"Manabu"

The atmosphere in Study Room A of the library after school was far less harmonious than expected. Books lay open, notes were scattered everywhere, and the air was thick with a mixture of sweat, anxiety, and barely veiled hostility.

Horikita Suzune was explaining a basic system of linear equations to Ken Sudō. Her voice was cool and her explanations methodical, but the unconsciously superior edge and hint of impatience in her tone were like sparks landing in a pile of dry straw.

"...So, rearrange the first equation and substitute it into the second to eliminate Y. That gives you a linear equation in X. How many times do you need to hear something this basic before you understand it?" Horikita Suzune frowned deeply, jabbing at the problem with her fingertip. Her voice carried unmistakable impatience.

"Huh?! Basic?!" Sudō was already frustrated because he couldn't make any headway with the problem, and Horikita Suzune's undisguised "idiot" look and cutting words instantly ignited his anger! He slammed a fist down on the table!

"Bang!"

The loud crash was especially jarring in the quiet study room, making Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki jump. Kushida Kikyo covered her mouth.

"You! Don't look down on me, you woman!!" Like an enraged bull, Sudō sprang to his feet. His massive frame loomed over Horikita Suzune as he grabbed her tie and jerked her off balance, nearly lifting her out of her seat! His eyes bulged as he roared, "Who do you think you are?! Giving me that look! Just you wait—"

"Sudō-kun! Stop it!" Kushida Kikyo cried, her face pale with shock. She rushed forward to try to pry Sudō's hand away, her voice on the verge of tears. "You can't do that! Let go of Horikita-san!"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat farther away, watching the sudden clash without expression as he calmly assessed how events might unfold and when he might need to intervene. The corner of his eye turned toward Kazama In, seated on the other side of the room.

Kazama In had been looking down at a thick, hardbound book, seemingly deaf to the argument around him. The moment Sudō grabbed Horikita's tie, he closed the book with a soft thump. He didn't hurry forward to pull them apart like Kushida. He simply rose to his feet.

"Sudō." Kazama In's voice was quiet, yet it carried an unusual clarity and soothing gentleness that instantly drowned out Sudō's roar and Kushida's protests. Like a stream of icy spring water, it made Sudō pause despite his fury, and his grip on the tie loosened slightly.

Kazama In walked over to Sudō. His gaze settled calmly on Sudō's rage-twisted face, then turned to Horikita Suzune, whose face had gone pale from the pressure but who stubbornly pressed her lips together rather than show weakness. His eyes finally rested on the system-of-equations problem on the table that had driven Sudō to distraction.

"Anger won't solve the problem. Violence will only drain all your points, and might even get you expelled." Kazama In's voice remained steady, but carried undeniable weight. "Think about basketball."

"Basketball?" Sudō was taken aback. He didn't understand why Kazama In had suddenly brought it up.

"Right, basketball." Kazama In picked up the pen from the table and drew a simple basketball court in the blank space beside the problem. "Imagine you're the point guard. Two opponents are double-teaming you"—he pointed to the two unknowns, X and Y—"and you try to force your way through"—solve it head-on—"you might get the ball stolen"—get the answer wrong. What do you need to do then?"

Kazama In had led Sudō into a subject he knew well, and his anger was temporarily sidetracked. He answered without thinking. "...Pass? To a teammate who's open?"

"Exactly." Kazama In nodded, tapping the first equation with the tip of his pen. "This equation is like your teammate A. It gives you a piece of information: there's a relationship between X and Y—for example, Y = 2X + 1. Now you 'pass' the ball—that relationship—to another teammate: the second equation." The tip of his pen moved to the second equation. "When teammate B gets the ball—when you substitute in the information—there's only one defender left in front of him—only one unknown, X. Isn't it easier to get past him—to solve the equation?"

Kazama In had used basketball tactics to give a perfect analogy for solving a system of equations through substitution and elimination! It was vivid, lively, and perfectly suited to the way Sudō thought!

Sudō's eyes widened. He looked at the "playbook" Kazama In had drawn on the paper, then back at the problem that had looked like gibberish to him. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck his mind!

"S-so that's how it works!" Sudō let go of Horikita's tie and slapped his own forehead, suddenly understanding. "You take what the first guy tells you and pass it to the second guy! Then the second guy can take out the target directly! I get it! Kazama, that analogy was amazing!"

Excitedly, he picked up his pen and followed Kazama In's "play" to solve the problem. His handwriting was heavy, but his steps were clear, and he soon arrived at the correct answer!

"Haha! I got it! It was that easy!" Sudō laughed triumphantly. His earlier anger had vanished without a trace, and he looked at Kazama In with admiration.

Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki watched in amazement. Then, with Kazama In and Ayanokoji—who was tutoring the two of them—using similar everyday analogies, such as Ike's video game coins and Yamauchi's convenience-store change, they gradually caught on and understood the basic problems that had been stumping them for ages.

"Kazama-kun, Ayanokoji-kun, you're amazing!"

