Chapter Summaries

Karuizawa reconsidered whether Hirata could protect her after receiving a letter and fingernails showing that Chukai-kun had punished three girls who bullied her. During Class C’s swimming lesson, Ryuen Kakeru caught Chukai-kun staring at her and knocked him down, leaving him hurt as class began.

• Karuizawa found a letter and three torn fingernails in her shoe locker, then learned the three girls who bullied her had taken time off after Chukai-kun punished them.
• Karuizawa wondered whether Chukai-kun’s influence made him a better protector than Hirata, while Kushida invited her to go out after school.
• Chukai-kun watched the boys in Class C horse around in the changing room, where they admired Albert’s muscles and compared themselves.
• Ryuen Kakeru gathered the students in swimsuits and dragged Chukai-kun over when the boys were slow to arrive.
• Ryuen Kakeru knocked Chukai-kun down and stomped on his chest and groin after catching him staring at her.
• Chukai-kun told the gym teacher he had fallen and hit his groin, then accepted help from two classmates as class began.

During swimming class, Hoya taught Ryuen Shoko freestyle while their classmates misread their lesson as flirting. The girls’ race began with the others trying to conceal their swimming ability, leaving the teacher puzzled as Ryuen Shoko swam honestly.

• The PE teacher announced swimming lessons and a competition with five thousand points for each winner.
• Ryuen Shoko ordered Hoya to teach her proper swimming strokes, and he led her to a quiet corner of the pool.
• Hoya taught Ryuen Shoko freestyle while classmates watched and gossiped about them.
• Shiina Hiyori hesitantly entered the pool, and the teacher encouraged her to overcome her fear of swimming.
• The teacher started the girls’ race and noticed that everyone except Ryuen Shoko was pretending not to swim well.

After a swimming competition, the real estate agent recruited Ichinose to help his plan by involving Shibata Sou and supporting Albert. He returned to find Ryuen Shoko waiting in his dorm, where she claimed a spare key and settled in for beer and snacks.

• Ibuki Mio held back during the girls' swimming competition so Ryuen Shoko could win, while Ishizaki Daichi beat Albert and the real estate agent in the boys' race.
• The real estate agent worried about his dwindling points and planned to use his money to win Karuizawa and Kushida's loyalty when Class D ran out of income.
• At the supermarket, the real estate agent asked Ichinose to recruit Shibata Sou as a witness and help Albert become more outgoing.
• Ichinose agreed to help, and the real estate agent told her that Albert was actually introverted and shy.
• Ryuen Shoko waited outside the real estate agent's room, demanded a spare key, and asked him to buy food to go with their beer.
• The real estate agent prepared smashed cucumber, bought snacks and food, and picked up slippers to replace the pair Ryuen had taken over.

Hoya returned to his dorm and found Ryuen bathing there, then spent hours reading while she relaxed and gathered information. After Ryuen ordered him to make food, Hoya started cooking and had Albert deliver ingredients and prepared dishes.

• Hoya found Ryuen bathing in his dorm and went to read while she finished.
• Ryuen borrowed Hoya’s bath towel, then sent Ibuki to fetch clean clothes and a hair dryer.
• Ibuki spread gossip in class group chats about Ryuen being at Hoya’s dorm after a bath.
• Ryuen interrupted Hoya’s reading at 8:26 and told him to make her food without chili.
• Hoya asked Albert to bring rice, fried chicken legs, and marinated duck wings, then began cooking vegetable dishes.
• Ryuen answered the door for Albert, took the food, and sent him away.

Hoya endured Ryuen Shoko’s demands before spending Friday morning avoiding her and encountering Sakayanagi Arisu. In Class D, Ayanokoji Kiyohime tried to learn about ordinary people by observing classmates, then awkwardly shared gossip with Matsushita Chiaki until Horikita Suzune stopped her.

• Ryuen Shoko made Hoya serve as a footrest for nearly an hour, then returned to her dorm, and Hoya discovered she had used his bath towel.
• Hoya planned to enjoy the weekend, met Sakayanagi Arisu at breakfast, and left after greeting her.
• Sakayanagi Arisu returned to Class A with her attendants to watch Katsuragi, while Ayanokoji Kiyohime listened to classmates gossip about Hoya and Ryuen Shoko.
• Matsushita Chiaki sat with Ayanokoji and asked why she did not talk to other students, prompting Ayanokoji to say she did not know how to keep a conversation going.
• Ayanokoji told Matsushita that Hoya was strange and mentioned his argument with Horikita Suzune, so Horikita interrupted and Ayanokoji apologized.

