Recruiting Hoshida No

As soon as Hoshida No stepped out of the auditorium, Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami called out to him.

"Brother No!" Karuizawa Kei's voice came a beat before Ichinose Honami's. She wore a natural smile as she hurried after him. "Wait for us."

Ichinose Honami followed at her side and nodded gently. "Brother No, there's something we'd like to talk to you about."

Hoshida No stopped and looked at them.

He noticed B Class's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie, approaching leisurely from not far behind them, that lazy smile on her face.

" Hoshida-kun~" Hoshinomiya Chie called, naturally joining the two girls. "Congratulations. Your Class D did really well on this exam—impressive, to say the least. Especially you."

She tilted her head slightly, sizing him up with undisguised interest. "I've been keeping an eye on you. From analyzing the intel to carrying out the plan, your calmness and precision... That's a remarkable talent."

Karuizawa Kei seemed a little surprised by Hoshinomiya-sensei's appearance, but kept her polite smile.

Ichinose Honami, on the other hand, seemed to have expected this. She stood calmly to one side, waiting for the teacher to speak.

Hoshida No merely replied, "You're too kind, Hoshinomiya-sensei. Is there something you need?"

"Oh, you're certainly direct." Hoshinomiya Chie chuckled and stepped half a pace closer, lowering her voice just enough for the two girls beside them to hear. "Your teacher here has always loved talented students. Seeing you in Class D feels like such a waste... Our Class B, with its atmosphere and resources, would be much better suited to a brilliant student like you."

As she spoke, her gaze drifted naturally toward Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami.

"And besides," Hoshinomiya Chie added with a wider smile, her tone coaxing, "there are people here you know and care about, aren't there? Kei and Honami both rely on you so much. If you came to Class B, you'd be able to help them more, and all of you could be closer. I could also give you more... special guidance and support."

Her words were full of insinuation. She had mentioned not only Karuizawa and Ichinose, but herself as well.

Karuizawa Kei's fingers tightened slightly, but her smile didn't change. Ichinose Honami's lashes fluttered once before she regained her composure.

They both understood what their teacher meant, but neither spoke. They simply watched Hoshida No in silence.

Hoshida No's expression remained unchanged, the calm in his dark eyes as steady as ever.

"Thank you for the invitation, Hoshinomiya-sensei." His voice was level and even. "I'm quite comfortable in Class D right now, and I have no intention of transferring."

"Oh?" Hoshinomiya Chie wasn't discouraged. "Why not? Class B can give you everything Class D can, and more. And wouldn't it be better to be with your friends? Or is it..."

Her eyes glimmered as she continued, "Do you feel that I haven't made my sincerity clear enough?"

At that moment, a cool female voice came from the other end of the hallway.

"Hoshinomiya, save your sincerity for your own class."

Chabashira-sensei approached briskly, a folder tucked under her arm.

Her expression was blank. She let her gaze linger on Hoshinomiya Chie for a moment before turning to Hoshida No.

"Hoshida No is a Class D student. His talent and place are both in Class D. Trying to poach him right in front of me—don't you think you're showing a little too much disrespect for me as his homeroom teacher?" Chabashira-sensei's tone was firm.

"Chabashira-sensei..." Karuizawa Kei blurted out.

Ichinose Honami bowed slightly as well. "Hello, Chabashira-sensei."

Hoshinomiya Chie's smile didn't fade; it only grew brighter. "Oh, Sae, don't be so serious. Everyone likes outstanding students. That's perfectly normal, isn't it? I was only offering Hoshida-kun a better option."

She turned to Hoshida No, her voice still gentle. "Well, Hoshida-kun? You can take your time to think it over. Class B's doors are always open to you. And..."

She gave Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami a meaningful look. "There are certainly reasons for you to stay here, aren't there?"

Chabashira-sensei gave a cold snort and spoke directly to Hoshida No. "Hoshida No, Class D needs you. Your abilities and presence are crucial to the class's rise. I'm sure you understand that."

Hoshida No's gaze passed calmly between the two teachers, then settled on Chabashira-sensei.

"Chabashira-sensei," he said, "I'm currently a Class D student, and I'll continue to act as one. Nothing else has anything to do with it."

