Me and Horikita secured a long table near the corner of the library, we waited for Kushida who was bringing the three.
"I brought them~!" Kushida came where we were waiting. Behind her was a boy named Okitani.
"We heard about the study group from Kushida-chan. I don't want to drop out that quickly after school. Please tak--"
"Hey! what the hell is Ayanokouji doing here!"
Ike suddenly cut off Yamauchi after seeing me, honestly I don't care anymore about them hating me, the reason is just stupid.
"And what's wrong about Ayanokouji-kun being here?"
Ike couldn't give a good response so he just stayed quiet.
"By the way Horikita-san, Okitani-kun also wanted to join."
"Ah, uh, no. I was worried because I was right on the border... am I...not allowed to join? It's a bit difficult to join Hirata-kun's group."
"Is it fine if Okitani-kun to join the study group?"
Kushida asked Horikita. His score was a 39 after all, so it's natural for him to be worried.
"If your worried about getting red marks, then it's fine. But you have to be diligent."
"O-ok."
Okitani sat down happily. Kushida tried to sit down next to him. But Horikita noticed.
"Kushida-san. Didn't Ayanokouji-kun tell you? You're--"
I thought we talked about this last night already.
"To be honest, I'm also worried about getting bad grades."
"You didn't get a bad grade on that last test."
"Well, that was luck. There were a lot of multiple choice question. So for about half of them, I guessed. In truth, I barely passed."
Kushida cutely scratched her cheek while saying "Ehehe."
"I think I'm about the same level as Okitani-kun, if not worse. So I want to participate in the study group to avoid a bad grade. That's fine, right?"
I was surprised but not shown in my face at Kushida's bold and unexpected plan. After confirming that Okitani could join, she turned the tables. Horikita couldn't help but to let her join.
"...Fine."
"Thanks!"
Kushida bowed to Horikita with a smile. Bringing Okitani was probably a part of her plan too. She used him as justification for her to join.
"Below 32 is a red mark. Then is 32 points also a failing grade?"
"If it's 'below', then 32 points is safe Sudo, can you even make that?"
Even Ike is worried about Sudo. Of course these guys would like to know if it's "below" or "up to".
"It doesn't matter either way. My goal is to make everyone here get at least 50 points."
"Geh, isn't that too hard for us?"
"It's dangerous to just aim for the bare minimum. You guys, who aren't even at the mark, are really troubling."
At Horikita's sound argument, the group of failures reluctantly agreed.
"I was able to summarize most of the topics that will be covered on this test. I plant to throughly cover these topics in the next two weeks. If you have any questions that you don't know, ask."
"...Hey, I don't even understand the first problem."
Sudo scowled at Horikita. I also read the question.
"A, B, and C have 2150 yen collectively. A has 120 yen more than B does. After C gives B 2/5ths of his money, B now has 220 yen more than A. How much money did A originally have?"
A problem involving system of equations. For a high school student, it should be a free point.
"Try using your brain. If you give up from the very beginning, you won't get anywhere."
"Everyone else in the school passed."
The school doesn't decide on admissions solely based on scores. Sudo was probably accepted because of his high physical ability. If you think about it, wouldn't he get kicked out immediately because of his bad grades?
"Ugh, I don't know either..."
Ike was also puzzled as he scratched his head.
"Okitani-kun how do you know this question?"
"Um.... Add A, B, and C together equals 2150 yen, and A equals B plus 120..."
Okitani, who somehow avoided failing the last test, started writing down the equations.
Kushida was looking over his shoulder.
"Um un, that's right. And then?"
Kushida is certainly bold. Even though she said she was worried about getting a failing mark, she was teaching Okitani.
"Honestly speaking, this problem can be easily solved by first - year and second- year middle school students. If you fail here, you won't be able to do anything."
"Are we elementary school students then...?"
"As Horikita-san said, it's pretty bad if you can't solve this problems. The first few math problems on the test were about this hard, but even I didn't know how to do the last problem."
