Again, this class stands in front of multiple difficulties at the same time.
No leader can afford to stand idly by as corrosion progresses from one place
to another.
She wants to solve everything on his own.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to do everything yourself, but it's just idealism if it's outside of your ability.
No, even if you have the ability to solve a problem, you may not be able to handle it alone.
What we need now is to rely on our colleagues.
And we must work together to find a way to make things right.
I haven't made any specific moves to help from the weekend until this moment.
After watching today's news on my phone, I decided to leave my seat a little later than the students who were going out to play after school.
A man who had been waiting for the right moment hurried after me.
I knew that if I was too impatient to find a solution, he would eventually make contact with me.
"Um, Kiyotaka-kun. I was wondering if you could make time for me
somewhere this evening. I have some advice for you."
He was a little concerned about his surroundings, but he whispered to me. " I have plans to meet Kei in the evening, can't we do it now?"
I didn't really have such plans, but I lied to see his reaction.
"That's...."
Of course he wouldn't say yes.
Yosuke is in a club, so he won't have free time right after school.
He would like to participate as much as possible for now, since club activities will be temporarily suspended as the sports festival approaches.
"It was a joke. I'll talk to Kei about it. Maybe we'll go on a date some other time."
"Oh, thank you."
"Just so I'm clear, you want to talk to me about something?"
I knew that, but I still to asked him back. Yosuke nodded without wondering.
"I'm not sure. I think we should make a move as soon as possible."
"I see. Anyway, if you're okay with my room, I'll leave the night time to you."
Yosuke's cheeks relaxed and he smiled like a child at the good answer.
"If it's possible, it would be great if Karuizawa-san could be there too, but I don't know."
"Karuizawa-san too? Of course she would be happy to be there, but wouldn't she get in the way?"
"There are a few things that need to be resolved, and I need her help."
There's a big difference between having Kei, who has the girls' information network, and not having her at all.
I'm not sure what Yosuke is trying to do, but I'm sure she'll be able to help us. "And then I'll go to .... Can we do that at around 7:30?"
Yosuke's eyes narrowed happily as he walked quickly to his club activities. Whenever someone has a problem, he immediately reaches out to them.
"That's problem number two in my class." Of course, there is no way around it.
I've been the one to reach out to Yosuke when he's in trouble, so this is inevitable.
It's not easy to destroy what you've built, but it's a path that can't be avoided. Well. I'll call Kei to come to my house around 7:30 p.m. for now.
1
It was 5:30 p.m. when I came home and waited for Yosuke to come. I received a notification on my cell phone.
"Can I go out with you now?"
I received a message from my girlfriend, Kei, with a cute cat stamp.
The appointment with Yosuke is at 7:30 p.m., which is very early. -Why don't we have dinner together while we're at it?-
Before I could reply, a postscript came. It seems that she wants to have dinner with me.
In response to Kei message, I simply sent her a short message saying that I was ready.
"If that's the case, I'll have to cook something."
I can use yesterday's leftovers, but if it's something quick and something Kei likes, you can use ....
As I opened the refrigerator and stared at the contents, I heard the doorbell ring.
I opened the front door and saw Kei smiling at me.
I was a little surprised, but I didn't panic and slowly invited her in. Now that we are in an open relationship, I don't have to worry about when to let her in.
"You're very early."
As she takes off her shoes, Kei walks up to the room with her familiar movements.
"I called you before I got on the elevator," she said.
She had planned to visit me anyway, putting my stay and plans aside.
I stopped cooking for now and sat down on the floor by the table with Kei.
"Maybe it's because I've been in Kiyotaka's room all the time lately, but it's become almost like my own room."
"That's good. On the other hand, I wasn't invited to your room."
"Yeah, yeah? That's cause It's a little embarrassing. ... Well, maybe someday, when you're ready!"
She didn't give me a straightforward yes, but when it's a girl's room, there
must be various circumstances.
I didn't want to go into too much detail.
"Speaking of which, what are the people around you saying about our relationship?"
"The girls? Surprisingly, I think they've accepted us easily. I mean, ..., it's nothing."
I tried to say something, but it was muddled. I was a little curious, so I pursued it.
"What is it?"
"Well, you know. Hirata Yosuke is very popular person the public eye. There are a lot of kids who say it's a waste."
I see.
It's no wonder that the comparison between me and Yosuke is so open and honest.
"In a way, I've been affected by that too. I was supposed to be the one who asked Yosuke to leave me, but in fact, I think he rejected me."
If the you're girl switching to some no-name, you can't blame her.
"But that's only part of it, I guess. your reputation has been on the rise lately."
"If you write that down, it would say eel. What kind of mistake is that?" When I thought that it was on purpose, Kei smirked.
"I know at least that much about it."
"I'm just doing my job as a tutor"
"I'm always grateful to you, Sensei. Thanks to the secret private lessons, my scores are getting better."
