Narrator: Kiyotaka Ayanokoji
I was walking to the vending machine to buy something to drink.
When I saw the council president with Horikita. It was not very audible, and I was too focused on their conversation when suddenly I felt a hand on me.
Of course, I retaliated, but he, Shikakoi, dodged me swiftly. I did not notice him at all...
When I was about to continue, he shushed me and simply started to walk to the council president sneakily. That is when I realized his footsteps barely had any sound.
He said something to the president after stopping his hand from striking Horikita, but suddenly dropped his hand after Horikita said something.
Yet, when the president tried to strike him, not only did he dodge, but he also had the time to call me out, "Ayanokoji-kun, how long do you intend to hide?"
I came out quietly, and Souta continued, "Horikita-senpai, normally I would report this, and as you can see, I also have a witness."
President replied, "Would he testify?"
He said, his tone was as simple as if talking about the weather, "I think he would rather testify against you than be troubled by me for three years."
At that moment, he looked at me. It took me a second to realize he wanted me to support Horikita in case her legs gave out from this ridiculous scene, and he looked away when I went to Horikita.
But the strangest part was not that he wanted me to help her, but it was the fact that he knew I would understand what he wanted just by making eye contact...
I can already tell that he will be troublesome in the future.
The president asked, "Do you think you can challenge him?"
"Why not? However, it is not like I can actually file the complaint. Not only would you lose all the respect you have gained, but the distance between you and her will only grow. (Then he started walking away, waving his hand as if to say bye, whilst saying) Consider that favour paid off."
The president looked at his back for a second more than I thought he would, then looked back at me, and said, "Ah! I remembered that there was a student who scored exactly 50 in every subject on his entrance exam. 50, exactly half of 100. Was that intentional?"
"Coincidences are scary."
"Let's say that this was an absurd coincidence, but understanding his intent just from a split second of eye contact was not a coincidence at all, was it? You are a very unique man, I see."
I was in a deadlock. So Shikakoi had noticed and created a circumstance where hiding it was counterproductive.
He continued afterwards, "Suzune, I am amazed you have made a friend."
"He is not my friend, he is just my classmate."
"As usual, you have confused isolation for independence, Suzune."
Then, as he started to walk away, he said, "If you want to ascend to a higher class, then struggle with all your might. But the one who will reach class A first would be Shikakoi. Do you think you can beat him?"
He did not wait for an answer and simply walked off.
After we bought our drinks, Horikita sat on the cemented wall of the flower pot.
"I guess you saw my awkward side."
"Actually, I was glad to see what a normal girl could be- Nothing, ma'am." I said, then changed my mind after she glared at me with malicious intent.
"You are amazing. Why would you rig all the entrance exam scores?"
"Aren't you supposed to ask whether I even rigged them at all?"
"I see you have no intent to answer. Then this conversation is meaningless."
"Have you really given up on the study sessions?"
"Yeah, I have determined those failures to be a waste of time. Helping them offers no merit."
"They will be expelled, you know?"
"I do not care what happens. because those who will remain will be those who are serious. Their being expelled will make it easier for our class to rise. That is all that I need anyway."
"Are you sure that your way of thinking isn't wrong. (She started to look at me as if surprised, but I continued) Your way of thinking is that you assume others will hold you back, and steer away from them on your own. Couldn't that philosophy of yours be what led you into class D in the first place?"
x-x-x
Narrator: Me
The days went by. Souta spent his days taking classes, following his workout routine, and sneaking around after Sudo, but he never overstayed his stay beyond what could be excused.
If it felt like he would not be able to explain his presence, then he would leave instantly and subtly.
And then came the second Friday of May, May 8th. After classes ended and everyone packed their bags, whilst waiting for their daily worksheets, Souta went to the podium.
"Everyone, I would like your attention for a moment." he said.
Everyone was stunned.
"The quiet guy is talking..." Someone whispered...
"He seems unusually serious..." Another whispered in the other corner of the class.
Then, seeing Souta about to speak, they all quieted down.
"This is about the test results."
Everyone was slightly nervous, since the questions seemed very difficult.
"The average of 27/50 seems good, but the top score is 39/50, scored by Kanzaki only. So, it seems pretty apparent to me that we need to hold study sessions."
"39... That is the top score?!" someone exclaimed... Then fell silent under everyone's gaze. The tension was obvious.
A boy named Tetsuya Yamaguchi said, "But weren't the tests more difficult? As such, scoring worse marks is obvious. Why would you expect any more?"
Several nodded, because they had the same thought.
"Who said I expected more?"
That stunned everyone... Who could only listen.
"Even if the average matches my expectations, the maximum marks are still 39, and if you all cannot score an average of 40/50, then you need study sessions. Is that so hard to understand?" Souta replied. His tone was calm and serious, not at all worried by his question.
As Ichinose was about to speak, Souta glanced at her and shook his head. She remained silent.
Souta continued, "Getting to class A is not that difficult. But is beating Class A even a good goal?"
Everyone was angry after hearing this, thinking Shikakoi is demotivating them to remain in class B. Even Ichinose wanted to say something, but decided to trust him in the moment.
"I think what truly matters is how long we can stay as class A." Souta said.
Everyone understood instantly.
"For that, we need to have strong foundations. So, I would like you all to hear this out carefully."
Everyone got serious, and Souta continued, "The study sessions focusing on theory will be held on Saturday and Sunday, for 5 and a half hours each."
"5 hours?!"