"I can teach you how to do system of equations if you want."
Horikita picked up her pen without hesitating. It's pitiful, but the only ones who understood how to do the problems were Kushida and Okitani.
"In the first place, what even is this 'system of equations' thing...?"
"...Are you serious?"
Wow, these guys really live without studying at all. Sudo threw his mechanical pencil at the table.
"No, stop. This isn't going to work."
Before even starting, Sudo already gave up.
Looking at his pitiful state, Horikita was fuming.
"E-everyone, wait. Let's try our best. If you learn how to solve these problems, you can apply your knowledge to the questions on the test. Ok?"
"...Well, if Kushida-chan says so, we'll try our best, but... If Kushida-chan taught it to us, I would probably work even harder."
"U-um..."
Horikita stayed silent when Kushida was about to ask her. It was troubling that she didn't say anything. However, if she stayed silent, the others might give up on studying Kushida made up her mind and picked up the mechanical pencil.
"This is, as Horikita-san said, a problem that uses system if equations. I'll write down what I said as expressions."
As she said that, she wrote down the three equations. It looks like they're trying their best, but even if she wrote down the equations and showed it to them, they probably don't understand. Rather than a study group, this is more like a detention. They don't get her explanation.
"So, the answer is 720 yen. Do you get it?"
Feeling satisfied, Kushida smiled and looked at Sudo.
"...Uh, then can you answer this question? Why?"
"Uu..."
She finally realized. They didn't get her explanation.
The silent Horikita spoke up with a following insult.
"I'm not trying to deny you, but you guys are way too stupid and incompetent."
"I'm scared for the future if you can't solve this problem."
"So what. This has nothing to do with you."
Feeling irritated at Horikita's words, Sudo hit the desk.
"It has nothing to do with me. No matter how much you suffer, it doesn't affect me. It's just I feel pity for you. I guess I've been running away from painful things all my life."
"Say what you want to say clearly. Studying's useless in the future anyway."
"Studying is useless in the future? An interesting argument. What makes you say that?"
"Even if I don't know how to solve this kind of problem, I won't have any trouble. Studying is unnecessary. Rather than sticking to a textbook, aiming to become a basketball pro is much more useful for the future."
"That's wrong. If you learn how to solve that problem, your whole life will be changed. In other words, if you study, you'll have less trouble. It's the same thing for basketball. I wonder if you've been playing basketball to your own convenient rules. Do you run away from difficult things just like you do while studying? From the looks of it, it doesn't seem like you practice seriously. That's the kind of personality you have. If I was the advisor of the club, I wouldn't let you be a regular."
"Tsu."
Sudo stood up and grabbed Horikita by her collar.
"Sudo-kun!"
Even faster than I expected Kushida stood up and grabbed Sudo's arm.
Horikita just raised her eyebrows and stayed calm.
"I have no interest in you, but I can understand what kind of a person you are. You want to become a basketball pro? Do you think that kind of childish wish can simply become true in this society? A half-hearted person like you who gives up easily can never become a pro. Furthermore, even if you become a pro, I don't think you'd be able to get a sufficient annual income. You're a fool for setting your sights on such a idealized job."
"You...!"
It's clear that Sudo is on the brink of losing his control. If he raised his fist, I'll also have to jump out and hold him back.
"Can you just give up on studying, no school? And then you can give up on your dreams to become a basketball pro and live a pitiful life working a part time job."
"Ha... that's just fine. I'm giving up. It's not because it's too difficult for me. I took a day off from my club activities, but it was a complete waste of time. Bye!"
"You're saying some strange things. Studying is difficult."
Horikita shot him a final blow. If Kushida weren't there, Sudo probably would've hit Horikita. Not hiding his irritation, he stuffed his textbook into his bag.
"Hey, is this ok?"
"Doesn't matter. For someone who's indifferent... it's pointless to care about someone like that. Even though expulsion is at stake. He doesn't have an ounce of determination to stay in school."
