Chapter 3: Study Time
"Hey Kurahashi," I walked up to one of my classmates as the school day was ending.
"Hi Shuri, did ya need somethin'?" She asked me with a cheery grin.
"Well… Uh…" I could feel the heat in my face.
"Spit it out will ya, big guy? We don't have all day…"
"This doesn't concern you Nakamura!" I snapped at Kurahashi's blonde friend standing directly behind her.
"Shuri! That's rude!" Kurahashi exclaimed with a disgusted look on her face.
"Yeah, creep…" With a mischievous toothy grin Nakamura continued, "you're the one that stopped the young Kurahashi from leaving and couldn't get a word out."
"Rio… That's also being rude…" Kurahashi shook her head. "Can we all just agree to get along moving forward please?"
"Yeah sure… If Shuri here will just agree to finally get his words out so that he doesn't wa-" Kurahashi put a finger to Nakamura's lips.
"I apologize for her cattiness Shuri, I'm sure it was just a heat of the moment situation," she gave me a kind smile. "Please, ask."
"I'm trying to form a study group… you know… with Midterms coming up and all…"
"You ain't gonna turn us all into robots are you?" Nakamura smirked as my face fell…"
"RIO!" Kurahashi exclaimed. "That was cold, even for you."
"It's stupid… sorry I asked…" I turned away as my shoulders slumped.
"Hey, Heartbreaker…" Yet another great nickname from Nakamura. "Your place right? That's where you're having it? Hina and I have to stop in town, but we'll be by like five-ish… Sound good?"
"We'll see you then Shuri, okay?" Kurahashi put a hand to my back. "Don't beat yourself up, okay?"
"What's with the long face San-Nii?" Sasu looked up at me. "Did Kurahashi not accept your invitation?"
I looked around to see if anyone was in earshot, noticing a tentacled menace peering in on Sasu and I. "I'd rather not talk about it Sasu…" I sighed.
"Eh, don't worry about it San-Nii! There's other-" She saw how depressed I was. "Well sorry, your sister isn't enough for you," she gave a fake huff.
"Nakamura said she and Kurahashi would be over around five." I told her disheartenedly.
"Well that's what you were going for, wasn't it? Don't be so glum!" She slapped me on the back. "Let's stop lollygagging and get started setting up the place for studying."
"There's one more person I'm gonna invite." I told her as I ran after a blue-haired friend that was just started down the mountain. "Nagisa! We're studying at my place, Nakamura and Kurahashi are gonna be there too. You interested in getting in a bit of studying before midterms?"
"You cool if I ask Sugino along, San?" He asked me.
"You two do hang out a lot… So if he's cool with it, you can invite him." I nodded in approval.
"You alright San?" He asked me looking over my face.
"Y-yeah… I'll see you back at my place!" I said running off before he could get another word in.
***
"Something else happened and you're not telling me Shuri…" Susa said as we were just reaching the school.
"My life shouldn't matter to you Ame, I'm just your cover after all, right?" I shot her a look with a grimace.
"How is someone like you so dense…? Things aren't always so black and white…" She glared back at me.
"I thought that's how you wanted to treat this relationship…"
"What?! Wh-why use that word?" I noticed the blush spreading over her face as she attempted to hide it with her books.
"Is there a better word…?" I was unsure as to why she had responded in the way she had.
"Oh my poor sweet flower, I'm afraid you're speaking to a bit of a bot in this one." Another cutting voice harped its way into my ear. "Though if it's attention you're seeking, I'm always available."
We had just exited the school gates, when our conversation was interrupted by the boy stated to be Maehara's rival in some circles. "Sakakibara, our business is our own," I growled.
"Oh mademoiselle, shall I take you away from the cold, emotionless prattling of this unforgiving machine?" He put his arm around Sasu.
"Get your hand off of her without her permission, you cretin." I looked down to see Sasu contemplating over what to do.
"Strong words coming from someone in the End-Class," he countered.
"Is that how you feel about people you consider your 'lessers'." She glared up at him with eyes shining blue. "Then it may well interest you that I myself are in Class-E as well."
"A young beauty such as yourself?"
"Save the playful banter for someone that can't see through your words." She hid her hand but from the corner of my eye I caught the tip of a fingernail lengthening from under her sleeve.
"Well, my lovely… If you'd ever like a chance out of that wretched place, I could always put in a good word with Asano. I happen to be on pretty close terms with the head honcho himself." He removed his arm from her shoulder and sauntered past us. "So… what is she to you, has the so-called 'Bot Boy' finally gotten a notch on his belt?" He taunted.
"Play along with me here Shuri, okay?" Sasu whispered to me. "Is that so unbelievable?" My eyes went wide. "I mean look at him, he's a catch… Maybe that's why you're putting up this front, pretty boy. You're jealous!"
"J-jealous? As if!" It was the first time I had ever seen the suave and sophisticated Ren Sakakibara so put off. "You've really piqued my interest now, my darling," his words, though menacing, wavered as he spoke.
