Classroom of the Mediocre Supremacist

"Why do you ask?"

Hoshino En set down the copy of Jane Eyre that Shiina Hiyori had recommended, lifting his head to look at her complicated expression.

"Because I've noticed that Hoshino-kun also likes reading, but unlike me, your main goal is to acquire knowledge. So wouldn't the books I recommend to you be a waste of your time?"

"Yet Hoshino-kun still indulges me, keeping me company as I read alone. So I thought..."

"You're overthinking it."

Hoshino En cut off Shiina Hiyori's self-deprecation.

"Sure, at first you came off as a bit troublesome—like meeting a much younger, clueless little girl who's a handful."

He reached out and patted her head. The texture matched the impression she gave him: soft and fluffy.

"But reading with you is my own choice. I have no plans to end this relationship right now, so you don't need to feel guilty about it."

"Besides, it's not like I haven't gained anything from it. You're welcome to keep troubling me!"

At his words, Shiina Hiyori's already misty eyes grew even more blurred.

"Hoshino-kun..."

She tilted her head up, looking at him with a face full of emotion.

Watching Shiina Hiyori, who looked so adorable she might melt, Hoshino En felt his own heart softening.

Damn, damn. Facing Shiina like this, it's even harder to say no to her.

Moreover, based on the [Shiina Hiyori Investigation Report] he'd gotten from Karuizawa Kei a few days ago, this girl wasn't like Kushida—someone who wore a mask to socialize. She usually spent her time in Class C reading alone, completely matching the image she showed now. So her current [airheadedness] likely had no drastically different face hiding behind it.

And now she was feeling guilty for causing him trouble—though he couldn't rule out the possibility that she was deliberately testing him with this. But if it was genuine, then she was a pure, good-natured kid with no ill intentions toward someone she recognized as a [friend].

It seemed he could keep maintaining this relationship...

"Ara~ What interesting things are you two chatting about?"

A third party intruded on their warm, two-person world!

A sadistic little girl leaning on a cane, accompanied by her masochistic subordinate, invaded this utterly peaceful, utterly quiet sanctuary.

"Yo, Sakayanagi. It's been 28 days and 5 hours since we last met. Did you have fun this past month?"

"To be precise, it's been 28 days, 4 hours, and 26 minutes. As for whether I had fun..."

Sakayanagi Arisu sat down across from Hoshino En with complete familiarity, casting a sharp glance at Shiina Hiyori, who was still dazed by her sudden appearance. She gritted her teeth uncharacteristically and spoke in frustration.

"Someone promised to play with me, but never once came to find me on their own. Do you think I had fun?"

She set her cane down within easy reach, as if ready to swing it at the slightest provocation.

As for Kamuro Masumi, who was carrying her bag... she had nowhere to sit and could only stand obediently behind Sakayanagi Arisu.

"Kamuro, long time no see too. Though I see you every day, this is the first time we've actually crossed paths since last time."

"Ah, yeah... Wait!"

Kamuro Masumi, about to respond to Hoshino En's greeting, froze as she processed his words.

"You see me every day? What does that mean?"

"What do you mean, what does it mean?"

Hoshino En widened his eyes as if he'd seen something unbelievable, staring back at the equally bewildered Kamuro Masumi.

"Haven't you been tailing me every day since April 3rd? And you kept at it persistently until yesterday..."

Seeing the disbelief on Kamuro Masumi's face, Hoshino En was momentarily speechless.

"Don't tell me you thought you'd been stalking me for a whole month without me noticing?"

"No wonder Sakayanagi didn't even give you a seat this time. You've gone stupid, Kamuro!"

Hoshino En's assessment didn't faze Kamuro Masumi much; what bothered her more was the fact that he'd known all along and completely ignored her.

"If you knew from the start, why didn't you just talk to me sooner?! Why ignore me?"

"Do you have any idea what I sacrificed for Sakayanagi's mission? I wake up earlier than the roosters and sleep later than the dogs. Especially you, you creep—getting up early every morning for morning exercise, dragging some girl to the gym at night, plus the Swimming Club's daily training in the afternoon. Your daily schedule is as regular as a machine's, and you haven't even slept in once... What the hell are you, some kind of Self-Disciplined Alien?!!!!!!"

Seemingly triggered by the truth Hoshino En had revealed, Kamuro Masumi didn't care about their surroundings anymore. Right in front of Sakayanagi Arisu, she vented all her grievances at him.

"And Sakayanagi, that freak, is just as twisted. She wants me to report your whereabouts every day, but she still expects me to serve her like some high-and-mighty lady? Do I have three heads and six arms? Or can I clone myself? She..."

"Stop, stop, Stop!!"

Before she could say something even more shocking, Hoshino En cut her off.

"Kamuro, calm down first. This is a library. We need quiet."

Though their spot was secluded, Kamuro Masumi's voice had been loud enough that some people were now looking their way.

"And about your complaints—isn't it possible that Sakayanagi meant for you to recruit underlings to gather intel on me, while you just take care of her every day?"

"She knows my situation, and she specifically had you show up in front of me to make your presence known. How could she possibly have you tail me—something bound to be discovered? She definitely meant for you to find someone I don't know to do the stalking!!"

Hoshino En's explanation hit Kamuro Masumi's thoughts like a heavy hammer.

She turned to look at Sakayanagi Arisu, still seated. The silver-haired girl was now glaring irritably at the boy across from her, who had already regained his composure, apparently sulking over his complete disregard for her.

But there was no trace of surprise on her face—meaning Hoshino En's [speculation] was correct.