"I thought it was strange for someone like you who has no friends to invite people to a study group. At best, you brought us over here to insult us. If you weren't a girl, I'd hit you."
"You don't have the courage to hit me because I'm a girl? Don't use my gender as a reason."
The study group started moments ago, but it was already falling apart.
"I also quit. Even though a small part of it is because I can't study... most of it's because I'm irritated. Horikita-san may be smart, but that doesn't mean you're above us."
Losing his patience, Ike also gave up.
"I don't care whether or not you drop out of school, so do as you like."
"Well, I'll just pull an all-nighter for that."
"Interesting. Aren't you here because you can't study?"
"Tsu..."
Even for the usually upbeat Ike, Horikita's thorny words made him stiffen. And then Yamauchi also started packing up. Finally, the worried Okitani also stood up, unable to go against the flow.
"E-everyone...Is this really ok?"
"Let's go, Okitani."
Ike and Yamauchi left with the hesitant Okitani.
The only ones remaining were me and Kushida. Even Kushida would probably leave soon.
"...Horikita-san, why didn't you stop anyone from leaving...?"
"I was mistaken. Even if I got these guys to barely pass, this situation would repeat. And then they'd give up again. I finally realized that this was a waste of time and effort."
"What do you mean by that...?"
"I'm saying that it's good to throw away all unnecessary trash now."
If the students with low grades weren't here, then there would be no labor needed to teach them, and the average would also increase. She came to that conclusion.
"So that was it... H-hey, Ayanokouji-kun. Do you also think the same way?"
"If Horikita concluded that, then isn't it fin?"
"A-ayanokouji-kun, do you think that?"
"Well, I don't want them to quit, but since I'm not the one teaching them, I can't do anything about it. In the end I have a similar opinion to Horikita."
"...I see."
With a dark expression, Kushida got her bag and stood up
"I'm going to do something about this. I don't want everyone to separate so quickly."
"Kushida-san. Are those your true intentions?"
"...Is that bad? I can't just abandon my friends."
"It doesn't matter whether or not you say those are your true intentions. I don't think that you truly want to help them."
"What are you talking about? I don't know what you mean. Why do you make enemies with your cold words without hesitation? That's...That's sad."
Kushida hung her head.
"...See you tomorrow."
After those short words, Kushida also left. In a flash, we were back to the two of us. The library was completely silent.
"That was troubling. With that, the study group is over."
"Looks that way."
The library's silence felt ominous.
"Only you understood me. I guess you're a bit better than those worthless fools. If you need me to teach you something right now, I can do it."
"I'll pass."
"Are you returning home?"
"I'll try to talk to them."
"There's no worth in talking to people who will drop out soon like them."
"I'm just simply trying to be a good person and make sure they will study."
"How selfish. Calling yourself a good person while you sit back and watch them get kicked out. From my point of view, that looks like the most cruel thing you can do."
Well, I can't deny that. She didn't say anything wrong.
In the end, studying is all about how well someone can motivate themselves.
"I'm not going to say you're wrong. I also understand why you'd call someone who doesn't like to study like Sudo stupid. But Horikita, isn't it also important to imagine Sudo's circumstances? If he was only aiming to become a basketball pro, then there's not much for him at this school. Don't you want to see why he chose this school."
"Not interested."
Brushing away my words, Horikita continued to look down at her textbook.
(Time skip)
Leaving the library, I chased after Kushida. I wanted to thank her and apologize to her about the study group.
Taking out my phone enthusiastically, I looked through my address book for Kushida's name. It's only my second time, so I'm nervous to cant her. I heard the phone ring two, three times.
However, there's no sign that she's picking up. Did she not notice? Or is she ignoring me?
She wasn't in sight, so I ran around, looking for her. Inside the school building, I saw someone that looked like Kushida from the back. It was around 6 o'clock, so there was no one other than club members. Well there's also the possibility that Kushida is meeting one of her friends that's in a club.
