Approaching mid-April.
The pairings between first-years and second-years had all been completed, and the few first-years left over could only prepare for the exam alone.
This exam had completely transformed from finding teammates to improving academic ability.
At this time, in a family restaurant, Hikigaya sat in his seat maintaining silence.
Ichinose and Himeno yuki sat on his left and right, with Sayo Ando, Yume Kobashi, and many others beside them.
Naturally, they were preparing for a study meeting.
However, for some reason, Sakurako Tsubaki sat opposite them, nonchalantly taking out stationery from her schoolbag, then tearing open a lollipop wrapper and putting the candy into her mouth.
"That... Tsubaki-san, right?"
Ichinose asked with slight confusion: "We are having a study meeting. Is there something you need?"
"Mhm," Sakurako Tsubaki said nonchalantly, "my grades are not good. I came to find Senior Hikigaya to tutor me."
"Are you and Hikki on very good terms?"
Himeno yuki forced a smile, her beautiful eyes darting a look at Hikigaya beside her, indicating "what is going on?"
How should I know what's going on?
Hikigaya was also very dazed.
Just after leaving school, Sakurako Tsubaki had been following behind them without speaking, and then followed them to the family restaurant and sat directly opposite.
"Not good," Sakurako Tsubaki said truthfully, with no intention of communicating: "Senior Hikigaya and I have only met a few times; we should only be considered acquaintances. You two seniors can rest assured, I have no interest in Senior Hikigaya."
"I see."
Himeno yuki immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought this central air conditioner Hikigaya had attracted another junior at some point.
"If it's just studying, we are very happy to help."
Ichinose looked at Sakurako Tsubaki opposite her with even more confusion: "But why doesn't Tsubaki-san study with the people in her own class? Or is there something else you need help with?"
"No."
Only then did Sakurako Tsubaki look at Ichinose.
Having just met, she actually worried if she had some conflict with the class; she truly was the famous soft-hearted person in the school.
As for other rumors or truths, Sakurako Tsubaki had no interest.
"My grades are not good, and I don't want to cause trouble for the people in my class. Since I'm teamed up with Senior Hikigaya this time, I'll trouble him to tutor me, or it's fine if Senior Ichinose tutors me."
"That's no problem."
Himeno yuki showed a smile, but in her heart, she was a bit unhappy.
What does that mean?
You don't want to cause trouble for classmates, so causing trouble for Hikigaya is no problem?
Although it indeed was so.
Hikigaya teaming up with Sakurako Tsubaki meant they became a community of shared destiny in this exam.
If one party's grades were not good...
The other party would also be very troubled.
Being partners and tutoring each other in studies is indeed beneficial for both sides.
Although these were all true words.
It was just that Sakurako Tsubaki's way of speaking was truly a bit irritating, as if they were being taken advantage of.
However.
Seeing that the other party seemed inherently bad at communication, Yuki Himeno felt it was best to let it go; simply helping with tutoring was fine.
Moreover, Ichinose had no objections.
"Alright then, I will tutor you in your studies. Tsubaki-kun, which subjects are you not good at, and which is your favorite?"
As she spoke.
Ichinose smiled, stood up, picked up her stationery, and sat down next to Sakurako Tsubaki.
She truly did enjoy helping others.
"I'm not really good at any of them. If I had to pick the ones I'm worst at, it would be Language and History. I don't like memorizing books. My favorite is Math."
"I see. Then let's start with Math first. You can make progress faster starting from a subject you're interested in, and then we can study the other subjects slowly!"
"Oh."
Sakurako Tsubaki imperceptibly furrowed her brows and shifted half a body length away.
Although she had heard rumors.
What was with this senior? She was far too enthusiastic.
Is there really a person who helps others without asking for anything in return?
She was the type Tsubaki couldn't handle.
Watching the scene unfold, Hikigaya indifferently put on his headphones and lowered his head to study.
Ichinose is the natural enemy of loners.
