After Makoto and Honami left, Horikita turned her gaze away.
She had maintained a routine of waking up at six every day since elementary school, and had seen the three of them while exercising that morning.
What surprised her most was that Karuizawa from Class D was among them.
Horikita didn't know Makoto, but she often heard the boys in her class mention the person beside him.
Her golden-pink hair, a bust even fuller than Kushida's, and a sunny smile that she couldn't hide even if she tried all confirmed her identity—
Ichinose Honami, the leader of Class A.
The person whose arm she was holding must be the kept man the boys occasionally talked about. What was his name again... Miyano?
There wasn't enough useful information, so Horikita turned her attention to Ayanokoji.
"Do you know what kind of relationship Karuizawa has with those two people who were just at the door?"
"Well, I saw them among the people following Kushida the day before yesterday. As for Karuizawa, I think she said she was going to pursue Miyano."
Ayanokoji said it calmly, hinting at how important Kushida was to Horikita.
"That's awful. No wonder they ended up in Class D."
Horikita sighed. Why was Class D full of weirdos?
It never occurred to her that she was part of Class D too. She just thought that leading a class like this to Class A would be a Herculean task.
Even so, she was still brimming with confidence.
"For some reason, hearing you say that makes my heart ache."
Feeling that he'd reacted as a normal person should, Ayanokoji gazed at Horikita's confident expression and fell silent.
He had to make a decision too.
"You just need to follow my lead and do what I tell you."
Horikita declared, ready to take action.
"So, have you come up with a way to bring those three together without relying on Kushida?"
Ayanokoji reminded her. Horikita had mercilessly rejected the idea he'd managed to come up with the day before yesterday (not that he had).
"Didn't I already give you that task?"
Horikita shot back.
"?"
Ayanokoji looked plainly confused.
"I thought my task was over after you rejected my suggestion."
"That's your problem, not mine. So do your best."
Horikita pronounced her verdict.
"I don't think there's any way besides relying on Kushida."
Ayanokoji couldn't think of anything else. Ike and Yamauchi were always muttering about finding girlfriends, and the name they mentioned most often was Kushida Kikyo.
They even thought that his few forced interactions with Horikita meant he'd gotten a girlfriend, and had asked him to confirm it several times.
Since Sudo was so close to those two, he was probably the same kind of person.
So unless they used a beautiful girl as bait, Ayanokoji was truly at a loss.
"Sigh."
Horikita sighed again.
"Is that all you're capable of? I expected more from you."
"I don't think that's fair. I already came up with a solution."
Ayanokoji defended himself. The day before yesterday, Chabashira-sensei had tricked him into going to her office, and Horikita had realized he was unusual after the teacher dropped a hint.
It was nothing but trouble.
"That's why I'm saying you're useless. Can't you think of anything else?"
"Then think of something yourself!"
Ayanokoji rarely stood up to Horikita. This wasn't the kind of life he wanted.
"Forget it. I knew from the start that I could only rely on myself. Just watch."
Horikita seemed to have forgotten that she'd asked Ayanokoji for help precisely because she couldn't manage it herself.
She couldn't imagine why someone would stubbornly refuse to attend a study group even when they were on the brink of expulsion.
She couldn't understand people like that.
But the facts were right in front of her, and she had no choice but to admit it.
People like that really did exist.
"Mm. Good luck."
Ayanokoji watched Horikita get up and go talk to Ike.
He sentenced Horikita to death in his mind, his expression unchanged. She didn't understand those three at all.
More broadly, she didn't understand most of the people in their class.
She prided herself on being a good judge of character, yet had no idea how to interact with others.
It was a wonder she'd made it this far.
In Ayanokoji's eyes, Horikita was no longer within the bounds of normal people.
What a shame, given her looks and figure.
Ayanokoji felt a twinge of regret.
Before long, Horikita returned with a cold expression.
She didn't say anything, but the atmosphere around them seemed to grow a little heavier.
Better not provoke her.
Ayanokoji played the coward.
"You seemed to be having a great time with those two girls this morning."
Kiryuin-senpai wore a knowing smile.
"Have you decided how you want to die?"
"Don't say such scary things. It's gym class, so let's just get started."
"And the only way I'm going to die is of old age. I sincerely hope that's how it happens."
Makoto denied any other possibility. Wanting to end the topic quickly, he started warming up.
"Forget it. I can already feel that the rest is beyond what effort alone can achieve."
Kiryuin-senpai sighed helplessly.
"I envy your talent."
"Even so, you need to maintain your current fitness!"
Makoto encouraged her.
"Want to practice long-distance running today? You shouldn't have any Special Exams that require much effort over the next few days, right, senpai?"
"Forget it. I need to save my energy for class-related matters. Who do you think is responsible for that?"
Kiryuin-senpai rolled her eyes. Why did she suddenly feel like hitting someone?
"...Ahem. Then let's do what we usually do."
Makoto coughed deliberately to hide his embarrassment, though there wasn't much left he could teach her.
Kiryuin wasn't interested in board games, so all that remained was sparring.
Since they'd already spoken with the gym teacher, the two began practicing together without a care for anyone watching.
Fight scene.jpg (serious face)
After trading blows back and forth, Makoto leaned back to dodge Kiryuin's feint—she'd pretended to kick, but had actually thrown a straight punch. He smiled and praised her.
"Your skills have improved by leaps and bounds, senpai. You're getting better and better."
Kiryuin stopped pressing forward. Breathing a little hard, she looked helpless.
"Is that why you can talk so casually while I'm giving it my all?"
"...Would you believe me if I said it was an accident?"
Makoto felt a little uneasy.
Oh no. He'd gotten carried away and let her notice he'd been holding back.
"Forget it. I'm not fighting you anymore. It's no fun. I've realized that class competition can actually be entertaining—at least more fun than sparring with you."
Kiryuin smiled breezily.
"Don't come looking for me anymore. Take care of yourself."
"I mean in matters of the heart."
Realizing her words could be misunderstood, Kiryuin added a clarification.
"...Thanks for worrying about me, senpai."
After coming down from their back-to-back sparring, Makoto couldn't help yawning.
I'm so sleepy. I want to go to bed~
Before you continue