The Stubborn Underachievers

The early morning sunlight carried the warmth of early summer as it streamed through the classroom windows and fell across the desks. Kazama In and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka entered the Class D classroom almost one after the other. Before they even reached their seats, a wave of complaints and oppressive gloom washed over them.

"Argh! Points! When are we finally getting our points?" Kanji Ike grabbed his head in frustration.

"Even the cheapest bread at the convenience store costs 50 points! At this rate, we'll have to drink tap water!" Yamauchi Haruki moaned, slumping over his desk.

"Tch, training takes a lot out of you. How are we supposed to manage without proper nutrition?" Ken Sudō pounded the desk in irritation, drawing sidelong glances from the students around him.

"Hirata-kun and the others said they'd try to think of something..." Sato Mari offered quietly, though she didn't sound very confident.

Karuizawa Kei folded her arms, looking impatient. "Think of something? Like what? Points aren't going to fall from the sky!" Her gaze swept over Kazama In as he entered, carrying a hint of complicated emotion, before she looked away again. The shock of those million points clearly hadn't worn off.

Kazama In and Ayanokoji had grown used to these everyday complaints. Expressionless, they walked to their respective seats. Kazama In sat in front of Horikita Suzune, while Ayanokoji sat behind him.

Just as Kazama In pulled out his chair to sit down, a cool, slightly stiff voice came from behind him:

"Kazama-kun, Ayanokoji-kun."

The two paused and turned around at the same time. Horikita Suzune sat upright in her seat, her hands on her knees, her posture so correct it could have come from a textbook. Her sharp, upturned eyes met theirs. Her fair face showed little expression, but her gaze held something... uncharacteristically proactive?

"Let's go to the cafeteria together at lunchtime," Horikita Suzune said. Her voice wasn't loud, but the two heard her clearly. "My treat."

A faint glimmer of understanding crossed Kazama In's dark eyes. On Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's impassive face, a thought flashed through his mind: An invitation and an offer to pay? That didn't fit Horikita Suzune's usual solitary habits or her stinginess with points—or what she considered stinginess. She had a reason.

The complaints in the classroom seemed to pause for a moment at the unexpected invitation. Ike, Yamauchi, and the others looked on in surprise and envy. Someone's treating them? And it's Horikita Suzune?

Kazama In looked at Horikita Suzune. She tried to keep her gaze calm, but her slightly tensed jaw and somewhat hurried breathing gave away how unfamiliar she was with taking the initiative—and how nervous she felt. The corner of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, then settled back into its usual calm expression. "Sure. Thanks, Horikita."

Ayanokoji nodded too, brief and to the point. "Yeah."

When the lunch bell rang, the three of them headed to the cafeteria together. The atmosphere was a little quiet along the way. Horikita Suzune walked ahead, her steps somewhat stiff, while Kazama In and Ayanokoji followed side by side.

The cafeteria was bustling. The aroma of food mingled with the din, filling the room with life. Horikita Suzune had clearly planned ahead; she headed straight for a set-meal counter with relatively few people.

"I'll have an A set, please," Horikita Suzune told the woman at the counter. It was the most basic set, usually consisting of rice, miso soup, a small main dish—often fried chicken or a hamburger steak—and a small serving of pickles. It was also the cheapest.

Then she turned to Kazama In and Ayanokoji. "What do you want? Order whatever you like." She tried to sound composed, but her fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of her uniform skirt. Treating them was clearly a considerable burden for her.

Kazama In scanned the menu, stopping at the moderately priced C set, which included tonkatsu, rice, soup, salad, and a small dessert. "The C set, please." His choice wouldn't make Horikita spend too much, while still allowing her to maintain a basic level of courtesy.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked over the menu, then pointed to the C set as well. "The same."

Horikita Suzune visibly relaxed and quickly paid with her points. The three of them carried their trays to an empty table in the corner and sat down.

