Volume 1 Chapter 8 Part4 (1/2)

The group of failures, attempt 2

The fragrance of the first tea of the season is now in the air I hope all of you are doing well

A month and a half since the start of school I spent every day carefree

”Excuse me, can you hear me? Is your head ok?”

She hit my forehead with her palm, and I rubbed it in pain

”You don't have a fever, huh”

”I don't! I was just lost in thought”

I remehed Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to cooperate with her

Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk

At the ti back on it, it's really not like me to accept

”So, Mr Strategist What should I do?”

”Well… of course, we need to persuade Sudou-kun and the others to participate in the study group again To do that, you'll have to grovel at your feet, begging them to join”

”Why do I have to do that… In the first place, you're the reason there was a fight”

”The true reason is that they didn't want to study Don't mistake that”

This girl… Does she even want to help them?

”It's iain without Kushi+da's help You know that too, right?”

”… I know I guess we'll have to make some sacrifices”

Looks like she doesn't want to be involved with Kushi+da in any way possible Even though she wasn't happy about it, she agreed since it was an eency

This is the best compromise possible for someone like Horikita who doesn't want her close

”Alright, go and quickly get her to ith us”

”Me?”

”Of course You forreed to be my workhorse until we reach class A, you have to comply”

I don't re that kind of contract

”Here, look at this written contract”

Wow It had my name and even my seal

”You'll be charged for docuery, you know”

Giving up, I walked away from her Horikita tidied up her desk and faced Kushi+da

”Kushi+da-san I want to talk to you If possible, do you want to eat lunch together?”

”Lunch? It's strange to be invited by Horikita-san, but sure”

Even though I was nearby, Kushi+da didn't waver at all She quickly agreed Kushi+da then walked towards the school's most popular Cafe Pallet

It's the place where Horikita got mad at us because we made up a lie and called her out

Horikita paid for Kushi+da's drink Of course, I paid for my own

Taking the drink with a smile, Kushi+da sat down in a seat We also sat down in front of her

”Thanks What did you have to talk about?”

”I'roup to help Sudou-kun Can you help us one more time?”

”Who are you doing this for? Is it for Sudou-kun's sake?”

Kushi+da also recognized that her request wasn't purely altruistic

”No, this is for me”

”Is that so Horikita-san, like usual, acts for yourself, huh”

”Will you not help people who don't act for their friends?”

”I think you're free to think however you want However, I wanted make sure that you wouldn't lie, so I'm happy that you answered honestly Ok, I'll help you out After all, we're classht? Ayanokouji-kun”

”Y-yea Please help us”

”I want to ask you directly, though It's not for your friends, not for the points, but rather, you want ht?”

”Yes”

”That's, that's unbelievable… isn't it i to call you stupid But how should I say it… iven up, you know?”

”Is it because the difference between our class and class A is too big?”

”Yea… Honestly, I don't knoe can catch up I don't even knoe can get any points next monthI feel disheartened”

Horikita hit the table with a clang

”I'll absolutely do it”

”Ayanokouji-kun, are you also ai for class A?”

”Yes He isclass A”

You made me an assistant without my consent…

”Hmm… ok Let me help”

”Of course, that's e're asking in the first place”

”Not that, I want to join you guys in airoup, but I want to help with everything else you'll be doing from now on”

”E-eh? But…”

”Then do you not want me to help?”

Kushi+da looked at Horikita idened eyes

”Fine I'll foroes well”

That was her reply Even though Kushi+da probably had soo for some reason and let her join

After receiving an affirmative reply from the usually stubborn Horikita, Kushi+da jumped up in excitement

”Really!? Yay!”

Looking truly happy, she cheered in delight This appearance of hers is also cute

”Best regards again, Horikita-san! Ayanokouji-kun!”

She extended her left and right arms towards the two of us

Feeling a bit confused, both Horikita and I shook her hand

”However, I don't know if Sudou-kun and his friends with agree to join again”

”Yea In the current situation, it certainly looks difficult”

”Well then, can you leave it toyou guys Ok?”

I felt overwhel at

As if she was about to leap into action immediately, she took out her phone Soon after, Ike and Yamauchi came over with ecstatic expressions As soon as they saw , ”You really told her about the chat!?” Well, it's convenient, so I'll just stay silent Their feelings of guilt will probably be effective in getting theree

”Sorry for calling you two out I have, or rather, Horikita has so to ask of you two”

”W-hat, what is it? What do you have to do with us?”

What an overreaction… They backed away in nervousness

”Do you two have any plans to join Hirata-kun's study group?”

