As time passed, the commotion surrounding the midterms receded like the tide, and a new month began. Class D returned to its usual routine on the surface. But with personal points flowing into the students' accounts, the atmosphere had grown more lively.
Natsukawa Sosuke leaned against the window at the back of the classroom, his gaze calmly sweeping over the lush scenery outside. He seemed lost in thought, but in his mind he was listing the gains he had made from this "midterm exam upheaval."
There was no need to mention the cooperation between Class B and Class D. Natsukawa had only done it on a whim, not wanting Sakura's week of studying to go to waste. Helping her build confidence was what he had really had in mind. And the collaboration with Class B had also brought Ichinose and Sakura together as friends, an unexpected bonus. He hoped the two of them would always get along.
But aside from completing the knowledge rewarded by the system, his biggest gain from the midterms had been his little angel, Kushida.
Natsukawa hadn't expected to stumble upon the sudden eruption of the pressure the girl had been accumulating. But by using their shared secret as a pretext, testing her obedience by making her spend time with him, then combining rewards and warnings by giving her past exam questions, he had successfully planted dependence, awe, and a complicated attachment she could hardly let go of in the heart of this little angel with two faces.
The way Kushida relaxed and let down her guard in front of him, and how she had begun shifting her focus from socializing with classmates to spending time with him, all showed that this piece was gradually leaving her original path and moving closer to him. She was not only his informant and lubricant within Class D, but also a highly promising "hidden weapon" concealed in broad daylight.
Speaking of Kikyo, that inevitably brought Horikita to mind. Natsukawa was currently debating whether to push her toward becoming the class leader. After all, there were so many oddballs in this class that it would take real ability to keep the current Class D in line. Hirata could unite some of them, but he was simply too much of a nice guy, and all he wanted was to live a quiet life within his own little corner.
If Natsukawa were in another class, he would use Hirata's mild temperament and early dominance in the class to slowly boil Class D like a frog in warm water, eventually forging it into a blade aimed at the other classes. Unfortunately, Hirata was in his own class. He couldn't have that.
Ah, this is exhausting. I don't want to think about it anymore. What happens with Horikita is up to fate. Natsukawa yawned, pulled his gaze from the window, and looked around the classroom. As usual, Hirata was surrounded by little groups of girls. Kushida, Wang Meiyu, and Inogashira Kokoro were at their desks discussing what new desserts the café had come up with. Ike and Yamauchi were talking about the latest manga and how they could finally go spend some points now that they had some to spare...
The whole class was getting along as happily as ever, as if they had returned to their peaceful daily lives.
Come to think of it, has Ryuen already finished consolidating his class? Then his next step should be to come to Class D, stir up trouble, and test the school's rules.
I should make time to buy some voice recorders and hidden cameras, just in case. This body may not be as easy to push around anymore, but it's still pretty weak. Once I finish the fifty-day study assignment, I'll use the system to allocate some points to my stats. I hope Ryuen doesn't happen to pick a fight with me. That'd make things less fun later.
In the library that afternoon, the setting sun streamed through the tall windows, gilding the neatly arranged bookshelves with a warm golden glow. The quiet, distinctive scent of old paper and ink hung in the air. Natsukawa sat in his usual spot by the window. The book open before him wasn't a textbook, but Ellery Queen's The Tragedy of Y. Since early April, he had already completed the system's study assignments. Now he was reading purely for pleasure, and to relax his mind.
That subtle feeling of being watched still lingered, like dust motes in the afternoon air, faint but persistent. Unlike Kushida's purposeful surveillance, this gaze was more... serene, more genuine, as if it were simply observing him without any hint of intrusion. He had a pretty good idea who was watching him, but remained calm and made no effort to find the source.
Just as he was immersed in a maze of logic, a soft voice sounded beside him.
"Um... excuse me for interrupting."
Natsukawa lifted his gaze from the page.
A girl stood before him. Her waist-length gray hair fell smoothly down her back, its ends swaying lightly as she tilted her head. Her fair skin made her delicate features stand out all the more, and she looked at him with curiosity in her eyes. Her uniform outlined a figure that was still youthful but already taking shape. She held a book tightly in both hands, and he could see that it was a hardcover copy of The Greek Coffin Mystery.