Hoya arranged for Albert to build a genuine friendship with Class B as part of his multi-step plan against Class A. Meanwhile, Chabashira confirmed Ayanokoji was concealing her abilities and began questioning Horikita about why she was assigned to Class D.

• Ayanokoji struggled to read Matsushita’s social cues, while Horikita left the classroom and later passed Hoya in the hallway.
• Hoya asked Albert to get to know Class B, and Ichinose agreed to help him settle in.
• Hoya and Ryuen reviewed their plan, agreeing to begin the fourth step on Monday and make their move on Wednesday with Mashima as a witness.
• Chabashira gave Ayanokoji ten questions, all of which she answered correctly, confirming Chabashira’s suspicion that she was hiding her abilities.
• Horikita asked why she had been placed in Class D, and Chabashira explained that placement considered more than grades before handing her a difficult question sheet.

Horikita learned that the school’s class rankings depended on students’ conduct and performance, then asked Ayanokoji to help raise Class D to Class A. Hoya agreed to join Ichinose’s shopping trip and later watched Ryuen Shoko quietly doodle during class.

• Chabashira told Horikita that Class D students were considered defective and challenged her to reach Class A, while Ayanokoji’s identical 51-point scores showed she could answer every test question correctly.
• Ayanokoji suggested that monthly points varied according to a calculation tied to exams and activities, helping Horikita realize that class rankings depended on those results.
• Horikita asked Ayanokoji to help turn Class D into Class A, but Ayanokoji questioned why she should help and warned that Class D would likely lose many hidden points.
• Hoya accepted Ichinose’s invitation to join her shopping trip with Ayanokoji that afternoon.
• During afternoon class, Hoya watched Ryuen Shoko quietly draw stick figures in her notebook and wondered what she was planning.

Hoya brought Kamuro Masumi along to a karaoke outing with students from Classes B, C, and D, where Albert was coaxed into singing and Ayanokoji tried a pop song. The group enjoyed themselves, though Hoya’s teasing and the others’ reactions stirred awkward feelings and suspicions.

• Hoya noticed Ryuen Shoko acting strangely, then headed to meet students from Classes B, C, and D for karaoke.
• Hoya exposed Kamuro Masumi following him in disguise and invited her to join the group as a spy for Sakayanagi Arisu.
• At the karaoke room, Matsushita Chiaki and Sato Maya encouraged a bashful Albert to sing, and Hoya got Shibata Sou to sing along.
• Kushida Kikyo felt jealous when she noticed Kei watching Hoya, then blushed when he touched her forehead.
• Ichinose Honami redirected attention to Ayanokoji Kiyohime, who sang a love song with a serious expression while Hoya struggled not to laugh.

After a night out with classmates, Hoya found Ryuen Shoko feverish and curled up in his bed, then cared for her through the night. The next morning, he woke her and offered her breakfast as she remained weak and disoriented.

• Hoya joined his classmates for all-you-can-eat hot pot, where Sato teased him about his supposed romantic connections with several girls.
• Hoya returned to his room, failed to notice Ryuen Shoko hidden under his blanket, and discovered she was feverish and nearly unconscious.
• Hoya covered Ryuen Shoko, gave her fever medicine, washed her uniform, and slept on the sofa while checking her temperature.
• At dawn, Hoya saw Ryuen Shoko's fever had eased, prepared stewed pears and mung bean soup, and gently woke her to eat.
• Ryuen Shoko woke groggy and complained that she felt awful as Hoya urged her to have some breakfast.

Hoya helped the weakened Ryuen Shoko to the bathroom, where she called Ibuki Mio to bring clothes and sanitary pads without telling him. After discovering the cause of Ryuen’s illness and bloodstained bedding, Hoya prepared porridge and cleaned up, but Ryuen was still struggling in the bathroom when the chapter ended.

