An Opportunity

That evening, Kazama In returned to the dormitory and got straight to work. He took out his phone, found Takahashi Kengo's contact information, and called him.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hello? Kazama?" Takahashi Kengo sounded a little surprised, but friendly. The previous defeat and Kazama In's apology afterward had left him with a favorable impression of the exceptionally skilled and courteous underclassman from Class D.

"Good evening, Takahashi-senpai," Kazama In said in his usual calm voice. "Sorry for the trouble. There's something I wanted to ask you and the other upperclassmen in the Kendo Club."

"Oh? Go ahead," Takahashi replied readily.

"It's about the midterms. I've heard that the school's core material stays fairly consistent, and that past exams are useful study guides. Would you or any of the other club members happen to have last year's or the year before's first-year midterm papers? I'd like to use them for review." Kazama In got straight to the point.

There was a brief silence on the other end, then Takahashi let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! So that's what this is about! You came to the right person, Kazama! The Kendo Club might not have much else, but we know how to help each other out! Hang on, I'll ask the others!"

A few minutes later, Kazama In received several clear scans of the exam papers on his phone, covering all the major subjects: math, Japanese, English, social studies, and science. Takahashi also sent him a message:

[Kazama, I've sent them over. Everyone volunteered to share, so don't worry about it! Though... hehe, the guys in the club are all looking forward to sparring with you again! Drop by the dojo whenever you have time and give everyone a few pointers! (Grinning face)]

The terms were clear: the papers were free, but they hoped Kazama In would make time to visit the Kendo Club and serve as a sparring partner—or, more accurately, as a "punching bag" to help everyone gain experience.

Looking at the message, Kazama In's lips curved almost imperceptibly. It was a fair deal. If anything, the other side was getting the worse end of it.

[Thank you, Takahashi-senpai, and everyone else. I've received the papers, and I'm very grateful. As for sparring, I'll make time to stop by after the exams.] He replied without hesitation.

With the source of the exam papers secured, Kazama In immediately contacted Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

[Got the papers. Want to find Hirata after school tomorrow?] Kazama In's message was concise.

Ayanokoji's reply came soon after:

[You should go alone. I shouldn't appear at a "credit-sharing" moment like this. It would attract unnecessary attention and speculation, which would be inefficient. Hirata Yosuke is the right person to distribute them.]

As Kazama In read the reply, a glimmer of understanding passed through his dark eyes. As always, Ayanokoji had chosen to stay behind the scenes and avoid becoming the center of attention. It fit his usual approach of being a "background character." So be it. Kazama In would speak to Hirata himself.

The next afternoon, the moment the dismissal bell rang, the classroom erupted into noise. Karuizawa Kei immediately went over to Hirata Yosuke and looped her arm through his. In a slightly coquettish voice, she said, "Yosuke~ Let's hurry to the convenience store! I heard they've got a new pudding flavor today!"

Hirata Yosuke smiled gently and was about to agree when he saw Kazama In walking straight toward them.

"Hirata, could I talk to you for a moment? It's important." Kazama In's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that was hard to ignore.

Karuizawa Kei's lovely brows immediately furrowed, and she muttered in annoyance, "Him again... Why does he have to be so mysterious? Yosuke, we..."

"Kei, just give me a moment." Hirata Yosuke gently patted her hand to reassure her. "Kazama must have something important to discuss. I'll be right back." He nodded to Kazama In. "Let's talk outside."

Watching them walk away, Karuizawa Kei stamped her foot in frustration. There was nothing she could do, though, so she sat down and waited, fuming.

Kazama In and Hirata walked to a relatively secluded corner at the end of the hallway. Without wasting time, Kazama In took a thick, unmarked document envelope from his schoolbag and handed it to Hirata Yosuke.

"What is this?" Hirata asked, puzzled, as he took it. It was surprisingly heavy.

"First-year midterm exam papers from last year and the year before," Kazama In said quietly, making sure only the two of them could hear. "I got them through a few connections. They're authentic."

Hirata Yosuke's eyes widened, his face full of shock and disbelief. "Actual midterm papers?! Kazama, you... This is..." He was so excited he could barely get the words out. With Class D's points at zero and its students' motivation to study at rock bottom, these papers were a godsend.

"Calm down, Hirata." Kazama In's voice remained steady. "I'd like you to distribute these to everyone after school on the day before the midterms."

"Why not now?" Hirata Yosuke asked, confused.

