Study Group

It had been a week since the Class Points were announced. It was clear that Hirata and Kushida had both been working hard. Sleeping in class and playing on their phones had mostly disappeared. Of course, that didn't mean anyone was skipping class to sleep or use their phones in their dorms. No one was cutting class. Sudō just spent all day slumped over his desk, snoring away, and gradually everyone stopped bothering with him.

"Ah!"

Hearing the shout, Takahashi rubbed his ear and looked at Ayanokouji. He was the one who had yelled.

"Ayanokouji, why did you suddenly shout like that? Is your period due?" Teacher Chabashira said, one hand on her hip and the other holding her textbook, as she looked at Ayanokouji from the podium.

"S-sorry, Teacher Chabashira. I accidentally bumped my elbow against the corner of the desk."

Although Ayanokouji said that, Takahashi, who was sitting nearby, had seen the compass in Horikita's hand.

After school.

"Could I have everyone's attention for a moment?" From the gentle tone, it was obvious this was Hirata. "Teacher Chabashira said in class that exams are coming up soon, and anyone who fails will face expulsion. So I'd like to hold a study group, and I hope everyone will join."

"I don't want anyone in our class to be expelled. A study group can help improve our grades and bring us closer together." He said this while looking at Sudō. Clearly, he'd noticed that the others were subtly excluding him.

"Hmph."

Sudō snorted and left the classroom, apparently unwilling to accept Hirata's goodwill.

"Are you free at lunch?"

Takahashi looked at Horikita, a little surprised. Although they'd been deskmates since the start of the school year, this was his first time speaking with her. (There's a seating chart in the comments for reference.)

"Sorry, wait a moment."

She took out the divination tube. "If your heart is sincere, your wish will come true. May the gods protect me."

Bad luck!

"I'm sorry, I don't have time. I have to pick up my grandmother after school at noon."

"You actually believe in that stuff?"

"Fortune-telling is useful. It might not be accurate, but it can save people a lot of time."

"Lunch is on me. You can have whatever you want."

"Fine, then."

"Let's eat." Takahashi said this, then happily dug in.

Ayanokouji, sitting beside him, held his chopsticks but seemed unsure whether to start eating.

"What's wrong, Ayanokouji? Hurry up and eat," Horikita said.

"Um... well, let's eat."

Once Ayanokouji had started eating his set meal, Horikita cleared her throat and said:

"All right, let's get down to business."

Then she grabbed Ayanokouji, who was about to stand up, and turned to Takahashi, who was holding his plate and preparing to make a run for it.

"Takahashi, your set meal cost me eight hundred Class Points."

Horikita seemed quite pleased to see Takahashi and Ayanokouji sitting obediently in front of her.

"Good. Now listen. There are two weeks left until the exams, and I'm planning to hold a study group."

"Hasn't Hirata already started one?"

"I know, but there are still a few hopeless cases. Sudō, Ike, and Yamauchi didn't join Hirata's study group."

"Those three seem pretty bothered by how popular Hirata is with the girls, so I doubt they'll join his study group. Wait... Are you planning to hold a study group like Hirata, or are you going to help those three specifically?"

"That's right. I'll be blunt: you heard me in the Tea Room, didn't you? I care about our class, so I want to lead you all to Class A." When Takahashi and Ayanokouji fell silent, she continued, "I suspect Class Points are linked to exam results, so we can't let those three fail and drag down our class score."

"So you want us to..."

"Ayanokouji will persuade them to go to the library, while Takahashi will help me tutor them."

"You think I can do something even Hirata, who's so popular, couldn't manage?" Ayanokouji protested.

"Then Takahashi can go too."

"Hey, why do I have to do two jobs? And it's not like I'm guaranteed to persuade them."

"Because you ordered the most expensive set meal. And I don't think someone who could casually say he had to pick up his grandmother after school would be incapable of persuading them to go to the library." Horikita placed a slip of paper on the table. "This is my contact information. I hope you bring them over soon."

Takahashi ate in silence, occasionally glancing at Ayanokouji, who was staring blankly at the slip of paper. He was probably wondering how to invite Sudō and the others to the study group.

Ayanokouji's thoughts: The first time I'd ever gotten a girl's contact information.

"When are you planning to invite them to Horikita's study group?" Takahashi asked, looking at the three boys chatting together.

"Um... Honestly, I'm not sure. Maybe we should take them one at a time. Sudō plays basketball during lunch, so we can look for a chance to invite him then."

At lunchtime, Ken Sudō had casually draped his uniform jacket over the metal frame beneath the basketball hoop, revealing a white undershirt soaked with sweat. He was playing a lively three-on-three game with several boys. The thump of the ball hitting the ground mingled with the shouts of the other students. Clearly, this was a terrible time to approach him.

"Is it really okay to go over now?" Takahashi asked Ayanokouji.

"Um... I'll give it a try."

Ayanokouji stepped forward and said:

"Sudō?"

"What is it?" Sudō answered, but didn't stop playing.

"Horikita's holding a study group, and she wants..."

"Ayanokouji, I'm playing basketball. Don't bother me."

Knowing he'd get turned down, Takahashi saw the scene unfold just as he'd expected. He closed his eyes, slapped his palm against his forehead, and shook his head. Just then, a basketball came flying over.

Looking at the paper stuffed into Takahashi's nostrils, Ayanokouji said, "Are you sure you're okay? Should you go back and rest?"

"I'm fine. Who should we talk to next?"

"Ike. If he knows a girl named Horikita is running the study group, he'll probably be happy to join."

"I refuse," Ike said without hesitation.

"Why? Horikita's running the study group. Don't you want a girlfriend? This is a great opportunity, isn't it?" (All characters in this book are adults.)

Ike didn't hear a word Ayanokouji said. He was busy messaging a girl. Ever since he found out Hirata had a girlfriend, Ike had been trying desperately to get one himself.

"Don't interrupt me while I'm chatting with Little Kushida!" He stood up to leave, then stepped right on Takahashi's foot...

"Ayanokouji, leave this to me," Takahashi said. He didn't want to go looking for Yamauchi anymore. Who knew what might happen next?

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Don't worry. It'll be fine."

"Hasebe, could you do me a favor?" Takahashi said, handing her a drink.

"Oh? Little Kan has a favor to ask me?" Hasebe took the drink, looking quite pleased. It was her favorite, and she hadn't expected Takahashi to remember.

"Hehe."

"Go on, what is it?"

"Could you write a few notes for me?"

"That's all?"

"Actually, it's not that simple."

"Hmm?"

"Write: 'Sudō/Ike/Yamauchi, I have something I want to tell you, but I'm a little embarrassed to say it in class. So please come to the library after school. I'll be waiting there. Don't tell anyone, okay? ?(?＞ ? ＜?)?'"

"Ehh~ Little Kan, what are you up to?"

"Haha, Horikita's holding a study group for them in the library."

"Got it."

As Takahashi watched Hasebe start writing the notes,

1. A girl's handwriting would make the three of them even more eager to find out who had written them.

2. I hadn't included any names. That made the notes more mysterious, while also keeping them from suspecting Horikita was waiting for them in the library.

3. I hadn't said what the meeting was about, either. Horikita had only told me to get them to the library.