Kudo, Nothing at All.

Bam!

Ken Sudou slammed the table in anger, staring at the surrounding Class D students with utter incomprehension.

"We already confirmed at noon that the senior's past exam papers are legit, so why are we still reviewing here?"

His words brimmed with indignation and dissatisfaction, but considering the presence of many other classes nearby, he deliberately lowered his voice toward the end.

"Exactly, Hirata. I was planning to head back and game with Ike."

Yamauchi shrugged, putting on a helpless expression.

As if he already had the upcoming midterms in the bag.

And honestly, for him, it really was a sure thing—since they'd concretely obtained the answers, all he needed was to memorize them in this period, and the midterms would be a breeze.

Quite a few people shared Yamauchi's mindset, like the gal group in Class D led by Kei Karuizawa.

Kei Karuizawa felt her friends' gazes and knew exactly what they were thinking—

nothing more than that the intense studying over the past week-plus had worn them out, and they wanted a break.

And since she was Yousuke Hirata's girlfriend, persuading him should work well. By common logic, they ought to get some rest.

Kei Karuizawa couldn't help but wryly smile to herself. Only she knew that her boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with Yousuke Hirata was fake.

"Hirata, how about letting everyone take a break? Studying should balance tension and relaxation. Proper rest can boost learning efficiency.

Besides, we already have the answers, so passing the midterms will be easy."

Yousuke Hirata, surrounded by the Class D crowd, looked at their expectant eyes and let out a wry chuckle:

"Alright, let's stop studying for today. Everyone, unwind first. We'll resume the study sessions after tomorrow."

At that moment, Suzune Horikita, sitting not far away, also closed her book:

"Then everyone, take a rest. Since you've all grasped the midterm answers, I'm sure you'll review them properly."

"I hope no one in Class D ends up expelled."

With her book packed, Suzune Horikita stepped past the group and slowly left the library, her eyes devoid of any emotion.

The Class D students stared in some surprise at the rare sight of Horikita without her usual sarcasm.

"First time seeing Horikita like this. It's really surprising."

From the gal group, Maya Sato stared at Suzune Horikita's retreating back, as if seeing her for the first time.

"I always thought Horikita was a harsh person, but it turns out she's just cold on the outside and warm inside."

At that moment, Kikyou Kushida popped up at just the right time, a smile on her face while inwardly cursing Horikita viciously.

That dead woman, that bitch—what's she pretending for?!

Mingling in the crowd, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji also looked at Suzune Horikita with some confusion.

Was she really that kind of person?

Not likely. And Class D getting the past exam papers was way too coincidental. Was there a hidden hand at work?

This was far too unlike Suzune Horikita.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who had been threatened with expulsion by Sae Chabashira, found this a bit troublesome.

The known point of conflict was the past exam papers. If someone was pulling strings in the shadows, this would definitely be it.

And the pawn he most wanted to control, Suzune Horikita, seemed off. From the current situation, she'd likely betrayed the class.

"Gyakukai, is this the result you wanted?"

Sho Ryuuen, sitting across from him, looked over with a mocking grin. From Class D's current state, it wasn't hard to guess they knew about the past exam papers.

"Not quite there yet. It hasn't reached the outcome I expected."

Yuki Gyakukai replied flatly, quietly listening to Ichinose explain a problem.

The two-hour study session passed quickly.

For Yuki Gyakukai, those two hours were pure agony.

So when it ended, ignoring Ryuuen's bewildered expression, he grabbed his fiancée beside him and bolted out of the library.

"Studying is just too painful."

Gyakukai couldn't help rubbing his head, his pained look seemingly hoping for comfort from his fiancée.

Tomie simply let him hold her hand as he pulled her through the campus.

Watching her fiancé like this, she was in a good mood, occasionally reaching out to pat him.

And during that time, the two ran into the Sakurako trio.

"Sakurako, out for a walk this late?"

The clear sky held no twists or turns, and the wind along the way tousled their hair.

Instinctively, Sakayanagi pressed down on the beret atop her head.

But she was ultimately a step too late—the white beret began to soar high with the wind, leaves scattering along with it.

