Chapter 54: Study Session

  It was already the second week of May, and at noon, Hirata suddenly walked up to the podium.

  "Sorry, everyone, for taking a few minutes of your time."

  If it had been someone else, holding a css meeting during everyone's break would have been ignored, and they would have been yelled at. But because it was Hirata, the students in Css D surprisingly chose to be understanding.

  "Chabashira-sensei mentioned that the midterm exams are coming soon, and if anyone fails, there’s a risk of being expelled. So, I’ve decided to organize a study session after school. I hope that students who feel uncertain about their progress will actively participate. We’ll be very welcoming."

  As soon as Hirata finished speaking, the students who had failed the previous quiz stood up and walked toward him, looking very grateful for Hirata’s help. After all, for students who are on the borderline of failure, it’s common to be ignored or to have to figure out ways to study on their own. In many people’s minds, it’s enough to just take care of your own matters and not worry about others. Many families also teach their children to adopt such an attitude.

  Therefore, not everyone in the css agreed with Hirata's "study session" suggestion. After all, he was spending his own time helping others, and it might even affect his own studying. Many of the failing students were people who had brought their failure upon themselves, and not everyone could do what Hirata was doing by helping selflessly and without holding grudges.

  On the other hand, however, many people secretly hoped for Hirata’s "good guy" nature. After all, if they encountered difficulties, someone like Hirata would definitely help them.

  So for the students who were on the borderline of failing, Hirata’s selfless help was undoubtedly a stroke of luck.

  Of course, there were also those who were indifferent.

  The Monkey brothers and Sudo, who had not gotten along with Hirata since the beginning of the school year, along with the Monkey brothers who either were jealous of Hirata or were just looking out for Sudo, remained indifferent.

  Hikigaya sneered at the scene. Did these guys really think that others' help was something to be taken for granted?

  Hikigaya believed that if the Monkey brothers, Sudo, and others didn’t recognize their own situation, they would definitely be on the expulsion list for the midterms.

  Pitiful people also have their own faults.

  Hirata...

  Hikigaya muttered to himself. Sometimes he thought Hirata was a very competent, even nearly perfect, leader. He was very attentive to css matters and his cssmates, and he even cared about the css more than his own well-being.

  More importantly, Hirata had such a positive attitude, and with his popurity across both genders, Hikigaya sometimes felt that having someone like Hirata as a selfless leader in Css D was truly a stroke of luck.

  Otherwise, considering the state of Css D during the first month of school, the css would probably already be in complete chaos by now. If there was an angel in Css D, it would be Hirata.

  But even with all the seemingly perfect qualities in Hirata, Hikigaya still felt that there was something off about him. Since the beginning of the school year, he felt that Hirata’s "good guy persona" was... too overwhelming!

  However, Hikigaya also knew his own limitations. As someone who couldn’t even do "good guy" things, he had no right to demand or criticize Hirata’s actions.

  At some point, Hirata had come to stand beside Hikigaya. Despite already being the highest-ranking student in Css D, he still greeted Hikigaya politely and sincerely asked, "Hikigaya, could you help me with the study session?"

  "Huh?"

  Hikigaya was taken aback, and Hirata quickly expined, "Actually, there are quite a few students who want to join the study session, so I’d like to invite you to join and help the students in the css who need assistance. I believe everyone will be very grateful for your help."

  If it had been anyone else, they would have already been moved by Hirata’s sincerity. But Hikigaya simply shook his head in refusal. When Hirata looked like he was about to persuade him, Hikigaya spoke first to interrupt, "Hirata, how do you think my retionship with the girls in the css is?"

  "Uh..."

  Even now, the group of girls, led by Karuizawa, was still very antagonistic toward Hikigaya. As a result, the other girls didn’t dare interact with him either, for fear of being beled a "traitor."

  "Also, what do you think my retionship with the other boys in the css is like?"

  Most of the boys in the failing group were close with the Monkey brothers, Sudo, and others, or they just outright looked down on Hikigaya.

  Hirata opened his mouth as though he wanted to say something, but in the end, all he could do was let out a bitter smile.

  "So, my personality and retionships just aren’t suitable for this kind of thing. If I join, I’ll just make the study session you worked so hard to organize turn into a mess," Hikigaya said expressionlessly. "Nobody likes being bossed around by someone they often look down on. It’s better to just refuse than to create more conflicts ter."

  Hirata understood Hikigaya’s situation. There were many things he could handle in the css, but interpersonal retionships were the most difficult issue for him to solve. All he could do was try to minimize the chances of conflicts.

  "I understand," Hirata said, a look of self-bme crossing his face. "I’m sorry, Hikigaya. It’s my fault. If I had been more decisive earlier, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation now."

  "No, as the css leader, you’ve done a great job. It’s just my personal issue. You don’t have to bme yourself," Hikigaya said, feeling a headache coming on. Why was Hirata taking the bme again? It wasn’t his fault!

  "I know. You’re still angry at me, aren’t you?" Hirata asked.

  "Huh?"

  Wait, Hirata, why does that sound... a bit gay?!

  ‘I’m not homo!’

  "Hirata, I prefer bigger ones... you know what I mean?" Hikigaya said seriously, instinctively stepping back to create distance.

  Hirata, however, looked confused. "Bigger? Is Hikigaya upset about what happened earlier? That’s true. You did warn me back at the start of school, but I still didn’t understand what you meant, and it led to this outcome."

  "Hikigaya, you’re really kind," Hirata said, smiling. "Even though the student council is so busy, you still took the time to listen to me rant. I won’t take up your lunch break any longer."

  With that, Hirata excused himself, seemingly to continue finding high-achieving students to help with the study session.

  "Kind? I’m just..."

  Suddenly, Hikigaya froze. Wait... How does Hirata know I joined the student council?

  "Hmm?"

  Just then, Hikigaya noticed a hidden gaze and turned toward the ostrich girl. Their eyes met, and the next moment, Sakura’s face instantly turned bright red, and she quickly lowered her head, hiding her face like an ostrich.

  "..."

  Well, this wasn’t the first time. Recently, Hikigaya had often felt the ostrich girl’s subtle gaze. Whenever he tried to ask her about it, she would immediately curl up like a trembling ostrich, refusing any opportunity for communication.

  Was he really that scary?

  Hikigaya thought, feeling frustrated.

  Gradually, Hikigaya had become accustomed to the girl’s gaze.