I'll chase after her; if she's meeting up with someone, I can talk to her at a later date. Time to go inside.
Getting my indoor shoes from the shoe rack, I headed for the hallway, but didn't see Kushida. Did I lose sight of her? I thought that, but I heard faint sounds of someone's shoes.
I arrived at the stairs leading to the second floor. Still following her. I heard the footsteps above me, going to the third floor. The next floor is the rooftop, no? It's open during lunchtime, but I believe that it's locked after school. Feeling curious, I went up the stairs. I hid my presence in case she was meeting with someone. And then I stopped in the middle of the stairs.
I could see the outline there.
Leaning against the handrail, I peeked through the crack in the door as I looked through the opening, I saw Kushida's figure. There was no one else. Is she waiting for someone here?
If she's waiting for someone in the deserted place...perhaps, is Kushida meeting up a boyfriend? In that case, there's a possibility that I would be cornered from both sides. As I was wondering whether or not I should leave, Kushida put down her bag on the floor.
"Ah so annoying!"
Her voice was so low that I didn't think that it was Kushida.
"It's really annoying, irritating. It'd be better if she just died."
She was grumbling to herself.
"I hate those kind of stuck-up girls that think they're cute. Why is she such a bitch? A girl like her can't possibly teach me how to study."
Is Kushida annoyed with Horikita?
"Ah- the worst. She's really the worst, the worst. Horikita's annoying, annoying, so annoying!"
I feel like the image of the class' most popular girl has been burned down. It was a figure that she didn't want seen by anyone else. My brain told me that it was dangerous to stay here.
However, a question arose. Regardless of the fact that she was hiding her true feelings, why did she agree to help me if she hates Horikita? I thought that she would know enough about Hoikita's personality and character. She could've refused to help, leave the study group to Horikita, or have done countless other actions to take her hands off the issue.
Why would she force herself to participate in the study group? Did she want to get along with Horikita? Or did she want to get closer to someone participating?
None of those make sense. With that much stress, if there isn't a different reason as to why she participated, I can't explain it.
No... She might've showed signs of this from the very beginning.
I never thought much about it, but looking at the state she's in right now, I have a thought. By any chance, do Kushida and Horikita know each other in middle school.
Anyway, I should get away from here. Kushida probably wouldn't want anyone else to see her like this. Hiding my presence, I tried to quickly leave.
Thump!
In the school at dusk, the sound of kicking the door was louder than I thought. Unexpectedly loud. Kushida, also hearing the sound, immediately tensed up and stopped breathing. As if someone called out to her, Kushida turned around and spotted me.
'What are you... doing here?"
After a brief silence, Kushida asked in a cold voice.
"I lost my way. My bad, my bad. I'll leave now."
Kushida kept looking at me, seeing through my obvious lie. She had an intense gaze I'd never seen before.
"Did you hear...?"
"Will you believe me if I said I didn't?"
"I see..."
Kushida briskly walked down the stairs. She put her left forearm against my neck and pushed me against the wall.
Her tone of voice and behavior wasn't the Kushida I knew.
The Kushida now had a scary look that I couldn't help but compare to Horikita's
"What you heard just now...if you speak a word of it to anyone else, I won't forgive you."
"And if I did?"
'Then I'll spread a rumor that you raped me up here."
"That's a false charge, you know."
"That's ok, since it's not a false charge."
She then grabbed my left wrist and slowly opened the palm of my hand. She held the back of my hand and put my palm on her breast.
The feeling of her breast was transmitted throughout my whole palm. I don't know what I should feel right now should I be mad or happy, if I was Ike or one of the boys in class I would've been the happiness man alive but I don't feel anything from doing this right now.
"Your fingerprints are on my clothes. There's evidence. I'm being serious. Got it?"
"I understand. I got it, so let go of my hand."
"I'm going to leave this uniform in my room without washing it. If you tell anyone, I'm going to give this to the police."
