Recaps

Katsuragi Kouhei outlined the likely scoring rules and risks for the Forest School exam, then asked Kazehara Tetsu about his strategy. Kazehara chose to leave the capable group to operate as it was and went to sleep, while Katsuragi settled down to read.

• Katsuragi Kouhei identified meditation rules, the final relay, speeches, the written exam, and lateness as likely scoring factors.
• Katsuragi warned that the group’s confidence and differing opinions could create risks, and suggested preparing weaker speakers and runners while keeping Ryuen in check.
• Kazehara Tetsu praised Katsuragi for handling the details and asked what he thought the group should do.
• Katsuragi asked Kazehara about his exam strategy and plans regarding Horikita Senpai and Nagumo President.
• Kazehara said they should let the capable group run on its own and chose to sleep.
• Katsuragi accepted Kazehara’s decision, entered the dormitory, and read while Kazehara rested.

Kazehara Tetsu joined Kanzaki Ryuji for dinner, where Kanzaki explained that he wanted to discuss the upcoming exam with Ichinose Honami. At the Cafeteria, Ichinose described how some girls in her group struggled with the speech portion, leaving the three of them poised to consider how to help.

• Kazehara Tetsu woke from his nap and agreed to go to dinner with Kanzaki Ryuji.
• Kanzaki Ryuji told Kazehara Tetsu he wanted to discuss exam strategy and preventing anyone from falling behind with Ichinose Honami.
• Kanzaki Ryuji and Kazehara Tetsu found Ichinose Honami dining with a group of girls, and she invited them to sit with her.
• Kanzaki Ryuji asked what the group had been discussing, and Ichinose Honami explained the speech topics and their subjective scoring criteria.
• Ichinose Honami said several girls were too nervous to speak confidently and that she was looking for ways to help them.

Kazehara Tetsu explained how to manage speech anxiety by treating the audience as empty space, avoiding direct eye contact, and performing a confident role. Ichinose Honami planned to use his advice to coach the students, while Kazehara left the conversation having offered help for practical reasons.

• Ichinose Honami praised Kazehara Tetsu's leadership, but he reflected that his position depended on victories and practical agreements rather than trust.
• Kanzaki Ryuji and Ichinose Honami described how nervous students were struggling with the speech exam, especially its subjective delivery score.
• Kazehara Tetsu advised the students to stop thinking of speeches as communication and to look above the audience's heads instead of meeting their eyes.
• Kazehara Tetsu told the students to act out a confident role so they could focus on performing rather than feeling embarrassed.
• Ichinose Honami thanked Kazehara Tetsu and said she would use his advice to coach everyone.

Kazehara Tetsu confronted Ichinose Honami with questions about whether her kindness came from helping others or atoning for past sins, leaving her shaken. After bathing, he returned to the Dormitory and noticed that someone had moved his pillow.

• Kazehara Tetsu asked Ichinose Honami to speak with him alone after dinner.
• Kazehara Tetsu questioned whether Ichinose Honami helped others out of kindness or to atone for past sins, and left before she could answer.
• Kazehara Tetsu bathed while thinking about Ichinose Honami's reaction.
• Kazehara Tetsu returned to the Dormitory and noticed that someone had moved his pillow.

Kazehara Tetsu met Horikita Manabu in secret after receiving a note summoning him at night. Horikita questioned Kazehara’s motives for confronting Nagumo, and Kazehara pointed out that Horikita was wary of his unpredictable influence.

• Kazehara Tetsu found a note marked “25” under his pillow and kept it in his pocket.
• After the dormitory fell asleep, Kazehara Tetsu followed a flashlight signal to the Entrance Hall, where Horikita Manabu was waiting.
• Kazehara Tetsu joked that Horikita had summoned him over the wager about breakfast, but Horikita dismissed the wager as unimportant.
• Horikita Manabu accused Kazehara of deliberately humiliating Nagumo and weakening his standing as the next Student Council president.
• Kazehara Tetsu denied having any interest in the Student Council and suggested Horikita was uneasy because he could not predict Kazehara’s intentions.

