Ken Sudō Falls into a Trap

Is this the classmate who gave Ichinose and Kanzaki the advice back then?

The person seems nice. Although it's a paid service, the results are indeed satisfactory.

Moreover, Tanaka Yukishin's arrival at least temporarily put Ichinose on hold for the time being.

These days, seeing how busy she is, her classmates feel sorry for her.

Unfortunately, no one could persuade her otherwise.

As insiders, Shibata Hayate and Kanzaki knew that unless they could guarantee that the probability of dropping out would be reduced to an extremely low level, it would be impossible.

Otherwise, her classmates' trust in Ichinose would drive her to continue working so hard.

"I already know, Honami-chan."

Tanaka Yukishin walked in, her tone relaxed, as if she hadn't noticed Ichinose's exhaustion at all.

"Then you should thank me properly. Now you should understand how valuable the advice I gave you was, right?"

Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound calm.

"Thank you. Senior, is there anything I can help you with?"

Tanaka Yukishin, her smile deepening.

"Because I'm very satisfied with Honami-chan's actions, I want to give you some encouragement."

Ichinose Honami blinked, a hint of anticipation finally appearing in her voice.

"Oh! Is our senior going to give us advice again?"

Tanaka Yukishin shook her head and mysteriously held up one finger.

"No, the previous suggestions already made the intensity of Honami-chan's class too high."

Ichinose Honami's expression instantly fell, her shoulders slumped slightly, clearly showing some disappointment.

"What kind of encouragement does the senior want to give me?"

Tanaka Yukishin took a few steps closer, bent down slightly, and softened her voice.

"I will be participating in the Gyokuryuki competition. I'm sure Honami-chan misses her family a lot after being away from them for so long. I'd like to pass on a message for her. Of course, if Honami-chan -Honami-chan's home is near mine, I can also visit her in person."

He paused, his smile gentle.

"I wonder if Honami-chan likes this encouragement?"

Ichinose Honami was stunned, her eyes widened slightly, and her lips trembled slightly.

Seeing this, Shibata Hayate immediately seized the opportunity, stood up, and patted Ichinose the shoulder.

"Tanaka-kun, please. Ichinose, go and talk to Tanaka-kun. I'll stay here."

His tone left no room for refusal, and his eyes were filled with concern.

He didn't want to see Ichinose crushed, and Tanaka Yukishin's arrival was perfectly timed.

Ichinose Honami moment, then finally nodded, her steps unsteady as she stood up.

"Thank you, Shibata."

She spoke softly, then looked at Tanaka Yukishin, a faint smile finally appearing on her lips.

"Then, senior, let's go outside to talk."

Shibata Hayate watched the two leave, feeling a slight sense of relief.

At least, she can rest a little now.

Moreover, speaking of family...

Ichinose must miss her terribly.

After the door closed gently, Shibata Hayate sat back in his chair, his gaze falling on the cup of coffee on the table, which had long since gone cold.

He stared at the faint lip print remaining on the rim of the glass, his thoughts drifting back to a few days ago.

That was three days after the midterm exams ended.

The moment the news of Class D dropping out spread, the atmosphere in the entire grade instantly became tense.

Shibata Hayate still remembers that morning when he pushed open the classroom door and saw Ichinose Honami already sitting in her seat, with several documents spread out in front of her, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

Her face was somewhat pale, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept all night.

"Ichinose, you're here early."

He walked over and greeted them in a relaxed tone.

She looked up and forced a smile, but the anxiety in her eyes was impossible to hide.

"Shibata, have you seen the list of students who dropped out of Class D?"

Her voice was very soft, but every word seemed to be squeezed out with force.

Shibata Hayate paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, I've heard about it."

Ichinose Honami unconsciously tightened her grip on the pen, her knuckles turning slightly white.

"Their class... they've worked so hard, yet some students still got expelled."

Her voice trembled slightly, as if she was suppressing something.

Shibata Hayate sat down next to her and smelled a faint, bitter aroma of coffee.

"That's the rule. Besides, Chi-kun didn't even try."

He spoke casually, but he noticed Ichinose's eyelashes flutter slightly.

Ichinose Honami shook her head, her eyes stubborn and determined.

"But I can find a way to prevent the students in Class A from being expelled."

Shibata Hayate looked at her, and her heart sank slightly.

He knew Ichinose's personality—once she set her mind on something, she would do everything in her power to accomplish it.

