In the end, seven students were expelled from Class D just as before.

Apparently among them was a promising basketball player who had been expected to shine on the team, but that has nothing to do with me.

"So... this was the right choice, right..."

After hearing the news from Hoshinomiya, Ichinose's expression darkened slightly.

"It's not like they were expelled because of you, Ichinose. Even if we had given them money, we could only have saved a few of them."

In the end, the ones at fault are themselves.

They neglected their studies and became satisfied with the current situation.

You can't survive in this world like that.

"...Thank you. You're right. I need to think about everyone first too. Our class doesn't have the luxury to worry about other classes."

"Exactly."

It seems she can stand back up on her own.

As expected of someone great.

"Ayanokōji-kun! What are you looking at!"

I happened to be staring at Ichinose's profile when someone suddenly called out to me.

I was slightly surprised, but without showing it on my face I turned forward.

And there—

"Ichinose's profile. Amikura."

It was one of my classmates, Amikura Mako.

She is close friends with Ichinose and is one of the girls who organizes the girls in Class B.

Her abilities are what you'd call typical Class B, excellent in everything.

Her communication ability alone might even be Class A level.

"How can you say something that embarrassing with a straight face? Ayanokōji-kun, are you a robot?"

That's harsh.

Even I have emotions, not many right now, but someday I will!

And yet she calls me an AI or a robot?

"I only stated a fact. Is that strange?"

In my student life so far, I have almost never lied.

If I had to name one example, it would be when I told Ichinose my hometown was ‘a remote area of Saitama.’

Other than that, I have told the truth about everything.

"Ayanokōji-kun really is natural... right, Honami-cha—"

Amikura turned her gaze away from me toward Ichinose.

But the Ichinose standing there was—

"Honami-chan, your face is completely red. Are you okay? Do you have a fever?"

Her face was red like a boiled octopus.

"Are you alright?"

As one of her friends, I became worried.

What? You're saying someone like me wouldn't be counted as a friend?

What's that supposed to mean... that would hurt.

Is that true?

If that's the case, then I will worry about the leader as just another classmate.

I'm generous, after all. I don't cling to my position.

"A-Ayanokōji-kun's fault... honestly..."

For some reason, Ichinose scolded me a little.

Why?

"I'm sorry... did I do something that bothered you?"

"That's not it... why don't you notice!"

What...

Is this that thing women say ‘figure it out yourself’?

Watanabe once told me it's extremely troublesome.

It's rather cruel to ask someone to deduce the answer themselves when they ask because they don't understand the cause.

I was always taught that if you think about something and still don't understand it, someone will give you the answer.

It seems my common sense doesn't work here.

Well, that isn't exactly new information.

"Ah... well, I'm sorry."

For now, I tried apologizing.

It should work well on people who are angry or emotional.

"No, if you apologize that seriously it's awkward. Honami-chan was just embarrassed because Ayanokōji-kun was staring at her, so don't worry about it."

Amikura quickly stepped in to cover for the situation.

I'm grateful.

It's good to have friends.

"M-Mako-chan?!"

Ichinose couldn't hide her panic at those words.

It seems it hit the mark.

"Is that so, Ichinose?"

"N-No, I..."

Ichinose fidgeted shyly, which I found interesting, so afterward Amikura and I teased her a little.

It was honestly pretty entertaining.

* * *

"...A comedy program?"

One day during lunch break.

I heard that phrase from Watanabe while we were eating together.

However, I had never heard it before.

"What, Ayanokōji? You don't know?"

Watanabe, along with Shibata and Kanzaki, looked shocked.

It seems I exposed my ignorance again.

"My parents were strict. What exactly is it?"

I was simply curious.

What exactly is comedy?

Is it simply something where people laugh?

"Well... alright. I'll explain it to you. Just wait a bit."

Shibata said that while whispering something with Watanabe beside him.

While they were doing that, I decided to talk to Kanzaki sitting next to me.

Right now the four of us were eating together and among them I got along best with him.

Since that incident, the distance between us had shrunk considerably.

I think his courage and thinking are impressive and I respect him.

So talking with Kanzaki is enjoyable.

"Kanzaki, do you know what a comedy program is?"

"Yes. I'm not an expert, but I believe I know about it to a normal extent."

As expected, Kanzaki is knowledgeable.

Sometimes I think there might be nothing he doesn't know.

"But it will probably be faster to watch those two rather than hear an explanation from me. Look, it seems they're ready."

Kanzaki cast his gaze forward.

At the end of it were two people staring at me with confident expressions.

"Ayanokōji, we're about to show you comedy."

"Watch closely!"

"Alright. Please do. This sounds interesting."

The moment I said that, their expressions changed.

Shibata took on a serious face, while Watanabe stood up.

...Just what is about to start?

"Excuse me."

Suddenly Watanabe bowed to Shibata and turned his back.

He walked forward a few steps.

"Rattle rattle slam."

He twisted an imaginary doorknob and pushed open a door while saying the sound effect aloud.

"Rattle rattle slam."

He repeated the action three times.

Then—

"How many doors are there?!"

"...Ayanokōji, say something."

After a while of silence because I didn't know what to say, Shibata finally spoke.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't understand what was supposed to be funny."

"I thought it was good. It was funny."

Apparently Kanzaki understood the humor.

"So what exactly was the point?"

"Well you see, normally you imagine something like a president's office or meeting room. And those rooms obviously wouldn't have a bunch of doors. The joke is pointing that out."

"Is that obvious? If you searched the entire world, you might find one."

"Don't think about it too deeply. Comedy is something you enjoy through feeling."

Watanabe and Shibata rejected my logic.

So I should enjoy it with passion?

That's far too difficult.

"Alright, next one. I'm confident about this one."

"...Alright. Go ahead."

Apparently this one is funnier.

"This time it's a metaphor punchline. Let's go, Watanabe."

"Yeah, let's do it."

Both of them looked fully prepared.

I'll just wait without expecting much.

"Man, buffets are great."

Watanabe acted dramatically like a terrible stage actor while carrying a tray with a meal placed on it.

"You took way too much food!"

Shibata delivered another punchline.

Up to this point, it was the same as before.

But then—

"Like a bear before hibernation!"

"Oh."

I couldn't help but react.

"It landed!"

"We did it!"

The two of them looked delighted.

However, it wasn't that I found it funny.

"If we assume Watanabe brought too much food, then yes, that is impressive. Bears before hibernation do eat massive amounts of food. So you compared it to that."

Comedy... is somewhat interesting.

If someone knowledgeable performed it, the possibilities might expand even further.