Kazehara Tetsu and Horikita Manabu discussed the end of Manabu's era, Horikita Suzune's growing independence, and the possibility of Nagumo Miyabi retaliating against Tetsu's friends. On the Forest School's rest day, Tetsu hid beside the cafeteria and waited for someone with a reason to seek him out.

• Horikita Manabu told Kazehara Tetsu that the future belonged to the next generation and that his own era had ended.
• Horikita Manabu said Horikita Suzune had begun forming her own ideas instead of blindly imitating him.
• Kazehara Tetsu warned Horikita Manabu that Nagumo Miyabi might target his friends, but Manabu said he would be careful.
• Kazehara Tetsu returned to the dormitory and went to sleep after his conversation with Horikita Manabu.
• On Sunday, Kazehara Tetsu avoided the other students and hid by the closed cafeteria, waiting to see who would come looking for him.

Kazehara Tetsu met Ichinose Honami in a secluded part of the forest after she came to ask whether he knew about her old hairpin theft. He revealed that he had witnessed it years ago and explained that he had never reported her because doing so would have brought him no benefit.

• Ichinose Honami found Kazehara Tetsu resting near the Cafeteria and followed him into a secluded clearing.
• Ichinose Honami admitted that Kazehara Tetsu's words the previous night had left her unsettled and asked if he knew about her secret.
• Kazehara Tetsu named the hairpin theft, confirming Ichinose Honami's fear that he knew about it.
• Kazehara Tetsu told Ichinose Honami that he had seen her steal the hairpin years earlier and recognized her despite her changed appearance.
• Ichinose Honami asked why Kazehara Tetsu had not reported her, and he said he had no reason to involve himself.

Kazehara Tetsu challenged Ichinose Honami’s belief that her kindness was only a cover for her past theft, telling her she was making amends rather than pretending. After Ichinose thanked him, Kazehara awkwardly brought up his promise to call her Honami, and she laughed faintly.

• Ichinose Honami confessed that she saw herself as a liar who acted like a good person to hide her theft.
• Kazehara Tetsu argued that her sacrifices for others showed she was not pretending and described her kindness as atonement.
• Ichinose Honami cried, accepted Kazehara’s handkerchief, and thanked him for keeping her secret and comforting her.
• Kazehara Tetsu admitted he had failed to call her Honami when they met, and Ichinose gave a faint laugh.

After Kazehara Tetsu encouraged Ichinose Honami to move beyond her past, the chapter followed the Large Group’s cautious start to an eighteen-kilometer mountain endurance run. The students struggled up the trail together, with Katsuragi Kouhei and Kanzaki Ryuji helping the less fit members.

• Kazehara Tetsu teased Ichinose Honami about her feelings before telling her their past did not have to define her future, and she left with renewed resolve.
• Kazehara Tetsu waited until Ichinose Honami had gone, then returned from the clearing about ten minutes later.
• On the fifth day of the Forest School assessment, the Large Group began an eighteen-kilometer mountain relay run by walking the steep outbound route to conserve strength and avoid injuries.
• Ryuen Kakeru complained about the slow pace, but Kazehara Tetsu warned him that he could not leave the others behind.
• Kanzaki Ryuji stayed beside the struggling Yukimura Teruhiko, while Katsuragi Kouhei slowed down to support Tozuka Yahiko.

After reaching the Turnaround Point, Kazehara Tetsu organized the group’s downhill return, assigning partners so the less fit students would not be left alone. He stayed behind and told Majima Tomoya he would set off with half an hour left, leaving the teacher wondering what he planned to do.

• The students reached the Turnaround Point, recorded their names, and learned they had until eleven to return for lunch.
• Kanzaki Ryuji offered to stay with the struggling Yukimura, while Kazehara Tetsu assigned Katsuragi Kouhei to look after Tozuka Yahiko.
• Kazehara Tetsu told the others to run at a suitable pace, pair up, and avoid running alone on the downhill trail.
• The group of fourteen headed back through the forest, while Kazehara Tetsu remained at the Turnaround Point.
• Kazehara Tetsu told Majima Tomoya he would wait and begin his return with half an hour left, prompting Majima to ask what he was planning.

