บท 251: Chapter 4 Part VI
It was pretty lively with a lot of students at the library after school even though it was still pretty early.
Although it was crowded, it wasn't as though all of the students were noisily immersed in chatter.
Usually, nearly half of the seats wouldn't be filled with students, but right now it was only about 10%. Of course, most of the students weren't reading or chatting with their friends, but instead were immersed in studying for the final exams.
"Huh, so this is what the library has become?"
A student beside me muttered out of interest.
Yes, I had a little problem next to me.
It seems that Satō had decided to attend the study session, so she ended up coming with me to the library.
I hadn't been in contact with Satō after we had exchanged contact information the other day, so this was very awkward.
"This is my first time in the library. How about you Ayanokōji-kun?"
"...I've been here several times."
"I see. You're surprisingly studious."
"It's more like I'm killing time instead of studying."
"So in order to kill time, you come to the library? That's strange."
I gave a tentative answer, but I felt like my attitude had become somewhat absent-minded.
This was because I didn't know at all what type of mood Satō would have in mind. However, Satō is also a girl. She wouldn't miss the subtleties of these feelings either.
"Err… Ayanokōji-kun… am I bothering you?"
"What do you mean, Satō?"
"Hah, well, I did suddenly say that I was going to attend the study session."
"I'm not particularly bothered. Horikita and Kushida who are teaching today also shouldn't be. Honestly, I'd expect them to be happy right?"
Having someone from your class get expelled isn't exactly a thing anyone would be happy about, and there's also not any benefits to it. I attempted to somehow shift the topic of discussion with this point.
"It's not like that..."
Of course, that's not the answer that Satō was hoping for. She became a little depressed.
However, the location of the library was a bit troublesome. I whispered to avoid disturbing other students, ultimately making the distance between me and Satō unexpectedly close. I could just barely feel Satō's breathing.
Perhaps this can be classified as one of the precious scenes of youth? If so, youth may be an unexpectedly harsh thing since this situation is not a happy one for me at all. I feel unnecessarily nervous, and can't help but worry about Satō. I'm speculating on her feelings and choosing my words carefully to respond to her emotions.
The single thing that I desire the most right now is to go back home soon.
No, is that really the case?
I calmed down a little and began to rethink the situation.
I'm at a loss when it comes to things that I haven't experienced before. It's too abstract a feeling to be classified as "in love" and there isn't a clear answer for it. From my perspective of living in a world of zero or one in the past, it's only natural for my immediate reaction to be rejection.
But didn't I come to this school looking for something other than zero or one?
"Everyone is so serious, using the library and everything."
"It's pretty routine to hold study sessions here."
By chance, Horikita heard what Satō said and responded on her own.
I regained my composure and put these thoughts out of my mind. For now, let's concentrate on overcoming this study session safely.
Horikita, who had visited the library yesterday, didn't seem surprised at its current state of things.
"You two, spare me from the commotion like the one you made yesterday. Today you might not just get away with a warning; there's a chance that you'll be kicked out of the library."
"I know, I know."
Horikita found a vacant seat while admonishing the two problem children, Ike and Yamauchi. Although more than half of the seats are empty, that doesn't mean you can sit anywhere you'd like.
It seems to be a common phenomenon in every school, where the space available to the upperclassmen is separate from the underclassmen. It had become an unspoken rule that the seats next to the windows with the nice view, and the seats in the cafe near the free drinks were priority seats for the senior students.
In this kind of territorial division, the section that the first years were allowed to use was the noisy place close to the entrance. However, this time there is something else to look out for.
If possible, we want to avoid being in the vicinity of any Class C students.
"Horikita, what are you going to do?"
"If that's what you're worried about Ayanokōji, you don't have to worry about it. I've already taken countermeasures for that."
Someone in our line of sight moved in the area used by first years. A student who spots Horikita stands up and waves at us, beckoning us over.
She was a first-year student from Class B, Ichinose Honami. A total of eight Class B students were with her.
It seemed like there were four guys and four girls, so if you add Ichinose there were nine in total.
Based on Horikita's expression, this didn't seem to be accidental. She came over as if to introduce herself.
"Have we made you wait?"
"Oh no, not at all. We just got here ourselves. Right everyone?"
"Yesterday, I met up with Ichinose-san here in the library and suggested a joint study group. Since we aren't competing with Class B in this exam, I think that we can help each other out a bit."
On her own accord, Horikita made a proposal that involves a lot of people. This is what she wanted to show me yesterday.
Lights are usually followed by shadows. Ike and the others had managed to settle down before they had arrived at the library, only to have their spirits soar in a strange direction.