After they sat, neither Kazama In nor Ayanokoji immediately picked up their chopsticks. Kazama In put his hands together in front of his tray and bowed slightly. The gesture was smooth and natural, with the ingrained, elegant manners of someone from a distinguished family. "Let's eat. Thank you for the meal, Horikita."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka followed his example, imitating Kazama In's gesture. It was a little stiff, but still correct. "Let's eat. Thanks."

Watching them, Horikita Suzune paused, as if only then remembering dining etiquette. She hurriedly put her hands together too and said, a little flustered, "L-let's eat." A faint blush rose on her fair cheeks. She was clearly a little uncomfortable with this "formal" pre-meal exchange.

Kazama In picked up his chopsticks and daintily lifted a piece of tonkatsu. Rather than immediately asking Horikita what she wanted, he spoke first, his tone carrying just the right amount of gentle apology. "I'm sorry you had to spend so much, Horikita. The C set isn't cheap. Thank you for the meal." He acknowledged what she had paid and expressed his gratitude.

Ayanokoji quietly nodded in agreement, eating in small bites as he observed them.

Horikita Suzune poked at the lonely piece of fried chicken on her tray with her chopsticks, her head bowed. Her voice was a little lower than usual. "...It's nothing. Just... a thank-you for helping me." She finally got to the point. "About the study sessions for the midterms."

Kazama In and Ayanokoji didn't answer. They simply listened in silence, waiting for her to continue.

Horikita Suzune raised her head, her expression growing serious again. "Hirata-kun and Yukimura-kun came up with a plan to gather the students with lower grades for tutoring, to make sure no one in the class fails and drags everyone else down. It's one effective way to raise our Class Points." She paused, her brow furrowing. Her voice carried clear frustration and a hint of barely noticeable impatience. "But the three most important people—Sudō-kun, Ike-kun, and Yamauchi-kun—have all refused to join."

She looked at Kazama In and Ayanokoji, her gaze suggesting she wanted them on her side. "I might not be able to convince them by myself. Since you agree that raising our Class Points is important, and..." She hesitated, as if choosing her words. "And you both showed that you were willing to help earlier—by accepting my invitation to lunch. Could you come with me to persuade them? We can split up after classes this afternoon."

Kazama In set down his chopsticks and calmly dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "I understand." His dark eyes met Horikita Suzune's, and he didn't waste words. "I'll talk to Sudō." Sudō's personality was relatively straightforward, and Kazama In thought he could get through to him more easily.

Ayanokoji nodded as well. "I'll talk to Ike and Yamauchi." He might have his own way of dealing with those two, who were relatively "simple-minded."

Horikita Suzune's tense shoulders relaxed noticeably, and a look of relief crossed her face. "Thank you."

After classes ended that afternoon, the three of them split up as planned.

Kazama In found Ken Sudō practicing shots alone on the basketball court outside the gym. Sweat soaked his practice jersey, and every shot carried the force of an angry outburst.

"Sudō." Kazama In's voice rang out across the empty court.

Sudō paused, turned around with the ball in his arms, and looked surprised to see Kazama In. Then his expression grew awkward, as if he'd remembered the embarrassing locker-room incident. "Kazama? What is it?"

"About the study sessions." Kazama In got straight to the point. "The midterms are coming up. If you fail, the class will lose points, which is bad for everyone. Hirata and the others' study sessions are an effective way to improve your grades and avoid dragging the class down. Why won't you go?"

Ken Sudō irritably scratched his head. "Tch! Studying? It's so boring! I'd rather use that time to practice a few more sets of shots! Anyway, I'll just wing the exams! What do I care about Class Points?" His tone was harsh, showing the kind of aversion to studying common among athletes, along with a blind confidence in his own ability—or perhaps an attempt to avoid facing the truth.

Kazama In didn't argue. He simply watched him calmly, his dark eyes seeming to see right through him. "Just wing it? Based on your last quiz, you might not even reach the passing grade. If they take all your personal points, or you even risk expulsion, will you still be able to shoot here without a care in the world?" He pointed out the most immediate consequences. His tone was calm, but his words carried weight.

