Sakayanagi found Shiki to be a highly fascinating opponent.
But just as she was getting excited, Shiki poured a massive bucket of ice water right over her head.
Shiki was too lazy to argue and said casually, “Anyway, the risk to reward ratio is completely unbalanced.
Plus, I just want to spend my three years here in peace.
All this class warfare nonsense just feels like a bunch of well fed, privileged kids with way too much free time burning off excess energy by playing games.”
Sakayanagi narrowed her eyes and smiled.
“Shiki-kun is quite arrogant, isn’t he?
Dismissing everyone who is eager to prove themselves as children playing house…”
“Call it whatever you want.”
Shiki was completely immune to her taunts, like a dead pig that doesn’t fear boiling water.
His greatest strength was that he never put pressure on himself, and he definitely didn’t care about the opinions or insults of others.
Say whatever you want, curse at me all you want.
If I actually get angry, you win.
“Shiki-kun’s attitude really is infuriating sometimes.” Sakayanagi shook her head, secretly plotting how to force him into a confrontation in the future.
After a moment of silence, Sakayanagi spoke up again.
“Speaking of which, Shiki-kun still hasn’t answered my question.”
“Ah, what question?”
Shiki looked up, his eyes full of pure, innocent confusion.
Sakayanagi paused, her tone growing a shade darker.
“…Shiki-kun.”
“Wait, don’t use that terrifying tone.”
Shiki suddenly realized that when the little devil Sakayanagi looked like a broken toy, she was actually quite intimidating.
Still feeling a lingering chill, he answered quickly, “My class is organizing a study group.
Quite a few students are hovering right on the edge of expulsion, and some ‘good Samaritans’ want to keep the class fully intact.
So, they specifically begged the top scoring students to help tutor the failing ones.”
This wasn’t exactly a secret.
With the threat of expulsion hanging over everyone’s heads, every single class had set up their own study groups.
“I see.
So, is Shiki-kun one of the people providing help?”
Sakayanagi hit the nail right on the head.
But Kamuro, who had been focused solely on inhaling her food, looked up and laughed.
“How is that even possible, Sakayanagi?
With his incredibly lazy, trouble hating personality, there is absolutely zero chance he would waste his time and energy helping those idiots in Class D.
He complains about the weirdos in his class to me all the time.”
(Is it possible that you are also one of those weirdos?)
Shiki stayed silent for a moment before saying, “Sorry to disappoint you, but I actually am one of the tutors.”
Kamuro looked completely shocked.
“Eh?!
Don’t tell me your grades are actually good?!”
“No,” Shiki’s face cracked.
“Your logic is completely jumping tracks here!
Shouldn’t you be questioning why I’m actually helping?
Why did you instantly jump to my grades?
Besides, didn’t I already tell you that my scores were pretty good?”
“Tch.
I thought you were just saying that to save face.
How was I supposed to know you were actually smart?” Kamuro curled her lip.
“Hehehe.
Calm down, Shiki-kun.
Masumi-san is actually just feeling a little hurt,” Sakayanagi smiled playfully.
“Hurt?”
“Yes.
Masumi-san probably thought you were terrible at studying just like her.
She likely felt a sense of comrade with a fellow failing student, only to find out you betrayed her in the end.”
“Hey!
Shut up, Sakayanagi!”
Kamuro finally rebelled against her slave driver, glaring furiously at Sakayanagi.
“…” Shiki had no idea what to say.
“Pardon me for asking, but how close was Kamuro to the failing line on the last quiz?”
“If you know it’s rude to ask, then don’t ask!” Kamuro snapped.
Sakayanagi didn’t hesitate to stab her in the back.
Smiling, she said, “She was hovering right on the edge of failing.”
“Tch!” Kamuro turned her head away.
“Sigh, you really need to take your studying more seriously, otherwise you might actually get expelled one day.
That would be a massive pain.
And you too, Sakayanagi.
Stop bossing Kamuro around for every little thing.
Look at her terrible grades—this is entirely your fault.” Shiki pointed his finger back and forth, lecturing them both.
The veins on Kamuro’s forehead throbbed.
She slowly turned her head and shot Shiki a deadly glare.
Scary…
Shiki instantly quieted down and obediently went back to eating his rice.
“How about this?”
Sakayanagi suddenly said, “Why doesn’t Shiki-kun tutor Masumi-san as well?
Just try to get her up to the class average…”
“Hah?
Me…”
Before Kamuro could even finish refusing, Shiki was already shaking his head so fast he looked like a desk fan.
“Wait, wait, wait.
Didn’t I just tell you I have my own class’s study group?
I don’t have time!
I literally have zero free time!”
“Eh?
But since Shiki-kun is already tutoring other students anyway, adding one more shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Or are you saying you’re perfectly willing to waste your time helping total strangers, but you refuse to help Masumi-san, who cares so much about you?”
