Early the next morning, as sunlight began to spill into the hallway, Mashima Tomoya stood frozen at the door to Class A.
The students were gathered around, checking forms together. Someone passed a pen, someone else read out figures, and even their conversation had a rhythm of quiet coordination. Was this really the same class that had split into two factions just a few days ago, arguing until they were red in the face whenever they discussed anything? The rules had only been announced two days ago, yet that tense feeling of "it has to be me" had already faded, replaced by a genuine sense of pulling together.
A complicated feeling stirred in his heart. He had actually seen from the first day of school that this year's Class A was different: the students had solid foundations, and their eyes gleamed with intelligence.
Even rarer was the fact that the class had two obvious standard-bearers—one was good at planning and coordination, always able to organize even the smallest tasks; the other knew how to energize people and could get everyone working together with just a few words. At first, he'd secretly worried. How could one class have two people calling the shots? Wouldn't they just keep competing forever?
Unexpectedly, by the second month, his concerns had become unnecessary. Watching the students divide the work naturally, with no one still fixated on "who gets to decide," Mashima Tomoya couldn't help smiling. They were working together far more smoothly than he'd expected. He tightened his grip on his lesson plan, already itching to share his happiness with the other homeroom teachers back in the staff room.
The afternoon sun slanted into the Class A classroom, dispelling some of the post-lunch drowsiness. The air was filled with the hum of lively discussion.
Katsuragi stood at the front of the classroom and tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. The scattered chatter quieted at once. He was about to go over the results of the previous night's discussion.
"We'll focus on two topics this afternoon," he said, looking over the class, his voice clear and firm. "First, preparing for the upcoming midterm exams. Second, setting aside personal points each month to prepare for emergencies."
After a brief pause, he continued, "After discussing it last night with the other two, we decided first of all that we need to establish long-term study groups and hold regular study sessions."
Everyone knew that academic performance was just as important as the Special Exams at this school. The current midterm exams already carried the risk of expulsion, and things would only get stricter from here on. No one could afford to let their guard down.
"Next is the issue of points." Katsuragi's tone grew more serious. "To avoid scrambling when unexpected situations arise in the future, we all agreed that everyone should set aside some of their personal points each month. It may look like we're simply 'saving' them for now, but in reality, it gives the whole class a fallback."
As soon as he finished speaking, murmurs of agreement rose from the class. Some students had already turned to their desk mates to discuss how the study groups should be formed.
"The study groups will be organized according to two principles. Either a high-performing student will lead several students with average grades, helping everyone work on their weak points, or we'll group students based on complementary strengths. For example, someone good at math but poor at English could be paired with someone good at English but poor at math. That way, we can target each person's weaker subjects and make sure no one falls behind in any one subject."
As he spoke, Katsuragi tapped the podium with his fingers. "We've drawn up a preliminary list of groups. We'll post it on the bulletin board later. If anything doesn't work, you can ask us to make adjustments, but the main idea is that we should be able to help one another."
"Now that the study groups are sorted out, how will we set aside points each month?" someone asked, raising a hand.
"Each person will contribute some points every month to serve as class funds, which we'll use to deal with emergencies and cover shared class expenses." Katsuragi paused, his gaze sweeping across the room. "The three of us discussed it, and we've decided that Morishita will be in charge of keeping the funds."
"Huh—me?" Morishita Ran looked up sharply, her eyes wide. She seemed to have been suddenly handed a hot potato, her face full of confusion and bewilderment, as if to ask, "Why me?"
The room fell quiet for two seconds, then someone couldn't help chuckling. A girl in the front row turned around and winked at her. "You're so careful, Morishita. I'm sure you'll handle it just fine."
"That's right," Katsuragi said, breaking up the brief commotion. "Also, everyone will contribute thirty thousand points each month. Uesugi will be responsible for overseeing the accounts. If you have any questions, you can talk to either of them at any time."
Seeing that the responsibilities had been clearly assigned and seemed reasonable, the others dropped the subject.