Kei's academic performance gradually improved, and her OAA at the beginning of September showed that her academic performance had risen to a C of 48.
She's finally reached an average level of knowledge as a student.
After a few minutes of such idle chatter, I sat up and headed for the refrigerator again.
I was thinking of making an omelet.
I asked without looking back, and Kei's voice immediately sounded happy.
"I'll have some! The ketchup should be a little thicker, please, Chef."
This is not the first time I've served Kei a home-cooked meal.
Ever since we started dating, I've had the opportunity to serve her meals in my room on a regular basis.
So far, Kei has shown little interest in cooking for herself, but that's fine. I don't mind cooking, and Kei is always happy to eat it.
Kei, who likes to talk, is able to talk to me, who is not good at talking, and liven things up.
I think we have a good balance by supporting each other in this way.
I took the eggs, ketchup, chicken, and butter out of the refrigerator. I grabbed some salad oil from the shelf, and then I was all set.
The frozen rice was ready to be heated in the microwave. In the meantime, I prepare the onions.
I would have liked to add some carrots, but unfortunately, I don't have any in
stock.
As I put the onions on the cutting board and picked up the knife, I felt a presence behind me.
It was as she was snuggling up to my back.
"What are you doing?"
I stopped moving and asked her only with words.
"I'm just checking on you."
Kei answered, but since her profile was stuck to my back, it was impossible for me to see what she was doing.
"You can ignore me," she said. "I'll just sit tight." "Okay, got it."
I did as I was told and continued with my work. I cut the onion into 5 mm cubes on the cutting board.
While I was doing this, Kei stayed close to my back, never letting go.
I put down the knife and reached for the bowl to crack an egg, but Kei wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me.
"What are you doing this time?"
"What am I you doing this time? Hmmm... ...? I'm just checking on you."
"It doesn't look like you're just checking up on me. It's more like sabotage."
I noticed a slight decrease in cooking efficiency while she was doing this, but she didn't seem to mind.
"Oh, I'm so happy. What else can I be more happy about?"
She murmured briefly, and her arms tightened into a hug.
She seemed rather satisfied.
"That's cheap happiness. Isn't there any other kind of happiness that's better? Buying things you want, watching a TV show you've always wanted to watch."
"That's not enough happiness for me at all. - That was just a random comment, but you actually have it."
"No, I don't. Even if there was, I wouldn't need it. The happiness I have right now is enough for me."
If you are satisfied with this kind of thing, I have nothing more to say to you. "May I resume cooking?"
It is indeed too much of an inconvenience to continue in this position. "Eh~? What should I do?"
She would peek at me, look me in the eye and smile tightly.
"Do you want some kind of reward for being so quiet?"
"There's chocolate in the fridge."
"Hmm. That's not what I meant. ... There's something off about you, though. Well, that's just like you, Kiyotaka. Then, I'll wait quietly."
As if to her own satisfaction, Kei pulled away and sat down on the bed. Now, I can concentrate on making omurice for a while.
Kei waited for the food to be ready while looking at her cell phone and TV alternately, and then the two of us sat around the table and finished dinner a little earlier than usual.
"Oh, by the way, about Shinohara-san..."
I didn't bring up any particular topic, but Kei started talking about it.
"I'm sorry too, but her being exposed seemed to have taken a toll on her and she wouldn't talk to me."
"I guess that's natural."
Although good and bad looks are evaluated differently depending on each person's taste and sense of style, generally speaking, a person who is considered superior will talk down to a person who is considered inferior.
This in itself is not an uncommon occurrence, and it happens all the time.
In fact, there is no malice in it, and it is often just a matter of saying what one thinks.
"Do you and the others hate Shinohara?"
"I don't dislike her at all. Shinohara-san is an interesting girl, or rather, she is popular for her role as an enlivener."
"I see. That's why you unconsciously messed with her and Ike."
""..... I guess. I was laughing and talking about things that would hurt people if they heard."
She mumbled something regretful, as if he had an intention of reflecting. "Are you going to hate me for saying mean things?"
"Other people say bad things about other people. I don't mean to deny it in itself. It's hard to find a person who doesn't speak ill of others to any degree."
I don't like overbearing seniors in club activities. I don't like bossy teachers. It's good to have a place to complain about one or two such things.
It's not uncommon for people to say things like "I'm sorry, but I can't help it."
"But basically, you have to avoid saying bad things in their ears." "Right."
"Telling someone always means you're taking a risk."
Naturally, what Kushida said about Shinohara being leaked to everyone deeply hurt Shinohara.
That's not all.
People who don't have a bad impression of her, her boyfriend Ike, and Ike's friends, naturally don't think well of Kei and the others.
Now Shinohara and her friends may go around talking badly about Kei, Matsushita, and Mori in a conspicuous way.