Suddenly, a figure leaped high into the air, snatching the floating white beret in one hand.

This scene left Emi Tamiya, standing nearby, utterly bewildered—it felt like watching a shoujo manga.

The only difference was the absence of that youthful flutter of the heart found in comics.

Holding the white beret, Yuki Gyakukai strode forward and placed it back on Sakayanagi Arisu's head.

"Keep it on. If I weren't here, your hat would've flown off who knows where."

"Ara~" Sakayanagi Arisu paused at the sensation on her head, but quickly covered her mouth with a light laugh, her sparkling eyes fixed on Yuki Gyakukai:

"That really is much appreciated. If I'd lost my hat, I would've been quite troubled."

"Good that you know." Without further ado, he returned to Tomie's side, took her hand again, and walked off: "Let's go."

After they'd walked a bit, Yuki inexplicably sensed the sour, cloying aura radiating from the East Asian Little Vinegar King beside him.

"It was just picking up a hat, wasn't it?"

Tomie didn't answer, only lowered her head to look at their joined hands.

The Sakayanagi family... just a second-rate clan. What method should I use to teach them a lesson?

So troublesome. How can I keep my outstanding fiancé from attracting trouble left and right? Maybe I should just break his legs like Mother said.

No, I can't bear to...

Soon, the two arrived at the Basketball Court.

The sound of the ball thudding against the ground, bang bang bang, told them someone was still here at this hour.

Yuki Gyakukai looked over—somewhat familiar.

Red hair + basketball = Ken Sudou.

Having already trained for over an hour, Sudou controlled the ball in his hands, aiming at the backboard.

"Yo, Sudou. Practicing basketball alone this late? Is it really worth working that hard?"

Hearing a familiar voice, Sudou stopped dribbling and looked toward the source. But the moment he saw who it was, he turned away and resumed dribbling:

"None of your business."

As he spoke, he quickly hurled the ball in his hands.

But just as the ball was about to go through the hoop, another basketball flew in from a distance, knocked Sudou's shot away, and then sank through the net.

"I heard basketball is what you pride yourself on. Want to have a match?"

Yuki squinted, watching Ken Sudou from the half-court line.

Basketball was, for now, Ken Sudou's greatest confidence: "Fine."

As for the ball Yuki Gyakukai had thrown from half-court earlier, he chalked it up to luck—after all, he couldn't do it himself.

Though his stamina was flagging, Ken Sudou still yielded possession to Yuki Gyakukai.

"Basketball takes talent. I may not match you in studies or strength, but in physical ability and basketball talent, I won't lose to anyone."

Swish!

A three-pointer from beyond the arc—nothing but net.

Without any physical contest, Ken Sudou stared in disbelief as the ball sailed cleanly over his head and into the hoop.

"By that logic, are people without talent wasting their lives from the very start?"

The two continued their one-on-one, but Ken Sudou didn't answer the question.

He just watched tensely as Yuki Gyakukai regained possession.

"Don't want to answer, or don't dare to?"

Another three-pointer. Facing a ball with no traceable trajectory, unable to counter with body or technique, Ken Sudou felt nothing but helplessness.

For the first time, he doubted whether he could even make it into the high school league and achieve results.

Watching Yuki Gyakukai score effortlessly time and again, his shots landing like they had built-in aim, hitting every time—

Over and over, it shattered Ken Sudou's understanding.

Despair and bottomless defeat, like an abyss, devoured his spirit.

"There are too many people in this world. What you call talent isn't even worth mentioning in front of a true genius."

"Sudou, you said talent matters. But to me, you're just average—and being average is normal."

"So why do you keep trying?"

"Does anyone want you to try?"

"Is there anyone who hopes you'll keep trying?"

"Is there any reason for you to keep going?"

Sentence after sentence kept piercing Ken Sudou's psychological defenses.

The pupils of Ken, who had been struggling to defend himself, began to tremble uncontrollably.

When he lifted his head again, fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and his eyes had already turned bloodshot.

"Ah! What was I supposed to do? My parents were both thugs—I never wanted to become one. I wanted a wonderful college life and praise from others too... Do you think everyone's life is as glamorous as yours?!!"