The rules of the first Special Exam hung over everyone like a sword: a score of at least half the average in each subject was required to pass, and anyone who failed would be expelled immediately. There was no room for negotiation. The ironclad rule sent the entire first year into a frenzy of studying. The campus grew quieter, with fewer students joking and fooling around and more bent over their books. The library was packed from morning to night, and even the classrooms stayed lit late into the evening.
Class B remained a calm corner amid the storm.
Honami Ichinose devoted nearly all her free time to group study sessions. Following the academic ability chart Kanzaki Ryuji had put together, she divided the class into groups that paired stronger students with weaker ones. Those who struggled with math were matched with students who excelled at it, while those who had trouble memorizing English studied with students who were good at memorization. Every day after school, the class held two hours of group study.
The daily review schedule, lists of subjects students struggled with, and summaries of commonly missed concepts were all neatly organized and posted at the back of the classroom for everyone to see. They reserved library seats in advance and prepared plenty of scrap paper and pens. Class B moved forward together as a whole.
Yoshikage Kira continued to sit in the last row by the window, keeping to his usual low profile.
He never joined any of the groups on his own. He simply sat quietly at his desk, organizing his notes, working through practice problems, and reviewing key concepts. His study schedule was as precise as a clock: when to work on math, when to memorize English vocabulary, when to take a break. Not a second was wasted.
Now and then, a student stumped by a difficult problem would hesitate to ask Kanzaki and feel too embarrassed to bother Ichinose, then cautiously make their way over to Kira's desk.
"Classmate Kira... I don't really understand this math problem."
Kira never refused, nor did he say much. He took the problem, glanced at it, and explained the solution in the clearest, most logical terms. He skipped any unnecessary preamble, saying just enough for the student to understand.
"Focus on the key conditions, eliminate the distractions, and calculate step by step."
His voice was steady and emotionless, as though he were stating the most ordinary fact in the world.
After the grateful student left, he lowered his head and resumed his routine, as if the help he had just given were no more than an insignificant part of the day's order.
Honami Ichinose had watched him several times, and each time she learned a little more about him.
Though this boy clearly had impressive comprehension and analytical skills, he always made a point of staying behind the crowd. He never sought the spotlight or took on responsibility, as if all he wanted was to remain quietly in a corner, unnoticed by anyone.
She walked over to Kira's desk, her voice soft. "Classmate Kira, thank you for always helping everyone. If there are any subjects you struggle with, you can tell me. I'd be happy to study with you."
Kira looked up and met her gaze calmly, giving a slight nod. "There's no need. I don't struggle with any subjects. I only need to keep up. There's nothing to worry about."
Ichinose paused, then gave him a gentle smile. "I see... Well, if there's ever anything I can help with, just let me know."
"Mm." Kira gave a quiet reply, lowered his head again, and ended the conversation.
He wasn't cold. He simply didn't want to form unnecessary ties. Ichinose's kindness and the stability of the class were both part of his ideal environment. He enjoyed that environment, but he didn't want to invest himself emotionally or disrupt the order he had so carefully maintained.
At the same time, the rift within Class A had become impossible to ignore.
The elitist faction, led by Sakayanagi Arisu and Masumi Kamuro, still believed in survival of the fittest. They spoke only with students at the top academically and refused to waste time tutoring the weaker ones. Every day, they studied efficiently at their own pace, their gazes cold and their goal clear: everyone had to pass, and no one was allowed to hold them back.
Meanwhile, the unity faction, led by Katsuragi Kohei, organized large-scale tutoring sessions on the other side of the classroom. With his tall, sturdy build and imposing presence, Katsuragi gathered the students who were below average academically and personally taught them, refusing to give up on anyone even when he was sweating profusely.
"Listen up! No one is getting expelled because of this exam! We're Class A, and we're staying Class A together!"
His voice was loud and forceful, admitting no argument, yet somehow it reassured them.
There was almost no communication between the two factions, as if an invisible wall separated them. Sakayanagi Arisu sat in her seat with her cane, quietly watching it all. A faint smile lingered on her pale face, as if she were watching an amusing play.
Masumi Kamuro asked in a low voice, "Classmate Sakayanagi, should I stop him? If this keeps up, it'll slow down Class A's review."
"No need." Sakayanagi gave a slight shake of her head, her voice gentle. "Let him try. The rules of Advanced Nurturing High School will help him make the right choice. If unity can help everyone pass, I don't mind changing my strategy. But if it can't..."
She paused, a cold, playful glint in her eyes. "Then he'll understand that the weak are always abandoned in the end."
Her gaze happened to drift past the floors toward Class B.
