A Simple Battle Plan

Ever since the school abruptly announced the new rules, the first-year students had felt, to varying degrees, dissatisfied with the school.

Could exam rules really be changed on a whim? Wasn't that just absurd?

However, the exams had to go on, and for the average student, it simply meant there was one additional rule regarding the nomination of a leader.

The school's rules were absolute, and the students' complaints served no purpose.

If they didn't want to be expelled, the average student had no choice but to grit their teeth and swallow all their grievances.

As time passed, the students' dissatisfaction eventually faded away along with the days.

Study sessions for Class B, Class C, and Class D of the first year continued as usual.

Some were accustomed to the standard way of listening to teachers lecture, some preferred the freedom of group discussions, and others were already capable of acting as little tutors to teach their peers.

Regardless of the method chosen, the learning style that ultimately suited the individual was the best one.

And the learning style Kujo had chosen was to slack off.

Although Kujo had once boasted and made many grand claims.

In reality, his weakness was obvious.

That was, he didn't like studying; it wasn't that he wasn't good at it, he simply didn't like it.

Returning to student life and facing a pile of characters that looked like tadpoles was simply despair-inducing.

"Kujo-kun, you got this problem wrong. Or rather, you haven't gotten a single one right on this entire page."

Hiyori took her organized Japanese and modern literature notes out of her bag, shoved them into Kujo's arms, and smiled.

"You must memorize all of this by the end of the day."

At this moment, Kujo deeply missed the gentle, cute, and pitiful Hiyori from before.

"Can we do English first?"

To Kujo, English was perhaps the easiest of the five subjects.

Hiyori immediately confiscated Kujo's English notes.

"Then we'll memorize English last."

"..."

Good luck, Kujo-kun.

Library.

"Kujo, Shiina, hello. And Ayanokoji, hello to you too."

Ichinose placed her hands gently on Hiyori's shoulders and greeted the surrounding students enthusiastically.

Ayanokoji nodded expressionlessly, acknowledging Ichinose.

Kujo was slumped over the table, looking as if he had passed out from exhaustion.

Hiyori gently patted the right hand Ichinose had placed on her shoulder, then turned back and said:

"Kujo-kun is a bit tired, let him sleep for a while."

Ichinose smiled and whispered into Hiyori's ear:

"Alright, then I won't disturb Shiina's boyfriend. May I sit next to you?"

Hiyori returned the smile and gestured for Ichinose to take the empty seat beside her.

Generally, no other students dared to sit around Hiyori.

At first, the students from Class B and Class D didn't understand why the students from Class C acted this way.

But after spending some time together, they understood immediately.

No one wanted to be a third wheel to a couple in the throes of love.

Only someone like Ayanokoji from Class D would dare to sit across from them.

How else could one explain why Ayanokoji was one of the current leaders of Class D?

In the eyes of others, Ayanokoji was practically a superman.

How could he possibly sit there so calmly while watching them be lovey-dovey?

Ichinose was very famous throughout the entire grade.

It wasn't just because she was pretty, had a great figure, was the only first-year member of the Student Council, had a great personality, and was well-liked; it was no exaggeration to say she was a presence without a single flaw.

And sitting next to Ichinose was Hiyori, one of the top literary beauties in the first year.

With these two together, they naturally attracted the gazes of many in the first year.

Ayanokoji sat across from Kujo, nonchalantly studying the biology book in his hands.

Even though it wasn't even within the scope of the midterm exam syllabus.

However, Ayanokoji himself was not the type of person who needed to review knowledge he had learned years ago.

Kujo, who had been dozing off, also sensed the surrounding chatter growing denser. He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and stretched his limbs.

Kujo fumbled around on the desk for something.

He didn't find his phone, but unconsciously, his hand brushed against Hiyori's small hand next to him.

Noticing the movement beside them, Ichinose cast a glance their way.

Hiyori leaned her shoulder toward Kujo and reminded him:

"Everyone is watching."

Hearing Hiyori's whisper, Kujo let go of the left hand he had been holding.

Only in front of others could Hiyori barely manage to suppress her shyness.

Once fully awake, Kujo finally realized that Ichinose was sitting just a few seats away.

