"What good thing happened this time?"
In the Class B classroom, Makoto had just sat down at his desk when Kanzaki, beside him, eagerly asked.
"Tell me, do you have some kind of mind-reading ability?"
Makoto found it strange. Was he really the type of person who couldn't keep his feelings off his face?
"No. I just noticed you look a lot like you did that other time—the day you said Ichinose confessed to you."
"...Was it really that obvious?"
"It was just a feeling. Just a feeling."
Kanzaki laughed it off. The truth was, someone in class had seen Makoto in the hallway a moment ago, and the way he'd acted had made it obvious he'd made some major progress with his girlfriend.
They'd even kissed right outside the classroom. That had never happened before.
That person had immediately returned to class and told everyone what they'd seen. Makoto just hadn't heard about it.
So Kanzaki was merely stating the facts.
"It wasn't anything major. Honami just kissed me by force at lunch."
"?"
"So you like being the passive one?"
Kanzaki looked at him strangely. He set down the textbook in his hand and focused on Makoto's face through his glasses.
"Don't say stupid things. I'm just not good at expressing myself first. Honami understood that, so she decided to make the first move."
Makoto hurried to defend himself. He had to protect his reputation at all costs.
Was he really that kind of person?
"Let's not talk about that. I'm planning to invite you to the study session this afternoon. You're an important asset to our class, after all."
Kanzaki didn't want to spend too much time discussing anyone's love life. He cared more about the class as a whole.
Makoto's perfect score of 100 had to be put to good use.
Being good at studying didn't necessarily mean someone was good at teaching, but he'd still be better than letting the students who struggled teach.
"...Sure."
After a couple of seconds, Makoto agreed to Kanzaki's request.
Teaching? He could handle that.
Makoto's easy agreement left Kanzaki a little stunned.
"You're just agreeing like that?"
"What else? Did you expect me to make you get down on your knees and beg before I said yes?"
Now it was Makoto's turn to look at him strangely. Was this how Kanzaki's mind worked? Had Makoto's quick agreement somehow made him doubt himself?
"...I just didn't expect you to care about your classmates' grades."
Kanzaki rubbed his chin, looking quite pleased.
"Just don't act like that in front of Honami. I'm afraid she'll get the wrong idea!"
Makoto shrank back in alarm. He hadn't been suffering from constipation lately... No, that wasn't right! He'd never had that kind of thought in the first place!
"What are you thinking?!"
Kanzaki had somehow understood Makoto's reaction. He retorted with a dark look,
"Don't leave after school. Come with me to the library."
"Sure. I'll let my girlfriend know first."
"Let's go to the library together after school."
The status beside Honami's avatar immediately changed to "Typing..."
"Okay. Will anyone else be there?"
Makoto smiled. Honami really did understand him.
"Yeah, the others from our class. What about your side?"
"Then let's have our two classes study together! We can invite Kei too."
After getting that reply, Makoto showed Kanzaki the chat.
"What do you think?"
"...Fine."
Class A's academic ability was reliable. If Class B could get their help, it would ease the pressure quite a bit.
As for that last, unmistakably feminine name, Kanzaki decided to pretend he hadn't seen it.
It was Makoto's own business. As an outsider, it wasn't his place to comment.
Before long, school was over.
"Uh... aren't there a few too many... people?"
Seeing the huge crowd gathered outside the classroom, Makoto's mouth twitched.
Sakayanagi, Kamuro, Honami, Kushida, Kei, Ayanokoji...
Wait, what?
Before you continue