Teacher-Student Meeting

The other Counseling Room had a layout similar to the previous one, but the atmosphere was entirely different. It was clearly much tidier and brighter, and a faint, soothing fragrance lingered in the air. A lightweight frosted-glass partition divided the room into two sections. The outer area was a small kitchenette, with a simple white cabinet against the wall, a compact water dispenser, and a delicate tea set. The inner room held an oval conference table and several comfortable chairs, with soft light filtering through the blinds.

As soon as Hoshinomiya Chie-sensei entered, the sly, assertive expression she had worn in the hallway with Chabashira seemed to be shut outside the door. All that remained was the sweet, approachable smile characteristic of a Class B Advisor. She headed for the kitchenette with practiced ease, her movements light and fluid.

"Come on, come on, don't just stand there. Sit wherever you like~" she said, ushering in Shimiya Kuki and Ichinose Honami as she opened the cabinet and took out a tin of tea leaves, a teapot, and several white porcelain cups. She pinched a small amount of tea into the pot and poured in hot water, her flowing movements graced with an elegance that was a pleasure to watch. "I'll make you some tea so you can relax~ It sure was lively in the hallway just now." Her tone was light, as if the confrontation had been nothing more than a harmless little farce.

Ichinose Honami sat beside the conference table in the inner room as instructed. Watching Hoshinomiya-sensei prepare the tea with such skill seemed to ease some of the tension in her. Shimiya Kuki, meanwhile, sat calmly across from Ichinose, his gaze quietly observing Hoshinomiya. Her posture and movements were worlds apart from the woman who had relentlessly cornered someone with razor-sharp words just minutes earlier.

Soon, clear amber tea filled the porcelain cups, giving off a mellow fragrance. Hoshinomiya-sensei carried over the tray and placed a cup in front of each of them, then took her own and sat at the head of the table, directly opposite Shimiya Kuki.

She took an elegant sip, a satisfied smile on her face. Only then did she raise her warm amber eyes, glancing between Shimiya and Ichinose before finally settling on Shimiya. Her smile remained sweet, but her gaze had grown more serious.

"Honami," Hoshinomiya-sensei said gently, with just the right touch of apology, "first, I want to say I'm sorry. Of course I support your study group, and I'd love to hear what you think, but..." She paused and turned her gaze to Shimiya Kuki. "I need to speak with Shimiya-kun alone about something next, and it might involve some private matters concerning his studies or future plans."

Hoshinomiya-sensei set down her teacup and folded her hands on the table, leaning forward slightly. Her tone was sincere and respectful. "So I'd like to ask Shimiya-kun what he thinks. Honami, would you mind waiting in the kitchenette for a little while?" Then she immediately added, looking at Ichinose with a gentle expression, "Of course, if you feel you could take part in this discussion too, or if Shimiya-kun doesn't mind you staying, you're more than welcome to remain and listen. It's entirely up to him."

Ichinose Honami stood up at once, smiling understandingly. "That's all right, Hoshinomiya-sensei! If it's private, I completely understand. I'll wait outside." She looked at Shimiya Kuki. "Take your time, Shimiya-kun. There's no rush." With that, she picked up her teacup and prepared to head into the outer room.

Just then, Shimiya Kuki, who had been silent until now, spoke calmly.

"Wait, Ichinose-kun." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly through the quiet inner room.

Ichinose and Hoshinomiya-sensei both turned to look at him. A hint of confusion crossed Ichinose's face.

Shimiya Kuki's calm gaze swept over Ichinose before settling on Hoshinomiya-sensei's questioning amber eyes. His tone was composed but clear. "Hoshinomiya-sensei, I don't mind Ichinose-kun taking part in the conversation."

At that, Hoshinomiya-sensei's perfectly sweet smile faltered for the briefest moment, and even the corners of her eyes seemed to pause. The answer had clearly surprised her. Given Shimiya Kuki's usual aloofness and instinct for self-preservation, she had expected him to ask Ichinose to leave. She had even prepared a whole spiel about it being "personal."

"Oh?" Hoshinomiya-sensei quickly recovered, her smile blooming again, though surprise and a deeper scrutiny flickered in her eyes. "You mean you don't mind Honami staying to hear what I'm about to discuss?" She needed to make sure.

"That's right." Shimiya Kuki affirmed it briefly. "Ichinose-kun is one of the class's core members. She has a right to know about matters concerning the class. Besides," he paused, his expression calm, "I don't think there's any need to deliberately hide what you're about to discuss from her." His words were direct and frank, and hinted that he had already guessed the nature of Hoshinomiya's supposed "personal" topic—it likely had to do with the class as a whole, rather than being purely private.

Hoshinomiya-sensei gazed at Shimiya for several seconds, as if her smiling eyes were rapidly weighing something. A few moments later, she suddenly laughed, her voice bright and clear, with genuine delight and a touch of surprise. "My, my~ What an unexpected and delightful answer, Shimiya!" She clapped lightly, and a newfound admiration entered her gaze. "It seems you understand the 'strength of the class as a whole' that I mentioned earlier better than I thought! Excellent, simply excellent!"

She turned to Ichinose Honami, who was still standing there holding her teacup, somewhat at a loss, and beckoned enthusiastically. "Honami, did you hear that? Sit down, sit down! If Shimiya trusts you enough to think you should take part, then of course I don't mind! That saves you from having to wait around outside~" Her tone had returned to its usual breeziness.