"Yeah, yeah! You explain things much better than some people!" The two praised them sincerely, not forgetting to glance at Horikita Suzune, whose face had turned ashen.

Thanks to Kazama In's clever "basketball philosophy," the conflict dissolved without a trace, and the study session unexpectedly proved effective as well. The three boys had solved their problems and were in high spirits, so they soon packed up and left.

However, the study room did not return to peace.

"Horikita-san!" Kushida Kikyo turned to Horikita Suzune. Her sweet smile was gone, replaced by a stern, displeased expression. "Your attitude just now was awful! How could you speak to Sudō-kun like that? Struggling students need more patience and different approaches! That kind of attitude only makes things worse! If Kazama-kun hadn't stepped in just in time..."

"Whether my method works or not isn't for you to judge!" Horikita Suzune cut her off coldly as she straightened her disheveled tie. Her expression remained grim. "I was merely stating the facts. If they can't understand something this basic, that's their problem! Wasting time on pointless patience is inefficient!" She clung to her cold, results-driven logic and scoffed at Kushida's indiscriminate friendliness in tutoring.

The fundamental clash in their values flared up once more, and the atmosphere turned tense. Neither Kazama In nor Ayanokoji intervened. They simply watched in silence.

That night, Kazama In received a message from Horikita Manabu, asking him to meet in a relatively quiet corridor connecting the main building and the special building.

The moonlight was cold as it spilled across the polished marble floor. Horikita Manabu stood with the light behind him, his figure as straight as a spear. Tachibana Akane stood quietly half a step behind him.

"Kazama." Horikita Manabu spoke in the silence and handed him a neatly bound document. "This is the formal appointment letter for the student council vice president. Sign your name, and starting tomorrow, you'll be the vice president of the Advanced Nurturing High School Student Council."

Kazama In accepted the document and quickly scanned it in the moonlight, confirming that everything was in order. Then he took a sleek yet well-crafted fountain pen from his pen case and smoothly signed his name in the signature field: Kazama In. His strokes were forceful and confident, with a restrained sharpness.

"Welcome to the Student Council, Vice President Kazama." Horikita Manabu took the signed document and handed it to Tachibana Akane for safekeeping. His gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses held both scrutiny and expectation. "I hope you'll familiarize yourself with your duties as soon as possible. As for Miyabi Nagumo..."

Before he could finish, hesitant footsteps sounded from around the corner at the other end of the corridor.

Horikita Suzune appeared in the moonlight. She seemed to have been passing by, but when she saw the three people in the corridor—especially her older brother, Horikita Manabu—she stopped short. A flash of alarm and nervousness crossed her face.

"B-Brother." Horikita Suzune's voice was barely audible, nothing like the cool tone she used with her classmates. She sounded more like a child who had done something wrong. She bowed slightly, then looked toward Kazama In and Tachibana Akane, her voice even quieter. "Kazama-kun... Secretary Tachibana."

When Horikita Manabu saw his younger sister, his brow immediately furrowed. His gaze turned extremely stern, even tinged with annoyance. "What are you doing here?" His voice was icy and utterly devoid of warmth.

"I... I was just passing by..." Horikita Suzune lowered her head, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt.

"If you have nothing to say, go back to your dorm!" Horikita Manabu ordered bluntly, his impatience unmistakable.

Horikita Suzune flinched and bit her lower lip, seeming to struggle with herself. She raised her head and worked up the courage to look at Horikita Manabu. "Brother... about Class D's study group..."

"That's enough!" Horikita Manabu cut her off sharply. His voice rang especially harshly through the silent corridor. "How many times have I told you not to bother me with your childish ideas and pointless concerns? What happens to Class D has nothing to do with you! It has nothing to do with me, either!" He took a step forward, and the pressure he radiated made Horikita Suzune retreat involuntarily.

"But... I want to..." Horikita Suzune tried to explain.

"You want to? What is it you want?" Horikita Manabu's voice rose sharply, edged with almost cruel mockery. "Who do you think you are? With your pitiful grades and your inability to get along with anyone even in Class D, what do you think you can change? Face reality, Suzune! You'll only drag others down, including yourself! Stay away from me! Seeing you reminds me of Father's sickening weakness!"

His words were like poisoned daggers, stabbing Horikita Suzune straight through the heart. Her face turned as white as paper, and her body swayed unsteadily. Her eyes brimmed with tears of wounded disbelief and humiliation.

Just as Horikita Manabu, overcome by "anger"—or rather, his intense disappointment in his sister for "not living up to expectations"—raised his hand, seeming about to do something even more extreme—

Kazama In's dark eyes suddenly narrowed! He hadn't intended to interfere in the Horikita family's "private affairs," but Horikita Manabu's state and actions had already crossed the line of "discipline" and shown clear signs of "violent tendencies." Even so, Kazama In had no intention of stepping in, because he could tell Horikita Manabu was putting on an act, and someone else had already moved.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had been concealed in the shadows at the other end of the corridor, appeared soundlessly like a ghost and precisely caught Horikita Manabu's arm just before it came down!

