Kikyo Kushida Needed for the Study Group

Since that time Lin Mu "acted with righteous generosity," it was actually just him treating Kikyo Kushida to a meal at the cafeteria.

From then on, the two tacitly formed a new habit—during lunch, as long as there were no special circumstances, they would always go to the cafeteria together.

Lin Mu had an outrageously abundant amount of points on hand and didn't care about the cost of these meals at all, so he simply continued "relieving" the burden on Kushida.

After all, Kushida could be considered the first person in this school he had actively—though in reality, it was passively—gotten to know and maintained a friendly connection with; she could barely be counted as a "friend."

Watching her have large amounts of points borrowed from her due to her pushover personality, leaving her to pitifully gnaw on bland, flavorless free meal sets, Lin Mu always felt a bit... uneasy. Anyway, it was just a matter of adding an extra pair of chopsticks.

Kikyo Kushida naturally felt a bit uneasy about it herself...

Every time the two ate together, she would nag him several times, saying that once the school distributed points next month—provided Class D could actually receive them—she would definitely pay Lin Mu back for the meals immediately.

Lin Mu would always wave his hand, his mouth stuffed with food, and mumble "no rush" or "we'll see," never once thinking about having her pay him back.

This small amount of money wasn't even a drop in the bucket for him; he just considered it an investment in "friendship," even though he wasn't quite sure if the relationship between him and Kushida counted as standard "friendship."

It was a sunny afternoon.

The two were still sitting in that relatively quiet corner by the window in the cafeteria, with two seemingly exquisite teriyaki chicken leg meal sets placed in front of them.

Lin Mu ate in a leisurely manner, while Kikyo Kushida ate small bites of her food while chatting with him excitedly about the latest news in their class.

Who had a conflict with whom over borrowed points, which small-scale study group Yosuke Hirata had organized, the new hair accessory Kei Karuizawa wore today...

The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, like two ordinary friends having lunch together.

Just then, the screen of the phone Kushida had placed on the corner of the table suddenly lit up, emitting a buzzing vibration.

A call from an unsaved number, but one identified as an internal Class D line, danced on the screen.

Seeing this, a look of apology appeared on Kushida's face. She looked at Lin Mu beside her and made a "wait a moment" gesture with her mouth.

Lin Mu nodded indifferently and continued to focus on his chicken leg rice.

(A system notification arrives...)

Kushida picked up the phone, her voice returning to her usual gentle and sweet tone: "Hello, hello, this is Kikyo Kushida."

A flat, emotionless male voice came from the other end of the line.

It drifted faintly through the receiver, and even Lin Mu sitting nearby could hear it vaguely:

"Is this Kushida-san? It's Ayanokoji."

It was none other than Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, that presence-less, always expressionless student from Class D.

His tone was devoid of any fluctuation, as if he were stating a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him but still had to be notified.

It was entirely consistent with his usual cold and distant personality: "Regarding you being chosen as the 'Friendly Ambassador,' please do your best for the class."

Kikyo Kushida was stunned upon hearing this, a look of genuine confusion appearing on her face as she subconsciously asked for clarification.

"Um... Ayanokoji-kun? What's going on? I don't quite understand what you mean..." She had no idea what Ayanokoji was talking about.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji on the other end of the line remained flat in tone, as if reading an instruction manual, clearly and concisely explaining the ins and outs of the matter.

It turned out that Suzune Horikita had spontaneously organized a study group aimed at providing emergency tutoring for Ken Sudo and several other students whose midterm exams were in jeopardy and who faced the risk of expulsion.

And Kikyo Kushida, because of her cheerful, enthusiastic, and sociable nature, and her excellent popularity in the class, had been unilaterally designated or rather, was needed...

To be the "Friendly Ambassador," responsible for stepping forward to coordinate, mobilize, and organize more students to participate in this study group.

Ayanokoji noted that, after all, Suzune Horikita's own "stay away" aura was truly not suitable for mobilization work.

After listening to Ayanokoji's emotionless explanation, the confusion in Kikyo Kushida's eyes quickly dissipated.

It was replaced by a sense of mission, as if she had been entrusted with an important task or, in other words, was needed...

Almost instantly, her tone became firm and full of drive, and her pitch even rose a little:

"A study group for Sudo-kun and the others? And it was organized spontaneously by Horikita-san!"

Her voice seemed to carry a hint of admiration; if the subject was Suzune Horikita, then she was duty-bound.

"Isn't it natural to go through fire and water for a friend in need? I'll definitely help! Don't worry, Ayanokoji-kun.

(It really is worrying, this idea of Kushida and Horikita going through fire and water together)

I will definitely cooperate well with Horikita-san and work hard to get more students to participate! This is for everyone in our Class D!"

Lin Mu, sitting to the side, heard the entire conversation clearly, but he kept his head down.

He continued to eat the last few pieces of teriyaki chicken in his bowl in a leisurely manner, his eating movements never stopping, his face devoid of expression, and his heart completely calm.

Regarding Kushida joining the study group organized by Suzune Horikita, he couldn't say he supported it, nor could he say he opposed it.

Kushida's personality was just like that: enthusiastic, valuing "friends," and liking the feeling of being needed.

(Not friends, definitely not)

Participating in a study group to help classmates, especially troublesome characters like Ken Sudo in the class.

As for the study group itself... Lin Mu knew without even thinking that it wouldn't go smoothly.

Was Ken Sudo the type of person who could calm down and study? Could the cold, icy teaching method of Suzune Horikita be accepted by anyone?

Could this bunch of loose sand in Class D really coalesce just because of a study session? He was extremely skeptical.

But, so what?

He was never the type to meddle in other people's affairs, let alone the trivial and uncertain "struggles" within Class D.

He respected Kushida's choice, but he didn't care at all about the future of Class D. It had nothing to do with him, and he couldn't be bothered to manage it.

After Kushida hung up the phone, she turned to Linmu with eyes sparkling and that ignited, enthusiastic smile still on her face, sharing impatiently:

"Linmu-kun, I'm going to participate in the study session organized by Horikita-san!"

"I'm going to help Sudo-kun and the others with tutoring, striving to make sure everyone passes the midterm exams so they don't get expelled!"

"This is for the sake of our entire class!"

Linmu raised his eyes, looked at her full of vitality as if she were about to throw herself into a great cause, nodded faintly, and mumbled an acknowledgment while chewing his food:

"Mm, that's nice."

After saying that, he lowered his head again, picked up the miso soup beside him to take a sip, and swallowed the last bite of his meal.

He didn't ask for any details about the study session, nor did he offer any advice, express any concern, or give any encouragement.

Regardless, the path was one Kushida chose herself; whether it was good or bad, she would have to walk it herself.

He only needed to continue being himself and living his own life.

As for the future of Class D, that study session destined to be bumpy and the results of the midterm exams...

To him, Linmu Fujimiya, it was nothing more than another small interlude about to unfold in this Meritocracy school, one that might be a little entertaining to watch.

He would wait and see... no, perhaps he couldn't even be bothered to "wait and see," he would just listen to the results in passing.