In Classroom of the Elite, I Only Want to Go All-in on My Love Stock Market Chapter 36

Hashiba Hikaru rubbed his chin and analyzed, "After all, we have already received a reward from the school, so it would be best not to share information with other classes until next month arrives."

"Hmm, I think so too."

The girl with pink hair nodded and then asked, "Then what information did you get from Kushida yesterday, Hashiba?"

Seeing the sudden sharpness in Ichinose's eyes beside him, Hashiba Hikaru found it somewhat amusing, but he still replied calmly.

"Oh, it's about the study group."

"Kushida said their class is planning to hold a study group recently. Since there are monthly tests and an important midterm exam coming up, if everyone can improve their grades, it will definitely be beneficial for future class competition."

"I see," a glimmer of realization flashed in Ichinose Honami's beautiful eyes, and she quickly said, "I think Kushida's idea is very correct. No matter how the class competition unfolds, this is a school, so students' grades are definitely important."

"Let's hold a study group too, Hashiba!"

Hashiba Hikaru had long anticipated her idea and replied gently, "Sure, I think this is indeed a good thing. We can divide into small groups to review, identify gaps in our knowledge, and help everyone improve their grades together."

"Mm-hmm!" The girl suddenly became excited, as if such collective plans always made her very happy.

"Then I'll leave this plan to you, Ichinose, to organize the group study sessions," Hashiba Hikaru said lazily, shrugging his shoulders. "After all, I want to be lazy right now and don't plan on putting in the effort."

"It's okay, Hashiba can just rest well; I'll get it done!"

Ichinose nodded earnestly. She naturally understood that Hashiba Hikaru's meaning was to fulfill the agreement that allowed her to shine, so she immediately became very motivated.

"I'll look forward to your performance, Ichinose. Just let me know once the groups are divided."

"Mm-hmm."

After school, just as Ichinose began actively communicating with her classmates about how to divide into groups for the study session, a group of people had also gathered in the Class D classroom.

Leading them was naturally the super popular Kushida Kikyo, and standing next to her were three boys: Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji, who both wore expectant expressions, and the expressionless Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

What Yamauchi and Ike were looking forward to was, of course, not studying, but the chance to be in close proximity to the class idol, Kushida-chan, while the expressionless Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt somewhat puzzled.

"Um, why do I have to participate in the study group? My grades are actually..."

"Ayanokoji, I remember you often couldn't answer the teacher's questions during class, so why don't you join us for the study group?" Kushida Kikyo said with a gentle smile on her face. "Horikita and I will be your support."

Ayanokoji looked at the black-haired girl beside him who was carrying her school bag. Although she still wore an indifferent expression, it was clear she had already agreed to join this study group.

Is she actually willing to do something like this?

"...Alright then, I'll join."

"As for Yamauchi and Ike, if you have anything you don't understand, you can ask Horikita and me. Let's all work hard together!"

"Oh, oh! We'll work hard!"

Seeing the energetic smile on Kushida's face, the two boys felt that being invited by her to join the study group was truly wonderful.

The group of five headed to the study room together after school. It was a very spacious classroom equipped with many long wooden tables for students to use.

"Let's choose this place. We must study hard today and conquer the problems we don't know." Kushida invited everyone to take their seats. As a girl, she naturally sat on one side with Horikita Suzune, while the three boys sat opposite them.

"Then let's begin. To better understand your true level, I brought a set of test papers."

Horikita Suzune expressionlessly took several identical test papers out of her bag and handed them to the people in front of her, her tone carrying a hint of instruction: "This set of papers is quite comprehensive and can identify everyone's weak subjects. You can do them first, and then I will grade them."

"Hey, Horikita, are you treating everyone like children?"

Seeing this person acting so high and mighty, Yamauchi immediately countered, "Can't we just study on our own?"

"Yeah, why do we have to do the papers you made? You're not a teacher," Ike added from the side.

Meanwhile, the calm-faced Ayanokoji reached out and took a test paper without saying anything.

Seeing everyone's reaction, Kushida Kikyo immediately began to smooth things over, gently persuading, "Um, Yamauchi, Ike, don't be like that. Since Horikita is so enthusiastic, why don't we all just do the papers? Her grades are so good, she will definitely be able to help everyone."