"If we give them out now, everyone might get excited for a moment, then put them aside or just memorize the answers by rote." A cool light glimmered in Kazama In's dark eyes. "If we hand them out on the last day before the exam, the time pressure will force everyone to take them seriously and focus on understanding the knowledge behind the questions. That'll be more effective. It'll also minimize the chance of the papers leaking to other classes too early." He had thought it through carefully, aiming for maximum efficiency while also keeping the papers confidential.

After considering it, Hirata Yosuke immediately understood what Kazama In meant. He nodded emphatically, admiration in his eyes. "I understand! You've thought of everything, Kazama! This is... Thank you so much! This means so much to Class D!" He clutched the envelope tightly, as if he were holding the hope of Class D's comeback in his hands.

"It's only right to do what I can for the class," Kazama In replied flatly. "The papers are yours now. You decide how to use them. I'll leave you to it." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Hirata Yosuke standing there, gazing excitedly at the envelope in his hands as if it were a priceless treasure.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, the afternoon before the midterms had arrived. Class D's classroom was thick with a mix of anxiety and last-minute exam pressure.

Before dismissal, Hirata Yosuke stood at the front of the classroom and took a deep breath. His expression was more solemn than anyone had ever seen it, and he could barely contain his excitement.

"Everyone, could I have your attention for a moment? There's some very important material I'd like to hand out before the exam!"

Everyone's eyes instantly focused on him. Hirata Yosuke pulled out the thick document envelope.

"These are the first-year midterm exam papers from last year and the year before!"

"What?!"

"The actual papers?!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Where did you get those?!"

The classroom erupted in an instant! Shouts of shock, delight, and disbelief rose from every side. Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki, who had been slumped in their seats, jumped up as if they'd been hit with a shot of adrenaline. Ken Sudō's eyes widened, and Karuizawa Kei covered her mouth in surprise.

"Quiet! Let me finish!" Hirata Yosuke raised his voice to settle the commotion. "These precious materials were obtained for Class D through the efforts and connections of our classmate, Kazama In!"

All at once, every eye in the class turned toward Kazama In, as if a spotlight had swung onto him!

Kazama In remained as composed as ever, seemingly untouched by the commotion. He gave a slight nod in acknowledgment of everyone's attention. The strands of silver and dark red hair at his temple stood out against the sunlight coming through the window.

Horikita Suzune turned sharply toward Kazama In, shock and curiosity filling her cool, upturned eyes. Actual exam papers?! How had he gotten them? That couldn't have been easy! Her gaze then instinctively shifted to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, seated behind Kazama In. Ayanokoji wore his usual expressionless poker face, as if none of this had anything to do with him. But Horikita Suzune's instincts told her that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had played some part in this! Otherwise, Kazama In wouldn't have deliberately mentioned their plan the other day. Her sharp gaze lingered on Ayanokoji's unremarkable face for several seconds, searching for a flaw, but found nothing.

Efficient. Kazama In made full use of his connections. Hirata is a suitable person to distribute the papers. Horikita Suzune is right to be suspicious, but she has no proof. This is currently the best option.

"Thank you so much, Kazama!"

"You're amazing, Kazama!"

"We're saved!"

Waves of gratitude and praise immediately engulfed Kazama In. Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki were practically ready to rush over and hug him, but a calm glance from Kazama In stopped them.

Hirata Yosuke began handing out the exam papers. The students who received them treated them like treasures and immediately bent over to study. The classroom filled with the rustle of paper and quiet discussion, its atmosphere more positive than ever.

After school, just as Kazama In had packed up and was about to leave, three figures blocked his way—Ken Sudō, Kanji Ike, and Yamauchi Haruki!

All three wore unusually earnest, pleading expressions.

"Kazama!" Ken Sudō scratched the back of his head and spoke awkwardly. "So, uh... We looked at the papers, and there are still a lot of questions we don't really understand... The exam's tomorrow. Could you... give us some last-minute tutoring?"

"Yeah, Kazama! Please! We've got to cram a little, even at the last minute!" Kanji Ike begged, pressing his palms together.

"Kazama, you're our only hope!" Yamauchi Haruki looked up at him imploringly.

Kazama In looked at the three "underachievers," who had finally realized they were in trouble. His dark eyes held no particular emotion. He didn't answer right away, but instead asked, "When you got the papers, what was your first thought? To understand the knowledge behind the questions, or just to memorize the answers?"

The three of them were taken aback.

"Uh... Of course we want to memorize the answers! There's no time!" Kanji Ike blurted out.

