The Missing Spy

"What you said makes sense, then I'll go too."

"I know you have a problem with Katsuragi because he was disciplined and had Class Points, but that's Koenji's problem. Katsuragi a very nice person."

The two boys seemed to have chosen their desired items, and they walked towards the cashier while talking, their voices fading into the distance.

"Katsuragi is indeed a good class monitor."

Kitagawa Ryo also sincerely praised him. He had always felt that even without Sakayanagi Arisu, Katsuragi Kohei leading Class A was not bad. If Class A followed his strategy and made steady progress, at least in the first year, the other three classes would not be able to threaten Class A.

Of course, this is based on the premise that Class A's Class Points are 940 instead of the current 450.

Currently, due to Kitagawa Ryo's interference, the Class Points of Class A and Class B are far too close.

Even the usually composed Katsuragi Kohei would probably have to decide to intervene in Class B.

With Ayanokoji Kiyotaka offering advice, it's uncertain whether Class B can pull through.

"Found it."

Horikita Suzune crouched down and saw a small wooden house that looked like a decoration; its size seemed just right.

Sorting aside the jumbled thoughts and ideas in her head, Kitagawa Ryo squatted down beside Horikita Suzune and took the small house she handed him.

"Looks good."

"Remove the base and place a pillow or blanket underneath."

After roughly finalizing the plan and buying other useful items, Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune paid their bills and headed back to their dormitory.

Having solved the problem Kitagawa Ryo seemed to be in a rather cheerful mood. He stepped on his own shadow with a childlike gait, almost hopping along.

"I want to build a home for Ying."

Horikita Suzune rarely saw Kitagawa Ryo in this state. The Kitagawa Ryo now presented to her was less like a blank sheet of paper and more like a transparent bubble that was completely transparent and could be seen through at a glance. The smile reflected by the sunlight was like a rainbow of colors.

Kitagawa Ryo often worries that she is becoming a substitute for Horikita Suzune Horikita Manabu in Horikita Suzune's heart, but in reality, only Horikita Suzune herself knows that she has never regarded him as a substitute for her brother.

Even if he seems to be a person who is impeccable in every way.

But to be honest, Kitagawa Ryo's wardrobe was so messy that Hotaru could just move in.

Horikita Suzune shook her head helplessly, then took two steps forward and walked side by side with Kitagawa Ryo.

[Hotaru's House]

It was a small flag that Horikita Suzune had made using the scraps of fabric, and the words on it were written by Kitagawa Ryo himself.

At this moment, it stood majestically on the roof of the newly renovated firefly's little wooden house.

Firefly stretched out her front paws, perched on the roof of her house, and blew on the little flag, watching it flutter.

Hotaru's beautiful, fluorescent eyes reflected the Matoba Kitagawa Ryo and Horikita Suzune packing their luggage together. Hotaru lazily yawned.

Considering their new home, Hotaru generously decided to upgrade Horikita Suzune's status Pooper Scooper back to normal.

"Meow."

Chapter 62: The Missing Spy

"Bang."

The basketball traced a perfect arc through the air, a classic fadeaway jump shot. Kitagawa Ryo easily tossed the ball into the basket, where it bounced slightly after landing before being casually caught by Ken Sudō on the other side.

"... I'm not fighting anymore, I'm not fighting anymore."

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ken Sudō plopped down on a bench by the basketball court, panting heavily, and waved his hand somewhat awkwardly as he spoke.

"This level isn't enough to become a full-fledged Basketball Club player and represent the school in the summer tournament."

Kitagawa Ryo shrugged and sat down on the other bench. The May temperature already had a hint of summer. The two of them had just finished playing ball and were both covered in sweat, so sitting further apart was actually more refreshing.

Ken Sudō, of course, didn't care. After hearing Kitagawa Ryo's words, he simply rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"If Kitagawa joins the Basketball Club, all the First Year students combined can't compete with him."

"He clearly has such great basketball talent, but he doesn't seem to have any plans to develop in that direction."

"After all, I have my own club, and I mainly play basketball for exercise, unlike you, Sudo, who is planning to develop into a professional basketball player."

Ken Sudō unscrewed a bottle of mineral water from his backpack, then casually tossed another bottle to Kitagawa Ryo. He chuckled as he tugged at his sweatshirt collar, fanning himself, and drank his water.

"... Anyway, this is the only thing I'm good at."

Ken Sudō gave a wry smile. He took the bottle of mineral water that Kitagawa Ryo tossed to him and, with an air of bravado as if he were about to die of thirst, gulped down the entire bottle in one go. Only then did he wipe his mouth and add:

"Although according to Mashima's instructions, our Class D will not enjoy any of the benefits advertised before enrollment, so I don't know what to say."