”Eh? S-study group? No, we didn't want to join because he's too popular…We're going to cram the day before the test It's worked since middle school”

To Ike's words, Yamauchi nodded two, three ti last-minute for the past few years

”That kind of thinking suits you two However, the probability of getting kicked out of school is pretty high right now”

”You're the same as ever, whatever that means”

Sudou appeared while scowling at Horikita Looks like Sudou was also caught in Kushi+da's trap

”The one who should be the most worried is you, Sudou-kun You look like you have absolutely no worries about dropping at of school”

”You already knew that If you're not careful, I'll beat you up I'h to study right before the test”

”C-calm down, Sudou”

Ike tried to calm down Sudou, as if he didn't knohat he said in the chat

”Hey, Sudou-kun Won't you try studying oneHowever, if it doesn't work, you won't be able to play basketball here anymore, you know?”

”That's… but I don't want to receive 'charity' frootten the words you threw at ize first With sincerity”

Sudou declared that, showing hostility against Horikita Personally, I think that even though he feels that it's dangerous to not study, he was more insulted by her words about basketball

Of course, Horikita wouldn't apologize so easily There's no one that would openly brag about having been wrong with their own mouth

”I think you are wrong, Sudou-kun”

”What!?”

Instead of apologizing, she only added more fuel to the fire

”However, our antipathy for each other is only trivial in this situation I will teach you for my sake You will study for your sake Is that bad?”

”Do you really want to o as far as to invite me”

”Yes Otherwise, ould choose to be concerned with you?”

At Horikita's blunt words, Sudou got more mad

”I'm busy with basketball Even before a test, the others don't take a break in order to study I can't afford to fall behind while I'”

Having predicted that Sudou would say such words, Horikita took out a piece of paper and showed it to him It was a detailed schedule until the day of the test

”At the last study session, I learned that regulardidn't work for you None of you understand the basics of the topics It's like taking a frog and introducing it to the ocean The frog doesn't knohere to start Also, I understand that taking time away froht of a plan to address that problem”

”What kind of sorcery is this? If there is such a plan, tell me”

Both studying for tests and club activities can coexist Believing that there was no way for that to be true, Sudou laughed with his nose

”We have teeks fro class as if you'd die tomorrow”

At first, I didn't understand what she was saying Everyone was confused

”Usually, you three don't work seriously during class, right?”

”Don't decide that on your own”

Ike objected

”Then, are you diligent during class?”

”… No, we aren't I do nothing until class is over”

”Right? In other words, you spend six hours a day just idling Even outside of the one, two hours available after school, there is a ton of precious tie of this time”

”Certainly… in theory that would work, but… isn't that kind of absurd?”

Kushi+da's worries are spot on It's because they can't study that all the ti class is wasted

If they can't even stop the class, I don't think they'll be able to understand any of the problems by themselves

”I can't keep up with theclass”

”I already know that So, we'll use all the free time we have and have a small study session”

Horikita then turned to the next page It had a full description of ould do

In summary, it's like this After first period, everyone will meet up and discuss what they didn't understand In the ten minutes of break, Horikita will then teach what they didn't know

And then the whole process would repeat for the next period Of course it's not as simple as it sounds

However, since they can't keep up with the lesson, it may be difficult for them to be able to understand in that short time

”W-wait I'm confused Is this possible?”

Ike also recognized that this would be a hard task

”Yea, isn't it unreasonable to think that you could teach us in just 10 minutes?”

”Don't worry During class, I'll et all the answers to the every question And then Ayanokouji-kun and Kushi+da-san will teach you guys one-on-one”

If it's like that, I guess there is a chance that everyone can understand in just 10 minutes

”You two, if it's just explaining the answers, you can do it, right?”

”But… I still don't think it's possible in that a is hard, so I don't know…”

”The content covered in a single period is surprisingly se of notes, or atthe test only takes up half the page Anyway, if the tih, we can always use the lunch break I' I want you to understand the material I just want tois to make sure that you pay attention to the teacher's voice and the letters on the blackboard Just forget about taking notes”

”Are you telling us not to take notes?”

”Trying to ly difficult while taking notes”

Certainly, thatnotes, valuable time is wasted

At any rate, it looks like Horikita doesn't want to use any after school time

”Just try it out You can give it a run before you refuse”

”… I still don't want to do it I want to spend my time differently than someone who studies 24/7 Also, I don't think I'll be able to study with an cheap trick like that”

Horikita thought of the plan while considering the three of theree

”It looks like you'rethe funda There's no way but to spend your ti, but also for everything else Or are you saying that there are cheap tricks and shortcuts for basketball?”

