After school.
Looking at Horikita Suzune who was still organizing her school bag, Ike Kanji's gaze was somewhat hesitant.
To be honest.
He didn't really want to talk to Horikita Suzune right now.
Mainly, he was a bit afraid.
Ike Kanji's evaluation was already at the very bottom of the OAA; if he caused more trouble for the class, it would definitely lower his evaluation.
Although Ishizaki and the others were just talking trash, the people in D-Class naturally had the same concerns.
He was the last place.
When the time came, what if he was cut off by Horikita Suzune and the others?
The possibility was very high.
While working hard.
Ike Kanji and the others naturally felt some worry.
Except for people with outstanding strength like Onodera and Matsushita Chiaki.
People like Ike Kanji who were ranked at the bottom had a sense of crisis stronger than anyone else.
They didn't dare to cause more trouble for the class.
Nor did they dare to raise opinions to Horikita Suzune anymore.
Because of this.
Those at the top could still endure, while those at the bottom couldn't endure but didn't dare to speak up.
As a result.
It was as if nothing had happened in D-Class; they continued to laugh and talk, maintaining a good atmosphere.
But Ike Kanji was truly irritated.
In the end.
Ike Kanji nudged Sudo Ken.
Sudo was very strong now and had a good relationship with Horikita Suzune; letting Sudo speak should be much safer.
"Uh..."
Sudo glanced at him, also feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Although he could restrain himself, being scolded every day wasn't right either.
"Suzune."
Sudo slung his bag over one shoulder, walked up to Horikita Suzune, and said somewhat hesitantly:
"How much longer do we have to endure this?"
Seeing this.
Ike Kanji and many others quickly followed behind.
"Yeah, we were scolded again today. How long is this kind of life going to continue?"
"Yeah, same on my side."
A girl nodded, looking at Horikita Suzune with some dissatisfaction.
You told us to endure, and we endured.
But we can't just keep enduring like this forever; at least give us a deadline, right?
Although there was no actual loss, being mocked like this every day was indeed unpleasant, and more importantly, they had no room to talk back.
Talking back would result in being scolded even harder—being called things like wanting to be a saint after acting like a slut.
It was truly quite grievance-inducing.
The target was chosen by Ayanokouji, and the decision was made by Horikita Suzune.
For the sake of the class.
Being scolded once or twice was fine.
Why should they have to endure being scolded along with them?
"What's going on?"
Horikita Suzune knit her brows, and soon everyone recounted what happened today.
Not just Ike Kanji.
Many people were being discussed today.
It just wasn't as blatant as Ishizaki and the others, but it still made people psychologically uncomfortable.
Originally they thought the matter had passed, but they didn't expect it to start again today; their relaxed mood suddenly felt a strong sense of disappointment.
It wasn't that they couldn't endure.
They just wanted a clear answer from Horikita Suzune.
How much longer did they have to endure.
They couldn't just keep enduring forever; no one could constantly withstand such verbal abuse from the outside.
Unless they were like Ayanokouji and Horikita Suzune.
Possessing a powerful heart.
"I see..."
Horikita Suzune knit her brows.
"Horikita."
Hirata Yousuke also frowned with some confusion: "The incident showed signs of subsiding the past two days; I feel like this matter is a bit strange."
"Logically, everyone should be preparing for the Cultural Festival now; no one should be discussing this matter anymore."
To the students.
The Cultural Festival was undoubtedly a major event in their student life, and everyone's focus should be on the Cultural Festival.
"Indeed."
Horikita Suzune also nodded in agreement, looking at Ike Kanji and the others:
"It is indeed strange. It sounds like most of the people still discussing it are from C-Class."
Hearing everyone's explanation.
Horikita Suzune quickly made a judgment; although some people were being swayed, it was mainly some people from C-Class.
"Horikita-san."
Matsushita Chiaki knit her brows and said: "This is intentional by C-Class, but aren't we in a cooperative relationship with C-Class? What is the point of Ryuuen doing this?"
"It is indeed strange."
Horikita Suzune knit her brows, unable to figure it out.
If it was Ryuuen's idea, the two classes were currently cooperating; doing this would bring no benefit to C-Class.
"Is there no other way besides enduring?"
Karuizawa Kei also said with some annoyance: "It's not that I'm unwilling to endure for the class, but being mocked like this all the time feels super annoying."
"Yeah, I also find it very irritating."
Immediately, someone joined in the chorus.
After all, they only needed C-Class's help, and Hikigaya hadn't told anyone.
"Indeed..."
Horikita Suzune knit her brows and nodded.
She knew very well.
Going on like this wasn't a solution.
Although she and Ayanokouji didn't take it to heart, and strong individuals like Hirata Yousuke should have their own ways of dealing with it.
The same couldn't be said for the others.
Being mocked and looked down upon every day would surely affect most people's mental state and learning efficiency...
"How about this."
Horikita Suzune nodded seriously: "In a bit, I'll go check with Ryuuen. Getting him to restrain the people of C-Class shouldn't be a big problem."
"I'll go too."
Sudo quickly spoke up.
Although he also believed nothing would happen between Horikita Suzune and Ryuuen, he clearly wasn't comfortable with the two of them meeting alone.
"There's no need..."
Horikita Suzune shook her head:
"What's more important for you right now is to study hard. I can handle Ryuuen by myself."
"But."
Sudo started to get anxious: "What if that despicable guy Ryuuen does something? Suzune, you're the class leader, at least have a few people with you, right?"
Though he didn't believe it.
Every time he thought about something potentially happening between Horikita Suzune and Ryuuen.
Sudo inevitably felt a sense of crisis, clearly stemming from romantic concern.
Except for Horikita Suzune, who was in the late stages of being socially dense, no one else really cared.
"Hmm..."
Horikita Suzune thought for a moment and nodded: "Then Ayanokouji, come with me to see Ryuuen."
"Understood..."
Hearing their conversation, Sudo breathed a slight sigh of relief; at least he still had a lot of trust in Ayanokouji.
Furthermore.
Currently, Ayanokouji was still dating Sato, although it felt like the atmosphere between them was a bit off.
But.
At least Ayanokouji was definitely not a scum like Hikigaya.
Sudo was very much at ease.
The two left the classroom.
"Ayanokouji."
Horikita Suzune walked side by side with Ayanokouji, her voice turning slightly solemn:
"Do you think this is Ryuuen's doing?"
"What, it seems you don't think so?"
"Right, I really can't see how doing this benefits C-Class."
"Indeed, the possibility that Ryuuen was hired by someone cannot be ruled out."
After speaking.
The two had no further conversation.
Ayanokouji looked at Horikita Suzune beside him with an expressionless face.
She had indeed grown a lot.
Even upon hearing such information, she didn't make a hasty judgment, but instead decided to gather more intel.
Regardless of whether Ryuuen was doing it on purpose.
Horikita Suzune had already grown up, and D-Class was no longer the D-Class of the past.
Malicious rumors would indeed not stop.
But trying to crush D-Class with this method.
Impossible!
This kind of tactic only worked on Ichinose; it was clearly not enough to deal with Horikita Suzune.
Ayanokouji was somewhat curious about what the other party's goal was.