Once a negative chain is started, it takes a lot of effort to stop it. "So you don't just feel bad about it, do you? What's going on?"
Matsushita had already given me a brief explanation, but I needed to hear it from Kei as well.
"I've tried to resolve some misunderstandings ..... and hurt feelings by talking about them. I feel like I don't have time to deal with it at the moment."
"No time to deal with it?"
"That's it. ... I did that on purpose, didn't I?" I really made a mistake on this one.
It seems that Kei tried to repair her broken relationship with Shinohara in her own way.
"So, how do you think we should reconcile?" "You're asking me?"
"I'm sure you can come up with a plan if it's you, Kiyotaka"
It seems that no breakthrough has been found so far, but Kei is also facing the same problem as Yosuke.
"I'm thinking about it right now. Give me a little more time." I'll tell her that for now, and postpone my answer.
"Hey, I know this is a little off topic, but can I ask you something weird?"
As I listened without stopping, she looked up at me with a curious face and asked.
"Did you expel Ms. Sakura based on her OAA in the special exam? If that's the case..."
When our eyes met, Kei choked on her words. "It's okay. It's nothing."
"If you were in last place in OAA, would you be worried if I would've done the same"
The easier it is to understand, the more Kei's eyes widen.
"As I said before, if you had similar grades, the difference between your friends and Airi's would be overwhelming. I wouldn't have expelled you."
"What if I didn't have any friends? What if I was a girl on the low caste" My anxious feelings made me spit out words in rapid succession.
"It's no use arguing about it. If we think in that way, then Kei Karuizawa here would have been a completely different person. If that is the case, then you and I would not have developed into the relationship we have now."
"... That's ... I see. That may be so, but ... if I were such a different person and I wasn't dating you
Kiyotaka, would I have been expelled?
Even though she understood that this was a meaningless discussion, she couldn't help but ask.
"If that scenario you just talked about was real then I guess so." "..."
"I can understand how it might hurt your feelings, but it's not you. It's really someone else. You were bullied and hurt in the past, and in order to turn things around in high school, you established your position as a girl. You used Yosuke to meet and date me. That's the real Karuizawa Kei, right?"
When I had answered to that point, Kei lips twitched in obvious dissatisfaction.
"... I see."
I want to be the one who declares that I will protect Kei Karuizawa even if it is not you.
I've learned that logic is not necessary.
I lay her down on my lap and stroked her head to get her in a good mood.
After a few minutes of enjoying Kei curling up on my lap like a cat, she opened her mouth in the same position.
"Hey, Kiyotaka. I don't think it's wrong that you cut off Sakura-san. There is nothing wrong with what you did. But was it really right for Horikita-san to leave Kushida behind? She was definitely a hindrance, right?"
The one who caused the rift in the class, Kushida.
Kei feels that the disadvantage of her not dropping out is huge. It's nothing unusual, just a natural reaction.
Everyone has their doubts. It's a natural reaction. Everyone has questions if it was the right choice, but it's not always easy to speak up when time is running out.
And in the end, we hope to save ourselves. I think it was around the two days off after the exam that my enthusiasm began to wane.
Some people wonder if it was for the best, while others are glad that they were not expelled.
Others were scared that they might be next.
"What is in Kushida but not in Airi? Do you know what it is?"
"What? Study and sports, right? Kushida-san is pretty amazing. She's good at everything."
"Superficial reasons, yes. But that's not what's important. "... What do you mean?"
It's a possibility that Horikita will become an important piece for her to wake up as a leader. She may not be Yosuke or Kei, but she could become what Horikita calls a partner.
"Kushida is ...?"
"I don't think Horikita fully understood what was going on. She just trusted her instincts in a tight situation with no time to spare."
"That's what Kushida has that Sakura doesn't. ..."
"Only Kushida has the perspective, only Kushida has the thoughts, only
Kushida has the words. These are elements that can be used regardless of whether you are popular or not. And that is what will push Horikita forward."
I think Kei herself is not too intrigued by the idea even though she is convinced of it. Is that a natural reaction?
This is an indeterminate future.
It's just a theoretical theory that assumes Horikita was right in making that choice.
"I knew full well that I would be resented by Haruka and others close to her. But the results will not come in a day or two. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."
"But aren't you more resented by Haruka?"
"That's right."
It's difficult to be unanimous in a situation where time is almost up.
No matter how many times Horikita mentioned others, it was nearly impossible to reach unanimity.
In addition, the loss of class points was a reality that was hard to accept. The only way to save the day was for me to make a move.
"It would be easy if we could just talk about results, conclusions, and answers. But I can't. That's the reality."
"Are you talking about Horikita-san?"
"Suppose there is a hurdle in front of you that is so high that you can either jump over it or not. If you try and fail, you might not be able to jump over it, you might just fall, you might scrape your leg, or if you are unlucky, you might break a bone."