The suspension and almost certain expulsion of Yamauchi and Ike startled Ken Sudō, who was close to them. What upset him even more was that in their original small group, he was the only one who hadn't been punished. Every day, Yamauchi and Ike would grumble and complain about him, to the point that he felt a strange hatred for them, as if it would be reasonable for him to stand on the precipice of expulsion with them.

Although Ken Sudō had no idea what had happened between the four classes that day, he only realized how unreasonable the school was when Yamauchi and Ike complained angrily, and how he had almost lost control of his emotions and punched a student from Class A at the urging of others.

Even the most impulsive person, given enough time, can figure out some things that are not right.

That's why Ken Sudō sincerely thanked Ryo Kitagawa, who stepped forward to team up with him when he was challenged and had no teammates willing to join Kitagawa Ryo, and Yamada Albert, whom Kitagawa Ryo brought along. Even though he had hardly interacted with these two classmates, for Ken Sudō, one basketball game was enough.

Ken Sudō was acutely aware that he was bad at interpersonal communication and could even be easily disliked by others. He was not good at anything that required teamwork, except for basketball.

Only on the basketball court can he instantly realize the importance of teamwork.

"The Basketball Club of Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School is among the best in the country. Sudo's ability to be noticed by the coach and considered for a regular player right after enrolling is a testament to his talent and hard work."

Kitagawa Ryo nodded in affirmation, saying that whether it is academics or sports, any student who excels in one aspect must have something commendable. Studying diligently day and night is a form of perseverance, as is practicing day and night. There is no inherent superiority or inferiority between the two.

Seemingly moved by Kitagawa Ryo's words, Ken Sudō held the back of his head in slight distress. His bright red hair and buzz cut gave him a strong impression of a delinquent, but Kitagawa Ryo had heard him say that this was Ken Sudō's own idol, a wish he made to become like Hanamichi Sakuragi from "Slam Dunk".

However, it didn't work out; it seemed like nobody even considered that possibility.

Even Ken Sudō himself gradually gave up, especially after he destroyed his own future through violent conflicts with others.

When he was about to graduate from junior high school, one of the top basketball schools in the country sent Ken Sudō to the school with a recommendation for admission based on his athletic ability, but in the end it all turned out to be worthless.

"But Sudo really needs to control his temper."

"Yes, I know, but... Kitagawa, sometimes I don't even know why I get so angry."

Just like when he was provoked into taking action, Ken Sudō easily loses his rationality when faced with simple provocations.

"That means Sudo, your anger threshold is too low."

As if remembering something, Kitagawa Ryo slammed his right palm down:

"This kind of improvement just comes with more practice, like improving shooting accuracy in basketball; it will gradually increase."

"How about this, I'll deliberately try to provoke you in front of you now, and see just how low your anger threshold is?"

Ken Sudō didn't quite understand what Kitagawa Ryo meant, but he still nodded subconsciously. Kitagawa Ryo had helped him before and was better than him in basketball, which was his strongest subject, so his words carried weight.

Recalling Horikita Suzune's changed logic, Kitagawa Ryo imitated her and said:

"Sudo, I've seen your test paper. It's hard to believe you even made it into high school. Even a sixth-grade elementary school student wouldn't get such a dismal score."

"Thinking like that is absolutely terrifying for your future."

"You might think that academic performance isn't important if your goal is to play professional basketball, but that's wrong. Only by solving problems one by one like this can you change your life. In other words, having an education can potentially make your life easier."

"Even in basketball, the principle is the same. You must only play according to the rules that benefit you, right? And when it comes to the parts that really require hard work, do you run away from them just like you do when it comes to studying? I don't think you'll practice seriously. The worst thing is your disruptive personality. If I were an advisor, I wouldn't let you become a professional player."

After experiencing the Horikita Suzune simulation, Kitagawa Ryo won the championship in the Horikita Suzune simulation competition with an overwhelming victory. His lifelike cold tone revealed a slight pity, as if he were calmly stating a predetermined basic physical principle.

Sure enough, Ken Sudō's eyes turned bloodshot the next second, and he rushed forward with the momentum of wanting to grab Kitagawa Ryo's collar in one go. However, after Kitagawa Ryo pressed down on his arm, he gradually came to his senses, and his tense muscles relaxed. He sat back on the bench as if ashamed.

Even though he had already accepted Kitagawa Ryo as a friend in his heart, just as he had said before, Ken Sudō was completely unable to control his emotions.

"Based on what you just said, I roughly know which parts you're sensitive to, Sudo."

Kitagawa Ryo patted Ken Sudō on the shoulder and comforted him:

Take your time.

"... Feel sorry."

"I just wanted to test it out; it has nothing to do with Sudo."

