"Kushida-san, did Ayanokouji-kun not tell you? You—"

"I'm also worried about getting a bad grade," Kushida said.

"You...didn't score badly on the small test."

"Yes, but to tell you the truth, I was lucky. There were lots of multiple- choice questions, you know? So I guessed about half of them. In truth, I just barely passed."

Kushida giggled adorably, lightly scratching her cheek.

"Is that true?" Yukimura asked in disbelief, as he remembered Kushida was pretty good in academics. Kushida has slightly above average grades.

"Well actually I lied, I should have come up with a reasonable enough reason for Suzune-san to allow me," said Kushida while rubbing her head shyly.

"I see," Yukimura said while nodding.

"I think that I'm about on the same level as Okitani-kun, if not slightly worse. So I want to join the study group to avoid getting a bad grade. That's okay, right?"

I couldn't hide my surprise at Kushida's unexpected scheme. She'd first confirmed that Okitani could join the study group, then turned the tables on Horikita. Now Horikita would have to permit her to join.

"I see, so that's her plan," said Kanzaki slightly widening his eyes.

"Did you find something, Kanzaki?" Shibata asked after seeing Kanzaki's reaction.

"Judging from Ayanokouji's reaction earlier, it seems like inviting Okitani wasn't part of their plan but rather Kushida's own initiative. Kushida used Okitani who was worried about getting bad grades to persuade Horikita to accept him to join the study group, after Okitani was accepted, Kushida used the same excuse so Horikita couldn't refuse," explained Kanzaki.

"Why? Couldn't Horikita have refused?" Shibata asked confused.

"That would make Okitani feel uncomfortable, because Kushida is using the same excuse as Okitani so if Horikita rejects Kushida, it would be the same as rejecting Okitani," Hamaguchi said while pushing up his glasses.

Kanzaki nodded in agreement with Hamaguchi's words.

"I see. How troublesome," Shibata said with a sigh.

"Fine," Horikita growled.

"Thank you." Kushida smiled, bowed, and took her seat. Bringing Okitani had probably been part of her plan all along. She'd effectively used him to justify joining the group.

"Just like you two said," Shibata said to Hamaguchi and Kanzaki.

"Scoring lower than thirty-two means failing. Do you fail if you get exactly thirty-two points, though?" Sudou asked.

"No, you're safe if you score at least thirty-two points. Sudou, you can manage that, right?" Ike said.

Even Ike was worried about Sudou. Of course those guys would want to know the exact threshold.

"It doesn't really matter. My goal is for everyone to score fifty," Horikita said.

"That's probably an exaggeration," said Satou.

"Yes, we all know Sudou-kun's academic ability is very low, forcing him to score fifty in such a short amount of time is absolutely impossible," said Matsushita agreeing with Satou.

"I can already feel something bad is going to happen," said Shinohara groaning.

Matsushita and Satou agreed with that, they could already see from the screen that Horikita and Sudou were complete opposites, and they were very sure that that would not be the last time Horikita insulted Sudou and the others.

"Gah, isn't that going to be too tough?"

"Aiming to just skate by is dangerous. The fact that you can't easily reach that threshold troubles me."

In the face of Horikita's sound argument, the failures simply nodded reluctantly.

"I included most of what will be covered on this test. We only have about two weeks left, but I plan to thoroughly walk you through everything. If you don't understand something, please ask."

"Hey, I don't understand the first question." Sudou glared at Horikita. I tried reading the first problem as well.

"Only the first question and he already asked," said Hashimoto, whistling with amusement.

"What do you expect from him?" Kamuro said in a bored tone.

"A, B, and C collectively have 2,150 yen. A has 120 yen more than B does. Also, after C gives B two-fifths of his money, B would have 220 yen more than A. How much yen did A originally start with?"

A problem with simultaneous equations, huh? The first test question should have been one that a high school student could easily solve.

"Try thinking about it. If you give up right at the beginning, you won't get anywhere."

"Look, I don't know how to study at all," Sudou said.

"Everyone got into this school."

This school didn't accept people based solely on test scores, though. Sudou had most likely been accepted because of his exceptional physical ability. If you looked at it that way, wouldn't he likely be expelled because of bad grades?

