Learning Session

The atmosphere in the classroom plummeted to freezing point. The slight relief everyone felt after receiving their 75,000 points was utterly shattered by the two words: "expulsion."

Chazhu Zuo Zhi suddenly recalled something, her peripheral vision sweeping toward Hoshida No in a subtle, almost imperceptible manner.

"This special exam is the midterm," she said, before pinning five report cards to the blackboard. "These are the results from the end-of-month exam."

"Midterm Exam Rules: For every subject in which a student scores 100 points, the class will receive 10 class points."

Chazhu Zuo Zhi listed Hoshida No's grades. "For instance, since Hoshida-kun scored 100 in every subject, he will add 50 class points to Class D."

The entire class turned their gaze toward Hoshida No in the back row, their eyes filled with admiration. The second-highest scorer in the class was Horikita Suzune, whose scores hovered around 95.

Chazhu Zuo Zhi tapped the blackboard lightly to draw everyone's attention back to her. "Conversely, the expulsion threshold is set at the average score of all students in the class divided by two. Anyone who scores below this will be expelled."

Chazhu Zuo Zhi then specifically compared Sudo Ken's English grade against the expulsion threshold, noting that it was exactly 0.5 points above the cutoff.

Horikita Suzune raised her hand, her cold, clear voice cutting through the commotion: "Teacher, since class points can be earned through special exams, is it possible for Class D to rise to Class A in the short term?"

Chazhu Zuo Zhi finally revealed a faint smile—a smile devoid of warmth, holding only scrutiny. "Theoretically, yes. But since the school's founding, there has never been a case of Class D overtaking Class A. Class A not only leads in initial points but also gathers the school's top students. Their collaborative ability, knowledge base, and strategic planning are far beyond what the current Class D can offer."

"Then we shall try," Horikita said, her tone firm and unyielding. "I will make Class D rise to Class A."

Her words brought a momentary silence to the classroom. Many wore expressions of doubt, but others were infected by this resolve, their eyes gradually turning firm.

Hoshida No watched her straight back and shook his head helplessly.

His subtle movement was caught by Horikita Suzune. Assuming Hoshida No was mocking her, she looked displeased and glared fiercely at him.

Hoshida No, having been glared at, turned his head away, his gaze happening to meet Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's.

Ayanokoji's eyes remained calm and ripple-free, as if it were just a casual glance, yet Hoshida No caught a trace of faint interest, as if he were saying, So, you have your moments too.

As soon as Chazhu Zuo Zhi left the classroom, the students began to gather around the report cards on the podium. Hirata Yousuke began to organize everyone: "Since the next special exam is clear, why don't we first tally everyone's strong subjects and then conduct targeted reviews?"

Kushida Kikyo immediately chimed in, saying gently: "Hirata-kun is right, we can definitely do it if we unite! I will organize a study group, and I hope everyone can attend."

As her voice faded, a chorus of agreement rose around her.

Those who were originally teetering on the edge of the expulsion threshold seemed to have grabbed a life-saving straw, a glimmer of hope reigniting in their eyes.

After all, Kushida Kikyo was well-liked in the class and always appeared warm-hearted; having her lead the study group was the most appropriate choice.

During the lunch break, sunlight slanted through the glass windows, cutting patches of light and shadow across the floor.

Hirata Yousuke and Kushida Kikyo walked together to the back of the classroom, their footsteps light, fearing they might disturb Hoshida No, who was resting with his eyes closed.

"Hoshida-kun," Hirata spoke first, wearing his usual gentle smile. "We plan to use club time to organize a study group to help everyone fill in their gaps. Since your grades are so good, could you come and give everyone some guidance?"

Hoshida No slowly opened his eyes, the light from the window reflecting in his dark pupils. He nodded faintly. "I can."

Having received a positive response, Hirata breathed a sigh of relief. Kushida Kikyo, standing beside him, immediately turned to Horikita Suzune, who was tidying her school supplies nearby, her tone becoming even softer: "Horikita-san, why don't you join us too? With you and Hoshida-kun there, everyone will surely be more motivated."

Horikita Suzune didn't even look up, her slender fingers tracing the text on the page, her voice as cold as ice: "Since Hoshida No has already joined the study group, it shouldn't make much difference whether I, the second-place student, go or not."

The crisp, clean refusal caused the surrounding air to stagnate for a moment.

