Season 2 Episode 7
AiriIchinose: Thank you
"I've been proud and grateful for the past 2 years to have led the student body as your student council president. Simple though it may be, this concludes my resignation speech. Migasan arigato goizamasu."
The 1st year batch applauded Manabu Horikita for today, he's resigning from his role and in the crowd, Ayanokouji and Horikita who's smiling over her brother applauded for him.
Before, she'd have been inconsolable.
Ayanokouji observed his classmate as, "Thank you for your hard work, President Horikita. We'll now hear a few words from our new student council president." Tachibana announced and she stepped aside for the new president to take stage as she walked to Manabu and stood beside him.
Now the new president is a second year student with blonde hair and blue eyes. Considered to be very handsome as he began. "I am your newly instituted student council president, Nagumo Miyabi of Class 2-A. I'll not beat around the bush and get straight to the point. I wish to turn this school into a true meritocracy. Students with outstanding abilities will stay on the top and students without it will stay at the bottom. This is how things should be and it's the first move as the new student council president..."
As the speech goes on, some students doubted it and others just remain neutral. Ayanokouji on the other hand is in deep thought.
The day before this assembly, Horikita-senpai warned me that this Nagumo had set everything in motion to take on the new role. Due to my absences because I was away on the cruise and at the same time dealing with special exams and the Sports Festival, we were unable to plan countermeasures against his ambitions. Regardless, there is still time and chance to hopefully oppose him and if possible, remove him from power which might take some time and planning. Still, I have a priority to protect Honami from his influence. While she's resilient, Nagumo will do anything to charm, sweet-talk or make the moves on her. I will not allow him to take her away from me...wait why did I suddenly think of this?
Oh never mind and he can see Honami listening to his speech with a mixture of doubt and anxiety about his goals.
Some time later...
School assembly is over and the first years students are seen leaving the hall and they got some time till first period begins. Ayanokouji is seen checking his private points on his phone when he saw Katsuragi approaching him. "Your performance in the Sports Festival was a genuine surprise. Class A talked about it a lot even assuming your true abilities to be something else on a different level and the fact that you rarely showcase them all." He began with a positive smile.
"Thanks Katsuragi."
"No problem. But while the class is buzzing in excitement about it, only one was unable to humble himself and allowing hatred to build up in him even more."
"Totsuka right? I'm starting to get tired of his presence and behaviour."
"I understand. No matter how strict I am to discipline him, he misbehaves when I turn my back around. I swear, someday if something happens to him and he's still like this, nothing can save him. Not even I can do anything about him..." Katsuragi sighed about it and he got serious. "Please tell Horikita to watch out for Ryuuen."
"Wait, weren't you working with him in the past?" Ayanokouji asked.
"To my present chagrin, I never should have gotten myself involved with him." Katsuragi answered him. "In fact, I even found out that he was going to stab me in the back."
"In what way?"
"You see, he forged a contract to help me get first place for Class A in the island exam. But apparently, one of Sakayanagi's lackeys betrayed us and sold the class leader identity to Ryuuen who then used it to his advantage by turning the deal sour enough to claim victory for his class though the result was that the victory goes to your class instead." Katsuragi explained. "And during the cruise ship exam, Machida and his peers told me everything regarding Ryuuen and a traitor from your class that helped him aced it. They also told me that you figured out the pattern and our strategy for the exam."
"Yeah...the traitor..." Ayanokouji thought as, "As a result of all this activity, Ryuuen is now my-no, our mutual enemy. If ever he targets your class, feel free to approach me for assistance if ever you require it."
"Wakata. I'll let her know and I'll consider your aid if ever."
"Sure. See you around Ayanokouji and take this." Katsuragi took out a piece of paper and handed it him. He then went ahead to class as Ayanokouji opened it. "Katsuragi's handphone number..."
Taking out his phone, "Contacts have increased in my phone for the past few months..." He thought as he browsed through his list of people that he got their contact numbers.