Yoshikage Kira... What was that boy, always so calm and unruffled, doing now?
Was he studying with the people in Class B, or was he still watching from the sidelines alone?
Sakayanagi smiled softly.
She was growing more and more eager to see what this boy, who wanted nothing more than a peaceful life, would choose in an exam that could determine who stayed and who was expelled.
During the three days of review week, Yoshikage Kira followed his usual routine, yet unexpectedly crossed paths with students from other classes three times.
The first time was in the library.
Kira was working through practice problems at a seat by the window when someone suddenly sat down across from him. He looked up and met a pair of gentle eyes, almost too perfect to be real—Kikyo Kushida.
Kushida immediately put on a sweet smile and bowed slightly. "Sorry, all the other seats are taken. I hope I'm not bothering you, Classmate Kira."
"It's fine." Kira replied calmly, lowered his head again, and said nothing more.
Kikyo Kushida quietly opened her book and appeared to study, but she kept sneaking glances at Kira from the corner of her eye. She noticed that his notes were so neat they were almost rigid, every character and every line precisely aligned. He worked through problems quickly and showed no sign of frustration or anxiety. He was far too calm for a high school student at risk of expulsion.
This boy was a lot like Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, but also completely different.
Ayanokoji was a blank slate, while Kira was deliberately maintaining an even keel.
Kushida quietly filed that observation away. Her smile remained perfect, and she neither disturbed him nor tried to strike up a conversation.
They sat in silence for half an hour. Only when Kushida stood to leave and murmured, "Sorry for bothering you," did Kira give a slight nod in reply.
The second time was in the hallway.
Kira was on his way to the shop to buy some necessary stationery when he ran into Ryuen Kakeru, who was striding toward him with an intimidating air. Several lackeys followed behind Ryuen, their eyes fierce and their presence oppressive. Students in the hallway instinctively moved aside.
Ryuen's gaze swept over Kira, lingering for a moment on his unruffled face.
Yoshikage Kira from Class B... He'd heard the guy had kept an unusually low profile ever since he enrolled.
Ryuen curled his lips in a mocking smile and deliberately blocked Kira's way. "Hey, Class B. Nobody in your class is going to get expelled in this exam, right?"
Kira raised his eyes and looked calmly at Ryuen. There was no fear or anger in his expression, not even the slightest ripple. "That has nothing to do with you."
Ryuen paused, then burst into laughter. "Interesting. Let's see if you're still this calm after the exam."
With that, he stepped aside and left with his lackeys.
Kira didn't stop. He continued along his planned route to the shop, as if the provocation had been no more than an insignificant gust of wind.
The third time was in the convenience store that evening.
Kira was buying breakfast for the next day. When he reached the drinks section, he saw Sakayanagi Arisu, leaning on her cane.
Masumi Kamuro wasn't with her. Sakayanagi stood alone by the shelves, quietly choosing a mild drink. Her face was still pale and her breathing light, yet she had a presence no one could ignore.
Feeling Kira's gaze, Sakayanagi slowly turned and met his eyes, offering a gentle smile. "Good evening, Classmate Kira."
It was the first time the two of them had formally greeted each other.
Kira gave a slight nod and replied evenly, "Good evening."
There was no further small talk.
Sakayanagi spoke softly, as if making casual conversation. "You don't seem nervous at all, Classmate Kira. People will be expelled in this exam, you know."
"I won't fail," Kira replied calmly, with certainty.
It wasn't confidence. It was a cool assessment.
The smile in Sakayanagi's eyes deepened. "Oh? You're that sure? Class B's passing threshold is quite high. What if someone else drags you down?"
"No one in Class B will fail," Kira replied, still calm. "Unity is more effective than individual ability in an exam like this."
Sakayanagi gave a soft laugh. "Well said. Unfortunately, Advanced Nurturing High School has no shortage of betrayal and people dragging others down."
She paused and looked straight at Kira, her gaze probing. "Classmate Kira, you've been deliberately hiding yourself all this time. What are you really afraid of? Being noticed, or... disrupting your peace?"
Kira's fingers paused for the slightest moment.
This silver-haired girl saw too much.
He didn't answer. He simply picked up a carton of milk from the shelf, turned, and walked to the register, leaving behind a calm silhouette.
Sakayanagi watched him leave, the smile on her pale face unchanged.
"Yoshikage Kira... The more you try to hide, the more I want to see what lies beneath that calm mask of yours."
Back in his dorm, Kira opened his notebook,
Then he closed the notebook, washed up, got into bed, and fell asleep, keeping the same unhurried pace throughout.
Beyond the window, the night was deep and the moonlight cold.
Review week was almost over. The written exam was just around the corner.
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