”Of course there's no such thing Only after you practice and practice do you get good”

Realizing what he said, Sudou inhaled sharply in surprise

”It's absolutely impossible for people who don't have the ability to focus However, you would pour in all of your energy in order to get better at basketball Even if it's only a fraction, use so basketball at this school So that you don't get kicked out”

It was a really small one, but Horikita unmistakably offered Sudou a small compromise He hesitated

However, his pride got in the way No ree

”… I still won't participate Thank you for being ree”

Sudou tried to leave without ever having sat down, but Horikita stopped him

If she let this chance go, there probably wouldn't be another opportunity to for, but I guess I have to pitch in and help here

”Hey, Kushi+da Do you already have a boyfriend?”

”Eh? Ehh? I don't have one, why are you asking me out of the blue?”

”Then, if I get 50 points on the next test, will you date me?”

I stuck out my hand

”Ha? What are you saying, Ayanokouji!? Date et 51 points!”

”No, no, et 52 points!”

Ike quickly responded And then Ya to do

”E-ee people by their test scores, you know?”

”But they want a reward for doing well Look at their enthusiasm If there's such a reward, they'll probably try even harder”

”W-well, how about this? I'll date the person who gets the highest test score…I like people ork hard to achieve soht not even like”

”Woahhhhh! I'll do it! I'll do it!”

They were all breathing heavily in excitement I called out to Sudou

”Hey Sudou Are you going to do it? This is your chance”

It's a bit different than saying ”Do you want to date Kushi+da?”

I have a rough understanding of Sudou's character In a situation like this, it's hard to get him to participate So, I have to find a coet him to join

”… A date, huh I guess it's not bad Seriously, can't help it… I'll participate too”

Sudou turned and replied in a sh of relief

”Keep in ht think”

I welco so to Horikita

1

The reunited study group began, and it started off pretty smoothly

Of course, no one really found studying fun or was really delighted to be studying, but everyone worked hard so that they wouldn't have to drop out of school The stupid trio, unlike their usual selves, frantically repeated the proble their necks as they tried to understand Sudou occasionally was on the brink of dozing off, but for the sake of beco class He was earnestly chasing after a far-fetched dreah at Most of us first-years, who had just only gotten out of middle school, didn't have any dreaht, ”What will I be when I grow up?”, but nothingtowards his dream, is a praiseworthy person

Anyway, how does this school even define and measure ability?

At the very least, it's not measured only by academic ability

That's obvious when you see that Ike, Sudou, and I were all accepted

If you're adh, you have tomarks Or at least, that's what it seemed like to me

If the system itself isn't a lie, then there aren't many possible answers

Or are theydifficult problems for Ike and Sudou so they can overcome them?

That question arose in my mind Well, it probably doesn't have such a simple answer Both the lessons and the small test are harder than what Sudou and the others can solve

After theclasses ended, Horikita looked down at ther notes with a small nod It looks like she's satisfied with the notes she took

Even if it's teaching the stupid trio, Horikita will definitely do her best to create the best results It's only natural because she wants to improve the class' score and raise the ability of the students

However, we're not ai for full marks All ant is for Ike and the others to pass

As soon as the bell rang for lunch, Ike and the others ran for their lives Lunch is 45 , it was promised that everyone would meet in the library for 20 minutes to study

At first, we planned to study in the classroom, but since it would be noisy, it was decided that ould study in the library so that we could concentrate better

However, I think that the real reason was so that Horikita could avoid Hirata Hirata's group usually discusses studylunch If ere nearby, ould probably be able to overhear everything they say She probably doesn't want that

”Horikita, what are you doing for lunch?”

”Well—”

”Ayanakouji-kun Do you want to eat lunch together? I have no other plans today”

Kushi+da suddenly jumped into my vision

”Oh, sure Then do you want to eat with Kushi+da too—”

”See you later I already have plans, so excuse me”

Getting up quickly, she left the classroom by herself

”Sorry, Ayanakouji-kun Was I… a bother?”

”No, no, it's fine”

Kushi+da looked at Horikita's back and waved ”Bye bye~”

Was this planned out? After discovering her secret the other day, I feel like Kushi+da is trying to keep track of h she said she believed ht tell someone

In the end, we ended up going to the cafe to get lunch When the two of us arrived at the cafe, I was overwhelirls there

”What is this, there are so irls…”

More than 80 of all the students were girls

”It's not really a place where boys eat”

The irls would like, but athletic people like Sudou would only complain that the portions were too small The only boys here were riajuus and playboys They were either sitting with another girl or irls

”I think the school cafeteria is better after all I feel uncomfortable”

”You'll get used to it Koenji-kun comes here every day, you know? Look, he's over there”

Kushi+da pointed towards a large table with a lot of seats around it I could see the figure of Koenji surrounded by girls

He has his usual self-important attitude

I seemed to never see him around lunch time; is this where he alent?