He didn't respond directly to Hoshinomiya Chie's insinuations about reasons to stay, nor did he show any emotional reaction to Chabashira-sensei's assertion that the class needed him.

Chabashira-sensei seemed satisfied with his answer and gave a slight nod.

Hoshinomiya Chie blinked and sighed softly. "What a shame... But your teacher here won't give up."

She smiled at Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami. "You two should keep at it and stay close to Hoshida-kun. Maybe he'll change his mind someday."

She said it lightly, but once again placed the two girls in an awkward position.

Hoshida No didn't say anything more. He simply told Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami, "I'll head back first."

"Okay. See you later, Brother No." Karuizawa Kei replied at once, her tone relaxed.

"Goodbye, Brother No." Ichinose Honami nodded with a smile.

Hoshida No gave the two teachers a slight nod, then turned and walked away, his back straight.

Chabashira-sensei glanced at Hoshinomiya Chie but said nothing more. She, too, walked off in the opposite direction.

Hoshinomiya Chie stayed where she was, watching Hoshida No walk away before looking at the two thoughtful girls beside her. She smiled.

"What a careful boy..." she murmured. "But the more unyielding the ice, the more fun it is to melt, isn't it? Sae, it looks like you're thinking about moving up a class again."

Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami exchanged a glance, each seeing the same complicated feelings in the other's eyes.

Hoshinomiya Chie turned her gaze away, her lazy smile deepening slightly.

She turned and affectionately looped an arm through Karuizawa Kei's, then gently patted Ichinose Honami's shoulder with her other hand.

"Honestly, Sae is as serious as ever." She sighed, though she didn't sound all that disappointed.

Karuizawa Kei shifted her arm uneasily. "Hoshinomiya-sensei, Brother No... He seems pretty set on his decision."

"Mm, I noticed." Hoshinomiya Chie nodded. "That's why I said we need to be patient. And besides..."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice affectionately. "You two are close to him, aren't you? That's the best bridge there is. You don't need to do anything special. Just keep being yourselves, let him see what's good about Class B from time to time, and let him feel your trust... and how much you need him. That's enough."

Ichinose Honami spoke gently. "Sensei, I think we should respect his choice."

"Of course we should respect it." Hoshinomiya Chie blinked. "Your teacher here isn't going to force him. I'm just offering him a better option. And, Honami..."

She looked at Ichinose with a knowing expression. "Don't you think our class would be stronger if Hoshida No were in Class B?"

Ichinose Honami fell silent for a moment, but didn't deny it.

"All right, enough about that." Hoshinomiya Chie let go of them and returned to her usual carefree manner. "You worked hard on this exam, too, so get some rest. But remember what I said."

She waved and walked away, leaving Karuizawa Kei and Ichinose Honami standing there.

"Honami..." Karuizawa Kei said softly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Brother No..." Karuizawa Kei hesitated. "Is he really staying in Class D just because of how things are right now?"

Ichinose Honami looked at her friend, seeing the same confusion and disappointment in her eyes.

She thought of Hoshida No's perpetually calm expression and remembered what he had just said: nothing else had anything to do with it.

"Brother No... probably has always had his own world and his own rules." Ichinose Honami smiled gently. "We just have to be ourselves and not become a burden to him."

Elsewhere, beside a vending machine outside the teachers' office, Chabashira-sensei called out to Hoshida No as he was about to leave.

"Hoshida No."

He stopped and turned around.

Chabashira-sensei offered him a can of coffee. She had one in her own hand as well.

Leaning against the wall, she pulled the tab and took a sip before speaking. "You don't need to take what Hoshinomiya said to heart. She's good at manipulating people that way, especially students your age."

"I know." Hoshida No accepted the coffee, but didn't open it.

"Good." Chabashira-sensei looked at him. "But that's not why I stopped you. You should understand better than anyone how Class D is doing right now. We didn't lose any Class Points in this exam, but we're still a long way from Class A. You're currently the most indispensable person in Class D."

She paused, her tone serious. "I don't care what your background was, and I don't care about your personal relationships with those two girls in Class B. At this school, points are everything. If you stay in Class D, you can make the most of your abilities and get what you want as quickly as possible."

Chabashira-sensei's words were practical, which made them all the more consistent with Hoshida No's way of thinking.

"I understand," Hoshida No replied, as briefly as ever.