Change in Attitude

By mid-May, D Class had weathered the initial chaos and gradually accepted the fact that they had no points. Although their various grades were inferior to those of the other classes, deep down, D Class was stronger than A and B Classes.

After all, most of them had been looked down upon in middle school, occupying the bottom rung of their classes. Though unwilling to admit it, Sudo and others were well aware of their own shortcomings.

At some point, Horikita behind him had also begun reading books about basketball.

"Suzune, this is quite a rare sight. You're actually interested in basketball."

"Reading books about basketball means I'm interested in basketball? That's quite a one-sided statement."

"Isn't that usually how it works?"

"Is it?"

Horikita Suzune frowned and closed her book. "Forget it. I just suddenly thought that if you don't understand an industry well enough, you can't make a proper evaluation. I have no interest in basketball."

"I see. I heard you and Ayanokoji have been holding a Study Session for Sudo and the others. How's that going?"

There were gains and losses. Although he got along well with Matsushita and the others, he was unpopular with Sudo and the rest—or rather, had no connection with them at all.

Sudo and Yamauchi instinctively felt annoyed whenever they saw rich people.

It was only natural that Horikita had asked Ayanokoji, who seemed to have a good relationship with Sudo and the others, for help.

"If you're concerned about it, why not come help out? With your grades, you're more than qualified to teach Sudo and the others."

"Even if they start studying now, they won't make it in time for the Midterm Exam, will they?"

"That's true." As if she were seeing the world for the first time, Horikita Suzune said coldly, "Sudo and the others' level of stupidity has far exceeded my expectations. Raising their grades in such a short time is indeed impossible."

Studying was a process of accumulation. With Sudo and the others not having fully mastered even elementary school material, no matter how hard they worked, they could not possibly reach a level that would let them handle high school exams in such a short time.

"Even so, you're still helping them, Suzune. You're really kind."

"I'm only doing this to Promote to A Class, nothing more," Horikita Suzune explained. "After all, we don't know what consequences expulsion might bring, so all we can do is try our best to prevent it from happening."

"You're going to do it even though you know it can't be done?"

"Tenyo, what exactly do you mean?" Horikita Suzune frowned, her tone cold. "I do acknowledge some of your abilities, but don't just stand there making sarcastic remarks. If you have what it takes, come help out. Or are you simply trying to laugh at me? That would be truly childish."

With that, Horikita turned and left, clearly extremely dissatisfied with Yeyue's attitude.

Watching Horikita's departing figure, Yeyue spoke as if absentmindedly. "What a shame. I was originally planning to tell you how to make sure Sudo and the others pass the exam."

"Hm? What method?"

Her footsteps halted. Before Yeyue could speak, Horikita Suzune brushed back the beautiful hair by her ear, turned around, and spoke first. "Let me make this clear first. Considering that D Class will likely be unable to earn points in the coming months, I won't be using too many Private Points."

After a brief pause, Horikita Suzune added, "And of course, dating is out of the question too."

In her eyes, Yeyue was undoubtedly a profit-driven person. There was no way he would help for no reason.

"What exactly is my image in your eyes?"

"A scumbag who wants to play with women's bodies?" Horikita Suzune pinched her chin as she scrutinized Yeyue before her.

"...That's an impressively accurate judgment." Yeyue shrugged indifferently and smiled. "Then, my target, Horikita Suzune, could you give me a chance to get closer?"

"Come with me."

Yeyue led Horikita Suzune out of the school.

As they strolled along the shopping street, he asked curiously, "What kind of feeling is it, being with a scumbag?"

"You have a point." Horikita Suzune glanced at Yeyue. "If you plan to lay a hand on me, you'd better be careful at night from now on."

"That's truly terrifying."

Yeyue stopped walking and suddenly grabbed Horikita Suzune's small hand, dragging her forward.

"What are you doing? Let go of me, now." Horikita Suzune angrily tried to pull her hand back, but due to the difference in strength, she could only be dragged along.

Holy Makoto Open-air Cafe.

The two found a secluded seat and sat down.

Horikita Suzune rubbed her small hand and glared coldly at Yeyue beside her. "If you dare deceive me, I absolutely won't let you off."

"That's something to look forward to."

"Hey, Tenyo, don't you think you're awfully thick-skinned?"

"It's a required course for scumbags."

"Hmph."

After letting out a cold snort, Horikita Suzune took a sip of coffee and calmed down. Whenever she faced Yeyue, she always felt a sense of helplessness.

According to Yeyue, he had discovered that the exam papers for every new class's first Midterm Exam never changed. If that was true, then as long as they bought last year's exam papers, D Class could calmly weather this crisis.

