The Way to Tell

The weekend.

Since everyone had passed the exams.

After reviewing together in the library, everyone unanimously decided to hold a celebration party.

Although the points had not been issued yet, passing had already been confirmed.

Everyone was in exceptionally good spirits.

They sat in a circle, eating snacks.

The atmosphere was rather cheerful for a while.

"By the way... why was my Dormitory chosen as the party venue?"

Ayanokoji's ill-timed voice rang out.

"Well, there was no helping it, was there? Everyone was running low on points."

Ike replied with a grin.

The truth was that he thought Ayanokoji was easy to push around, so he had specifically recommended his Dormitory.

Even all the snacks and drinks scattered across the floor had been prepared by Ayanokoji himself.

In Ike's words, once he had points in the future, he would definitely treat him in return.

"But..."

Ayanokoji trailed off.

That did not seem directly related to why they had come to his Dormitory, did it?

Why could they not go to someone else's Dormitory? Why had they chosen him specifically?

Such was the sorrow of a fringe character. No one cared about what they wanted.

"Come on, don't worry about such minor details."

"It wasn't easy to pass. Cheer up a little."

Ike tried to muddle through.

"By the way... Kushida is really amazing."

Matsushita turned her gaze toward Kushida. The corners of her lips lifted slightly into a faint smile.

"How did you figure out that the midterm exam papers would not be changed?"

To prevent the two from continuing their argument, she took the initiative to shift the topic to Kushida Kikyo.

"Exactly, exactly! Little Kikyo is practically an angel—gentle and pretty, and she saved so many people in the class."

Ike hurriedly chimed in.

As Kushida's die-hard fan, he would not let slip any chance to flatter her.

What he did not know was that the more he liked Kushida, the more Kushida herself hated him.

"No, it was just a coincidence this time."

Kushida waved her hands in a fluster, saying shyly:

"Actually, I'm close with a second-year senior. After she found out about our class's problem, she took the initiative to tell me."

"That's still amazing. At least it proves that Little Kikyo is popular."

Ike praised her while gnawing on a chicken foot.

Matsushita, however, seemed deep in thought, considering how much credibility Kushida's words had.

"Suzune, why do you look unhappy?"

"Isn't it a good thing for you that everyone passed?"

Suzuki Tsubame nudged Horikita beside him with his elbow. He could tell that Horikita was somewhat uncomfortable at the gathering.

It seemed to be because... she rarely attended group gatherings.

Horikita turned her head and glared at him fiercely, saying stiffly:

"I just think... relying on such opportunistic tricks to break the deadlock is ultimately beneath us."

Neither of them deliberately lowered their voices, yet Kushida's expression did not seem to change.

However, it drew the dissatisfaction of Kushida's fervent fan—Ike.

"What do you mean, opportunistic tricks? Do you think everyone is as smart as you?"

"If it weren't for Little Kikyo, do you know how many people in the class would have had to drop out because of this?"

Ike vented all the helplessness he had felt before.

No one knew just how despairing he had been after Chabashira's scheme was exposed.

It was understandable, really.

If someone were willing to slip you the answers during the college entrance exams, would you be grateful, or would you report them for disrupting the order of the examination room?

Horikita was not swayed by his words, because from beginning to end, she had regarded him as an idiot.

"The questions on this midterm exam were the most basic of the basic."

She furrowed her brows slightly and said disdainfully:

"As long as you paid even a little attention in class, even if Chabashira-sensei had not marked the key points, there was no way you could have failed."

"Heh, easy for you to say."

Ike rolled his eyes at her and muttered quietly:

"Talk about someone who has no idea what it's like!"

Horikita's delicate brows rose as she was about to speak again, but Suzuki Tsubame interrupted her.

"Ayanokoji, who do you think is right?"

"Huh? Me?"

He had been enjoying the show from the sidelines just fine. How had he been dragged into it again?

"Uh..."

After thinking for a second, Ayanokoji said expressionlessly:

"I think Ike is a little more right. After all... my grades are pretty average."

"Right? Right? Now that's my good brother!"

Ike smugly reached out and patted Ayanokoji on the shoulder.

Suzuki Tsubame nodded and turned his gaze toward Sudo.

Over the past few days, Sudo seemed to have had some unpleasantness with someone in the Basketball Club. It looked like he had been targeted by people from Class C.

"Sudo, what do you think?"

Sudo raised his head and thought for a moment as well.

"Mm... I think Horikita is more right. After all, she's smarter than us."

Sudo's answer was quite objective.

After all... between smart people and idiots, only a fool would not know which side to choose, right?

Perhaps sometimes, one really did need to trust what an "idiot" said, but Ike clearly did not fall into that category.

"Sudo has misunderstood me for far too long!!"

Ike Kanji beat his chest and stamped his feet, looking as if he were about to sever ties with him.

Ignoring Ike's ridiculous behavior, Suzuki Tsubame turned to look at the girls.

Horikita glared coldly at him, giving him no pleasant expression.

Sakura and Hasebe had been huddled together since the party began, whispering to each other.

Matsushita Chiaki and Kushida Kikyo were both promising candidates for acting.

Faint smiles remained on their faces the entire time.

If one looked closely, however, there was still a slight difference.

Matsushita was more elegant and composed, while Kushida leaned more toward warmth and friendliness.

"Hasebe, who do you think is right?"

"Huh? Is it my turn?"

Hasebe raised a hand to brush her bangs aside. She was very interested in this topic.

Although she had been huddled together with Sakura the whole time.

She had still been following such an interesting conversation closely.

"I think Lady Suzune is a little more right. External support can never compare to one's own strength."

Hasebe continued:

"Also, I don't think Ike was entirely wrong either. After all... the prerequisite for improving yourself is being able to stay."

Hasebe's answer was quite good. She pointed out the shortcomings in both viewpoints.

Suzuki Tsubame turned his gaze toward Sakura beside her.

He pursed his lips, signaling for her to bravely state her own opinion.

Sakura noticed Suzuki Tsubame's gesture.

She lowered her head, her face flushing red as she said:

"Th-then... I think Kaka is right."

Though she stammered somewhat, she had still bravely expressed her opinion.

Mm... could having the same opinion be called plagiarism? At most, it was just taking reference.

It seemed Hasebe had indeed put it very well. Even Matsushita agreed with her view.