Mid-July.

The final exams were approaching.

After school many students from Class D remained in the library.

It was the study session that had started from Hirata’s proposal.

Just like during the midterm exams the format was that students with good grades would teach the others.

Horikita was also participating as one of the ones doing the teaching.

“Sudo-kun this problem here is—”

“Hm? Oh this formula? What was it again?”

Sudo tilted his head while looking into his notebook.

“It’s the quadratic formula. Do you remember it?”

“Uhh…”

Sudo scratched his head.

“…I forgot.”

Horikita let out a small sigh.

If this had been the Horikita from before she would have turned him away here.

“If you can’t remember something I already taught you then figure it out yourself.”

She had not found meaning in helping her classmates.

But this time was different.

“Then I’ll explain it again.”

Horikita began writing in the notebook while explaining.

“The formula is x equals negative b plus or minus the square root of b squared minus four ac divided by two a. Memorizing this is the foundation.”

“Hmm… that’s long.”

“It’s easier if you remember it with a mnemonic. Something like 'On a quadratic night you scream and run four a.'”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sudo made an exasperated face.

But there was a smile on his lips.

“Well it might be easier if you make your own mnemonic. Anyway if you use this formula you’ll be able to solve quadratic equations.”

“Got it. Thanks, Horikita. You’re actually good at teaching.”

Sudo thanked her honestly.

The Sudo from before would probably have hated being taught by Horikita.

But now he accepted it naturally.

Proof that trust was slowly being built.

“Horikita-chaaan help us over here too!”

A voice called out and she turned around.

Ike and Yamauchi had raised their hands.

“What is it?”

“I don’t get English grammar. Help us.”

“It can’t be helped. Let me see.”

Horikita looked into their notebooks.

It was a basic grammar problem.

They did not understand how to use relative pronouns.

“Here you use the relative pronoun which. When the antecedent is not a person—”

As she explained, Horikita suddenly thought about something.

The Horikita from before would never have done this.

She had seen her classmates only as pieces.

She found no meaning in helping them.

As a result she became isolated.

She struggled to bring the class together.

This time was different.

She taught them herself.

She supported them.

She cooperated with her classmates.

A pile of small changes.

That was what would change the class.

“Karuizawa-san memorize this formula.”

Horikita moved to the next group.

Karuizawa had her math notebook open.

“Eh you’re the one teaching me? …Well whatever.”

Karuizawa looked at Horikita with slight caution.

Their relationship had not completely improved yet.

But it was better than before.

“This formula is hard to remember right?”

“Yeah.”

“But it’s easier if you memorize it with a mnemonic.”

“A mnemonic?”

“Yes. For example you can sing it like 'sine cosine sine cosine tangent.'”

“…What is that? Isn’t that lame?”

Karuizawa looked at her with disbelief.

“Really? That’s how I memorized it.”

“Seriously?”

“It’s true. Try it.”

Karuizawa hesitated for a moment but eventually looked back at her notebook.

“…sine cosine sine cosine tangent…”

She muttered while writing the formula.

“Ah… I think I can remember it.”

“See?”

“…Thanks.”

Karuizawa whispered.

Her tone was blunt but there was no hostility.

A small step forward.

But still a clear step.

The study session was progressing smoothly.

Looking around the library, Horikita saw her classmates studying seriously.

Hirata stood at the center organizing everyone.

Kushida was also helping students here and there.

It was a good atmosphere.

Compared to the midterm exam last time the unity of the class felt stronger.

Suddenly she felt someone’s gaze.

When she looked toward the corner of the library Ayanokoji was sitting there.

He was reading a book alone.

He was not participating in the study session and was quietly spending time apart.

The usual sight.

But Horikita had noticed something.

Ayanokoji’s gaze occasionally turned toward her.

* * *

Horikita was taking a break in a corner of the library.

She had been teaching continuously and was a little tired.

Looking around she saw her classmates studying seriously.

Among them was an unexpected combination.

Ayanokoji and Sudo.

The two were talking in the corner of the library.

Ayanokoji seemed to be explaining something while pointing at Sudo’s notebook.

Horikita was slightly surprised.

Ayanokoji voluntarily teaching someone.

He normally avoided standing out.

He rarely interacted actively with classmates.

Yet he was teaching Sudo.

After watching for a while Ayanokoji noticed her.

Their eyes met.

Ayanokoji made a slightly awkward face.

Then he left Sudo and walked toward Horikita.

“Is this seat taken?”

“No.”

Ayanokoji sat beside Horikita.

“Looks like a lot of work.”

“Not really. Everyone is taking it more seriously than I expected.”

“I see.”

“You’re helping too.”

“Me? I haven’t done anything.”

“That’s a lie.”

Horikita smiled slightly.

“You were secretly teaching Sudo-kun earlier weren’t you? I saw it.”

Ayanokoji looked away slightly.

“…You saw that?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“…It’s nothing. If Sudo gets a failing grade it’ll affect the Class Points.”

“That’s all?”

Horikita looked at Ayanokoji.

Her gaze was serious.

Ayanokoji remained silent for a moment.

The quiet of the library surrounded them.

Then—

“…It’s for you.”

“Huh?”

“Not for the class. You’re the one working so hard so I moved a little too. That’s all.”

Horikita felt warmth spread through her chest.

Ayanokoji had acted for her sake.

Those words echoed in her heart.

“…Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. Because of you I’m enjoying things a bit.”

“Enjoying?”

“Yeah. In the sense that it’s not boring.”

Ayanokoji’s lips curved slightly.

It wasn’t quite enough to be called a smile.

But for him it was a rare expression.

Horikita felt happy.

Ayanokoji had moved for her.

He said being with her was enjoyable.

That alone was enough.

“Hey Ayanokoji-kun.”

“What?”

“Let’s get through the final exams like this. And during summer vacation there will be the Deserted Island Exam. I want your cooperation there too.”

“The Deserted Island Exam?”

Ayanokoji narrowed his eyes slightly.

“Do you know something about it?”

“…I just heard it from upperclassmen. That there’s a big exam during summer vacation.”

She had done it again.

If she relaxed even slightly Horikita immediately let something slip.

And even though there was no need to lie she made another poor excuse.

Of course Ayanokoji read the atmosphere and let it pass.

“I see… well I won’t refuse cooperating. If you’re going to work hard.”

“Thank you.”

Horikita smiled.

She was so happy about Ayanokoji’s consideration that her cheeks loosened.

“…You’ve been smiling more lately.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Your expression seems softer than before.”

“…I see.”

Horikita blushed slightly.

“Maybe it’s because of you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Because you’re here I can smile.”

Ayanokoji stayed silent for a moment.

Then he looked away.

“…You really are a strange one.”

His voice sounded slightly gentler than usual.

The study session continued until evening.

One week remained until the final exams.

Class D was steadily growing stronger.

Horikita could feel it.

This time was different.

Her relationship with her classmates and her distance with Ayanokoji.

Everything was moving in a better direction.

They would welcome summer vacation like this.

And then overcome the Deserted Island Exam.

Horikita’s eyes looked toward a bright future.