Better to play games

Kiyotaka Kiyotaka didn't realize the severity of the problem. The moment he took a bite, Suzune Horikita, sitting across from him, had something to say.

"Time is of the essence. I want you to listen to me."

"Huh?"

The food in his mouth instantly lost its flavor. How could someone be like this?

Where was her sense of boundaries? Weren't they supposed to be treating him? Was this mouth of hers the price? As they say, there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

The old saying held true—eating makes your tongue short, taking makes your hand short. It was a basic principle, but something felt off. He couldn't quite pinpoint the discomfort, since he didn't have that kind of emotion anyway.

He glanced left—no one there. He glanced right, sending out a plea for help.

"Bei..."

He only got one word out before being cut off before he could continue.

"Don't say it, don't say it. I'm done eating. Talking during a meal is very unhealthy and very rude."

Beihai stood up and walked straight off. Trying to drag me into this? What are you thinking? Go ahead and keep flip-flopping on your own.

Kiyotaka Kiyotaka could only watch helplessly as Beihai's back grew farther and farther away.

"You're close with him?"

Faced with the question, he really had nothing to hide—or rather, there was no need to hide it in the first place.

"He's my brother."

Suzune Horikita's expression didn't change. She didn't think Beihai had any particular talent. He hadn't shown anything remarkable. If it weren't for the fact that Kiyotaka Kiyotaka was recommended by that teacher, and actually had some real ability—controlling his scores and helping her rise to Class A—she wouldn't have bothered coming here.

There was nothing noteworthy about Beihai. As just a friend, Kiyotaka Kiyotaka himself might be lumped in with the likes of Haruki Yamauchi and the others—also considered friends.

So there was absolutely no solid evidence or angle to prove the other party had any capability.

Of course, the main point was still this.

"Beihai, I remember he ranked dead last in the whole class during that test. You really know how to pick friends."

"That's not true. It was just an accident."

Finally, Suzune Horikita showed her true colors.

"I'm not interested in any of that, but this month's exam can't have any mistakes. Chiwa, Yamauchi, Xuteng, and that Beihai—those four are completely dragging us down..."

After finishing, she placed her phone number and email on the table.

Kiyotaka Kiyotaka's thought process was different from ordinary people. He didn't feel tricked or forced. Instead, he picked up the sticky note in his hand.

What crossed his mind was that this seemed to be the first girl's contact info he'd gotten since entering school. Though he didn't feel particularly happy about it, he figured he should still save it properly.

Since it was already May, the carefree days of April were gone. Normal class routines had finally settled in.

The teacher would no longer tolerate students messing around in class. Some authority needed to be established.

Now, they'd especially make an example of someone to warn the rest. After all, from top to bottom, Class D was the worst. If they weren't reined in, these guys might actually throw an elbow at the teacher's face.

No doubt about it—there were always a few Jiahaos in the back trying to show off. Going against the teacher made them feel cool, let alone a whole class full of Jiahaos.

Just thinking about it made the class teacher's job seem pretty tough.

Beihai finally got to enjoy normal lessons. No more chaos and pandemonium. Even if everyone was just putting on a show, the class was quiet enough for Beihai to settle down and focus.

In April, the class was a madhouse, and he had to go along with the environment. Now, he didn't have to. The only thing missing was not being able to tease the adorable Airisu Sakura anymore.

The bell rang. He packed up and got ready to leave.

"Beihai, wait. Don't go yet. I need to talk to you about something."

Kiyotaka Kiyotaka moved quickly, afraid Beihai would slip away. As for the other three, he didn't care.

"I need to have a word with you."

By the time Beihai turned his head, Airisu Sakura had already left. Great—now he couldn't walk back to the dorm with his little circle.

If he ran into someone with no sense of boundaries on the way, it would just waste time.

So he slowed his pace.

"Whatever you've got, say it quick."

Kiyotaka Kiyotaka didn't waste words. He laid out everything that happened in the cafeteria at noon.

She wanted to set up a mutual aid group—tutoring those with poor grades individually. Of course, this wasn't his own idea, but Horikita's.

"Sorry, I don't need it. If you don't believe me, you can take these test papers."

Beihai refused outright. The papers he handed over were all filled out. One look would be enough to see that Beihai didn't need any tutoring at all.

That way, the other party had no reason to keep dragging things out with Beihai.

"Alright, then. By the way, do you have time tonight? I just got a new game disc."

"Sorry, tonight's not convenient. Maybe some other time.

After all, it's not like before. If I stay up late, I won't be able to get up, and the consequences would be pretty serious."

Beihai refused without a second thought, his habitual responses landing just right—flawless enough to maintain the relationship without offending anyone.

There was truth to the saying: make more friends, fewer enemies. Unless necessary, Beihai wouldn't let relations sour or deteriorate.

Normal people would find these refusals perfectly reasonable, impossible to fault. Kiyotaka Kiyotaka also thought them reasonable—after all, the wild, carefree April had passed. Now in May, the teachers were making examples of troublemakers.

Students still trying to run wild wouldn't have an easy time. As for those who did bounce around freely, unless they had real ability—meaning they could steal the spotlight—they'd end up like the two of them.

Kiyotaka Kiyotaka turned to seek out three other targets, but all refused without exception. With no other option, he lay on his dorm bed for a while, then had to call Kikyo Kushida.

After a month of development, Kikyo Kushida's networking skills were no less than Honami Ichinose's.

If Honami Ichinose was Class B's angel, then Kikyo Kushida was Class D's angel. Using a saintly figure like her to deal with three Goblins was a sure thing.

Coincidentally, this perfectly excluded Beihai. After all, Beihai had already demonstrated that if not for that nap, he never would have scored so low—thus neatly avoiding this confrontation.

Dragged in inexplicably, running around in circles, only Kiyotaka Kiyotaka was left.

This baffled him. In talent and disguise, he and Beihai were equals—so why did he keep failing?

After all this contact with so many people in such a short time, campus life wasn't supposed to be like this. He might as well play games with Beihai.