"I mean, it's kinda evident, I know from what San-kun has told me you have a reputation for sleeping with all the girls you've ever-"
"Those are nothing but baseless allegations!" He shouted in retort.
"Enough…" I glared at Sakakibara and waved to Sasu to drop it. "This young lady is a good friend of mine, and while she may have the best of intentions, no I have not 'added a notch to my belt.' Women aren't just prizes, Sakakibara. They're people…"
A wicked smirk spread across his face. "Care to put a wager on that, Shuri?"
"Not particularly… I haven't a need to continue this conversation at this point," I said, deflecting his obvious bait.
"What's the bet…?" This could not be said for my small framed compatriot standing at my side.
"Caught your ear, mon cheri?" His face returned to his suave disposition. "'Women aren't prizes' as you so eloquently put, Shuri… Allow me to change your perspective on that. The wager, your lady friend…"
"I would never agr-"
"You're on, shaved head!" Sasu shouted. "San-kun can easily kick your sorry a-"
"Perhaps you should hear the terms before accepting next time, my dear." He smiled maliciously. "Though foolheartedness is to be expected from those in E-Class."
"She accepted for me… so what are your terms Sakakibara, since I know you won't let me out of this now."
"Simple Shuri, exams are coming up, and while I do not doubt my physical capabilities to combat your own, you pride yourself more in your mental ability. Asano has said that throughout your second year here, you consistently placed fourth on all exams… This was enough to place you at tenth in the overall school standings."
"Get to the point… I have to go study for said exams."
"Best me in three of the five subjects… Those are my terms." He turned to leave. "You lose, she's mine."
"Sasu are you crazy!" I immediately turned to her as soon as Sakakibara was out of earshot. "Why did you put yourself on the line like that? Not to mention now you've backed us into a corner… To E-class your cover is my sister, to the rest of school-"
"Don't look at it as being backed into a corner, Shuri, and if you do, use it as a strength." She gave me a soft smile. "When life presents challenges to you, overcome them… isn't that what the octopus would say in this situation. In my world, lives can be cut short in an instant. If I know I want something, or have a reason for it, I don't sit on my laurels and wait for it to happen to me. I don't stumble over my words… I go for it."
***
It was only my third day in E-Class, I hadn't made any friends and I still had the mentality that this whole class was the end of the road. The world was doomed, the media was right… As I was sitting down to lunch under a tree near the entrance to the school, suddenly something falling out of the sky just barely caught my eye. I rushed over to it and found a small wren. It was frightened as my large, lumbering body trudged over to it.
I knelt down next to it and looked it over. Its wing was completely bent in a totally unnatural way. "I-it's okay little fella…" I reached out for it. "Ow… Ow… Ow…" It pecked at my hand as I gently scooped it up, I slowly stepped my way back in the building and asked if anyone had a cardboard box. I got a few confused looks, I hadn't really said much in class other than answers to our tentacled teacher's questions.
"What for Shuri?" Isogai asked. I held out my cupped hand to show the bird resting inside.
"Th-That poor bird! I might have one let me check! If not, I can also ask Kataoka to let us into the supply closet," Kurahashi gave me a worried glance as she looked down at the little bird.
"If I can find some place to get it settled I may be able to fix up its wing, don't worry. I've been told I'm pretty handy," I replied.
"Just don't crush the thing with those sausage fingers of yours, okay Shuri?" The ever-taunting voice of Nakamura jabbed.
"Rio…" Kurahashi whimpered. "Give me a moment please Shuri! Sorry!" She ran off to look around.
A few minutes later, we placed the bird in a bed of shredded paper in the box and I gently took to bandaging the wren's wing. Kurahashi and I each smiled at each other for a job well done. "That was pretty neat Shuri!"
***
"Sorry San… I know this is putting you out way more than you or Ame-san were expecting," Sasu and I got back to our place and were greeted not only with Nagisa and Sugino, but Kanzaki and Kayano had also tagged along.
"I hope we're not imposing Shuri!" Kanzaki quietly bowed.
"N-no! Please! Don't feel bad on my account. Why don't all of you get settled and I will go prepare some snacks!"
"San-Nii let me help too! It shouldn't all be on you! Besides… I kinda want to know what your friends think of my cooking."
"Ame…" I shook my head. "You need to study. Don't worry I can-"
"San-Nii! Don't argue!" She flared her nostrils.
***
"What do you mean you don't get this…?" I groaned at Sasu.
"Well, sorry math isn't partial to my everyday life before coming to stay with you," she puffed up her cheeks in frustration.
"Math isn't my strongest subject either Shuri…" Nagisa rubbed the back of his head. "But from San's tutoring and Koro-Sensei's teaching I'm sure you can get a handle on it if you apply yourself."
"Let's look at it another way… You like to cook, right Ame?" I asked her as she nodded her head. "Well you have to measure out the ingredients… know the diameter of some pans and count cooking time… Yes it's not the three-dimensional transversal problem that you're seeing here, but those all can play a part in it."
