thank you, Hoshino," Ichinose replied quickly. "I feel so much better after talking to you." The rare sense of reliance between the lines was unmistakable.

After all, Ichinose was the one in Class A who needed the most looking after.

For Hoshino Kanade, communicating through a cold screen and offering guidance through text was still an effective approach.

He ended the conversation.

In the end, the life-or-death conflicts between the other classes wouldn't affect Class D for now.

With Class A drawing the fire, and Class D sitting at zero points, no other class would likely want to pick a fight with them.

A peaceful life like this suited him just fine.

Still, Hoshino Kanade wouldn't forget the biggest "defective product" within Class D: their homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae.

She would never give up her obsession with reaching Class A.

His gaze swept unconsciously across the classroom.

Everyone was enjoying the pleasant school life.

For a class like this, their only faint hope might lie in taking an unconventional path.

So who would Chabashira Sae try to use as a tool?

Hoshino Kanade turned around.

Kiyona had been staring at Hoshino Kanade in a daze. When he suddenly turned, their eyes met.

Kiyona didn't look the least bit embarrassed at being caught staring. Instead, the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

That smile was meant just for him.

He thought to himself, If Chabashira Sae dares to set her sights on Kiyona, she'll have no one but herself to blame for what happens.