"Hey, how do you solve this problem?"
Chiba Yu turned around. Karuizawa Kei was holding her workbook and leaning against him, wearing an expression that seemed a little... awkward?
Chiba Yu glanced at it casually, and his expression immediately grew even stranger. He seemed rather surprised, and the look on his face only got more peculiar.
"Y-You... what's with that look?" Karuizawa Kei asked, her cheeks turning a little red. Being stared at by Chiba Yu as if she were an idiot clearly made her uncomfortable.
But Chiba Yu stuck to his opinion and couldn't help asking, "I really want to know how you even got into this school. I've already explained this kind of problem to you twice, from earlier until now, but you still can't do it just because the question's worded differently?"
Faced with Chiba Yu's question, Karuizawa Kei felt her face burning with embarrassment. Still, she raised her voice and argued, "I-It's not like that! I just misread it. I can solve this kind of problem in no time, okay?!"
"Are you sure?" Chiba Yu tilted his head and asked, his face practically spelling out the words I don't believe you.
Feeling underestimated, Karuizawa couldn't take it anymore. She abruptly returned to her seat and began concentrating with all her might, like a soldier from ancient times about to head into battle, ignoring every little disturbance with her eyes fixed solely on the problem before her.
Whether she wanted to prove herself or protect her image, Karuizawa Kei was now taking her studies exceptionally seriously.
"I really appreciate it, Chiba. I knew I could count on you."
Hirata came over to Chiba Yu and patted him on the shoulder. Watching Karuizawa work so hard, he looked pleased, like a father watching his daughter.
But Chiba Yu didn't notice Hirata's expression, so he was simply confused. "What do you mean?"
Hirata didn't answer his question. He only smiled faintly, then continued, "Never mind. Let's keep doing our best."
"...That came out of nowhere," Chiba Yu murmured, but his gaze drifted toward the library entrance.
Just as he was imagining when he could escape and return to the comfort of his dorm, a large group of people came streaming through the library doors.
"That's Ichinose from Class B, isn't it?" Hirata had noticed them too. He knew the leaders of the various classes fairly well.
"Looks like it." Besides Ichinose, there were several other Class B students. They had probably come here for a study session too.
Chiba Yu also spotted someone in the group who was even more familiar to him than Ichinose. But he didn't feel like going over to say hello just then; it would only bring him more trouble.
Even though Chiba Yu didn't want to get involved, Ichinose and the others noticed them anyway.
"Good afternoon, Hirata. Did you come here for a study session too?"
Ichinose greeted Hirata warmly, then turned her gaze toward Chiba Yu.
"By the way, this student looks unfamiliar. Is he in your class?" Knowing that Chiba Yu disliked this sort of attention, Hirata stepped forward. "Yes, this is Chiba Yu, a classmate of ours."
"Honami! Hi! I didn't expect you to come to the library too." Seeing Ichinose arrive, Kushida Kikyo went over to draw her attention away.
While Ichinose and Kushida were chatting, that man ignored everyone else and walked straight over to Chiba Yu.
"Long time no see. I didn't expect to run into you here, Chiba."
Ah... One troublesome thing after another today.
But since the other person had gone out of his way to greet him, Chiba Yu naturally had no reason to ignore him.
"...Long time no see, Kanzaki."
Kanzaki Ryuji was the name of the man standing before Chiba Yu. He had attended the same middle school as Chiba Yu, where they had also been classmates. He was one of the few people at this school whom Chiba Yu had known before the term began.
"Huh? Does that mean Kanzaki and Chiba know each other?"
The situation had naturally caught everyone's attention, including Hirata and Kushida, who had been talking with Ichinose. Ichinose was the most surprised of them all.
Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had been quietly studying nearby, were also following what was happening.
Kanzaki nodded and replied calmly, "Yes. To put it simply, we went to the same middle school."
"But..." Kanzaki paused, his tone turning faintly incredulous. "More than the fact that you came to this school, what I'm curious about is why you're in Class D."
Kanzaki's words left everyone present curious and confused. Ichinose asked outright, "Kanzaki, why do you say that? Do you think there's something wrong with the school's evaluation system?"
From what Kanzaki had just said, anyone could tell that he thought highly of Chiba Yu. He even seemed to believe Chiba didn't belong in Class D.
"What? Look at me. If I'm not in Class D, where else would I be?" To everyone's surprise, Chiba Yu directly contradicted Kanzaki.
But Kanzaki didn't accept that explanation. His tone remained calm. "Don't try to fool me. Besides me, there probably aren't many people at this school who know you better than I do."
Chiba Yu paid no mind to Kanzaki's words. Instead, he practically dismissed him. "All right, we can talk later. This is a library, and quite a few people are looking over here."
Kanzaki glanced around and saw that nearly everyone studying in the library had turned their attention toward them.
Seeing that, Kanzaki followed Chiba Yu's lead and ended the conversation.
But just as the group was about to leave and find somewhere else to study, Kanzaki suddenly turned back. His tone carried a seriousness that most people would have missed.
"If you're thinking of transferring classes, you're welcome to join Class B. If you need it, I'll personally promise to help you gather the twenty million personal points required for a transfer."
His words caused an uproar. Ichinose's eyes widened, and she stared at Kanzaki in disbelief.
The students from Class D were no less surprised than those from Class B.
Hirata and Karuizawa Kei were among the most astonished. As for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka... he still wore his usual expressionless face.
"..." Chiba Yu fell silent for a moment, then gave a casual reply. "I'm doing pretty well in Class D right now. As for transferring, I'll think about it later."
Now that he'd said his piece, Kanzaki had no intention of pressing the matter any further. He left with Ichinose and the others to find a place where their class could study together.