"If you really feel bad, try to spend more time studying. After all, I don't want to be unable to find you on the basketball court after the Midterm Exam. I compiled some key points based on the exam scope, which should be helpful."

Kitagawa Ryo took out a notebook from his backpack and handed it to Ken Sudō while smiling and offering words of comfort.

"Just think of it as a way to stay in this school longer, at least until the Summer Tournament, right Sudo, a formal player?"

"... Okay, I agree."

After Kitagawa Ryo's long prelude, Ken Sudō was finally willing to make a change, perhaps a small one, but this was the most crucial, the initial step.

Of course, if Ken Sudō couldn't handle it, Kitagawa Ryo wouldn't mind letting him and Yamauchi Yoike leave the school together.

The Class Points for Class 1-D will remain at zero for a considerable period of time.

Therefore, it doesn't matter how many people drop out of school.

"Well then, thank you for your hard work, Ayanokoji."

Katsuragi Kohei's deep voice gives people a calm impression. He was suspended from school for half a month because of the infirmary incident, but his punishment was finally over before the Midterm Exam, and he returned to the class.

Because he had passed all the responsibility to Koenji Rokusuke, who had already dropped out of school, he remained the class representative and Leader of Class 1-A. Having just returned to the class, he did not forget this responsibility and quickly began to organize study sessions to prepare for the upcoming Midterm Exam.

Most students in Class 1-A have above-average academic abilities in the grade. At first glance, it may seem that they do not need to study. However, the high overall quality of the class will result in a higher average score, which means that the passing score of Class A will be raised accordingly. Therefore, for a few students whose academic abilities are not outstanding, a temporary tutoring session is still quite necessary.

Take, for example, Totsuka Yahiko has been diligently following Katsuragi Kohei. His academic level is only average to below average. He would have no problem passing the exams in Class C or Class D, but he would face some pressure in Class A, which is full of top students, and there is even a risk that he might not pass.

Having already met Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and knowing his abilities, Katsuragi Kohei naturally entrusted the task of organizing the study group to Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. The first two were popular students among the boys and girls in the class, and with one of his confidants coordinating things, it was quite in line with Katsuragi Kohei and composed personality.

"If we're talking about study sessions, where do you think would be a good place Katsuragi?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded. Since the policy of supporting Katsuragi Kohei as the apparent Leader Class A had been established, he directly positioned himself at the same level as Totsuka Yahiko, deliberately creating the illusion that he was no different from Totsuka and was just close to Katsuragi Kohei.

"Hmm... I went to the school library around noon today. There are tables for students to read and study there, and it's a relatively quiet place."

After considering it for a moment, Katsuragi Kohei put forward his idea.

"Let's do it at the library then, how about every afternoon after school?"

Feeling that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was about to steal his place as Katsuragi's number one follower, Totsuka Yahiko quickly raised his hand to support Katsuragi Kohei's idea.

"As for the library, I think I saw students from other classes holding study sessions there yesterday."

A boy raised his hand and spoke.

"It seems like Class B and Class C are both there."

Kushida Kikyo, who has a wide network of connections, stood up to explain.

"What about Class D?"

Because of Kitagawa Ryo's presence, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka paid more attention to the current situation of Class D, and the other students in the class also noticed this abnormality. A girl spoke up before he could and asked a question.

"Ha, how could those guys in Class D possibly study properly? Let me tell you, if their Class Points weren't the lowest, which is zero, Class D's Class Points would have been deducted to a negative number in the first month. They're just a bunch of defective products."

As if deliberately showing off his knowledge, Totsuka Yahiko spoke casually, but was quickly interrupted by Katsuragi Kohei's stern gaze.

"When you go to the library to study, please try to keep quiet and avoid verbal or physical conflicts with students from other classes."

With Class A now holding only a slight advantage in Class Points, Katsuragi Kohei repeatedly gave instructions, fearing that some unexpected trouble might arise.

After giving instructions on other important matters, Class A officially ended their class meeting and dispersed. Katsuragi Kohei, without changing his expression, waved to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, signaling him to come outside.

After tidying up his desk, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took his bag and went to the corridor outside the classroom. He and Katsuragi Kohei walked towards the library, whispering as they spoke:

"... This study session at the library provides an opportunity to observe other classes."

"I'm thinking the same thing."

Katsuragi Kohei nodded, emphasizing:

"Especially Class B."

The two classes differed by less than fifty Class Points. Even though Katsuragi Kohei maintained a calm and composed expression in front of the whole class, he was actually somewhat nervous and felt a sense of crisis inside.

"Class B isn't the key class; it's Class A."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka shook his head and patiently explained:

"Actually, there were several strange points in the last incident, including your behavior and logical thinking in terms of Katsuragi. Don't you feel like you were being used by someone else?"