The Classroom on the Day Before the Holiday (Continued)

However, it is like an active volcano that has undergone a brief period of dormancy and pressure accumulation. The violent energy is forcibly suppressed and transformed, brewing a heavier and more potentially explosive sense of oppression.

If Ken Sudō before his leave of absence was a powder keg ready to explode...

At this moment, he is a temporarily stable but still active volcano containing even more terrifying energy.

"Ayanokōji," his voice was low, even somewhat deep, lacking its usual impatience, "Excuse me, is it convenient for us to talk?"

His tone carried a thoughtfulness and respect that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had never felt from him before.

This feeling was clearer and more profound than the night he took a leave of absence, when he felt remorse and returned the room card.

Come in.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stepped aside.

Ken Sudō nodded and stepped into the house.

Their movements appeared somewhat cautious and restrained, as if they were adapting to this space that they used to be able to enter at will.

He didn't sit down casually as before, but waited for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to signal him before taking his seat.

"Three weeks felt like an eternity."

Ken Sudō spoke, his gaze not wandering around.

Instead, she stared intently at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, organizing her thoughts.

"During this time... besides keeping up with my studies, I've also been training at the gym. Not just shooting."

He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white. "I'm also training myself. I keep thinking about what happened that day in the special teaching building... It was really stupid, wasn't it? Like a baboon that gets easily provoked."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka did not respond, but listened quietly.

Ken Sudō's level of self-reflection exceeded his expectations.

"I've reflected on a lot,"

Ken Sudō continued, a deep-seated pain and determination in his eyes, "About being impulsive, about the trouble I caused others, especially... Horikita. I know that the way I acted only disappointed those who trusted me and brought shame upon the class."

His voice lowered when he mentioned the name, tinged with barely perceptible guilt.

But he quickly looked up again, and beneath the calm, rocky exterior in his eyes, a scorching light was flashing.

"So, I have to make a change. Not because of what others think, but because... at least I have to be worthy of those who cleaned up my messes. Like you, like Hirata, Yamauchi... and Kushida, Horikita."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka noticed that when he said "Horikita," his tone clearly contained more complex emotions.

Ken Sudō's tone became serious.

"Tonight, I'd like to treat you all to dinner. You, Hirata, Yamauchi, Kushida, and... Horikita."

He paused deliberately, "I mainly wanted to express my gratitude, and also... my deepest apologies. I know my previous behavior was terrible."

He gave a self-deprecating twitch at the corner of his mouth.

His eyes dimmed, revealing a clear-headedness born of painful reflection.

"Actually, I also wanted to ask Wang Meiyu and the others... Even though their help was because of you, it's undeniable that they tried their best for me. However, as you know, I don't have that much money. And... the impression I left on them is probably that I'm unreliable, violent, and a super annoying person, right? They're more comfortable without me."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka observed him carefully.

This clear self-awareness and consideration for the feelings of others were absolutely rare qualities in Ken Sudō's past.

He is indeed trying, trying to control himself, trying to become someone who can be accepted by more people.

This clumsy yet sincere effort is itself proof of change.

"I understand," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka replied calmly. "I'll go tonight. Let me know when you've decided on the location."

"Good!"

A hint of relief flashed in Ken Sudō's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by another kind of tension.

He leaned forward slightly, and that volcanic sense of oppression resurfaced, this time stemming from his inner earnestness and unease.

"There's something even more important, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka... about Horikita."

Ken Sudō's voice tightened.

He licked his slightly dry lips, the nervous little gestures still lingering from the old Ken Sudō.

"I...I know she has a lot of opinions about me, a lot. I asked Kushida to help persuade her beforehand, because Kushida is popular in class and is a girl, so she might be able to talk to her more easily. But I'm afraid...even if Kushida intervenes, given Horikita's temper, the chances of her refusing are still too high. So...I thought of you."

Ken Sudō stared directly at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, his eyes burning with a mixture of pleading and the last glimmer of hope.

"Your interactions with her in class... well, how should I put it, were fairly smooth? At least much better than mine. Could you... help me persuade her too? Please!"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained silent for a few seconds.

Horikita Suzune, that icy girl who utterly despises troublesome and useless social interactions?

How can I persuade her to accept an apology dinner from someone she vehemently dislikes?

Even Ayanokoji Kiyotaka felt that the difficulty level of this mission was ridiculously high.

"This..."

He spoke frankly, "Horikita is a very opinionated person. If even Kushida, who is also a girl, can't persuade her, then my going... will probably have very little effect. We're far from having a good relationship; at most, we're classmates who can talk to each other."

The light in Ken Sudō's eyes dimmed for a moment, but the unwavering determination that had settled in immediately returned.

He clenched his fist on his knee, his knuckles turning white again.

He was forcibly suppressing his inner anxiety and emotions.

"You're right..."

He took a deep breath, as if drawing strength from it.

His words carried a bittersweet warmth, and a profound, earthy quality.

"But, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka! I've tried, and I failed, I accept it! At most, I'll be rejected and given a disdainful look... It's not the first time anyway. But if I don't even try, then there's absolutely no hope! I'll extinguish even the slightest possibility with my own hands! That's absolutely unacceptable!"

