Victory Banquet

"But really, Ayanokōji-kun, your place is so empty. It's like you haven't bought a single thing. Still, it's not bad; at least it looks clean."

Everyone was making awkward small talk, which only made Horikita, who had been pestered into coming despite not wanting to participate, feel even more like an outsider.

Therefore, once the floor was hers, the tone of the conversation shifted completely.

"I have to say, aren't you all getting a bit too carried away? We've only just finished the midterm exams; there's still the final exam to go! Besides, it's impossible for Shinjo to get the answers every single time, right? To earn more class points and avoid expulsion, we have to start studying harder from now on!"

"Huh?! You've got to be kidding me? We just finished studying and now we have to study again... that's such a headache!"

Ike clearly couldn't accept why studying wasn't a one-time ordeal.

"It can't be helped, can it? At least we haven't found any other way to increase our class points yet."

"Wait... if that's the case, does that mean we still won't get any personal points next month?!"

Although they didn't want to accept it, facts were facts.

Kushida Kikyo was just about to offer her habitual encouragement when she noticed Shinjo sitting to the side, lost in thought.

"But speaking of which, Shinjo-kun, it's amazing that you thought of that! A special way to use our points!"

"Oh! That's right! If it weren't for Shinjo, there's no way we'd be sitting here drinking and having a good time right now!"

"Hahaha, Shinjo, you're my best friend now! If anyone dares to bully you, just let me know!"

Sudō slapped Shinjo on the shoulder in a boisterous manner, but the latter wore a strange expression. Could it be that the brainless Sudō was actually the type to play favorites?

He had clearly heard this guy say that Ayanokōji was his best friend just a moment ago.

"Well... hahahaha... actually, it was just a sudden flash of inspiration. I think rather than giving me the credit, it's better to say it was destiny!"

Shinjo gave an awkward laugh.

If Sudō treated Shinjo like a brother now, Shinjo at most considered Sudō a cousin.

At the very least, if Chabashira hadn't put up the money, he would never have taken the initiative to save Sudō.

"In that case, why don't you join us too!"

As she said this, Kushida reached out her hand toward Shinjo.

Shinjo had just experienced this sense of déjà vu two days ago, during his deal with Ichinose on the bench.

"Join?"

Before Shinjo could speak, the two guys who had a crush on Kushida immediately stepped forward to ask.

"Hey! Kushida..."

"It's nothing to hide, really. Everyone here is a partner, after all. The truth is, Horikita-san, Ayanokōji-kun, and I have decided to work together to climb the ranks—in other words, we want to reach Class A! So, I hope you'll all join us and help out!"

Except for Shinjo, the other three looked somewhat bewildered.

They knew their own abilities all too well. Sudō might have great talent in sports, but it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the other two were useless.

Could people like them really reach Class A?

Unless the school went crazy one day and reversed the rankings!

"Well... Kushida-chan, we'd love to join you. But Class A... isn't that a bit too much? They must be a group of insanely smart people, right? For us, it's impossible. It's just too hard~!"

"It's a good thing you have some self-awareness. If you don't study properly, forget Class A—we won't even have a chance in Class C."

Just as Kushida was strongly inviting them to join, Horikita poured a bucket of cold water on them without mercy.

In her view, if it were just inviting Shinjo, she would raise both hands in support.

But these three—to put it nicely, they were useless; to put it bluntly, she'd be grateful if they didn't drag the class down.

If they were all defective products, then Ike and Yamauchi should be called scrap.

At least for now, she hadn't found a single redeeming quality in either of them.

"You shouldn't say it like that, right? At least Sudō-kun is very strong in sports, and Ike-kun and Yamauchi-kun must have their own unique strengths too!"

"Kushida-chan... is that really how you see us?"

Ike and Yamauchi were so moved they were almost crying... wait, was that thing they were using to blow their noses someone's bedsheet?

Sure enough, Shinjo faintly sensed something called killing intent coming from Ayanokōji nearby.

"Since Kushida-chan said so! What excuse do we have left?! Let us lend you a hand!"

Ever since two days ago, Sudō had been trying to win Horikita's favor, so he acted tsundere and said:

"Well, if anyone needs to rely on my powerful physical talents, it's not too late to say so now~"

As he spoke, he specifically looked toward Horikita.

However, she dodged away in disgust:

"Forget it. I've never thought about relying on you. You'd better study hard; if you fail again next time, there might not be anyone to buy your points."

"Hey! You woman, you're really not cute at all at times like this!"

Sudō only said that with his mouth; to him, Horikita was currently his goddess, and if the goddess thought he was unreliable, it was simply because she hadn't yet witnessed his true strength!

Therefore, in order to prove how formidable he really was and to vent the dissatisfaction in his heart, he hurriedly grabbed Yamauchi, who was standing nearby, and pinned him to the ground in a tight hold.

"How truly boring... are all boys just a bunch of idiots?"

"Hey! Could you be a little more mindful of others when you're firing off sweeping generalizations like that?"

Shinjo hadn't said a word from the very beginning, yet he found himself inexplicably caught in the crossfire of Horikita's AOE attack.

"So, what about you? Do you intend to join us?"

Unlike how she treated the others, Horikita genuinely hoped that Shinjo would join her team; several incidents had already proven that he was a talent whose abilities were absolutely not inferior to Ayanokōji.

(Shinjo: I never said anything of the sort. After all, when it comes to piano, calligraphy, and tea ceremony, I'm a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. How could I compare to the guy standing next to you?)

"I think I'll pass."

Hearing this, Sudō and Yamauchi stopped their roughhousing and looked at the contrarian Shinjo with confusion.

Although Horikita was mentally prepared—after all, not everyone had grand ambitions, and many people in this class likely just wanted to coast—she still asked in an attempt to persuade him:

"Why? I believe your intellect could be put to great use."

"I, at most, only have a few clever tricks; it's hard for them to be of any real use. If you intend to build a better class, I am more than willing to contribute as a member. But if you're talking about climbing to Class A... at least let me think about it some more."