You can imagine that there is a hurdle in your path that is well within your
ability.
"What do you think you need to do to get over that hurdle for sure?"
"Oh, ...? Ummm... ... Do you get a lot of practice before you fly"
"What if I can't practice?"
"Well, then we'll just have to do it on the spot, won't we? It's like the only way to ..."
"It's the same thing. Horikita couldn't stop running and tried to jump over the hurdle in front of her."
"In other words, Horikita-san failed in her challenge and fell down?"
"No, she jumped and her foot hit the hurdle. I wondered how badly she was hurt, if she would fall again.
Will I be okay or will I be seriously injured? That's still up in the air."
It was easy to avoid the hurdle, just take a short detour instead of flying. This is one of the things that makes me want to watch Horikita.
This is something that I never imagined when I first entered the school, and I find myself wondering about it again.
"So that's what it is. But I still can't agree with Ms. Horikita-san's. She broke her promise, right? And she even said he would protect Kushida."
It is true that there is an aspect of threat, but it is also true that the discipline in Horikita's class has been too loose up until now.
Of course, your trust in Horikita may have been strongly shaken, but she will be able to make up for it in the special exams to come.
This is on the condition that we continue to pursue our goal of getting closer to Class A.
By the time we were talking, it was around 7:00 pm.
I cleaned up the plates I had eaten and went to the kitchen to wash them while I still could.
"Hey, hey. Let's chat together over here."
"I'm going to wash the dishes now, so we can talk afterwards."
"What? Then it'll be 7:30 by then!."
I could hear her complaining because the discussion would start when Yosuke arrived.
I began to wash the dishes while ignoring them.
Kei was quiet for a while, but then she started demanding again, as if she couldn't take it anymore.
"Well, well, don't hesitate to come over here, okay? Do you mind? See?"
As she said this, she patted the bed three or four times with the palm of her hand.
"It can't be helped."
I wanted to wash some dishes before Yosuke came to my room, but I gave up on that.
When I sat down at the designated spot, Kei poked my right cheek with her index finger in a happy manner.
"It's so smooth for a boy, isn't it? What do you put on your skin? "Just lotion."
I think it's basically unnecessary to take any further care of my teenage skin considering the strain it puts on it.
"Hmmm... "
Even though she was convinced, she didn't really care about that, she just wanted to touch me and wouldn't stop poking my cheek.
I grabbed Kei'shand and pulled her to me, and took her lips.
I was expecting her to be surprised, but instead she seemed to be waiting for it and smiled.
"I've been waiting for you since I came to my room today."
"... So that was it."
I have to say, I'm still a little naive about that.
After that, our lips repeatedly met each other's in near silence.
The repeated kisses tasted like omu-rice, a rather unusual experience. "I love you..."
I gently hold Kei in my arms, and a quiet silence envelops us.
It was not an awkward moment, but a comfortable one.
I wondered how many minutes we just held each other in a tight embrace.
As if to tear the silence apart, the doorbell rang.
Suddenly pulled back to reality, Kei hurriedly distanced herself from the sudden embarrassment.
There's no need to rush, the door is locked, but ... I know how you feel. After giving Kei some time to calm down, we both welcomed Yosuke into
the room.
Yosuke, still in his uniform, came to our room.
"I went to the Keyaki Mall with the seniors after club activities," Yosuke reported, noticing that he was wearing his uniform.
"Welcome, please feel free to come in."
Yosuke smiled happily when he saw Kei acting as if it was his own room.
He had been watching over Kei more than anyone else since she entered the school, and I could tell that he was happy to see her so cheerful and pure.
"I'm sorry to disturb you."
I carefully arranged his shoes and offered him tea when he came up to sit down.
"Thank you."
"So, what's the reason for this meeting today"
Since it was inevitable that he would be be here for a long time, I encouraged him to talk more easily.
Of course, I already knew what it's all about.
"Yes. It's about the class. I'm sure Karuizawa-san is well aware of this, but I thought it might not be safe to go into the sports festival like this. Especially for the girls, I thought it would be difficult to coordinate with them."
"I'm sure Karuizawa-san knows more about it than I do," Yosuke said, turning to look at her.
"I was talking to Kiyotaka about Shinohara-san earlier. To be honest, it's not really about the competition right now, is it?"
We need to reestablish our relationship as friends.
"I was wondering if you had any good ideas. I want to ask for your help." Kei, who had also asked for help earlier, looked at me that way.
If that's the case, I'll be happy to talk.
"Yosuke, did you ask anyone else for this advice before me?"
"What? No. ... This is the first time. I didn't want to talk about it carelessly, because I didn't think it would go well if people knew I was trying to fix it.
I'm glad you're willing to help, but I'd be wary of you if I knew you were trying to patch things up.
If they know you are trying to be friendly, they may become wary of you.
"You too?"
""I think I need some direction."