"!" Horikita Manabu started and turned sharply. Seeing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's expressionless face, a flicker of something crossed his eyes. "Suzune, I didn't expect you to make a friend."

Ayanokoji didn't let go. His grip was astonishingly strong as he held Horikita Manabu's wrist in place. Looks like this is a family matter. He calmly assessed the situation. Kazama In seems inclined to intervene, but he's closer. Stopping this is the best course of action.

"President Horikita, please calm down." Ayanokoji's voice was completely level, as though he were stating a fact. "We're at school."

"And who are you to—?" Horikita Manabu glared coldly at Ayanokoji.

Kazama In stopped where he was and watched the sudden physical confrontation from the side. He saw the inhuman calm in Ayanokoji's eyes and his extraordinary control over his strength. This "ordinary" classmate was indeed hiding a lot.

Tachibana Akane was startled as well and hurried forward. "President! Please calm down! Ayanokoji-kun, let go!"

Of course, Tachibana Akane knew Horikita Manabu wasn't really like that.

After a brief standoff, Horikita Manabu seemed to realize that he had lost control. He glared at Ayanokoji, then glanced at Kazama In, whose expression was cold. Finally, he wrenched his arm away from Ayanokoji—or rather, Ayanokoji loosened his grip at the right moment.

Horikita Manabu straightened his rumpled cuff. His gaze cut toward Horikita Suzune, whose face was pale and whose body was trembling. His voice was cold as ice, though there was still a trace of tenderness in it. "Remember what I said, Suzune. You need to face who you are." With that, he looked at no one else. He turned and strode away, his presence weighed down by a dark mood. Tachibana Akane cast a worried glance at Horikita Suzune, then at Kazama In and Ayanokoji, before hurrying after him.

(Of course, later on, Horikita Manabu would explain to Tachibana Akane why he had acted so impulsively. It had been an act. He wanted Suzune to understand that imitating him wasn't a good thing; he wanted her to be herself instead. That was what every older brother hoped for his younger sister.)

Only Kazama In, Ayanokoji, and Horikita Suzune remained in the corridor. She stood motionless, as if her soul had been emptied out of her. Moonlight fell on her pale face, and her tear streaks were clearly visible.

Kazama In walked over to the vending machine, inserted a coin, and bought three cans of warm milk tea. He came back and handed one to Ayanokoji, who remained expressionless, then gently set another on the corridor bench beside Horikita Suzune.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't stop your brother in time." Kazama In's voice was low, with a hint of apology that was difficult to detect. He meant that he'd been a step slower than Ayanokoji.

Horikita Suzune didn't reach for the milk tea. She just stared blankly at the floor, her voice hoarse and hollow. "...It's not your fault. I'm just... useless." The overwhelming blow had plunged her into deep self-doubt.

Ayanokoji silently popped open the milk tea tab and took a sip without saying anything. Emotional breakdown. Comfort won't help. She needs time to process this on her own. That was his assessment.

Kazama In opened his own milk tea and took a sip. The warm liquid brought a hint of comfort. After a moment of silence, he looked at Horikita Suzune's thin, trembling shoulders in the moonlight and spoke slowly. "Horikita-san, your brother's methods may be extreme. But he wasn't wrong about one thing."

Horikita Suzune jerked her head up. Her reddened eyes stared at Kazama In in disbelief, hurt and confusion in her expression.

"Facing reality is important." Kazama In's gaze was calm and deep. "The state of Class D and your own circumstances are both part of reality. Denying them or burying your head in the sand will only leave you crashing headfirst into reality. What really matters isn't getting lost in anger or self-pity over 'why things are this way,' but asking yourself, 'Now that I've faced reality, what can I do?'"

His words offered no comfort and even seemed a little cold, yet they were like a basin of ice water, clearing Horikita Suzune's confused, burning mind somewhat. She stared at Kazama In, then glanced at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was quietly drinking his milk tea, as though none of this had anything to do with him, yet had stepped in at the most crucial moment.

"...Thank you, both of you." Horikita Suzune's voice was still hoarse, but a complicated light had appeared in her eyes: pain and uncertainty, yet also a faint glimmer of understanding. She picked up the can of milk tea from the bench, feeling its warmth through the metal. "I... want to be alone for a while."

Kazama In nodded. "All right."

Ayanokoji also murmured, "All right."

The two said nothing more. They turned and headed toward the dormitories, leaving the space to Horikita Suzune, who needed to tend to her wounds alone.

Moonlight flowed over the silent corridor. Horikita Suzune clutched the warm can of milk tea and leaned against a cold pillar, looking in the direction her brother had gone before lowering her gaze to the can in her hands. Kazama In's cold, realistic words and Ayanokoji's utterly calm figure, imbued with such strength, circled repeatedly through her chaotic thoughts.

This academy, where ability reigned supreme, was far more complicated and cruel than she had imagined. And on this path, she seemed... not to be as alone as she'd thought. Still, how should she continue forward? Looking at her blurred reflection in the moonlight, she found herself, for the first time, deeply pondering her own future.