She kept my hand on her breast.
"Don't forget."
Making sure that I understood, Kushida stepped away from me.
"Hey, Kushida. Which one is the' real' you?"
"That has nothing to do with you."
"Is that so...However, watching you made me realize something. If you hate Horikita, then there's no need to involve yourself with her, right?"
I didn't mean to ask that. I knew that she probably wouldn't answer. But I was curious as to why she went so far to befriend her.
"Is it bad to try to be liked by everyone? Do you understand how hard that is? You don't right."
"I don't have too many friend, so no, I can't say I do."
Ever since the first day, Kushida certainly made an effort to talk to, exchange contact addresses with, and invite a pessimistic and negative girl. Anyone can imagine how time- consuming and hard the would be.
"Like Horikita... I wanted to at least look like I got along with Horikita-san."
"But you were stressed, huh."
"Yea. That's my way of life. That way , I can feel my own real significance."
She answered without hesitation. Kushida has feelings and rules that only she herself knows. That's what she was saying. Following her own rules, she frantically tried to over and over to get along with Horikita.
"I'm telling you this because of the circumstances, but I really hate gloomy and plain boys like you."
I'm not really shocked after seeing this side of Kushida. People tend to have both public and private images, after all.
"This is my intuition, but were you and Horikita acquaintances? Before coming to this school."
When I said that, Kushida's shoulder flinched for a split second.
"What the...I don't know what you mean. Did Horikita-san say something about me?"
"No, I thought that it was your first time meeting her. It's funny though."
"...Funny?"
I remembered the first time Kushida talked to me.
"When I was introducing myself, you instantly remembered my name no?"
"So what?"
"Where did you hear Horikita's name from? At that time, she hadn't told her name to anybody. The only one who knew was me, but I doubt it you already know her name when you started talking to me."
In other words, she shouldn't have had the chance to learn her name.
"Also, you probably got closed to me so you can keep tabs on her, right?"
"Just shut up. I'm getting irritated from listening to you talk. I only want to say one thing. Do you swear that you won't say a word of what you learned here?"
"I promise. Even if I told anyone, no one would believe me, no?"
Kushida is really trusted by the class. A difference of heaven and earth between us.
"...Ok. I believe you."
Although she didn't change her expression, Kushida closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Horikita-san's kind of unusual right?"
"Well, I'd say she's really unusual."
"She's not affected by anyone, nor does she involve herself with other people. The exact opposite."
Kushida and Horikita are really two opposite poles.
"If you believed me, then don't spread pointless rumors like that."
"If you had that much confidence before, you wouldn't have had the chance to feel my breast."
"I was really confuse there. I panicked..."
Her facial expression softened, and changed to one of impatience.
"So I can also think of you as a girl that would let boys touch her breast without hesitation?"
She kicked my thigh with all her strength. In a panic, I quickly grabbed on the railing.
"Watch it! I could've gotten injured!."
"That's because you said something stupid!."
With a flushed face (From anger) Kushida snapped at me.
"Hey, wait for a bit."
I gave her a small nod.
Going back up the stairs, Kushida quickly got her bag and came back with her usual angelic smile on her face.
"Shall we go back together?"
"Sure."
I wonder whether this was a bad dream as her attitude did a complete 180. It was the usual Kushida. In the end, I couldn't tell which one was the real her.
(Time skip)
I couldn't seem to fall asleep, so I got up and exited my room.
In the lobby, I brought some juice from the vending machine and went back to the elevator.
"Hmm?"
The elevator was on the 7th floor. feeling curious, I looked at the CCTV monitor inside the elevator. It was Horikita in her school uniform.
"...Well, there's no need to hide myself, but..."
I didn't want to particularly face her, so I hid myself behind the vending machine. The elevator reached the first floor.
While being wary of her srroundings, Horikita exited the building. After she disappeared into the dark, I chased after her.
