Piercing gazes from all around.

Feeling the strongest malicious stares since enrolling at this Advanced Nurturing High School, I walked toward the classroom.

“Ayanokōji-kun, doesn’t your complexion look bad?”

“My face always looks like this. Don’t worry about it.”

Matsushita, walking beside me, spoke with concern. I didn’t think it showed on my face, but it was true that being exposed to hostility made me uncomfortable. Still, even if my complexion looked bad, there was nothing physically wrong with me, so I denied it.

“If you say so,” Matsushita replied, turning her gaze forward again. Before long, we arrived at our classroom—Class 1-D.

I opened the door. A few people looked over, and Ike and Yamauchi openly frowned. I thought we’d been getting along reasonably well until yesterday, but apparently, to them, I was a traitor. Compared to yesterday, the change in attitude was extreme. Amid that, Hirata and Karuizawa noticed us and immediately walked over.

“Oooh~ getting pretty cozy this early in the morning, you two. Not quite on our level though.”

“Ayanokōji-kun, you and Matsushita-san really suit each other now.”

Those words were only natural.

After all, Matsushita and I had been walking to school with our arms linked the whole time.

Yes, that’s right. I, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, and Matsushita Chiaki, who is linking arms with me, are currently in a romantic relationship.

Walking hand in hand with someone as beautiful as Matsushita. It’s natural for a couple, but doing something like that only a few months after enrollment would naturally draw jealous stares like sitting on a bed of needles.

“Well, we just started dating. Let us have this much.”

“Do couples who just started dating really stick this close?”

“Of course. Just look at Karuizawa-san and Hirata-kun.”

Sure enough, Hirata and the others hadn’t been dating long either, yet they already looked like a seasoned couple, naturally linking arms. There was no sign of embarrassment or hesitation.

Apparently, linking arms after starting a relationship is fairly normal. I learned something new.

“Still, I’m surprised. I always thought Ayanokōji-kun could be popular if he tried, but I figured he was the type who wouldn’t try.”

Hirata gave me a comment that was hard to tell whether it was praise or not. Karuizawa chimed in with a “Right~,” but her expression suggested she was mocking me internally. She probably thinks I’m dense or something like that. Whether Karuizawa even knows that word is questionable, but she’s definitely thinking something along those lines.

“Yeah, our Ayanokōji-kun would totally be popular if he got serious. I’m glad I locked him down early.”

“Ahaha, I kind of want to see that—Ayanokōji-kun actually trying.”

“I’m curious too. He gives off the impression of doing everything in a detached, methodical way.”

Hirata aside, Karuizawa really says whatever she wants.

Still, by prefacing things with “he’d be amazing if he got serious,” Matsushita is clearly laying groundwork for her objectives. Or maybe it’s for my sake. Or part of fulfilling our agreement. Or perhaps all of the above.

In any case, the circumstances that led to Matsushita Chiaki and me starting a relationship go back a few days.

* * *

When I opened the fridge and realized I had run out of mineral water, I let out a small sigh.

It had only been a few days since Chabashira-sensei announced the school system. To save points, I’d switched from the labeled mineral water I usually drank to the free water provided by the school. While water is essential and there’s no monthly purchase limit, you can’t buy large quantities at once, so I had to come down and get more whenever I ran out. It was heavy, troublesome, and a hassle.

I took the elevator down to the first floor and pressed the button for free mineral water. Since I was thirsty, I opened it on the spot and drank it.

I felt the cold sensation flow down my body. Letting out a satisfied breath, I turned my thoughts to the reality I’d been avoiding.

Up until middle school, I’d managed to stay on track fairly well, but choosing this school might have been a mistake. If I could graduate from Class A, it would’ve been the best decision possible—but I was placed in the lowest class, Class D.

Honestly, I don’t think this class has any chance of rising to Class A. There are some students who can or seem like they can study, but there are far more who rank near the bottom. On top of that, there are students like Sudō-kun, who drag us down with their behavior.

There’s nothing more demotivating than a battle you can’t win. At this point, I’ve even started thinking about whether there’s a way for just me alone to rise to Class A.

…And to be clear, I have no intention of personally leading this class to A. I don’t have that kind of confidence, and honestly, being relied on too much by classmates sounds like a hassle. Helping with studying occasionally is fine, but I have no desire to lead as a class representative.

Isn’t there someone out there?

Someone with excellent grades, strong physical ability, leadership… someone capable of bringing this class to A.

…No, that’s unrealistic. Even if someone like that existed, they wouldn’t be in Class D.

“Matsushita? What are you doing out at this hour?”

“Huh?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I reflexively raised my tone.

When I turned around, I saw Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, a boy from the same Class D.

It had been over a month since enrollment, but I’d hardly spoken to him.

My impression of him was that he was an unremarkable student.

Not particularly good at studying, average physical ability. Poor communication skills—I think he even failed his self-introduction. I don’t remember clearly.

His face isn’t bad—actually, it’s quite good. He even ranked 5th in a “most handsome boys” ranking among first-year girls. But everything else is lacking. That’s the kind of student he is.

