The Debt of Youthful Fashion Must Be Paid

"You're saying that was just a coincidence?" Horikita Suzune's face practically screamed: Do you really think I believe that?

Helpless, Chiba Yu had no choice but to recount everything that had happened, including his conversation with Hirata at the karaoke bar.

"Then why didn't you tell us?"

Faced with Horikita Suzune's retort, Chiba Yu's mind struggled to keep up. At that moment, he really wanted to say: Are you kidding me? Do we look like we're that close?

Even so, Chiba Yu didn't let his emotions show on his face, instead answering languidly, "Even if I had told you back then, would you have believed me?"

The implication was clear: at the time, he was just a background character in the class; even if he had voiced his suspicions, it likely would have only invited ridicule.

"Even so..."

"Alright, Horikita. The priority right now is how to ensure no one in the class gets expelled during the next midterm exam."

To avoid drawing any more attention to himself, Chiba Yu hurriedly steered the conversation elsewhere.

Hearing Chiba Yu say this, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka began to share his own perspective: "To secure at least some class points, we need everyone to change their attitudes and score high on the next midterm, is that what you mean?"

"Yes." Chiba Yu nodded in confirmation.

"Speaking of which, what were your scores on the last quiz?" Mentioning exams reminded Horikita Suzune of the two boys beside her; come to think of it, she hadn't actually paid attention to their grades.

"For me, the average was around 60, I think." Chiba Yu thought back to the scores Chabashira Sae had posted on the blackboard and felt fairly certain he remembered correctly.

"Mine was 50, I believe." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stated his score as well.

Horikita Suzune didn't seem to approve, however, and said sternly, "You two are basically hovering on the edge of failing. You need to score higher than that."

"That's easy to say, but we feel like we've already done our absolute best." As he said this, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka glanced at Chiba Yu, and the two nodded in unison.

"You guys..."

"Hey! Chiba, come over and hang out with us!"

"Yeah, stop just sitting there, it's so boring!"

Just as Horikita Suzune was about to say more, Ike Kanji and the others, who were having a great time nearby, shouted excitedly, interrupting her train of thought and causing her expression to darken instantly.

The next second, Hirata walked up to Chiba Yu, inviting him with a sincere smile, "Come join us, Chiba. Horikita and Ayanokoji, you two should come too."

"I'll pass." As expected, Horikita Suzune rejected Hirata outright, while Ayanokoji looked at Hirata, then at Horikita, and ultimately chose to stay put, following her lead.

Seeing the hopeful look in Hirata's eyes, Chiba Yu sighed and had no choice but to follow him, slowly making his way into the pool.

No sooner had he entered the water than Chiba Yu found himself surrounded by several people.

"You're so amazing, Chiba! You actually guessed the school's rules way back then."

"Yeah, seriously! You're such a dark horse!"

"Chiba, are these pecs real? You're so ripped—did you train for this?"

Watching Chiba Yu get swarmed by a group of guys and girls, Ayanokoji, who was still sitting on the sidelines, couldn't help but remark, "He really is popular."

Hearing this, Horikita Suzune couldn't help but glance at him. "Are you envious?"

To this, Ayanokoji replied calmly, "Isn't this the kind of high school life and atmosphere everyone envies? Come to think of it, that was the goal I had when I first tried to make friends."

"Too bad someone's emotional intelligence is abysmal."

Listening to Horikita's jab, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka countered calmly, "Aren't you the same?"

Just as Ayanokoji and Horikita were bickering, Hirata suddenly gathered everyone with a serious expression.

"Everyone, I'd like you to listen to me carefully." Standing in the center, Hirata spoke earnestly.

"We didn't receive any points today, and that will have a huge impact on our future. You don't want to live on zero points until graduation, do you?"

"Absolutely not!" Karuizawa Kei chimed in, showing extreme agreement with Hirata.

So this is what youth looks like when expressed in front of one's beloved, he thought; she always looked at him with such disdain, by contrast.

"Right, so I hope we can all work hard together..."

"Hmph! Whatever you want to do is your business, but don't drag me into it!" With that, Sudo shoved Hirata aside roughly and walked out of the swimming facility on his own.

He left behind a bewildered Hirata and the rest of the classmates watching from the sidelines.

Chiba Yu stood beside Hirata, watching the scene quietly, his mind blank.

After a while, Chiba Yu slowly approached Hirata and patted him on the shoulder. "It's fine. There will be a way eventually."

Hirata replied with a bitter smile, "Yeah, I know. But Chiba, you'll help me, won't you?"

Looking at the hopeful glint in Hirata's eyes, Chiba Yu found it somewhat blinding, but he bit the bullet and agreed.

"...I'll do my best." Little did he know what a massive threat this sentence would pose to his future life of energy conservation.

"Chiba, Chabashira-sensei wants both of us to go to the office to see her."

Just as Chiba Yu was preparing to take a good nap, Hirata suddenly walked up to him and informed him of the news.

"See us?" Chiba Yu asked, dazed.

"Hirata-kun, could something have happened?" Karuizawa Kei asked, her voice filled with worry.

It was no wonder everyone was saying this; after all, the topic of expulsion had just been brought up that morning, and for someone to be summoned the very next second was truly unsettling.

"Could it be because of this short quiz?" someone offered their perspective.

"Hard to say. Could it be that Chiba failed this exam, and that's why Chabashira-sensei called him over?"

"But what does that have to do with Hirata-kun?"

Hey, hey, are you all just going to assume that I'm the reason for this situation? Besides, I clearly passed this exam, alright?

Silently grumbling to himself, Chiba Yu slowly stood up from his chair. "Anyway, I'll head over and see what's going on first."

"That's true."

Yet, for some reason, as Chiba Yu walked out of the classroom, he felt an ominous premonition, as if he were being watched by some ferocious beast.

To add one more thing: before Chiba Yu and Hirata were summoned, the people called to the office were named Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune...