Learning Session

Back in the classroom, Ayanokoji still hadn't returned.

The afternoon lessons had to continue.

The teacher's pace had clearly picked up, and a tense, anxious atmosphere filled the room.

The students sat rigidly upright, even Sudo, though his face was twisted in agony.

Suzuki Tsubame wanted to tell him that his current act was completely pointless.

He didn't even have the slightest foundation; he couldn't understand a thing anyway. He might as well wait for someone to tutor him.

Besides, since the class points were already zero, pretending to be serious now was meaningless.

Even with the faster pace, Suzuki Tsubame found it quite easy. Apart from Japanese history, he had studied all the other subjects before—it was basically just review.

Ring, ring, ring...

The teacher didn't linger for a moment, leaving with light steps.

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

Hirata Yosuke stood up, trying to hold everyone back.

"Yosuke, what's wrong?"

Karuizawa, sitting next to him, was the first to speak. Although Hirata had snapped that morning, most people assumed it was just stress getting to him.

As for the Three Idiots, they were muttering behind him—what about, needless to say.

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

Koenji said this, then walked out calmly without slowing his pace.

Hirata's face stiffened, but he quickly recovered.

He first soothed the group of girls who had some complaints about Koenji's usual behavior.

Then, facing everyone, he raised his voice: "Here's the thing—there's still a month until the exam. To prepare, I want to organize a study group with everyone in the class."

"Students who are good at studying can tutor those who are average, so we can ensure more people pass the exam safely."

"I hope everyone will join in. Please."

After speaking, Hirata bowed to everyone.

Bro, you really like bowing that much?

After Hirata finished, the students who were worried about the exam seemed tempted, even Yamauchi and Ike.

"Hmph! Who wants to join some lame activity like that? A waste of time! I'd rather go play ball."

Sudo said with a look of annoyance, then grabbed his basketball and walked out of the classroom.

Sudo Ken's family situation was a bit complicated—his father was a scumbag, and his mother was a chicken.

This had made him deeply insecure; he saw others' help as charity, and he was quick to anger.

Ike and Yamauchi exchanged glances, thought it over, and decided to follow Sudo out.

There was still a month left. Why start suffering now when they could just cram at the last minute?

Hirata had no choice but to let the Three Idiots leave. He didn't have time to coax them right now.

The gyaru girls, on the other hand, treated Hirata's decision as gospel. Besides the fact that Hirata was leading it, most of them had average grades and were already stressed about the end-of-month exam.

Yukimura and the others also agreed one after another.

They didn't have Koenji's backing from a wealthy family, nor Sudo Ken's reckless "screw it" attitude. If they dared to disagree, the next three years would be hell—getting ostracized would be the least of their worries.

"Suzuki, and Ayanokoji, you two should join too. Consider it contributing to the class."

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

Ayanokoji still sounded like a robot. He was now regretting not leaving with Sudo.

There were too many people around Hirata—not good for someone who followed a philosophy of seclusion.

"That's fine. The study group's purpose is to help each other. If there's something you don't understand, you can ask anyone."

With that said, Ayanokoji had no reason to refuse.

"...Alright, I'm in."

Suzuki Tsubame agreed as well. He remembered Sakura's grades weren't great either.

As for his own scores, aside from Japanese history, they were all in the nineties. He'd deliberately gotten a few wrong to avoid standing out too much.

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

"By the way, um..."

Hirata hesitated, glancing at Horikita, who was packing her things.

"I'm in."

"Huh... ah? Really? Thank you, Horikita."

This was entirely an unexpected bonus.

He had originally thought she would be like Koenji and the Three Idiots, ignoring the class entirely.

After she learned that only being first in class points or spending 20 million points could get them into Class A.

She still resolutely chose to help the class, moving closer to Class A.

The reason behind this might include a desire to prove herself to her brother. But more than that, it was absolutely because of her unwillingness to admit defeat.

After everyone discussed it together, the time was set for tomorrow afternoon after school.

As for the location, it was decided to be the Class D classroom and the school library.

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

Splitting some people to the library. Scattering and mixing the groups could also effectively prevent awkward situations.

The conversation ended.

The study session would greatly benefit Class D, but not in this current month.

Chabashira would make her move.

Suzuki Tsubame and Horikita walked side by side along the path back to the dormitory.

The atmosphere was somewhat quiet.

Ever since last month, when the two held hands for the first time successfully, their relationship had grown closer.

When Horikita was in a good mood occasionally, she wouldn't refuse to hold hands.

Sometimes, in her dormitory, she would even actively create an ambiguous atmosphere.

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

Just as Suzuki Tsubame thought they would return to the dormitory in silence.

A slender, smooth hand quietly reached over.

Sensing the anomaly, Suzuki Tsubame quickly grasped her hand tightly.

The girl didn't struggle.

Or rather, that was her intention.

"About the study session... you handle Sudo for me."

The words were clear, unhurriedly spilling from the girl's rosy lips.

Hearing her words, the corner of Suzuki Tsubame's mouth twitched.

She had just volunteered in the classroom, saying she would tutor the Three Idiots alone.

The others in the room, seeing this, were naturally happy to go along with it.

After all, anyone with eyes could see those three were hard to handle.

He thought Horikita had some good plan, but it turned out she was just delegating the task to him.

Watching her act as if it were only natural, Suzuki Tsubame's eyes rolled.

"Suzune, even if you didn't hold my hand, I'd still help you."

This kind of rhetoric was a typical way of objectifying the other person, framing their proactive behavior as a transaction.

Although, in many cases, girls themselves thought the same way.

That was something everyone had to discern for themselves.

Horikita's steps clearly stiffened for a moment.

Coming back to herself, the girl said softly:

"Holding hands is the main thing, asking for help is just secondary."

A very good answer.

The meaning of these words was: I just want to hold your hand purely, asking for your help is just incidental.

Horikita was making progress.

Her expression was somehow a bit smug, clearly proud of her perfect response.

Holding the girl's soft hand, Suzuki Tsubame thought of a countermeasure.

"Then... what if I just hold hands and don't help?"

The air grew quiet.

Suzuki Tsubame's words made her drop her arrogance.

She still had a lot to learn on the path of interpersonal relationships.

"No!"

This was the answer she gave after thinking it over for a long time.

Horikita quickened her pace, not wanting to respond to this kind of topic anymore.

But her subconscious action forgot that their hands were still linked.

Fortunately, they didn't run into any acquaintances.