Honestly, I was surprised he even remembered me. More than that, I was surprised he spoke to me in this situation.

“Oh, it’s Ayanokōji-kun. You startled me. Good evening.”

“Yeah, good evening. Getting something from the vending machine too?”

“Yeah, I ran out of mineral water.”

“Yeah, it’s a hassle. It’d be nice if there were vending machines on every dorm floor.”

As he said that, Ayanokōji held his student ID over the vending machine and bought a drink. He must’ve come down because he was thirsty too.

“You like sweet drinks?”

“No. I’m just trying to complete everything in the dorm vending machine. I’m buying them from the top left in order.”

“Oh, any recommendations?”

“Hmm… green tea. It’s the safest option.”

A pretty boring answer. It really confirmed his low communication skills.

Ayanokōji isn’t someone who drags the class down, but he doesn’t contribute anything either. Thinking there was nothing more to gain from talking, I was about to head back when I noticed him looking toward the elevator.

It seemed to be coming down from the 7th floor. Maybe someone else was arriving.

There’s a monitor showing the elevator interior in this dorm—probably for behavior tracking, part of that S System. Looking at it, the person coming down seemed to be Horikita.

Speaking of Horikita, Ayanokōji’s one notable trait was that he got along with her.

Well, “gets along” might not be accurate. It’s more like he’s the only one in class who can properly talk to that aloof girl.

“Horikita, huh? At this hour, and still in uniform. That’s suspicious.”

“Want to hide and watch?”

“Yeah. Sounds interesting.”

When I half-jokingly suggested that, Ayanokōji unexpectedly agreed.

Since I’d brought it up, I couldn’t back out, and so we began a strange little detective game.

We hid behind the vending machine and tailed Horikita as she slipped out of the dorm at night. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t exciting.

“This is kind of exciting.”

“…Yeah.”

Though he said that, Ayanokōji remained expressionless. I couldn’t read his emotions. Horikita was one of the few girls he was relatively close to—wasn’t he bothered that she might be meeting someone?

Fortunately, the tailing didn’t last long. Horikita stopped behind the dorm.

There was a figure in the darkness. When I focused, I saw it was her older brother—the student council president—standing calmly before her.

“Oh, she just came to meet her brother.”

“At this hour? That’s unnatural for siblings.”

As we exchanged those words, we listened in.

Horikita declared her determination to catch up to her brother and rise to Class A even from Class D—her words strong but her tone slightly weak. The president coldly dismissed her. That was the gist of it.

Strict older brother, just as he looks.

As I idly thought that, the president grabbed Horikita’s arm. I don’t know much about martial arts, but I could tell violence was about to happen.

Without thinking, I looked to Ayanokōji for help. But before my gaze even reached him, he had already leapt out from hiding.

He moved unbelievably fast, closed the distance, and grabbed the president’s arm, stopping him.

“Who are you?”

“Ayanokōji-kun!?”

“This is concrete. You know what’ll happen if you throw her, right?”

Ignoring their shock, Ayanokōji stood firm against a third-year.

I couldn’t help but think… he looked cool.

“Eavesdropping isn’t admirable.”

At that moment, the president briefly glanced toward me. My heart skipped—I’d been found out.

Ayanokōji also glanced my way and signaled for me to stay hidden. I held my breath and kept watching.

“Let go of her.”

“Stop, Ayanokōji-kun.”

Horikita’s voice—weak, unlike usual.

Whether he let his guard down or obeyed her, Ayanokōji loosened his grip.

In that instant, too fast to follow, the president swung his arm and tried to kick him.

I almost screamed—but Ayanokōji dodged everything effortlessly. He even muttered “That was close,” but he looked completely composed.

I thought he couldn’t do sports at all, but even to an amateur like me, that movement was abnormal.

“Nice movement. Have you trained?”

“Piano and calligraphy.”

“You’re an interesting one… I heard there’s a fascinating first-year. Apparently, someone scored exactly 50 on every subject in the entrance and recent test.”

“…Coincidences are scary.”

“You got a question right that only 3% of people got correct and a 76% one wrong, and you call that coincidence?”

Hearing that shocked me.

I knew they were talking about that recent quiz. The 3% question must’ve been one of the last three—but those weren’t even first-year high school level.

And he got it right? Ayanokōji?

I was shaken by the unexpected truth revealed by the president.

After exchanging a few more words, the president left.

Meanwhile, I stood there, lost in thought.

His physical ability just now. The act of scoring exactly 50 on every subject. Correctly answering a 3% difficulty question. His fearless attitude toward a senior who wouldn’t hesitate to use violence.

And now, as he spoke with Horikita, he was clearly structuring his arguments logically. That meant—even if his communication was lacking—he was skilled in debate.

Even what he said—criticizing Horikita for trying to abandon Sudō—showed he valued using people’s strengths rather than discarding them.

After processing everything I’d just learned, I completely reevaluated Ayanokōji.

He’s only pretending to be average—he’s actually extremely capable. Far beyond even Horikita or Hirata, who are considered top students in Class D. Of course, far above me too.

If our class is going to reach Class A… there’s no way I shouldn’t make use of him.