”He looks popular Those girls are all third-years”

Kushi+da is also surprised I could overhear some of the conversation between Koenji and the senpais

”Koenji-kun, say 'aah~'”

”Haha~! Older girls are definitely better~”

Without feeling timid in the presence of third-years, he ate his irls

”That guy, he's really so…”

”It looks like his name has been talked about here and there”

I see, are those girls doing it for the money?

”What a sad world we live in”

”Those girls are only being practical You can't afford to eat with only your dreams”

”Would you do that too?”

”I like to drea armor?”

”A knight in shi+ning armor, huh”

We found seats as far away from Koenji as possible

”How about you, Ayanokouji-kun? Do you like someone like Horikita-san?”

”Why'd you bring up Horikita?”

”You're alith her Isn't she cute?”

Well, I do think she's cute Only the outside though

”Did you know? You've been drawing attention fro list that the first-year girls created”

”Attention Me? And what kind of ranking…”

It looks like I was rated by the girls when I wasn't aware

Is it the sairl's breasts?

”How ? The wealth ranking? The grossness ranking? And the—”

”… You can stop I don't want to know anymore”

”It's fine, it's fine You were ranked fifth on the ikeratulations! By the way, first place was Satonaka-kun from class A Second was Hirata-kun, and third and fourth were both boys froot a lot of points because of his looks and his character”

As one would expect froirls in the other classes too

”Is it ok for me to be happy about this?”

”Of course Oh, but you were also pretty high on the gloos too”

”Let's see…”

I looked at the phone There were several lists of countless boys

There was also a disturbing ranking titled, ”Ranking of boys who should die” Let's say I didn't see that

”Are you not happy? You're ranked fifth”

”It would be different if I cared about being popular, but I don't really feel anything”

In fact, I don't reotten a letter with a heart seal on it froirl

”Are a lot of people participating?”

”Yea There are a lot of people who participate, but I don't know the total vote tally The people who comment are also anonymous~”

In other words, it's not very reliable

”Anyway, I think you're at a disadvantage I think you're definitely so an ikemen, but you don't stand out like Hirata-kun You're not particularly s, you know?”

”That, that killed me…”

That's just saying that I have nothing appealing about me…

”S-sorry I probably should've held back”

Kushi+da reflected on her harsh words

”Uirlfriend?”

”Is it bad if I didn't?”

”… So you didn't Ahaha, it's not particularly bad”

”Rankings, huh If boys did the sairls think?”

”Think of thes?”

Even though she was s, her eyes weren't Well, that's to be expected If the boys ranked the girls on cuteness or ugliness, they would definitely object That's already one double standard between girls and boys Anyway, Kushi+da has been interacting with ht she would act differently after I found her on the rooftop

”Hey You don't have to force yourself to talk to me, you know”

”No, no, it's not forced I find talking to you fun”

”Well, didn't you say that you hated talking to me?”

”Ahaha, I did, didn't I Sorry, sorry, those are s

… No, I'h she's putting on that smile, she hates me That's the worst

”Actually, the reason I invited you to eat lunch with , but if you had to choose between Horikita-san and me to be your ally, ould you choose? Would you choose me?”

”I'm no one's ally or opponent I'm neutral”

”I think there areneutral It's fine and all to oppose war for example, but you'll be wrapped up in it at soht, it would be nice if you cooperated”

”Even if you say that…”

”Keep that inyou to help me”

”Expect, huh If you askyou should do is explain the situation”

Still s, Kushi+da shook her head no

”No, the first thing is to make sure we trust each other”

”Yea, I suppose”

Both Kushi+da and I don't really understand each other too well

Sometime down the line, e trust each other more, I may be able to understand Kushi+da better

2

One minute later than we had promised, we all met in the library

Everyone was ready to take notes and aiting to start There were also a lot of other students that were currently studying in the library Fro an effort to study

I could tell with a glance

”You're late”

”Sorry, ere a bit late because it was crowded”

”Did you two eat together!?”

Ike asked us, feeling suspicious because the two of us caether

We did indeed eat together, but I don't think we should say anything here

”Yea, we did We had lunch together”

Like I said, you didn't have to say that… With a disgruntled expression, Ike glared atat me, Horikita continued to talk

”Hurry up”

”… Ok”

I quietly sat down and took out my notes

”I thought I would need ly easy”

”Cheht”

Ike and Yamauchi spoke up

”That's because there's a lot of lish have questions that you can't answer if you don't have the basics”

”Don't let your guard down There ht be current events on the test”