A Heart Seeking Confirmation

Hashiba Hikaru rubbed his chin and analyzed the situation. "After all, we've received a reward from the school. It'd be best not to share information with the other classes before next month."

"Mm, I think so too."

The pink-haired girl nodded, then asked, "So, what information did you get from Kushida yesterday, Classmate Hashiba?"

Seeing the sudden sharpness in Ichinose's eyes, Hashiba Hikaru found it a little amusing, but still replied calmly.

"Oh, it was about a study session."

"Kushida said her class is planning to hold one soon. We have tests every month, and the important Midterm Exam is coming up too. If we can help everyone improve their grades, it'll definitely benefit us in the class competition later."

"I see." A glimmer of understanding flashed in Ichinose Honami's pretty eyes, and she hurriedly added, "I think Kushida's idea is a good one. No matter how the class competition unfolds, this is still a school, so students' grades are bound to matter."

"Let's hold a study session too, Classmate Hashiba!"

Hashiba Hikaru had expected her to suggest that. He replied gently, "Sure. I think it's a good idea. We can split into groups to review, fill in the gaps, and help everyone improve their grades together."

"Mm-hmm!" The girl suddenly grew excited. It seemed that plans involving the whole class always made her happy.

"Then I'll leave the plan to you, Ichinose. You can organize everyone into study groups." Hashiba Hikaru spread his hands and spoke lazily. "I want to take it easy for now, so I'm not planning to put in any effort."

"That's fine. Just take a good rest, Classmate Hashiba. I'll handle it!"

Ichinose nodded earnestly. She understood that Hashiba Hikaru was following through on their agreement to let her take the lead, so she immediately became enthusiastic.

"I'll look forward to seeing how you do, Ichinose. Just let me know once you've sorted out the groups."

"Mm-hmm."

--

After school, while Ichinose began actively discussing how to divide the class into groups for the study session, a group had also gathered in Class D's classroom.

At the head of the group was the immensely popular Kushida Kikyo. Standing beside her were three boys: Yamauchi Haruki and Kanji Ike, both wearing expectant expressions, and the expressionless Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

Yamauchi and Ike weren't looking forward to studying, of course. They were excited to get close to their class idol, Kushida-chan. As for the expressionless Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, he was simply confused.

"Um, why do I have to attend the study session too? My grades are actually..."

"Ayanokoji, I remember you often couldn't answer the teacher's questions in class. Come join us for the study session," Kushida Kikyo said with a gentle smile. "Horikita and I will be here to support you."

Ayanokoji glanced at the black-haired girl standing beside him with her schoolbag. She still looked cold and aloof, but she had evidently agreed to join the study session.

Would she really be willing to do something like this?

"...All right, I'll join."

"As for you, Yamauchi and Ike, if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Horikita or me. Let's all do our best!"

"Oh, we'll do our best!"

Seeing the energetic smile on Kushida's face, the two boys felt lucky to have been invited to the study session.

After school, the five of them headed together to the study room. It was a very spacious classroom, furnished with plenty of long wooden tables for students to use.

"Let's use this room. Today, we're going to work hard and tackle the problems we can't solve." Kushida ushered everyone to their seats. As the two girls, she and Horikita Suzune sat on one side, while the three boys sat opposite them.

"Let's get started. To get a better idea of your actual skill levels, I brought a set of practice questions."

Horikita Suzune expressionlessly took several identical test papers from her schoolbag and handed them out. Her tone carried a hint of instruction. "This set covers a range of topics and should reveal everyone's weak subjects. You can work on it first, and then I'll mark it."

"Hey, Horikita, do you think we're little kids or something?"

Seeing her act so high and mighty, Yamauchi immediately shot back. "Can't we just study whatever we want?"

"Yeah, why do we have to do your test? You're not a teacher," Ike added.

Ayanokoji calmly picked up a test paper without saying anything.

Seeing how everyone was reacting, Kushida Kikyo immediately tried to smooth things over. "Um, Yamauchi, Ike, don't be like that. Since Horikita's gone to the trouble, why don't we try the test first? Her grades are so good, she's sure to be able to help us."