Ken Sudō suddenly stood up, his passionate energy almost bursting through the calm shell he was trying to maintain.

But he quickly forced himself to relax his shoulders, his voice trembling with earnestness.

"Since we've come this far... Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, please... you absolutely must try! No matter the outcome, I'll remember this favor!"

Looking at the almost burning plea in Sudo Ken Sudō's eyes and the volcanic emotion he was forcibly suppressing, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sensed a strong determination.

"... All right."

He finally nodded.

It's troublesome, but this trouble seems to carry the weight of a heavy expectation for transformation for this red-haired boy.

My thoughts drifted from the dormitory early in the morning back to the classroom at this moment.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze remained fixed on Kushida Kikyo and Horikita Suzune.

When did it start?

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka searched his memory.

It seems that sometime after Ken Sudō took a leave of absence from school, the invisible ice between these two girls, who had almost no interaction and even had opposing auras, quietly melted away.

They didn't become inseparable, but the cold and distant feeling that Horikita used to have when facing Kushida was now mixed with... a feeling that could be described as "tolerance" or even "acquiescence".

Was it Kushida's relentless, persistent effort—enough to melt any glacier—that finally wore away the stone?

Or perhaps, after experiencing certain events, Horikita re-evaluated the "resources" around her that she could utilize, including interpersonal connections like Kushida, who possessed unique value?

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka prefers the latter.

Horikita Suzune's actions always revolve around the core goals of "improving her strength" and "advancing to Class A".

Kushida was perhaps a necessary strategy for her to achieve her goals.

At that moment, Kushida was pointing at the book, leaning close to Horikita and whispering something, a more genuine and radiant smile on his face.

Although Horikita's expression remained indifferent, his eyes lingered on what Kushida was referring to, and he nodded almost imperceptibly.

There was no obvious rejection, no frown, and no cold turning away.

This is a scene of "harmony" that was unimaginable in the past.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was making plans in his mind.

In their current exchange, has Kushida conveyed Ken Sudō's invitation and the implied apology to Horikita?

How will Horikita react?

Will they coldly refuse on the spot, or will they consider it for a moment?

If she refuses, what approach should I take to try and persuade her?

Just imagining having such a conversation with Horikita, involving interpersonal relationships, made Ayanokoji Kiyotaka feel a kind of mental overload... trouble.

"Ayanokoji!"

A crisp voice interrupted Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's observation.

Sato Maya, one of the core members of Karuizawa Kei's group, is standing next to his desk.

A bright smile graced her face, but a hint of barely perceptible expectation flickered in her eyes.

"Are you free after school later? Want to go shopping together? I heard the beverage shop on the shopping street has a new and nice drink!"

Since the last time Sakayanagi Arisu led the Class B group to "visit" the Class D, causing a series of waves.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Kiyotaka to expend far more energy than expected to quell the various speculations and subsequent repercussions within the class.

Not only was the process troublesome, but it also brought an unexpected side effect.

His presence in the class was suddenly thrust into the spotlight, and it increased dramatically in a short period of time.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who once deliberately maintained the image of a "Akito," was forced to demonstrate some problem-solving abilities in specific situations (although he tried his best to hide them).

This inadvertently attracted the attention of some people who had not previously noticed him.

Sato Maya is one of them.

This lively girl, who was originally at the top of the social pyramid in her class, seemed to have keenly noticed some unique qualities in Ayanokoji Kiyotaka from that incident.

That almost eerie calm that persisted amidst the chaos.

And the subtle coincidence of always appearing in the "right place" at crucial moments.

These fragmented impressions pieced together a unique and mysterious outline in her mind, igniting her curiosity.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at the undisguised interest in Sato Maya's eyes and felt a subtle unease.

It wasn't that I was moved, but rather that I felt a sense of annoyance, similar to the frustration of having to handle extra tasks.

Interpersonal relationships are such a hassle.

He recalled that he had indeed troubled Sato with some minor matters before, and given that she was now part of Karuizawa Kei's circle, a proper response might prevent further trouble in the future.

"I'm sorry," he looked up, his tone as indifferent as ever, "I can't today. Someone asked me to do something for them."

He paused briefly, then added a sentence.

"If there's a chance next time."

Next time, he would definitely not make such an empty promise. In this situation, he felt it was too perfunctory and that it was better to have a vague chance.

The light in Sato Maya's eyes dimmed slightly for a moment, and a clear look of disappointment crossed her face.

She pursed her lips, but still tried to maintain a smile.

"Oh, I see... That's a shame. Well then, let's talk about it another time!"

She turned and left, her steps seeming lighter than when she arrived, but her retreating figure still conveyed a sense of disappointment at being rejected.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka watched her walk back to Karuizawa Kei's lively little circle and sighed inwardly.

If he could, he would rather spend some time shopping with her.

Consider it repaying a favor and accumulating knowledge in this area.

However...

"Well, it was Ken Sudō asked me to do it first."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said silently to himself.

His gaze returned to the two girls by the window, who were still talking in hushed tones.