Horikita Suzune's Study Group

When Konoe returned to his dorm at night, he pondered countermeasures for the midterm exam.

While it seemed like students willing to study had a good chance of passing, the ones with the least certainty were the Idiot Trio.

Even with Ayanokoji's help, given Horikita's interpersonal skills, her tutoring sessions might not go smoothly. Furthermore, Ayanokoji had to maintain the facade of having average grades, so he likely wouldn't offer direct help with tutoring.

Thinking this, Konoe's brow furrowed. Even if Sudo and the others started working hard, who could guarantee they would pass?

'Wait, something's off. Where's the disconnect...'

'Passing... How is the passing score calculated again? This time it seems to be thirty-three points...'

Konoe lay on his bed in his pajamas. To devise the most effective strategy, he needed to use his Mind Palace to organize his thoughts:

Could Hirata's study group guarantee everyone except the trio would pass?

Why was the passing score thirty-three?

What would the difficulty of the midterm exam be? Would it be like the mini-tests?

Would Horikita make the trio study properly? Even with Ayanokoji's help, could they pass if they started now? Why did they choose this school in the first place?

This school had many students who weren't good at studying. Chabashira said the school didn't judge students solely on academic performance, so why would they expel students who failed?

With these questions, Konoe activated his Mind Palace.

Every detail, from the moment Chabashira announced the midterm exam, unfolded in his mind.

Hirata's study group was fine. Students willing to participate had a certain level of motivation, and the possibility of passing was high.

The passing score was calculated by dividing the average score of all students by two, rounded to the nearest whole number, hence thirty-three points.

The school had just opened, so the midterm exam wouldn't be very difficult. However, the reason why the mini-test questions were extremely difficult remained unknown for now.

The study sessions led by Horikita with the trio would definitely have unexpected issues. Horikita's personality meant she wouldn't patiently deal with students like Sudo and Yamauchi.

Students like Sudo had their reasons for being at the school. There were delinquent students in the upper grades who weren't good at studying, and they had gone through these assessments.

Konoe opened his eyes, having decided on his next course of action:

He would put Hirata's study group on hold for now. It would be best to find a senior from Class D to confirm how they had passed their assessments in the past. Then, he would need to observe and assist Horikita's study group, and afterwards, gather intelligence from Chabashira and the Student Council.

'Sigh, 100,000 points are not easy to earn...' Konoe organized his thoughts and drifted off to sleep.

The next day after school.

Although it wasn't time for the class study group, Konoe still greeted Hirata, stating he was going to check on the trio and might not be able to make it today. Hirata strongly agreed, assuring Konoe that he would handle things on his end.

Konoe learned from Ayanokoji via mobile phone that they were studying in the library.

As soon as he entered the library, Sudo's angry voice boomed:

"How dare you call me stupid and ignorant? Huh?"

"That's right. Students like you who can't even solve simultaneous equations, I'm scared just thinking about how you'll survive in society in the future." The cold and sharp tone could only belong to Horikita.

Even though she was a girl, Sudo still grabbed Horikita by her lapel.

"Sudo-classmate!" Kushida stood up, attempting to mediate. She was likely Ayanokoji's recruited helper.

"Being able to solve problems means nothing. Is studying even necessary? Rather than practicing problems here, I'd rather practice basketball and become a professional player in the future. That's much better than being a bookworm here!"

"Is that so? How childish. Being able to solve problems one by one like this is what changes your life up to this point. In other words, studying isn't useless; it actually makes the future easier. It's the same principle for basketball. You probably only play to your strengths, don't you? You likely choose to avoid the parts that truly require hard practice, just like you do with studying. I don't believe you practice seriously. Not to mention, basketball is a team sport. With a personality like yours that disrupts the harmony around you, if I were your advisor teacher, I definitely wouldn't let you become a regular player."

"You!" Whether it was because she hit a nerve or because her tone was too harsh, Sudo was momentarily speechless.

"I'm not interested in you at all, but I can see what kind of person you are at a glance. Professional basketball? Do you think this world is so simple that someone like you can easily achieve your dreams? People like you who give up halfway will absolutely not become professional players. Even if you somehow become a professional player through sheer luck, you won't achieve your desired annual income. The moment you chose this goal without knowing your own limitations, you were already an idiot."

