*"Did this guy secretly figure out the deeper pairing rules and deliberately team up with me?"*
Though he kept a smile on his face, Kushida Kikyō was actually gritting her teeth, cursing Yamauchi Haruki in her mind.
*"It's just a coincidence..."*
Saiki Kusuo glanced at Kushida Kikyō with the corner of his eye, unsure what to say for a moment, and could only sigh inwardly.
*"Yamauchi Haruki is in my group, which means my actions will be restricted from now on, and practicing with Ryūen will be even more troublesome."*
*"In this exam, the two partners are like a community of fate. If one gets expelled, the other will too... Damn it, this means I can't use other methods to get Yamauchi expelled during this exam."*
*"Did this guy calculate all of this?"*
*"It's really just a coincidence..."*
"Kushida, we're partners! Nice to work with you!"
At that moment, Yamauchi Haruki, completely clueless, beamed with excitement, waved at Kushida Kikyō, and said loudly.
*"The heavens are truly kind to me! How lucky can I get?"*
Yamauchi Haruki was overjoyed.
"Uh, nice to work with you too, Yamauchi..."
Kushida Kikyō's smile had become somewhat stiff.
*"Is this guy mocking me?"*
Kushida Kikyō's anger surged even higher.
*"Yare yare..."*
Saiki Kusuo knew all too well that Yamauchi Haruki's future would be fraught with challenges, but it was a fate he brought upon himself.
Now, Saiki Kusuo was more concerned about who his own partner would be.
Saiki Kusuo—Karuizawa Kei.
*"Yare yare, it's Karuizawa, huh..."*
Saiki Kusuo felt a bit helpless. While he'd avoided the troublesome Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, he'd still ended up with someone whose personality clashed with his own.
*"Not with Saiki? Close... Ended up with Ayanokōji instead!"*
A familiar voice echoed beside Saiki Kusuo. It was Satō Maya.
*"Not... not with Kusuo-kun..."*
Sakura Airi's inner voice carried a hint of disappointment.
Their grades weren't the best in the class, which made them suitable for pairing with Saiki Kusuo. Yet, in the end, Saiki Kusuo was paired with Karuizawa Kei.
"Kusuo, looks like we're partners again!"
Karuizawa Kei smiled brightly, waving at Saiki Kusuo. Everyone's gaze turned to him almost simultaneously.
"Yeah."
Saiki Kusuo didn't enjoy being the center of attention but still nodded at Karuizawa Kei.
Being paired with Karuizawa Kei was an acceptable outcome.
"The current pairings are basically as we expected."
After confirming everyone's pairings, Horikita Suzune continued,
"To improve the class's average score, we'll hold study sessions until the final exams. You can also collaborate with Hirata or Kushida. I'm planning two sessions per day: the first from 4 to 6 PM after school, and the second from 8 to 10 PM for those in clubs. Decide which sessions you'll attend."
*"Damn, more study sessions?"*
Saiki Kusuo felt helpless. Study sessions would cut into his free time, but he couldn't skip them. It was a real hassle.
Everyone was discussing the study sessions when two students approached Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yōsuke.
Miyake Akito and Hasebe Haruka, students Saiki Kusuo hadn't interacted with much.
They weren't particularly noticeable in class. Saiki Kusuo knew Miyake Akito was decent at sports but knew little about Hasebe Haruka.
"Miyake, is there something you need?"
Hirata Yōsuke immediately turned to them. He remembered Miyake Akito and Hasebe Haruka were partners.
"We're paired for the exam, but our strengths and weaknesses overlap. It's a bit tricky, so we wanted your advice."
Miyake Akito explained.
Though they were paired, their academic abilities were similar, and their strengths and weaknesses overlapped, so they couldn't help each other. To improve everyone's scores, their study sessions would need to cover more topics.
But expanding the scope would increase the workload, and with more people, efficiency would drop.
"Also, can I skip the study sessions?"
At that moment, Hasebe Haruka spoke up,
"I probably won't attend. I don't really fit in with Ichihara and the others."
