A New Month and a New Friend

As time marched on, the clamor of the midterm exams faded away like a receding tide. A new month arrived, and Class D returned to its superficial daily routine. However, with the influx of private points into the class, the atmosphere became noticeably more vibrant.

Natsukawa Sosuke leaned against the window at the back of the classroom, his gaze drifting calmly over the lush scenery outside. While he appeared to be lost in thought, his mind was busy cataloging the gains he had reaped from this "midterm exam turmoil."

The cooperation between Class B and Class D went without saying, though it had been a casual move on Natsukawa's part; he simply didn't want Sakura's week of review to go to waste, and building her confidence was the real goal he had in mind. Moreover, this collaboration had successfully allowed Ichinose and Sakura to become friends, which was an unexpected bonus. He hoped they would continue to get along harmoniously.

However, the greatest harvest from these midterms, aside from the knowledge rewarded by the system, was the little angel, Kushida.

Natsukawa hadn't expected to stumble upon the girl's pent-up stress reaching its breaking point. But by using their shared secret as a lure, moving to a compliance test through forced companionship, and then balancing kindness with severity by gifting her the past exam papers, he had successfully planted seeds of dependency, awe, and an inseparable, complex emotion within the heart of this double-faced little angel.

The way Kushida relaxed and dropped her facade in front of him, and the way she began to shift her focus from socializing with classmates to his life, signaled that this chess piece was gradually veering off her original track and gravitating toward him. She was not only his eyes and ears and a lubricant within Class D, but also a "hidden weapon" with immense potential, concealed in plain sight.

Speaking of Kikyo, one had to mention Horikita. Natsukawa was currently hesitating over whether to push her toward the position of class leader. After all, there were many eccentric characters in this class, and without real strength, it was impossible to manage the current Class D. While Hirata could unite a portion of the class, he was far too much of a "good guy," and he only wanted to live a peaceful life within his own small sphere.

If Natsukawa were in another class, he would have utilized Hirata's gentle personality and his early dominance in the class to slowly boil Class D like a frog in warm water, eventually forging it into a blade pointed at the other classes. Unfortunately, Hirata was in his own class, so that was out of the question.

Ah, I'm so tired. I don't want to think about it anymore. Whatever happens to Horikita will be up to her own fate. Natsukawa yawned, pulled his gaze back from the window, and looked into the classroom. Hirata was surrounded by his usual group of girls, Kushida, Wang Meiyu, and Inogashira Kokoro were at her desk discussing the new desserts at the cafe, and Ike and Yamauchi were talking about the latest manga, finally having enough points to go on a spending spree...

The entire class was harmonious, as if they had returned to their peaceful daily lives.

Ah, come to think of it, has Ryuen finished unifying his class yet? If so, his next step should be to come to Class D to stir up trouble and test the school's rules.

I should find time to buy some voice recorders and hidden cameras as backups. Although this body isn't as fragile as it used to be, it's still pretty weak. I'll use the system to add points after I finish the 50-day study task. I hope Ryuen doesn't happen to pick me to harass, otherwise, things won't be very fun later on.

In the library during the afternoon, the setting sun filtered through the tall windows, gilding the neatly arranged bookshelves with a warm, golden edge. The air was filled with the quiet, distinct scent of old paper and ink. Natsukawa sat in his usual spot by the window. The book spread out before him was not a textbook, but a copy of Queen's The Tragedy of Y. From early April until now, the system's study tasks had long been completed; Natsukawa's reading now was purely for interest, a form of mental relaxation.

That subtle feeling of being watched still lingered, like dust motes in the afternoon, present yet elusive. Unlike the purposeful prying of Kushida, this gaze was... calmer, purer, as if it were merely observation, devoid of any aggression. He already had a guess as to the owner of the gaze, but he remained calm, making no deliberate attempt to find the source.

Just as he was immersed in the labyrinth of logic, a soft voice sounded beside Natsukawa.

"Um... excuse me, sorry to bother you."

Natsukawa lifted his gaze from the pages.