They did not wait long.

Mizuno Yasuo from Third Year C Class came over to them. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he sat across from them.

Yeyue spoke first. "Let me introduce him. This is Mizuno Yasuo from Third Year C Class."

"Horikita Suzune." Horikita spoke coldly. "Can a third-year help us solve our Midterm Exam problem?"

Mizuno Yasuo gave a dry laugh. She was really too direct.

Tenyo Yuyuki said helplessly, "Don't mind her. That's just her personality."

"It's nothing."

Mizuno Yasuo smiled and shook his head, taking out a stack of exam papers from his bag and handing them to the two of them.

Yuyuki had already spoken to him beforehand, and Mizuno Yasuo was fairly straightforward. "These are the papers from the Pop Quizzes and Midterm Exams of the past two years. They should be of some help to you."

Taking the papers, Horikita Suzune quickly flipped through them and soon confirmed that this year's Pop Quiz papers were largely the same as before.

However, there was still something Horikita could not understand.

"You're Mizuno Senpai, right? You're just giving us the papers that easily?"

Although the papers were already in Horikita's hands, she found it hard to believe that he would be so kind.

"Is there a problem?" Mizuno Yasuo smiled as he explained, "These aren't anything important to us third-years. Consider it a senior looking out for a junior."

"If that's the case, then I cannot accept them."

Horikita Suzune calmly pushed the papers back in front of Mizuno Yasuo.

If she could not confirm his intentions, she could not accept them.

Or rather—

Horikita Suzune did not want to owe a third-year a favor. After all, helping Sudo and others pass was only an Insurance Measure.

Whether expulsion would lead to irreparable consequences was still unknown. Owing someone a favor over an uncertain matter involving Sudo and others simply was not worth it. Besides, she was not qualified to speak for D Class yet.

Horikita Suzune would rather make an equal trade with him.

Mizuno Yasuo smiled awkwardly. If Yuyuki had not asked him to hand the papers to Horikita, he would have wanted to turn around and leave.

Unfortunately, Yuyuki had not given him any clearer instructions.

Yuyuki sat beside them, savoring his Black Tea without reacting. This was not only meant to leave an impression on Horikita and lure Kushida in; more importantly, it was to judge Mizuno Yasuo's ability to adapt on the spot.

Seeming to see through Yuyuki's intention to test him, Mizuno Yasuo smiled and explained, "Actually, Tenyo has already paid the points, so you don't need to think too much about it."

"Oh?" Horikita Suzune furrowed her delicate brows. "Then why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Tenyo asked me to do that. He probably didn't want you to overthink it." Mizuno Yasuo shrugged and half-jokingly said, "But seriously, you two really do look well matched, like a couple. With a boyfriend like him, you should cherish him more."

The moment he finished speaking, Yuyuki glanced at him, and Mizuno Yasuo returned the look with a smile.

It seemed Mizuno Yasuo had the same flaw as Matsushita: he liked to think himself clever. This had all been his own judgment.

However—

The correct course of action would have been to feign anger and leave immediately. Horikita Suzune would surely have taken the initiative to propose a new arrangement.

Perhaps Mizuno Yasuo had also meant to flatter him a little. He had sensed that Yuyuki was interested in Horikita and intended to help, but that was exactly what it meant to be too clever for his own good.

Sure enough—

Ignoring Mizuno's teasing, Horikita Suzune merely said calmly, "I see. Then how many points did Tenyo pay you?"

"Don't worry. It was just the normal price—Ten Thousand Points. After all, Tenyo and I are close. I wouldn't rip him off."

After thinking it over, Mizuno Yasuo settled on a reasonable price and offered an explanation to defend it.

Even if Horikita Suzune continued questioning the price, he could brush it off by citing his relationship with Yuyuki.

"That is indeed a reasonable price. Then I'll accept them without ceremony."

Horikita Suzune put away the papers, then turned and said coolly, "Tenyo, we're leaving."

"Then we'll be going now. Thank you for today, Mizuno Senpai!"

"No, it was only what a senior should do."

After smiling and saying goodbye to Mizuno Yasuo, Yuyuki followed Horikita.

In the end, Mizuno Yasuo had given another wrong answer.

His words had not been bad, and they had been enough to handle Horikita's questions. But when he did not know the other party well, careless remarks would instead expose even more problems.

He possessed above-average ability, but he also liked to think himself clever. With someone like that, work could only be assigned in more specific terms; otherwise, he would only ruin things.

Horikita was probably very confused right now as well.