Going to Your Dorm

Behind the dormitory, this is a mysterious location.

Because it is very close to the trash dump, it is a more desolate place than the Special Building.

After all, no one would voluntarily want to be near the trash.

Handing over the content displayed on his phone for President Horikita to see, the other party finished reading it with a meticulous attitude and said:

"It certainly looks like the work of some fanatical stalker, but why doesn't she proactively seek help from the school?"

"Because it might be quite difficult for her; after all, she is from Class D. To summarize it simply, perhaps one should call it shyness? But it's not quite that either, it's probably something else entirely. I don't really understand it myself."

"As a student of Class A, you are already paying attention to Class D?" President Horikita hadn't expected Toru Hasegawa to take action so quickly.

"Ah, because there are quite a lot of beautiful girls there," Toru Hasegawa smiled. "Besides, Class D is full of talented individuals. If possible, I really want to go in and observe them."

For the first time, President Horikita's brain stalled for a moment. Entrusting Suzune to this person... had he done the right thing?

"You really are a strange one."

"As a sample for human observation, Class D is much more interesting than Class A. Of course, every class should have more or less those kinds of strange people... Ah, I've digressed. Anyway, what do you intend to do about this matter?"

Toru Hasegawa was very curious about what President Horikita planned to do. Although the comments on the internet made it seem like some major event was about to occur, if they were just keyboard warriors, the school authorities probably wouldn't be able to issue any substantive punishment.

It was a very delicate boundary.

"Those who would do such a thing will likely take actual action. I will first confirm the identity of this person with the school authorities."

At Advanced Nurturing High School, everyone's phone is specially provided by the school, and even the faculty and staff are no exception.

"Then I look forward to your good news, President Horikita," Toru Hasegawa smiled. "Remember to notify me the moment there is any progress."

President Horikita adjusted the position of his glasses: "That goes without saying, you are a necessary participant. However, I have never met anyone like you before."

Being in Class A and helping Class D is not a strange thing, but what is peculiar is doing so after already understanding the essence of this school. Logically, one should just let things be.

"Then haven't you met one now?" Toru Hasegawa smiled. "I think a life of following the rules is quite boring."

And this was not without its rewards.

President Horikita fell silent after seeing Toru Hasegawa like this. He still had many things he wanted to say, but he decided to let it go for now.

The next day, apart from the atmosphere in Class D's classroom changing significantly, everything else was no different from usual.

Masayoshi Hashimoto was still following Arisu Sakayanagi, as if he hadn't been affected at all.

"Um, I would like to say a few words, can everyone listen for a moment?" Toru Hasegawa stood up from his seat.

"Eh?" Many people cast strange gazes his way, not expecting Toru Hasegawa, who had just had an incident yesterday, to speak at this time.

Arisu Sakayanagi nodded with a smile: "Of course, I would also like to hear what Hasegawa-kun thinks."

"I know everyone might be a bit confused by me right now, but just as Classmate Sakayanagi said before, this is a school of meritocracy," Toru Hasegawa met the numerous gazes one by one without fear. "In that case, academic performance is not just related to oneself, but linked to many more things."

"Therefore, we should start study sessions in advance. I don't intend to say much more about this; any student who needs my help with tutoring can just come and find me."

"The same goes for sports. Aside from Classmate Sakayanagi due to her physical condition, we should all, more or less, start consciously training our bodies."

"Even though what Classmate Hashimoto said yesterday is true, we cannot look down on Class C and Class D because of it. The school's class division is not such a superficial thing. We all have students with very low academic ability or very poor athletic ability. There are still three years ahead, and I sincerely hope that everyone can grow during this time."

Having finished these words as if delivering a speech, Toru Hasegawa sat back down in his seat.

Even after entering this school and experiencing Arisu Sakayanagi's speech, most people still couldn't shake off the "ordinary high school student" mindset inherited from middle school.

These words from Toru Hasegawa were meant for them.

Active students like Arisu Sakayanagi or Masayoshi Hashimoto were, after all, in the minority.

"What Hasegawa-kun said makes a lot of sense. Regarding this matter, it was my negligence. I apologize."

Arisu Sakayanagi first admitted her oversight regarding this point. While it is correct to fulfill one's duties as a student, it had not brought about any change.

She had merely done what was expected of her as a matter of course.

Therefore, as the leader of the class, since she had already glimpsed part of the truth about the school, she should have taken action.

Yet she had ignored this, or rather, had not realized it at all.

Many students are the type who won't work hard without external pressure, just like Toru Hasegawa, who had told her before that he wanted to stay in the dormitory and play video games.

Arisu Sakayanagi understood a little bit more about the reason for Masayoshi Hashimoto's betrayal at this moment.

It was the thing she lacked, the part that her facade could not compensate for.

"From now on, I will share my daily class notes with everyone. Of course, I also hope that students with good grades can join me in contributing; after all, the power of one person is ultimately small."

The atmosphere in Class A became somewhat strange. Everyone hadn't expected things to suddenly develop to this point, and many felt a sense of bewilderment.

What is he doing?

It feels like something impressive.

Should I be working hard along with them?

Everything up until now had happened too fast.

On the first day of school, I was left dizzy by the sudden windfall of 100,000 private points.

On the second morning, Sakayanagi Arisu informed everyone of the hidden circumstances behind it.

Yesterday, Toru Hasegawa was labeled a traitor by Sakayanagi Arisu, yet Masayoshi Hashimoto spoke up in his defense; many people still hadn't even figured out why Toru Hasegawa was being called a traitor in the first place.

Today, Toru Hasegawa took the initiative to suggest that everyone should proactively study or exercise, and then Sakayanagi Arisu even apologized for her actions...

What on earth is going on?

In any case, would it be better for me to just play along and behave?

Although the atmosphere was somewhat strange, time waits for no one.

The school day passed by in a flash.

"Tell me, what exactly are you thinking? I don't really get it, but isn't this all very strange?"

At four in the afternoon, the students of Class A finished their day of classes and walked out of the classroom with their respective friends.

Some went to participate in club activities, some went to Keyaki Mall to experience life, and of course, there were those who were anxious about their grades and asked the top students to go to the library with them.

Kamuro Masumi was clearly not among them; she threw the question directly at Toru Hasegawa, who was still sitting in his seat.

"Because I'm naive, I guess. I just do what I want to do."

"You really are free, aren't you?" Kamuro Masumi cast an envious look his way.

"There are also people who say that true freedom is being able to choose not to do what you don't want to do."

"Are you some kind of philosopher?" Kamuro Masumi pouted. "I'm the student you mentioned this morning who needs tutoring, so come help me."

"Alright~"

After all, it was something he had said himself, so Toru Hasegawa did not refuse.

In the first year of high school... he still had plenty of leeway, so teaching someone else wouldn't be a problem.

"Shall we go to the library?" Toru Hasegawa suggested; many students went there to study, and as long as one kept their voice down, it was fine.

To his surprise, Kamuro Masumi said this instead: "No, let's go to your dorm."

"Huh?"