Suzune Horikita
Kikyou Kushida
Honami Ichinose
Ryuji Kanzaki
Airi Sakura
Ken Sudou
Haruki Yamauchi
Kanji Ike
Hideo Sotomura
Yousuke Hirata
Teruhiko Yukimura
Koji Machida
Takuro Morishige
Shigeru Takomoto
Tetsuya Hamaguchi
Ryouta Beppu
Mio Ibuki
Shiho Manabe
Nanami Yabu
Saki Yamashita
Kei Karuizawa
Mako Amikura
Norihito Watanabe
Kohei Katsuragi
By the time he added Katsuragi's phone number, "Both sides have our share of worries it seems..." He thought referring to their discussion just now when, "Hey..."
Turning around, "Nani? Satou Maya?"
"Yeah...that's me! Uh listen...can I talk to you for a minute? I...have something to ask you..." The girls appeared to be shy and having a blushing face as Ayanokouji stared at her.
It now cuts to them behind a building as Satou spoke to him. "This might be a weird question...but are you...are you seeing anyone lately?"
"Um...what do you mean by that?"
"What do you think I mean?! I'm asking if you have a girlfriend!" Satou explained while still having that blushing face on her. "So do you have a girlfriend?"
"No."
That answer made her smile. "Really? Well then, we can keep it platonic and...can we exchange handphone numbers?"
"Sure. But...why me?" Ayanokouji asked as he and Satou exchanged contact and after that, "The sports festival relay. You look seriously impressive back there and when you finished first, I was like, wow!"
And a flashback plays the scene where Ayanokouji finished first causing Satou to gasp and blush because she saw something in him.
"I must admit. I never realized how handsome...laid back...fast...strong...and nice..." That's when she realized that it's too much so, "A-Anyway, that's all and see you in class!" She ran off as he watched her.
But at the same time, "Mou...Chie-sensei's right! Now what do I do regarding this..." Honami who's been eavesdropping their talk had a small frown on her face when, "Secret admiring huh?"
"Eh? Karuizawa-san..." Honami didn't expect her to be behind her as, "Worried that Satou-san might take him first before you?" Karuizawa teased her. "N-No! I...uh..."
"Okay fine! Let's drop it and go to class." Karuizawa suggested and that relieved her.
The 2 girls decided to walk to class together and during that, "Tell me something, why are you so interested in him?"
"Kiyotaka? Well...for starters, his abilities are claimed to be average but I see something else in him...at a different level." Honami told Karuizawa. "Like in the cruise ship exam where he helped you achieve Case 1 right?" She asked. "Yes! And even so, he's really fast and strong!" Honami added. "Ha! That's why when we hang out at the pool during summer, you can't keep your hands off his body and abs right?" Karuizawa teased her and she turned red in embarrassment. "Anyway, I can see why you're very interested in him. And I'll help you if you need it!"
"You will?" A surprised Honami asked and she smiled. "Gee...thanks...You know, our interactions are strong but also, I wanted to help him."
"Help him?"
"Yes! You see, he was sheltered a lot. He never got the chance to go outside and do the stuff that we do. Like going to our favourite places, tasting succulent food and seeing the cool blockbuster movies. All he ever did is...stay at home and have his abilities honed." Honami told her.
"That seems understandable and it also explains why he looks gloomy especially that poker face he carries. Not to mention how calculating and predictable he can be." Karuizawa stated. "But I heard he's starting to express himself more often."
"True. He's probably getting used to the high school life with more social experience encountered. Who knows?" Honami replied as the girls reached the hallway and there, they split up to their respective classes.
Later in class...
"That's a lot of serious expressions..." Chabashira-sensei told the class while noticing this. "No matter, here are the results of the 2nd midterm exams."
All can see it pinned up on the whiteboard.
"Wah! That was a close damn shave!" A relieved Yamauchi exclaimed. "Whew! Glad I studied harder and-wait a sec...guys! Look at Ken's score on the English subject!" Ike pointed out to the class.
In the last midterm exam, Sudou scored 42 in the mentioned subject but now, he scored 55. "ALRIGHT!" He cheered but, "It's not worth shouting." Horikita spoke up causing to sit down and silence himself. "Like a loyal dog...but she's got a point, Sudou must continue to improve on his academics by scoring higher and not maintaining his current grades on the borderline level." Ayanokouji thought.
"As you can see, no one's getting expelled and surprisingly, some of you improved your grades from the previous midterm exam." Chabashira-sensei stated. "And never in my 3 years of teaching that this class came this far without a single student getting expelled. I can only say this...
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"Yoku Yatta(Well done in Japanese)." And she had a warm smile while saying that part.
