For several days after the deliberations over Sudō’s violence incident fully ended, I was enjoying the peaceful freedom I had wanted so badly and savoring school life.

“There’s one month left until finals, so make sure you study hard. That’s all for homeroom.”

Our Class D went through a turbulent stretch with the midterms and the incident with Class C, then we reached finals, the event that closes out the semester.

Of course, just like midterms, if you fail even one subject in these finals, you’ll be expelled. Last time, thanks to me leaking last year’s exam papers through Hirata, a number of incompetent people avoided failing, but this time the same cheap trick won’t work. The only option is to study as hard as we can.

“Everyone, for these finals too, I’m going to recruit study participants like before and raise our scores. I’ll prepare things today and we’ll start properly from tomorrow, so please join.”

“I’m in! I want to raise our average and boost our points even more!”

As expected, Hirata was using the same study recruitment method as he did for midterms, trying to raise the exam averages of the incompetent people in class. The students who were in the upper ranks were stepping up to help in order to raise class points.

Ah, of course, even among high scorers, not everyone helped.

“Hehe, then shall I enjoy another date today?”

Koenji Rokusuke, who ranks high in everything from academics to physical ability, had been uncooperative with every class matter from the moment he enrolled and kept an attitude like he couldn’t care less what happened to Class D. Because of that, even though his looks weren’t that bad, he earned the hatred of everyone in Class D.

Normally, you’d expect someone to shrink under that kind of atmosphere, but that narcissistic bastard is so confident it’s almost shocking, whether it’s because his mentality is that strong or because his bravado is.

“Ah, Horikita. Do you have a moment? I’d like to get help in the study group...”

“I refuse. It’s hard enough just keeping up with my own grades.”

Another uncooperative person was Horikita Suzune. From the first day of enrollment, she kept everyone at arm’s length and acted like some lofty elite, then she touched the wrong nerve with me and got branded as ‘Incompetent-kita’ in the class and after she saw a dark side of me during Sudō’s deliberations, she was even more determined not to build relationships with the others.

Especially with me, she still hasn’t spoken a single word. The most annoying one dropping off on her own makes me truly happy.

“Hey, Hirata, why don’t you stop calling Horikita over? She’s annoying.”

“Yeah, she always ruins the class mood all by herself.”

“Even though Ayanokoji’s letting her off the hook and all.”

“She acts like that, so of course she has no friends. Incompetent-kita for real.”

Honestly, if they talk that loud, she might have heard it. It’s her own karma, so it’s none of my concern.

With a deep sigh, I got up from my seat to go home early and sleep.

“Ayanokoji, do you have a moment?”

As I was leaving and passed by Hirata’s group, Hirata stopped me. From the look of it, he wants to drag me into his study group too, but he’s mistaken.

I’m the most uncooperative person in this class, no, beyond that, I’m a traitor who uses the class however I like for my own safety and benefit. I’m qualitatively different from simple non-cooperators like Koenji or Horikita.

“What? I’m not interested in your study group.”

“Ah, no, it’s a different favor.”

“A different favor?”

I wondered what he could possibly ask me for besides studying and it was obvious it would be about Horikita.

“Ayanokoji, you’re the closest to Horikita in class, so I want to ask you. Could you help Horikita get along better with the other classmates?”

What a joke. Does he really think I’m close with that girl? Horikita and I are enemies who hate each other, nothing more and nothing less.

“Her personal freedom isn’t my problem. She’s not hurting anyone, so who cares?”

“Of course you’re right. But some of them, including Sudō, are worried. Thanks to you, she isn’t getting bullied, but we can’t just leave her constantly avoiding everyone.”

Even if that ridiculous nickname Incompetent-kita appeared, the class still acknowledged Horikita’s achievements. Reforming Sudō, the reckless troublemaker, lowering her own English score and opposing me to save him and even finding Sakura, the only witness to the violence incident, persuading her and setting her up as a witness in the deliberations, even if she was effectively acting as my subordinate. If you listed overall contributions in the class and ranked them relatively, she’d be in the top five.

Of course, without me, she wouldn’t even be able to dream of such an excessive evaluation. Come to think of it, if you really boil it down, I’m basically Horikita’s benefactor, the loner incompetent girl.

“Instead of telling me this, isn’t it better if you tell her yourself?”

“I actually tried to talk to her by using this study group as an excuse. But she’s so firm that I can’t find an opening to speak to her.”

“...Either way, it’s not something I should get involved in. Just think of her as a quirky person in the class and move on.”

With only that, I left the school grounds.

Since the beginning of enrollment, Horikita had been getting more isolated in the class day by day. After getting hit for opposing me, she even became something like a festering sore to the class and thanks to my ‘forgiveness,’ she barely escaped the worst of it. Even if my intent was different, because of the occasional ‘good deeds’ she did, she gained a few people like Sudō or Ike who would at least be on her side, but it was still too ambiguous to call them ‘friends.’ More than anything, she is...

Still focused on exposing my true nature.

That’s why most incompetent people can’t grow into capable people. Even when they know their own flaws, they refuse to admit them.

If she keeps repeating that kind of life, she’ll never surpass her brother and even catching up would be nothing but running in place.

There’s no reason for me to think deeply about any of this. An incompetent person’s circumstances aren’t something I’m involved with.

From the start, there was never a route for us to become a good connection from our first meeting.

* * *

While walking home alone, I remembered the fridge was out of food, so I headed to the large grocery store at Keyaki Mall. Unlike a convenience store, you can buy a wide variety of ingredients there, so it helps save on food costs with better value for money.

‘Hm... is this one expensive?’

Since I’d been in the White Room since I was young, I didn’t know enough about the real world. What’s expensive, what amount is reasonable, what you should buy to make it last, all of it.

But capable people find answers in any situation. I remembered observing what students from other classes bought out of the corner of my eye, purchasing mostly popular groceries and I didn’t forget to neatly take the free items you can grab as well.

After finishing my shopping and heading toward the dorms, I looked around to see what other facilities were nearby and spotted someone familiar.

‘...Student council president?’

It was Horikita Manabu, the student council president of this school and Horikita’s biological older brother. He was walking straight as if he had a destination and with suspicion, I decided to follow.

Maybe I could uncover another system in this school that I don’t know about.

After walking for about five minutes, the place the student council president arrived at was a building I absolutely didn’t expect.

‘Huh? A public... bathhouse?’

I’ve heard of it. A shared space where multiple people enter a bath for the purpose of bathing, exactly as the name implies. Looking at the price, you had to buy a towel, but the bath itself was free.

‘Unexpected. He doesn’t look like the type who’d come to a place like this.’

I don’t know what it feels like to soak in the same water as others or what the benefits would be. Still, I’m a little interested... should I go in?

I went inside right away, bought a towel and received a locker key to store my clothes. They said they could store the groceries I bought in a refrigerator, so I left them.

It was a bit far from the dorms and after school most people played at Keyaki Mall or entertainment facilities, so there weren’t many people inside. Most looked like second or third years.

No, looking closely, I was the only first-year.

To me, bathing meant showering or soaking alone, so the thought of taking off my clothes in front of many people felt uncomfortable. But seeing everyone else confidently undress and wrap themselves in towels, I gathered the courage and undressed too.

The bathhouse I entered after preparing was bigger and better equipped than I expected, to the point it was surprising. With an interested expression, I looked around.

Then I saw a sign on one room that read ‘Sauna.’ I’d heard a sauna is a hot room where you sweat to improve blood circulation or skin care. I’d especially heard it helps burn calories and is good for dieting.

It felt like it might be fun if I tried it, so I opened the handle and went inside.