"Cheers!"
After learning that Sudo had temporarily avoided expulsion, the former members of the failing group gathered in Ayanokouji's room for a small celebration.
Except for Horikita and Ayanokouji, everyone wore smiles.
"I don't mind you holding a celebration, but why does it have to be in my room?"
Ayanokouji grumbled, feeling exasperated. These guys had taken over his room without asking, and Yamauchi and the others had even copied his key card without informing him.
While Ayanokouji wanted to experience youth with his friends, this wasn't what he had in mind...
"Hey, don't sweat the details. The important thing is that Sudo doesn't have to drop out!" Ike said cheerfully.
"Not for the time being," Horikita, who had been reading alone nearby, interjected, immediately dampening the mood.
"Don't forget, if you don't pass the make-up exam in a week, Sudo-kun, you'll be expelled. This is your last chance to enjoy yourself, so be prepared."
"I... I know," Sudo responded, his attitude softened by Horikita's stern words.
After all, Horikita had been tirelessly helping them pass this exam and had even apologized for the incident in the library. Sudo, a sentimental person at heart, was completely moved by her efforts.
"Hey, Horikita-san, don't be so harsh," Kushida said with a smile.
"Everyone worked hard this time, and Sudou-kun just acted carelessly. I'm sure he'll overcome the challenges in time."
"That's right. As long as we give it our all, the midterm exam will be a breeze," Yamauchi boasted, trying to lighten the mood.
Ike chimed in, "It was close this time. If Kushida-chan hadn't brought last year's test papers, we would've been in trouble."
"Yeah, even if I passed, you and Sudou would've failed," Yamauchi added with a grin.
"What? Weren't you also on the verge of failing?"
Ike retorted.
"No, no, if I got serious, I'd score full marks easily," Yamauchi bragged, though the others didn't seem convinced.
Just as the atmosphere began to lighten, Horikita poured cold water on them again.
"Don't celebrate too soon. The final exams are next month, and there won't be any test papers from last year."
"Huh? No way?!"
"This was a special case, and I foresee that the final exam will be even more difficult. To increase our points, we need to find ways to earn extra credit."
"The hellish study sessions are about to start again... This is the worst," Ike groaned, clutching his head in despair.
"By the way, Ayanokouji-kun," Kushida suddenly leaned closer to Ayanokouji, her voice curious.
"Regarding Sudo-kun's expulsion, how did you convince the teacher to allow a make-up exam? He was clear from the start that it wasn't possible."
At this, the others fell silent, eagerly awaiting Ayanokouji's answer.
Ayanokouji hesitated before glancing at Horikita.
"It was Horikita and Hikigaya who negotiated with Chabashira-sensei. You should ask her for the details. All I know is that she worked hard on it."
"Horikita-san and Hikigaya-kun?"
Kushida repeated, surprised by the mention of the latter.
Horikita shot Ayanokouji an irritated look.
"Ayanokouji-kun, could you please stop blaming me? That wasn't me..."
"No way. It couldn't have been Hikigaya," Ike cut in, shaking his head.
"That guy doesn't care about class affairs and barely talks to anyone. I can't imagine him helping out," Yamauchi added, agreeing with Ike.
"But Hikigaya and Horikita both scored low in English," Ayanokouji pointed out. "Maybe he had the same idea as Horikita—lowering the average score to help Sudo."
"What? Ayanokouji, why are you defending that guy? Do you have any proof?"
Yamauchi demanded.
"No, it's just what I think," Ayanokouji replied calmly.
"Don't talk nonsense without evidence. That guy's just bad at English!"
"Forget it, let's not talk about Hikigaya," Ike suggested, trying to steer the conversation back to Horikita.
"By the way, Horikita is amazing for convincing Chabashira-sensei!"
"Yes, it seems we misunderstood Horikita."
"Horikita, why would you do that for someone like me...?" Sudo's voice was thick with emotion, on the verge of tears.
Horikita, caught off guard by the praise, felt awkward, while the others continued to elevate her to near-goddess status.
However, they failed to notice the darkening expression on one person's face.
---
"President, thank you for your guidance today."
"Think nothing of it. Let's go."
Hikigaya and Horikita Manabu, having just finished their training session, walked side by side outside the gym. Hikigaya applied an ice pack to his reddened, swollen face, while several plasters covered his arms.
The training had become increasingly intense over time, and Horikita Manabu's methods grew more ruthless with each session.
According to Horikita Manabu, this approach was meant to instill the lessons deeply, using pain to facilitate faster progress.
Though Hikigaya privately thought it was a load of nonsense...
"President, is something bothering you?" Hikigaya asked, noticing the unusual expression on Horikita Manabu's face.
From the start, Horikita Manabu had seemed as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, clearly troubled by something.
"No, I'm fine," Horikita Manabu replied calmly.
However, after two months of training together, Hikigaya had become quite perceptive regarding the president's moods.
What else could Horikita Manabu be concerned about but unwilling to say out loud?
This tsundere with a sister complex is really a piece of work.
There's no helping it.
"Speaking of which, your sister was very proactive during the midterm exam," Hikigaya said, steering the conversation towards the topic he suspected was on Horikita Manabu's mind.
"She didn't just distribute the answers to everyone in class—she also took the initiative to help those who struggled and instilled better study habits. A lot of people have started to see her in a new light."
"I didn't ask you about Suzune," Horikita Manabu said, his tone cool.
"Just consider it me talking to myself, then."
"...I see," Horikita Manabu was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "Is Suzune… growing?"
"Yeah, she's growing, albeit slowly."
"I see."
Although Horikita Manabu's expression remained unchanged, Hikigaya sensed that his mood had noticeably improved.
Maybe next time, Hikigaya will share his insights on dealing with a sister complex.
"By the way, President," Hikigaya began, rubbing his stomach, "I'm a bit hungry. How about grabbing a bite before heading back to the dorms?"
"No, I fast at night."
"Got it. I'll take a detour, then."
"Ahh."
With that, the two parted ways. Hikigaya headed toward a ramen shop he knew, hoping to make it before closing time by taking a shortcut.
But midway through his walk, he heard a strange sound.
Bang!
"Damn it! Just because you're cute, you think you're all that!"
Bang! Bang!
"This is so annoying! I can't stand it!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"Why doesn't that bitch Horikita just die already?"
—Great. Looks like I've stumbled into some trouble.
Ahead, Hikigaya spotted a short-haired girl furiously kicking a vending machine by the roadside, cursing someone's name with each kick.
The scene was both troubling and absurd, especially considering the vending machine had done nothing to deserve this abuse.
Worse still, the girl noticed him. Their eyes met instantly.
"Hikigaya? What are you doing here?"
"Just passing by, Kushida."
The way Kushida looked at him made Hikigaya feel like he was cornered.