The Formula for Victory Had Already Been Written

Time flew by, and before they knew it, more than half of April—the month school began—had already passed.

Hoshinomiya Chie came to the Class 1-B classroom.

She didn't look hungover this time, and seemed to be in a pretty good mood.

"Good morning, everyone! It's already the end of the month, so we'll be having a quiz today. It won't affect your report cards, but please take it seriously. Also, cheating is prohibited."

Hoshinomiya Chie handed out the test papers to the students in the front row. Miyano Makoto waited a little before Beppu Ryota passed one back to him.

There were questions in the five main subjects, four questions per subject, worth five points each, for a total of exactly 100 points.

It really was a proper little quiz.

Miyano Makoto finished quickly. He figured he'd get a pretty good score.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, may I hand in my paper early?"

"Sure."

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Miyano Makoto handed his test paper to Hoshinomiya-sensei and left the classroom.

Sitting at his desk and staring into space wasn't his style. He should spend his time on something more worthwhile.

For example...

Lunch with Ichinose Honami.

Just kidding. Ichinose Honami hadn't finished early like he had, and Miyano Makoto couldn't exactly eat lunch by himself.

Even in their current situation, she'd definitely beat him up. He didn't want to take a loving punch.

Since he didn't have much time, Miyano Makoto did a little workout in the equipment area by the sports field.

Daily training was essential if he wanted to stay in good shape.

Unless he had a system.

Miyano Makoto looked forward to a system appearing, even though he knew it wasn't very realistic. Besides, he was already quite content with his current situation.

Over the past month, Kushida Kikyo had become good friends with Ichinose Honami. He didn't know how much of it was sincere and how much was an act, but at least on the surface, they got along well.

Miyano Makoto couldn't guess what girls were thinking. All he could do was focus on himself.

It was about time. Miyano Makoto picked up Ichinose Honami outside the Class 1-A classroom.

The boys nearby looked at him enviously. Miyano Makoto had grown used to it by now.

It must be great to have such a beautiful girlfriend.

She was gentle, too, and outstanding in every way.

Miyano Makoto guessed what the boys were thinking, but unfortunately, those were all superficial qualities.

You could only catch a glimpse of someone's true character after getting to know them well.

No one at this school was harmless.

After all, this was a world in a novel. If it weren't interesting, readers wouldn't buy it, right?

At any rate, Miyano Makoto obediently followed Ichinose Honami to the rooftop.

"Sometimes I feel like eating up here."

"Yeah, the view seems nice, too."

"Hey, hey, hey. You're happy when you're with me, right, Makoto?"

With her hands clasped behind her back, Ichinose Honami leaned toward him. Her lovely face was only a few inches away, and Miyano Makoto could even smell the citrus-scented shampoo on her.

"Honami, you're just too cute. I could say it as many times as you want: I'm really happy to have such a cute girl like you as my girlfriend."

Miyano Makoto repeated variations of the same thing without getting tired of it. He'd given up trying to remember how many times he'd said it.

"Mm-hmm. I'm glad to hear that, then. You already told me how you felt, Makoto, but I still get a little worried if I don't hear you confirm it."

Ichinose Honami sat across from Miyano Makoto, with the delicious bento she'd carefully prepared that morning resting on her lap.

"Have you ever felt lonely, Makoto? Like no one understood you?"

"But I have you, Honami."

Miyano Makoto felt like that line was a universal formula he could use whenever Ichinose Honami showed concern for him. It usually worked pretty well.

"Umm... You say that every time, Makoto. Are you sure you're not just brushing me off?"

He'd messed up. Even the best routine got old if you used it too often. Ichinose Honami had clearly developed an immunity to it.

"Do you really think I'm brushing you off, Honami? I've never once taken my eyes off you."

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Ichinose Honami pressed her hands together in apology, and the sight of the beautiful girl apologizing made Miyano Makoto's heart waver.

After all, he just couldn't bring himself to lie to a girl.

"They'll announce our Class Points next month. Do you have any plans, Honami?"

"Hmm... What do you want me to do, Makoto?"

"It's up to you. I was just asking."

"If I'm deciding for myself, then I think I'll just keep working hard and steadily. First, I'll get through the midterms that are coming up soon."

"Mm, I think that's a great plan, Honami. We're still just students, after all."

"But the way you've been acting this past month hardly makes you seem like a student, Makoto."

"Didn't I already tell you why?"

"Hehe, I was just teasing you."

The two leaned against each other as they looked at the scenery below.