As for Sakurako Tsubaki using her status as a "community of destiny" to force him into tutoring, Hikigaya didn't particularly care.
With Ichinose there, it went without saying.
Moreover.
Sakurako Tsubaki spoke very directly.
She didn't beat around the bush or hide her intentions, which Hikigaya didn't dislike.
Only.
A study session like this felt somewhat uncomfortable.
It's better with fewer people.
A study session with more than ten people like this was quite noisy and affected study efficiency.
Of course.
Different people are different.
Others might find this kind of study session more efficient.
It was just that Hikigaya wasn't used to it.
This couldn't be helped.
After all, while Yuki Himeno could go to the Wool Club, Ichinose had to tutor other people in the class and couldn't follow them to the club.
She wanted to be fair to everyone.
Hikigaya could only blend into this study session, or everyone could go to the Wool Club to study, which wouldn't make much difference.
At this time.
On the other side of the family restaurant.
Karuizawa, Kikyo Kushida, and a group of girls were huddled together, naturally also having a study session to prepare for the exams.
However.
Everyone's eyes were inevitably drawn to Ichinose and her group.
"Is this for real?"
"I didn't expect they could actually get along peacefully?"
"They must be faking it, right? No matter how I think about it, it seems impossible."
"Who can say for sure? That is Ichinose, after all. Maybe she really doesn't mind sharing her boyfriend with others."
"That's true. It's Ichinose, after all, right?"
"Right?"
"Maybe they even think it's more lively with more people."
"Maybe they have a blast playing with that Hikigaya every night."
"Yeah, I heard last time that Hikigaya's thing is super big. Maybe Ichinose and that girl named Himeno like him because of that."
Several girls covered their small mouths, keeping their volume extremely low, occasionally stealing glances and snickering.
Although they didn't ridicule them to their faces.
Behind their backs, they had already spread rumors about Ichinose being a bitch obsessed with sex.
Even though they inwardly leaned toward the idea that she was being threatened by Hikigaya.
But only by thinking this way.
Could they satisfy themselves by watching Ichinose fall from her pedestal.
Just then.
They watched as Ichinose picked up a chicken nugget and fed it to Hikigaya's mouth, while Yuki Himeno used a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth.
The scene was completely harmonious, lacking the gossip they wanted.
"So affectionate."
The girls still sneered in low voices.
Actually.
Even without being told directly, Ichinose and Yuki Himeno could feel those vague gazes.
They could roughly guess the content of the conversations.
This was unavoidable.
Since people wanted to talk, they had to act even more affectionate.
Until those people lost interest, the rumors would naturally fade away.
However.
After Hikigaya's strong declaration last time, Ichinose and Yuki Himeno no longer cared.
As long as the three of them faced it together.
These were not considered difficulties; on the contrary, they were happy to enjoy the atmosphere of being watched while showing off their love.
"Come, Hikki, ah~"
Looking at the fries Yuki Himeno was handing over, Hikigaya helplessly opened his mouth to take them.
Especially this girl.
This girl just loved showing off to those shallow girls.
She was simply too bored.
It made it impossible to study properly.
Only.
Karuizawa's eyes peeked over resentfully.
Dammit.
She was truly being shown up.
If only she could join in, but the gossip from her companions made her hesitate.
Karuizawa didn't care that much herself.
As long as she could get what she liked, even if sharing with others was a bit uncomfortable, it wasn't a major problem.
But Class C was full of soft-hearted people like Ichinose.
That wouldn't be a problem.
But Class D.
It probably wouldn't be that simple to accept.
Looking at the behavior of Ike Kanji and these friends, one could tell.
Her status in the class would likely drop to the very bottom; it certainly wouldn't be as easy to accept as in Class C.
Karuizawa was never able to make up her mind to take that step.
After all.
This loss was more than she could bear.
She had finally stood up again and climbed to the top of Class D so she wouldn't be bullied; Karuizawa really didn't want to give that up just like that.