"Ike-kun, didn't I just warn you?"
Horikita grabbed Ike by the arm as hard as she could. He was scared just like a frog being watched by a snake.
Was this the reason why Ike had become so excited about the study session? If you're going to study together with the girls from Class B, it's understandable that he would be overjoyed about it.
"Ah! Ayanokōji-kun also came today?"
"That's because I'm close to getting a failing mark. You might have to take care of me for a while."
"That's right."
The library is a quiet place, but it's not like we're unable to have a conversation. Of course, it's still necessary to speak in a low voice. Since Ichinose had managed to secure good seats in the corner of the room, our conversation also wasn't very noticeable. In addition, the music flowing through the room wonderfully masked our voices from others. It was Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, 'Pastoral'.
I don't know who picked the song, but it's a relaxing and pretty good choice.
However, Horikita had actually thought to create a joint study group. The final exams are likely to be more efficient if it's based on the premise of actually working with each other. For example, by exchanging information between classes, a large number of people will have a relatively larger number of viewpoints to consider for writing the test questions.
But at the same time, we will also be facing some risks. If there are students in Class B who are close with someone in Class C, the information might leak out. Of course, Horikita already understands this point, but she had chosen to unite together because of the positives that it would bring.
The students from each class freely fill up the empty seats.
"Let's sit here, Ayanokōji-kun."
"Ah, alright."
Satō beckoned for me to come over, and just as she requested, I sat down in the seat next to her.
"Ooh, Satō. You've been around Ayanokōji a lot today."
"Naturally. We are a pair, after all."
To avoid looking inept in front of Ichinose, I took out my textbooks and notes after I got to my seat. Even if it's just a formality, I will have to study.
"Hey, Ayanokōji-kun. I wonder how I should study?"
"...Ask Horikita questions like that."
"Is this not a good opportunity? You're a pair, so why not take care of teaching Satō-san?"
Horikita doesn't understand other people's feelings and said such an irresponsible thing.
"There was only a slight difference between my test scores and Satō's, so there's probably nothing I can teach. I want to receive some instruction myself."
Because Ichinose was right in front of me, I quickly responded, but it might have failed.
"Is that so? I get it. In this case, I'll teach you how to study well."
She responded in such a way as if to draw out my commitment.
"Let's work hard together, Ayanokōji-kun."
"Ah, okay..."
The really troubling study group seems to be about to begin.
This hunch almost came true.
"Ayanokōji-kun you're always so calm, and you kinda give off this feeling of maturity. What were you like back in middle school?"
Satō suddenly turned and leaned forward, then looked up into my eyes and asked me. Her uniform was undone a little bit at her chest, and for a moment, her valley of cleavage catches my eye. I felt like her breathing did seem to be a little intense, so I wonder if Satō noticed this.
"It was pretty normal. Nothing particularly eye-catching or inconspicuous, and not really all that different than now. Maybe it's the reason why I'm so gloomy?"
I tried to distance myself from Satō by passing off my past as something boring.
No, it's not that Satō can't have a crush on me, but instead that there were several uncomfortable pairs of eyes that are looking at the two of us.
In particular, Ike and Yamauchi were giving me a blatantly skeptical look.
"Ayanokōji-kun isn't gloomy. Ah, should I say that you feel pretty cool or collected?"
"I don't think cool relates to me very well."
"Really? I don't know about anyone else, but I think it describes you well."
It seems that no matter what I say, Satō will interpret it to be interesting and positive.
In which case, I'll have to get out of this situation with the standard response.
"...Well, let's start by asking what your weaknesses are. Do you have your old midterm exams with you?"
"I do."
She took crumpled test papers out of her bag and spread it out. Her scores for each subject hovered around 50 points. It was outside of the failing range, but her answers were rather rough. Her simple questions were answered correctly, but the ones of higher difficulty were devastating.
It's incredible that Satō has managed to overcome all of the exams so far without studying.
"How is it? Is it that bad?"
"Yeah... We will need to study together since I have about the same..."
"Yes!"
Satō nodded in high spirits, but I wish she could have used a quieter voice.
"Aren't you two being too intimate with one another?"
Ike said this while watching our conversation from afar, and then cast us a suspicious look.
"We're paired together, so it's a given that we work with each other, right?"
In the face of his suspicions, Satō defended the test with a dignified response.
"Prepare for yourself instead of commenting on things you don't understand."
Horikita didn't care about who got along with whom, and immediately proceeded to rebuke Ike.
"Tsk, I know that."
Ike seemed very dissatisfied, but he hastily began to prepare to study.
This was really the fruit of education... He's been tamed very well.
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