I Love China

They began discussing the study group. It seemed that a few of them would help tutor students whose grades hovered around the passing line.

However, for those who were already failing, like Hachiman Hikigaya, they were discussing who should help them.

While the discussion grew rather heated, Hikigaya went to the restroom. When he came back, he found everyone staring at him intently, sending a chill down his spine.

"Is there anything you need my help with?" Hikigaya sighed and took the initiative to ask.

Hirata flashed a pleasant smile. "Actually, we need someone who can help tutor the failing students.

"I can barely manage a few of them, but any more than that is beyond me."

"What are you saying?"

"I need you to persuade Horikita. If she helps with the study group, things will be much easier."

There were three students in Class D who scored above ninety and had no need to worry about failing.

Horikita, Koenji, and Yukimura.

As the most independent-minded person in the class, Koenji was the first name Hirata crossed off.

Yukimura had also made it clear that he was not suited to teaching others. That left only Horikita.

So, they turned their attention to Hikigaya, who had a fairly good relationship with Horikita.

"I refuse. I don't think I can persuade her."

Hikigaya rejected the request without hesitation. The two of them had a bet that no one else knew about.

Although the terms of the bet did not say Hikigaya could not ask Horikita for help, doing so still felt like losing.

"Is that so..."

Yosuke Hirata's greatest strength was that he would never force anyone to do anything, nor would he get angry when someone refused his request.

The discussion ended soon afterward. Their main goal right now was still to study hard, so it was best not to spend too long talking about this.

"Wang, you're a student from China, right?"

On the way back to the dormitory, Hikigaya took the initiative to greet Wang Meiyu, who was walking with him.

Wang Meiyu answered with flattered surprise, "Yes. You can call me Xiao Mei from now on. That's what everyone calls me."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Hikigaya nodded and said with a smile, "I really like China. I'm looking forward to having a chance to travel there someday."

"Really?"

A happy expression appeared on Wang Meiyu's face. Living alone at this school, Wang Meiyu still had not quite adjusted to it, to be honest.

The differences in language and living habits both required her to spend a great deal of time getting used to them.

Even so, her grades were still quite good. Her English was even the best in the class.

"Yeah, I love China."

Hikigaya said the last sentence in Chinese.

For some reason, even though he knew how to speak Chinese, his Chinese was full of an accent whenever he opened his mouth. It was enough to make him burst into tears!

Hearing Hikigaya's ridiculous accent, Wang Meiyu could not help snickering. This was the first time Hikigaya had seen such a heartfelt smile from her.

Several classmates walking alongside them also burst out laughing, curious about the contrast shown by this usually cool and handsome guy.

"I love China too." Wang Meiyu also said it in Chinese, but unlike Hikigaya, she had no accent at all. It was perfectly authentic Chinese.

The two chatted all the way back to the dormitory, talking entirely about China. Throughout the conversation, Wang Meiyu felt at ease.

There was something different about Hikigaya. He did not feel like a Japanese person to her, but someone from China just like herself.

"Then this is where we part ways."

The elevator reached the fourth floor, and Hikigaya had to get off.

A trace of disappointment showed in Wang Meiyu's eyes. She seemed unwilling to part with Hikigaya just yet.

"Okay. I had a lot of fun talking with you. Thank you very much."

Though she felt a little disappointed, she still bid Hikigaya farewell with a smile.

Her cute face wore a sweet smile. It really was enough to make one's heart flutter!

Was this the power of a sweet girl?

"No need. I'll be relying on you for my English grades later."

Hikigaya said so naturally. The two had already agreed that Wang Meiyu would help him with English from now on.

"Mm, I'll definitely help you!"

Wang Meiyu waved goodbye to him. As the elevator doors slowly closed, she still seemed reluctant to part.

Liking someone was both a simple and difficult thing.

At first, Wang Meiyu had been like the other girls, harboring fond feelings for the handsome and enthusiastic Hirata. When she learned that he was dating Karuizawa, her feelings had not changed much, but she still felt sad.

As for Hikigaya, he was not as cheerful as Hirata. Yet he got along wonderfully with her in conversation and could even talk at length about topics related to China. That was something Hirata could not give her.

For some reason, she found herself looking forward to seeing him again.

Just after returning to the dormitory, Hikigaya received a call. The caller was unexpectedly the rare guest, Horikita.

Since the two had exchanged contact information, they had never called each other. Even when Hikigaya sent her messages, she sometimes barely bothered to respond.

"Hello."

"Are you back at the dormitory?"

"Yeah, I just got back."

Hikigaya answered calmly, then added, "Can I take this as you calling because you missed me?"

He teased her mischievously, and an indifferent voice came from the other end.

"Do you want to die?"

"Sorry, I was joking."

The other end went silent for over ten seconds before Horikita's voice came again.

"I've decided that we'll hold a study group from now on to help those who did not pass improve their grades.

"Ayanokoji is helping me gather Sudo and the others. I hope an idiot like you will attend too."

Hearing this, Hikigaya narrowed his eyes. It seemed that Horikita had now officially made advancing to Class A her goal.

With Ayanokoji assisting her, Horikita had naturally come up with the idea of helping the others.

"Are you worried that I'll be expelled?"

"Not at all. I simply don't want idiots getting expelled and causing our class points to be deducted again."

"What a heartbreaking answer."

"I'm not informing you, you know. You'd better not refuse, or I really will put you to rest." Horikita's threatening words came through the phone.

Hikigaya could not help shivering. "How scary."

After hanging up, Hikigaya saw the text message on his phone. He transferred its contents to his computer, examined them carefully, and only then finished everything he had planned to do today.

"Looks like the things I need to do are gradually increasing."

Hikigaya considered his next moves as one idea after another surfaced in his mind.