Extra Tutoring

By the second period, Chabashira's expression had darkened.

She pinned a sheet of paper to the blackboard. It showed the results of their last exam.

"Our class average on the last quiz was around 65. If that had been an official test, seven of you would have been expelled. You earned more Class Points than I ever expected, but I still didn't expect your grades to be this poor... These questions covered middle-school material. What exactly were you studying before you came here?"

At the mention of expulsion, the class panicked. The Three Idiots were especially rattled, since all three of them were on the list.

"Teacher, you never said we'd be expelled! This can't be happening! Don't joke around!"

The Three Idiots shouted in protest. Seated at the back, Koenji rested his feet on his desk and buffed his nails.

"Teacher is quite right. I'd advise those idiots to drop out sooner rather than later."

"What did you say? Are your grades that good, Koenji?"

"Look up and open your eyes," the blond boy said, unconcerned.

When Yamauchi looked, he saw that Koenji Rokusuke's name ranked near the top in every subject. In one, he'd even taken first place.

He also spotted Bai Ye's name, prominently placed among the top three.

Yamauchi asked in confusion, "Teacher, did you make a mistake? How did Jingu get such a high score? He's always hanging around with girls. When does he have time to study?"

"The scores are correct, and no one cheated," Chabashira said, deliberately glancing at Bai Ye.

She, too, was surprised that a student with average entrance exam scores had done so well. Was he some kind of hidden genius?

The girls in the class immediately came to his defense.

"Of course Jingu-kun gets good grades. He's on the Student Council. He's nothing like a creep like you."

"You're the creep!" Yamauchi shouted, his voice growing quieter as more and more classmates turned unfriendly looks on him.

Ever since the incident, he'd felt as if the class had been ostracizing him. He scratched his head, looking frustrated.

What he didn't know was that the girls' group, led by Shinohara, had deliberately encouraged the class to isolate him.

They were angry because he was always spreading rumors about Bai Ye.

After school, Hirata planned to organize a study group to tutor those who had scored below average, especially the students facing expulsion.

Bai Ye declined Hirata's invitation and was about to head back with Horikita.

Just then, Sato appeared behind them.

"Jingu-kun, could you tutor me? I'm on the expulsion list, too."

"Um..." Her pitiful expression left him looking a little uncertain.

"I'll tutor you."

Horikita's voice suddenly came from beside them. Sato looked flustered and stammered, "That's not necessary, Horikita-san. You're so busy..."

How could she ask Horikita to tutor her? Horikita might not know, but Sato still remembered badmouthing her in the class group chat at the start of the year.

Like most of the class, she didn't particularly like someone as aloof as Horikita. And now that Horikita was Jingu's girlfriend, she liked her even less.

Just as Sato realized her plan had failed and was about to retreat, Bai Ye spoke up.

"Then Horikita and I can tutor you together. How's that?"

"That's not necessary..."

These were two of the top students in the class, and they were both offering to tutor her. She ought to have been thrilled.

But they were a couple. If she went, she'd have to sit through a bunch of lovey-dovey antics.

Only an idiot would go!

Bai Ye said, "Don't worry. We won't show off in front of you. Just think of us as ordinary friends. Besides, Suzune will do most of the tutoring. I'll just sit nearby and watch."

"Okay," Sato said with a nod.

Horikita glanced at her, then led the way.

"Bring your textbooks. Let's go."

The three of them went to the library to study.

By the time they arrived, quite a few people were already studying there. They also saw Hirata and the others, including Kushida.

They found an empty spot in the corner and sat down.

Horikita sat beside Sato, while Bai Ye sat across from her. He picked up a book from the shelf and began to read.

Sato wanted to see what the book was called, but Horikita immediately said coldly, "Stop looking around and get started."

"Oh."

Sato felt like crying.

Normally, she would have stood up and confronted Horikita by now.

But Horikita's boyfriend was sitting right in front of her, and he was the last person she wanted to offend. Horikita's attitude was so harsh, yet Sato couldn't say a word.

She even wondered if Horikita was deliberately putting her in her place to warn her not to bother Bai Ye.

But half an hour later, that suspicion had vanished.

Horikita's voice was cold, but she was still serious about teaching Sato. She explained anything Sato didn't understand, one point at a time.

Though Sato still didn't understand some of it.

After a while, Horikita put down her pen and sighed. "You really are slow. I have to explain each problem three times before you get it."

Sato immediately protested, "I'm just not interested in studying, so I get sleepy when I listen. And your voice is so soothing, Horikita..."

"How about I have Jingu teach you instead?"

"I wouldn't be against that..."

Bai Ye put down his book.

"Maybe not. I'm worried you'll complain about me next."

"Why would I complain if you didn't do anything wrong?" Horikita stared at him expressionlessly.

Sato sighed and slumped over the table.

Is it finally starting?

Kei, come save me~

Fortunately, the two didn't argue for long. They seemed to reach an agreement and switched seats, with Bai Ye sitting beside her.

Feeling how close they were—almost close enough to be lovers—Sato realized her heart had started racing.

At the same time, a strange thrill rose inside her.

She knew exactly what that restless feeling was.

Was this the infamous NTR?

Should she...?

She looked up at Horikita. Seeing that Horikita wasn't looking her way, she finally relaxed.

"Don't just sit there. Show me the problems you can't do."

Bai Ye's voice suddenly broke in. Sato pushed down her thoughts for the moment and nodded.

After that, though, she didn't find a good opportunity.

As time went on, she found herself becoming more and more absorbed in her studies.

His teaching style was completely different from Horikita's cold, textbook-like explanations.

He asked how she approached each problem, learned what she already knew, then tailored a method to her level. With his explanations, everything clicked.

His gentle, low voice seemed to soothe the restlessness in her heart, gradually calming and relaxing her.

By the end, she realized she'd become completely engrossed in studying.

It suddenly occurred to her that learning could be fun.

But she also knew that if Bai Ye hadn't been the one teaching her, she probably wouldn't have enjoyed studying, and she wouldn't be able to keep it up on her own.

With a quiet sense of regret, her tutoring session finally came to an end.