A delighted, touched smile immediately bloomed on Ichinose Honami's face. She looked at Shimiya Kuki, her eyes shining. "Really, Shimiya-kun? Thank you!" She hadn't expected the usually distant Shimiya to invite her to stay, and his trust warmed her heart. She quickly sat back down and straightened her posture, clearly taking the upcoming discussion even more seriously.

"All right, it's time for a little meeting of Class B's 'core members'~" Hoshinomiya-sensei said with a playful wink, picking up her teacup again. But her smile had faded slightly, and her gaze had grown serious and meaningful. She skipped the small talk, glanced at Shimiya and Ichinose, and got straight to the point.

"First," she said clearly and gently, yet with an unmistakable guiding quality, "you saw what happened in the hallway earlier. Chabashira and I, well... had a little 'exchange.'" She deliberately used the understated word "exchange," but her amber eyes gleamed sharply. "During that conversation, you may have noticed a few things, or heard certain... particular words?"

Her gaze was fixed mainly on Shimiya Kuki, clearly testing him. She wanted to know whether this perceptive student had caught the key piece of information.

Ichinose Honami immediately recalled the tense atmosphere in the hallway and Hoshinomiya-sensei's sudden remark about "insubordination." Confusion and unease crossed her face. "Sensei, do you mean the word 'insubordination'? I heard it, but..." She didn't quite understand what it meant in this context.

Shimiya Kuki met Hoshinomiya's gaze calmly without looking away, and answered briefly and firmly, "Yes, sensei." He had noticed it, and had immediately understood what it implied.

Hoshinomiya-sensei seemed pleased with Shimiya's response. She gave a slight nod, her smile holding a hint of "just as I thought." Rather than explain the word directly, she used it to lead into a deeper topic.

"Good. I'm glad you noticed." Her voice slowed, taking on the solemnity of someone revealing a secret. "That word actually reveals one of the most fundamental—and cruelest—rules at Advanced Nurturing High School. It's closely connected to what I'm about to tell you."

She set down her teacup and leaned forward slightly, her gaze sweeping across the faces of the two outstanding students as she spoke each word clearly.

"Shimiya, Honami, both of you need to remember this: the rankings of the four classes at this school aren't set in stone."

"Although Class B ranked below Class A and came in second when we enrolled, that doesn't mean we'll always be Class B." Her tone grew grave. "If our Class Points keep dropping, until they fall below Class C's..." She drew out the end of the sentence, letting the weight of the hypothetical possibility settle in the air. "Then Class C will take our position. We'll become the new Class C, and they'll be promoted to Class B. The same rule applies between Class A and us, as well as between Class C and Class D. That's what 'insubordination' really means: class rankings rise and fall according to how many Class Points each class has!"

The clear, cruel rule had now been laid bare. Ichinose Honami drew in another sharp breath, her face paling slightly. She fully understood the immense pressure and possibility contained in the phrase "insubordination"—Class D might replace Class C, Class C might replace Class B, and Class B... might even replace Class A! The reverse was true as well! Class Points were the deciding factor in everything! Last month's sudden decrease in points now seemed unimaginably dire! Shimiya Kuki remained calm, but his gaze grew more profound. This confirmed his suspicions and revealed the true nature of the school's competition.

Hoshinomiya-sensei studied their reactions, especially Shimiya's unfathomable eyes, before continuing. "I brought up this rule, especially in light of that little 'incident' in the hallway, because I want you to understand two things."

She held up one finger.

"First, a sense of crisis. Our position isn't secure. Class C is watching us closely, and Class D could still turn things around, even if that seems difficult at the moment. Every deduction, every failed exam could send us sliding into the abyss. Class D's Zero Points are the most painful lesson of all."

She held up a second finger, her gaze burning with ambition.

"Second, possibility! If rankings can fall, then they can rise, too! 'Insubordination' isn't just a pipe dream for Class C or Class D. It should be a goal for us in Class B as well! We shouldn't just hold on to our current rank—we should aim for Class A's position! It isn't impossible. As long as we work together and give it our all in the upcoming Special Exams and every other opportunity to earn Points!"

Her voice brimmed with conviction and a stirring force that brooked no argument. Ichinose Honami was shaken by the ambition and expectations in her teacher's words, and the flames of Fighting Spirit kindled in her eyes. Replacing Class A? The goal sounded impossibly distant, but it wasn't hopeless!

"I'm telling you this," Hoshinomiya-sensei continued, her tone gentler again but no less weighty, "because I want you to understand that at Advanced Nurturing High School, your personal triumphs and failures are tightly bound to the rise and fall of your class. Class B needs everyone's strength, especially students like you, with your exceptional abilities and potential to lead." Her gaze lingered on Shimiya and Ichinose. "You're the key to whether Class B can hold its ground—or even go further."

She lifted her teacup and took a small sip, as though using the warmth of the tea to settle her recently stirred emotions.

"All right, that's enough about our class's fundamental rules and goals." She set down her teacup. Her smile brightened again, though her gaze grew more meaningful, and she focused mainly on Shimiya Kuki. "Now, let's talk about what I really wanted to discuss with you, Shimiya Kuki. Since Honami's here too, her opinion matters just as much."

The atmosphere in the Counseling Room grew subtler and more solemn, with the fragrance of tea mingling with the harsh rules they had just learned. Hoshinomiya-sensei had laid so much groundwork and set such lofty goals. What she was about to say to Shimiya Kuki was bound to concern Class B's future, and might even involve some plan to "make use" of Shimiya's abilities. The real teacher-student discussion was only now reaching its heart.