Failure

After leaving the Rooftop, Yeyue headed to the Sports Field without a second thought.

Sure enough, he found him there.

Sudo was dribbling a basketball before sprinting forward and leaping up, fiercely slamming it through the hoop. Even from afar, Yeyue could sense the fluidity of Sudo's movements. His vertical leap was at least a meter off the ground.

With that height and jumping ability, Sudo was indeed exceptional, and he possessed outstanding talent for basketball as well.

Yet after making the dunk, Sudo showed no joy whatsoever. Instead, he stared blankly at the basketball in his hands, as though lost in thought.

It was the expression of someone who did not know where his future lay, one often seen on people who had been laid off.

Everything was within Yeyue's expectations.

After all, he had pushed Sudo to This Point. With expulsion looming and his falling-out with his Classmates, the basketball court was Sudo's only remaining refuge.

Even if Yeyue had not chosen to leave at the time and had stayed to Say More comforting words to Sudo, it would have been the same. At that moment, Sudo lacked the ability to manage his own emotions.

"Sudo, what are you doing here?"

Yeyue called out from a distance, then jogged over to him.

Sudo visibly turned his face aside in disgust. "What's it got to do with you?"

After saying that, Sudo pressed his fingers into the basketball so hard they had turned slightly pale. At that moment, this strongly built man looked exceptionally fragile.

"Anyway, I'm about to be expelled. At least let me stay with basketball until the end. Stop getting in my way."

"Honestly, Sudo, what are you talking about?" Yeyue said helplessly. "You don't have to be expelled anymore."

"Huh?"

Sudo looked up at Yeyue, seeming to doubt whether he had heard wrong.

"It's true. You don't have to be expelled anymore."

Thud.

Sudo's mind went blank. The basketball slipped from his hands and rolled away as he excitedly grabbed Yeyue's shoulders and shook them. "How did that happen? What happened? I really don't have to be expelled?"

"Sudo, calm down. Calm down."

Once Sudo had calmed down somewhat, Yeyue explained, "Ayanokoji discovered that you could use Private Points to buy scores. He and Horikita pooled their money to buy back the failing scores for you all. You'd better thank them properly."

"Really? Wh-... why would they do that... for someone like me..."

Upon hearing Yeyue's explanation, Sudo clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he turned his face away.

Unlike Yamauchi and others.

Sudo understood his own flaws very clearly. He knew what kind of person he was. Simply put, he was a piece of trash.

His father was a petty thug who loafed around all day, drinking and playing pachinko to get by, making a living through petty theft.

His mother was a delinquent too, returning home every day only after drinking herself into a stupor.

Though he had once sworn that he would not become trash like his parents, he could only attend a worse public school in that kind of family environment.

Influenced by his surroundings, Sudo gradually came to understand that the son of trash could only be trash himself. He treated that as an unquestionable truth and slowly began to indulge himself.

He became irritable and quick-tempered. Since everyone around him was unreasonable Guys who could not be reasoned with, he could only use scolding and anger—simple, easy-to-understand methods—to vent the dissatisfaction in his heart and make those around him shut up.

Gradually, Sudo formed a habit of it and found it difficult to control his emotions.

But Sudo would never take the initiative to socialize with people like Yeyue and Hirata. Aside from having no common topics, there were also feelings of inferiority, envy, and jealousy involved.

Birds of a Feather was every person's instinct to protect themselves.

"For that, you should thank Ayanokoji properly." Yeyue smiled. "He said Sudo was his most important friend. Sudo, I'm almost jealous of you."

"That Guy..."

Sudo awkwardly turned his face to the side.

He had only regarded Ayanokoji as a very ordinary friend. He had never expected that Ayanokoji, who was expressionless and did not talk much, would cherish their friendship so deeply.

Yeyue Pushed Sudo and smiled.

"All right, hurry back to the class. Everyone is still waiting for you."

"Hm... Oh... Right, what about you?"

"I still have something to do."

"I see. Well, bye."

Watching Sudo's retreating back, Yeyue's expression grew indifferent as well.

To maximize his benefits.

He still handed the credit over to Ayanokoji.

Although he could have claimed it as his own, he believed that, given Ayanokoji and Horikita's personalities, they would not Say More about it.

