Kushida Kikyo was in a very good mood today. After trying everything she could think of to get along with her former middle school classmate, Horikita Suzune, she had finally received an invitation from her out of the blue.
"Hey, Kushida, are you free after school this afternoon? There's something important I need to talk to you about."
Kushida Kikyo had already made plans for that afternoon. She was supposed to go out with her friends from Class B—after all, she was one of the popular kids.
But as soon as she heard Horikita Suzune had invited her, Kushida Kikyo immediately canceled her plans with her Class B friends.
Nothing mattered more than meeting Horikita Suzune.
She had to find out as soon as possible how much Horikita knew about her.
She had to find out as soon as possible how much Horikita knew about that incident.
"So why do I have to be here, too?" Tsubaki Yuki said, looking a little helpless.
Tsubaki Yuki, Horikita Suzune, and Kushida Kikyo were sitting around a table at Palette.
Horikita Suzune had organized the get-together and was treating them.
With Kushida Kikyo there to keep the conversation going, chatting about this and that, it wasn't especially awkward.
"By the way, Horikita, we went to the same middle school, didn't we? Do you remember me?" Kushida Kikyo asked suddenly.
Horikita Suzune visibly froze for a moment. "Huh? We went to the same middle school? What class were you in?"
"Class 20. You must've been in Class 1, since that was for the top students," Kushida Kikyo said, seeming a little embarrassed.
"...Sorry, Kushida. I spent all of middle school buried in my studies to stay at the top of my grade. I hardly paid attention to my classmates, let alone students in other classes." Horikita Suzune lowered her head slightly in apology.
"I'm sorry. So that's why you kept trying to get close to me, Kushida. I'm sorry for treating you that way before."
Tsubaki Yuki watched Horikita Suzune with amazement. It seemed last night's heart-to-heart had really helped; Horikita Suzune was clearly acting much more normally now.
"I see," Kushida Kikyo said, smiling with genuine happiness.
So she really didn't know about that incident. Thank goodness.
Then there was no need to reveal her true nature and threaten her.
It was nice to have another friend instead of an enemy.
"So, Horikita, why did you invite Tsubaki and me here today?" Kushida Kikyo picked up her coffee and took small sips.
With the weight lifted from her heart, she could barely hide her delight. She even felt like humming.
"About that." Horikita Suzune's tone turned serious. "I want to help tutor people at the study group."
"Huh? But you're second in the class, aren't you?"
"I don't need tutoring. I want to help tutor others," Horikita Suzune said, shaking her head.
"I see. If you help out, everyone will feel much less stressed!" Kushida Kikyo smiled.
"And I want to drag those three idiots into the study group, too. I'll need both of you to help with that." Horikita Suzune finally explained why she had called them there.
"You mean Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo, right?" Kushida Kikyo said. "I don't think they've signed up for the study group. Hondo and the others have, though."
"Exactly. The ones most at risk of expulsion aren't even aware of it. It's hard not to worry about their intelligence," Horikita Suzune said, criticizing them without the slightest restraint.
"So, Kushida, could I ask you to bring those three to the study group? I think you're the only one who can manage it. Once they show up, I'll personally tutor them."
"Of course! Leave it to me!"
"You're going to tutor them? Their reputations are already rock bottom. Why not take this chance to get them all expelled?" Tsubaki Yuki said casually, suggesting something outrageous.
"We don't know what the penalty for expulsion will be yet. What if a class with expelled students can't advance to Class A?" Horikita Suzune replied.
"So you need me to help, too?" Tsubaki Yuki said lazily. "I don't want to get involved, and I don't want to teach anyone."
"Then could you help by making some practice questions? With your ability, that should be easy."
"It's not easy at all!"
It was all material Tsubaki Yuki had learned as a child, and she had no idea what difficulty level was appropriate now. It would be all too easy for her to accidentally include material beyond the syllabus.
But Horikita stared at her. "You drank it, didn't you?"
"Drank what?" Tsubaki Yuki's hand froze in midair, coffee cup in hand.
"The coffee I paid for." Horikita Suzune held out her hand. "Pay me back in points."
"How much can a cup of coffee cost—"
"One million."
"Why don't you just rob me!"
Horikita Suzune's expression didn't change. She didn't seem to think she'd done anything wrong. "The coffee is mine, so I can charge whatever I want for it."
"Um... Horikita... Tsubaki... how about we all try to get along?" Kushida Kikyo hurriedly stepped in to ease the tension.
"Fine. I'll help a little," Tsubaki Yuki said, then drank the rest of her coffee as if in a huff.
"Horikita, I'll go talk to Ike and the others. Don't worry—I'll definitely bring them to the study group!" Kushida Kikyo promised enthusiastically.
"Good. Thanks for doing this, Kushida. Tsubaki and I will discuss the practice questions some more."
After saying goodbye, Kushida Kikyo left first.
Once she was gone, Tsubaki Yuki felt there was nothing left for her to do and prepared to leave, too. But Horikita Suzune called out to her.
"Tsubaki, I didn't actually invite you here to talk about the study group."
"Then what was it?" Tsubaki Yuki had no choice but to sit back down.
Horikita Suzune lowered her voice. "It's about Kushida. I know a little about what she was like in middle school..."
"Sorry, Horikita, I don't care about Kushida at all, and I'm not curious about her past. I made plans with Yuto, so I'm leaving."
Tsubaki Yuki cut her off without giving Horikita Suzune a chance to react, then hurried out.
Horikita Suzune sat frozen in place and could only sigh. "Sigh..."
She finished her coffee and left Palette as well.
Not long after Horikita Suzune had left, someone returned to the table where they had been sitting. It was none other than Kushida Kikyo, who had left earlier.
She carefully checked her surroundings, then retrieved her phone from beneath the seat where she had been sitting.
Kushida Kikyo had deliberately left it there.
The phone was still on the recording screen. It had been recording the entire time.
As Kushida Kikyo listened to the recording, her expression gradually darkened.
So Horikita Suzune knew... She didn't just know; she wanted to tell the other students...
Well, then, Horikita, you brought this on yourself...
Looks like I'll have to get you expelled...
I have to protect my position.
Before you continue