"So... is my suffering and hardship my own fault?"

Kamuro Masumi looked at Hoshino En, her expression incredulous as she stared at him.

In response, Hoshino En nodded in agreement.

And then, her train of thought ground to a halt.

"Hoshino-kun, even though I was the one who greeted you first, why did you ignore me?"

With Kamuro Masumi's [exit], Sakayanagi Arisu finally found an opportunity to interject into the conversation.

"Could it be that, compared to my petite figure, Hoshino-kun prefers a medium build like Kamuro's?"

"But you said before that you liked small-statured girls you could hold in one arm..."

"Alright, alright, stop! It's my fault, please don't say any more."

Because of Kamuro Masumi's earlier complaints, some people in the library had already taken notice of them.

And now, thanks to Sakayanagi Arisu's unabashed accusations, they had completely set aside their own matters, fully focused on eavesdropping on the commotion.

Occasionally, murmurs of discussion drifted over.

"Whoa, so this is a love triangle bust?"

"No, no, it seems like the girl who came to bust the love triangle is also hooking up with the guy through her bestie."

"Qi?! Then that means... three women fighting over one man?! Super love battlefield plus!"

"Damn, being fought over by three girls—I'm so jealous of that guy!"

"He says, bind the betrayer to the stake; He says, light the flames of vengeance; He says, those who hoard happiness shall fall into the deepest eternal night..."

"..."

Everyone else was fine, but that last one... the hell, are you planning to commit a crime?

The [muttered] accusations from around him made Hoshino En decide he had to turn the tables. If he let Sakayanagi keep the upper hand in public opinion, he felt like one day he'd really get tied to a stake by a jealous mob.

So, he struck back.

"Sis, my dear sis, even though Father did tell me to look after you since you're unwell, we're not in the same class. The class assigned me to tutor the lagging students, so I can't just drop everything to take care of you right now!"

"Besides, I've already found you a devoted maid-san. What more do you want?"

"Being too controlling—careful, you might never find a husband!"

He [loudly] fired back at Sakayanagi Arisu's accusations.

Hearing his [explanation], the people around them instantly lost interest.

"Oh, so they're siblings. I thought it was a love battlefield. Boring."

"Probably the sister feels like her fun toy got taken away, so she's deliberately saying stuff like this to throw a tantrum."

"That guy's really pitiful—tied up with class duties and stuck with such a controlling sister... his three years of high school are doomed!"

"Huh? How do you know so much? Could it be..."

"Because I have a sister just like that. Lucky she didn't get into this school—I'm finally free!"

"..."

And hearing Hoshino En's response, the three girls sitting around him each had different reactions.

"So that's the kind of counter you'd make? Hoshino-kun, I underestimated you."

That was Sakayanagi Arisu's reply.

After the coffee shop incident, she thought he was helpless against this kind of thing, but it turned out he could do it when he wanted.

She also noticed that Hoshino En wasn't as indifferent to public opinion as she'd imagined.

Come on, someone was about to don a black robe and pull out a scythe—how could he not cave?

"When did I become Sakayanagi's maid?"

That was Kamuro Masumi, still not catching on, as she directly accused Hoshino En.

Come on, if you really were Sakayanagi's maid, you'd never have to worry about your future again!

Hoshino En thought to himself.

"Hoshino-kun, who are they?"

Completely unaware of the [conflict] just now—or perhaps aware but unconcerned, only wanting to know who these two intruders on their [reading] time were—was Shiina Hiyori.

This kid's reaction time is a bit long.

Burned out, no more drafts left. Saw today that the low click count has quite an impact, feeling a little regret... Ah well, as long as someone's reading.

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 37: Do You Think I'd Refuse You?

"I'm Hoshino-kun's girlfriend-san!"

Sakayanagi Arisu flashed a sweet smile at Shiina Hiyori.

That cloying expression—Hoshino En felt that if she were sitting next to him, she'd definitely reach right over and hug him.

It had only been a month since they last met; how had she gotten even better at this?

"Huh? Hoshino-kun, is... is that how it is?"

Shiina Hiyori glanced at Sakayanagi Arisu, who had spoken, then looked back at Hoshino En. Her big eyes flickered with doubt and bewilderment, along with a trace of self-blame and guilt.

Hey, was this kid actually blaming herself for getting in the way of their "lovey-dovey" moment?

"Don't listen to her nonsense... And Sakayanagi, how long ago was that? Is it even fun to drag it up now?"

"Aah~ Arisu has become an ex-girlfriend now."

Sakayanagi Arisu lowered her head, looking every bit like a pitiful girl suffering from a broken heart.

Hearing that, Shiina Hiyori dropped her head too, looking even more dejected, as if she'd realized she'd torn apart someone else's relationship and was now consumed by guilt.

This kid was way too naive!!

"Shiina, Sakayanagi is just joking. Don't take it seriously."

"I never dated her, and you didn't ruin anyone's feelings!"

Shiina Hiyori flinched at Hoshino En's suddenly agitated tone.

"Huh? R-really?"

"Yes. So don't overthink it."

Hoshino En rubbed Shiina Hiyori's head again, messing up her smooth silver hair and, at the same time, tangling up her wildly scattered thoughts.

"And as for Sakayanagi Arisu—this fake loli—don't believe a single word she says about relationships. She just likes messing with innocent girls like you and Kamuro."

After giving Shiina Hiyori that piece of advice, Hoshino En finally turned to face Sakayanagi Arisu across from him.

"Alright, Sakayanagi. You didn't come all this way just to mess with us, did you? Hurry up and hand over what you're supposed to."