In the teachers' office.
"I've already made it perfectly clear! Your class assignments were determined according to the S system.
Since you were placed in Class D, that can only mean you're incompetent!"
After Horikita Suzune kept pressing her with questions, Chabashira Sae was beginning to lose patience.
She didn't know her own limitations. She wasn't particularly capable, but she had plenty of pride.
"But..."
Horikita Suzune tried to say more, but Chabashira Sae cut her off.
"If you think your abilities should have earned you a place in Class A, then you should climb your way up there yourself instead of coming here to complain!
Are you still a little child who hasn't grown up yet? Do you have to come running to a teacher whenever something happens?
Besides, it's not like you're the best in your class.
Which of Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo isn't better than you?!
And which of Gojo-kun and Koenji Rokusuke is worse than you?!"
Horikita Suzune had been at a loss for words, but when she heard the teacher say Gojo-kun was better than her, she couldn't help arguing back.
"That blindfolded guy is only a little better than me academically! He might not be better than me in other areas!"
"Then you should prove it right now, instead of coming here and bawling at me!
If you have no other questions, get out! I still have paperwork to sort through, and I don't have time to indulge you!"
After being kicked out by the teacher, Horikita Suzune stood blankly in the hallway.
She had followed in her brother's footsteps to this school, but classes here were assigned according to the principle of merit.
How could she face her brother, who was in Class A, when she was in Class D? On top of that, her brother was the Student Council President.
If other people found out that the Student Council President's little sister was a defective student in Class D, they'd surely be shocked, wouldn't they?
Had she embarrassed her brother again?
"Horikita-san, did Chabashira-sensei call you over too?"
Hearing someone call her name, Horikita Suzune looked up and saw Ayanokoji Kiyotaka staring at her expressionlessly.
"No!"
She stormed off as soon as she finished speaking.
Watching her leave, Ayanokoji found her reaction rather baffling.
Then he knocked and entered the office.
In the dormitory.
"Bang, bang, bang, bang!!"
"Mako, are you in there? There's something I want to talk to you about!"
Kobashi Yume and the others had come to Amikura Mako's door and were pounding on it.
They called out to tell her why they were there.
After a while.
"What is it?"
Amikura Mako's voice came from behind the door. She sounded very weak.
It seemed as if she had anticipated something strange.
Despite her casual tone, Kobashi Yume and the others began to worry and hurriedly called out,
"Mako, your voice sounds really strange! Could you open the door first?"
"Yeah, Mako, open the door for a moment!"
Ichinose hurriedly urged her too.
They hadn't seen their good friend for only two days, yet she sounded so weak.
But Amikura Mako didn't seem inclined to say more. She simply continued in her feeble voice,
"I'm fine. Just tell me what it is."
"It's about Gojo-kun!"
Shiranami Chihiro, standing behind them, couldn't take it anymore. These people were so worried they'd completely forgotten the point.
With a clunk, the door opened.
A haggard figure came into view.
"Pong!"
Seeing her best friend in such a state, Kobashi Yume threw her arms around her and cried out anxiously,
"Have you not eaten in ages?! Why do you look so weak?"
"I-I'm fine. What happened to Gojo-kun?"
Compared to her own condition, Amikura Mako was more concerned about Gojo Satoru.
She was afraid something had happened to Satoru-kun.
Seeing them still dithering, Shiranami Chihiro came right out and said,
"Gojo-kun isn't dating Kamuro-san!"
"Eh?
Really?!
You're not just saying that to trick me because I look like this, are you?"
Hearing that Gojo Satoru was still single, Amikura Mako could hardly believe it, but she was still thrilled.
At that, Kobashi Yume finally let go of Amikura Mako, placed both hands on her shoulders, and looked her in the eye.
"It's true! Chihiro and I already went to Class A to ask Kamuro-san, and she told us herself!
She also said Gojo-kun isn't dating anyone right now!"
Hearing that, Amikura Mako finally smiled. Tears began streaming down her face, and she sobbed as she spoke.
"Waaah!!!
I thought all my years of effort had gone to waste!
I haven't been able to eat anything for the past two days!"
She sniffed hard, then kept wiping her tears with both hands. Her tear-streaked face was lit up with a smile.
She cheered up and continued haltingly,
"Th-thank goodness. Thank goodness it was all a lie."
Seeing that her friend had finally recovered, Kobashi Yume hurriedly said,
"Then should we go find Gojo-kun now?
Kamuro-san already told us where Gojo-kun lives, and where he's likely to go."
She looked so eager, you'd think she was the one going to meet her sweetheart.
Ichinose said helplessly,
"Shouldn't you eat something first? And Mako smells a little strange. Have you not bathed for the past two days?"
"Exactly. Why does Yume-chan seem even more anxious than Mako?"
When Ichinose started teasing her, Shiranami Chihiro immediately joined in.
"Eh?! N-no! I just saw how upset Mako was the other day, so I wanted her to go see Gojo-kun as soon as possible."
Remembering Amikura Mako's heart-wrenching state from the other day, and how she'd kept voicing her complaints, Kobashi Yume hoped she'd never have to see her like that again. All she wanted was for her good friend to cheer up soon.
"Hahaha..."
Watching them fuss over her, Amikura Mako laughed.
Only now did she realize she wasn't a child anymore.
She had plenty of close friends now, and she wouldn't lose Satoru-kun either!
Having pulled herself together, Amikura Mako smiled brightly and said,
"Come on in, everyone. I want to take a shower and eat something first, then go find Satoru-kun.
I don't want him to see me looking like this!
He'd be so disappointed, wouldn't he?"
Seeing Amikura Mako return to her usual cheerful self, Kobashi Yume and the others stopped arguing and smiled as they nodded.
"He's not in his room?"
Hirata Yosuke knocked on Gojo Satoru's door, but no one answered. He looked puzzled.
But if Gojo Satoru wasn't there, waiting around wouldn't help.
Just as he was about to leave—
"Yo! Isn't that Hirata? What are you doing outside my room? Don't tell me you're here to steal something?"
The joking voice from behind startled Hirata Yosuke, making him flinch.
He turned around in a hurry and saw Gojo Satoru standing there, grinning at him.
"Gojo-kun!"
Seeing the person he'd been searching for, Hirata called out excitedly.
But Gojo Satoru couldn't be bothered with him. He simply said,
"That sounds kind of sappy. If you don't need anything, get going. I'm heading inside."
"N-no, I do need something! I'd like to talk to you, Gojo-kun!"
Seeing that Gojo Satoru was about to send him away, Hirata quickly explained why he'd come.
Seeing how serious Hirata looked, Gojo Satoru dropped his smile and agreed.
"Let's talk outside. I don't want a guy coming into my room."
Before you continue