"Hmph. I'll do it for little Kushida's sake. Just watch as the great Yamauchi conquers this test!"

"I'll do my best and show Kushida-chan what I can do!"

As Kanji Ike took the test paper, he confidently declared his intentions.

"I look forward to seeing how you do."

Horikita gave a noncommittal reply, then handed the remaining test paper to Kushida Kikyo.

"Kushida, this one's yours."

"Do I have to do it too?"

The short-haired girl's lips twitched. She didn't think she actually needed any tutoring. She was only here to use this as an opportunity to find out more about Horikita Suzune.

"What do you think?"

"Fine... I'll do it too."

After cursing inwardly, Kushida Kikyo accepted the test with a smile and lowered her head to work on the questions.

Once Horikita Suzune saw that everyone had a test, she quietly took her own workbook from her schoolbag. She had always set strict standards for herself, and since this was a study session, she naturally couldn't afford to waste time.

The Heart She Wanted to Confirm

In the quiet study room, Class D's group began working through the test Horikita Suzune had handed out. The girl herself was also working on her workbook, and the five of them kept the room peaceful.

Unfortunately, the diligent atmosphere lasted less than five minutes before someone started complaining.

"Hey, is this test for real? Why can't I even understand some of these questions?" Yamauchi tossed his pen aside and glared at Horikita Suzune. "Did you deliberately pick some questions meant for older students?"

"Yeah, I feel like you're deliberately making this difficult for us. Every question is so hard."

After hearing Yamauchi, Kanji Ike chimed in. "Are you really trying to help us improve our grades?"

"I chose these questions based on the average level of middle school students." Horikita looked up, her tone calm. "If you can't solve them, just leave them blank. That way, I'll know your actual level."

"You!"

A wave of humiliation flooded Yamauchi's mind. This was in front of little Kushida, and this woman actually dared to look down on him like that.

"If you're looking down on us, then I don't think there's any point in continuing this study session. I won't let someone who disrespects me teach me." Yamauchi suddenly crumpled the test paper in front of him and glared angrily at the black-haired girl.

"Kushida, say something to Horikita too. It's obvious she looks down on us. How are we supposed to study together like this?"

Kanji Ike looked at his furious friend, then began pressuring Kushida Kikyo, hoping she would scold Horikita Suzune.

"Um..."

Kushida Kikyo wanted nothing more than to curse them out. They couldn't handle Horikita Suzune, so now they expected her to step in?

"Let's all calm down first. We came here to study, not argue," the short-haired girl said with a conciliatory smile, addressing the angry Yamauchi and Ike. "Horikita might not have meant it that way. I think she just wanted to help everyone, but maybe she was a little too pushy."

After hearing Kushida's words, Horikita Suzune still looked completely unmoved as she addressed the two boys across from her. "I carefully put this test together, and it's suited to our current level. If you can't even understand the questions, then I don't know what to make of that."

"What!"

Those words were even more devastating. Combined with the genuinely puzzled expression on Horikita's face, they made the humiliation all the worse.

After hearing that, Yamauchi and Ike shot up from their chairs, fury blazing in their eyes.

"You jerk! Do you even know what you're saying?"

"Um, everyone, don't fight! This is a study room," Kushida hurriedly pleaded as she watched the group suddenly erupt.

"Hmph. If this is how she's going to act during the study session, then I'm sorry, but I'm done."

Yamauchi Haruki hadn't wanted to come in the first place. If it weren't for Kushida Kikyo, he never would have wanted to deal with Horikita Suzune, who was always acting so high and mighty.

"Yeah. Unless Horikita apologizes, we can't keep studying." Ike chose to side with Yamauchi.

"An apology is out of the question. I'm trying to help you. If you refuse to cooperate, there's nothing I can do." Horikita Suzune coldly looked at the two boys, making it clear that she wouldn't back down.

"Then that settles it. We're leaving!"

Yamauchi Haruki turned to Kushida beside him. "Thanks for inviting us to the study session today, Kushida. But I won't study with someone who looks down on me. Maybe we can study together another time."