"Is this the first time she said something nice about us? Feels like damning with faint praise though..." Ayanokouji thought in wonder as the class murmured about their teacher. "Never thought you scored higher than before Ayanokouji." Horikita brought up positively for all of his scores are above 70 but less than 90. "Oh well...after my performance at the sports festival...I guess it doesn't hurt not holding back much but bit by bit..." He thought.
"But the danger isn't past just yet. For you all have to prove yourselves in the next special exam which will serve as your finals. It's known as the Paper Shuffle." Chabashira-sensei briefed the class as Horikita took her pen out for some note taking. "This exam will have everyone in class participating in teams of 2."
"So we're pairing up is it?" Haruka asked. "Nice! I wanna be partners with Kikyou-chan!" Ike told Yamauchi as the girl upon hearing it smiled. "Ne Karuizawa-san, you'll be with Hirata-kun right?" Shinohara asked.
"Wh-What? But...do we even get to choose who we can partner up?" She asked her when, "How exactly do the pairs get chosen?" Satou asked while raising her hand.
"Hold your horses." Chabashira-sensei told the class when, "Uh, there are no horses in class. How can we hold them? I mean, they're too big to fit in this class and we need those straps and stuff to hold them so how is it possible?" Miyamoto joked as most of the students laughed upon hearing it. "Jokes aside please." The teacher ordered as the class kept quiet. "Good. The manner in which pairs are chosen will be announced after this week's mini-test."
Ike, Yamauchi and Sudou gasped in shock as, "It's purpose will be to ascertain your current academic ability." The teacher continued on. "You'll receive no penalties for scoring low, even if you get zero." This made the class less worried but, "However, the mini test's results will be crucial to the special exam." Now that, made the class sort of worried as Horikita continued noting down the details. "If, on the day of the special exam a pair's total score falls below 60, both students are expelled." Chabashira-sensei explained scaring the class on the expulsion part. "For instance if Hirata and Ike are paired up, even if Ike gets a zero while Hirata gets 60, both students are safe. There's also a bar for total performances across all subjects. I'll provide the precise numbers later but in a given year, it's around 700 points across a total of 8 subjects."
"Which suggests a rough average of 44 points per subject is required." Ayanokoujii thought. "One more thing, the questions for the upcoming exam will be crafted by you, yourselves." Chabashira-sensei revealed to the class leaving Sudou more shocked than just now. "And the questions crafted by each class will be answered by one of the 3 other classes. You'll also get to choose which class you hope gets your questions. In case of a duplicate request, a lottery will decide and whichever class scores higher between the 2 classes will steal 50 points from the other."
"Like a direct attack." Horikita spoke to herself as she continued noting down. "What if they give you questions that are impossible to answer?" Yukimura asked. "Hmph! I'd love to see them try if they dare to." Kouenji smirked.
"No need to worry. The other teachers and I will scrutinize the questions to make sure that does not happen." Chabashira-sensei assured the class. "Obviously, cheating will result in instant failure and both members of the pair will be expelled for the Paper Shuffle sees a few pairs expelled every year so keep that in mind."
"Expelled because either by cheating or poor results from it..." Hondou thought.
"Later I'll send an email with detailed rules for how to craft your questions. I'll leave the rest for you to consider. Now any questions?" The teacher asked. No replies or responses. "Very well. I'll now announce consolation rewards from the Sports Festival."
All were excited as Chabashira-sensei began. "Firstly, congrats for beating Team White. As a result, your final score along with your individual class score are totalled up and will be your reward in private points. The classes in Team White on the other hand lost the consolation rewards."
"That's a total of 11,608 points!" Sotomura calculated as everyone cheered over it. "Secondly and all the time, the voluntary events is where the consolation rewards will come from only. In the Scavenger Race, Ayanokouji finished first with Ichinose from Class B. Though it's a tie, you and her each earned 5000 private points." Chabashira-sensei announced.
Apparently, Ike and Yamauchi gave him a serious stare over the mentioning of Honami involved with him but he didn't care. "And in the class relay, thanks to the efforts from him, Sudou, Kouenji, Onodera, Matsushita and Shinohara, they earn 12,000 private points each."
