Ihe quiet study room, Css 1-D's study group had just started w through the test papers Suzune distributed. The atmosphere was calm, with everyone focused on solving the problems.

  Unfortunately, that studious mood barely sted five minutes before someone began pining.

  "Oi, are you serious with this test? Some of these questions—I 't even uand them!"

  Yamauchi threw his pen onto the table and gred at Suzune. "You didn't just grab these from upper-year exams to mess with us, did you?"

  "Yeah, I feel like you're making this harder on purpose," Ike chimed in, immediately siding with his friend. "Are you really trying to help us improve?"

  "These questions are selected based oional average for middle school students," Suzune replied calmly. "If you 't solve them, then just leave them bnk. That way, I accurately assess your actual level."

  "You—!"

  Being openly belittled like this, especially in front of Kushida, sent a rush of ahrough Yamauchi's mind.

  "If you look down on us that much, then I don't see any reason to tihis study group. No way am I letting someone who doesn't respect me teach me anything."

  He suddenly crumpled his test paper and gred at the bck-haired girl.

  "Kushida, say something. She's clearly looking down on us. How are we supposed to study like this?"

  Ike turo Kushida, hoping she would step in and pressure Suzune.

  "Uh…"

  Internally, Kushida was seething. You two are losing an argument with Suzune, and now you wao up your mess?

  Still, she maintained her usual bright smile, pying the mediator role.

  "Let's all calm down, okay? We're here to study, not tue." She smiled at the two fuming boys. "I'm sure Horikita-san didn't mean it like that. Maybe she's just a bit too eager to help, that's all."

  Despite Kushida's attempt to smooth things over, Suzune remained as unfazed as ever. She g the two boys and stated matter-of-factly, "I carefully selected these questions because they align with our current academic level. If you 't even uand them, then clearly, you ck the foundation necessary to improve."

  "What?!"

  This time, the impact was even stronger. With her indifferent tone and genuinely puzzled expression, Suzune made it seem as if their inpetence was beyond her prehension. The level of humiliation skyrocketed.

  Yamauchi and Ike shot up from their seats, their faces flushed with anger.

  "You little—! Do you even hear yourself?"

  "Guys, let's not fight iudy room," Kushida quickly interjected, trying to keep the situation under trol.

  "Hmph. If this is how she's going to act, then I'm out. I refuse to be taught by someone who thinks she's better than us."

  Yamauchi had never wao be here in the first pce. The only reason he even showed up was because Kushida invited him.

  "I agree. Unless Horikita apologizes, there's no way we're tinuing this."

  Ike sided with Yamauchi without hesitation.

  "That's not happening," Suzune replied coldly. "I'm trying to help you. If you refuse to cooperate, that's your problem, not mine."

  "Fihen we're leaving!"

  Yamauchi turo Kushida. "Thanks for inviting us, Kushida. But I'm not studying with someone like her. Call me ime—just make sure she's not around."

  "Yeah, Kushida-, let us know if you're holding another session. As long as she's not there, we'll be happy to join."

  With that, Yamauchi and Ike stormed out, leaving the study session in shambles.

  Throughout all of this, Ayanokoji had remained quietly w on his test. However, as Yamauchi pced a hand on his shoulder, he finally looked up.

  "Ayanokoji, I bet you don't want to study with someone like her either, right? You should e with us."

  "Uh…"

  Ayanokoji g the situation and, after a brief moment of thought, decided that it was best to just go along with them.

  He stood up, gave the two girls a small nod, a with the others.

  The study group, which had barely sted ten minutes, pletely fell apart. Suzune looked at Kushida before calmly gatherihings. She had no reason to stay any longer. In fact, if not for her agreement with Hikaru, she would have preferred studying alone in her dorm.

  "Horikita-san, will you e to the study session?" Kushida called out after her.

  "…If you tinue holding them, I'll attend."

  With that, Suzune slung her bag over her shoulder and walked out of the study room.

  Watg her leave, Kushida's expression darkened.

  I barely got to talk to her.

  There was nress in building a e—no ce to probe her for information.

  Damn it…

  Frustrated, Kushida pulled out her phone and immediately messaged Hikaru.

  Kushida Kikyo: Hikaru-kun… I've failed.

  ---

  Ba his dorm, Hikaru saw the message pop up and smirked slightly as he typed out a reply.

  Hashima Hikaru: What happened? Did Horikita refuse to attend?

  Kushida Kikyo: She agreed, but the study session didn't go smoothly. There were… some small issues.

  "Small issues?"

  Hikaru thought for a moment. sidering the nature of Css 1-D, it wasn't hard to guess—likely, some students weren't taking the study group session seriously. Given that it was the lowest-ranked css, their overall academic motivation was bound to be poor.

  Hashima Hikaru: Were you able to get closer to Horikita?

  Kushida Kikyo: Just a little… but she still feels so distant. She did say she'd e to the session, though.

  "Tch. She's really taking this seriously, huh?"

  Hikaru recalled how he had practically bckmailed Suzuo attending. He hadn't expected her to actually follow through with it this thhly.

  Hashima Hikaru: That's great, then. You keep holding these sessions and gradually get through to her.

  Kushida Kikyo: I think so too, but I'm still worried.

  Hashima Hikaru: Don't be. I trust your abilities.

  Kushida stared at her s, narrowing her eyes.

  Why is he helping me?

  She repyed everything that had happened—from the moment she met Hikaru to their dinner yesterday. Other than that one moment where she saw him lie effortlessly to the uppercssman, he had alresented himself as kind and sincere.

  Could he really just want to be my friend?

  The thought crossed her mind, but she immediately dismissed it.

  No one helps others without expeg something iurn.

  She wasn't stupid. She was well aware of the school's petitive nature.

  Is he trying to gather intel on Css D?

  But that didn't feel right either. Hikaru never pried about her css. If anything, he seemed more focused on her.

  Still, without knowing his true motives, she felt uneasy.

  And Kushida hated feeling like she wasn't in trol.

  If she was going to keep using him, she needed firmation. She o find out where he truly stood.

  With renewed determination, she typed out another message.

  Kushida Kikyo: Hikaru-kun, are you free ter?

  Hashima Hikaru: I am. Do you need something?

  Kushida Kikyo: we meet? There's something I want to talk about.

  Hashima Hikaru: Sure. Where?

  Kushida Kikyo: The stone-paved path he artificial isnd. The view's here.

  Hashima Hikaru: Got it. I'll be there soon.

  Kushida Kikyo: Great! I'm looking forward to it.

  As he put his phone down, Hikaru's eyes gleamed with i.

  Well, well. Looks like she's ready to make a move.

  This could be the perfect opportunity to lower her guard.

  ~~~

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