Hearing the last part, Kamuro swallowed the words she was about to say.
She stared unblinking at Shiki, looking as if, should his explanation fail to satisfy her, she would rip his chest open just to see if his heart was completely black.
Shiki’s mouth twitched.
(Shouldn’t Class A have their own study groups?
And as the leader, shouldn’t Sakayanagi be taking responsibility for her own faction?
Why is she dumping this on me?)
“Fine.
I understand.”
Shiki chose to surrender—not because of Sakayanagi, but because of Kamuro.
After all, whether it was helping him grill meat last time or worrying about his points today, Kamuro had consistently shown true loyalty as a friend.
Returning the favor by helping her study was only natural.
(I just pray her grades aren’t too completely unsalvageable.)
______________
After school, bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight pouring into the library, a small group of people sat around a rectangular table.
There was nothing unusual about students being in the library, but the atmosphere around this specific group was incredibly awkward.
Despite looking completely different, every single one of them wore the exact same uncomfortable expression.
Shiki scanned the group he had been assigned to tutor.
A girl with long blue hair, a guy with short hair looking completely exhausted, and someone very familiar—the pink haired girl who had been harassed by the creepy store clerk…
Yeah.
Aside from Kamuro sitting next to me, I don’t know a single one of these people.
Shiki let out a deeply helpless sigh.
“Alright, fine.
I surrender.”
Kamuro nudged his shoulder with her elbow and frowned.
“What kind of weird nonsense are you talking about?”
(Can’t this girl be even slightly gentle?)
Shiki rubbed his aching shoulder, baring his teeth slightly.
Looking at the confused stares of everyone at the table, he threw his hands up in defeat.
“Are we playing ‘whoever speaks first loses’?
Otherwise, why are all of you sitting here like mutes?
For a second, I genuinely thought I had wandered into a school for the deaf.”
“Pfft—”
The slightly dark joke earned a laugh from the blue haired girl.
Noticing everyone looking at her, she instinctively twirled a strand of blue hair around her finger.
“Sorry, I’m not laughing at you.
I was just surprised.
I didn’t expect the Tsugikuni-kun who caused such a massive storm in class to actually make jokes.”
“Caused a massive storm?” Kamuro cast a highly suspicious glance at him.
“What the hell did you do in your class?”
(Yeah, what DID I do?
Earning the phrase ’caused a massive storm’ is a bit much…
Is this girl failing her literature classes?)
“It was nothing.
During homeroom, someone insisted I stand up and say a few words.
But then, a red haired gorilla randomly got furiously angry at me and looked like he wanted to charge over and beat me up.
Thankfully, someone held him back.”
“Huh?
Are you okay?”
Kamuro’s eyes went wide.
She quickly looked Shiki up and down to see if he was injured anywhere.
Even though she knew his physical condition was excellent, fighting was a completely different story.
Plus, since he used the words ‘red haired gorilla,’ the guy who attacked him was probably huge.
“I’m perfectly fine.
The students in Class D are actually very reasonable and understanding.
After I gave him a deeply heartfelt, emotional speech, he immediately calmed down and realized his mistakes.”
“Wow, I had no idea you were such a good speaker.”
Kamuro stared at him in amazement, completely believing his smooth talking bullshit.
The actual Class D students sitting at the table felt their eyelids twitch wildly, their faces locked in expressions of sheer disbelief.
(TL:She really is cute too…)
After briefly explaining the situation, Shiki looked around the group.
“Well then, how about everyone introduces themselves?
At the very least, we should know each other’s names.”
“I am Tsugikuni Shiki.
Yep, that’s it.”
The blue haired girl deadpanned, “That was incredibly half-hearted.
But whatever works.
I’m Hasebe Haruka.”
The exhausted-looking guy muttered, “Miyake Akito.”
A certain purple haired thief spoke next.
“I’m Kamuro Masumi.”
The deeply introverted red-haired girl finally spoke up.
“I-I am Sakura Airi.”
Alright, got it.
Shiki nodded in satisfaction and continued, “Alright, everyone should have brought the homework or assignments they’ve been doing recently, right?
Please take them out so I can see exactly where you’re struggling.
Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin targeted training.”
“Eh?” Hasebe Haruka looked surprised.
“We aren’t starting today?”
“No need.
Treat today as an ice-breaker.
We’re just getting familiar with each other.
But let me make one thing absolutely clear: if you want to quit, do it now.
Don’t study for five minutes and then start whining about how hard or tiring it is.
I don’t care if you’re slow to learn, but I refuse to waste my time on people who give up easily.”
In the corner, Sakura Airi’s shoulders flinched.
She was clearly intimidated by his strict tone.
Kamuro gave him a surprised look.
“I didn’t expect you to actually take this so seriously.
I figured you’d just half-ass it like you do everything else.”
