"Is this... correct?"

"Yeah! That’s right! Let’s keep it up like this, Ayumi-chan!"

"Thanks, Ichika-chan!"

We... the students of Class A, were holding a study session in the library to prepare for the midterm exams.

Students who were good at studying—like me, Ishigami-kun, Konishi-chan and Kurihara-chan—acted as instructors and helped guide the students who were worried about their academic ability.

"At this rate, it doesn’t seem like there will be any problems..."

"Yeah! It doesn’t look like anyone is so bad that it’s hopeless..."

Incidentally, I still haven’t distributed the past exam questions I received from Kiyotaka-senpai to the rest of the class.

According to Ishigami-kun...

If we hand out the past questions right away, everyone would just memorize them and their motivation to actually study would drop.

It was while the study session was progressing like that...

"Hey! You guys!! What do you think you’re doing!?"

"Hah!? Hey now, cut the accusations! We haven’t done anything to you."

It seemed that some kind of commotion had started at the table on the opposite side from us.

The boy trying to call them out was Utomiya-kun, the leader of Class C.

Meanwhile, the ones being confronted were three Class D students: Shiratori-kun, Kaga-kun and Mikami-kun.

"What do you mean you 'haven’t done anything'? Students from Class D have been picking fights with people from our class whenever they pass by... and interfering with their test studying. It’s clearly harassment."

'I see...'

This is definitely a case of them moving under Hōsen-kun’s instructions.

"Good grief, you’re way too self-conscious. If someone like you is the leader... Class C’s future looks pretty bleak."

"What did you say!? You bastards..."

In other words...

Hōsen-kun’s true aim is to disrupt Class C’s test preparation.

At the same time, he’s trying to provoke Class C students into throwing the first punch so he can demand large amounts of Private Points as compensation...

Or if possible, even manipulate Class Points between classes.

In fact, the Class D students haven’t engaged in any harassment involving actual violence.

With that...

Even if Class C reports them to the Student Council, they probably judged that the punishment wouldn’t be severe.

"Hey, what’s wrong with stating the truth? You useless leader, Utomiya-kun..."

"You bastard!!!"

Even so...

Based on the events of the original world, Class C is already destined to lose 100 cp at the special exam at the end of May because Hatano-kun ends up being expelled.

"Wow! This looks like it might get bad, so I’ll go stop them! Ishigami-kun, please keep watching over everyone!"

"Hmph... what a meddlesome person."

Still...

Since it would be pitiful if Class C lost even more points because of this unreasonable provocation from Class D, I decided to step in and help.

"Alright alright~! That’s enough! Did you forget this is the library? Any more than that and you’ll be bothering other people, so stop!"

"Wha!? Amasawa..."

"Amasawa, huh..."

With my appearance, Utomiya-kun quickly regained his composure and seemed to be trying to figure out my intentions.

Meanwhile, the three Class D students had completely lost the momentum they had earlier...

Their faces had gone pale.

Judging from their reactions, they probably know the rumors about me.

Or maybe they were informed by Hōsen-kun.

"H-hey! This has nothing to do with Class A! Get lost!"

"That’s not going to happen~! Ichika-chan can see right through your pathetic scheme. I figured I should stop it."

"Hah!? What do you mean scheme!?"

Seriously...

In this situation, facing Ichika-chan, do they still think they can play dumb?

What’s wrong with the screws in their heads...

"To put it simply... you’re deliberately interfering with Class C’s studying so they’ll build resentment and eventually strike first, right?"

"That’s..."

"Just like Hōsen-kun... you guys who follow his vile plans are even worse than trash. That’s exactly why people think 'they’re only Class D,' don’t you think?"

As soon as I said that...

I could instinctively sense the anger rising from the three Class D students.

And then—

"You bastard! Don’t get cocky just because you can talk big!"

One of them, Mikami-kun, tried to punch me.

"This is bad! Kaga!! Stop Mikami!"

"I know... hey, Mikami! Calm down!"

However...

The other two had kept their composure.

Following the order of the more level-headed Shiratori-kun, Kaga-kun grabbed Mikami-kun just in time and restrained him before he could hit me.

'Ah... so they figured it out~! It would’ve been nice if he actually punched me...'

Since Class D themselves were carrying out this strategy, it seems my cheap trick was seen through.

Well...

At least I avoided getting unnecessarily injured.

"What’s wrong~? Was it all just talk?"

"Tch... Kaga, Mikami! We’re pulling back for now."

Judging that they were at a disadvantage against me, Shiratori-kun ordered the Class D students to retreat, and they left the library.

"Sorry you had to step in... thank you, Amasawa."

"Don’t worry about it~! Their attitude just irritated me a little."

After casually responding to Utomiya-kun’s thanks, I returned to the table where the Class A students were sitting.

And then—

"Kyaa! Ichika-chan! That was so cool!"

"Seriously! Amasawa-san! That was wonderful!"

"Amasawa-chan! Standing up to those savage Class D students without backing down even once... I could never do something like that!"

The girls from Class C began showering me with praise one after another.

"Um... well... thank you?"

While feeling a bit confused by the experience...

Somewhere in my heart, I had begun to feel the joy of being praised.