Celebration Party

The day after the Midterm Results Announcement, Horikita dragged Konoe to Ayanokoji's room for a celebration party.

He'd already turned down Ike's invitation, but when Horikita came to get him, she threatened to bring up what had happened last time.

Konoe said impatiently, "Let me make one thing clear: I only came because this is related to that matter. If you think this is going to work every time, you're going to have a problem."

"It's just a celebration party. Why do you look like you're heading off to war?" Horikita said as they stopped at the door.

At that, Konoe collected himself. "Still, I didn't expect you to come too."

"Everyone did their best, more or less. Even I have to acknowledge that." Horikita stepped forward, opened the door, and went inside.

"Who do you think you are?"

The two of them bickered as they entered Room 401. Only then did Konoe realize that Ayanokoji's room was on the same floor as his.

"You're finally here. You turned me down when I invited you, but when Horikita asks, you come right away, Konoe." Ike looked toward the entrance and put on an aggrieved expression.

"Sorry, Ike. Something I was going to do suddenly became unnecessary." Konoe made up an excuse. Ayanokoji was sitting at the desk, while the trio had found spots on the floor to sit wherever they pleased. Kushida was perched on the edge of the bed.

"Just kidding. You've helped us so much, Konoe. How could I hold that against you?" Ike stood up and handed Konoe a can of juice. "Cheers!"

"Ch-cheers." Konoe took the juice, while Horikita went over to sit at the foot of the bed.

"sigh." The room's owner sighed.

"What's with you, Ayanokoji? Why the gloomy face? We all passed this time, and our class points went up," Sudo said.

"I don't mind you throwing a celebration party. I'd even say I'm all for it. But why are you holding it in my room?"

Ike explained, "My room's a mess, and Sudo and Yamauchi's are too. As for Konoe... I'm just glad he showed up. Besides, we can't have it in a girl's room, right? Wait, should we have held it in Kushida's room? Anyway, Ayanokoji, you really don't have much stuff in here."

"It's only been two months since school started. It'd be strange if I had too much stuff."

Konoe noticed that, aside from the things provided by the school and the necessities, Ayanokoji's room contained nothing else.

"But that Midterm Exam was nerve-racking. They said we'd be expelled if we failed. If I hadn't gone to the Study Group, I might've been fine, but Ike and Sudo would definitely have failed." Yamauchi unwrapped a piece of chocolate and popped it into his mouth.

"What? Didn't you lose to me twice in the last practice exam, Yamauchi? You're about the same level as us," Ike immediately objected.

Yamauchi said confidently, "No, no. If I really tried, I might be able to get Full Marks. I'm serious."

Ayanokoji cut in. "This was all thanks to Horikita and Konoe, too."

Horikita had been reading a novel from the start. Hearing her name, she looked up and said, "I only did it for myself. If anyone in Class D got expelled, our class rating would drop."

Konoe replied, "What are you talking about, Ayanokoji? We only got the old exam papers thanks to you and Kushida."

"That was under your direction," Ayanokoji said.

Ike asked curiously, "Come to think of it, I've been wondering—how did Kushida find the past exam questions?"

Kushida thought for a few seconds before answering, "Um... Ayanokoji took me to buy them from an upperclassman in Class D."

"Under Konoe's direction," Ayanokoji said again.

Konoe glanced at Ayanokoji. "Is that all you can say? Then I was directing Ayanokoji under Horikita's direction."

"You..." Horikita started to say, but someone interrupted her.

"Buy them? Seriously? How many points did they cost?" Ike asked, surprised to hear the exam papers had been bought.

Kushida said dejectedly, "Fifteen thousand. Horikita paid with her points. I wanted to pay for part of it, but she refused..."

Konoe took a sip of juice and said with a sigh, "Honestly, you probably would've passed even without the old exam papers, right? So you really have Horikita to thank. She even brought me in to help with the Study Group for your sake."

"Yeah, that's true! Our practice exam scores were high enough to pass. When you put it that way, we really owe Horikita."

"Looks like we misunderstood Horikita before."

"I always knew Horikita was a good person."

The trio praised and thanked Horikita in unison.

"...I only... did it for myself." Horikita didn't seem used to being thanked, and her voice turned awkward.

After the celebration party ended, Kushida stayed behind to help Ayanokoji clean up his room. Since his room was on the same floor, Konoe decided to stay and help too.

"I'm sorry to make you help me clean up," Ayanokoji said flatly.

"I should be thanking you for letting us use your room," Kushida replied.

"Right. You'd better thank me properly," Konoe said, nodding.

"No need to thank me." Ayanokoji ignored him.

Once they'd almost finished cleaning up, Kushida suddenly said, her head bowed, "...Do boys really prefer girls like Horikita?"

"I can only say that she certainly has her looks. I can't comment on anything else. But Ayanokoji spends a lot of time with her, so maybe he likes her." Konoe said it on purpose.

"Horikita and I are just friends... No, we're just seatmates."

"I see. I'll head back, then." Kushida didn't even say goodbye to Konoe. She turned and left.

Seeing that, Konoe said goodbye to Ayanokoji too, then followed Kushida out.

Kushida tilted her head and asked Konoe in a cute voice, "Huh? Aren't you going this way, Konoe? The elevator's this way."

"I'm going back to the dorm. It's on this floor."

"Really?" Kushida hurried over to Konoe's side and said with a smile, "Would it be okay if I came by to see it?"