Horikita stopped moving. There was another person's figure. I should record this maybe I can use this later who knows.
"Suzune. I didn't think you'd follow me all the way here."
Did she leave at this hour to meet with a boy? I never thought she was this type of a girl.
"Nii-san, I'm different from the useless me that you know. I've come here to catch up to you."
"Catch up to me, huh."
Nii-san? I couldn't see the person she was talking to, but it looks like it's Horikita's older brother.
"I heard that you are in class D it doesn't seem like anything's changed in the last 3 years. Because you've always been looking at my back, you've never been able to see your own flaws. Choosing to come to this school was another one of your mistakes."
"That's--- that's wrong. I'm going to rise u[ to class A. And then--"
"That's impossible. You'll never reach class A. Rather, you class will crumble before that. This school isn't as easy as you think it is."
"I will absolutely. absolutely reach class A..."
"I already said it's impossible. You're a really unreasonable younger sister."
Horikita's older brother takes a step forward. From my hiding spot, I could see him more clearly.
It was the student council president.
There was no emotion in his expression, as if he was looking at something that didn't interest him at all.
"No matter how much I avoided you, you are still my younger sister. If people start to learn about you, it is me who will be disgraced. Leave this school immediately."
"N-no...I will, I will absolutely rise up to class A...!"
"Foolish, really. Do you want to relive the painful experiences of the past?"
"Nii-san--I will--"
"You have neither the skills nor qualification to aim for class A. Understand that."
Horikita's body drew forward, as if he was about to take action. The situation looks dangerous.
Stopping my recording. I stepped out from my corner and approached the older brother.
Before I realized, I grabbed his right arm.
"What? Who are you."
Looking at his own arm, he looked at me with a sharp glint in his eyes.
"A-ayanokouji-kun!?"
"You were trying to throw her to the ground, right? It's concrete here, you know. Just because you're siblings doesn't mean you can do anything you want."
"It's not admirable to eavesdrop."
"Stop it Ayanokouji-kun."
She said with a strained voice. I've never seen her like that before.
"Just let go of her hand."
"That's what I should be saying."
Reluctantly, I let go of his arm. At that moment, he aimed for my face with a quick backhand.
Feeling danger, I instinctively leaned backwards. A nasty attack coming from the president himself. He quickly aimed for my vitals with a sharp kick.
I understood that it had power to make me lose consciousness in one hit. With a confused look, he let out a breath and extended his right arm towards me.
If I grabbed his hand, he would probably throw me onto the ground. Instead, I slapped his arm away with my left hand.
"Good reflexes. I didn't think you would avoid every single one. You also understood what I was trying to do. Were you taught in some way?"
Finally stopping his attacks, he asked me a question.
"I did piano and calligraphy. In elementary school, I even got the championship in music."
"Are you also in class D? What a unique boy. Suzune."
Letting go of her arm, he slowly faced me.
"Suzune, you have a friend? I'm honestly surprised."
"He's not my friend. He's only a classmate."
Denying his words, she looked up to her brother.
"As always, you're mistaking solitude with isolation. And you, Ayanokouji. With you around, things are going to be interesting."
He tried to walk past me but I grabbed is arm.
"Wait."
"Hmm."
"Would like to have some coffee with me, to talk of course."
"Since I find you interesting I would accept your invitation."
"Ok just let me know when can we talk."
He just smirked and fixed his glasses.
"Ok I'll just let you know when I'm free."
After that he just disappeared into the night. Now looking back at the girl who was just looking down. Looks like she didn't hear our conversation that's a relief.
I walked closer to her.
"Horikita are you ok?"
"I'm going to crawl my way to class A even if I die. That's the only way."
She didn't get hurt so I guess I can leave now. As I turned to return to the dorms, Horikita called out to me.
"Did you hear everything? Or was it coincidence?"
"No, it was like 50% luck I saw you while I went to go buy juice from the vending machine. I followed you simply because I was curious. However, I really didn't mean to intrude."
