Midterm Exam

"What do you think?"

A café.

A boy and a girl sat in a corner of the shop, facing each other, each holding a cup of coffee.

"Hey, why did Suzuki-kun choose me?"

"Shouldn't you prioritize Horikita-san for something like this?"

The girl's face was full of eagerness, but she still instinctively guarded against Suzuki Tsubame.

"Sigh..."

Letting out a sigh, Suzuki Tsubame looked helpless.

"Is there any need to be so guarded against me?"

"After two months, can't you tell I have no ill will toward you?"

Rubbing the coffee cup in his hand, Suzuki Tsubame was certain that Kushida was definitely recording.

If he said something like "Horikita's not as good as you," she'd absolutely use it as leverage.

"I don't think that at all... I just want to know why Suzuki-kun chose me, that's all."

Kushida looked innocent—playing dumb was her specialty.

Even if she always got caught.

"Because Kikyo is cute, and I have a good impression of Kikyo."

Suzuki Tsubame's expression was flat, his words clear and deliberate.

Though it was obvious he was brushing her off, Kushida was still pleased.

In social interactions, leaving a few trivial handles was quite useful.

Especially when dealing with someone so impenetrable—it built trust while making their cooperation more sustainable.

"Um... Suzuki-kun still hasn't answered why you prioritized me over Horikita-san."

"..."

Staring at the innocent-faced Kushida in front of him, Suzuki Tsubame felt a headache coming on.

Could these little schemes really work?

Even if he said it out loud, would Suzune believe him?

"...Because Kushida-san's chest is bigger than Suzune's."

Well... by general logic, Suzuki Tsubame wasn't wrong.

Suzune was probably a C, while Kushida was at least a D. On that front, she did beat Horikita once.

"Ara~ Did Suzuki-kun enjoy touching them last time? Since you helped me out so much this time, I can reluctantly... let you touch them once more."

Kushida's tone sounded friendly, but there was no trace of a smile on her face.

A deal like that? I won't hold back.

Though that's what he thought, what Suzuki Tsubame said was completely different.

"Huh? Did that happen? I don't remember it."

As if anyone couldn't play dumb.

Morning in the Class D classroom, with only two days left until the exam.

A heavy atmosphere of tension, exhaustion, and despair filled the room.

Kushida, wearing her business-like smile, waited until the class was finally all present.

The corners of her eyes lifted slightly, revealing a more genuine joy.

"Everyone, can I interrupt for a moment? There's something very important."

With an apologetic smile to the group, the girl bent down and pulled a neatly stacked pile of test papers from her desk.

Her movements were fluid, without a single hitch.

"Kikyo-chan, what's that?"

Shinohara looked curious. At a time like this, who had the mood to do practice tests?

The rest of the class felt much the same, whispering among themselves, confused by Kushida's actions.

Kushida took a deep breath and stepped up to the podium.

"Everyone, please quiet down."

She clapped her hands, instantly drawing the class's attention.

"I got word from a second-year senior that the first-year midterm exam papers don't change. So..."

She paused briefly, then dropped the bombshell.

"The test paper from last year's midterms is right here in my hand!"

The classroom fell silent in an instant...

"Is that real or fake?"

"Kikyo, is this for real?!"

Mamaki Ryoku—the first reaction from everyone wasn't cheers, but doubt.

"They're all real."

Kushida explained with a smile.

Whoosh—!

"Awesome! Now I don't have to worry about getting expelled!!"

"Kikyo! I love you!"

"We're saved, sob... no more going home to eat the belt!"

The joy of survival against all odds nearly blew the roof off the classroom.

Dozens of grateful, adoring, relieved gazes converged on Kushida like spotlights.

[Ding! Long-term quest: Kind Mask, progress: 10%, reward: Lie Detector. After binding to a target, the light will automatically turn red when the target lies. (Note: This item is only visible to the host.)]

So this gave Suzuki Tsubame a Kushida-specific weapon? It was practically a perfect counter to her.

The test papers were quickly distributed.

Class D clutched them tightly in their hands as if they'd found treasure.

"Thank you, Kikyo."

"Kikyo, you're an angel."

Praise came without end.

A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Kushida Kikyo's lips.

An indescribable warmth washed over her, making her cheeks flush uncontrollably.

On the other side of the classroom.

Horikita Suzune watched the scene with cold, clear eyes.

She glanced at the test paper, then casually set it aside.

A flicker of contempt passed through her gaze—she had no interest in scraping by through such cheap tricks.

Suzuki Tsubame watched Horikita's every little move.

He knew exactly what was going through her mind.

"Suzune, Kushida really stole the spotlight this time. I bet plenty of people will remember her kindness."

Suzuki hinted, but Horikita Suzune clearly didn't catch on.

Without even looking up, she said flatly:

"You said it yourself... just remember it in their hearts."

"..."

Suzuki stared at the girl before him, absorbed in her own affairs.

For a moment, he found himself at a loss for words.

Sure, most of them were useless at best and destructive at worst.

But... a crowd can turn rumor into truth, and public opinion can melt metal.

Sometimes, a bunch of fools were far more useful than a bunch of smart people.

Forget it.

She was still just a kid. Not understanding this was normal.

May 1st.

After two days of last-minute cramming, the midterm exams finally began.

The nerves everyone had held taut for a month would finally be released after this test.

What followed would be a celebration of survival.

The exam ended.

For the students of Class D, it felt as liberating as being acquitted from the execution ground.

"How do you think you did?"

"This exam felt way too easy. Even without memorizing the test paper, I could've handled it no problem."

"Right? I think so too, hehe..."

"..."

Are you really okay saying that right in front of Kushida?

Your emotional intelligence is on par with two potatoes.

Suzuki Tsubame felt Kushida, sitting in the front row, freeze up for a second.

Thankfully, most of the classmates had at least some decency, one after another expressing their thanks to Kushida.

Kushida accepted it all with a smile.