Let Her Go Her Own Way

Horikita Suzune's voice held no hesitation. Her refusal was crisp and final.

Her blunt "I refuse" froze the atmosphere in Room 217.

The discussion came to an abrupt halt, and everyone turned toward Horikita Suzune.

She offered no argument. The set of her face told everyone there was no changing her mind.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka watched quietly without saying a word.

"Why?"

Tatsuya Sakuya seemed to have expected her reaction. He met the black-haired girl's gaze.

Horikita Suzune folded her arms, her expression unwavering.

"I don't like taking on trouble. Anyone can be the coordinator, but it won't be me."

That was entirely in keeping with Horikita Suzune's usual way of doing things.

"Horikita, you can't put it that way."

Hirata Yousuke tried to persuade her gently.

"At Advanced Nurturing High School, the whole class is judged together. If our classmates fail and get expelled, our class points will drop. It'll become much harder for all of us to reach Class 1-A..."

"Exactly. Horikita, please take the coordinator role."

Kushida Kikyou chimed in from the side.

"That isn't my obligation. The most I'll do is teach at the study sessions."

Horikita Suzune's reply was merciless.

She turned and stared straight at Tatsuya Sakuya, turning the question back on him.

"Instead of dumping this mess on me, Shiba, I'd like to ask you something. You were elected Class Committee secretary and promised the whole class you'd do real work for them. Why don't you lead this study group yourself?"

At that, the others instinctively looked toward Tatsuya Sakuya.

"Good question."

Tatsuya Sakuya answered without a trace of panic.

"Because I need to put my energy into other important matters."

"What matters?"

Horikita Suzune frowned.

"Finding out where Class 1-A, Class 1-B, and Class 1-C stand, and gathering a full picture of how those three classes plan to prepare in May."

Tatsuya Sakuya did not raise his voice, yet every word carried.

"The competition at Advanced Nurturing High School was never something Class 1-D could handle by shutting the door and focusing only on itself. We need to know our opponents as well as ourselves. If we could buy last year's midterm questions, the other classes can buy them too."

"What moves will the other classes make during midterms? How well has each class mastered those past questions? Someone has to leave Class 1-D and find out."

Tatsuya Sakuya paused, fixing Horikita Suzune with a sharp look.

"If we want to understand the bigger picture, watching only what happens inside our class clearly isn't enough."

Tatsuya Sakuya stood and looked down at Horikita Suzune, raising two fingers.

"So, Horikita, I'm giving you two equal choices."

"First, you lead our study group and take full responsibility for organizing the key material in every subject and tackling difficult problems. Hirata and Ayanokoji will help you deal with everyone's feelings."

"Second, if you insist on refusing, that's fine too. You investigate the other classes, and I'll take charge here."

A suggestive smile touched Tatsuya Sakuya's lips.

"Which do you choose?"

"Or you can reject both and keep going your own way. Then you'll never catch up to 'that person.'"

Tatsuya Sakuya knew that gathering intelligence from other classes would be easy if he gave the job to Kushida Kikyou.

For someone as proud and aloof as Horikita Suzune, it would be next to impossible.

Give her two options, one impossible, and she would obediently accept the other.

And by tying it to "that person," Horikita Manabu, he made it impossible for her to refuse.

"You..."

Horikita Suzune's expression stiffened slightly.

Socialize with students from other classes and pry information out of them? What kind of joke was that?

Her relationships with her own classmates were already strained. Getting close to students in other classes was out of the question.

By comparison, leading the study group would be troublesome, but at least it lay entirely within her academic abilities.

His trap was out in the open, but she could do nothing about it.

"Horikita, Shiba has a point."

Kushida Kikyou stepped in at just the right moment.

"With Shiba facing the storm outside and Horikita handling academics inside, Class 1-D will be strong on both fronts~"

Karuizawa Kei spoke up.

"Exactly. Someone's always boasting about how capable she is. If she can't even take on this much responsibility, people are bound to think less of her."

Horikita Suzune drew a deep breath. Her tightly clenched fingers had gone pale.

She hated being led by the nose by Tatsuya Sakuya, but reason told her this was the most sensible compromise for herself and for the larger goal of reaching Class 1-A.

"...Fine."

Horikita Suzune turned her face away and spoke coldly.

On the sidelines, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was privately startled. He had gained a deeper appreciation of how deftly Tatsuya Sakuya could control a room with a choice between two options.

"Now that everyone's role is clear, let's take a final vote, as the rules require."

Tatsuya Sakuya looked around and raised his right hand.

"All in favor of forming the Class 1-D Midterm Exam Prep Team, with Horikita as coordinator, Hirata and Ayanokoji handling the boys' group, and Kushida and Karuizawa handling the girls' group, please raise your hands."

Hirata Yousuke raised his hand first, without hesitation.

Then everyone else raised theirs.

Tatsuya Sakuya said, "Unanimous. I didn't expect our first Class Committee meeting to go so smoothly. Thanks for your cooperation."

Karuizawa Kei said, "No need to thank us. It's what we should do."

Tatsuya Sakuya said, "The Class Committee has a pretty good atmosphere."

Kushida Kikyou said, "That's because you're leading it, Shiba. You're authoritative, but you listen to everyone too."

Tatsuya Sakuya said, "All right, Kushida, stop praising me. You're making me blush. To thank everyone for their hard work tonight, stay and have some Shin Ramyun before you go."

Tatsuya Sakuya swiftly opened several packets of Shin Ramyun and cracked a few fresh eggs into the pot.

Before long, a rich, tempting spicy aroma filled the dorm room.

Everyone was ready to dig into the Shin Ramyun. Everyone except Horikita Suzune, who silently stood and prepared to leave.

"Horikita, won't you have a bowl before you go? It smells delicious."

Kushida Kikyou turned to ask her with concern.

Horikita Suzune headed straight for the door.

"I don't make a habit of eating junk food late at night. I don't see how eating this benefits the class."

"I'll post the plan for tomorrow's first study session in the group chat. Please take it seriously."

Horikita Suzune added that before leaving Room 217 alone.

"What an antisocial weirdo."

Karuizawa Kei pursed her lips, clearly displeased by the sudden departure.

Tatsuya Sakuya set the cooked Shin Ramyun in the middle of the table.

"Well then, everyone, dig in."

Kushida Kikyou said, "But..."

"Let her go her own way."