Have Some Confidence in Yourself, Okay?

The pitch-black night was thick with clouds, obscuring the moonlight and casting the surroundings into a deepening gloom.

Horikita Suzune's breathing grew shallow, her hands clenched tightly. Despite the confidence she had projected moments ago, Chiba Yu's words caused her rationality to regain the high ground.

"We don't know the full rules of this school yet. Acting rashly will only make our future path more difficult," Chiba Yu said, having noticed her subtle reaction.

"Your flaw is assuming everyone else is an obstacle, even pushing people away from the start. Isn't this condescending attitude of yours exactly why you were placed in Class D?"

That night, the three of them sat there for a long time. Chiba Yu considered his words to Horikita nothing more than well-intentioned advice.

If Horikita could correct herself early and truly lead the class further, his own life would be easier. At the very least, that was what Chiba Yu believed.

As for what Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune thought, that was their own business.

In the days that followed, Horikita did as she said, ignoring Sudo and the others as if she had truly abandoned them.

Chiba Yu continued to attend school on time, feigning diligence during lessons and sprinting back to his dorm the moment class ended. The peaceful days made one think: perhaps this was what a normal high school life was supposed to look like.

However, what was meant to come would eventually arrive.

That morning, the classroom was unusually quiet, devoid of the usual morning clamor.

Everyone sat silently at their desks, and a quick glance revealed that most were reviewing for the upcoming midterm exams.

Upon reaching his seat, Chiba Yu slid his bag under the desk, and Karuizawa Kei, sitting in front of him, turned around.

"Hey, is it really okay to study the way you guys taught me?" There was a hint of panic in Karuizawa Kei's tone. I see, she's worried about failing and getting expelled.

Chiba Yu couldn't offer any guarantees for such things, so he could only offer comfort: "As long as you actually studied, the probability of being expelled is less than ten percent."

"But, isn't there still that ten percent chance?"

"Tsk!" Chiba Yu clicked his tongue softly, then continued, "Have a little confidence in yourself, okay?"

Not receiving the answer she wanted, Karuizawa Kei lowered her head in frustration. She then glanced at Chiba Yu and said with a touch of envy:

"Sigh, if only I could control my scores as easily as you do, I wouldn't have to worry about exams. By the way, are you planning to control your scores again this time like you did before?"

To Karuizawa Kei's question, Chiba Yu gave no clear answer, merely brushing it off: "Last time was just luck; I can't say for sure this time."

"Whatever, don't tell me then."

With a huff, Karuizawa Kei turned back to her side and ignored him, which gave Chiba Yu a sense of relief and a moment of free time.

"Are you close with her?" Just as Chiba Yu thought he could finally breathe, Horikita Suzune, sitting to his left, spoke up. The look in her eyes suggested she found it quite strange that Chiba Yu would interact with Karuizawa Kei.

Sighing, Chiba Yu began to explain: "Didn't we meet in the library last time? I was called by Hirata to help them with tutoring."

"So, Hirata and the others know you've been intentionally controlling your scores?" Horikita Suzune was surprised; she had assumed Chiba Yu would go to great lengths to hide it.

Chiba Yu shrugged without answering, but sometimes, silence is a response in itself.

This sudden admission left Horikita Suzune stunned. After a long silence, she finally managed to say: "It's nothing, I just thought..."

"Thought I would go to great lengths to hide it? I assume that's what you were thinking, right?"

Horikita Suzune nodded.

"To be honest, I never had that thought... well, maybe I did before, but it seemed too much trouble, so I gave up. Besides, if someone really wanted to investigate, it shouldn't be strange for them to find out, right?"

Just because it was too much trouble, he admitted it without any pretense...

Only then did Horikita Suzune truly grasp the meaning behind what Chiba Yu had said at the start of the term: as long as it was for the sake of being lazy, there was basically nothing he wouldn't do.

"I get the feeling you're thinking something very rude." Chiba Yu, who had been observing her expression, suddenly felt something was off and asked suspiciously.

"You're overthinking it. Instead of that, you should be thinking about tomorrow's exam."

"Still, it's strange. You didn't come to the classroom with Ayanokoji today."

"..." Speaking of which, Chiba Yu also found it odd. Generally, if he left the dorm at that time, he couldn't avoid Ayanokoji, but today, they simply hadn't crossed paths.

He had expected to run into him on the way, but they hadn't met even upon reaching the classroom. It made Chiba Yu wonder if the heavens were finally smiling upon him.

"Speaking of which, it's about time, isn't it?" Glancing at Ayanokoji's empty seat, Chiba Yu couldn't help but remark.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. A moment later, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka appeared at the classroom door, accompanied by Kushida Kikyo.

I see. It seems Ayanokoji must have been plotting something, necessitating him to walk with Kushida.

Chiba Yu could see that, but Horikita misunderstood. The moment she saw Ayanokoji and Kushida enter the classroom together, her brow furrowed, and a sense of distance began to radiate from her.

What is this, jealousy? That shouldn't be it. Logically, Horikita Suzune shouldn't have those kinds of feelings for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. So, was it something else?

It wasn't until Chiba Yu caught a glimpse of Kushida Kikyo that he understood why Horikita wore that expression.

Because it was Kushida. That made sense; Horikita had always harbored hostility toward her. Seeing her own "sidekick" walk in with someone she loathed, it was only natural for her to feel irritated.

Wait, why did I just label Ayanokoji as Horikita's sidekick? Or has Ayanokoji become that insignificant in my mind?

Time slipped away through the cracks, and the day passed. Because of the exams tomorrow, most students remained in the classroom to study, with only a few leaving.

Just as Chiba Yu shouldered his bag, preparing to leave as usual, Kushida suddenly stepped onto the podium, holding a stack of papers.

"Sorry to take everyone's time, but I have something to give you."

As soon as she said this, the whole class erupted in a stir, everyone curious about what she was about to hand out.

Only Chiba Yu sat back in his seat with a helpless expression; right now, he just wanted to leave the classroom as quickly as possible, as staying here felt like all his energy was being drained away.

"Th-this is...?!"

"Actually, these are the exam papers from last year. I asked a third-year senior for them last night."

"And, most importantly, the exam papers from the year before last and last year are almost identical."

"So, that means... we don't have to worry about failing and getting expelled?!"

In an instant, the entire class erupted into a frenzy.