"Yamauchi-kun, I need your help."
The cafeteria buzzed with the ambient noise of clinking utensils and hushed conversations, but at our corner table, a strange tension lingered.
Horikita rarely asked for help, and when she did, it was never without a specific reason.
"My help?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's not something I hear every day."
Horikita is definitely a strong willed girl.
Her main focus is undoubtedly to reach class A.
However, for that reason, in the past she tried to do everything by herself.
But, later on, as Ayanokouji made her realize her mistake, she started relying on her classmates to pursue that goal.
During the previous incident of her clash with me, she seemed pretty shaken and her principles and attitude dwindled in the name if revenge.
But, currently, she seems a lot more like the Horikita I had read about.
She maintains a calm demeanor, moves the class pretty well and the most important thing is, she is personally improving.
As an adult myself, I can assure that the most valuable piece of knowledge life teaches you is to learn from your past mistakes.
Failure is the pillar of success, is only true when you are learning something from each of your failures.
Anyway, as I was wondering about those things, Horikita took a bite of her lunch and looked at me, as if saying to continue my lunch too.
I did so as well, and looked at her.
Horikita asking for a favor is not strange in and of itself.
The strange thing is, if Yamauchi was still the past Yamauchi Haruki, then she would have never asked for his favor.
Hence, I can't help but be skeptical about this situation.
After all, even though for the past few weeks, Horikita seemed to be helping me in various ways, it's not like I can fully trust her.
"Alright I will decide after hearing the contents of the request.", I replied.
Horikita paused, setting her chopsticks down neatly on her tray.
Her sharp gaze locked onto mine, a flicker of seriousness in her eyes.
" It's nothing serious actually. The first year girl who approached you to pair up with Rika Hoshino, is from class 1B. I have heard that, compared to other classes, her classmates are getting among well already. They also have students with high academic ability. So.... "
She paused for a moment again before continuing.
"Would you please tell Rika Hoshino to find other students like her, willing to pair up with second years having low academic ability?"
...
"That's it? ", I asked, surprised by the unexpected request.
" Yes, as you know, even if Sudo-kun has improved a lot, he is still way below average in this field. That's why I want to make sure he passes this special exam. Moreover, there are other students like him too. So it would help a lot if you manage to persuade her to ask her classmates or any first years she knows, having high academic ability, willing to pair up with students like Sudo-kun."
It was a simple request.
Nothing out of ordinary, which is strange in and of itself.
It's not like I have to gather such students myself, or I am obligated to do so.
"Alright, this much I can do. ", I replied continuing the last part of my lunch.
By that time, Horikita had already completed her lunch.
So, she got up after hearing my response, flashed a faint smile with an affirmative nod and left.
After Horikita left, I remained seated, finishing the last bites of my lunch in silence.
"Maybe I should start going to gym.", I thought to myself.
***
After lunch, I was returning to my class.
There was still a few minutes before lunch break were to be over.
It's not like I had anything else to do today, so I returned right away.
As I got on the first flior, which my class was in, there was a commotion in front of my class.
A few of our second year students had gathered, including Horikita, Kushida, Hirata, Sudo, Hashimoto, Ayanokouji, and even Ryuen and his gang.
As I observed more deeply, there was a male student with particularly large build, even larger than Sudo.
He was definitely not a second year, which only meant he might be a first year or third year.
I moved closer to notice another female student behind her, whose face I had seen in the OAA app.
Then only the realization hit me that both of them were first year students.
As I was mulling over such things, Ryuen and his gang suddenly started fighting with him.
The scene turned chaotic in an instant. Ryuen, flanked by his gang, advanced on the large first-year boy with his signature arrogant smirk.
The first-year, despite being outnumbered, stood his ground, his towering figure making even Ryuen's group seem cautious.
He turned the tables in an instant, holding Ibuki by her neck.
His large build was not the only thing he had.
He was good in a hand to hand fight too.
And Ryuen and his gang are not by any means inexperienced in fighting, which makes that first year even more scary.
After a few seconds, a male teacher, whom I had never seen in this school, appeared and stopped the fight.
Maybe he was a first year teacher, as both the students left with him.
Soon everyone dispersed and I quietly entered my class.
This incident was way too significant in terms of the ongoing special exam.
Usually a first year would be afraid of going to senior's building.
The fact that, the male student with particularly large build appeared here, just with a girl, beat up some second years even in front of the CCTV cameras, ans left like nothing happened, signifies his personality.
In a way, he is similar to Ryuen, except he is better in a fight.
The cause of this commotion was still unknown to me, so I thought about asking Horikita about the details after the classes were over.
Also, I couldn't ask her if she was going to participate in that auction of the first year toppers arranged in the special building.
Well, the idea of the auction is pretty arrogant in and of itself.
First of all, wherever institution you go, maintaining a peaceful relationship with the seniors is a must.
Even if the first years have a huge advantage here, demanding private points for the toppers is like sending a message of disrespect.
Secondly, the academic ability of the first years is based on the results of the previous exam, which is the final exam of their middle school.
So, it's not like every topper can cope up with the curriculum taught here.
And the incident of commotion, during launch break was pure madness.
These first years are really a bunch of weirdos.
I checked the OAA app, to find out the name of that make student with large build.
After a bit of scrolling I found him out.
"Hosen, huh?........Maybe I should start going to the gym for real from today itself. ", I thought again to myself.
With the classes ending one by one, it was finally time for the auction.
Horikita got up from her seat immediately, and stood in front of the podium.
" As you all have known by now, there is an auction going on for the students of first year with high academic abilities. And I think we should participate in that."
She paused, looking at everyone, almost like searching for who should go with her.
"Our first and foremost priority is to help the students of our class with low academic ability to find appropriate partners. Hence, I would like to have Hirata-kun and Kushida-san accompany me. Is that alright?"
Hirata and Kushida have already started getting along with the first years, which is commendable.
So they would be more helpful in negotiations.
"Furthermore, I would like to have Sudoku, Ike-kun and Yamauchi-kun, 3 of the lowest academic ability students to accompany me too. Is there any complaint?"
The whole class started murmuring among themselves, due to this unexpected announcement.
Though I can understand her reasoning, considering what happened back during the lunch.
As no one voiced any complaint it was decided in an instant.
"Maybe I should go to the gym tomorrow. ", I thought to myself. ", I thought to myself.
*******************************************
Just completed the latest Volume 12.5 of Year 2 of the original COTE light novel.
Crazy shit has been happening, and it finally hit me that Sakayanagi is gone.
Third year will be even crazier.
Anyway, please comment down your thoughts on the story so far.
Next chapter : The Only Bidder
******************************************