Celebration Banquet

"But really, Ayanokoji, your place is so empty. It's like you haven't bought a single thing. Still, it's not bad; at least it looks clean."

Everyone was making awkward small talk, which only made Horikita, who had been pestered into coming despite not wanting to participate, feel even more like an outsider.

So, when the floor finally passed to her, the tone of the conversation shifted completely.

"I have to say, aren't you all getting a bit too carried away? We've only just finished the midterm exams; there's still the final exam to go! Besides, it's unlikely Shinjo will be able to get the answers every time, right? To earn more class points and avoid expulsion, we have to start studying harder from now on!"

"Ah?! You've got to be kidding me? We just finished studying, and now we have to study again... that's such a headache!"

Ike clearly couldn't accept why studying wasn't a one-time ordeal.

"It can't be helped, can it? At least we haven't found any other way to increase our class points yet."

"Wait... if that's the case, does that mean we still won't get any personal points next month?!"

Although they didn't want to accept it, facts were facts.

Kikyo Kushida was just about to offer her usual encouragement when she noticed Shinjo sitting to the side, lost in thought.

"But speaking of which, Shinjo, it's amazing that you thought of that! A special way to use our points!"

"Oh! That's right! If it weren't for Shinjo, there's no way we'd be sitting here drinking and having a good time right now!"

"Hahaha, Shinjo, you're my best friend now! If anyone dares to bully you, just let me know!"

Sudo slapped Shinjo on the shoulder in a boisterous manner, but the latter wore a strange expression. Could it be that the brainless Sudo was actually the type to play favorites?

He had clearly heard this guy call Ayanokoji his best friend just a moment ago.

"Well... hahahaha... it was actually just a sudden flash of inspiration. I think rather than giving me the credit, it's better to call it destiny!"

Shinjo gave an awkward laugh.

If Sudo treated Shinjo like a brother now, Shinjo at most considered Sudo a cousin.

At the very least, if Chabashira hadn't put up the money, he never would have bothered to save Sudo.

"Since that's the case, why don't you just join us too!"

As she said this, Kushida reached out her hand toward Shinjo.

Shinjo had experienced this sense of déjà vu just two days ago, during his deal with Ichinose on the bench.

"Join?"

Before Shinjo could speak, the two guys who had a crush on Kushida immediately stepped forward to press the issue.

"Hey! Kushida..."

"There's really no harm in saying it, right? Everyone here is a partner. Actually, it's like this: Horikita, Ayanokoji, and I have decided to work together to climb the ranks—in other words, we want to reach Class A! So, I hope everyone will join us and help out!"

Except for Shinjo, the other three looked somewhat bewildered.

They knew their own capabilities all too well. Sudo might have great talent in sports, but it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the other two were useless.

Could people like them really reach Class A?

Unless the school went crazy one day and reversed the rankings!

"Well... Kushida, we'd really like to join you, but... Class A... isn't that a bit too much? They must be a group of insanely smart people, right? For us, it's impossible; it's just too hard!"

"It's a good thing you have some self-awareness. If you don't study properly, forget Class A—we won't even stand a chance in Class C."

Just as Kushida was strongly inviting them to join, Horikita poured a bucket of cold water on them without mercy.

In her view, if it were just inviting Shinjo, she would support it with both hands.

But these three—to put it nicely, they were useless; to put it bluntly, she'd be thankful if they didn't drag the class down.

If they were all defective products, then Ike and Yamauchi should be classified as scrap.

At least from what she could see, she hadn't found a single redeeming quality in those two worth utilizing.

"You shouldn't say it like that, right? At the very least, Sudo is very strong in sports, and Ike and Yamauchi must have their own unique strengths too!"

"Kushida... is that really how you see us?"

Ike and Yamauchi were so moved they were almost crying... though, was that thing they were using to blow their noses someone's bedsheet?

Sure enough, Shinjo faintly sensed something called killing intent coming from Ayanokoji nearby.

"Since Kushida said so! Then what excuse do we have?! Let us lend you a hand!"

Sudo had been trying to win Horikita's favor since two days ago, so he acted tsundere and said:

"Well, if anyone needs to rely on my powerful physical talent, it's not too late to say so now~"

As he spoke, he deliberately looked toward Horikita.

However, she dodged away in disgust:

"Forget it. I've never thought about relying on you. You'd better study hard; if you fail again next time, there might not be anyone around to buy your points."

"Hey! You woman, you're really not cute at all when you're like this!"

Sudo was only saying that to save face; Horikita was his goddess now, and if she thought he was unreliable, it was simply because she hadn't yet witnessed his true strength!

Therefore, in order to prove how impressive he really was and to vent the dissatisfaction in his heart, he quickly grabbed Yamauchi, who was standing nearby, and pinned him to the ground in a tight hold.

"How truly boring... are all boys just a bunch of idiots?"

"Hey! Could you be a little more mindful of others when you're firing off sweeping generalizations like that?"

Shinjo hadn't said a word from the very beginning, yet he found himself inexplicably caught in the crossfire of Horikita's AOE attack.

"So, what about you? Do you intend to join us?"

Unlike how she treated the others, Horikita genuinely hoped that Shinjo would join her team; several incidents had already proven that he was a talent whose abilities were absolutely not inferior to Ayanokoji.

(Shinjo: I never said anything of the sort. After all, when it comes to piano, calligraphy, and tea ceremony, I'm a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. How could I possibly compare to the guy next to you?)

"I think I'll pass."

Hearing this, Sudo and Yamauchi stopped their scuffling and looked at the contrarian Shinjo with confusion.

Although Horikita was mentally prepared—after all, not everyone had grand ambitions, and many people in this class likely just wanted to coast—she still asked, hoping to persuade him:

"Why? I believe your intellect could be put to great use."

"I, at most, just have a few clever tricks; it's hard to see them being of any major help. If you intend to build a better class, I am more than willing to contribute as a member. But if you're talking about climbing to Class A... at least let me think about it some more."