Horikita sank into silence once again.
"Your older brother is quite strong."
"He's 5th dan in karate and 4th dan in aikido."
So he's that strong huh. If I didn't pull back it would've been a disaster.
"Ayanokouji-kun you also do something right? What ranks do you hold."
"I already said it, didn't I? I played piano and performed tea ceremonies."
"You said calligraphy before."
"...I also did calligraphy."
"You purposely got low test score, and you say you did piano and calligraphy. I still don't understand you very well."
"Getting those scores were only a coincidence, and I really did piano, tea ceremony, and calligraphy."
"You saw the strange side of me."
"Rather, I always thought that you were a normal girl- not."
She scowled at me.
"Let's go back. If anyone sees us here, there will surely be a misunderstanding."
Certainly. There would absolutely be strange rumors about a girl and a boy all by themselves in the middle of night.
Slowly getting up, Horikita walked towards the entrance of the dorms.
"Hey... Are you really ok with how the study group went?"
Thinking that I wouldn't get another chance, I called out to her resolutely.
"Why are you asking that? I proposed the study group in the first place. It's not like you cared about it in the first place. An I wrong."
"I have a bad feeling. Or should I say, the other students seem to be planning something."
"I don't mind. I'm already used to it. Also, most of the students with marks are with Hirata-kun. He's good at studying, gets along with people, and can teach other people well, unlike me. Thins, they should be able to barely clear the borderline. However, I judge it to be a waste of time to help them out myself. Until graduation, they'll have to repeatedly try not fail. It's be really stupid to keep trying to cover for their failing marks every single time."
"Sudo and his group took some distance from Hirata. I don't think they'll participate in his study group."
"That's what they decided to do; that has nothing to do with me. If they don't approach Hirata-kun, they'll just drop out soon enough. Of course, my goal is to get up to class A. However, that's for my own sake, and not for anyone else. I don't care what anyone else does. Rather, if cut down on people on this next midterm, only people on this next midterm, only people who are necessary are left. It'll be easier to get to class A. A win-win situation."
"Don't you think the way you think is a little flawed?"
"Flawed? Tell me which part is wrong. You're not trying to say that there is no future for a person who abandons their classmates, right?"
"Calm down. I know you well enough that you wouldn't understand what I'm saying."
"Then why? There's no merit in saving failures."
"Certainly there isn't much merit. However, it helps prevent demerits."
"Demerits?"
"Do you think that the school hasn't already thought of that? They're students who rack up negative points from talking during class or always being late. Say they drop out because no one helped them. How many negative points do you think we'll get?"
"That's."
"Of course, before we get any information, nothing, nothing is certain. However, don't you think that there's a fairly high possibility? A hundred? A thousand? There's even a chance that 10,000 or 100,000 points are deducted. If that's the case, you'll have a hard time getting to class A."
"Our negative points from being late and talking during class can't go below 0 right now. While we're at 0 points, it'd be best to remove all the students who can't study. Isn't it the same as receiving no damage?"
"There's no guarantee that that'll be the case. There might be some negative points that we don't think it's alright to ignore such a dangerous risk? Well.... for someone as smart as you, there's no way that you wouldn't have thought of that. If that wasn't the case, there's no reason for you to do a study group. You would've abandon them from the very start."
I was starting to get worked up. That might be because I started to regard her as a friend. I didn't want her to regret her decision.
"Even if there are unseen minuses, it's better for the class if we get rid of the failures. When we start to increase our our points, it'll be bad if we regret not cutting them out. At this time, this is a risk that should be taken."
'Do you really think that?"
"Yes, really. Rather, I'm worried about you, who is trying desperately to save them, you know they hate you right?"
I grabbed Horikita's wrist as she was about to get on the elevator.
"Do you have a rebuttal? This problem isn't something that can be solved by the two of us. The only ones who know the answer are the school, so we'll be left here arguing forever. I'll interpret it as I like, and you'll do the same. It'll only amount to that no?"
