In Sakayanagi Arisu's room—even though all student rooms had the same layout, and while class status affected some perks at school, the dorm conditions were equal. Her room wasn't any bigger than others. But since Sakayanagi had a lot of points, she could decorate more freely. For example, her wallpaper was pink.
Her bedsheets were also cute in style. Even the floor had been covered with soft puzzle mats, considering her physical condition.
When Kamuro first came over, she thought she had stepped into a little princess's room. It felt really cozy.
Of course, once she had to help Sakayanagi shop and set it up, that cozy feeling completely vanished.
She was also used to Sakayanagi's daily routine by now, so it was strange that she wasn't sleepy even at 9 p.m.
"Just a little longer. I'm a genius, after all, and I don't like putting things off. So I'm going to organize the advanced topics from the math textbook right now."
Is that so.
She really was full of motivation.
"Um."
Kamuro didn't seem like she was in a rush to make her stop. In fact, she had something she wanted to ask.
"Sakayanagi, do you really think reviewing advanced topics is the only way? Isn't there another option?"
Huh?
Sakayanagi had been using her computer, but suddenly stopped.
She turned to look at Kamuro.
"Oh my."
It was like she had noticed something new.
Kamuro didn't like that look at all.
"You mean, is there another plan?"
Sakayanagi replied.
"Didn't we already see Shirogane and Ichinose together today? If there were another way to pass the test, would Shirogane still need help from the top students in Ichinose's class?"
Uh...
So she meant Shirogane's plan was the same as hers? Just rely on raw exam scores?
Shirogane Miyuki borrowed a lot of old textbooks. That probably means, just like Sakayanagi said, he guessed the test questions might cover material from those older books. But since that content has already been removed from the current version, it counts as outside the official scope.
"Even if their class does extra study sessions, there's no way they can get an average score of 70."
"So clearly, the extra studying isn't just for that," Sakayanagi said.
"It's probably for the long term. Most likely to help them do better in future written tests."
"And maybe also to raise the overall strength of his class."
"But does patching things up like this really improve the class as a whole? Sometimes, talent is just something you're born with. Even with hard work, some people just can't reach the top."
Oh.
So Sakayanagi Arisu just said something kind of scary.
What does she mean by "can't reach the top at all"? Is she someone who completely believes in talent and bloodlines?
Still.
Kamuro looked at the four books they brought back. Sakayanagi Arisu had already finished reading two of them. That kind of reading speed and understanding really isn't something just anyone can do.
"So, do you think Shirogane Miyuki might actually be a genius? He borrowed so many books, and even picked versions that included content from old textbooks that aren't tested anymore. And the most recent book he borrowed is already from second-year material."
Kamuro said.
…Sakayanagi's hand paused on the keyboard.
Then.
"I don't want to hear his name tonight."
Sakayanagi said.
…Kamuro figured Sakayanagi was just sulking for no reason.
She assumed someone liked her, but it turned out she was wrong. And now she's mad… at herself.
"Well, I'm heading back now,"
Kamuro said.
Usually, Sakayanagi Arisu goes to bed around 9 p.m., so Kamuro could return to her own dorm. But if Sakayanagi suddenly changes her bedtime, does that mean Kamuro has to stay up later too?
Kamuro thought that wasn't fair.
"Make me some more black tea."
Sakayanagi Arisu said.
"And I don't like staying up alone, so you stay with me."
"Go back after I fall asleep," Sakayanagi said.
?
Is that something a normal person would say?
Cursing.
Kamuro suddenly thought—if Shirogane Miyuki had figured out her habit of stealing back then and decided to take control of her early on, maybe she wouldn't be stuck serving Sakayanagi like this now.
And since Shirogane is in a different class, Sakayanagi Arisu probably wouldn't trust Kamuro if she had any connection with someone from another class.
Then she could've completely separated from Sakayanagi Arisu.
So.
That night, when Kamuro got back to her dorm, she had a rare dream.
In the dream, it was the second day after starting school.
Shirogane Miyuki went to the student council to report a shop employee for breaking the rules. A reward was offered, but Kamuro hurriedly refused to accept it from Vice President Nagumo. She even pretended like she had nothing to do with it.
Everyone else thought she was just being modest. But only she knew the truth: she had stolen that SD card just to satisfy her urge to steal. If she had taken the reward, it would have meant admitting to the theft.
Stealing is still stealing, and it would be easy for people to find out about her habit.
That's why she didn't want to accept the reward back then.
But the news about her refusing the reward reached Shirogane Miyuki.
Soon after,
Shirogane came to talk to her.
"Why won't you admit what you did, Kamuro?"
"I don't deserve the credit alone. I only picked up the SD card you stole and accidentally dropped."
He seemed like a pretty honest guy.
"But there's still something wrong with what you did. If you saw the store staff breaking the rules and wanted to take the card as evidence, that's fine — that would be collecting proof."
"But after you lost the SD card, you were looking for it, sure, but you didn't seem that panicked."
"So maybe you didn't actually notice the staff doing anything wrong."
"Instead, Kamuro, maybe you were just stealing."
In other words, he figured her out?
"And Kamuro, you don't want people to find out what you were trying to steal, right?"