"It seems Horikita-san didn't even listen to what Chabashira-sensei said earlier," said Amikura.

"I guess so, Suzune-san still thinks herself superior to everyone else," said Ichinose while nodding.

"Ugh, I don't get it either." Ike, equally bewildered, scratched his head.

"Do you understand, Okitani-kun?" Horikita asked.

"Let's see... A plus B plus C is 2,150 yen. So, A equals B plus 120. Then..." Okitani started writing out a series of equations. Kushida, seated next to him, glanced over her shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah, that looks right. Then what?"

You could certainly call Kushida bold, or even audacious. She'd claimed to have just barely avoided failing, and she was now teaching Okitani.

"Now that you say it, I didn't realize it at all back then," Kushida said shyly.

"You help others so much that it becomes a habit," Horikita said.

"Do you want to do it too, Suzune-san?" Kushida asked.

"Not interested, that sounds really troublesome," Horikita answered while crossing her arms.

"Too bad."

"Honestly, first- and second-year junior high school students could easily solve this problem. If you stumble here, it'll be impossible for you to continue," Horikita said.

"So, what, we're like elementary school kids?" Sudou growled.

"Oh, you said it, Kenchin," said Hasebe with amusement, Sudou could only groan in response.

"Looks like Haruka has found a new prey to tease," thought Ayanokouji, usually Hasebe would always tease Sakura because Sakura had feelings for him.

"Like Horikita-san said, it'll be bad if you get tripped up here. The math problems on the short test were about this difficult, but the last problems were really tough. I didn't understand how to solve them," Okitani said.

"Listen up. This can be easily solved using a system of simultaneous equations." Without hesitation, Horikita picked up her pen and got to work. Unfortunately, it looked like only Kushida and Okitani understood.

"What even are simultaneous equations?" asked Ike.

Many students were surprised by Ike's question, they didn't expect that Ike would ask that and wondered if he had even been studying all this time.

"Hey Kanji, are you okay?" Hondou asked worriedly when he heard everyone talking about Ike.

"Yeah, I'm fine. But dammit, just look at me I won't let others belittle me again," Ike grumbled.

"That's the spirit. Don't worry, we've got your back," said Miyamoto giving a thumbs up.

"Thank you buddy."

"Are you seriously asking me that?" said Horikita.

"Looks like Suzune-san doesn't have the patience to be a teacher, she could just gently tell them," said Shiina.

"That's impossible, she wasn't interested in teaching them from the start," Ibuki snorted.

"Ku ku, the group is doomed," Ryuuen said with a grin.

"What do you mean, Ryuuen-san?" Ishizaki asked confused.

"You just wait," Ryuuen answered briefly.

Wow, these guys had really never studied at all, it seemed. Sudou threw his mechanical pencil onto the desk.

"Stop. I'm done. This isn't going to work."

"Jeez, it hasn't even been ten minutes and group study is already a mess," Andou said shaking her head.

"What was Horikita-san's first aim to teach them anyway? All she did was insult them," said Minamikata.

"I don't know, I also want to know."

Sudou had quit before we could even begin. Horikita quietly seethed at this pitiful display.

"W-wait, everyone. Let's give it a shot. If you learn how to solve these problems, you can apply what you learn to the questions on the test. Okay? Okay?" Kushida said.

"Well, if Kushida-chan says so, I guess I can try. But if Kushida-chan were teaching, I'd probably try even harder."

"U-um..." Kushida seemed ready to ask Horikita about that, but Horikita stayed silent. Her refusal to even answer "Yes" or "No" was troubling. However, if she remained silent much longer, the failures might abandon this study group. Kushida made up her mind and grabbed the mechanical pencil.

"Like Horikita-san said, you can solve this problem by using a system of simultaneous equations. So let's try writing them out."

Quickly, she wrote down three equations. It looked like the others were trying their best, but it still seemed hopeless. This was more like detention than a study group. They didn't seem to understand her methods in the slightest.

"So, the answer I got is 710 yen. What did you get?"

Kushida, confident in Sudou's ability to follow along, flashed him a smile.