Kazehara Tetsu ran back along the trail to check that no students had fallen behind, then finished the run safely with the group. He returned Majima Tomoya’s watch at 10:55 as the exhausted students headed for the Cafeteria.

• Kazehara Tetsu told Majima Tomoya he would stay at the back to watch for students in trouble, and Majima lent him his watch.
• Kazehara Tetsu raced down the Forest Path, passing exhausted first-year students and jogging upperclassmen.
• Kazehara Tetsu caught sight of the main group and saw Katsuragi Kouhei helping Tozuka Yahiko and Kanzaki Ryuji supporting Yukimura Teruhiko.
• Kazehara Tetsu stayed near the group as they completed the final kilometer without incident.
• Kazehara Tetsu crossed the finish line at 10:55, returned the watch, and watched the students head to the Cafeteria.

During the Forest School’s slow days, Kazehara Tetsu stopped Yukimura Teruhiko from wasting energy on cleaning and warned Ryuen Kakeru against letting his group get hurt. That evening, Kazehara approached Ichinose Honami at the cafeteria’s tray-return counter, where the chapter ended as they greeted each other.

• Kazehara Tetsu told Yukimura Teruhiko to stop scrubbing the floor and save his stamina for the long-distance running test.
• Kazehara showed Tozuka Yahiko how to make cleaning look diligent while using little effort, and told Yukimura to wipe the windows instead.
• Ryuen Kakeru mocked Kazehara’s advice, and Kazehara warned him that he would face consequences if one of his people fell behind after getting hurt.
• At dinner, Kazehara Tetsu went to the tray-return counter to speak with Ichinose Honami, and they exchanged greetings.

On the eve of the Physical Fitness Assessment, Kazehara Tetsu assured Ichinose Honami that his group was prepared and explained how he had accounted for Sakayanagi’s physical limitations. They parted on friendly but competitive terms, ready to face the exam the next day.

• Ichinose Honami asked Kazehara Tetsu how confident he was about the exam, and he said his group would likely win if nothing extreme happened.
• Ichinose said her group would give its all, while Kazehara admitted he would benefit if their opponents made mistakes.
• Ichinose warned that a Class A student in her group could become a factor, but Kazehara said he trusted her not to exploit that.
• Ichinose worried that Sakayanagi’s physical condition could hurt her group, and Kazehara said he had already accounted for the weakness and its likely cost.
• A girl interrupted their conversation, and Ichinose and Kazehara said goodbye after wishing each other luck and promising not to go easy.

Tetsu and his group began the Forest School final exam, completing Zazen and a written test with confidence. As the relay approached, the group gathered around Tetsu to check their answers and gauge their standing.

• Tetsu performed the Zazen exam flawlessly, and every member of his Small Group earned a high score.
• After leaving the Dojo, the first-year boys relaxed and complained about the pain from sitting through Zazen.
• Tetsu quickly completed the written test and waited for the bell to end the exam.
• Yukimura Teruhiko and the others asked Tetsu to confirm their written answers before the relay race.

Kazehara Tetsu waited at the seventh relay zone, the course’s steepest stretch, while the runners completed the first six legs. After Katsuragi Kouhei handed him the baton in the lead, Kazehara sped up the rocky slope and left Shibata Hayato behind.

• Kazehara Tetsu explained that every runner had to cover exactly 1.2 kilometers and waited at the dangerous seventh relay zone.
• Kazehara Tetsu encountered Shibata Hayato, who challenged him to a rematch after losing to him at the previous Sports Festival.
• The runners waited nearly an hour for the first six legs to reach the exchange zones.
• Katsuragi Kouhei arrived first and handed the baton to Kazehara Tetsu, with Group B’s runner reaching Shibata about ten seconds later.
• Kazehara Tetsu surged up the steep, rocky trail and quickly disappeared from Shibata Hayato’s sight.