What came into view was a girl. She had long, gray hair reaching her waist, flowing softly behind her, the tips swaying gently with her slight tilt of the head. Her fair skin made her features appear even more delicate, and those eyes were looking at him with a hint of curiosity. Her uniform outlined curves that, while youthful, were already beginning to take shape. Her hands were clutching a book tightly, and as his eyes focused, he saw it was a hardcover edition of The Greek Coffin Mystery.

Shiina Hiyori—Natsukawa recognized her. The literary girl from Class C, known for her intelligence and slightly detached temperament.

"Yes... is there something?" Natsukawa closed The Tragedy of Y, his tone calm. He noticed her gaze quickly sweep over the title of the book he had been reading, and those eyes instantly lit up with a clear, recognizable joy of finding a kindred spirit.

Shiina Hiyori seemed a bit nervous yet excited, her slender fingers tightening unconsciously as she hugged the book to her chest. "I... I noticed you've been reading mystery novels quite often lately." Her voice was very soft, but her articulation was clear. "From Ellery Queen to Agatha Christie... your taste in reading is excellent."

Natsukawa felt a slight stir in his heart. He had indeed been borrowing classic mystery novels during this period of relaxation, though at different times. Being able to notice this and accurately name the authors meant that this girl was not only a regular at the library but also incredibly observant. One could only say, as expected of little Hiyori.

"Just as a pastime," Natsukawa maintained his indifferent demeanor.

Shiina Hiyori didn't seem to mind his slightly distant attitude; her attention was entirely captured by the fact that she had encountered a fellow mystery novel enthusiast. She pushed the copy of The Greek Coffin Mystery in her arms slightly forward, asking with a pure, unadulterated enthusiasm: "Do... do you like Queen? I just finished this one, and the logical deduction inside is truly brilliant! Especially the part about..."

Once the floodgates of her conversation were opened, she became fluent, her initial shyness quickly replaced by the excitement of sharing. She talked about the core tricks and logical chains in the book, her eyes focused, occasionally furrowing her delicate brows in thought, revealing a sharp insight that belied her fragile appearance. That focus, immersed in the world of literature, and the joy of finding someone who could understand this pleasure, made her glow with a unique radiance.

Watching her, Natsukawa suddenly understood why the girl was able to maintain her own pace even in the dog-eat-dog atmosphere of Class C.

"Queen's logic-driven style is indeed a model," Natsukawa responded, following her lead. "Especially the 'Nationality Series', which almost pushed this style to its limit. However, sometimes it can appear too 'fair', lacking a bit of surprise."

"Ah, yes! I completely agree!" Shiina Hiyori's eyes brightened even more, and she unconsciously moved a little closer to Natsukawa. "But it is precisely this extreme fairness that makes the process of the reader participating in the puzzle-solving so pure! Do you think The Tragedy of X and this one, which one has a better structure..."

She began to delve into the differences between the two books, her views clear and unique. Natsukawa mostly listened quietly, occasionally nodding when she sought agreement, or asking a guiding question at key points.

The warm golden sunset cast a soft halo over this accidental encounter. The tall bookshelves stood like silent walls, guarding this small space connected by a shared hobby. Two people who were originally unrelated had a brief and pleasant intersection in the library after school because of their love for mystery novels.

"...Ah, I'm so sorry." Shiina Hiyori finally snapped out of her excited sharing, realizing she might have talked too much. A more distinct blush appeared on her fair cheeks, and she lowered her head in embarrassment. "Whenever I talk about books I like, I just can't seem to stop..."

"It's fine," Natsukawa's tone softened. "Your insights are very interesting."

Shiina Hiyori looked up, revealing a smile that was incredibly genuine, completely different from her usual quiet and introverted self. "Thank you for being willing to listen to all of this. I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class C."

"Class D, Natsukawa Sosuke."

"Natsukawa-kun..." she whispered. "Um... if, if you see any interesting mystery novels in the future, could we... recommend them to each other?" she asked cautiously, filled with anticipation.

"No problem, though I feel my reach in mystery novels is far weaker than yours, Shiina-san. I'll be counting on you in the future."

"It's fine, Natsukawa-kun. I'm already very satisfied to have a book friend with similar interests."

Shiina Hiyori seemed very content with this. She hugged the book in her arms tightly, then took light steps, like a gentle gray silhouette, and silently merged into the shadows of the bookshelves deep in the library.