Ichinose met Kujo's gaze and gave a friendly wave with a smile.

Looking at Ichinose's smile, Kujo couldn't help but think about the 2.5 million points he still owed her, and his post-nap drowsiness vanished instantly.

Sitting up straight, Kujo immediately asked Ayanokoji:

"How long did I sleep?"

Ayanokoji replied:

"33 minutes."

Hiyori, sitting beside them, was already accustomed to Ayanokoji's peculiarities.

However, Ichinose, who had never seen such a scene, was quite surprised.

Weren't you reading the whole time?

How could you possibly know that?

Kujo nodded and said to Ichinose and Ayanokoji:

"Let's begin our strategy meeting."

Kujo had arranged to meet Ichinose and Ayanokoji early on.

Ichinose was responsible for representing Class B, Ayanokoji for Class D, and Kujo was the representative for Class C.

As for the movements of the others in their respective classes.

Horikita Suzune of Class D was in charge of the advanced study group, Kushida was responsible for remedial lessons for the struggling students, and Hirata was handling the backup role.

At the same time, the Class D homeroom teacher, Chabashira, was the only teacher who accepted the invitation to this study session, taking responsibility for tutoring the Class D students.

Hoshinomiya from Class B was a health teacher; although her academic ability was not poor, she had declined the invitation outright.

Sakagami from Class C had refused on the grounds that he was not comfortable in crowded settings.

Therefore, for Class B, Kanzaki and Shibata were taking turns overseeing all the boys, while Amikura was in charge of all the girls.

The representatives for Class C were Kaneda from the boys' side and...

"Then, please excuse me."

Hiyori closed her book, left her bag with Kujo, stood up, and turned to walk toward the seats where the Class C students were gathered.

The representatives for Class C were Kaneda and Hiyori, who took turns tutoring, with Chabashira acting as a substitute when necessary.

Naturally, points had been paid to her for this.

As for Ryuen, no one knew where he had gone off to slack off.

With his poor academic standing, he was in a "a clay bodhisattva crossing the river, unable to even save himself" situation for this type of exam.

Ever since he learned from Kujo that the exam questions were recycled from previous years, Ryuen had lost all motivation to study.

Ishizaki and Albert were both attending remedial classes, but as for him, he was probably napping on the rooftop right now.

It was as if he were tethered to that rooftop.

Kujo silently made a decision in his heart.

Next time, he must never arrange to meet Ryuen on the rooftop.

That place had become the other party's home turf; it was simply too dangerous.

After Hiyori left Kujo's side.

Kujo shifted his seat further outward, changing the distance from one seat away from Ichinose to two.

Ichinose smiled, understanding Kujo's intention, and moved one seat closer to him, forming an equilateral triangle between the three of them and Ayanokoji.

Ayanokoji didn't notice the meaning behind the two's actions at all, and not daring to speak rashly, he simply looked down at his textbook in silence.

And so, the strategy meeting officially began.

Kujo spoke up:

"So, our next objectives concern how to obtain the original exam papers for the midterm, as well as how we should vote in the upcoming voting exam."

Ichinose nodded, looking at Kujo with a face full of anticipation.

Ayanokoji closed his book, prepared to see what kind of surprise Kujo would bring him this time.

"Regarding the voting exam, Class C will vote for themselves in fourth place, Class D will vote for themselves in third, Class B will vote for themselves in second, and Class A will vote for themselves in first."

Without waiting for the two of them to ponder further, Kujo continued:

"As for the matter of the original exam papers, I already purchased copies from the third-years last month."

Ayanokoji nodded; the most difficult part had been resolved.

Ichinose nodded as well, her hands already poised to applaud.

Kujo instructed Ichinose:

"Do not tell your Class B homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya, about these matters."

Ichinose nodded, signaling that she understood.

Kujo took stacks of photocopied papers out of Hiyori's school bag and handed them to Ichinose and Ayanokoji.

"It is best if you distribute the original papers to your classes a bit later, though of course, that is up to your own discretion."

"Understood." *2

After experiencing various events, the three people present had formed a tacit understanding with Kujo at the center.

A so-called strategy meeting was as simple as that.