"Um, so you used this to get the answer? How?" he asked.

"Uh..." Kushida immediately realized what had happened. None of them understood.

"I'm sorry, you're far too ignorant and incompetent," said Horikita, who'd been silent until now. "If you can't solve this problem, I seriously shiver at the thought of what the future will bring."

Many were boiling at Horikita's words, while everything was going smoothly with Kushida, Horikita immediately destroyed the atmosphere with her insults.

Shiina stared at the screen with a complicated expression, her mind full of questions about Horikita's actions.

"I wonder why Suzune-san keeps insulting them, she wants to form a study group but she has no interest in teaching them, all she does is insult them. It will make them..."

Shiina's thoughts were immediately interrupted when she managed to deduce one reasonable guess about Horikita's actions, her eyes widening at the knowledge.

"Could it be..." Shiina subconsciously muttered.

"Ku ku, so you noticed that too, Hiyori. Suzune's goal," Ryuuen said chuckling.

"Yes," said Shiina with a sad expression, "That's quite...cruel."

"Eh what? What does it mean?" Asked Ishizaki who was confused by Shiina and Ryuuen's interaction, Ibuki also had the same expression as Ishizaki.

"You'll see," Ryuuen said, just like before.

"Tch! Just stop playing with these secrets!" Ibuki snapped, it seemed she was annoyed with Ryuuen who was lazy to give an explanation, then she turned to Shiina, "Shiina, what did you mean by that?"

Shiina was silent for a moment before replying, "I mean, from the start Suzune-san didn't intend to teach them at all, her real goal was to destroy them mentally so they don't have the enthusiasm to study anymore and make them drop out of school."

"Hah!?"

"Hah!?"

Ibuki and Ishizaki simultaneously gasped at Shiina's words, they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"But what did she do that for?" asked Ishizaki.

"Ku ku now I ask you, which one is easier between maintaining and letting go?" Ryuuen asked.

"Letting go," Ibuki answered immediately.

"Eh, umm, yeah, letting go," said Ishizaki nodding after Ibuki.

"That's what Suzune is doing now, instead of keeping those idiots by increasing their academic ability, it's easier for her to just let them go."

Ryuuen paused for a moment before continuing.

"Suzune desperately wants to advance to Class A, so having people stand in the way of her goals is unnecessary for her. That's why she plans to expel those idiots, even if they can pass this test, a similar situation will occur again if they don't have the will to change."

Hearing Ryuuen's explanation, Ibuki and Ishizaki now understood why Shiina was so surprised.

After all, kicking out a classmate just for selfish reasons is cruel from a normal person's perspective.

"Shut up. This has nothing to do with you." Sudou slammed the desk, understandably irritated by Horikita.

"You're right. This has nothing to do with me. Your suffering won't influence me at all. I just pity you. You must have spent your whole life running from anything that presented a challenge," she said.

"Say whatever you want. Academics will be useless in the future, anyway."

"Academics will be useless in the future? That's an interesting argument. How do you justify that?"

"I don't care if I can't solve this problem. Studying's useless. Aiming to become a pro basketball player will help me a lot more."

"Studying is useless, huh. What do you think Shibata, you want to be professional too, right?" asked Hamaguchi.

"Well, to be honest I don't know because I'm not a professional yet. But I think that studying is useful, because there might be a situation where academic ability is needed in sports," said Shibata.

"Indeed, no matter how much we deny it, studying is useful for every aspect of life," said Kanzaki crossing his arms.

"Incorrect. Once you learn to solve these kinds of problems, your entire life will change. In other words, studying increases the possibility that you'll solve the problems you face. It's the same principle as basketball. I wonder if, so far, you've been playing basketball by your own set of rules. When you struggle in basketball, do you run away from it like you do from studying? I doubt you take basketball practice seriously. You're a natural troublemaker, someone who always causes a disruption. If I were your adviser, I wouldn't let you on the team."

Many students were indirectly offended by Horikita's words, even more so for those who entered the sports club. It's true that Sudou's behavior is problematic but Horikita's words aren't true either.

For them, other people have no right to judge the club activities they are doing, let alone insult them.

"Tch!" Sudou got in close to Horikita and grabbed her by the collar.

