Ryunosuke felt a bit creeped out being stared at by Ayanokouji, he didn't know what to do...
Megumi who noticed that difficulty immediately took a book, stood up, and blocked Ayanokouji's gaze to help Ryunosuke get out of that awkward situation. She asked in a calm voice:
"I don't know how to solve this problem, could Akasaka-kun teach me?"
Ryunosuke of course knew Megumi was helping him. He looked at her gratefully while accepting the book.
"Of course, leave it to me. This problem should be solved like this..."
However, his sentence stopped midway because it turned out he also couldn't solve it... Ayanokouji forgot that he himself was a student with poor academic scores.
Megumi sighed resignedly. She should have known this person couldn't solve the problem. She took back the book and approached Suzune. She really couldn't answer that problem, so she needed someone's help.
"Horikita-san, could you help me answer this problem? I really don't understand..."
Suzune, who was usually cold, miraculously didn't refuse. She took the book and patiently explained to Megumi.
"This problem should be solved like this..."
Megumi sat beside her and listened carefully. In her heart she thought: (Horikita-san turns out not to be that difficult to talk to, she just has a somewhat cold personality.)
Now it was Ayanokouji's and Ryunosuke's turn to look at each other. They thought simultaneously inwardly: (This Horikita, it seems she can still be saved...)
Suzune seemed to sense an evil aura. She looked up confusedly while furrowing her beautiful brow.
"You two, are you cursing me in your hearts?"
Ayanokouji and Ryunosuke were startled.
Ayanokouji acted better; he remained calm without expression. However, Ryunosuke was terrible; his face clearly showed the expression "How did you know?". That was clearly read by Suzune.
Suzune took a pen and cruelly stabbed it into Ryunosuke's arm.
Ryunosuke looked at the red mark on his arm with helpless feelings.
"Why did you only stab me and not stab him?" Ryunosuke asked while pointing at Ayanokouji who was busy drinking water.
Ayanokouji played dumb by tilting his head, as if he didn't know anything. This made Ryunosuke furious. He hit the table and stood up while pointing at him.
"You bastard, don't pretend! You must be thinking the same thing as me, don't think I don't know!"
Ayanokouji kept acting innocent: "I don't understand what you're talking about, Akasaka. Please don't slander me, I'm a good citizen."
Ryunosuke felt like vomiting blood.
(If you're a good citizen, I dare believe General Cao Cao is still alive.)
Suzune again showed her pen, pressed its button, and released the sharp pen nib.
"Any other explanations? I'll allow you to say your last words."
Ryunosuke stood and prepared to flee. "I just remembered that the rice cooker at home hasn't been turned off. The rice could burn, I have to go home for a moment."
However, Megumi cruelly exposed his lie. "Akasaka-kun, rice cookers automatically turn off when done, so it's impossible to burn."
Ryunosuke glared at Megumi annoyed.
(Whose side are you on? Aren't you my partner?)
Seeing the meaning of Ryunosuke's stare, Megumi instead felt happy. As if teasing him gave her particular satisfaction. The "slightly devil" nature in her had now fully opened, but only to Ryunosuke.
After his reason was exposed by his teammate, Ryunosuke immediately racked his brain for another way. Suddenly he remembered something and said to Suzune:
"I have a way for the entire class to pass the exam. Do you trust me?"
Suzune put down her pen and folded her arms across her chest.
"Say it."
Ryunosuke clicked his tongue slightly, feeling relieved because the topic of conversation was successfully diverted. He then began explaining his idea, which was also the method in the original story.
"We can use personal points to buy last year's exam questions from senpai as reference."
"I've already observed in the student council. The first year exam questions for the first three months are always the same. It's clearly the school's deliberate intention. This is provided so students can 'cheat', the question is just whether you think to do it or not."
Hearing Ryunosuke's explanation, Suzune reflexively wanted to refuse. Because in her opinion, studying should be done honestly and must not cheat. As a model student, she never considered things like cheating.
Just as Suzune was about to refuse, Ayanokouji extended his hand to stop her.
Suzune glared at him dissatisfied. "What are you going to do?! Do you want us to win by cheating?"
"What's the use of doing that? One's own abilities won't improve. Later if there's another exam, still won't be able to pass."
"But this can solve the urgent problem, Horikita," Ayanokouji said in a resigned tone, while pointing toward the other 36 students behind them.
"You might not need it, but they do. Have you considered the impact of exam failure? It will drag down the entire class."
"Then what if the entire class is dragged down? It's because they didn't try hard enough," Suzune replied with her chin still raised, not feeling at all that she was wrong.
Actually Suzune wasn't wrong; in the real world indeed one shouldn't cheat. However, this wasn't an ordinary school, but Advanced Nurturing High School—a school that deeply simulates the work environment. If in the work world, the choice would be different. They wouldn't always step honestly because that's too slow.
It's more profitable to seize other people's work results. That's the reason why Advanced Nurturing High School gives exactly the same questions in the first three months; it's a special method so that classes like C or D full of "problem children" can pass exams. After three months pass, only then must they study seriously.
In short, this is a transition period. This proves that in the work world, it doesn't mean people with the best academic scores will immediately succeed, but rather who is smarter at reading situations and can please superiors who will have the opportunity for promotion.
People who don't know how to bow their heads will be pressed down for life and will only become miserable hard workers. Even their achievements can be seized by others by any means. (Of course, this method shouldn't be imitated, so please don't do it).
After hearing Ayanokouji's long explanation, Suzune began to understand the big picture and finally compromised. She agreed with the plan, but stated that if points were needed, they had to do fundraising from the entire class.
Ayanokouji and Ryunosuke again looked at each other and thought inwardly: (This child, turns out still very naive? Even hoping for fundraising.)
Reflexively, they both looked toward those 36 lazy-studying students and shook their heads inwardly.
It seems the money will be very difficult to collect...