• Hoya helped Ryuen Shoko out of bed and escorted her to the bathroom.
• Ryuen called Ibuki Mio and asked her to bring clothes and sanitary pads from her room.
• Ibuki brought the items to Hoya, who realized Ryuen was menstruating and had been drinking while unwell.
• Hoya gave Ryuen the supplies, then cooked red date porridge and removed the bloodstained parts of his bedding.
• When Ryuen remained in the bathroom for a long time, Hoya offered to call Ibuki, but Ryuen angrily refused.

Hoya summoned Shiina Hiyori to help Ryuen Shoko after Ryuen fell in the bathroom and could not get up. After leaving Shiina to care for Ryuen, Hoya ran into Ayanokoji Kiyohime while carrying supplies and invited her to drink pear juice at his room.

• Hoya called Ichinose for help, but she was out shopping, so he contacted Shiina Hiyori and urgently asked her to come to his room.
• Shiina hurried from the library and arrived to find Ryuen Shoko stranded in the bathroom after slipping on her underwear.
• Hoya left Shiina to help Ryuen bathe and went out to buy food, leaving porridge and a spare key behind.
• On his way back with food and bedding, Hoya met Ayanokoji Kiyohime, who helped him carry the supplies.
• Hoya invited Ayanokoji into his room and served her pear drink with rock sugar.

Hoya cared for the unwell Ryuen Shoko with Shiina Hiyori’s help, then went with Shiina to buy supplies for his dorm. At the library, he chose mystery novels so he and Shiina could exchange recommendations.

• Ayanokoji Kiyohime thanked Hoya for the meal and left to meet Kushida.
• Shiina helped Ryuen out of the bath, and Hoya served them porridge before they ate together.
• Hoya and Shiina coaxed Ryuen into bed for another nap, then went shopping for a hair dryer and toiletries for his room.
• After returning to the dorm, Hoya left Ryuen sleeping and invited Shiina to the library.
• Hoya picked out three mystery novels, including The Ex-Boyfriend's Last Will and Testament, so he could recommend a book to Shiina.

Hoya spent the afternoon with Shiina, then shared dinner with her and Sakayanagi, whose conversation turned to the rivalry within Class A and the coming conflict between classes. Sakayanagi refused to join forces with Katsuragi, leaving Hoya convinced that Class A would remain divided.

• Hoya and Shiina went out to dinner, where they shared dishes after Hoya said he needed to save points.
• Sakayanagi and Kamuro joined Hoya and Shiina, and Sakayanagi offered to give Hoya points if he became her servant.
• Hoya asked Sakayanagi why she did not challenge Katsuragi for leadership of Class A, and she said she wanted to see how capable he was.
• Hoya warned Sakayanagi that Class C had joined forces with Class B and would target Class A, while she suggested they could become friends.
• Hoya urged Sakayanagi and Katsuragi to unite, but Sakayanagi refused, and Hoya concluded that he could not control her choices.

Hoya and Sakayanagi Arisu traded information and discussed their plans for Class A, while Shiina Hiyori began questioning her feelings for Hoya. The chapter ended with Hoya looking after Ryuen Shoko and explaining that he and Shiina had been studying.

• Sakayanagi Arisu offered Hoya access to Kamuro Masumi as an informant until Katsuragi stepped down, and Hoya agreed not to destroy Class A beforehand.
• Hoya and Sakayanagi exchanged information about their classes and joked about Hoya turning Class A into Class D.
• Hoya encouraged Shiina Hiyori to make friends and offered to introduce her to Ayanokoji as someone who might recommend books.
• After returning to her room, Shiina reread books to choose one for Hoya but kept thinking about him and wondered if she liked him.
• Hoya looked after Ryuen Shoko, who asked whether he had been spending time with Shiina, and he said they had been studying before he ran into Sakayanagi.

Hoya reported to Ryuen Shoko that Class A was divided between Sakayanagi and Katsuragi, so he advised gradually supporting Katsuragi rather than attacking the class outright. After making Hoya share her bed, Ryuen watched him sleep and reflected on how his support had strengthened her position and how she did not want him to become someone else’s.

• Hoya told Ryuen Shoko that Sakayanagi and Katsuragi were competing for leadership in a divided Class A, and that Sakayanagi would not act until Katsuragi fell.
• Ryuen had Hoya massage her, then insisted he stay in her bed; Hoya also stopped her from drinking beer and made her have brown sugar water instead.
• Ryuen lay awake, regained some strength, opened the curtains, and watched Hoya sleep.
• Ryuen remembered how Hoya’s support had helped her gain the class’s backing and considered his patience, principles, and willingness to care for her.
• Ryuen climbed over Hoya and stared at him, deciding she did not want him to become someone else’s.