"In Japanese, San-Nii…" She whined.
The six of us were then interrupted by a knock on the door, which I immediately went to answer. "Kurahashi, Nakamura, glad you both could make it!"
"Sorry we're a bit late Shuri!" Kurahashi bowed. "Rio decided that she wanted to go shopping and we lost track of time."
"It's fine, Kurahashi! The others are all studying in my study."
"Others? So this isn't just an att-" Nakamura was given a glare from Kurahashi. "I mean… Thanks for allowing us to work with ya, Shuri!"
"Be sure to get something to eat, Ame and I made plenty of food," I said as I shut the door.
***
"Shuri?" Everyone had gone home several hours ago. It was just Sasu and me now. "Thanks for your help today… And… I'm sorry about the situation with Sakakibara…" She said to me as I was studying alone at my desk. "Hey Shuri, you like that Kurahashi girl right?"
"That's neither here nor there right now…" I told her. "Get some rest Sasu… I'll see you in the morning. You can take my bed, I'm probably not going to be using it tonight and you need a good nights' rest."
"So do-"
"Please don't argue… I want you to do your best tomorrow… To be honest… you may not be here long but I want you to make the most of your time here." She gave me pleading eyes, but I gave her a gentle smile while nodding my head 'no'. "I'll see you in the morning," I told her as she went towards the bedroom. After another several hours studying, I awoke the next morning to a blanket draped over my back, alongside a pair of souffle pancakes and an Asa-rah bowl.
"Eat up before it gets cold, San-nii!" I heard Sasu's voice call from the kitchen space.
"Pick a lane Sasu, would ya?!" I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck as I straightened out the stiffness.
"One could say the same for you…" her demeanor dropped. "Would it be so bad for us to be friends? You did go out of your way to help me yesterday… and not everyone I know would willingly give up their bed to the random assassin who was using them as a cover story, all the while protecting her cover and-"
"Isn't there some code where assassins shouldn't get too close to a mark?" I cut her off.
"You… You also stood up for me even after I got you into a tough situation, okay?" She sighed. "Is it really that stupid to care about the first person to show actual care towards Ame Sasu, the person, and not Ame Sasu, the Hannya?"
"Fifth place?!" The whole room exploded in uproarious surprise. The look on Akabane's face was especially rewarding to my ego as I handed in three perfect scores to his one on the math exam.
"Y-you actually did it San-Nii, you beat Sakakibara!" Ame hugged me.
"You actually placed against the Big Five?" Nakamura exclaimed in awe.
"How is this possible, San?" Nagisa asked expectantly.
"I had a couple reasons to give it my all… E-Class… We aren't stupid, we are all here for different reasons, they wanna use us as an example… Fine, let's turn that example on its head!" I triumphantly declared. "Principal Asano can attempt to intimidate us all he wants."
"How did you predict that one problem, Shuri?" Sugino asked about the transversal problem from the math test.
"I didn't, math just is a set of building blocks, everything leads to everything."
"Seo and Koyama must be seething right now. I'd love to see their faces." Maehara chuckled.
"Let's not all swarm Shuri, students, yes what he did was absolutely astounding, but it still won't matter if he's right and you all don't come together to assassinate me," our yellow adversary all too keenly reminded us.
***
"Shuri!" Sasu, Nagisa, Kayano, Sugino and I were all walking down the mountain together as my eyes met the gaze of the fool of suave arrogance himself, however he wasn't the one that called out to me. Instead it was his red-headed leader that stood at the front of the pack. " I don't know what stunt you pulled, but cheating is not-"
"I didn't cheat, you can go ahead and report that to your father, Asano." I told him defiantly outright.
"Tch! Like we're gonna believe sc-" The burly brute Seo started.
"I don't care if you believe me or not, I concede defeat to Araki, his knowledge of political affairs far exceeds mine… However one subject's falter does not-"
"Save it! There's no way you could best me- ME! In science all the while matching wits with Asano and continuing to best Seo." The crooked face of Koyama twitched.
"Entitlement will be your own undoing, besides I was not the sole person to match wits with Asano, this day."
"And I don't intend on letting it happen again," a voice came from the hill above us.
"Great now he's here too…" I groaned to myself.
"I completed our bet fair and square, Sakakibara…"
"Nagisa, get the small fry and your buddy outta here," Karma said from above. "Seems The Lame Five wanna start something with us, Shuri. I'll team up with you this once, just to prove a point." Seo began to move forward only to be halted by Asano.
"While I'd prefer nothing more than to put you in your place Akabane, I feel we'd only be hurting this illustrious institution's reputation if three of its students were to end up in the emergency room, and as future leaders in front of the rabble one must put his best foot forward. Shuri, Ren concedes defeat today. Koyama and Seo will return to their right upon the end of the term…" With that Asano had his group turn away. Karma attempted to move in on them when their back was turned but Sugino and I succeeded in holding him off.
"This doesn't mean you and I are on the same side either Shuri," Karma looked up at me. "From my perspective… Every man for himself…"