After Makoto finished speaking, he said no more and started reading a romance novel.
As a normal adolescent boy, he was deeply engrossed in the novel's story.
Ah, how could feelings become so twisted?
Makoto read on with great enthusiasm.
Seeing how quickly he'd gotten into it, Kanzaki had no choice but to turn his attention to the few students who'd failed.
He wanted to organize a study group for the class while he had the chance. Anyone who lacked confidence in their grades could join.
Naturally, that didn't include Makoto.
He was all alone at the very top, with a perfect score of 100.
After enduring a morning that hadn't been too difficult, the afternoon was effectively the end of the school day for Makoto.
He was the freest student in Class B—no, perhaps in the entire school.
To be honest, he was already starting to feel bored.
The most frightening thing in life was boredom. It meant you'd lost the drive to keep living.
So Makoto quickly shook his head, banishing the damn thought from his mind.
He decided to check out the school's electronics store.
As he recalled, the clerk was a fervent fan of Sakura Airi.
Makoto decided to quietly get rid of him.
But that was impossible.
He stepped into the electronics store.
"Welcome. How can I help you?"
Although the clerk found it strange for a student to show up at this hour, he still faithfully carried out his duties.
"I need to buy a miniature camera. Points aren't an issue."
Makoto spoke calmly.
"Of course. I recommend this one."
The clerk led Makoto to the shelves and took down one of the products.
The packaging was quite small, so the camera itself was probably what you could call "miniature."
As expected of a school where they said you could buy anything with points—even something this questionable was available.
Makoto readily paid the points. He'd gotten what he wanted.
Though he'd only caught a glimpse, he was certain this was the clerk.
He'd just seen the reflection in the other man's eyes.
First, he contacted Kushida.
"After school, I'd like you to invite Classmate Sakura to Class A. I'll get in touch with Honami."
The message felt a little odd, but Makoto didn't know how else to explain it. Anyway, he just had to send it.
With a heavy heart, Makoto pressed the send button.
Next was Honami.
"I have something I'd like to ask you, Honami. It's about a girl. I want you to become her friend."
It was a very strange thing to say, but Makoto knew Honami would understand. That was the kind of relationship they had.
After arranging to meet at the entrance to Class A after school, Makoto fell into thought.
Should he go or not?
Yes, he didn't actually need to show up for this, but...
In the end, he just couldn't do it.
He recalled the two messages he'd sent. They probably hadn't seen them yet, right?
He shouldn't have pressed send in the first place.
After school, he appeared at Class A.
"Long time no see, Classmate Sakayanagi. And you too, Kamuro."
"Tsk. I can't believe I'm seeing you again."
Kamuro seemed to dislike him. She turned her head away.
"Good day, Miyano. Your girlfriend is quite lovely—and you're not bad yourself."
Sakayanagi's tone was as usual, though she seemed to have softened a little.
Well, that must be my imagination.
"What did that message you sent me this afternoon mean, Makoto?"
Ah, so she saw it after all?
Makoto put on a troubled expression.
"I saw it because it came during class."
Seeing Makoto's troubled expression, Honami patiently explained.
"Then Kushida probably saw it too."
Makoto didn't bother hiding his thoughts. It was the truth, and expecting Kushida not to have seen the message would only be fooling himself.
"So what exactly did it mean?"
Listening to their exchange, Sakayanagi and Kamuro looked interested.
Had Kamuro been influenced by Sakayanagi?
Makoto made a small quip to himself when he saw this.
"I hadn't treated her as an independent person and had acted on my assumptions. After realizing that, I decided to let things take their natural course."
Only Honami could understand what he meant.
Just as expected, Kamuro was wearing an unmistakably confused expression. She really didn't understand, did she?
And Sakayanagi... Huh? Why did she look so upset?
"Say, Miyano, you do consider me an 'independent person,' don't you?"
It seemed Sakayanagi was still upset about what had happened before.
"Are you talking about 'an arrogant little brat'? I think that description fit you pretty well back then... Though, of course, you've improved since then, Classmate Sakayanagi."
"Heh."
Sakayanagi gave a humorless chuckle. It was hard to tell whether she agreed or not.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
As expected, she was still the same annoying Sakayanagi. A month was simply too short a time to change a person.
But wasn't it true that people could also grow in an instant?
Makoto couldn't make sense of it. He turned his attention back to Honami, who seemed to be thinking.
"Is something wrong, Honami?"
"N-no, it's nothing. Since there's nothing else to do, why don't we go shopping together? Sakayanagi, Kamuro, would you like to come?"
Honami offered the invitation naturally. If it were him, he'd probably happily accept.
"Since Miyano is coming too, I suppose I'll risk life and limb to accompany you."
Sakayanagi said something that sounded rather dangerous. To some extent, "risking life and limb" wasn't even an exaggeration.
Her body could barely manage an outing like this.
Kamuro also seemed quite interested. She stared right at Makoto, making him feel rather embarrassed.
Even he could feel shy!
"Have you already taken control of Class A, Honami?"
To escape Sakayanagi's pressure, Makoto changed the subject.
"...You could say that."
The two of them were discussing things they shouldn't have been discussing in Class A's classroom.
But no one stepped forward to criticize them. It seemed the class's trust in Honami had sunk deep into its bones.
See, he'd told himself: compared to that stuffy bald man who kept a long face all day, a beautiful girl like Honami, brimming with youthful energy, was obviously more likely to win the class's approval.
And Honami wasn't just a pretty face. Her abilities were unquestionably formidable.
In every respect.
The four of them left the classroom together.
As they passed Class D, a girl suddenly ran out as if fleeing. She collided squarely with Makoto.
Fortunately, she hadn't collided with Sakayanagi. Otherwise, things would have been bad.
Relieved, Makoto looked down at the fallen girl. In his hand was the digital camera she'd just dropped.
"Are you all right?"
He held out his free hand. If the girl wanted, she could use it to get back up.
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