"Sudou-kun!" Kushida grabbed Sudou's arm faster than I could move. Despite Sudou's intimidations, Horikita didn't flinch. She simply fixed Sudou with an icy glare.

"You don't interest me in the slightest, but I can tell what kind of person you are just by looking at you. You want to play professional basketball? Do you honestly believe you can make such a childish dream come true in this world? A simpleton like you who gives up right away could never hope to go pro. Furthermore, even if you managed to become a professional player, I doubt you'd earn an annual income sufficient to live on. You're a fool to have such unreasonable aspirations."

"Aaaagh, this is so annoying! I know she's smart but should she insult other people's dreams like that!? She looks like everything is the same in her eyes, everyone has different dreams, be it sports, study or other things, they will do their best for the things they like," shouted a frustrated Shibata, he didn't look at Horikita but his friends realized that his frustration it was aimed at Horikita.

Like Shibata said, one does their best when they are doing something they are passionate about. That description suited Sudou very well, he didn't like studying but the Class C students especially the boys knew how talented Sudou was at basketball, in fact he was already a regular in first year, a feat that was rare for others.

It all proved how wrong Horikita's words were, because without hard work Sudou would never become a member of the core team.

Shibata's friends stared at him wide-eyed, they couldn't believe seeing the usually cheerful and lively person shouting in annoyance.

"H-Hey, Shibata." Hamaguchi tried to call out to his friend.

Shibata was panting after his outburst, he then took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Sorry guys. I was quite annoyed earlier, I can't hold it in any longer," said Shibata laughing shyly.

"It's okay, sometimes you do have to let go," said Kanzaki.

"Ha ha, my gosh. That must be really annoying for you to be that pissed off," Hamaguchi said with a relieved laugh.

"Sorry, sorry, ha ha," said Shibata scratching his head.

Ichinose and the others breathed a sigh of relief, for a moment she was worried that Shibata's annoyance would continue to cause chaos, but she thankfully only lasted a moment.

"You!"

It was clear that Sudou was on the brink of losing control. If he raised his fist, I'd have to wrestle him down.

"So, you're just going to immediately give up on studying or on school in general? Then discard your dreams of playing basketball and spend your days toiling away at a pitiful part-time job."

"Suzune-san, I think your words have gone too far," Hirata said rebuking Horikita with a troubled expression.

Horikita bit her lip, she already knew that her words on the screen were wrong a long time ago, but looking at it from a third person perspective, she now knew how despicable her words were, not only for Sudou but for all the people who work hard to achieve their dreams.

Even now she didn't know what to say to Hirata, but she still had to say something otherwise the situation would get worse.

"It's okay, Yousuke."

But right before Horikita could say anything, Sudou suddenly spoke, cutting Horikita off.

Horikita and the rest of Ayanokouji's group looked curiously at Sudou.

"I mean, we've all seen the change Suzune went through by now, right? So I don't think we need to bring that up again. I was also at fault there for not having the passion to study anyway," said Sudou.

The members of Ayanokouji's group stared at Sudou in disbelief and admiration, they had seen Sudou like this twice already, the first was when he cheered up another depressed Class C student and the second was now.

After a long silence, Hirata then chuckled, "Ha ha, I think you're right. I apologize for my behavior just now, Suzune-san," Hirata said to Horikita.

"Don't mind it, I deserve it," Horikita said with a sigh, then she turned to Sudou with a complicated expression, "Aren't you mad?"

"Well, I'm not angry, it's just that I was a little annoyed when I heard what you said on the screen earlier. But don't worry about it, like I said before that you've changed now, haven't you?" said Sudou.

Horikita just stared at Sudou while hearing what he said, before long she let out a sigh and gave a small smile, "To be honest you have a greater amount of change than I do."

"R-Really? Ha ha," said Sudou laughing coyly.

Everyone agreed with Horikita's words, Sudou's difference from his past self was stark, they seemed to see two different people. Sudou looked even wiser since entering this theater room.

"I believe it's because he has seen through our past," thought Ayanokouji while observing Sudou.

He was sure because Sudou had seen various other people's pasts, both full of happiness and suffering, that