Sudou cheered over it, Kouenji smirked with pride and satisfaction and the 3 girls felt glad. "Not to mention that this class has for once surprised me. In the history of the Sports Festival, this is the first time a Class D finishes first in this voluntary event." The teacher then concluded the homeroom class as the students praised their peers for the win in the class relay.
After school...
On the rooftop, "What do you make of this upcoming exam?" Ayanokouji asked. "It's mostly focused on academics and I know how our class can win it." Horikita answered him. "The explanation today gave us the hints we need. Call Hirata-kun and the others. We'll hold a strategy meeting."
"Yes ma'am."
"No need to call me that." Horikita left first as Ayanokouji whipped his phone out to call those needed to be part of the meeting when a text message was sent to him and it's from Karuizawa.
Got a question for you. Satou-san asked you out right?
It then cuts to the hallway as Karuizawa got his message.
Who gave you the information? Were you watching me behind the gym with Honami?
"Darn it! He noticed us? Ugh...sometimes, he's so dense and sometimes, he's so sharp!" Karuizawa muttered to herself as she began texting when, "Karuizawa, there you are!" Yousuke appeared before the staircase surprising her as, "Ayanokouji messaged us to meet him and Horikita to discuss the upcoming special exam."
"S-Sure! Got it!" She also hid her phone behind and deleted her message still in the midst of texting.
By a staircase, they met with them and Sudou is involved. "I'd like to begin the strategy meeting promptly." Horikita told the students. "Sure. But...no. Not here. Why not somewhere comfy like a cafe or something. Right Yousuke-kun?" Karuizawa asked still fake dating him but he also played along. "Uh sure! I could use a drink or something."
"Very well. Pallet Cafe then." Horikita allowed it when, "Ano...do you think I could join in?" From the staircase, Kikyou made her down as Ayanokouji and Karuizawa nodded at each other aware of her hidden treachery and Horikita had a doubtful look on her face. "Or would you rather not involve me?" She asked with fake innocence.
"Well sure you can join in." Yousuke spoke up. "You know so much about what's going on in the class to the point that you want to play your part and contribute right?"
Kikyou beamed in agreement and as a result. "Mochiron Kushida-san. I'd also planned on talking with you sooner or later regardless. But can you guys go ahead and reserve a table for us? Ayanokouji-kun and I need to get our bags. We'll join you shortly." Horikita asked her classmates. "No problem! We'll definitely save you a seat!" Sudou assured to her as they went ahead.
Now it's just the 2 of them as, "Is it alright to let Kushida in on our planning?" Ayanokouji asked as they walked back to class to get their bags. "You know well that her unexpected presence was a way to invite herself in so that she can find a way to-"
"I know. But it would look extremely suspicious if I turn her down in that context." Horikita replied to him.
"And I'm sure you have a reason to send them ahead."
"I don't care for airing a person's dirty laundry..." Horikita spoke while thinking a bit. "But knowing that your instincts pointed out our history, this is why I will tell you-" She then turned to face him. "About Kushida-san's past."
In their homeroom...
"We attended the same middle school." Horikita began. "But we're in different classes and never interacted with each other at all so it took me some time to remember her."
"Go on."
"One day as our middle school graduation drew near, a chaotic incident occurred." Horikita revealed to him and she felt a bit of fear upon mentioning it. "It tore a class apart so bad that they remained in turmoil all the way until graduation. Worse, there are rumors that...
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"the one who instigated the chaos was a single female student."
Now that was some suspense as, "You believe it's Kushida right?" Ayanokouji asked.
"It's all rumors of course but I don't know what exactly happened, the only thing is, how could a single student destroy an entire class?"
"I can think of a few ways." Ayanokouji stated as she looked at him. "Let me ask you, do you know what the strongest weapon in this world is?"
"I'm not sure...violence I suppose?" Horikita answered. "Nobody can stop violence occurring in front of their eyes."
"That's not Kushida's style." Ayanokouji replied surprising her as she looked at him again. "If she wields a power of equal potency to violence..."
"One way or another, Kushida-san sees me as an obstacle. Even though I have no idea what happened." Horikita told him as they left the classroom with their bags. "I'm sure she doesn't believe that's true. Direct action might be preferable over trying to convince her." Ayanokouji stated and that made her stop. "Get Kushida-san expelled you mean?"