"Hmph, I'll do it for little Kushida's sake. Watch how I, Yamauchi-sama, conquer this test paper!"

"I'll work hard and let Kushida-chan see my strength!"

When Ike Kanji took the test paper, he stated his intentions with great confidence.

"I look forward to your performance."

After Horikita responded indifferently, she handed the remaining test paper to Kushida Kikyo beside her.

"Kushida, this is yours."

"Do I have to do it too?"

The short-haired girl couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. She didn't think she really needed tutoring; she was only using this method to probe Horikita Suzune's situation.

"What do you think?"

"Alright... then I'll answer the questions too."

Cursing inwardly, Kushida Kikyo took the test paper with a smile and began to lower her head to solve the problems.

Seeing that everyone had received their papers, Horikita Suzune quietly pulled her own workbook out of her bag. She had always been strict with herself; since it was a study group, she naturally couldn't waste time.

Chapter 65: The Heart That Wants Confirmation

In the quiet study room, the group from Class D began to lower their heads and answer questions after receiving Horikita Suzune's test papers, while the girl herself was working through problems in her workbook. The atmosphere among the five was very quiet.

Unfortunately, this atmosphere of diligent study lasted for less than five minutes before someone started complaining.

"Hey, are you serious with this test paper? Why are there questions on here that I can't even understand?" Yamauchi Haruki threw his pen down, looked up, and glared at Horikita Suzune. "You didn't intentionally pick out difficult problems from higher grade levels, did you?"

"Yeah, how come it feels like you're deliberately making things hard for us? These questions are clearly way too difficult."

After hearing Yamauchi's outburst, Ike Kanji chimed in enthusiastically, "Are you actually planning to help us improve our grades?"

"I selected these questions based on the average level of a middle school student," Horikita said, looking up with a calm tone. "If you don't know how to do them, just leave them blank. That way, I'll know your true level."

"You!"

The feeling of being humiliated instantly flooded Yamauchi's brain. This was right in front of Kushida, and this woman actually dared to look down on him like that.

"If you're going to look down on us, then I don't think there's any point in continuing this study session. I'm not going to let someone who doesn't respect others teach me." Yamauchi suddenly crumpled the test paper in front of him into a ball and glared angrily at the black-haired girl.

"Kushida, say something to Horikita too. This girl is clearly looking down on us; how are we supposed to study together like this?"

Ike glanced at his angry friend and began pressuring Kushida Kikyo, who was sitting nearby, hoping she would condemn Horikita.

"This..."

Kushida Kikyo just wanted to curse under her breath right now. You guys can't handle Horikita, so now you're making me step up?

"I think everyone should calm down first. We're here to study today, not to argue," the short-haired girl said with a conciliatory smile, addressing the angry Yamauchi and Ike. "Horikita-san probably didn't mean it that way. I suspect she just wants to help everyone as best she can, but she might be a bit impatient."

After hearing Kushida's words, Horikita maintained her indifferent attitude and looked at the two boys opposite her. "This test paper was carefully curated by me and is perfectly suited to our current progress. If you can't even understand the questions, I don't think you'll be able to grasp the material."

"What!"

This statement was undoubtedly even more potent. Coupled with the look of genuine confusion on Horikita's face—which didn't seem feigned—the level of humiliation reached new heights.

Upon hearing this, Yamauchi and Ike stood up from their chairs with a start, flames of anger burning in their eyes.

"Damn it! Do you know what you're saying?"

"Um, everyone, please don't fight. This is a study room, after all," Kushida said, trying to intervene as she watched the group suddenly start to cause a scene.

"Hmph, if this is the attitude she's going to have while participating in this study session with us, then sorry, but I'm out."

Yamauchi Haruki hadn't wanted to come in the first place; if it weren't for Kushida Kikyo, he wouldn't have been willing to face this Horikita, who always acted so high and mighty.

"Yeah, unless Horikita-san apologizes, we can't continue studying." Ike chose to stand on the same side as Yamauchi.

"An apology is out of the question. I am trying to help you. If you refuse to cooperate, there's nothing I can do." Horikita looked coldly at the two boys, signaling that she would never back down.

"Fine then, we're leaving!"

