The Radical Commander-in-Chief, a Cafe on the Brink of Collapse

The next morning, Class 1-D's classroom.

With no homeroom teacher present, Horikita Suzune did something unprecedented and walked straight up to the podium.

She placed a prepared speech on the lectern and began her address:

"Sorry to interrupt everyone, but I need to take a few minutes of your time."

Horikita Suzune's expression was indifferent as her gaze swept across the room.

"According to the important directives issued by the Class Committee, with Shiba at its core, Class 1-D will officially begin a mutual-aid study session for all students after school starting today, in order to ensure that no one fails the midterms and gets expelled."

The students below the podium immediately burst into an uproar.

"Huh? What the hell is this? We have to stay behind for mandatory tutoring after school?"

Ike Kanji was the first to voice his dissatisfaction, shouting loudly:

"Classes are boring enough already, and now you're taking away my free time too."

"Yeah, didn't they hand out the past exam questions from last year? Can't we just look them over ourselves? Why do we have to go through all this trouble?"

Yamauchi Haruki chimed in from the side with a sarcastic sneer.

"Shut up. Even if you idiots were given the past questions, could you actually understand them? Was sleeping through class and draining all our Class Points not enough for you? Now you don't even want to try to pass? Are you planning to drag the whole class down with you?"

Karuizawa Kei abruptly crossed her arms over her chest, stood up, and tore into the group of fools.

On one hand, she did not want these idiots' failing grades to affect the Class Points.

On the other, as a class committee member, she had a duty to uphold the important directives made by the Class Committee yesterday.

If the Class Committee had no authority, then she, as a committee member, would have no say either, much less be able to maintain her standing among the girls.

"Exactly. We're trying to help, and this is the thanks we get."

"You refuse to study yourselves, yet you want to drag the whole class down with you."

"Luckily, this month's Class Points are at zero. Even if they get expelled, it won't affect the Class Points. It'd be better if they dropped out sooner."

Some of the students in the class could no longer stand it.

"It wasn't just the few of us who lost the Class Points last month. You all had a hand in it too, so stop blaming everything on us."

Ike and Yamauchi were clearly unhappy about having all the blame dumped on them. After all, the Class Points falling to zero was not entirely their fault.

"Everyone, please calm down. Karuizawa is only thinking of the whole class."

Hirata Yousuke stood up gently to smooth things over, then looked toward Horikita Suzune on the podium.

"Horikita, please explain the specific arrangements."

"That's right. Let's hear out the plan Horikita worked so hard to prepare first~"

Kushida Kikyou added with a smile.

Horikita Suzune ignored the discussion around her. In her eyes, the fools of Class 1-D truly were defective products through and through.

She simply continued reading from her speech.

"The key points that must be memorized every day have already been posted in the class group. Karuizawa and Kushida will handle attendance for the girls' group. Hirata and Ayanokoji will handle the boys' group. I will serve as commander-in-chief."

"All of this was carefully discussed with Shiba beforehand."

Horikita Suzune laid out everything they had discussed yesterday in full detail. She even invoked Tatsuya Sakuya, intending to use the newly appointed secretary to bolster her authority.

"Gather at Palette Cafe after school. Please arrive on time and do not waste each other's time. Especially you, Sudo."

"Hey, quit deciding everything by yourself."

Sudo Ken slammed his desk and shot to his feet, clearly irritated at being singled out.

"I've got Basketball Club practice. Who has the time to play house with you?"

"Whether you come or not is your choice. I am merely completing the task assigned to me."

"Based on your current mock exam results, you are highly likely to be one of those expelled. Cherish your final days at this school."

"If you do not care whether you get expelled or play basketball, then feel free not to come."

Horikita Suzune was simply performing as usual, casually delivering a triple barrage of verbal abuse.

"You little..."

The veins on Sudo Ken's forehead bulged as he clenched his fists tightly. But faced with the choice between "expulsion" and "club activities," he forcibly swallowed the curse that had been about to follow.

"That is all I have to say."

Horikita Suzune walked directly back to her seat.

Tatsuya Sakuya merely watched the splendid ensemble performance unfold in silence, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

It had to be said that while Horikita Suzune's tongue was a little sharp, she was highly efficient when it came to getting things done. Making her commander-in-chief this time had been the right choice.

That afternoon, Palette Cafe.

The tense atmosphere of Class 1-D's study session clashed sharply with the relaxed, soothing jazz playing in the cafe.

"Most of the students actually seem to be enjoying this study session, huh?"

Karuizawa Kei, who was in charge of the girls' group, took a moment to step aside and speak with the other class committee members.

Kushida Kikyou rested her chin in both hands and smiled sweetly.

"Yeah. Hirata and Shiba were the first to think of organizing this study session. It can improve our grades while also helping everyone get to know one another better."

Hirata Yousuke modestly waved his hands.

"Not at all. It is everyone's effort. As long as we all work together, there is no difficulty that can stand in our way."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka: "..."

"Ayanokouji, let's go help Horikita. She is handling Sudo and the others' tutoring."

Hirata Yousuke called to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka and headed toward Horikita Suzune. After all, they were responsible for the boys' group.

The girls' group before them was progressing smoothly under Kushida Kikyou and Karuizawa Kei's leadership.

If the boys' group he was responsible for fell apart, would he not become a sinner for all time? He could never do something that harmed the class, nor would he allow anyone else to do so.

"Today's first task is to memorize these differentiation rules, then complete the textbook examples. You have fifteen minutes."

Horikita Suzune gave Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudo—the failing group—their assignment for the day.

Ike Kanji bit the end of his pen, scratching his head as he stared at the dense mathematical symbols. His eyes kept drifting toward the girl at the next table wearing a short skirt.

"Horikita, these formulas are making my eyes hurt. Fifteen minutes is nowhere near enough..."

"Formulas you could understand after paying attention in class for five minutes, yet you still cannot remember them now."

Horikita Suzune's tone was cutting.

"If your brain capacity does not support thinking, then at the very least, please do not spend your energy observing other girls."

"You..."

Ike Kanji's face turned bright red from the retort, and he lowered his head in frustration.

Sudo Ken, on the other hand, had long since run out of patience.

One moment, he shook his legs frantically. The next, he checked his phone screen to see whether there were any messages in the Basketball Club group chat. His mind was completely elsewhere.

"Sudo, in the ten minutes since you sat down, you have been doing other things the entire time."

Horikita Suzune looked at him coldly.

"If you only came here to play around, then you should leave early. Leave this school early too, and stop dreaming about becoming a professional player."

"What kind of attitude is that? I can't understand any of this crap at all! Do you think everyone is as good at studying as you are?"