Another day of classes had ended, and all of Class B had gathered at the karaoke place again to discuss business.
"Chie Hoshinomiya-sensei just sent a message. She said we'll have a test next week."
"This test will only serve as a reference for the future and won't affect our grades. The teacher specifically said there won't be any risks involved."
Ryuji Kanzaki calmly relayed the latest information to everyone.
His voice was clear and loud, ensuring the message reached everyone.
Compared to Sae Chabashira, who'd completely given up, Chie Hoshinomiya was at least a little more reliable.
At the very least, she let the Class B students know about things in advance.
"If it really didn't matter, the teacher wouldn't have warned us ahead of time."
"Makoto, you think just like I do. Advanced Nurturing still cares about academics after all."
Honami Ichinose couldn't help laughing as she spoke.
Their class had been preparing for exams lately.
At the news of the test, the Class B students didn't show the slightest sign of panic. Instead, they all sat up straight, their faces brimming with confidence.
Under Makoto Nishikado's arrangements, they'd started forming study groups long ago.
Every day after class, they gathered to discuss difficult problems and review key concepts.
From obscure mathematical formulas to complex analyses of classical texts, they helped one another and had already settled into a real study routine.
Now, facing the test, they were like seasoned soldiers confronting a familiar battlefield, brimming with confidence.
"If the school has said so outright, then this test really won't pose any risks."
"But it's interesting that they said it would serve as a reference. There might be another test after this one, and that could be the important one."
Makoto Nishikado knew that the test after next would involve expulsion, and that there was a shortcut they could take to pass it.
If all they wanted was to pass, they could afford to slack off.
But Makoto also knew that Class B couldn't spend all three years taking shortcuts.
The best way forward was to work hard and improve their abilities.
"Is anyone at risk of failing? Speak up now."
Makoto looked toward Yuki Himeno and Honami Ichinose.
They were the two who knew the most about the students' academic records.
"Everyone should be able to pass, at least. You might be the one most at risk, Makoto. Are you sure you're okay in modern Japanese?"
Honami shook her head.
She'd gotten the Class B students' entrance placement test scores from Chie Hoshinomiya.
Advanced Nurturing's tests covered five subjects: modern Japanese, English, mathematics, chemistry, and social studies.
Makoto's scores in his other subjects were all quite good, but his score in modern Japanese hovered around the passing mark.
Besides, he rarely attended Class B's study sessions.
"Don't doubt my abilities. I just never took this subject seriously before."
"You're even questioning my abilities? I'd say you're planning a coup, Ichinose."
Makoto eyed Honami with mock suspicion.
"Honestly, Makoto, you love joking around."
Honami smiled and shook her head.
An ordinary person might actually have worried about something like that.
After all, Honami was the one who'd made Class B into a close-knit group by managing it.
Judging by their respective roles alone, Makoto had practically become a leader in name only.
But neither Makoto nor Honami cared about such trivial matters.
"I support Honami-chan's coup!" Yume Kobashi suddenly piped up.
"I support it too!" Hayato Shibata chimed in at once.
"E-everyone's joking, right? In that case, I support it too!" Chihiro Shiranami raised her hand nervously.
Yuki was just about to stand up and support her boss when Amikura Asako clamped a hand over her mouth.
"Fine, you lot are all traitors."
Makoto had finally seen through them. These brats loved watching trouble unfold and were just asking for a beating.
Amid the uproar, Honami Ichinose was suddenly thrust into power like Zhao Kuangyin during the Chenqiao mutiny, with an imperial robe thrown over her shoulders.
"All right, stop messing around. If you keep it up, I'll get mad."
Honami knew they were joking, but she planted her hands on her hips and pretended to be angry.
"Class C is still bothering us lately. Are we really not going to do anything about it?"
Once everyone had settled down, Ryuji brought up another pressing matter.
The once chaotic and leaderless Class C had recently found itself a clear leader.
That was Ryuen Kakeru.
At the mention of Ryuen, the air in the room seemed to grow heavier.
According to what Honami and the others had found out, Ryuen had beaten the entire class into submission with brute force. The Class C students called him a "tyrant."
Under Ryuen's iron-fisted rule, the students in Class C had also grown extremely aggressive.
Lately, they'd been harassing Class B students at every turn, from deliberate provocations in the cafeteria to hostile collisions in the hallways. Their petty tricks were endless.
"Ryuen Kakeru has probably become Class C's leader. He's provoking us now to test the school's rules."
Makoto still wore a relaxed smile, completely unruffled.
Of the other three first-year classes, Class C was the one he worried about least, despite being the most aggressive.
Of course, if he weren't in Class B, then Class C really would be the class they'd have to handle most carefully.
Honami was gentle by nature and good at bringing people together.
But against an unscrupulous opponent like Ryuen, she could easily be put at a disadvantage.
Makoto, on the other hand, was the opposite. He excelled at dealing with "tough guys" like him.
"If you run into Class C students from now on, you can talk to them normally. There's no need to avoid them on purpose."
"But if you run into Ryuen Kakeru, don't say anything. Just leave. If he has something to say, he can come to me directly."
Makoto wasn't about to leave Ryuen to someone else.
Most of Class B shared Honami's weaknesses.
Makoto was the only one who knew how to deal with Ryuen.
"By the way, Amikura has something to say about Class C."
Honami brought Amikura Asako forward.
"Amikura, what is it?"
Makoto looked at Amikura.
"Well, I made a friend in Class C. I met her in the library."
"If we end up at odds with Class C, could we at least avoid making an enemy of her?"
Amikura was a little embarrassed as she voiced her request.
She'd taken Makoto's comment about her being insensitive to romance to heart.
She wanted to find some novels or books about romance.
When she went to the library, she unexpectedly made a friend she clicked with.
"Her name is Shiina Hiyori. She's different from the others in Class C. Hiyori is a really friendly person."
They hadn't known each other for long, but Amikura and Shiina Hiyori had already become close friends who understood each other well.
Shiina wasn't happy with Ryuen's behavior, but for the sake of her class, she didn't want to get involved.
If Makoto decided to retaliate, Amikura hoped Shiina wouldn't get caught up in it.
Makoto frowned when he heard Shiina Hiyori's name, then warned Amikura.
"Amikura, go buy a voice recorder. From now on, whenever you run into anyone from Class C, make sure you keep it recording the whole time."
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