Hey guys, guess who's back! Damn, I did not think I would take so long to update, but I was busy with my studies, and when I was finally a free person, I… forgot most of the plans I had for this story. Which is shit, since I am convinced I wrote them down, and yet I couldn't find them!

Luckily, I was recently able to remember and piece together where I was going, and here we are! Hope you like this chapter! Now it's time for the Class A boys to shine!

Gakushuu's been trying to figure out a mystery. Or, actually, not a mystery, but an issue. Not an issue involving him, per se, but a mystery involving one of his classmates.

Koyama Natsuhiko.

Originally he wasn't part of Class A, but during first year, he managed to prove he belongs there by making it into the Top 10—into the Top 5, even—more than once. He's transferred to Class A for this year, and he's managed to keep up with them. In fact, he's proving to be one of the top of their class.

His personality, however, doesn't really show that.

Gakushuu's actually intrigued by that. This guy is clearly a chosen one. He has the grade to look down on almost everyone with confidence, and yet he doesn't. He's meek and he seems to cower from other. The second year best student has heard the school bully Terasaka Ryouma (whose grades were and still are abysmal and there is no doubt he will be transferred to Class E for their third year unless he manages to get his act together—which is very questionable and probably won't ever happen) used to try to bully him, and Koyama was quietly waiting for him to fall to E Class so he could look down on him.

The question Gakushuu has is… why wait for that, when he could do that just now?

It seems Koyama just hasn't realized his worth yet, and as someone who is aiming to be school council president next year, Gakushuu has to help his classmates any way he can.

So he goes up to him one day, figuring perhaps a talk might help Koyama and his confidence. Their class is empty now, since everyone else left for lunch. "Koyama-kun?"

Koyama almost jumps in his seat. He looks amazed to be approached by Gakushuu, like as if that's an honor he never thought he would have. "Y-Yes, Asano-kun?"

"Can I talk to you about something?"

"…S-Sure."

"I was just wondering," Gakushuu says conversationally, giving his most charming smile. He doesn't want to scare Koyama off. "You have brilliant grades, and you're clearly one of the best, even in our class. That is a fact nobody can deny."

"Well… I suppose, yes."

"You clearly are one of the strong. But I couldn't help but notice you seem unsure of yourself and lacking confidence despite this. Why is that?"

"Why is…" Koyama takes a deep breath. He looks uncomfortable, but he still talks without Gakushuu prompting him to. Gakushuu's wondering if he's kept this inside all this time, and only now is he saying it out loud. Perhaps he's the first person who's ever seemed interested about Koyama's life at all, which prompted him to talk. "Well… I guess… I guess middle school hasn't been very pleasant to me, so… I don't know." A shrug. "When you're looked down a lot for being weak, you end up accepting that as a fact."

Gakushuu blinks. He's never been looked down for being weak, so he can't understand. But it appalls him that one of the strong has been looked down as weak. Koyama let it happen, that's true, but it's something it can be solved. Confidence is something that can be gained.

"I can't agree with that sentiment. I don't believe you are weak at all, or someone that should be looked down for that matter."

Koyama looks so hopeful. It's like no-one ever told him he was strong. Perhaps no-one ever did. "Do you really think that?"

"I do," Gakushuu nods. In this school, grades mean strength. And Koyama is indeed strong. "In fact, let me give you a piece of advice." Koyama nods, so he continues. "With your strength, you should more boldly look down on others."

Whatever advice Asano gave to Koyama, it worked wonderfully. Ren eats his food quietly as he looks at the student who has now decided he's worthy enough to join him and Asano at their lunch table. Not that he minds—oh, no; the more, the merrier. It's just amazing how much Koyama changed since that conversation he had with Asano a couple of weeks ago.

And yes, he does know about that conversation. Asano had told him he'd join him at lunch a little later since he wanted to talk to Koyama. He's not quite sure what Asano said to him, but whatever it was, it brought forth an ego no-one had expected Koyama to have.

Asano does have a way with words, indeed. And him, someone who is a fan of literature and the Japanese language in general, does appreciate something like this.

It's clear that Koyama, despite his newfound confidence, now feels like he's indebted to Asano for helping him. Ren wonders if that's what Asano had been aiming for. He usually doesn't do things out of the goodness of his heart. There's always something to gain, like for example, people's support. Asano does want to be school council president next year. It would make sense.

There is a chance, however, that Asano actually does have a heart somewhere and, noticing Koyama's lacking confidence, he decided to help a classmate out. Although he always helps their classmates out. Although if it's for the goodness of his heart or to gain support, he can't tell for sure.

Perhaps it's probably both.

Ren's hopes he'll get to know the answer someday. Surely, Asano will open up and be genuine instead of having this perfect mask all of the time. Or, at least, that what he would like. Yes, he has seen more sides of Asano than any other student has ever have, but he still thinks his friends need to open up some more. The amount of pressure he must have—so many expectations, so many responsibilities—is astounding, and it's amazing that Asano hasn't crumbled under it. Knowing him, though, he probably won't.

But all in due time, Ren thinks. For now, he'll keep giving Asano the support a friend would give. As for Koyama, while he isn't exactly in Ren's list of favorite people—at least, not yet—he's going to accept him with a smile. After all, it seems like Asano has already accepted him into their circle.

And even though there are times he and Koyama can't seem to agree—a poet who is all about literature and imagination versus a scientist who is all about facts and memorization—at the very least, they can talk about girls. Which is, honestly, a breath of fresh air, considering Asano—who is not interested in dating or romance—never really wants to participate in his girl talk and most of the time just listens to him ramble on and on about his dates.

Speaking of dates, he has a date on Sunday with Sato Aiko. What a wonderful time to be alive, indeed!

You know, the best thing about Asano's advice to Koyama is that is actually canon. According to the character book, Gakushuu literally told him, "With your strength, you should more boldly look down on others," and that's how Koyama built up the huge ass ego he's got in Assassination Classroom, and the reason he's so loyal to Asano. I… have no idea what the hell kind of advice is that, but other than that, it's nice to see Gakushuu help his peers.

For someone who sees most of his classmates as minions, he is a really good friend. XD

Thank you so much for the comments and the support! It makes me happy to know you guys actually like this story! :)

Until next time~