Sudo and he had never had any dealings with each other to begin with.

Even if he monopolized the credit, he could only improve his relationship with Sudo...

But Ayanokoji was different. He was...

Although he did not know how Ayanokoji viewed Sudo, in Sudo's eyes, the two had always been friends. Using this incident, they would become close friends.

Ayanokoji would also gain a weapon named Sudo. With his methods, he should be able to guide Sudo well.

As long as he could get Ayanokoji to act at the bare minimum, it would be equivalent to indirectly controlling Sudo.

As for how Ayanokoji would think about it, that was completely unimportant.

After all, everything he had said was something Ayanokoji had indeed said.

Lies that could easily be exposed would only make things worse. He had merely adjusted the course of the conversation.

He had weakened Horikita's role in it and strengthened the impression of Ayanokoji's presence.

The key to the matter still lay with Ayanokoji.

In high spirits, Sudo dashed toward D Class. Pushing open the door, he found everyone from D Class there, except Horikita and Ayanokoji.

Hooking an arm around Yamauchi's neck, Sudo was clearly a little too excited. "Haruki, where's Ayanokoji?"

Yamauchi Haruki listlessly pushed Sudo away and said somewhat dejectedly, "We're about to get expelled. Who would still care about someone like that?"

"What are you talking about? Don't you guys know? We don't have to get expelled anymore."

Although he felt a little uncomfortable inside, Sudo still excitedly threw his arms around Yamauchi and Ike's shoulders as he spoke.

He dealt with them often.

Sudo understood this very well.

There was not actually any malice in Yamauchi's words. It was just that people like them often spoke without thinking, saying whatever came to mind.

Even after saying it, they would not realize how inappropriate their words had been.

"Huh... really?" Yamauchi and Ike Kanji asked with blank expressions.

"Sudo-kun, you don't have to get expelled anymore? What happened?"

Hirata, who had been sitting at his desk looking somewhat dejected, hurriedly stood up. Aside from the people involved, no one in the class was happier than Hirata.

Before he could answer, Ayanokoji and Horikita returned to D Class one after the other.

Seeing them, Sudo immediately stepped forward and punched Ayanokoji in the chest, saying excitedly, "Kiyotaka, thanks. But you're really too distant, you know? I heard you spent quite a lot of points for us. How much was it? I'll definitely pay you back."

"..."

Ayanokoji, who had just returned to the classroom, was completely baffled by the punch. No one had ever hit him like that even in the White Room. If his reaction had not been fast enough, he would have instinctively struck back.

Horikita Suzune did not pay much attention to it. She returned to her seat and began packing her bag. She had run into Ayanokoji on the way, so it was certainly true without needing to think about it.

Ayanokoji, meanwhile, instantly fell into thought.

After today's incident, while he could not see much, he could still perceive that Tenyo Yuyuki had clearly been hiding his strength and had definitely taken some sort of action.

Then...

Why had Tenyo done this? What benefit was there in doing so? What need was there? Or had he merely spoken too quickly? And what exactly had Tenyo said? How much did Sudo know? What sort of attitude should he take toward Sudo?

All of these needed to be tested.

At the very least, Sudo knew that points could be used to buy scores, though he did not know the exact amount. Why had Tenyo revealed such valuable information to him for no reason?

Taking it further...

Given Sudo's personality, this information would likely become known throughout the entire school very soon. Had Tenyo considered that, or had he considered it and deliberately done this anyway?

Or had Tenyo already understood his abilities and judged that he was capable of giving Sudo this warning in advance?

If so, Tenyo probably bore him no ill will.

Then what was his purpose?

If he said something inappropriate...

How would Horikita Suzune, who was packing her bag, respond? If things went badly, he would leave people with the impression that he liked to lie.

No.

What he should judge here was Horikita's ability. Though her perspective was narrow, Horikita truly had ability.

If there was anything wrong, Horikita would come find him afterward.

Then there would be no problem.

Besides...

Sudo was calling him Kiyotaka. Since when had their relationship become so good?

As countless thoughts flashed through his mind, Ayanokoji spoke.

"No need. I didn't use many points, and it's not that big a deal. Tenyo already told you guys, right?"

"Wait a second."

