At night, Konoe lay in bed, constantly replying to messages on his phone.
It seemed that Konoe's tutoring sessions had paid off, helping the students in Class D realize he wasn't as cold as he looked. And with his striking looks, it was only natural that the girls liked him.
Wanting to keep up with what was happening in class, Konoe had proactively exchanged contact information with most of his classmates. Now, however, it was having an unexpected effect.
His phone kept lighting up with invitations from girls. Most asked him to have lunch with them, and some even boldly invited him on dates over text.
At last, Konoe was so annoyed that he tossed his phone aside. There were simply too many messages, so he decided to ignore them for now and set his phone to silent. He still had some recent events to review in his Mind Palace, and no time to respond to his classmates one by one.
As usual, he started by organizing the questions:
Why was Horikita Manabu so determined to get Horikita Suzune expelled? Had he been serious about the test he'd given her today?
Whether it was the Mini-test at the start of the school year or the Midterm Exam, there seemed to be one solution to both.
Kushida hadn't come looking for him again, but why did Horikita dislike her so much?
After a dreamlike stream of thoughts passed through his mind, Konoe had the answers just a few minutes later.
First, Horikita Manabu's intention to get Horikita Suzune expelled was probably genuine. But Horikita Suzune respected her brother deeply and might even have feelings for him, so they couldn't be enemies.
Given Horikita Manabu's personality and reputation, he wouldn't resort to framing his own sister to get her expelled. From the way he'd spoken with her, it was also clear that he wanted her to learn something. This school might seem like a poor fit for Horikita Suzune, but in fact, it suited her perfectly.
There was only one reason he'd want her expelled: he feared she couldn't handle his own enemies. Thinking of it that way, perhaps today's test really had just been a test.
Second, Horikita probably disliked Kushida because she'd learned the truth about her from somewhere before. When they'd chatted at the Cafe, Horikita had seemed to know a few things about Kushida. At the library, she'd even openly called out Kushida's false persona. Given Horikita's habit of keeping everyone at arm's length, any further contact with her would only put more and more pressure on Kushida.
Lastly, there was the solution to the Midterm Exam. The questions on the Mini-test had been impossible for an ordinary student to answer even with a textbook, and the Student Council's questions today had been twice as difficult. Horikita Manabu had been surprised that Konoe could solve his interview questions on the spot. If students normally couldn't answer them and the textbooks didn't cover them, then the questions had to have come from a previous exam.
So that was what Chabashira-sensei had meant when she said, "Think it through, then do your best to avoid expulsion." An upperclassman in Class D must have an old copy of the exam.
Now that he knew Horikita Manabu meant no harm and understood how to tackle the Midterm Exam, the 100000 Points seemed all but within reach. Reassured, Konoe fell asleep.
A week had passed since the start of May. Summer had arrived, but the air was still a little chilly.
Hirata's Study Group was gradually getting underway, and Konoe was getting ready to tutor his classmates as usual. He had to report to the Student Council after school, but classes ended a little after three, so he should be able to make the five o'clock Study Group. He planned to manage both.
As soon as he entered the classroom, Konoe noticed that people kept coming over to talk to him—or, more accurately, that girls kept inviting him to have lunch together or go out somewhere after school.
Konoe didn't mind talking to people or spending time with them; he just preferred being alone. So he had no choice but to put on a somewhat cold demeanor and turn them down one by one.
Konoe glanced toward Ayanokoji. He seemed to be talking about something with Horikita. Even after her conflict with Sudo, Horikita didn't seem affected at all.
Konoe started chatting with Ayanokoji on his phone.
Konoe: "Sorry for running off earlier. Anyway, how did things go after that?"
Ayanokoji: "Thanks to you, I officially became Horikita's slave."
Konoe: "...You already were, weren't you? So you're going to start helping her now? How's Horikita's Study Group going?"
Ayanokoji: "Sudo and the others are pretty angry. Horikita doesn't seem to care, but she might make another move after a while."
Konoe: "Why are you talking like I was there...? I was there that day, sure, but I didn't say hello to you guys, did I?"
Ayanokoji: "I just saw you at the time."
How does he spot me every time? Don't tell me that people skilled in combat like Ayanokoji and Horikita Manabu can sense people's presence or something. Konoe thought in exasperation.
Konoe: "All right. But judging by those three, even if they start studying now, there's a good chance they'll fail. And they've already given up, so I've got an idea..."
Ayanokoji: "What idea?"
Konoe: "Let's talk it over at lunch."