Hoya and Ryuen Shoko spent the morning together after leaving his dorm, eating breakfast and visiting the shopping district. At an arcade, Ryuen challenged Hoya to several games, but he learned quickly and began beating her, leaving her eager to try another game.

• Hoya and Ryuen Shoko brushed their teeth together and decided to go out for breakfast.
• Hoya and Ryuen left his dorm, and their neighbor Shibata Sou watched them depart in shock.
• At the cafeteria, Ryuen took the yolk from Hoya’s boiled egg, prompting nearby students to mistake them for a couple.
• Hoya and Ryuen visited an arcade, where Ryuen taught him to play King of Fighters and beat him at first.
• Hoya improved and defeated Ryuen at fighting games, racing games, basketball toss, pinball, and flying chess.
• Ryuen, frustrated by her losses, urged Hoya to try shooting games.

Hoya and Ryuen Shoko played a co-op game, then met Sakayanagi Arisu at a milk tea shop, where their teasing escalated into a confrontation. The chapter ended with Sakayanagi glaring at Hoya after he made a provocative suggestion.

• Hoya and Ryuen Shoko struggled through a co-op game before stopping to get milk tea.
• Yamauchi Haruki and Kanji Ike envied Hoya’s closeness with Kushida and discussed Sudō Ken’s interest in Ayanokoji.
• Hoya and Ryuen Shoko encountered Sakayanagi Arisu at the milk tea shop, where Ryuen called her a tiny runt.
• Sakayanagi pressed Hoya about what he had said behind her back, and he avoided meeting her eyes until she insisted.
• Ryuen accused Sakayanagi of trying to steal other people’s men, and Hoya teased her about being a masochist who liked rough treatment.
• Hoya suggested pinning Sakayanagi on a table and smacking her butt, and she glared at him furiously.

The real estate agent confronted Sakayanagi Arisu, then walked around the island with Ryuen Shoko and met Koenji, whose outside contact arrangements he deduced. He and Ryuen went to the supermarket to buy groceries for lunch.

• The real estate agent told Sakayanagi Arisu to be sincere if she wanted to make friends, and she left after warning him they would meet again.
• Ryuen Shoko walked around the island with the real estate agent, and they ran into Koenji with two third-year students.
• The real estate agent deduced that Koenji exchanged points for money and had found a place on the island to make outside phone calls.
• The real estate agent warned Ryuen Shoko not to provoke Koenji, then they went to the supermarket to buy ingredients for lunch.

The real estate agent bought groceries, cooked lunch, and arranged a roast lamb dinner for Ryuen Shoko, then went to clean her dorm room with her permission. As he entered the girls’ dorm, he ran into a girl who was surprised to see him.

• The real estate agent arranged for a restaurant to roast the lamb Ryuen wanted and bring it for dinner.
• The real estate agent and Ryuen picked out groceries, and he cooked lunch while saving room for the lamb.
• Ryuen stayed at the real estate agent’s room and gave him her dorm key so he could clean her room.
• The dorm supervisor verified the real estate agent’s identity and Ryuen’s permission before letting him enter the girls’ dorm.
• The real estate agent reached Ryuen’s room and greeted a girl stepping out, who asked why he was there.

Hoya cleaned Ryuen Shoko’s dorm, arranged a roast leg of lamb for her, and shared dinner and beer with her. As they drank, Ryuen became flirtatious and asked Hoya to feed her, leaving their evening poised to become more intimate.

• Karuizawa asked Hoya to exchange contact information before he went to clean Ryuen Shoko’s dorm.
• Hoya spent several hours washing clothes and cleaning Ryuen’s room, then arranged for a roast leg of lamb to be delivered using Ichinose’s help.
• Hoya served Ryuen the lamb with dinner, and she was moved that he remembered her craving and went to the trouble of ordering it.
• Ryuen asked Hoya to drink with her, and he allowed her more beer than he had initially planned.
• After they drank, Ryuen removed her shirt, sat on Hoya’s lap, teased him about his arousal, and asked him to feed her.