Kazehara Tetsu’s group won the first-year Large Group relay after he built a commanding lead on the Seventh Section. The exhausted students completed the speech test, and the day’s exams ended as they awaited the results.

• Kazehara Tetsu handed the baton to Kanzaki Ryuji after reaching the relay zone thirty seconds ahead of Shibata Hayato.
• Kanzaki and the remaining runners preserved their lead, and Kazehara Tetsu’s group won the first-year Large Group relay.
• Kazehara met Katsuragi Kouhei after the race, then the students prepared for the speech test.
• Kazehara gave a brief speech, and Ryuen Kakeru later remarked that Kazehara’s approach was interesting.
• The students finished the speech test at sunset and headed toward the Gymnasium as the day’s exams ended.

The Forest School Special Exam ended with both the boys’ and girls’ groups above the Score Line, so no students were expelled. The rankings revealed strong results for groups tied to Horikita Manabu, Ichinose Honami, and Sakayanagi Arisu, while Kazehara Tetsu wondered why Miyabi Nagumo had not targeted Tachibana Akane’s group.

• The school announced that both groups had passed the Score Line and that there were zero expulsions.
• The school named Ninomiya Kuranosuke’s boys’ Large Group first, and Kazehara Tetsu’s mixed first-year group celebrated because it belonged to Horikita Manabu’s group.
• Kazehara Tetsu and Horikita Manabu briefly met each other’s gaze across the gym.
• The boys’ rankings placed Shibata Hayato’s group second and Machida Koji’s group third, with the highest-ranked groups largely built around Class A and Class B students.
• The school announced Ichinose Honami’s group in first place among the girls, Horikita Suzune’s group in second, and Sakayanagi Arisu’s group in third.

The Forest School exam ended with Class A earning 353 Class Points and 1,645,500 Personal Points. Horikita Manabu thanked Kazehara Tetsu for warning him about Miyabi Nagumo’s attack and promised to transfer him one million Personal Points.

• The Forest School exam rankings were announced, and Class A’s results totaled 353 Class Points and 1,645,500 Personal Points.
• Students left the forest as the exam ended, and Kazehara Tetsu headed toward the shuttle buses.
• Horikita Manabu told Kazehara Tetsu that Miyabi Nagumo had made a move, but an advance warning let him prepare a Defense Line and avert the problem.
• Horikita Manabu offered Kazehara Tetsu one million Personal Points as thanks for the warning.
• Kazehara Tetsu accepted Horikita Manabu’s offer and walked toward his bus.

Ichinose Honami told Kazehara Tetsu that Class B accepted her after she confessed her shameful past, and thanked him for helping her face it. She offered to repay him over time, beginning with a meal, and asked whether he would refuse her invitation.

• Kazehara Tetsu teased Ichinose Honami about confessing her past to Class B.
• Ichinose Honami explained that her classmates accepted and encouraged her after she admitted what she had done.
• Ichinose Honami thanked Kazehara Tetsu for giving her the courage to face her classmates.
• Ichinose Honami offered to repay Kazehara Tetsu little by little, starting with a meal.
• Ichinose Honami teased Kazehara Tetsu about his close relationships and asked whether he would turn her down.

Ichinose Honami invited Kazehara Tetsu to eat with her, and they shared a relaxed walk and meal as she thanked him for helping her feel more at ease. They parted on warm terms, with Kazehara waiting for her answer and Ichinose messaging him goodnight afterward.

• Ichinose teased Kazehara about turning her down, then persuaded him to walk with her to the Cafeteria.
• Ichinose told Kazehara she still felt fear and hesitation but no longer had to hide who she was, and he asked her not to cry alone again.
• Ichinose called their meal a date and asked about Kazehara's relationship with Sakayanagi and his other friends.
• Kazehara and Ichinose ate together, agreed they would meet again, and walked back toward the Dormitory.
• Ichinose thanked Kazehara and said goodnight, then messaged him that she had enjoyed their time together; he replied, "Goodnight."