"Then, from now on, I want Horikita, the class leader, to be the one to bring up the matter first, not me."
"But I think Horikita has her hands full with Kushida-san's case, and it's not appropriate for her to raise the issue of another classmate right now."
"So if I was dealing with Kushida, would you have approached Horikita?"
That's ... I wonder. I don't know. I might have talked to you, Kiyotaka- kun..."
He imagined what would have happened, and then Yosuke admitted it honestly.
"Horikita-san is doing a good job. But I knew that Kiyotaka would be able to see the big picture and make the right decision."
"I'll would do the same. I mean, if I leave it to Kiyotaka, he'll for sure give me the perfect answer."
"I've already told you that during the last special exam. It's not like you can always rely on me. Even if you have concerns, you have to go through this process of talking to Horikita first."
"But..."
"It's a burden. There is no guarantee that a solution will be found. That's why I can't rely on you, I can't rely on you. Do you really think that will make Horikita a leader in the true sense of the word? What if this is a leader like Ryuusen, Sakayanagi, or Ichinose? Don't you think you would be the first one to raise concerns even in the midst of dealing with them?"
The important thing is to rely on them and to be relied on. Horikita and the class are approaching the point where they will grow through repeated successes and failures.
"Failure is an experience. Everyone starts with one plus one problem. Of course, Horikita is not at that stage yet, and she still lacks experience by far."
Before bringing a solution, there must be a process of discussion and solution-seeking.
"I want him to tell me that he has his hands full with the rice paddies before he brings it to me."
"... I see. I understand what you are trying to say, Kiyotaka-kun."
He took what I said seriously, nodded several times, and processed the meaning of the words in his mind.
"It's important to experience failure, but it's not like a test score. I don't think that just because you got a bad score doesn't mean you should try harder next time. It's about the student's heart. If a fissure in a relationship is broken by an immature decision, it's a problem that can't be undone."
That's what Yosuke is all about. It seems that Yosuke didn't just bring this up for the reason that it would give him an easy answer.
"It's the right decision. But I think you're being a little naive. It's true that the friendship between classmates is fraying. And it's true that misunderstandings, quarrels, and name-calling between friends can lead to irreversible problems."
If it escalates from name-calling to harassment, ignoring, and bullying, the worst case scenario is born.
But those are really the worst cases.
"Kei. Is your feud with Shinohara really that bad?"
"Hmmm. ... If you put it that way, well, it's an extension of the fight. It's hard for me to say something bad because I'm in the position of the assailant. It's not like I'm harassing you or anything. I don't think there are that many kids who think they hate Shinohara-san."
By taking it too seriously, you're stirring up unnecessary anxiety. That was my opinion.
"And you're not going to let Horikita solve this alone, are you?" "Of course. If there's anything I can do, I'll do it."
"That's fine then. If the two of us work well together, with Horikita at the center, we can get through most things."
However, I don't think these words alone will be enough to completely remove my anxiety.
I would like to add something important to this.
"Of course, there are things that can't be solved even with Horikita's help. In that case, I'll lend a hand."
If the backup is perfect, Yosuke and Kei will be able to act without hesitation.
The two of them looked convinced, but Yosuke still had something on his mind, and his expression was not completely clear.
We exchanged information for a while, and as 8:00 p.m. approached, I asked them to leave.
"... I was wondering if we could talk in private for a few minutes."
As we were leaving, Yosuke decided that he couldn't leave things as they were.
"I'll go home first. I'll go home first then."
When Yosuke said he still had something to talk about, Kei replied and left quickly.
After the door was closed, Yosuke looked back again.
"Kiyotaka-kun. I'll bring the matter to Mr. Horikita tomorrow. However, do you have a clear path in mind at this point?"
"To be honest, I don't have an idea for a quick solution to the problem of Haruka and Kushida. I'm hoping that you guys can discuss it and guide me to a better solution."
"That means, it's different when it comes to Wang-san..., right?
"I'm not sure. It will take time, but there is a chance. If you're in a hurry, there's also the possibility of forcible, rough treatment."
"Rough treatment? If there's something you can do, I think you should do it."
Yosuke reacts in the same manner as the other girls who have taken a liking to him.
"I told you it's a rough treatment. I don't recommend it."
"What kind of method is it?"
"It's for you to go to see Mii-chan yourself and respond to her feelings." Yosuke reacted in a way that I had never expected.
"Actually, I like Mi-chan too. I want her to go out with me. If we can make it work that way, she'll come to school tomorrow."
I was a little reluctant to say it, but that was the only solution I could think of right now.
" If I wasn't talking to you I wouldn't be talking about this kind of nonsense at all. But since Kei had asked me to lie to her about our relationship, I thought it might be possible for you."
It's true.
"Sure." Yosuke muttered, but his expression did not brighten.