Natsukawa recognized her as Shiina Hiyori, the bookish girl from Class C, known for her intelligence and slightly absent-minded air.
"Can I help you?" Natsukawa closed his copy of The Tragedy of Y, his tone even. He noticed her gaze quickly flick over the title of the book he had been reading. Her eyes immediately lit up with unmistakable delight at finding someone who shared her interests.
Shiina Hiyori seemed both nervous and excited. Her slender fingers unconsciously tightened around the book in her arms. "I... I noticed you've been reading mystery novels a lot lately." Her voice was soft, but her words were clear. "From Ellery Queen to Agatha Christie... you have excellent taste."
Natsukawa was mildly surprised. During this break, he had indeed borrowed a number of classic mystery novels, though at different times. The fact that she had noticed and correctly named the authors meant that this girl was not only a regular at the library, but also remarkably observant. No wonder she was little Hiyori.
"Just something to pass the time," Natsukawa replied, keeping his tone casual.
Shiina Hiyori didn't seem to mind his somewhat reserved manner. Her attention was entirely captivated by the fact that she had met someone who shared her love of mystery novels. She held out the copy of The Greek Coffin Mystery in her arms a little, and asked with unfeigned enthusiasm, "Do you... like Queen? I just finished this one, and the logical deductions were absolutely brilliant! Especially the part about..."
Once she got going, her words flowed smoothly, and her earlier shyness quickly gave way to the excitement of sharing her thoughts. She talked about the book's central trick and chain of logic, her eyes focused. Now and then, she furrowed her delicate brows as she thought, revealing a sharpness at odds with her gentle appearance. Her absorbed focus on the world of literature, and her delight at finding someone who understood her enthusiasm, made her glow with a unique radiance.
Looking at her, Natsukawa began to understand how the girl had managed to keep to her own pace despite the dog-eat-dog atmosphere in Class C.
"Queen's logical style is certainly exemplary," Natsukawa replied, following her lead. "Especially in the 'National Series,' where he took it nearly to its limit. Sometimes, though, it can feel a little too 'fair,' without enough surprises."
"Ah, yes! I completely agree!" Shiina Hiyori's eyes shone even brighter, and she unconsciously edged a little closer to Natsukawa. "But that extreme fairness is exactly what makes solving the mystery alongside the author so satisfying! Between The Tragedy of X and this one, which do you think has the more..."
She began to analyze the differences between the two books in depth, her views clear and original. Natsukawa listened quietly most of the time, occasionally nodding when she looked to him for agreement, or asking a leading question at a key point.
The warm golden sunset bathed this chance encounter in a soft glow. The tall bookshelves stood like silent walls, sheltering this little space where two people had connected through a shared interest. In the library after school, two people who had previously had nothing to do with each other had found a brief, pleasant connection through their love of mystery novels.
"...Ah, I'm so sorry." Shiina Hiyori finally came back to herself after sharing her excitement, realizing she might have talked too much. A deeper blush spread across her fair cheeks, and she lowered her head, embarrassed. "When I start talking about books I like, I can't seem to stop..."
"It's fine," Natsukawa said, his tone softening. "Your opinions are interesting."
Shiina Hiyori looked up and gave him a completely genuine smile, a stark contrast to her usual quiet, reserved demeanor. "Thank you for listening to me. I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class C."
"Natsukawa Sosuke, Class D."
"Natsukawa..." she murmured. "Um... if you come across any interesting mystery novels in the future, could we... recommend books to each other?" she asked tentatively, with hope in her eyes.
"Of course. Though I feel like I know far less about mystery novels than you do, Shiina. I hope you'll be patient with me."
"That's all right, Natsukawa. I'm already so happy to have found someone who shares my interests."
Shiina Hiyori seemed very satisfied. She hugged the book to her chest, then walked away with a light step, like a gentle gray silhouette, quietly disappearing into the shadows cast by the bookshelves deeper in the library.
Before you continue