Before Sudo could respond, Kushida stepped forward instead, asking worriedly, "It looks like Sudo and the others don't have to drop out anymore, but what points are needed for that, and what does it have to do with Yeyue?"

Although Kushida's appearance was unexpected, this kind of exchange was fine too. Ayanokoji felt that Kushida had helped him out tremendously and could not help turning his gaze toward Sudo.

"Tenyo told me all about it. He said Ayanokoji found out that you could use points to buy grades, and even paid to buy grades for us himself."

"And..." Suddenly hooking Ayanokoji's neck under his arm, Sudo teased, "Haruki, Kanji, this guy Ayanokoji even said we were his most important friends. Don't you think this guy's being way too formal?"

"Really... Ayanokoji... you..." Ike Kanji's face was full of emotion.

Yamauchi Haruki also drove his elbow into Ayanokoji's stomach. "Exactly, Kiyotaka. You're being way too formal. I thought I was going to get expelled, so hurry up and apologize to me."

The three boys began fooling around in the classroom.

Yamauchi probably wasn't seriously asking him to apologize... right? Ayanokoji could not help thinking.

Sudo was extremely happy as well. Since Ayanokoji could regard someone as rotten as him as a brother, Sudo would naturally return that sentiment in kind.

For now, he just needed to let Ayanokoji truly integrate into his little circle, so that Haruki and the others could accept him too.

Sudo had already secretly decided that Ayanokoji would never be allowed to miss future gatherings. He would not let Ayanokoji remain the kind of person whose presence or absence made no difference.

No curious busybodies came forward to ask how many points had been spent either. It was not their money, after all, and it would be bad if things went wrong and D Class ended up having to split the cost.

No one had many points left. Most of them had around twelve thousand, while someone like Yamauchi would be lucky to have a few hundred left.

In fact, most people in D Class thought it would be better if Sudo and the others were expelled.

Hirata did not say much either. Though he was somewhat worried about Ayanokoji and hoped D Class could stand together through thick and thin, he also knew that was impossible. As long as Ayanokoji himself did not mind suffering a loss, they could bury the matter and turn a blind eye to it. When necessary, they only needed to lend Ayanokoji a hand and maintain the class's stability.

In any case, at a time like this, the most correct choice was to show kindness and act happy for Sudo and the others.

Many girls and boys gathered around Sudo and the others, laughing and saying things like, "That's great," and, "I was worried for so long." Only a few Lone Wolves silently left the classroom.

"I'm so happy. It's really wonderful that Sudo and the others don't have to drop out."

Kushida let out a relieved smile, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and earned a chorus of sighs from Sudo and the others. "Kushida-chan is so gentle."

If that were all there was to it, Kushida would merely come off as fake, and she would never be able to fool the girls or become popular with them. So she smiled and suggested something else.

"Ayanokoji really is amazing. I can't believe he thought of using points to buy grades. I still have thirty thousand points, so let me contribute something for Sudo and the others too. They're important friends to me as well."

Sudo and the others were even more moved by Kushida's offer to share the cost, while most of the girls awkwardly looked away. Fortunately, Kushida had not suggested splitting the cost across the whole class, and had added the condition that they were important friends.

Otherwise, everyone would have been embarrassed.

Kushida played the role of a gentle girl perfectly. The girls could not possibly dislike such a pure and kind Little Angel.

After hesitating again and again, Hirata did not speak.

He understood Ayanokoji's thoughts very well, because he had once been just like Ayanokoji: an ordinary Junior High Student who liked to keep a low profile and disliked standing out.

This scene was probably what Ayanokoji wanted to see least.

However.

At that moment, Ayanokoji, still held in Sudo's grip, was not worried in the slightest about his abilities being exposed.

What concerned him more was Tenyo Yuyuki's intentions.

For no reason at all, Tenyo had handed him a weapon named Sudo, greatly closing the distance between him and Sudo.

He had also not disclosed the exact number of points, indirectly showing that Tenyo had no intention of becoming his enemy.

The situation was overwhelmingly favorable to him.

And yet, Ayanokoji only became more uneasy. He could not accept it. He had to figure out Tenyo's True Thoughts.

Still, Ayanokoji could not think of any downside to accepting benefits that had been handed to him for free. There was no reason to refuse.