"The reason why Karuizawa-san and I ostensibly agreed to go out is because neither of us had any romantic feelings for the other. It's different from pretending to respond to your feelings and going out with you. It will only hurt you deeply later."
"I'm not recommending this idea, but it's not right. We don't know at what stage Mi-chan fell in love with you, but we can't deny that there were other students who had romantic feelings for you right from the start. In other words, in exchange for protecting Kei from being bullied by dating her, there may have been girls who were hurt because they were indirectly rejected because of your lie."
"That's..."
If Kei and Yosuke were really dating, it would be a legitimate reason.
But if not, there is no difference in what they are doing.
"What if Mii-chan clung to you in tears and told you that she couldn't go to school anymore unless you went out with her? Would you be able to say no?"
Yosuke choked on his words.
I'm sure Yosuke can't take such a choice.
"If you can't say no, there are two options you can take. You can either tell her you don't like her and go out with her, or you can lie and say you liked her too and go out with her."
If you can find true love in the relationship, you can make it work out for the best.
"I don't think I should do that ...."
You may understand what I'm saying, but your emotions may still get in the way.
"It's a forceful solution. It will take time, but we are in the process of planting the seeds."
"I understand. ... But Kiyotaka-kun, you're really strong, aren't you? You don't seem to be dwelling on the fact that Sakura-san dropped out of school."
I can't see any sadness or anger from Yosuke as he speaks quietly.
"I still have the feeling of that time in my ... hands."
He looks down at his outstretched hands and stares at the palms of his hands.
Yosuke works hard day and night to help his classmates, but he doesn't show much weakness.
However, he is struggling with the responsibility of expelling Airi from school, as I am.
"I know what you were thinking at the time, and there is no way I would have agreed to expel Airi, who had done no harm in that exam. But even so, you persevered. You could have said at the last minute that you didn't agree with it, but you restrained yourself from saying it."
I'm being unreasonable.
The more you address and confront the situation, the more your classmates will calm down.
If the pressure of the deadline had broadened your perspective, unanimity might not have been possible.
"I told myself that the most important thing was for our class to make it to Class A..."
"Even though I understood it in my head, I couldn't accept it."
"Haruka, Kushida, and Mii-chan were absent. I wonder how long this will continue. My classmates shudder to see the reality that the students with the lowest grades will be cut. The cheerful class of last week has become a lie, and all is quiet."
Even if he told himself that, not all of it could be digested in his mind all at once.
"Maybe I should have chosen to run out of time..."
For Yosuke, the idea of sacrificing someone is not something he wants to think about.
Still, the fact that he was able to make a decision in that situation is a definite sign of growth.
"... Am I getting stronger, or am I breaking down? I don't know what decision I'll make if it happens again, and I'm scared."
I couldn't see his face, but he rubbed his eyes once with his sleeve and then raised his head.
"I'm sorry for saying such a weak thing when you're the one who has suffered more"
"It's fine. Both Horikita and I have been saved by you many times in the special exam. I'm sure it will be a tougher battle in the future. I want you to continue to help our class."
Yosuke nodded his head and smiled, even though his heart was probably still hurting.
He reached for the front door, but stopped himself.
"... Thank you for everything you did today. Do you resent me for expelling Airi?"
Unlike other students, Yosuke doesn't show it outwardly, but I wouldn't be surprised if he did.
He thought about it and said it, but he didn't agree with it.
"... No. I want to believe in you."
If it was a kind of delusional belief, Yosuke's thinking would be dangerous.
However, there is definitely a will behind those eyes.
I believe in you, so I demand you not to betray me.
"Well, good night."
I may have been able to take away some of Yosuke's burden, but I may have also given him a new one.
It would be great if we could take this opportunity to thoroughly drain out the pus.
I'm not sure how much of an effect this will have, but we'll have to follow it up step by step.
2
The next day, the three empty seats were still there.
Of course, the chaos in the classroom had not yet settled down.
The only way to solve the problem is for those three students to come to school.
"Hey, do you want to go to the bathroom with me?"
While I was sitting at my desk poking at my cell phone, waiting for the next class, Sudo called out to me.
It was a rare invitation. He said he was going to the restroom, but his face was very serious.
It's the same as Yosuke and Kei, they want to start something through me. "Sure."
Since I had no reason to refuse, I left my seat and we both went to the restroom, leaving the classroom inconspicuously.
The convenience of my seat position helps me every time in this situation.
However, one of the students immediately followed us.
"Sudo-kun, I need to talk to you for a minute, if you don't mind."
She seemed to have some business with Sudo and was trying to find the right moment to come out into the hallway.
"What is it, Onodera?"
Onodera noticed me standing beside him and slurred her words.
"Ah, ..., you're with Ayanokoji-kun. I see, we were talking about something."
At first glance, it seems that it's not convenient for him to be with me.
But since Sudo was the one who asked me out during my break, I didn't have a choice.
