Conflict, Invitation

"What do you mean by that!"

In the library, Sudo slammed his hand on the table, glaring with fury at Horikita Suzune, who sat across from him.

Horikita remained completely indifferent to Sudo's anger, calmly retorting with a sneer, "I mean exactly what I said. I don't intend to deny your efforts, but watching you act with a stupidity that would surprise even a middle schooler is truly pathetic."

"Ha! What does that have to do with you!" Although Sudo was incensed, he still retained a shred of reason. The frustration of being unable to answer the questions, combined with the humiliation of being embarrassed in front of so many people, was pushing him to his breaking point.

"There's already an answer anyway, so it doesn't matter anymore. Damn it, I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time on this." Sudo began packing his things, muttering, "Studying is useless anyway."

"Studying is useless? I'm surprised you can even say such a thing." Horikita's eyes turned cold. She really shouldn't have listened to that Ayanokoji; helping this group with their studies was nothing but a waste of time.

"Do you think you can accomplish anything by only doing what benefits you? I recall you're quite fond of basketball, right? I imagine you play that by only doing what benefits you as well—relying entirely on your physical advantages and avoiding the parts that require grueling practice. When it comes to the actual game, you resort to petty tricks and fouls to get your opponents sidelined. And with a personality that completely ignores everyone around you, I'm truly curious what kind of blind coach chose you as a regular player."

Even seeing Sudo's undisguised rage, Horikita did not change her tone, continuing to sharply criticize the problems within him.

"You!" Sudo lunged forward and grabbed Horikita by the collar, the verbal dispute teetering on the edge of violence.

"Sudo-kun!" Kushida Kikyo grabbed Sudo's arm, trying to calm him down.

"Heh, resorting to violence because you're ashamed and angry? Fine, but you'll have to bear the consequences yourself." Horikita didn't care at all that her collar was being grabbed; it was clear she had enough confidence in herself, likely because she had practiced some form of self-defense.

"Alright, stop it, please stop." A girl stepped in to interrupt the conflict. Her cherry-blossom-colored hair revealed her identity: Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B.

"This is a library, so please keep it down."

While stating an undeniable truth, Ichinose's gaze swept over Sawahara, who was observing the conflict.

Sawahara had no intention of intervening. Regardless of how this conflict ended, it held no disadvantage for him.

"Tch." Noticing the gazes from those around him, Sudo suppressed the fire in his heart, grabbed his bag, and left the library immediately.

The few underachievers nearby followed suit, and seeing this, Kushida chased after them.

The conflict ended just like that, fizzling out. After all, with someone there to stop them, a fight was no longer possible.

"Were you just going to watch, Sawahara-kun?" After the conflict ended, Ichinose didn't return to her class's spot but walked over to Sawahara instead.

"What else? I had no intention of fanning the flames." Sawahara felt there was no need to further destroy a study session that had already fallen apart.

"Eh?! Shouldn't you have stopped them at a time like this?" Ichinose's eyes widened, looking at Sawahara in disbelief.

"Why would you think that?" Sawahara was surprised. Between competitors, not kicking someone while they were down was already considered high moral standing; helping them was out of the question.

"Because everyone is a classmate, so we should help each other... You don't think that way, do you, Ichinose-san?"

"Is there something wrong with that?" Ichinose countered.

"..." Sawahara was silent for a moment, then chuckled, "As expected, Ichinose-san is a very interesting person."

"Eh?"

She really was a rare specimen. She didn't consider her position, didn't calculate the benefits, and acted purely out of a sense of natural kindness... This was the first time Sawahara had met someone like this.

He couldn't help but ponder the logic behind such behavior. If it were merely kindness, the motivation seemed a bit thin. Was it related to her past? The influence of her environment? Her parents' teachings? Or perhaps some other reason?

Humans... they really are complex and difficult to understand.

"Sawahara-kun?" Seeing Sawahara lost in thought, Ichinose waved her hand to bring him back to reality.

"Sorry, I was distracted." Sawahara realized he had been a bit too immersed in his own world and apologized.

"It's fine." Ichinose shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.

"About what you said earlier, Sawahara-kun... I still believe that even if we are in a competitive relationship, and even if we have to decide a winner in the class competition, we can still be friends. We just need to give our all for our respective classes during the competition."

That was what Ichinose said—the common idea of keeping business and personal life separate.

However, while it might make sense in theory, not everything in this world is governed by logic. Suspicion doesn't require evidence. If a failure were to occur, would the people in her class think someone leaked information? Furthermore...

"Ichinose-san, do you really understand your position..." Sawahara stopped before finishing his sentence. As a class leader, in such a critical position, one must be extremely cautious in their actions.

"I know." Of course, Ichinose knew what position she was in—the one she had reached because she was trusted by everyone in her class, burdened with the expectations and responsibilities placed upon her.

"But would Sawahara-kun leak information from his own class?"

Sawahara shook his head. He would only send 'gifts,' never information.

"I wouldn't either, so that should be fine." A brilliant smile appeared on Ichinose's face.

Sawahara was stunned. Ichinose's heartfelt trust touched him. Was this what he wanted to learn?

"There's really no way to refute that." Sawahara sighed, "Then, I look forward to working with you in the future, Ichinose-san."

"Yes, I look forward to it too, Sawahara-kun."

"Ichinose, I have something here..." Just as Sawahara was about to say something to Ichinose, a voice suddenly cut in.

"Do you have time later? I have something to discuss with you." Horikita Suzune interjected from the side.

Originally, after the study session disbanded, Horikita Suzune had intended to leave immediately, but she had caught sight of Sawahara by chance and changed her plans.

Because Sawahara hadn't left his name earlier, she wouldn't have known where to start looking for him. Now that she had run into him, she naturally had to seize the opportunity.

Quickly deducing Horikita Suzune's intent, Sawahara responded.

"Sorry, I already have plans."