Study Group

When they returned to the classroom, Ayanokoji still had not come back.

The afternoon classes still had to continue.

The instructors' pace had noticeably picked up, and the classroom was filled with a tense, anxious atmosphere.

The students sat upright, even Sudo, though his expression was extremely pained.

Suzuki Tsubame really wanted to remind him that what he was doing now was completely unnecessary.

He did not even have the slightest foundation and could not understand anything at all. He might as well wait for someone else to tutor him.

Besides, the class points had already been reduced to zero. There was no point pretending to be serious now.

Even with the accelerated lessons, Suzuki Tsubame found them quite easy. Other than Japanese island history, he had studied all the other subjects before, so it was basically just review.

Ring ring ring...

The instructor did not pause in the slightest and left with brisk steps.

"Everyone, could you wait a moment? There's something I'd like to announce."

Hirata Yosuke stood up and tried to stop everyone.

"Yosuke, what is it?"

Karuizawa, seated beside him, was the first to speak. Although Hirata had exploded once that morning, most people thought it was because he had been under too much pressure.

As for The Three Idiots, they were whispering amongst themselves in the back. What they were talking about went without saying.

"Sorry, Hirata-boy, but I have a date later, so I'll be leaving first."

Koenji said this, then calmly walked out without slowing down.

Hirata's expression stiffened, but he quickly recovered.

He first soothed the girls who had some complaints about Koenji's way of doing things.

Then he turned to everyone and said loudly, "Here's the situation. There's one month left until the exams, and in order to prepare for them, I want to organize a study group with everyone in the class."

"Students who are good at studying can tutor those whose grades are relatively average. That way, we can make sure more students get through the exams safely."

"I hope everyone will join. Please."

After speaking, Hirata bowed to everyone.

Seriously, man, do you just love bowing that much?

After Hirata finished, the students who were worried about the exams were somewhat tempted, including Yamaguchi and Ike.

"Hmph! Who would join something like that? What a waste of time! I'd rather go play basketball."

Sudo said with an irritated expression, then walked out of the classroom holding his basketball.

Sudo Ken's family situation was somewhat complicated. His father was a terrible person, and his mother was a clucking hen.

This had made him deeply insecure. In his eyes, other people's help felt more like charity, and he was also extremely short-tempered.

Ike and Yamaguchi looked at each other. After thinking it over, they still followed Sudo out.

There was still a month left, after all. Rather than start struggling painfully now, they might as well cram at the last minute a few days before the exam.

Hirata could do nothing about The Three Idiots leaving. He did not have the time to coax them right now.

The girls, on the other hand, treated Hirata's decision as gospel. Aside from the fact that Hirata was leading it, most of their grades were average, and they had already been quite troubled by the exams at the end of the month.

Yukimura and the others also voiced their agreement one after another.

They did not have Koenji's confidence from coming from a wealthy conglomerate family, nor did they have Sudo Ken's nerve to give up entirely. If they dared refuse, the next three years would not be easy for them. Being isolated would be the least of their problems.

"Suzuki, and Ayanokoji, you should join too. Consider it doing your part for the class."

"Uh... well, my grades are pretty average, so I might not be much help."

Ayanokoji still sounded like a robot. At that moment, he somewhat regretted not leaving with Sudo.

There were simply too many people around Hirata. That was very unfriendly to someone like him, who practiced avoidance of the world.

"It's fine. The whole point of the study group is for everyone to help each other. If there's something you don't understand, you can ask everyone too."

With things having reached this point, Ayanokoji had no reason to refuse.

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

Suzuki Tsubame agreed as well. He remembered that Sakura's grades did not seem to be very good either.

Aside from Japanese island history, he had scored over ninety in every subject this time. He had deliberately gotten a few questions wrong so he would not stand out too much.

At the same time, he was also the culprit behind two additional failing grades this time.

"Oh, right, um..."

Hirata seemed hesitant to speak and instinctively looked toward Horikita, who was packing up her things.

"I'll join."

"Mm... huh? Really? Thank you, Horikita."

This was a completely unexpected delight.

He had originally thought she would be like Koenji and The Three Idiots, utterly unconcerned with the class.

After learning that they could only advance to Class A by ranking first in class points or spending twenty million points,

she still resolutely chose to help the class and move toward Class A.

Perhaps part of the reason was that she wanted to prove herself to her older brother. But more than that, it was definitely because of her unwillingness to admit defeat.

After everyone discussed it and reached a consensus, they set the time for tomorrow afternoon after school.

As for the location, it was set as the Class D classroom and the school library.

The classroom was convenient, but the space was too limited.

Some of the students would be sent to the library. Breaking up and dispersing the group would also effectively prevent awkward situations.

The discussion ended.

The study group would greatly improve the Class D students, but not this month.

Chabashira would make her move.

Suzuki Tsubame and Horikita walked side by side down the path back to the Dormitory.

The atmosphere was somewhat quiet.

Ever since they had successfully held hands for the first time last month, their relationship had become closer.

When Horikita was occasionally in a good mood, she would not refuse to hold hands.

Sometimes, in her dormitory room, she would even take the initiative to create an ambiguous atmosphere.

But... Horikita's mood today was somewhat cold.

Just when Suzuki Tsubame thought they would return to the Dormitory without saying a word,

a slender, smooth hand quietly reached over.

Sensing something unusual, Suzuki Tsubame quickly clasped her hand tightly.

The girl did not struggle.

Or rather, that had been her purpose all along.

"About the study group... help me deal with Sudo."

The words came clearly and unhurriedly from the girl's rosy lips.

Hearing her, Suzuki Tsubame's mouth twitched.

She had just volunteered in the classroom to tutor The Three Idiots by herself.

Naturally, everyone in the classroom had been delighted by that.

After all, anyone with eyes could see that the three of them were difficult to handle.

He had thought Horikita would have some clever method, but instead she had simply assigned the task to him.

Seeing her matter-of-fact expression, Suzuki Tsubame's eyes shifted.

"Suzune, even if you didn't hold hands with me, I'd still help you."

That sort of wording was a typical way of objectifying the other person, turning their voluntary action into a transaction.

Though in many cases, girls themselves thought that way too.

That was something everyone had to judge for themselves.

Horikita's steps visibly stiffened for a moment.

After coming back to herself, the girl said softly,

"Holding hands is the main thing. Asking for help is only secondary."

That was a very good answer.

What she meant was, I simply wanted to hold hands with you. Asking you for help was only incidental.

Horikita had made progress.

Her expression inexplicably became somewhat proud. Clearly, she was pleased with her perfect answer.

Holding the girl's soft hand, Suzuki Tsubame came up with a countermeasure.

"Then... can I just hold hands and not help?"

The air fell silent.

Suzuki Tsubame's words kept her from getting carried away.

She still had much to learn slowly on the road of interacting with others.

"No!"

That was the answer she gave after thinking for a long time.

Horikita quickened her pace, unwilling to respond to that topic anymore.

But in that instinctive action, she forgot that their hands were still clasped together.

Fortunately, they did not run into anyone they knew.