"A strong offense is frequently the most effective defense. Remember, a class that houses a traitor can't win." Ayanokouji stated as Horikita faced him with some doubt and concern. "You're the one who admonished me for considering cutting Sudou loose."
"Kushida will continue to plague us and the class until you're expelled." Ayanokouji warned her as he took a few steps ahead.
"Things have only gotten this bad in part because I refuse to confront her." Horikita stated as she caught up with her. "And Kushida-san is talented. She could be a considerable asset for our class."
As they walked down the reached the first level, "You think you can bring her to our side?" Ayanokouji asked.
"Yes. I'll keep talking to her and I will make her understand." Horikita replied with determination.
"Very well. If you're that determined, I'll watch from afar." He replied.
"Really?" She asked smiling about his words. "But I'll have to ask you to refrain from protecting me the way you did at the Sports Festival."
"You knew about it?" He asked. "I had an idea because I was annoyed that you took action on the assumption that I'd fail, but I won't argue, given how things turned out." She replied. "Sorry about that..." He apologized as she took a few steps ahead of him and stopped. "However...if not for you, right now, I'd...
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"Arigato." Horikita thanked him while feeling a light blush as she walked ahead.
"An extremely roundabout expression of gratitude." Ayanokouji thought as he went to catch up with her so that they can meet the other at Pallet Cafe together.
Meanwhile in Class C...
"Seems to me there's been too much that's off in these recent exams." Ryuuen briefed and is sitting on the desk of the same cute girl that served him before in season 1 at one of the karaoke rooms.
The scene reveals the majority of the class seated and listening to him. Albert, Ibuki, Ishizaki, Komiya, Reo and Kaneda are the only ones standing and on guard duty for their leader.
"Too much to be a coincidence. The mastermind pulling Class D's strings and the spy helping them out...I know it's one of you." Ryuuen revealed to the class. "You can't be serious..." Ibuki thought as, "BAM!"
Punching his fist onto one of the desks lightly, "Alright you lot, do you know what the strongest power in this world is?" Ryuuen asked as he punched his fist onto the same desk except it's harder than the first one. "It's unrestrained violence."
Every punch he does makes the whole class flinch in fear. Though a few people remained calm like Takeko Nishino and Hiroya Tokitou as Ryuuen continued the punching. "I'll give you one last chance. Come clean with me and I'll let your betrayal slide." He took a few steps forward and stopped. "Do exactly as I say and I'll protect you and give you my mercy. But if you play dumb with me or make stupid moves..." He then punched his fist even harder onto Kinoshita's desk causing her look at Ryuuen as he glared at her. She freaked out and ran off only to stop in front of Albert who gave her an order. "Stay where you are."
Back to the leader as he sat on Kinoshita's spot. "What's the matter? Can't even look me in the eye? Manabe..."
Apparently at the start, she's been looking down on her desk and trembling in fear and because of that, "I see now...you're the traitor aren't you?"
She gasped and this reaction is enough for Ryuuen to swiftly kick her desk onto her, grab her hair forcefully and slam her face on her desk causing Nanami and Saki to cower in horror as, "YOU THINK I DIDN'T KNOW THE WHOLE TIME? YOUR TREMBLING BODY AND WIDENED EYES, IT HIDES THE GUILT OF A TRAITOR!"
"Y-Yes! I was...the one..." Manabe cried to him and she had blood on her nose. "G-Gome...Gomenasai..." She continued to cry as Ryuuen lifted her head up still gripping her hair. "Don't sweat it. Since you admitted it without denial, I'll forgive you. Now tell me one thing...
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"Who's the mastermind behind all this and what caused you to help out?"
A few minutes later...
It cuts to him, Ibuki, Albert, Ishizaki and Kaneda standing around Manabe, Nanami, Saki and Rika all seated before them. With the traitor revealed, the rest of the students are allowed to leave. "I see...bullying can be an amusing pastime." Ryuuen spoke first in amusement. "How stupid can you get? Just for that, you sold us out to their ringleader? And I thought you mended the wounds?" Ibuki asked in frustration but, "Go easy on them Ibuki. I've already said that I'll forgive them." Ryuuen told her. "And during that past instigation, you claimed that Ayanokouji, Yukimura and Sotomura are the witnesses?"
The 3 girls except Rika nodded fearfully as, "In other words, the mastermind is one of those 3 is it not?" Kaneda asked.