Students went back and forth between the school buildings, and Keyaki Mall in the distance looked bustling, too.

"Don't you need to spend time with your friends, Honami? I feel a little bad about this, too."

At that, Ichinose Honami gave a gentle shake of her head.

"If I had to choose between you and them, the others aren't that important."

"...But I'd feel bad."

"Really? If it bothers you that much, I'll spend time with my friends tomorrow. You'll have to come, too!"

"...Okay."

Ichinose Honami gave him a sly smile, and Miyano Makoto didn't regret it.

The formula for victory had already been written. All that remained was figuring out how to enjoy his school life.

As for the first-years—

Class A would be led by Ichinose Honami, and Class D had an undercover player named Kushida Kikyo.

Ryuen Kakeru's methods in Class C were easy to predict. As for Class B...

Was Class B a threat?

Miyano Makoto couldn't see even the slightest sprout of anything that could be called a threat.

Kiryuin-senpai would take care of the second-years. Miyabi Nagumo must be sweating bullets by now, right?

As for the third-years...

There wasn't much to say about Class A being led by Horikita Manabu. Classes C and D were already on Miyano Makoto's side.

The remaining Class B couldn't even get past Horikita Manabu's Class A, so it wasn't worth worrying about.

All in all, at least during his first year, Miyano Makoto could relax and take it easy.

"By the way, did you sort out the situation with Kamuro?"

Realizing he hadn't paid any attention to her in a long time, not since school began, Miyano Makoto brought her up to Ichinose Honami.

"Mm-hmm. I assigned her to look after Classmate Sakayanagi, since I'm worried about her... I wonder if she's pushing herself too hard. And this way, Kamuro won't have any free time to do that sort of thing!"

Though he felt a little bad for Kamuro Masumi, he thought this would help her avoid the expulsion she'd face in the future.

"Honami, you really are dependable."

Makoto didn't hold back when praising Honami.

"Hehehe, I'm still a long way from being as good as you, Makoto!"

"...Am I really someone you have to compare everyone to?"

"I'm complimenting you! It's better to accept it graciously!"

Honami gently nudged Makoto in the waist with her elbow.

"Kushida invited me to go out with her this afternoon. Come along, Makoto."

"Like I have a choice, right?"

"What do you think?"

Honami gave him a kindly smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Honami."

Kushida Kikyo came over with two other girls, looking apologetic.

"Kikyo, who are these two?"

The girls with Kushida Kikyo looked a little surprised. They'd heard about her dream of becoming friends with everyone, but this was their first time actually seeing her with a friend from another class.

"Ah, sorry, sorry! I forgot to introduce you. This is Ichinose Honami, and the guy standing beside her is her boyfriend, Miyano Makoto."

Kushida Kikyo introduced them to her two classmates.

"Hello, I'm Matsushita Chiaki."

"I'm Mori Nene."

They all introduced themselves to one another.

"Now that we're all here, let's get going!"

Honami seemed really excited. That was only natural, since this was the first time she'd gone shopping with Makoto.

"What class are you in, Ichinose?"

On the way, Matsushita Chiaki asked curiously.

"I'm in Class A. And just so you know, Makoto's in Class B."

Honami answered eagerly, as if she'd been waiting for someone to ask.

"Really? You're dating across classes? I'm so jealous..."

Mori Nene's envy was plain in her voice.

"Right? I really treasure our relationship, too."

As if staking her claim, Honami hugged Makoto's arm tightly.

Kushida Kikyo's eyebrow twitched slightly, but no one noticed.

"Oh, it's Karuizawa. I'll go say hi and see if she wants to join us."

Matsushita Chiaki spotted Karuizawa Kei in the distance and hurried over, as if she were afraid someone might say no.

A little while later, Matsushita Chiaki brought Karuizawa Kei over to join the group.

"Hello, I'm Karuizawa Kei."

It was a very straightforward introduction, no different from the other girls' introductions just now.

"Mm, I'm Miyano Makoto, and the girl holding my arm is my girlfriend, Ichinose Honami."

Before Honami could speak, Makoto was the first to introduce the two of them.

Honami's smile brightened.

"Have we met before, Miyano?"

At Karuizawa Kei's words, Makoto felt the strength of the arm around his surge for a moment. It was like a fleeting illusion.

"Have we? I don't remember."

He definitely couldn't admit it now. That was what Makoto thought.

"Tell the truth."

Honami spoke up from beside him.

"..."

"I understand."