"You're really talkative. I never thought you were the type of person to talk this much."
"That's because you're being insistent."
The normal Horikita would never listen to me.
If I stopped her like this, it wouldn't be strange to receive a sharp blow. However, by not doing so, it's evidence that Horikita also thinks the same way. That's why she didn't shake off my hand. Of course, she herself probably doesn't notice.
"With that mindset, make sure to have a broad outlook on life. Right now, you're too blinded by anger and unhappiness that you can't see anything."
"Are you someone important? Do you even have the ability to find faults about me?"
'Whatever my ability, I can only see one thing that you cannot see. This is the only fault in the otherwise perfect-looking person know as Horikita Suzune."
She snorted, as if she was saying
"Tell me if you have a bone to pick with me."
"Let me tell you your faults. You find other people a hindrance and you don't let anyone come close to you. Aren't you in class D because you always think of yourself as superior over everyone else?"
'It's like your trying to say I'm equal to Sudo-kun and his group."
"Then, are you trying to say that you're superior to those guys?"
"It's obvious if you look at the test scores. Those are clear evidence that they're just heavy baggage for the class."
"Certainly, if you measure by scores, they're two, three times below your level. Even if they tried really hard, they wouldn't be able to surpass you. However, that's only true on top of the desk. The school doesn't only look at intelligence. This time, if the school did some kind of physical examination, the results wouldn't be the same. Is that wrong?"
"That's--"
"Your physical ability is also good. After watching you swim, you're definitely one of the better girls. However, both you and I know that Sudo's physical abilities surpass yours. Ike has communication skills that you don't have. If there was a test based on communication skills, Ike would certainly be helpful. Rather, you would've probably dragged down the class. Well then, are you incompetent? No, that's not it. Everyone has their strong and weak points. That's what a human is."
Horikita tried to retort, but she wasn't able to say anything.
"You have no basis to your words. All of your words are just pure guesses."
"If there is no foundation, then we have to come up with a guess from what we do have. Think about Chabashira-sensei's words carefully. In the guidance room, she said, "Who decided that smart people are the ones who get into superior classes?" .So, the conclusion is that there is some factor other than academic ability that affects rankings."
I swiftly cut off Horikita's exit path as she looked left and right to weasel herself out of the argument. If I didn't do that, our argument would've been ridiculous.
"You say that you wouldn't regret abandoning the students who failed, but that's not true. There will be plenty of days where you feel regret if they drop out."
I looked straight into Horikita's eyes. She was not only grasping the reality of the situation, but also tied it with her consciousness. I got that impression from her.
"You're really talkative today too. Doesn't suit your principle of avoiding trouble."
"Yea, probably."
"It's really frustrating, but your words are right. You had enough persuasive power to make me think that. I'll recognize that. However, I still can't understand one thing. That is, your intentions. What is this school to you? Why are you desperately trying to persuade me?"
"I see, that's what you're thinking."
"If someone doesn't have any persuasive power, their theories won't be believed."
She wants to know why I'm trying to persuade her that letting Sudo and the others drop out is a bad thing.
"Without any facades, I want to know the true reason. For points? To rise up to class A? Or, to help those 3 idiots."
"Because I want to know. What is' a person with merit? What is equality?"
"Merit, equality..."
"I came to this school to seek out answers to these questions."
Although it wasn't my true intentions those words came out of my head randomly.
'Your hand, can you let go?"
"Ah, my bad."
After I released my hand, Horikita turned around and looked at me.
"I couldn't have fallen for your smooth talking, right."
Saying that, Horikita extended her arm towards me.
"I will take care of Sudo-kun and the others for my own sake. From now on, I'll make sure they don't drop out as an investment for the future. Is that fine?"
"Don't worry. I don't think you'll act differently. That's the kind of person you are."
"That's a promise, then."
I shook Horikita's hand.
However, it wasn't until later that I learned that this was a contract with the devil.