Midterm exams

Lezheng had gone to a hospital before to have his condition diagnosed. The doctor had concluded that it was a psychological illness-in short, a mental illness. But Lezheng did not believe he was mentally ill and had argued his case with the doctor, only to be left speechless when the doctor retorted, "What mentally ill patient would admit they were ill?"

Actually, Lezheng understood himself. He felt that his condition was probably what people called "chuunibyou." Why had he developed it? He looked at the card he had taken from his pocket. It was much like an ordinary playing card, with a black background and a bright blue, symmetrical geometric ring printed in the center.

He had not had an episode this time, perhaps because he had been reading a different book. His main reason for visiting the library had been to find out whether the third-years would come here to study under the pressure of preparing for further education. But over two consecutive days, he had not seen any groups of third-years studying, and there were only a handful of people scattered around the library.

So Lezheng stopped wasting his time and attention there, got up, and left.

The sky had already darkened. Lezheng ordered a coffee at the café and sat down, enjoying his leisure time. His eyes, however, remained fixed on his nine o'clock.

Six girls, each with her own distinctive qualities, were gathered there, with a blond boy in their midst.

Seriously, why does that blond bastard Miyabi Nagumo get six beautiful girls keeping him company?

Surrounded by beautiful girls, Miyabi Nagumo had an arm around a girl on either side. They even brought his coffee to his lips, making him look just like a domineering CEO from a TV drama.

Lezheng turned back to stare at the coffee in his hand. After a moment of silence, he downed it in one go, paid, and left.

"You saw what was going on with Nagumo, didn't you?" Horikita Manabu asked at the café entrance.

"I did." Lezheng nodded.

"His philosophy is to divide all the students in the school into ranks once he takes over the Student Council. Those second-years will have no choice but to curry favor with him if they want to enter Class A."

"President, would you like to hear my opinion?"

"Of course."

"That emperor-like lifestyle really is enviable. I also know why you invited me to join the Student Council. This is a struggle between the two of you. I don't want to get involved, and I'm not capable of it either."

"So that's what you think." Horikita Manabu fell silent.

"President, there's a girl over there looking for you." Lezheng pointed in a direction.

Horikita Manabu took a closer look and walked over in silence. Although Lezheng also wanted to watch the drama, he felt that this was not the time. After all, their conversation just now could hardly be called amicable, so he slowly walked back to the dormitory.

"Good morning, Kamuro." Lezheng greeted Kamuro as he put down his schoolbag.

"There's nothing good about it." Kamuro lay slumped over her desk.

"Your period?"

"It's worse than that."

"Sakayanagi's got you under her control?"

"Why do I feel like you mean something else by that? But she is the reason I'm unhappy."

"Poor you," Lezheng offered in consolation.

Mashima entered the classroom the instant the bell rang and announced the upcoming midterm exams.

"Sir, will these midterms also be a Special Exam?" Katsuragi's steady voice rang out.

"Yes, this counts as a Special Exam as well. Students who fail will be expelled. The exams will cover material you have studied. The rules are that simple. Now, let's begin the lesson." After announcing the rules, Mashima began teaching.

Mashima was very dedicated to his work. He was never late and never let class run over. As soon as the bell rang, he packed up his things and left. Meanwhile, Class A quickly split into four factions.

"This Special Exam is just a straightforward set of exams. As long as we study seriously, we'll definitely pass. But there's also a worst-case scenario: the passing score could be very high. So we should spend some of our free time reviewing to prepare for the worst," Lezheng said, offering his opinion first.

"Should we work with Katsuragi and Sakayanagi to keep the scores under control?" Satoru Satonaka asked.

"We could ask them what they think... You're not going to make me go, are you?" Reluctance was written all over Lezheng's face.

"Of course you're going. We do consider you our leader, after all." Sawada nodded with a smile.

"Why did you choose me as the leader? Was it because of that question back then?"

"That was part of it, I suppose, but it was more because you have the qualities of a leader," Murashita said.

Their group was the smallest of Class A's three groups.

The three-way meeting took place at the familiar café.

"Let's hear everyone's thoughts on these exams," Lezheng said.

"I think we could lower our scores in each subject a little, as a precaution in case some students perform below their usual standard," Katsuragi said.

"I disagree with Katsuragi's suggestion. What use is there in keeping trash who can't even earn a passing score?" Sakayanagi held a different opinion.

The two began airing their respective views while Lezheng quietly drank his coffee.

People's ideals could clash. How could those clashes be resolved? Simple: the two could fight, and the winner could beat the loser into submission. That was the simplest method, yet Katsuragi and Sakayanagi had insisted on choosing the hardest one.

In the end, the talks broke down, and the three parted on bad terms-or rather, two of them did.

Katsuragi and Lezheng walked toward the dormitory side by side.

"Lezheng, Sakayanagi and I did all the talking back there. I'd like to hear your opinion." Katsuragi looked at Lezheng seriously.

"My opinion is pretty much the same as yours. After all, school has only just started, and we don't know each other very well yet. It's too early to start eliminating our classmates," Lezheng said.

"Are you saying there will be more penalties involving expulsion in the future?"

"How else do you think the school gets its self-proclaimed one hundred percent employment and further education rates? Only by removing the impurities can you obtain quality products."

Katsuragi fell silent, because he, too, had to admit that Lezheng's reasoning made perfect sense.

"Katsuragi, aren't you underestimating the rest of Class A a little too much?"

"What do you mean?"

"We only lost eighty points in our first Special Exam. Mr. Mashima also said those deductions were for things like not paying attention in class, so I think their attitude toward studying is decent enough."

"You're right. I really have been worrying a little too much."

After each class announced the information about the midterms, the number of first-years in the library increased dramatically. Lezheng's group was also studying in one section.

Not far away, the silver-haired girl was still quietly reading the book in her hands. Perhaps because Lezheng had been looking at her for too long, she raised her head and met his eyes with a slightly puzzled look.

Lezheng averted his gaze and returned his attention to the problem in front of him.

Actually, Lezheng was rather curious about how Ryuen managed the girls in Class C: whether he used violence, just as he did to subdue the boys, or chose a girl to manage them for him. As for how he knew about this situation, it was because Ryuen Kakeru had now earned a reputation among the first-years as a "tyrant."