The smile on Kushida's face flickered ever so slightly—so fast it was almost imperceptible—before being replaced by a perfectly measured, humble smile: "I see, that's a real shame. But if you change your mind, you're welcome to come anytime."

With that, she and Hirata turned and left without further pestering her.

In the corner of the classroom, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka kept his eyes lowered; he, too, had just declined Hirata's invitation to join the study group.

Hoshida No's gaze swept over Horikita Suzune's stubborn profile. He knew very well that Horikita Suzune refused to join not because she felt she was redundant, but because the pride in her bones would not allow her to huddle with others for warmth.

As for Ayanokoji... he probably just didn't like crowded places.

At that moment, Sudo Ken, who always had a short temper, suddenly walked over and slapped Hoshida No on the shoulder in a boisterous manner.

"Hey, Hoshida! Make sure to teach me plenty of English later. I was only 0.5 points away from expulsion; I don't want to go down in a place like this!"

His voice was loud, drawing side-glances from several students nearby.

Hoshida No glanced at him, said nothing, and simply nodded lightly.

Seeing this, Sudo Ken immediately grinned, then went off noisily with Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki.

The study group was held in the classroom, with 20 students attending.

Hoshida No noticed that the few people he was keeping an eye on had not come. Aside from them, there was Sakura Airi; his impression of her was that of a socially anxious girl who always liked to keep her head down.

Hirata Yousuke pushed the desks and chairs in the classroom together into several large tables and thoughtfully arranged the students with poorer grades near Hoshida No.

Kushida Kikyo held a stack of printed review materials and distributed them. Each sheet was marked with highlights and common pitfalls in different colored markers; it was clear she had put a lot of effort into it.

"Alright, everyone, please write down your weak subjects on the paper first. Once we aggregate them, we can have the students who excel in those subjects help the rest of us," Kushida said, clapping her hands with a bright smile.

"Hoshida-kun, would you mind helping look at the results and drafting a rough study plan?"

Hoshida No took the paper and pen she handed him. Just as his fingertips touched the paper, he heard Sato Maya sigh dramatically.

She pressed the barrel of her pen against her chin, her tone languid: "Ah, if I'd known the study group would be this serious, I wouldn't have come. I thought I'd be able to chat with Hoshida or Hirata."

Her words drew a ripple of low laughter, and the previously stifling atmosphere eased slightly.

Hoshida No said nothing, merely scanning the slips of paper everyone had handed in. Most people's weaknesses were concentrated in English and Mathematics, especially English listening and reading, which had become a disaster zone for almost everyone.

He raised his hand and began writing on the paper, dividing the support groups for different subjects and writing his own name next to the person in charge of English.

"I'll be responsible for the English section," Hoshida No said, his voice not loud, yet clear enough for everyone to hear. "We'll spend thirty minutes every day practicing listening, then do two reading passages. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask at any time."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sudo Ken abruptly raised his hand, his eyes shining with startling intensity: "Hoshida! Put me down as the first volunteer! I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm terrified of hovering right on the passing line for English again!"

At this moment, another girl with strong English grades also raised her hand, "I want in too!"

Hoshida No watched as more and more students expressed their desire to study English, finally speaking up to address the first girl: "Motoizumi, your English grades aren't bad, but your math is struggling. You don't need to focus on English."

The girl named Motoizumi nodded reluctantly in agreement, and then Hoshida No pointed out several other students whose English was relatively stronger than their other subjects, assigning them to Hirata and Kushida respectively.

Sunlight streamed through the window, landing on the tips of his hair and gilding them with a faint golden edge.

He could feel that most of these students gathering together were genuinely hoping to escape the crisis of expulsion, yet human hearts were never so easily unified.

Just like right now, in the corridor outside the classroom, Horikita Suzune was leaning against the wall, holding an English dictionary in her hand, her gaze cast coldly into the room.

She did not go inside, merely watching as Hoshida No methodically arranged everything, watching Kushida Kikyo skillfully harmonize the atmosphere, and watching Hirata Yousuke patiently soothe the anxious students.

Her fingertips gripped the corner of the dictionary tightly until her knuckles turned white, only then did she let go.

"A bunch of people who only know how to rely on others," Horikita muttered to herself, her tone carrying an imperceptible stubbornness, "True strength has never required huddling together for warmth."

Having said that, she turned and left, her footsteps fading away into the empty corridor.

Hoshida No seemed to have sensed something; he looked up toward the window, catching only a glimpse of a resolute retreating figure, before withdrawing his gaze to continue writing the study plan on his paper.