Ken Sudō's expression changed, and he tightened his grip on the basketball. Kazama In had hit a sore spot. Sudō knew perfectly well how bad his grades were; he just didn't want to face it. Expulsion... The word made him feel genuine fear. He opened his mouth as if to argue, but when he saw Kazama In's calm eyes, as though he could see right through everything, his confidence faltered. A trace of hesitation flashed in his gaze. He bounced the ball irritably a few times and lowered his voice. "...You're so annoying! I get it! Let me... think about it!"

Meanwhile, on the way to the dormitory, Ayanokoji intercepted Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki, who were walking with their arms around each other, planning to try their luck at the arcade.

"Study sessions? No way!" Kanji Ike shook his head like a rattle. "I'd rather use that time to get a part-time job and earn points to buy food!"

"Exactly! How can we study on an empty stomach?" Yamauchi Haruki chimed in, though his eyes kept drifting toward the convenience store.

Ayanokoji tried to persuade them by explaining that everyone would benefit if the class gained more Class Points. He even offered to help them find easier ways to study, but neither of them listened. Their minds were entirely occupied with the "hunger" in front of them and earning points immediately. They didn't care about future risks or the class's interests. Ayanokoji's words went in one ear and out the other. The two of them laughed and brushed him off before eagerly heading toward the arcade.

The setting sun bathed the campus in warm gold. Kazama In and Ayanokoji met at the agreed-upon spot.

"How'd it go?" Kazama In asked.

"Failed." Ayanokoji kept it brief. "Ike and Yamauchi only care about the food and points right in front of them. They wouldn't listen to anything about studying or the future."

"Sudō... seemed a little hesitant, but he hasn't agreed yet." Kazama In looked toward the gym. The sound of a basketball bouncing could still be heard faintly.

Horikita Suzune came over too. Her tightly pressed lips and defeated gaze showed that her own attempt to persuade them alone—perhaps she had approached someone else, maybe some handsome guy—had also gone nowhere. The problem wasn't their grades, but their attitude.

"They all refused..." Horikita Suzune's voice carried a trace of exhaustion and helplessness. Looking at the two "helpers" who had also come back empty-handed, she felt for the first time how much harder it was to change a group of "rotten timbers" than she had imagined. "Is there really nothing we can do?"

Kazama In's expression stayed calm. "There's always a way. It just takes time and the right opportunity. Forcing it won't help." He wasn't in a hurry. Class D's problems couldn't be solved overnight.

Ayanokoji remained silent too, as though he were thinking about something.

The three of them walked toward the dormitory area together in silence. The setting sun stretched their shadows, and the atmosphere was a little heavy. Kazama In decided to break the silence. He looked at Ayanokoji and asked:

"Ayanokoji, that book I lent you last time... have you finished it?" His tone carried a hint of anticipation. "Did you learn anything about how to communicate with people and build friendships?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't break stride. His face remained the same poker face it always was. He was silent for a few seconds, seemingly recalling the book's contents, then answered in a flat voice:

"I finished it."

"I learned something."

"But I haven't put it into practice."

What a perfunctory answer, Kazama In thought to himself.

Horikita Suzune: "..." She looked at Ayanokoji's expressionless face and vacant gaze, then at Kazama In. Remembering that the book had been a romance novel set at a school, she was speechless.

Before long, the dormitory building came into view. The stairs leading to the different floors were just ahead.

"See you tomorrow, then." Kazama In stopped and gave them both a slight nod.

"Yeah." Ayanokoji nodded.

"See you tomorrow." Horikita Suzune still sounded a little glum. Clearly, she hadn't gotten over Ayanokoji's "model answer."

The three of them went their separate ways. Kazama In headed for the upper floor where his room was.

Back in his quiet single room, Kazama In took off his jacket and casually tossed it over the back of a chair. He walked to his desk and picked up his modified phone out of habit.

The screen lit up, its dim glow illuminating his composed profile and the differently colored strands of hair at his temple.

A new friend request notification was displayed prominently on the screen.

The applicant's ID was brief and carried an unquestionable authority:

[Horikita Manabu]

The request message consisted of just two short words:

[Let's talk.]