Yamauchi Haruki turned his head toward Kushida and said, "Thanks for inviting us to the study session today, Kushida-san, but I won't study with someone who looks down on others. Let's study together again when there's another chance."

"Yeah, Kushida-san can call me again next time, as long as she doesn't invite her."

Both Ike and Yamauchi made it clear that they would absolutely not study with Horikita, while Ayanokoji, who was staring down at his test paper, seemed to have been an outsider the whole time.

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

"Uh..."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked up at the situation. After a brief moment of thought, he decided it was better to go with the flow.

So, he stood up, nodded at the two girls, and walked out with Yamauchi and the others.

The study session, which had been going well, fell apart in less than ten minutes. Horikita looked at Kushida, then stood up to pack her things. She certainly wouldn't stay here any longer; if it weren't for her promise to Hashiba Hikaru, she would much rather study alone in her dorm.

"Horikita-san, will you come to the study session next time?" Kushida called out from behind her.

"...If you continue to host them, I will come."

After saying this, Horikita walked straight out of the study room with her bag on her back. Watching her back, Kushida's expression darkened instantly.

From the start of the study session until now, she had only managed to exchange a few sentences with her. What was the point of that?

She couldn't get closer to her at all, and there was absolutely no opportunity to ask her about that matter.

"Damn it..."

The short-haired girl took out her phone and started sending a message to Hashiba Hikaru.

Kushida Kikyo: Hashiba-kun... I failed just now.

At that moment, sitting in his dorm, Hashiba Hikaru saw the message from Kushida and wore a playful expression as he quickly typed a reply.

Hashiba Hikaru: What happened? Did Horikita-san not agree?

Kushida Kikyo: Horikita-san agreed, but the study session didn't go smoothly. We ran into some small problems.

"Small problems?"

Hashiba Hikaru held his phone and thought for a moment, but immediately assumed it was probably because the students in Class D didn't want to work hard. After all, as the worst class, their average quality was predictable.

Hashiba Hikaru: Then did you manage to get closer to Horikita-san, Kushida-san?

Kushida Kikyo: Only a little bit. I still feel very distant from her, but Horikita-san said she would come again next time I host a study session.

"Hiss, is her personality really that serious?" Hashiba couldn't help but think about the message he sent yesterday. He was clearly coercing Horikita, but he hadn't expected her to go this far.

Hashiba Hikaru: Isn't that great? You can keep trying to host study sessions, Kushida-san. You'll definitely be able to win Horikita-san over eventually.

Kushida Kikyo: That's what I think too, but I'm still a little worried.

Hashiba Hikaru: Don't worry, Kushida-san, I believe in your abilities.

"Tch."

Seeing the other party repeat the same empty platitudes, Kushida Kikyo couldn't help but recall her thoughts from last night.

Why would Hashiba Hikaru help her?

After replaying the situation in her mind, Kushida Kikyo took a deep breath. She decided to test Hashiba Hikaru's attitude once more, and she had to get a definitive answer; only then could she feel at ease continuing to use him.

In any case, all her current considerations were just her own guesses. Rather than speculating on Hashiba Hikaru's true stance, it would be better to take the initiative.

Kushida absolutely hated this feeling of being unable to control the unknown, and with the ticking time bomb that was Horikita Suzune still undealt with, if she could successfully secure such an excellent assistant as Hashiba Hikaru, he might even be able to help her come up with ideas in the future.

Plus, since he was the leader of Class B, no matter how you looked at it, this was an absolute win.

Kushida Kikyo: Um, Hashiba-kun, are you free later?

"Oh?"

The boy looked at the new message sent by Kushida Kikyo, curious about what she was planning this time.

Hashiba Hikaru: I'm free. Is there something you need, Kushida-san?

Kushida Kikyo: Then, can we meet up later? There are some things I'd like to tell you, Hashiba-kun.

Hashiba Hikaru: Sure, where?

Kushida Kikyo: How about the stone path on the perimeter of the Artificial Island? It's a good spot to enjoy the scenery.

Hashiba Hikaru: Sounds good, I'll be there shortly.

Kushida Kikyo: Mm-hmm, I'm really looking forward to our meeting later.

Hashiba Hikaru gripped his phone, a glimmer of contemplation flashing in his eyes.