Morishita Ran's gaze shot toward Uesugi Hara at the back of the room. As if suddenly realizing something, she turned around and quickly blinked at him twice. Her expression was half confusion, half accusation: "Did you have something to do with this?"
Her cheeks puffed out slightly, like an indignant little hamster. "Uesugi Hara, was this your idea? Why else would they suddenly choose me?"
"Why would you think that?" Uesugi Hara looked at her puffed-up cheeks, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from lifting, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"I hardly ever talk to Katsuragi Kohei or Sakayanagi Arisu. Most of the time, I talk to you." She counted the points off on her fingers, speaking faster as she went. "And I heard someone say you were originally supposed to be the one keeping the points. You definitely pushed it onto me on purpose! Yesterday, you were going on about how I should be your temporary secretary and help organize your materials, and now you've gone and schemed against me. You're not even being subtle!"
Uesugi Hara raised an eyebrow and studied her with interest. "I didn't know you were so sharp." He paused, then admitted frankly, "That's right. I arranged it."
Morishita Ran was so caught off guard by his blunt admission that she forgot what she'd been about to "accuse" him of. She could only stare at him. "You're really admitting it just like that?"
"What would it take for you to forgive me?" Uesugi Hara looked at her huffy expression and the fact that she wasn't truly angry, amusement spreading through his eyes. "How about I buy you cake? From the place we went to last time."
"Hmph!" Morishita Ran turned her face away, though her fingers secretly twisted the edge of her clothes. "Don't think you can win me over with one piece of cake."
She paused, as if she'd suddenly thought of something, then whipped back around and held up three fingers in front of him. "At least two—no, three times! Three at the very least!" Afraid he might try to bargain, she hurriedly added, "Not one less!"
Watching her serious expression, which clearly said "I won't let myself get the short end of the stick," Uesugi Hara couldn't help laughing softly. "All right, three times it is. Shall we go get today's serving first?"
Morishita Ran pressed her lips together, but the corners of her mouth secretly curled up. She still tried to sound tough. "Fine. Let's go. Who's scared?"
As soon as the class business was over, Uesugi Hara stood up and gathered his things. "Come on. Let's go eat."
With that, Uesugi Hara set off with Morishita Ran, Kamuro Masumi, and Yamamura Miki.
The four of them had just been assigned to the same study group, with Uesugi Hara as its leader. He'd suggested the meal, saying, "Let's get to know each other first, so we'll feel more comfortable discussing things later." He'd even thumped his chest and promised to cover the whole bill.
As they walked down the hallway, Morishita Ran curiously poked Uesugi Hara. "Kamuro's in our group too? I thought..." She trailed off, but the meaning was obvious. Kamuro Masumi usually stuck with Sakayanagi Arisu, so why had she joined their group?
Uesugi Hara smiled helplessly. "I asked Sakayanagi about it earlier and said Kamuro needed to improve her grades, so why wasn't she tutoring her herself? Guess what she said?" He imitated Sakayanagi's unhurried tone. "'I have class matters to deal with. I'm not as free as you are.' Then she handed Kamuro over to me."
Even Yamamura Miki, who had been quiet beside them, couldn't help smiling. Her voice was soft, tinged with amusement. "Classmate Sakayanagi is so direct."
She twisted the strap of her schoolbag. Perhaps she felt a little embarrassed about laughing in front of people she didn't know well, because she lowered her head as soon as she spoke. The tips of her ears were faintly pink.
Seeing that, Uesugi Hara smoothly picked up the conversation. "She's always like that. But if there's anything you want to ask, Yamamura, whether it's about studying or something else, just say so."
Morishita Ran folded her arms and snorted. "At least she has good taste. Our group has me!"
Kamuro Masumi gave a soft snort beside them, the sound of it carrying a note of reluctance. She'd already been preparing a retort in her mind, ready to say, "It's not like I was handed over."
But as her fingers tightened around her schoolbag strap, she remembered that her grades really were holding the others back a little. The words died on her lips.