But this time, something was clearly wrong with her.

"Ichinose, calm down."

He reached out and gently pressed her shoulder. "Dropping out of school is cruel, but it's not the norm. Our class is strong enough right now, so this won't happen easily."

Ichinose's breathing became rapid. She suddenly looked up, her eyes showing a rare hint of panic.

"But what about the second-year Class D? They had over a dozen students drop out in just one year! If we slack off too, who can guarantee that no one will be dropped?"

Shibata Hayate speechless for a moment.

He was aware of the situation in the second year, of course, but Ichinose's reaction was more intense than he had anticipated.

You're too nervous.

That was all he could say in the end.

Ichinose took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her fingers still gripped the documents tightly, her knuckles turning white.

"I just... don't want to see anyone leave."

Her voice was very soft, almost as if she were talking to herself.

Shibata Hayate looked at her, and her heart clenched.

He knew that Ichinose's concerns were not unfounded, but if she continued like this, she would eventually push herself to her limit.

In the days that followed, Ichinose Honami's madness worried everyone.

Every day after school, she was always the last to leave the classroom, until the setting sun cast her long, long shadow.

Once, when Shibata Hayate returned to retrieve his forgotten notebook, he found her still hunched over the table, her fingers rapidly tapping on the keyboard.

He gently pulled the documents away from in front of her.

"It's time to go back."

I touched her cold fingertips.

She looked up, her eyes somewhat dazed, as if she hadn't immediately realized who was speaking.

"Ah... Shibata?"

Her voice was hoarse, clearly indicating that she was extremely exhausted.

Shibata Hayate frowned and reached out to snatch the documents from in front of her.

"If you keep going like this, you'll collapse before the exam even starts."

Ichinose Honami paused for a moment, then shook her head with a wry smile.

"But... time is running out."

There was a rare hint of vulnerability in her voice.

Shibata Hayate looked at her, feeling a sense of helplessness.

"You're not fighting alone; you have me, Kanzaki, and other classmates."

Ichinose Honami moment, then said softly, "I know... but I still want to do more."

Her gaze was stubborn and resolute, as if to say, "If I try a little harder, I might be able to protect one more person."

Shibata Hayate could only sigh in the end and return the documents to her.

"At least... get some rest."

Ichinose Honami nodded, but her gaze had already returned to the documents.

Shibata Hayate knew that she hadn't listened at all.

Not only Shibata Hayate, but the other classmates also gradually noticed Ichinose's unusual behavior.

Kanzaki Ryuji once privately spoke with Shibata Hayate: "Ichinose, have you been working too hard lately?"

Shibata Hayate smile, "You noticed too?"

Kanzaki Ryuji's expression was somewhat grave. "If she continues like this, her body won't be able to hold on."

Shibata Hayate sighed, "But you know her personality... She won't stop unless we can completely eliminate the risk of her dropping out."

Kanzaki Ryuji paused for a moment, then said, "Perhaps... we should try to help her relax a little."

Shibata Hayate, recalling the scene yesterday when he found Ichinose taking a nap on his desk during break.

They all understood that Ichinose's gentleness was a double-edged sword, uniting the class while silently cutting into themselves.

In the classroom, the students exchanged worried glances.

Xiao Qiaomeng secretly placed the hot milk on Ichinose's table.

Shiranami Chihiro silently helped her organize the scattered documents.

Even the usually carefree Moriyama Susumu took on more class duties.

The other students are also doing their best.

These subtle acts of care acted like an invisible net, trying to hold up Ichinose as she continued to fall.

Looking at the now quiet classroom, Shibata Hayate stroked his coffee cup.

Tanaka Yukishin's sudden visit was like pressing the pause button, finally giving Ichinose had been working at high speed, a moment to catch her breath.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting long, thin streaks of light on the floor, where dust motes danced silently.

He flipped through the group list, the pencil tip hovering over the paper—when would that girl, who always wanted to protect everyone, allow herself to be protected?

Ichinose's laughter could be faintly heard from outside the door; his long-lost relaxed tone made Shibata Hayate pause as he wrote.

He remembered seeing the untouched breakfast on her desk that morning, the red marks on her wrists from writing for so long, and the unnatural curve of her lips when she forced herself to be energetic.

I couldn't help but say something in their direction.

"Thank you, Tanaka-kun."

Chapter 94, Section 93: Ken Sudō Falls into a Trap