"Yeah! If we can remember the answers, that's enough!" Yamauchi Haruki chimed in.

Kazama In shook his head slightly and tapped the exam papers on the desk with a finger. "Cramming—just memorizing answers and competing that way—isn't a cure-all. The exam questions can change, but the underlying concepts and ways of solving them are connected. If you only remember the answers, you'll still be lost when the questions are reworded. What you need is to understand the formulas and learn how to apply them to different questions."

He paused, glanced at the three of them, and finally looked toward Horikita Suzune, who was packing her bag across the classroom.

"And besides," Kazama In continued in a clear, even voice, "Horikita's explanations of the fundamentals are actually quite solid. Her approach before may have been a little too forceful, but her logic and structure are clear. She'd be more effective at helping you review the concepts behind these questions, especially how formulas are derived and applied."

At this, not only were Sudō and the others stunned, but Horikita Suzune, who had stopped what she was doing, also looked up at Kazama In in surprise.

Have Horikita Suzune tutor them?!

Ken Sudō's expression immediately soured, clearly reminding him of the unpleasant experience of having his tie grabbed before.

Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki exchanged uncertain glances, looking reluctant.

Kazama In seemed not to notice their expressions and continued, "What you need is real understanding, not last-minute spoon-feeding. Horikita can help you with that. As for what happened before..." He turned to Sudō. "Sudō, you were the one who got physical first. Horikita's words were harsh, but she was trying to make you understand. If you want to improve, whether on the court or in the exam hall, you have to face your weaknesses. And you need a 'strict teacher' who'll point them out."

His words highlighted Horikita Suzune's strengths, tactfully pointed out Sudō's problem, and gave them both a way to back down without losing face.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood to one side, silently watching. Pushing Horikita Suzune to tutor them? Two birds with one stone. It meets the immediate need for tutoring and maximizes efficiency—Horikita Suzune really is good at teaching the fundamentals—while also trying to mend the rift from the previous study session and encourage reconciliation within the class. Kazama In... He's starting to deliberately bring Class D's resources together. He's honoring his promise to Chabashira and Horikita Manabu, but his approach... focuses more on practical results and the long term.

Kazama In's words left Ken Sudō speechless. His face flushed, then paled. He looked at Kazama In's calm but uncompromising gaze, then at the expectant—or perhaps simply resigned—looks on Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki's faces. Finally, he glanced at Horikita Suzune, who wore a complicated expression and seemed about to say something before pressing her lips together. He let out a heavy sigh, as if he'd made up his mind, scratched his unruly red hair, and addressed Horikita Suzune in a gruff voice.

"Hey, Horikita! About last time... I was wrong! I shouldn't have gotten physical! So... uh... if you've got time... could you... could you teach us again?" The words came out haltingly and awkwardly, but it was an apology and a request all the same.

Horikita Suzune hadn't expected things to turn out this way at all. She looked at Kazama In, then at Sudō, who was apologizing awkwardly, and at Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki, who were watching her hopefully. Kazama In's words, and the way he was now urging her to tutor them, stirred up all kinds of feelings in her. Was he acknowledging her abilities? Or did he think she needed to "make up for" her previous failure? Either way, it was an opportunity to make peace and prove herself.

She took a deep breath and straightened her back. Her expression returned to its usual cool composure, though the sharpness in her eyes had softened a little. She picked up her notebook and the exam papers, then walked over to the three of them. Her voice was still cool, but she no longer sounded mocking.

"You want to learn? Then stop wasting time. We're going to the library. We'll start with the derivations of the most basic formulas. I'll explain each one once. If you don't understand, that's your problem." With that, she turned and headed for the door.

Her tone was still forceful, but this was already the greatest concession—and invitation—she could offer.

Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki followed as if they'd been given a new lease on life. Ken Sudō scratched his head, glanced at Kazama In, then grumbled and followed them.

Kazama In watched the four of them walk away, his dark eyes calm and still. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka came to stand beside him. They exchanged a glance, needing no words.

Beneath the library lights, tutoring began ahead of the midterms—a last-minute cram session set in motion by the exam papers, mixed with an awkward apology, a reluctant reconciliation, and a final push to prepare. Horikita Suzune's cool voice explained the formulas as Sudō fought his impatience and tried to understand. Ike and Yamauchi bent over their notes, memorizing as much as they could. Kazama In's seemingly casual nudge was like a stone dropped into still water. It sent new ripples quietly spreading across Class D.