"Hang on a minute..." Ibuki interrupted in. "I've had a few interactions with Ayanokouji and he didn't seem like that kind of person to me!"
"Ayanokouji..." Ryuuen thought deeply remembering the past times he was there when he talked with Horikita. "It seems almost too obvious to be plausible...though he went all out back at the class relay event..."
"Come to think of it, I remember something Ryuuen." Kaneda spoke up. "We're not sure yet if Ayanokouji might be the mastermind but I've been observing a strong interaction."
"Oh? I'm listening."
"During the island exam when you sent me to spy on Class B for the leader, the whole class appeared to be teasing Ichinose over Ayanokouji for he and 2 students paid the class a visit. It really piqued my interests." Kaneda revealed. "Once the exam is over and out of curiosity, I observed them from a distance and they sure are very close during the cruise trip. Ibuki, you're in the same group as them during the cruise ship exam right?"
"Yeah...they talk to each other most of the time if I remember..." Ibuki recalled.
"Furthermore during the sports festival, I spied on Class B and witnessed Ichinose faint over Ayanokouji winning the class relay."
"Yeah! He's like a cheetah sprinting to the max!" Albert spoke up and this made Ryuuen realize it. "Souka...Ichinose might be the key to expose him should he be the one..." And with that, "I'll make this an option should it happen to be true regarding him. A very accomplishing effort you did there Kaneda." Ryuuen praised his advisor. "In the meantime...maybe I'll use her." He whipped his phone out and scrolled through a bit he stopped and smiled at the sight of a certain name on his phone.
Kushida Kikyou.
At Pallet Cafe...
Still the same atmosphere with the many girls hanging out as Ayanokouji and Horikita have just entered the place and, "Kochi! Kochi!" Kikyou called out to them. "Took you long enough. What you've been up to?" Karuizawa asked as, "We'll start at once." Horikita started the meeting immediately as she sat down with the others. "Eh? What about Ayanokouji?" Yousuke asked. "He's over there buying something. He'll join us shortly and asked me to proceed on with the meeting." Horikita pointed as all looked behind to see Ayanokouji in line.
"Oh right. I bought you a cup of latte." Sudou brought as Horikita looked down on the table to see the cup of beverage in front of her. "Uh...thanks..." She thanked him as he smiled to himself.
"So now we'll talk about the Paper Shuffle right?" Kikyou asked.
"No. The matter of immediate concern is next week's mini-test." Horikita replied as they began the strategy meeting.
"Perhaps I'll see how Horikita does on her own." Ayanokouji thought and he's next in line.
Back to them, "If the mini-test doesn't influence our academic standing, then there can be only one reason for it, It will determine the pairs for the special exam." Horikita explained to the group. "Remember what our teacher said?"
"Yeah...a few pairs get expelled every year in the special exam." Yousuke answered as he took a sip of his latte when Ayanokouji returned with a cup of cappuccino and a plate of cheesecake. "Mou, you're eating dessert in the midst of our meeting?" Karuizawa asked as he sat down, cut a small piece and took a bite.
"Continuing on, doesn't that number seem a bit low?" Horikita asked. "Who knows? If the poorest-performing students are grouped together, you'll surely see a dozen or more failures."
This worried Sudou a lot though he continued listening and Ayanokouji is still eating his cheesecake as Karuizawa agreed with her and, "I get it now! You think the pairs are designed to create balanced scores?" Yousuke asked.
"Exactly! Balance is the key to the mini-test and I believe that the highest and lowest ranking students must be paired together so that all the pairs can have roughly the same average score." Horikita explained.
"I get it now!" Karuizawa understood well as Ayanokouji took a sip of his cappuccino.
"Our goal now is to precisely pair up those with the highest and lowest academic performance. We'll divide all members of Class D into 4 blocks based on their current academic standing. High level, Mid-High level, Mid-Low level and Low level. Those in the low level will leave their test blank."
"Souka! Then they'll definitely be paired with the highest scorers!" Karuizawa exclaimed with realization.
"Exactly. And the ones in the mid-low level will attempt to get at least one question right." Horikita explained on.
"And in doing so, that'll reduce the disadvantage pairings." Yousuke exclaimed. "You understand Sudou?" Ayankouji asked him. "Uh...I'm pretty damn clueless so I keep quiet and don't get in the way during this meeting." He answered back.
