The Joint Study Group Gets Underway?

Friday's classes passed in an atmosphere that seemed calm on the surface but held a current of anticipation underneath.

For most of Class D, the joint study session with Class B after school was an important part of dealing with the Midterm Exam crisis.

When the dismissal bell rang, the students of Class D didn't rush out of the classroom as they usually did. Instead, they began packing their bags of their own accord and gathering in small groups, ready to head to the library.

Even Yamauchi Haruki and Kanji Ike, who usually went out of their way to avoid studying, seemed unusually enthusiastic.

"Hey, Ike! Hurry up! If we get there late, all the good spots in the library will be taken!"

As he urged Ike on, Yamauchi deliberately straightened his back, plastering on what he thought was a handsome, dependable smile. Every so often, he glanced toward the cluster of girls.

Kanji Ike grinned, rubbing his hands together.

"Got it!"

"It's a study session! The most important thing is the atmosphere! Working hard together is bound to make us twice as efficient!"

Clearly, studying wasn't really on his mind either. He was more excited about getting a chance to talk with the girls during breaks.

Watching the two suddenly display such a passion for studying, Ken Sudō folded his arms and mercilessly mocked them.

"You two idiots—can you think about anything besides girls? Do you really think no one can see through your little schemes?"

"Hey, Sudō! Stop making stuff up!"

Yamauchi shot back at once, his face turning red.

"Yeah! Sudō, quit talking nonsense! We're doing this for the class! So we don't hold everyone back!"

Kanji Ike hurried to back him up, though his voice lacked conviction.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji quietly followed along beside them, listening to their pointless argument with the same expressionless look as always. Yet, for some reason, he felt a faint sense of... boredom?

His eyes wandered toward the front of the classroom, where Hirata Yosuke and Kushida Kikyo were at the center of a group.

Akiyama Shin, Horikita Suzune, Yukimura Teruhiko, Wang Meiyu, and the others were gathered around them, chatting naturally.

Looking at that circle, a subtle thought surfaced in Ayanokoji's mind for the first time.

Maybe fitting in with that more central group would be more interesting than hanging around with Yamauchi and the others.

At least he wouldn't have to deal with their childish jokes and pointless arguments.

As Hirata Yosuke watched his classmates gradually leave, he wore a gentle smile, though an almost imperceptible trace of worry lingered in his eyes. He glanced around the classroom, then spoke softly to the people beside him.

"Koenji Rokusuke... left early again..."

"If he keeps avoiding group activities, won't he have a hard time fitting in? I'm a little worried the other students might exclude him or dislike him..."

At that, Akiyama Shin inwardly snarked.

Exclude him?

Dislike him?

Given Koenji Rokusuke's self-centered nature, he was probably the one excluding everyone else in the class. He didn't care what anyone thought of him.

Kushida Kikyo immediately put on a suitably concerned expression and echoed Hirata's words, but cleverly steered the discussion toward Akiyama.

"That's true... Koenji always seems to keep to himself... But he does seem to respect you, Akiyama."

"During swimming class, and again in the class meeting afterward... Akiyama, what do you think?"

Heh heh! You're always so calm, like you have everything under control! And you're always picking on me, too!

Now I'm going to give you a little trouble! Let's see how you handle this tricky subject!

Kushida thought smugly, eager to see how Akiyama would react.

Hearing Kushida's words, Horikita Suzune couldn't help recalling Koenji's astonishing remarks from earlier.

Especially the line, "In this class, besides me and Akiyama Boy, is there really no one else who's even a little clever?" A thoughtful glint passed through her cool eyes. Koenji was an oddball, but he didn't seem to lack ability.

Besides, his swimming results were astonishing, and he seemed to rank near the top in the regular quizzes, too. Was he someone capable who simply didn't recognize Class D's current situation at all? She considered herself Akiyama's apprentice, learning to catch up to him. Naturally, she also needed to assess which people in the class might be worth working with or making use of.

Yukimura Teruhiko pushed up his glasses and joined the discussion with a serious expression, his tone betraying the natural admiration he held for students with strong academic ability.

"Hirata, I think your concerns about Koenji are unnecessary."

"From what I've observed, it isn't the class excluding him. He's the one who's isolated everyone except Akiyama."

"Besides, he's scored very well on the last few quizzes, so his academic ability is nothing to scoff at."

"And the reason he respects Akiyama..."

"It's naturally because Akiyama has demonstrated enough ability to earn his respect."

His words were practically an unabashed, ringing compliment to Akiyama.

