As the last classmate walked out of the classroom, Shangguan Che let out a long breath and immediately activated Clairvoyance, sweeping his gaze toward the girls' dormitory.
Sakura Airi had just pushed open the dormitory door. The room was empty, with no suspicious people inside, and he hadn't spotted anyone acting suspicious on the way there either.
Only after confirming it was safe did he finally relax, slumping into his chair as if all the bones had been pulled from his body.
"Clairvoyance off, Clairvoyance off. I can finally take a break." He rubbed his aching temples, when Hirata's voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Shangguan, do you think you can find some of the midterm exam answers this time?"
Shangguan Che slowly sat up straight. Seeing that only the two of them remained in the classroom, he deliberately put on an air of mystery. "I don't know. It depends on whether my 'Intelligence Department' comes through."
He knew full well that finding the answers wouldn't be difficult, but he couldn't make promises too confidently. If something went wrong, he'd be in trouble.
"I see." Hirata didn't ask further. He smiled and patted Shangguan Che on the shoulder. "Then let's go get dinner. It's on me."
"Sure!" Shangguan Che perked up instantly, his eyes lighting up. "I can finally have a decent meal! By the way, what about Soccer Club practice? Aren't you going?"
"I asked the club president for permission to skip."
"The president agreed?" Shangguan Che raised an eyebrow, a hint of wounded reproach in his voice. "I know he must have agreed if you said so, but I still want to ask.
"Back when I asked for time off, I had to write an application and promise to make up the practice. You just said one sentence and got approved. My poor heart's a little hurt."
Hirata laughed at his joke and said helplessly, "The president's a pretty nice guy. You'll know once you spend more time with him. He also said that the study group is a way to contribute to the class, and it's much more important than practice."
"I see. I was being too narrow-minded." Shangguan Che rubbed his chin and nodded, then Hirata poked him in the arm.
"By the way, were you not really listening when I explained the study group's arrangements earlier?"
Shangguan Che's eyes darted aside. He gave up pretending and said, "I was listening carefully. I just didn't remember any of it."
"Ah, well, I'll go over the general idea again." Hirata shook his head helplessly and took a notebook out of his schoolbag.
"You're such a good guy!" Shangguan Che immediately leaned over, grinning like a cat begging for food.
Hirata cleared his throat and said seriously, "I plan to use our classroom as the study-group venue and have the top student in each subject help classmates who are struggling in that subject.
"Each student in the top ten will take two or three students who are having a hard time studying. Those with average grades can study on their own and ask us, the people who attended today's meeting, whenever they have questions.
"I called everyone together today to ask whether they agreed and whether they had any suggestions for improving the plan."
"Shangguan was such a nice guy. He spent the whole time nodding along without a single objection." Hirata suddenly teased him in a voice mimicking Kushida's.
"Hey, since when did you learn to tease people, Hirata?" Shangguan Che was startled for a moment, then fired back with a grin. "Have you been around me so long that you've caught my sense of humor?"
"I noticed you'd been looking listless all afternoon, so I wanted to bring you back to life a little." Hirata dropped his playful expression and asked seriously, "Are you having some kind of trouble? You've helped me so much this time, so I owe you a favor. You can ask me for help whenever you want."
"Well, look at you, turning into quite the smooth talker." Shangguan Che raised an eyebrow, though warmth stirred in his heart.
Hirata scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed. "Ever since you asked me last time, 'What if it were a classmate who didn't ask you for help?' I've been thinking about how to handle that.
"At first, I even thought about using my old method—settling things with my fists whenever someone refused to cooperate. But the school rules you told me about, and what you said about respecting other people, made me give up on that idea."
He paused, then continued, "I thought about it for a long time. When we talked last time, you first asked whether I cared about my classmates and tried to understand my situation before sharing your thoughts. You must have spent a long time thinking those things through.
"So when I help my classmates from now on, I'll think things over more and ask more questions. I'm sure I can find a suitable way."
Shangguan Che watched him earnestly and nodded to himself. This guy really has grown up.
"So the solution you came up with is 'one favor for another'?"
"No." Hirata shook his head, his gaze firm. "What I realized is that everyone is different, so the approach has to be different too.
"But first, I have to show them that I'm acting in good faith, so they'll know I'm not forcing them."