In response to Kushida's question, Ayanokoji said woodenly, "No need. It wasn't that many points, and transferring them back and forth would be a hassle. If possible, Kushida, could you hold a celebration party for us? It would be best if Tenyo could come too, since he helped as well."

"Besides, Sudo and the others are my most important friends. I just tried to find an excuse to ask the teacher and see what happened. I never expected that you really could buy grades with points. I was just lucky."

"Of course."

Kushida Kikyo smiled happily. In her eyes, being able to hold a party for everyone was a very good thing.

It would not create distance between them because of money, and it would let her do her part to help Sudo and the others.

Her explanation that she had tried her best for her friends also won everyone's approval. After all, no one would believe that an unremarkable person like Ayanokoji possessed extraordinary abilities.

The classroom filled with laughter and the glow of friendship. When the laughter gradually died down, Horikita Suzune came over to Sudo with her schoolbag on her back and said coolly, "Although I do not wish to interrupt you at a time like this, Sudo, Yamauchi, Ike—if you do not study properly, you will still be expelled in the next exam. Do you understand that?"

"What's it got to do with you?" Sudo said irritably, before seeming to remember something. "Of course I know. I don't want to cause Kiyotaka any more trouble, either. You helped pay too, right? Thanks."

"Exactly. Of course we understand something that simple. Besides, I only did badly this time because I didn't sleep well and it affected my performance. Next time, I could even take first place in the entire grade!"

Yamauchi Haruki put an arm around Ayanokoji to show off their friendship, speaking as though it were only natural. Ayanokoji, however, looked somewhat stiff, as if he was not used to such close physical contact between boys.

"It's fine. Next time, I'll actively participate in the Student Council, so don't worry, Horikita," Ike Kanji promised with a grin.

Nodding, Horikita turned to look at the other person and said coldly, "Hm... Soto... what about you?"

"If you don't remember my name, you just skip it? That's exactly why I hate 3D girls."

The man muttered under his breath, then said timidly, "My name is Sotomura Hideo. I really just performed badly this time. I could always pass in junior high."

Seeing Horikita's gaze grow sharper, Sotomura Hideo hurriedly hid behind Ayanokoji and nodded frantically. "I get it. I'll work hard."

Only then did Ayanokoji realize that there was still someone else who had failed. His nickname seemed to be Doctor, and he was apparently on fairly good terms with Sudo and the others.

It was just that whenever Sudo and the others got together, Ayanokoji was always the last person they thought of. Whether he came or not did not matter, so Ayanokoji had only seen him a few times.

Still, since he was called Doctor and was supposedly a computer geek, his brain should not have been too bad.

After thinking carefully, Ayanokoji recalled his quiz scores. They had indeed been decent. He was a typical case of someone who, after getting the answers, had neglected to study, put everything off until the last minute, and ultimately hurt the quality of his learning.

Horikita Suzune seemed to accept that answer and left the classroom with her bag.

She had also decided that it would be better not to tell Sudo and the others the exact number of points.

First, she was afraid it would hurt morale.

Second, there was no point in telling them. Sudo and the others could not possibly pay such an enormous number of points.

Third, Tenyo Yuyuki had no motivation to Promote to A Class. If she made Tenyo Yuyuki dissatisfied, future cooperation would become difficult.

Although she knew Yuyuki was scum, Horikita still acknowledged his abilities.

At the very least, she could work more closely with Yuyuki, earn more Class Points, and then have Sudo and the others pay the Ten Thousand Points.

After all, it was equivalent to 450,000 Sakurajima Currency.

If it had only been tens of thousands of points, she could have grit her teeth and endured it. But 450,000... Horikita Suzune did not really want to suffer such a loss for Sudo and the others.

Ayanokoji also began preparing for the banquet that evening.

In the Original Work, Sudo had Made Up His Mind to study in order to pursue Horikita, hoping to leave a good impression on her. Now, however, it was for his friendship with Ayanokoji, so that he would cause as little trouble as possible.

The motivation brought by friendship and love differed.

Whether that gap could be made up depended on whether Ayanokoji wanted Sudo to be useful. At the very least, Ayanokoji's ability was beyond doubt.