Gather, Seisuke Group (Part One)

The air of anticipation for the weekend had vanished. Teacher Hoshinomiya had Shibata post the grade report on the back wall, then picked up a book on psychology and started reading.

When Ichinose stepped up to the front of the classroom, she merely gave her a gentle smile.

"Everyone... please don't panic yet."

First, she calmed the class.

"Although this came as a surprise, if you think about it carefully, it's something we've all been looking forward to. After all, this exam is tied to our Class Points. Since this quiz condenses the key points from every subject into a single hundred-point test, it doesn't reflect the grades you'll actually get on the midterm."

She offered some reassurance to the members of the Failing Group.

"However, those of you hovering around the passing line are also at serious risk of expulsion."

To ensure that those near the passing line understood the gravity of the situation, Ichinose gave them a warning as well.

I agreed. Compared to students who had already been handed a death sentence once, those above the passing line might take longer to feel a sense of crisis.

Ichinose placed a hand on her chest and continued.

"For now, I have two ideas. First, I'd like everyone to form Study Groups of four to six people. I think the atmosphere can influence and motivate people to study, so I hope everyone will take an active part in their groups."

"And for those of you hovering around the passing line, I hope you'll also join the Tutoring Group, where you can get extra help in the subjects you're weakest in. I hope every student in Class B can avoid expulsion."

"Because Class B wouldn't be the same without every single one of us."

Ichinose looked at everyone with a calm expression.

"I agree."

Sou Shibata stood up of his own accord, drawing everyone's attention.

"To start with, the Study Group will help us avoid the expulsions none of us want to see. And since there's a penalty of expulsion this time, the school must have a corresponding reward as well."

He pondered for a moment, then spoke.

"I think that, more than testing students' basic academic ability, as Teacher Hoshinomiya said, this is about taking part in the exam as a group."

Hoshinomiya suddenly turned the page of the book she hadn't touched in a long while.

The crisp sound of the page sliding against the others carried through the room.

Shibata didn't notice. He continued speaking.

"Assuming we make sure no one gets expelled, the main goal should be to raise our class's scores as much as possible and compete against the other classes."

Ichinose smiled and applauded him.

"Everyone... the true nature of the midterm exam has now been laid before us..."

"I'm truly grateful to have met all of you here. But for Class 1-B, a challenge of this level is a chance to get off to a triumphant start."

"We can do this for sure..."

"..."

And so, the sail of Class 1-B was raised upon a storm-tossed sea.

After class, Ichinose announced the first meeting of the Study Group, also known as the Tutoring Group.

Striking while the iron was hot, she invited several students hovering around the passing line...

Standing at Ichinose's side were a boy and a girl.

I didn't remember them very well, but they seemed to have ranked fairly high.

They had probably joined the Study Group as tutors.

"Ryota, Seisuke, come along with me, will you?"

He clung to Ryota's leg and pleaded with him.

The speaker was our Soccer Club's star prospect, Class 1-B's resident comedian, and the man who had scraped together a score of thirty-nine on the quiz.

Tetsuya Hamaguchi.

"Today's Study Group is for students who are struggling with the basics. Just go by yourself; that'll be enough."

Ryota tugged up his pants while trying to fend off Tetsuya, who was still clinging to him.

"Ryota, you're top of the class. If you tutor me, I'm sure I can escape my fate as a member of the Failing Group."

"Academic ability and teaching ability aren't the same thing. Besides, Ichinose and the other two are obviously cheerful and patient teachers. Just take it seriously and you'll be fine."

Ryota gave up resisting and started packing his schoolbag instead.

Seisuke...

When our eyes met, I somehow felt his silent plea.

This guy was like a different person whenever studying came up.

"Let's go together," I suggested.

Ryota turned to look at me.

"I don't have anything else to do today, so I'll go with Tetsuya."

"Besides, our Study Group still needs more people."

"Come on, stop tugging at my pants."

Ryota zipped up his schoolbag and sighed.

"Teacher Ryota, I'll carry your bag for you~"

"Get lost."

Ryota and I sat a little way from the Study Group. He was looking through a textbook, while I held a novel in my hands.

The Study Group seemed to be running smoothly. Ichinose took a break and sat down beside me.

Ryota didn't react at all. He didn't even look up.

He kept reading while scribbling on some scrap paper.

"Hajima-kun."

Ichinose leaned over beside me and called softly.

"What is it?"

I turned my face toward her, but she was uncomfortably close.

We were almost touching.

A faint citrus scent wafted into my nose. If she hadn't been leaning so close, I might not even have been able to tell it came from Ichinose.

It was sweet and enveloping, but not cloying.

I didn't know how to describe it more precisely, but I found it surprisingly captivating.

Ichinose simply looked at me and smiled sweetly.

I'd never noticed that scent on her before, which made me a little curious.

Had Ichinose found someone she cared about, too? I wasn't particularly perceptive, but I could still sense certain obvious changes.

"Hajima-kun, how many people are in your Study Group now?"

"For the moment, it's just the usual three."

"I see... then would it be all right if Chihiro and I joined?"

Shiranami Chihiro, huh.

Ichinose cupped her face and gazed up at me.

I'd already gotten quite used to Ichinose, but every time I looked at her adorable face, I couldn't help being drawn in.

"Hmm..."

I thought it over, then decided to ask the other member of the group.

"Ryota, are you okay with that?"

Ryota, sitting across from me, finally looked up. He pushed his glasses up first, then looked at me.

When he noticed Ichinose was there too, he gave her a polite nod.

"I don't mind. You're welcome."

Ichinose smiled back at him.

With that, Hajime Kashima's Study Group was complete.

Five people seemed like a good number.

"By the way, Hajima-kun, I may have to lead the Study Group from time to time, so could I leave Chihiro in your care?"

"I will..."

"Then I'll head back to the Study Group."

I nodded to Ichinose and watched her leave.

A moment later, everything grew quiet again.

I was about to pick up my novel and continue reading, but something crossed my mind.

Karuizawa Kei...

Would she get expelled?

I didn't know exactly how good she was, but the midterm wasn't like the quizzes. The five subjects would each be tested separately.

In other words, failing even one subject would result in expulsion.

I picked up my phone and sent her a message.

"What are you doing?"

She quickly replied with a puzzled emoji.

"Do you know about the midterm?"

"I guess so."

Her rather flippant reply made me worry.

"What's Class D's average this time?"

"So you only contacted me to fish for information about Class D!"

Karuizawa paused for a moment, then sent me all the details.

"The average is 65. Seven students failed."

"What did you get?"

"..."

"Don't tell me you're one of the ones who failed."

"No way!!"

"I'm not that stupid!"

"Then what did you get?"

"You're so annoying... If I don't want to say, that means it wasn't that good."

"Anyway, it's good enough that I won't get expelled."

"Come see me tomorrow."

"Hey, tomorrow's Saturday!"

"Got plans?"

"Yeah."

"Then in the evening."

"Hey, are you even reading my messages properly?!"

She sent me several more emojis in a row, but I'd already turned off the screen.

I set the novel aside and picked up a pen, writing on a blank sheet of paper.