Ayanokoji: "Then let's meet at the same spot as last time."
Ayanokoji was probably talking about the time Horikita had treated the two of them to a meal.
Konoe put his phone back in his bag. He'd already been thinking that getting students to study hard enough to pass the Midterm Exam sounded reasonable, but it felt strangely out of place at this school.
If the school didn't sort students by grades, then surely it wouldn't select or expel them based on grades alone, either.
"Konoe, do you have a moment?" came a sweet girl's voice.
Konoe looked up, and his face instantly stiffened. The person who had come over to talk to him was Kushida Kikyo.
Although Konoe had told her that day that he wanted to be friends, thinking about what Kushida had done—and how helpless he'd been at the time—still made him a little afraid.
"...What is it, Kushida?" Konoe asked, unconsciously adding the honorific.
"Aw, Konoe, that's so mean. Didn't you call me 'Little Kushida' before? Don't be so formal."
Ignoring the looks from the girls around them, Konoe continued, "...Kushida, what do you want?"
"Do I need a reason to come over and say hello? You're so cold, Konoe, especially after what you said to me before..." Kushida said, putting on a pitiful expression.
"Don't say things that could give people the wrong idea!" Konoe's voice rose despite himself.
"I'm only joking. You're the one who didn't reply to my messages. You don't blame me, do you, Konoe?"
Messages? What messages?
Konoe took out his phone and scrolled through it again and again. It took him two or three passes to find Kushida's texts. When she saw his reaction, she looked as though she understood.
22:24:01
Kushida Kikyo: Hey, were you serious about what you said before?
23:01:04
Kushida Kikyo: So you were lying after all, weren't you? Was that just an excuse to get away?
23:22:10
Kushida Kikyo: I understand. Let's just pretend nothing happened...
00:11:42
Kushida Kikyo: You're not going to go around telling the class tomorrow, are you? I still haven't washed those clothes!
...That felt a little intense.
There were two more messages after that, but Konoe didn't want to look.
"Kushida, it's true that I was wrong not to see your messages, but would a normal person send them at this hour? Also... what I said that day really was how I felt..." Remembering what he'd done that day, Konoe couldn't help blushing.
"...I'll forgive you this time. Looks like you're even more popular with girls than I thought, Konoe. Are you free at lunch? A few girls want to thank you for tutoring them."
"...Sorry, I've already made plans to eat with Ayanokoji."
"I knew you'd say no, so they sent me as their representative to thank you. I'll treat you to lunch. Can I come along?"
"But..." Konoe still had something he wanted to discuss with Ayanokoji alone.
"I can come too, right?" Kushida's voice was sweet, but Konoe suddenly felt a chill.
"...Sure."
"Great! See you at lunch!" Kushida struck a cute pose as she said goodbye. After leaving, she quickly joined another group of girls, and before long, the whole group let out a chorus of admiration.
I hope Ayanokoji won't be mad at me... Still, it might be nice to have Kushida join us. Konoe thought.
At noon, as soon as the bell rang, Kushida came straight over to Konoe. He had no choice but to take her to the Student Cafeteria, where he'd arranged to meet Ayanokoji.
"Konoe, what are you having? It's on me."
"Then I'll have that 5000-Point kaiseki set over there..."
"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Did you say the Salt-Grilled Fish Set Meal?" Kushida suddenly interrupted him.
"...At least make it the Fried Pork Cutlet."
The two of them got their food and went to the spot Ayanokoji had suggested, but someone else was sitting there with him.
"...Hi, Horikita." Konoe hadn't expected Ayanokoji to bring Horikita along, but he'd brought Kushida himself, so he couldn't complain.
"Konoe, Ayanokoji told me you were here to report on the Study Group's progress. Did I hear that wrong?" Horikita asked, then looked at Ayanokoji.
Konoe looked at Ayanokoji too, leaving him no choice but to respond. "Horikita, Kushida helped us get Sudo and the others to join the Study Group. It's not a problem if she just sits down and eats with us, is it?"
"Sorry... I insisted on coming with Konoe. Am I getting in your way?" Kushida said, looking apologetic.
"No. I wanted to bring Kushida along to help, too. Actually, the Midterm Exam might not be as straightforward as it seems." To ease the awkwardness, Konoe got straight to the point.
"What do you mean?" Hearing Konoe's words, Horikita stopped paying attention to Kushida and asked him directly.
"I think there may be another way to pass the Midterm Exam. Otherwise, it wouldn't make much sense."
At that, the other three all turned to look at Konoe.
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