That afternoon, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't show up as promised but asked Yamamura Miki to deliver her gift instead.
Kamuro resisted the idea of them celebrating her birthday, claiming it would only mess up her mood, so they ended up meeting at a café.
However, when she received Yamamura Miki's gift, she couldn't suppress the upward curl of her lips.
Her mood seemed even better than when she received Kaoru's gift.
Perhaps it was hard to explain, but Kaoru felt a bit discouraged.
The carefully chosen gift he'd picked out—something most girls would love, a premium gift set—was apparently less appreciated than Yamamura Miki's.
Unexpectedly, the moment Kamuro saw the gift set, her face immediately fell.
"Don't make that face. I may not like overly sentimental occasions, but today was still enjoyable."
Kamuro turned her cheek aside, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of hair.
"So... thank you."
The tail end of her sentence was like a fleeting spark—easy to miss if one didn't listen carefully, leaving only her feigned nonchalant expression.
Though she usually seemed unapproachable and often wore a disdainful look, Kaoru always felt she just wasn't good at expressing her feelings.
Perhaps this was what Sakayanagi Arisu meant by "high difficulty to conquer."
"You'd be cuter if you were a little more honest."
Kamuro stiffened for a moment, then her gaze returned to its usual trash-regarding demeanor.
"A man who mindlessly sends cosmetics and accessories has no right to say such things."
Kaoru silently took a sip of coffee
. It had worked before, but apparently the same answer didn't work on different people.
"You two have such a good relationship."
Yamamura Miki said with some envy, "Did you enjoy your date today?"
"Ha! It w-wasn't a date at all!"
Kamuro firmly denied, "I just skipped class with him, we didn't do anything. Besides, look at how many girls this guy has involved himself with—who would actually go on a date with him?"
Yamamura Miki nodded with partial understanding.
Still, if it wasn't a date, why were the two sitting together, shoulder to shoulder?
Though confused, Kamuro's words left Yamamura Miki feeling slightly upset.
Whenever she recalled the rumors surrounding Kaoru, her heart would twinge.
On another note, for some reason, Sakura Airi, who had been Depressed before, had inexplicably recovered.
What caught her attention was how Sakura Airi had started chattering nonstop about Kaoru.
On days when Kaoru was absent, the study group turned entirely into a gossip circle, with Sakura Airi and Hasebe Haruka often reaching consensus on certain topics.
While they were happy, Yamamura Miki found herself feeling somewhat gloomy.
However, today was Kamuro's birthday, and Yamamura Miki didn't want to dwell on it too much.
So she proactively changed the subject.
"By the way, there's been a strange smell all along. Have you noticed it, Masumi-san?"
Kamuro seemed to freeze again, which puzzled Yamamura Miki slightly.
"A s-strange smell?"
Yamamura Miki nodded, then racked her brains to describe the odor—like something fishy and foul, faintly emitting a spoiled scent.
It sounded disgusting, yet Yamamura Miki realized she didn't feel repulsed.
Instead, she felt an inexplicable stirring in her heart, a strong urge to find out what it was.
"Not really, maybe it's your imagination."
Kamuro stammered, her pretty face slightly flushed.
Her eyes darted toward Kaoru beside her, as if warning him about something.
Yamamura Miki sniffed the air, growing even more puzzled. It was her first time smelling such a scent—it was too strange.
Moreover, her body seemed to feel somewhat restless and warm.
"Ahem, don't overthink it." Kaoru raised his coffee cup and said to Kamuro, "Happy Birthday, Masumi."
'What the— That's such a lame way to change the subject!'
'You're the one who made me embarrassed!'
Kamuro glared at him fiercely, her legs tightly pressed together—something she hadn't even realized herself.
If she hadn't been willing, how could she have satisfied him earlier and let that filthy thing stay inside?
"Happy Birthday, Masumi-san." Yamamura Miki also smiled.
This is really too much.
These two... even though she's currently with a pervert.
Kamuro pursed her lips and reluctantly raised her coffee cup.
"Don't let it happen again."
...
As the mock exams ended, the final exams drew closer.
During the class meeting in March, Mashima expressionlessly wrote "Additional Exam" on the blackboard.
Under the surprised gazes of everyone, he spoke, "Originally, the school planned to hold the final special exam of the academic year after the finals, on March 8th. However, this year's circumstances are slightly different."
Perhaps due to the unusual aura he emitted, the students of Class A looked at each other, with most realizing the seriousness of the situation.
"Up until today, not a single first-year student has dropped out. This is unprecedented in the school's history." Mashima Tomoya said coldly, "Considering this, the school has decided to add an additional special exam."
"Wait, that's strange. Just because no one has dropped out, we have to take an extra exam?"
In response to Totsuka Yahiko's agitation, Mashima nodded, "That's right, exactly."
Kaoru furrowed his brows.
An additional exam meant it was a last-minute decision.
Was it pushed by Nagumo, or by the newly appointed acting chairman?
"There's no need for you to worry. Based on my understanding of you all, this additional exam holds no disadvantages for you."
Mashima continued, "The additional special exam does not involve intelligence or physical ability. It's so simple that every one of you can fully understand this."
Without exception, the students, including Katsuragi, showed expressions of confusion.
Although they couldn't grasp what Mashima was saying, they could tell that his expression was different from usual when announcing special exams—it seemed somewhat relaxed.
Soon after, the students of Class A, Year 1, quickly understood Mashima's mood.
This additional exam was a class vote.
As the name implied, the entire class would vote together, with two types of votes: Criticism Votes and Praise Votes.
Each person could freely choose three students they believed deserved praise and three who deserved criticism.
Starting today, the exam would last for four days, with the final vote taking place on March 6th.
The voting results would only determine who ranked first in Praise Votes and who ranked last in Criticism Votes.
"The student who ranks first in Praise Votes will receive [Protection Points]. This is a new rule, different from Personal Points. As long as you have [Protection Points], even if you face expulsion, it can be nullified."
Kaoru was stunned for a moment, then his expression turned blank.
Was this Nagumo's way of protecting himself?
No, probably not.
Nagumo was unlikely to consider others' thoughts, and his initial proposal hadn't mentioned these [Protection Points].
If Nagumo wanted him expelled, why would he introduce something like [Protection Points]?
Was it the school's idea?