Yukimura's sudden, undisguised praise left Akiyama somewhat speechless. He thought to himself:

Yukimura really is a full-fledged worshipper of academic achievers...

On the surface, though, he remained calm and continued the conversation.

"As for Koenji..."

"I'll find a chance to talk to him."

He paused, then added:

"After all, he's part of Class D, too."

Talk?

Maybe.

But more importantly, how could he build some kind of working relationship with this unconventional guy?

Koenji's ability was undeniable. Akiyama had already begun considering how it might be put to use.

Wang Meiyu looked up at Akiyama and spoke softly.

"Akiyama... Just do your best..."

"Don't push yourself too hard..."

She was always instinctively concerned about Akiyama and didn't want him to take on too much pressure.

Each with their own thoughts, the group followed the flow of students to the school library. Part of the agreed-upon area had already been claimed and arranged by students from Class B.

What stood out was that nearly everyone from Class B who had come was part of the Sakayanagi Faction, including Hashimoto Masayoshi, Kito Hayato, Nishikawa Ryoko, and Shiraishi Asuka.

Not a single member of the Katsuragi Faction was there.

In fact, Class B had been divided over whether to take part in the joint study session.

Katsuragi Kohei, the easygoing sort, thought there was nothing wrong with helping Class D strengthen its foundations and maintaining stability across the year. But most members of the Katsuragi Faction strongly objected, saying it would waste Class B's precious time and energy propping up a failing class. In the end, Katsuragi Kohei chose to compromise and respect the majority's decision, without forcing them to attend. Sakayanagi Arisu, on the other hand, easily persuaded the members of her faction. To her, this study session was nothing more than an interesting game—and an investment.

When the Class D students arrived, the Class B students merely looked up. They tacitly refrained from making a fuss, greeting them with glances or slight nods.

Sakayanagi Arisu was seated at the head of the table. Seeing Akiyama Shin and the Class D students taking their seats behind him, she smiled gently and rose with elegance. Her movements were slightly slow because of her cane, but her poise was impeccable. She addressed Class D in a clear, gentle voice.

"Good afternoon, everyone from Class D."

Her greeting was as crisp and melodious as a spring bubbling over jade.

When Yamauchi Haruki heard such a cute girl greet everyone in such an elegant tone, it was as if an electric current had struck him. He felt as though he were floating, imagining the greeting had been meant just for him. He immediately puffed out his chest, waved his arm energetically, and replied in what he thought was a charming voice.

"H-hello, Classmate Sakayanagi! We're here! We look forward to working with you!"

His exaggerated response drew startled or amused glances from quite a few students in Class B. Several people on the Class D side looked exasperated, too.

Kanji Ike grinned foolishly beside him, while Ken Sudō turned away with a look of disgust.

In response to such an excessively enthusiastic and foolish reply, Sakayanagi Arisu simply maintained her polite smile and nodded lightly without saying anything more.

The students took their seats one after another.

Akiyama Shin naturally sat opposite Sakayanagi Arisu. Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo sat on either side of him, with Hirata Yosuke, Yukimura Teruhiko, and the others around them.

Wang Meiyu chose a seat a little farther back, but where she could still see Akiyama's profile.

The library soon fell quiet, leaving only the rustle of turning pages and the scratch of pen tips against paper.

The study session officially began, and the atmosphere was unexpectedly serious.

Most of the Class D students put in their full effort, while the Class B students diligently played the role of tutors, occasionally answering questions in low voices.

Akiyama Shin opened his textbook, but his eyes discreetly swept across the room.

At last, they settled on Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, sitting diagonally across from him with Yamauchi, Ike, and Sudō.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji...

Are you truly content to be mediocre, blending in with this crowd, or are you... deliberately hiding something?

Ever since their first meeting, Akiyama had been interested in the man who seemed to imitate the lifestyle of an ordinary high school student.

He seemed more like a tool trained by the system, without emotions but constantly learning. In some ways, he resembled Akiyama, yet in others, he was very different.

Sitting opposite Akiyama, Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't entirely immersed in her book either.

Her amethyst eyes lifted, and her gaze discreetly swept over the boy nearby with light brown hair and an expressionless face—Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji-kun...

Are you playing the role of an ordinary man who avoids the world...

Or have you really fallen so far that you need to associate with these flawed products...?

Or is that, too... a disguise you chose?

The corner of her mouth curved into the faintest smile.

For her, the value of observing this joint study session far outweighed its value as a tutoring exercise.

What a thrilling game of wits this was!

It rivaled Zhongli faking his death!