"We're both going to the bathroom. What's the hurry?" "Well, what should I do?"
I don't know if it's something she doesn't want me to hear, or if she's just a little confused.
"Can I wait here? I'd like to talk to you as soon as possible."
Onodera decided that she would come back soon, if we only wanted to use the restroom.
If there's something you want to discuss with him, it won't be over in a minute or two.
"So, I'll ask you now. I'll keep Ayanokoji waiting."
Just when I was ready to talk about it later, I was confused by Sudo's
unexpected reply.
Onodera, who seemed to have some resistance, scratched the back of her
head lightly and made a speech.
"The individual rewards for this athletic festival will be evaluated separately for men and women, right? You're naturally thinking that you're going to go for the men's first place, is that correct?"
"It's a given. This sports festival is my best chance to shine, ya know." He answered confidently.
Onodera nodded her head in satisfaction at this strong reply.
"In fact, I too have something at stake in this festival. By taking first place in the women's division, I will be able to take the first step towards A class. It's not often that I get the chance to compete in something I'm good at."
She is an accomplished swimmer, but she also showed her sprinter side at last year's gymnastics festival.
Her OAA physical ability is also impeccable, and she is a student with an extraordinary talent for all sports.
"You might be able to take first place. I'm seriously rooting for you."
"Thanks. But even if you can win some of the individual competitions, there is no guarantee that you will take first place, right?"
"Why not? If you keep taking first place..."
Sudo is not wrong in thinking that only taking first place is good enough, but in reality, he may lose in an unexpected way.
"It's because of the high score of the team competition, right?"
When I mentioned this, Onodera looked stiff again, but nodded her head in agreement.
It seems that Onodera has some sort of distrust towards me.
The other day, in the unanimous special exam, I cut off a fellow student from my group.
It's no wonder some students react this way.
"Well, that's true. If there's a guy who always wins first place in team fights, he might be a bad guy. But even if that's the case, it's not so easy to form a team, is it? Suzune also said that having five or six people tied up tightly could be detrimental. Also, I hate to say this, but I don't like the idea of five or six people getting together to fight as a team."
If everyone was on the same level as him, Sudoh himself would be convinced.
However, in reality, there will be some students who are dragging their feet. As a result, it is quite possible that they will lose the competition because of it.
That's what team competition is all about.
"I don't know. I'm not thinking about a large number of people either. But if it's a competition that can be won by two people, then sure. Moreover, there
are some competitions where only pairs of men and women can participate, right?"
At this point, Sudo also begins to understand what Onodera is trying to say to him.
"Sudo-kun and I have no trouble cooperating with each other. If we're going to work together, I want to choose the best partner, okay?"
It's good for the class, and it won't hurt our chances of getting first place in the men's and women's division.
"So you want me. ... Well, maybe."
That's what I meant. Of course, if you don't have any complaints about it, Sudo-kun. And isn't the mood of the class a little bad right now? Sakura-san dropped out of school, and Hasebe-san and Wang-san are also absent."
She looked at me for a moment, but then quickly turned back to Sudo. "That's why we have to lead the class."
Sudo did not feel bad about the invitation based on the recognition of her ability, but her words were not so clear.
"Am I not strong enough?"
"That's not it. There's no way I'm going to complain about your ability, Onodera."
Even though he had absolute faith in her physical abilities, there were other things that he was concerned about.
"You don't want to be paired with anyone other than Horikita-san?" "What? No, that's not true..."
She was right on point.
He looked uncomfortable at Onodera's suggestion.
Pair up with a partner you like.
It's true that this may be important to Sudo in ways other than his ability.
As long as she can't participate in the swimming competition, there won't be much difference between Horikita and Onodera.
"There's Koenji, right? I don't like to admit it, but he's better than me." "That's true. But I don't trust Koenji-kun. I hate him more than anything." Onodera clearly denies Koenji.
Onodera's appeal to Sudo is genuine, but how will Sudo respond?
"What are you going to do if I refuse to do it ...?"
"If there's anyone else in the class who's good and can be trusted, it would be ... Hirata-kun, but I'm not sure I'd ask him to pair up with me. I don't want you to get the wrong idea."
When you're paired with Yosuke, who is extremely popular among girls, it's not just one or two people being jealous.
"So, if Sudo-kun refuses, you'll just go as far as you can on your own?" I'm not trying to scare her, I'm just telling you the truth.
I can imagine her earning a solid score even though she may not be able to finish first in the grade.
Sudo was upset by Horikita's name, but when he saw Onodera, he immediately regained his composure.
He realized that he had been trying to turn down Onodera's offer for some stupid reason.
"... That's good, Onodera. Let's pair up."
"Really?"
"Yeah. We'll support this class with our own strength."
With that, he straightened his arm and shook Onodera's hand.
After staring at him, Onodera also responded with a strong handshake.