Uh-oh.
Isn't this exactly like what Sakayanagi did?
Kamuro felt pretty disappointed in Shirogane Miyuki.
But then she heard him speak again.
"You should have enough points, so it's not like you're short on them. If you're stealing anyway, is it some kind of habit?"
"I've read some medical books. That kind of behavior is called kleptomania — a psychological issue."
"Let me think… maybe we can try changing your focus. If you're too exhausted to steal, maybe you'll stop doing it."
Shirogane said.
Huh?
So… is he trying to help her?
Could he actually be a good person?
Kamuro only starts to lose control when she's under a lot of pressure. But her parents are respectable people. If she told them she had this kind of issue, they'd be too embarrassed. And going to the hospital herself might be risky — what if she ran into someone she knew?
Getting therapy at school is even more sensitive. It would probably get exposed to the whole class.
And then how would she live the next three years?
"Let me think about what kind of order I should give you. Something that'll wear you out so much you won't even think about stealing."
"I've got it."
Shirogane Miyuki said.
Kamuro looked at his face and listened to what he said.
"I order you to get into Tokyo University."
What?
Is that even something she's qualified to try for?
In the dream—
Shirogane Miyuki handed her four books.
They were old versions of the current math textbooks.
"You're not that gifted, but I study 12 hours a day. You'll need to push harder—try 15 hours."
"I picked out these books for you. They're different from the current ones, but the current textbooks have been cut down a lot. It's better to start with the original material."
Shirogane said,
"Start with these. Once you're done, I'll prepare 400 more books for you."
"Alright, I'll give it a shot."
"But I can't promise anything."
The Kamuro in the dream replied.
"Well, I'm looking forward to your progress. I might go to Tokyo University too, so maybe we'll be classmates there."
Shirogane said.
"No thanks, I don't want to be your classmate. Anyway, I'm going to start studying."
Dream Kamuro said.
Then she left, carrying the third to sixth editions of the math textbooks Shirogane had listed for her.
Back in her dorm, she began to study.
The first word in the third edition textbook was…
No, no, seriously, what nonsense was she even dreaming?
And now she was actually about to start studying?
And trying to read four books? Aiming for Tokyo University, no less?
"I only need to read four now, but if I read more than 400, it should be fine, right?"
Kamuro thought to herself as she started studying seriously.
But then—
"Ah—"
Kamuro Masumi suddenly woke up, staring at the familiar setup of her own room.
Ugh.
It was a dream.
What a weird one.
Why would she even dream about being forced to study by Shirogane Miyuki? It had to be Sakayanagi's fault—she was the one who said Shirogane studies 12 hours a day.
She almost got tricked into studying 12—or rather, 15 hours a day herself.
...
The next day. The weather was nice. The air was fresh—it was May.
At the first-year school building—
While other students looked on curiously, Shirogane stood in front of the board, chalk in hand. He erased Class 1-A's previous score of 924, then updated it.
First-Year Class A: 974 points.
"What happened here?"
While Shirogane was updating the data, a student from Class D walked over. He had light green hair and a good-looking face. He was one of the most popular boys in Class D—Hirata Yosuke. Like Kushida, he was very social and good at getting along with others.
Not only that, he was handsome, did well in school, and was a member of the soccer club. He also had a friendly personality, and was nicknamed "Hirata Mom" because both boys and girls in Class D liked him.
He also cared a lot about his class.
Even in the video where Chabashira-sensei broke the rules—pulling out a withdrawal form to scare the class into thinking they had no way out—Hirata stood up for the class and refused to sign it on everyone's behalf.
He seemed to love his class, but was there something more to it?
After seeing the perfect, angel-like Kushida yesterday, Shirogane now seriously wondered—if a student in Class D looked that "perfect," did that mean they were hiding something just as big on the other side?
Take this "Hirata Mom," for example. He wouldn't let anyone in his class drop out. So if someone really did drop out, would he be able to handle it?
And that wasn't all.
Shirogane noticed that Hirata had brought someone with him today.
The other boy had light brown hair and soft features, but his face was expressionless.
That boy was Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
Shirogane guessed that if Chabashira-sensei had broken the rules again, then this time she must have asked Ayanokouji to step in. So now that Hirata and Ayanokouji were here together, was it just a coincidence—or had Ayanokouji already started making his move?
"A student from first-year Class A was rewarded last month for reporting a store employee who broke the rules. But back then, Kamuro was overly modest and didn't want her name mentioned, so she didn't accept the reward."
"Now, the 50 class points are being given to her class—first-year Class A—as a makeup reward."
Shirogane, the secretary, explained.
"So if we find a store employee breaking the rules this month, can we also get class points as a reward?"
Hirata quickly followed up with that question.
He looked eager, even a little anxious.
Yeah.
That was actually a smart idea. Since Shirogane had opened the door by reporting a rule-breaking employee and earning class points, why couldn't other classes follow that and do the same?
But—
"Last month's test was about behavior, so any rule-breaking or praiseworthy actions may have been counted with bonus points."
"If you do something this month, the rewards probably won't be as high."
Shirogane replied.
"Got it."
Hirata nodded, though he still seemed interested in the idea.