"Hey, you finally get how it works?" Karuizawa asked teasing him. "Shaddap! Nobody asked you!" He replied as laughing took place from the students.
After that, "That concludes my proposal. Now the remaining question is, which class should we request to receive our questions?" Horikita asked.
"Well Class A and B are full of students with high academic performances and I bet they'll take on each other." said Yousuke.
"So it sounds like..."
"Yes Sudou-kun. Class C is our best bet." Horikita stated and they can definitely agree with her.
That night...
Ayanokouji is in his dorm brewing tea or something warm and refreshing to drink when his phone rang and he noticed that it's Karuizawa trying to contact him.
The scene now moves to her dorm as she waited for his phone. The time now is 8:40pm and he soon picked it up and the first thing he said is, "I told you to limit our contact."
"What's the big deal? I just wanna know what you told Satou-san!" She replied as she sat on her bed.
"This again? What does it matter to you what I told her?"
"It matters a ton! You already threatened me and used me to do a bunch to stuff! So...if Satou-san finds out about that, it'll lead to some weird rumors about me..."
"Okay. I see what you're getting at. You're worried that if I grow close with her, I'll neglect my promise to protect you." Ayanokouji replied as he put 2 sugar cubes on his cup of tea and began stirring.
"Why is that your first thought?!"
"Am I wrong?" He asked as he paused his stirring.
"Not entirely but..."
"I promise. You have nothing to worry to about."
"So you're going out with her?"
He paused a bit. "I didn't say that." He then placed his cup of tea on his table and sat down.
"You basically did!" Karuizawa continued on as she sighed. "Ahhh...I'm getting your true colours loud and clear! You think this is your big chance to do some dirty and naughty stuff with someone. Like what if that big chance allows you do it with Ichinose-san?"
That mentioned name caused Ayanokouji to chock up his tea leaving Karuizawa to gleefully smile to herself for she heard a bit of the chocking.
"Why would you assume that? It's a tremendous leap in logic" He asked and he managed to regain himself and his composure shortly.
"You think? You leaped right to making me do that weird stuff..."
"I beg your pardon. If every interaction I have with a woman is suspect, what does that mean for Horikita?"
"I know that she's not that kind of girl!"
"She didn't actually ask me out yet anyway." That made her eyes wide upon hearing that. "She said she wanted to keep things platonic and requested an exchange of contact information." Ayanokouji explained as he sipped his tea. "So there was nothing to agree on."
"But I still bet you hope you get paired up with her right?"
"Certainly not."
"Well in that case, I'll let you off the hook for now!"
"How inexplicably condescending of you..."
"Not how I mean it but anyway, that's all I wanted to know. See ya!"
"Chotto Matte. I want to check something. Manabe and her friends are treating you well since then?"
"Well...yes. We often meet up for some hanging out. Even some of the Class D girls that I'm close with join us also."
"Very good. It seems they're reasonable enough to understand you better."
"Thanks. Glad we fixed things up and became friends." Karuizawa replied and thought of this. "Now I also want to check something. How did you and Ichinose-san become so close with each other? I never got the chance to ask you that during summer break."
A few seconds of silence. "Simple. It started off with both of us helping each other over some matters. During those, she already was aware of something in me and took a strong interest as a result. After that, we started hanging out a lot during summer and on the cruise trip. For now we're just best friends."
"Best friends? Ha! One day this friendship will evolve into something better I bet! Fate is the first stage and destiny is the next! Who knows?"
This sentence left Ayanokouji with his mouth open. "Anyway Ayanokouji-kun, I gotta go."
"And make sure you-"
"Yeah, yeah delete the recording of this call. I know."
"Perfect. See you tomorrow and good night."
After the call, Karuizawa lay on her bed thinking about their conversation while Ayanokouji is in deep thought regarding one of the sentences Karuizawa used.
She could be absolutely right about fate and destiny between me and Honami. The possibility might be high on that.
The next day...
In homeroom, Horikita explained her plan to the class. They seemed convinced by her explanation and agreed to play along. A swiss zoologist named Alfred Portmann once said that all humans are born premature. A newborn human can't even walk on his own. Horikita is the same way but that same underdeveloped nature is an indication of the capacity for infinite potential.
