Everything Was Ready

There was no point waiting until something happened before trying to fix it.

That was one of Miyano Makoto's life lessons.

The next day, Ichinose Honami came to Miyano Makoto's dorm room to make him a bento, acting as if nothing had happened the day before.

Even though she behaved exactly as she usually did, even though she had calmly accepted his apology, even though...

"Honami, you really aren't angry anymore?"

"How many times do I have to tell Makoto that I'm not angry anymore?"

"Then can you forgive me, Honami?"

"No."

"..."

"Didn't you say you weren't angry anymore?"

"Those are two different things."

Ichinose Honami said it seriously.

"Then what do I have to do to earn your forgiveness, Honami?"

"Take a guess."

Take a guess? Do you think I'm going to guess?

Miyano Makoto kept the words to himself.

"Give me a break, Honami..."

"Only now do you regret it? Too late."

"What happened yesterday really was just an accident!"

"Fine, I admit I went looking for Kushida, but I honestly didn't expect to run into her yesterday of all days!"

"Finally decided to explain yourself?"

Ichinose Honami folded her arms, looking rather pleased with herself. She was a head shorter than Miyano Makoto, but somehow she still seemed to be the one in charge.

"Because you seemed scary, Honami..."

"Then why did you know Kushida was there, letting off steam?"

"I didn't know the exact place. I only knew Kushida would definitely find somewhere secluded to let off steam."

"Makoto, don't you know a little too much about girls?"

Ichinose Honami narrowed her eyes. She wanted a clear explanation.

"Are you sure you really want to know, Honami?"

"Mm."

"Even if it's something you might not want to hear?"

"Mm."

Ichinose Honami nodded firmly.

Seeing that, Miyano Makoto leaned close and whispered something in her ear.

"..."

"So that's why you did that back then..."

"Yeah. Are you satisfied now, Honami?"

Miyano Makoto looked rather helpless.

"..."

"I'm sorry."

"Only now do you know to apologize? Too late."

In response to Ichinose Honami's apology, Miyano Makoto chose not to accept it.

The strong sense of déjà vu made Ichinose Honami pout in grievance.

But she didn't say anything more. Instead, she handed Miyano Makoto two full bento boxes.

"I was wrong before. From now on, I'll take good care of you, Makoto."

Miyano Makoto felt like he'd just heard something incredible. He took the bento boxes from Ichinose Honami and put them in his backpack.

"Honami, that's a bit of an exaggeration..."

"I'm serious. Now that things have turned out this way, I have to take responsibility."

Ichinose Honami spoke with utmost seriousness. She took Miyano Makoto's hand and clasped it tightly, as if trying to feel something else from it.

But nothing had actually happened, Miyano Makoto thought.

"Isn't this a bit of a sudden change, Honami? I can barely keep up."

Miyano Makoto teased her. The feel of Ichinose Honami's hand in his was pretty nice, much like her hug the day before.

No wonder people called her "Fat Wave."

She really was well-endowed!

"Because I'm happy! Makoto has told me everything, so I should return the favor in kind. I'll do my best!"

"Thanks?"

Miyano Makoto wasn't sure what the right response was.

"Makoto, you're saying things like that again. Don't say that anymore, understand?!"

Ichinose Honami's slightly chubby face was full of seriousness.

"I have a feeling you'll be a very strict mother someday, Honami..."

"..."

"I'll get going."

Ichinose Honami ran away.

Heh, one sentence and she was already running away.

Miyano Makoto thought smugly.

Life settled into a quiet routine. Miyano Makoto skipped class for half a day every day, and Hoshinomiya Chie, his teacher, approved all his absence forms without hesitation.

It really paid to have a good relationship with your homeroom teacher.

When he wasn't in class, he either coached Kiryuin Fuka or wandered around the third-year area by himself.

Miyano Makoto had already made an agreement with Kiryuin Fuka: she would handle the second-years, while he took care of the third-years.

He mainly focused on getting in touch with students in Class C and Class D.

Class B still had hopes of making it into Class A, but after two years of exams, Classes C and D had more or less given up.

They were, you could say, very easy to win over.

That didn't mean he was willing to win over just anyone, though. He was targeting people who were more or less leaders in their classes.

"Got a minute to talk?"

Miyano Makoto casually struck up a conversation with an older student.

From what he'd observed, the person in front of him held a fairly high position in his class. He was probably a leader of some sort, or at the very least a strategist or an outstanding athlete.

"What do you want?"

The older student wore an expression that was three parts wary, three parts confused, four parts impatient, and ninety parts bewildered.

"I'd like to talk to you about what comes after graduation."

Miyano Makoto smiled faintly, giving the other party plenty of time to think.

"What did you say?"

"Exactly what I said. It hasn't been long since the school year began, but I imagine the school's advertised one-hundred-percent employment and college acceptance rates only apply to Class A graduates, right?"

"Those who have fallen into Classes C and D over the past two years of competition should be more willing to accept my offer."

"I have benefits to offer that are no less than the support the school gives Class A. What do you think?"

After hearing Miyano Makoto's explanation, the older student's expression shifted repeatedly.

"Lead the way..."

The older student asked his gym teacher for permission to leave, said goodbye to the friends he was close with, then followed Miyano Makoto away from the field.

"If you're willing to help me with the year-wide unified exam that may come in the future, and support me in becoming Student Council President, I'll provide you with the following resources."

Miyano Makoto had come prepared. He handed the other party a list.

It included, among other things, a recommendation letter from the Kiryuin Conglomerate and opportunities to work there.

He thought that should be enough to prove his sincerity.

In the end, what mattered was one's true ability.

As the saying went, iron had to be strong before it could be forged.

Those without ability would only let opportunities slip away, even if they managed to seize them.

"One copy isn't enough..."

Though the older student was already breathing heavily and flushed, he still said that.

"Of course, there's more than one copy."

Miyano Makoto smiled faintly. Unless the other party was an autocrat like Ryuen Kakeru, he was bound to have other people under him who served as smaller-scale leaders.

Even Ryuen Kakeru sometimes had to rely on other members of his class.

Especially when it came to academics.