"Thank you, Sudo-kun. Let's make sure that we both win first place in the male and female categories."
Satisfied with the agreement, Onodera returned to the classroom. "It took an unexpected turn, but it's for the best, right?"
"I think so. I think so. You may have wanted to work with Horikita, but it's better to work with Onodera and give it your all than to let your mind wander."
"...Yeah"
There were only about five minutes left, but I made my way to the bathroom as originally planned.
"Well, you know what I'm gonna be talking about ... Kanji, Shinohara, and their surroundings."
"Is it related to what Kushida said about them?"
"To be honest, their relationship is on edge, and I don't think it's good." "Wouldn't it be more interesting if they broke up? For Sudo's part." "I've said it as a joke, though. I wanted them to work out, seriously."
I know I'm asking you to test me, but I think you're genuinely worried about me.
"But I don't have much of a relationship with those students. There's nothing I can do for you."
"Can't you just give me some advice?"
"You can't solve a problem without talking about it. Whether what Kushida said is true or false is another matter, and we may need to expose each other's feelings for once."
"Isn't that a bad idea? It could make things worse than they already are."
"That's right. That's why we need someone who can control the situation. Someone who can listen attentively to both sides of the conversation and calm the flow of distractions."
"Oh, I can't do that, can I?"
"Then you'll have to ask someone who can."
I'm not going to tell him the answer here, but let Sudo think about it.
"If it's true, this kind of role was done by Kushida, right ...?"
"Yes, you can't use her now though. If you can't rely on Kushida, you'll have to find another student."
It's so simple that it doesn't even matter.
"Hirata, huh?"
As expected, Sudo had an idea right away.
Sudo doesn't get along with Yosuke, but this is not the time to be talking about that.
"I'm sorry. I'll bow down and ask for your cooperation."
Sudo and Yosuke have been keeping their distance from each other, but this incident may bring about a change.
"Thank you, Ayanokoji."
I didn't do anything. You just thought about it and came up with the answer on your own.
That was how class went.
3
That same day.
Each class, and indeed the whole school, is moving in earnest towards the Sports Festival.
Since some of the events are already known, as was the case last year, the students have been making time to practice on the ground and in the gym during lunch break as if it were the actual event.
They wanted to spend as much time as possible practicing, especially for team fights with more than two players.
In the gymnasium where I came to scout, there were many cheerful voices echoing here and there.
From the first year to the third year, there are certain sections that can be used freely, and the facilities seem to be carefully arranged so that the students can practice fairly.
Today's second years seem to be playing volleyball and table tennis.
The first thing that jumped out at me was the large number of participants in one of the classes, as well as the unusually high level of enthusiasm.
While raising their voices, they seemed to be actively discussing the tips and tricks of the game.
"I can see how serious Class A is."
"That's right."
I've been here with Yosuke today, and we've been analyzing the students calmly.
"Purely class-based sports competition is not Class A's strong suit."
"Yes. We have a lot of students with average physical abilities, both good and bad, and only a few of them are able to win top prizes."
Because we know that we are at a disadvantage in terms of overall ability, we are working together to raise the level of our ability as soon as possible.
I think they are trying to practice and aim for events where they can gain points through experience.
We can't see her, but they're definitely following Sakayanagi's instructions.
There are students from Ichinose's class and Ryuuen's class, but they still seem to be groping.
On the other hand, there were no students from Horikita's class. I thought maybe one or two of them would show up, but even if they did, they would just be standing in a corner, unable to do anything under the circumstances.
"We still haven't gotten out of the unanimous special exam. It's not going to be easy to practice under those circumstances."
"Yes, there are still some uncertainties. But it's not all doom and gloom."
I tell Yosuke that Sudo and Onodera have teamed up to become the number one male and female second year duo.
It was one of the few pieces of good news that made me smile a little.
"If they continue to take first place in both the single and pair competitions, they should be able to take the top spot."
"Those two have a good chance of winning."
There's a lot of hope, but it's still going to take more than just the two of them to win the class.
Even if it's just a patchwork, we need a system that can cooperate temporarily as soon as possible.
I've been asked by Sudo-kun to meet him after school today before club activities. Could it be that you are involved behind the scenes, Ayanokoji?
"I didn't do anything. Didn't Sudo decide to ask for help on his own?" "It probably has something to do with Shinohara-san, right?"
"Sudo must have thought he couldn't leave it like this."
"But what about Mii-chan?"
"I think I'll take a shot at that one." "Kiyotaka-kun?"
When I tell him that I'm going to leave him alone or leave him to the right people, Yosuke gives me a hard time.
The reason why he is so obsessed with Mii-chan is because he feels that it is his fault.
Of course, it's not Yosuke's fault at all.
I decided that Mii-chan needed a little help while I remained quiet. This is one of the reasons why Yosuke cannot be used as a key.