Souta continued, "The study sessions on weekdays will focus on question solving. I will be leading all the study sessions. It will last only for 1 and a half hour."
Unlike Ichinose, Souta likes keeping the tension intact, and continues, "The study session on Saturday will focus on core concepts, creative edge, basic understanding, and scholar tier discussions. The students whom I have determined as able to score full marks do not need to attend the Sunday session. They will be called the 'Saturday batch'."
When Souta said this, everyone started to check their phones because a notification appeared on everyone's phone. It was the list of Saturday batch and Sunday batch students.
"Hey, I am in the Saturday batch!"
"I am not..."
"Me too, I am in the Sunday batch."
"Of course, even if you are not in the Saturday batch, no one will stop you from attending the Saturday session if you hope to score full marks despite my judgement."
"Shikakoi-san, since you only mentioned Saturday session until now, how different is the Sunday Batch?"
Souta replied, "Sunday is for fundamentals. If your basics are weak, everything else collapses. This study session will focus on fundamentals rather than studying for full marks."
"So, is that why you are not barring any Sunday batch student from the Saturday batch?" Chihiro asked.
"Exactly!" Souta replied.
After a moment, Souta continued, "The weekday sessions will last for 1 hour and start at 8 pm because I believe the compulsory participation in clubs ends at around this time."
"Isn't that very late?!" A girl exclaimed.
"I had no choice. I cannot ask everyone to skip their clubs for those who do not go to clubs." Souta replied, then continued, "The study sessions will be held here in the classroom, and permission regarding the use of the classroom has already been obtained."
Chihiro asked, "About the weekday sessions, will that be separate for the Saturday and Sunday batches too?"
"Yes, and no. They will be held at the same time, but the worksheets they will be given will be different."
"Then what is the point of us having the choice to attend the Saturday session?"
Souta replied, "The weekday sessions will only focus on solving questions I would prepare, not lectures. If you can finish your worksheets quickly, you can solve the other batch's worksheet as well."
"But what if we can't in time?"
"Then your fundamentals need work."
Souta continued, "If you are in the Saturday batch, then Sunday is free, no worksheets. If you are in the Sunday batch, then Saturday can be free if you choose not to participate in the Saturday session."
After a moment, Souta said, "That will be all." and left the classroom.
x-x-x
Narrator: Shikakoi Souta
The two weeks passed by, and they were extremely hellish. Taking classes, preparing for and hosting the study sessions, and tailing Sudo during club activities.
Where Sudo is sometimes absent, and sometimes confronted by Horikita Suzune-san.
Today is the day I am gonna relax. I had made plans to code on my laptop.
Except, Horikita-senpai ruined it all with a single message, "Collect the papers you asked for today in the student council office. 12 pm, today."
Arghh! Can I be free?
I mean, I know I brought it upon myself, but still! The one day I made a plan...
I guess no point in thinking about it.
So, I got ready and went to school, and then to the student council office.
"Come in." A voice said before I could knock. I guess he heard the footsteps...
I came in and walked towards him.
"Good afternoon, Horikita-senpai."
"Good afternoon." He said in his usual cold tone.
"Where are the papers?'
"Here." He said, as he took out the bundle.
"Thank you!" I said politely.
"Can we talk?" I asked after a moment.
"Sure. What is it?"
"I wanted to talk about your sister."
"What of it?"
"I do not think that you are the type of brother who disregards his sister entirely."
"And why is that?"
"Because a man who does not want students expelled needlessly would not be so cold as to hate his sister. Isn't that why you did not challenge Nagumo?"
"How did you come to know about him?"
"We talked whilst running together today. He wanted to know why I was in the council office that day. So, I asked for some information in return."
"So, what did you want to ask about my sister?"
"I want to know why you give her the cold shoulder?"
"It's none of your concern."
"But if you tell me, it would be enough for me to trust you. And who knows if I join the council in the future."
"Why do you want to know?"
"I want to understand my sister's thinking, so I thought I would use others' sibling dynamics to understand how siblings normally think of each other."
He sighed and continued, "It started small. She observed me, admired me, and slowly started changing herself."
A pause.
"I thought if I distance myself from her more, then she would revert to herself... But it only got worse."
"She grew her hair long because I lied that I liked long hair, her tastes, her preferences, even the way she carries herself, all became... imitation."
Before realizing it, I was already massaging my head; this was the most stupid solution I had heard in a long time.
"Horikita-senpai, if the problem is admiration, and distance did not work, then the approach has failed," I said
"And what would you want me to do?" He asked.
"When an approach does not work the way it was intended to..." I said, leading him on...
"We change the approach." He continued.
"When the object you admire is out of reach and difficult to see, would you fill the gaps with the truth?" I asked
"No, that would be impossible."
"And if it was something you admired?"
"Then, an idealized version of it would be formed in my mind." He said, realizing.
"You mean to say that she creates her own version of me?"
I nod.
"So, what do you think I should do?"
"Admit fault to her. Show her your real version, and destroy her version of yourself."
"And if she still does not change?"
"Then, she did not change solely because of you."
After a moment, I said, "I will take my leave now. Make sure to think things through before doing anything." Then I left with the stack of papers.
x-x-x
2 days before the midterm exam, I gave them the previous year's exam paper to instill a sense of confidence in them. The average score was 96.
I was shocked beyond belief. I had expectations around 85, at most 90.
I still sent the recording of solutions, and silently acknowledged this class's cohesion and unity.
And the day of the midterms arrived...