"Yeah. You can invite me again next time, Kushida, as long as you don't invite her."

Both Ike and Yamauchi made it clear they absolutely wouldn't study with Horikita Suzune. Beside them, Ayanokoji, who had been looking down at his test paper, seemed to have spent the whole time acting like an outsider.

But the next moment, he felt Yamauchi put a hand on his shoulder and say loudly, "Ayanokoji doesn't like people who look down on us either, right? Want to come with us?"

"Uh..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked up at the situation. After thinking for a moment, he decided it was best to go along with the others.

So he stood up, nodded to the two girls, and left with Yamauchi and the others.

A perfectly good study session had fallen apart in less than ten minutes. Horikita Suzune glanced at Kushida, then stood up to pack her things. She certainly wasn't going to stay. If she hadn't promised Hashiba Hikaru, the girl would have much preferred studying alone in her dorm.

"Horikita, will you come to the next study session?" Kushida called after her.

"...If you keep holding them, I'll come."

After saying that, Horikita Suzune slung her schoolbag over her shoulder and walked straight out of the study room. Watching her back, Kushida's expression instantly darkened.

Since the study session began, she'd barely said a few words to her. What good was that?

There was no way to get closer to her, let alone any chance to ask her about that matter.

"Damn it..."

The short-haired girl took out her phone and began messaging Hashiba Hikaru.

Kushida Kikyo: Classmate Hashiba... I just failed.

At that moment, Hashiba Hikaru was sitting in his dorm room. When he saw Kushida's message, an amused expression crossed his face, and he quickly typed back.

Hashiba Hikaru: What happened? Did Horikita refuse?

Kushida Kikyo: Horikita agreed, but the study session didn't go smoothly. We ran into a few little problems.

"Little problems?"

Hashiba Hikaru thought it over as he held his phone, but soon realized that Class D's students probably hadn't wanted to put in the effort. After all, as the lowest-ranked class, their average ability was only to be expected.

Hashiba Hikaru: So, did you get any closer to Horikita?

Kushida Kikyo: Just a tiny bit, but I still feel like she's very distant. But Horikita said she'd come to my next study session too.

"Tsk, is she really that serious?" Hashiba Hikaru couldn't help thinking of the message he'd sent yesterday. He had clearly been coercing Horikita, yet he hadn't expected her to go this far.

Hashiba Hikaru: Isn't that great? You can keep working hard and holding study sessions, Kushida. I'm sure you'll win Horikita over.

Kushida Kikyo: I thought so too, but I'm still a little worried.

Hashiba Hikaru: Don't worry, Kushida. I believe in you.

"Tsk."

Seeing the other girl go round in circles, Kushida Kikyo couldn't help thinking back to what she'd considered the previous night.

Why was Hashiba Hikaru helping her?

After going over everything in her mind again, Kushida Kikyo took a deep breath. She decided to test Hashiba Hikaru's intentions again and make sure to get a definite answer. Only then could she feel at ease continuing to use him.

Everything she'd considered so far was only speculation. Rather than keep guessing about Hashiba Hikaru's true intentions, she'd be better off taking the initiative.

Kushida hated the feeling of uncertainty and lack of control. Besides, there was still the bomb that was Horikita Suzune to deal with. If she could secure an excellent assistant like Hashiba Hikaru, he might even be able to help her come up with ideas in the future.

And since he was also the leader of Class B, there was absolutely no downside to it, whichever way she looked at it.

Kushida Kikyo: Um, Classmate Hashiba, are you free later?

"Oh?"

The boy looked at the new message from Kushida Kikyo, curious about what she wanted now.

Hashiba Hikaru: I'm free, Kushida. Did you need something?

Kushida Kikyo: Then can we meet later? I have something I'd like to tell you, Classmate Hashiba.

Hashiba Hikaru: Sure. Where?

Kushida Kikyo: On the stone path around the Artificial Island. We can enjoy the scenery too.

Hashiba Hikaru: All right. I'll be there soon.

Kushida Kikyo: Mm-hmm. I'm looking forward to seeing you later.

Hashiba Hikaru held his phone, his eyes shining with thought.