"You bastard!"

Seeing this, Kushida immediately stepped forward and grabbed Sudo's arm. Ayanokoji, on the other hand, appeared calm.

Sudo was clearly losing control, but Horikita remained unfazed, still looking at him with cold eyes:

"Why don't you give up studying right now... no, why don't you just drop out right now? Then abandon your silly dream of professional basketball, get a part-time job, and live a miserable life."

"That's exactly what I want! I quit. It's just making me work hard anyway. I took time off from my club for this, it's a complete waste of time. Goodbye!"

"How ridiculous. Studying is inherently a difficult task," Horikita sneered.

Horikita's relentless pursuit was relentless. If Kushida hadn't intervened, Sudo might have actually resorted to violence. At this moment, Sudo was impatiently putting his books and belongings back into his bag one by one.

Witnessing this scene, Konoe couldn't help but ponder Horikita's words.

While what Horikita said was indeed true, even a societal consensus, it didn't give her the right to openly insult someone and scorn their dreams. Even if everything she said was correct, she should have considered the other person's feelings to some extent, not only out of respect for others but also to achieve the best outcome.

The reason Horikita currently held the advantage in their verbal exchange was because the school had presented the midterm exam as a challenge, making Sudo understand that he would be expelled if he didn't study. Horikita, who was tutoring the trio, was naturally in a superior position. But if she criticized others without reservation, would Sudo be able to continue?

Would the school's next challenge definitely be academics? In other words, would people like Sudo inevitably be useless burdens?

Konoe didn't think so.

While Konoe was lost in these thoughts, the trio had already dispersed and left. The atmosphere made it awkward for Konoe to approach them. He decided to continue observing stealthily. Now, only Horikita, Kushida, and Ayanokoji remained.

"Horikita-classmate, if you act like this, no one will want to study with you."

"I was indeed wrong. Even if I teach these people now and they pass the midterm exam, they will inevitably find themselves in the same predicament next time. I have deeply realized that this is both inefficient and superfluous."

"What do you mean by that?" Kushida asked, confused.

"I mean, it's best for those who drag us down to leave now."

Konoe considered Horikita's plan. Doing so might actually increase their chances of reaching Class A, but it also carried significant risks. Regardless, Konoe wouldn't accept it. He didn't care about reaching Class A; he still wanted to secure the 100000 Points from Chabashira.

"How can you say that... Ayanokoji, say something too."

"If Horikita has reached that conclusion, then it's fine as it is, isn't it?"

"Aya... Ayanokoji, you too?"

"Yeah, I won't abandon those guys, but I'm not cut out for teaching, so I can't do anything. In the end, it's no different from Horikita," Ayanokoji replied calmly.

Konoe couldn't help but sneer. He hadn't figured out Ayanokoji's true strength yet, but he was sure it wasn't as he claimed. The reason Ayanokoji wouldn't act was likely the same as Konoe's: he didn't care about promotion to the next class and was too lazy to get involved.

"I see... I understand," Kushida's expression was clouded. "I'll definitely find a way. I absolutely don't want to part with everyone this early."

"Kushida, do you really mean that?" Horikita asked abruptly.

"What do you mean? I don't understand..."

"If you're saying that from the bottom of your heart, then it's fine. But I don't believe you genuinely want to help them."

Hearing Horikita's words, Konoe felt a pang of doubt. While he admired Kushida's enthusiasm, was it really something to be suspicious of? Moreover, given Horikita's personality, she would normally be indifferent to everyone. Normally, she wouldn't care at all about what Kushida said.

Something feels off. And that cafe earlier... Konoe recalled some events from their outing at the cafe. Horikita seemed to know something about Kushida, something Kushida explicitly didn't want Horikita to reveal.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand. Why can Horikita-san say such offensive things so carelessly? It makes me... sad."

Kushida lowered her head, then seemed to rally herself, lifting her head immediately. "Well then, I'll be going. See you tomorrow." With that, Kushida left.

Too many strange things are happening. For now... I'll go comfort Kushida. Horikita can be left to Ayanokoji. Konoe thought to himself, then slowly followed Kushida's departing figure.