Shiki rolled his eyes.
“I just don’t want to waste my energy for nothing.”
Miyake Akito, who had been quiet the whole time, finally spoke up.
“So we aren’t doing anything right now?”
“You guys can review your incorrect answers.
Or maybe we could play ‘Red Light, Green Light’?”
“Ah.
You skipped your club activities today?
The Archery Club?”
“Y-Yeah.” Miyake stared at him in utter shock.
“How did you know that?”
“Just a guess.” Shiki shrugged.
“While I was talking earlier, you gave off a very distinct vibe of helplessness.
It felt like you originally had something else to do but had to cancel it.
And since this is the exact time clubs usually meet…”
“Also, the muscles in your left and right arms are asymmetrical.
One arm is clearly thicker than the other.
There are visible friction marks on the inside of your left forearm, and calluses on the pads of your right thumb and index finger.
Putting it all together, I guessed you practice archery.”
Everyone’s eyes immediately locked onto Miyake’s arms.
To their shock, everything was exactly as Shiki had described.
Hasebe slapped her forehead.
“That’s basically cheating!
You figured it out in seconds and then claim you just ‘guessed’?
There is absolutely no way I could have guessed that.”
Every hair on Kamuro’s body stood on end as she stared at Shiki in pure horror.
“I always feel incredibly unsafe around you.
Can you please turn off your creepy observation skills?”
“Turn it off?
Do you think this is a video game where I can just toggle a skill button?” Shiki scratched his head.
“It’s pure instinct.
I can’t help it.
After all, I severely lack a sense of security.
If I couldn’t instantly read what other people were thinking, I probably wouldn’t even be able to have a normal conversation.”
Kamuro froze.
“Is it really that serious?”
“I’m dead serious.
In my case, failing to read someone could literally result in death.”
“I seriously can’t even imagine what kind of life you used to live…”
Kamuro shook her head, deciding not to dig any deeper into his tragic past.
Shiki turned to Miyake with an apologetic look.
“Sorry, Miyake-kun.
I should have explained the schedule more clearly beforehand.
Maybe we can all agree on a better time so you don’t have to miss practice.”
“Uh, no, it’s fine.
The Archery Club doesn’t have strict punishments.
They’re actually very forgiving if you take time off to study,” Miyake replied, clearly not used to people being so formal with him.
“I see…”
Saying no more, Shiki collected their homework notebooks and began carefully noting down each person’s strengths and weaknesses.
With no one speaking, the table suddenly grew very quiet.
While flipping through Miyake’s notebook, Shiki suddenly looked up.
“Don’t just sit there staring into space.
You guys can chat and get to know each other.
At the very least, practice your basic communication skills.”
He couldn’t help but complain, “Seriously, I always thought I was the quiet one.
But compared to you guys, I’m practically a stand up comedian.”
Hasebe and Miyake chuckled slightly at his remark.
Kamuro was about to say something, but Sakura Airi, who had been silently shrinking into the corner, suddenly spoke up.
“U-Um…”
“Yeah?” Shiki looked up.
Sakura was clearly terrified of him.
She trembled slightly, lowering her eyes as she spoke in a voice so quiet it sounded like a buzzing mosquito.
Shiki’s mouth twitched.
“Is my face really that scary?”
(My parents were literally top tier hosts!
I’m supposed to be handsome!)
“Ah, it’s probably because Tsugikuni-kun’s ruthless, merciless scolding during the homeroom meeting left far too deep of an impression,” Hasebe rested her chin on her hand, smiling warmly at Sakura.
“Sakura-san, you can speak a little louder.
I’m pretty sure Tsugikuni-kun doesn’t actually eat people.”
“…Please remove the ‘pretty sure’ from that sentence.
Thank you,” Shiki deadpanned.
Hasebe just smiled.
Perhaps due to the lighthearted joking, Sakura’s nerves eased slightly.
She whispered, “Is it really okay for us to chat in the library?
Isn’t that against the rules?”
“Oh, that.” Shiki smiled.
“It’s fine.
The library is huge.
As long as we keep our voices down, it won’t bother anyone.
Besides, haven’t you noticed how many other study groups are being held here?
Everyone is breaking the rules together.
The law doesn’t punish the masses.
Plus…”
He took a deep breath.
“If the librarian actually gets annoyed and kicks us out, the absolute worst case scenario is that we all get to go home early.
We don’t have anything else to do today anyway.”
Miyake deadpanned, “You really are thorough, aren’t you?
You even planned out our escape route.”
“Of course.
No matter what you do, before taking action, you have to think it through from every angle.
Rather than fantasizing about success, it’s much more important to secure an escape route for when you fail.
In that regard, I am a highly experienced grandmaster.”
Kamuro was completely speechless.
“Nobody is praising you for that…” (TL:Kamuro really is his Tsukkomi partner~)