Shangguan Che felt a stir in his heart. Hirata had realized how strong his pride was and didn't want him to have to ask directly for help.
Other than shrewd old politicians, there really weren't many people who could completely resist the appeal of owing someone a favor.
"That's pretty impressive, Hirata." He praised him sincerely. "I didn't expect you to think of so much."
"It's nothing special. I just tried to put myself in other people's shoes." Hirata smiled, then brought the conversation back around. "So, what kind of trouble are you having?"
Shangguan Che hesitated. He couldn't exactly say he'd snooped on Sakura's letter and found out she was being harassed. That would be pathetic.
But on his own, his chances of catching the creep who'd sent the letter weren't great. With Hirata, a former Soccer Club member with exceptional stamina, his odds would definitely double.
"It's nothing major. It's just..." He paused, then put it another way. "When I need your help, just don't turn me down. Would that be okay with you?"
"Of course!" Hirata agreed without a moment's hesitation.
Shangguan Che breathed a sigh of relief, then added with a smile, "This time, we're both contributing to the class by running the study group, so it doesn't count as a favor you owe me. Let's call it even for that time you 'stole' the credit from me. How's that?"
He didn't want to take advantage of an honest guy. It was better to settle favors properly.
"Sure. Sounds like I came out ahead, then." Hirata smiled too.
"Of course!" Shangguan Che patted him on the shoulder. "Who is Hirata? The smartest, most reliable person in our class!"
"You..." Hirata had just started to speak when Shangguan Che suddenly raised his voice and cut him off.
"Wait!!"
"What is it?" Hirata was startled by his serious expression and immediately stopped smiling. "Did something happen?"
Shangguan Che stared at him with a look of "scrutiny." "Hirata, tell me... do you think body snatching could really happen in this world?"
"What?" Hirata was taken aback, then his brain completely froze. "Shangguan Che, what are you on about? Why are you suddenly talking about body snatching?"
"Seriously! Aren't you curious?" Shangguan Che looked completely earnest. "Think about it. The old Hirata cared about every member of the class—every single one! But now, when he held a class-wide study-group meeting, he only asked the students with good grades first. How is that possible?"
Hirata laughed helplessly and explained, "Oh, that. I was planning to contact the students who are struggling one by one on my phone tonight."
"?" Shangguan Che looked confused.
"I thought the students who weren't doing well might refuse help in front of the class because of their pride, and then feel embarrassed about joining the study group later."
Hirata patiently explained, "But over the phone, even if they refuse, only the two of us will know, and they can still join anytime. If they're still unwilling, I'll ask other classmates to invite them. I'm sure we can help them put their worries aside."
"I see..." Shangguan Che rubbed his nose, a little embarrassed. "Hirata, you've really grown up. You even buy me meals now."
"Stop changing the subject. I'm just asking if you're eating or not." Hirata planted his hands on his hips, pretending to be annoyed.
"I'm eating, I'm eating!" Shangguan Che nodded quickly, thinking to himself, How did Hirata see right through my little scheme? Has he evolved, or was this some kind of self-evolution? As expected of my best friend, Shangguan Che—he's just different!
At that, Shangguan Che took the opportunity to ask, "Do you want me to help contact the other classmates?"
"No need. There aren't that many people in the class." Hirata waved a hand.
"I think you'd sound more convincing if you said, 'Who in Class D would dare disrespect me, Hirata?'" Shangguan Che said, suppressing a laugh.
"Hey, are you eating or not?"
"I'm eating, I'm eating!"
"Hirata, actually, I..."
"Hey, are you eating or not?"
Looking at Hirata, who was more adaptable than before and had even learned how to "interrupt a spell," Shangguan Che swallowed the words he'd been about to say. He grinned and raised both hands in surrender. "I'm eating, I'm eating! Definitely eating! You're treating me today, so I'm getting the biggest beef bowl!"
"Sure, let's go!" Hirata smiled, picked up his schoolbag, and headed out of the classroom first.
Shangguan Che followed behind him, watching Hirata's silhouette against the setting sun. Warmth filled his heart. With a dependable best friend like him, maybe life at this school, where strength was everything, wasn't so hard to bear after all.
As for Sakura's situation, he'd think carefully about how to ask Hirata for help after dinner.
Before you continue