The scene then shows Horikita explaining the plan as many listened and discussed among themselves.
On the day of the mini-test, everyone followed the plan as some did the test while others did nothing. During the test, Ayanokouji took a glance at Horikita for a second.
An unprecedented sense of unity. It's best when I don't have to get involved
And the next day, the pairs are revealed.
Paper Shuffle Pairs
1. Suzune Horikita and Ken Sudou
2. Teruhiko Yukimura and Kokoro Inogashira
3. Rokusuke Kouenji and Kyousuke Okitani
4. Yousuke Hirata and Haruki Yamauchi
5. Kikyou Kushida and Kanji Ike
6. Wataru Ijuin and Hideo Sotomura
7. Soshi Miyamoto and Kei Karuizawa
8. Wang Mei-Yu and Satsuki Shinohara
9. Nene Mori
10. Chiaki Matsushita and Ryotarou Hondo
11. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji and Maya Satou
12. Kayano Onodera and Airi Sakura
13. Haruka Hasabe and Akito Miyake
Incredible in the worst possible way
A friendship is formed between Karuizawa and Honami, Miyamoto telling a funny joke and Kaneda tipping Ryuuen about Honami's strong interaction with Ayanokouji are the new scenes added and are specialized!
And not to mention the phone call between Ayanokouji and Karuizawa for she longed to understand something more between him and his interaction with some girls especially Honami. Plus, the cafe scene involves a slice of cheesecake. Yummy!
Private Points List(Inclusion of the consolation rewards for Class A and D since they won the Sports Festival as Team Red)
Class 1-A
1. Arisu Sakayanagi-652,358
2. Kohei Katsuragi-1,092,934
3. Yahiko Totsuka-552,794
4. Masumi Kamuro-543,374
5. Masayoshi Hashimoto-541,215
6. Hayato Kito-543,958
7. Takuro Morishige-1,118,599
8. Koji Machida-1,130,922
9. Shigeru Takomoto-1,120,794
10. Miki Yamamura-542,275
Class 1-B
1. Honami Ichinose-3,305,390
2. Ryuji Kanzaki-845,880
3. Chihiro Shiranami-343,085
4. Yume Kobashi-801,566
5. Mako Amikura-351,441
6. Sou Shibata-353,626
7. Tetsuya Hamaguchi-934,452
8. Ryouta Beppu-923,449
9. Sayo Andou-834,507
10. Norihito Watanabe-333,178
Class 1-C
1. Kakeru Ryuuen-730,699
2. Mio Ibuki-767,661
3. Albert Yamada-186,690
4. Daichi Ishizaki-178,542
5. Kyogo Komiya-212,492
6. Reo Kondou-219,463
7. Satoru Kaneda-228,995
8. Shiho Manabe-750,876
9. Nanami Yabu-765,489
10. Saki Yamashita-772,029
11. Rika Morofuji-198,637
12, Minori Kinoshita-199,390
Class 1-D
1. Soshi Miyamoto-105,245
2. Satsuki Shinohara-120,888
3. Kokoro Inogashira-114,259
4. Nene Mori-111,577
5. Teruhiko Yukimura-645,829
6. Yosuke Hirata-612,165
7. Kei Karuizawa-592,135
8. Kayano Onodera-133,893
9. Kikyou Kushida-630,293
10. Ryotarou Hondou-105,999
11. Hideo Sotomura-601,235
12. Chiaki Matsushita-119,262
13. Rokusuke Kouenji-600,760
14. Haruka Hasabe-147,211
15. Haruki Yamauchi-105,781
16. Akito Miyake-134,772
17. Wang Mei Yu-103,419
18. Kyousuke Okitani-106,037
19. Maya Satou-106,695
20. Kanji Ike-108,697
21. Kiyotaka Ayanokouji-655,107
22. Suzune Horikita-693,893
23. Wataru Ijuin-131,102
24. Airi Sakura-111,674
25. Ken Sudou-100,516
Class Points
A-924
B-803
C-492
D-345
I have never been this amazed to see a lot of support for this story especially when it currently hit more than 10,000 views! Sugoi! I also came across new illustrations in an upcoming LN. What will happen there? Oh well, better work on the next chapter and shuffle the paper in the special exam!
Nah just kidding. Sayonara!