On Valentine's Day, Kazehara Tetsu received chocolates from girls hoping to gain his favor and a chance to transfer into Class A. He dismissed the gifts as opportunistic but kept the plain chocolate box Yamamura Miki had given him.

• A group of girls from the four classes crowded the corridor and offered Kazehara Tetsu Valentine's chocolates and invitations.
• Kazehara Tetsu accepted the gifts politely, and the girls dispersed after he entered Class A.
• Hashimoto Masayoshi teased Kazehara Tetsu about his haul, and Kazehara offered him the other chocolates.
• Kazehara Tetsu said the girls were using gifts to seek a path into Class A and warned Hashimoto to discard any letters or invitations discreetly.
• Kazehara Tetsu looked at the plain chocolate Yamamura Miki had quietly given him and regarded it as free of ulterior motives.

On Valentine’s Day, Kazehara Tetsu received chocolates from Sakayanagi Arisu, Kamuro Masumi, and Morishita Ai in the classroom. Morishita shared a chocolate she had already bitten, and Kazehara ate it as she held it to his mouth.

• Sakayanagi Arisu gave Kazehara Tetsu a purple velvet box of chocolates and teased him about the gifts piling up on his desk.
• Kamuro Masumi dropped off a roughly wrapped chocolate she had made, and Kazehara grabbed her wrist and teased her before she returned to her seat.
• Morishita Ai offered Kazehara a plain slab of chocolate, then ate more than half while evaluating its taste.
• Morishita held out the bitten remainder, and Kazehara ate it from her fingers, saying the special flavor made it satisfying.

Kazehara Tetsu received Valentine’s chocolates, including a gift from Sakura Airi and three truffles from Sakayanagi Arisu, then went to meet Karuizawa Kei at Keyaki Mall. The chapter ended with Karuizawa scolding him for keeping her waiting.

• Majima Tomoya announced a mock exam for the next day and warned the class that its questions could appear on the Final Exam.
• Kazehara Tetsu returned to his dorm with a bag full of chocolates and found a Valentine’s gift from Sakura Airi outside his room.
• Kazehara Tetsu stored the chocolates in his refrigerator and tasted one of the truffles Sakayanagi Arisu had given him.
• Kazehara Tetsu went to Keyaki Mall and watched Karuizawa Kei wait anxiously before approaching her.
• Karuizawa Kei turned to Kazehara Tetsu and complained that he had left her waiting in the cold.

On Valentine's Day, Karuizawa Kei gave Kazehara Tetsu a carefully chosen box of chocolate, and he accepted it. He took her hand and invited her to eat somewhere she would like.

• Karuizawa Kei scolded Kazehara Tetsu for being five minutes late to their meeting.
• Karuizawa Kei complained about the girls giving Kazehara Tetsu chocolates at school and asked why he thought she had invited him out on Valentine's Day.
• Karuizawa Kei nervously held out a wrapped box of chocolate, and Kazehara Tetsu accepted it.
• Kazehara Tetsu told Karuizawa Kei he liked the gift and offered to take her somewhere to eat.
• Kazehara Tetsu took Karuizawa Kei's hand, and she let him lead her away.

Kazehara Tetsu confronted Karuizawa Kei about ending her fake relationship with Hirata and the guilt behind her choice. He reassured her that he would protect her as long as she stayed under his control, and Kei accepted his promise as they continued their Valentine's Day dinner.

• Kazehara Tetsu told Karuizawa Kei that their classmates were discussing her breakup with Hirata.
• Kei explained that she had ended the relationship because she no longer needed Hirata as a shield and did not want to drag him into trouble.
• Kazehara Tetsu accused Kei of abandoning Hirata and choosing the protection of a demon, prompting her to admit how she had used Hirata and would do anything to survive.
• Kazehara Tetsu wiped Kei's tears and promised to destroy the threats from her past if she stayed obediently in his shadow.
• Kei leaned into Kazehara Tetsu's hand, warned him not to betray her trust, and wiped her tears before resuming dinner.