The Only Thing That Could Save Class 1-D

"Ding-dong, ding-dong..."

The doorbell outside Room 217 rang urgently.

Whoever was pressing it clearly couldn't bear to wait another second.

Tatsuya Sakuya was organizing past exam papers at his desk. He stood and opened the door.

Karuizawa Kei stood outside.

The moment the door opened, she ducked under his arm and slipped in before he could greet her.

Thump.

As soon as she entered, she tossed her pink shoulder bag onto his neatly made bed.

"Whew... I'm exhausted!"

Karuizawa Kei planted her hands on her hips, acting entirely at home as she stared at Tatsuya Sakuya. Her face brimmed with the pride and excitement of someone who had come to collect a debt.

"I did pretty well this morning, didn't I?"

She hurried over to the desk and tapped it twice, making no effort to hide how eager she was for the money.

"Where's the thirty percent we agreed on? Transfer it already."

Karuizawa Kei was delighted. She finally had some points again.

To her, having zero points meant far more than missing out on fancy meals.

Without points, she couldn't buy new clothes, skincare products, or accessories. She couldn't refresh any of the outfits she relied on to maintain her trendy look.

She also couldn't keep up with the basic social activities in her circle of girls, which would seriously hurt her standing among them.

She knew all too well that being labeled "broke" could easily bring back the trauma of being bullied.

She refused to let that happen.

"What's the rush? You'll get your share."

Tatsuya Sakuya shook his head with an amused smile, then took out his phone and tapped the screen a few times.

"Sent."

Karuizawa Kei pulled out her phone and unlocked it. When she saw the unmistakable string of digits, her heart raced.

[Private Points transfer from Tatsuya Sakuya: 30,000 points]

"Th-thirty thousand points?!"

Karuizawa Kei covered her mouth with both hands. Even her voice trembled.

They had agreed on the amount beforehand, but seeing thirty thousand points actually arrive still stunned her.

"Th-thank you."

"Sakayanagi Arisu paid the full hundred thousand."

Tatsuya Sakuya pulled out his chair and sat down, his expression calm.

"Thirty percent is thirty thousand points. I wouldn't shortchange you."

"Wow... I'm saved. I'm really saved. Karuizawa Kei is back among the living."

Karuizawa Kei cradled her phone against her chest and took several deep breaths, her face flushed with happiness.

Tatsuya Sakuya chuckled at the sight of her and slid an open advanced calculus workbook in front of her.

"Done celebrating? Then it's time to work. Go over the differential equations you got wrong yesterday. There are only a little over two weeks until midterms. Having points won't save you from an expulsion warning."

"Tch... You really know how to ruin the mood, you monster."

Karuizawa Kei puffed out her cheeks and muttered under her breath.

But with such a large sum in her account, she was in a good mood and, for once, didn't argue much.

Tatsuya Sakuya leaned back in his chair, occasionally circling a formula in red when she got stuck and adding a hint. Soon, the only sound in the room was the scratch of her pen on paper.

About half an hour later, Karuizawa Kei rubbed her aching eyes and let out a long breath.

"Done. I think I've pretty much got this section... What's next?"

Tatsuya Sakuya closed the workbook and looked up at her.

"Next, I need you to invite someone to this room."

"Huh? Invite someone to your room?"

Karuizawa Kei narrowed her eyes warily and gave him an odd look.

"Who? A boy or a girl? Just so we're clear, I'm not that kind of girl."

"Our classmate, Kushida Kikyou."

Karuizawa Kei blinked.

"Kushida? What do you want with her?"

"To discuss something."

Karuizawa Kei studied him suspiciously. He was being awfully secretive.

"Fine, fine. But Kushida's popular with everyone in class and always busy socializing. I can't promise she'll have time to come."

Just a few minutes later, a reply came through on Line: Kushida Kikyou would be there.

Twenty minutes later.

"Ding-dong."

Karuizawa Kei ran over and opened the door.

Outside stood an energetic girl with short orange hair, a neat school uniform, and a bright, innocent smile. It was Kushida Kikyou.

"Good afternoon, Karuizawa~"

Kushida Kikyou greeted her with a warm smile and glanced into the room.

"Wow, you really have been working hard on your studies lately."

"Sorry for the trouble, Kushida. Come on in."

Tatsuya Sakuya rose with a smile and gestured for her to enter.

With three classmates gathered in a boy's dorm room, the atmosphere was relaxed at first.

Kushida Kikyou showed just how skilled she was at conversation. She made everything entertaining, from the latest class gossip and desserts popular in the girls' dorm to the ridiculous scrapes Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and the others had landed in after their points hit zero. Karuizawa Kei kept covering her mouth to laugh.

Between topics, Kushida Kikyou's large eyes kept drifting toward Tatsuya Sakuya, a faintly probing smile on her lips.

"Come to think of it, Shiba, you've always been so mysterious in class. You keep such a low profile. I can never quite figure you out."

Tatsuya Sakuya brushed the remark aside and changed the subject.

"Actually, I asked Karuizawa to invite you here for more than a chat."

The lively atmosphere faltered.

"Oh? We're not just chatting? Is there something you need help with, Shiba? If it's within my power, I'll do everything I can for everyone in the class."

As always, it was a flawless declaration from the class angel.

Tatsuya Sakuya scoffed inwardly. He took a printed document from his drawer and set it gently in the middle of the coffee table.

Kushida Kikyou glanced down. The moment she read the bold line at the top, her expression froze.

[Advanced Nurturing University First-Year, First-Semester Midterm Exams: Past Papers for All Subjects and Detailed Solutions]

"Th-this is...?!"

Kushida Kikyou trembled slightly. For the first time, she lost her composure and looked up at Tatsuya Sakuya in shock.

"Last year's first-year midterm papers."

Tatsuya Sakuya answered calmly.

"With these, we wouldn't just avoid expulsions. It would be easy for everyone to pass—even to score high marks."

"This is the only thing that can save Class 1-D right now."