*"Ichihara? Is there even someone like that in our class?"*
Saiki Kusuo tried to match the name with a face but failed.
"Besides, group study sessions aren't my style."
"But your weaknesses are quite similar. If you take the finals like this, even if you pass overall, you might score below the required sixty in some subjects."
Horikita Suzune immediately replied seriously.
"True, but this method still doesn't suit me. Sorry, Miyake."
Hasebe Haruka seemed to use her nickname for Miyake Akito and left.
"Sorry, I can't focus on studying if there are too many girls around. I'll skip the sessions."
Miyake Akito, seeing his partner leave, expressed his thoughts to Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yōsuke.
*"If only Yamauchi had half your resolve."*
*"What if someone could tutor them individually?"*
Horikita Suzune's mind raced, recalling Miyake Akito and Hasebe Haruka's weak subjects.
Saiki Kusuo felt a sense of foreboding and quickly turned to leave.
But at that moment, Horikita Suzune's gaze shifted to Saiki Kusuo.
"Saiki, you did well in those subjects before, right?"
Last semester, during study sessions, Horikita Suzune had prepared difficult questions. Due to various mishaps, Saiki Kusuo solved some of the hardest ones, leading her to believe he was skilled in those subjects.
Coincidentally, those were Miyake Akito and Hasebe Haruka's weak points.
*"Damn, I've been caught!"*
Saiki Kusuo complained inwardly and turned back,
"Average."
"You solved those super difficult questions before. If you tutor them, it should be more than enough."
"Hey, Kusuo, you're that good?"
Karuizawa Kei looked surprised.
"I never agreed..."
"Then it's settled, Saiki. Thanks for your help."
Horikita Suzune didn't give him a chance to refuse,
"They're also strong in subjects you're not, so it'll be a good balance."
"..."
Saiki Kusuo felt helpless. High school knowledge was easy for him. He deliberately kept some scores low to stay in the middle of the class.
He never expected this to backfire.
"Okay, if it's Saiki, I'm fine with it. I'll tell Hasebe later."
Miyake Akito spoke seriously to Saiki Kusuo.
*"Hey, I never agreed from the start!"*
Saiki Kusuo shouted in his mind, but it was too late. Miyake Akito had already left.
"Also, Miyake and Hasebe seem like lone wolves, and Saiki isn't great at socializing."
Horikita Suzune rubbed her chin, deep in thought, then turned to Ayanokōji Kiyotaka,
"Ayanokōji, can you assist Saiki?"
"Assist?"
"You and Saiki get along, right? Communicating with Miyake or Hasebe might be tough, but with you in between, it should be easier."
Horikita Suzune said seriously.
*"Letting Ayanokōji help with communication? Are you serious? And how can I still not escape this guy?"*
Saiki Kusuo glanced at Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, who also looked at him.
"Yeah."
---
The next day after school, Saiki Kusuo arrived at the school café as agreed.
Hasebe Haruka, Miyake Akito, and Ayanokōji Kiyotaka were already there.
Setting aside Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's act, Hasebe Haruka and Miyake Akito were quiet, fitting well with Saiki Kusuo and causing no trouble.
The problem wasn't with them.
At that moment, there were unexpected guests in the café.
"Kusuo! I ordered your favorite coffee pudding!"
Karuizawa Kei smiled, waving at Saiki Kusuo.
"Why are you here?"
Saiki Kusuo looked confused. The only seat left was next to Karuizawa Kei, either intentionally or by default.
As agreed, the study session should only include him, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, Miyake Akito, and Hasebe Haruka.
*"Guess I have to sit here."*
Saiki Kusuo sighed, focusing on the pudding, and sat beside Karuizawa Kei,
*"There's no other seat. I'm not being swayed by this pudding!"*
"Hey! We're partners! And I want to study too!"
Karuizawa Kei smiled at Saiki Kusuo.
Saiki Kusuo felt helpless and looked across the table—
Satō Maya was sitting there.
"Why are you here?"
"I'm partnered with Ayanokōji! I heard he's studying with you, so I came too."
Satō Maya smiled,
"Nice to work with you!"
Her gaze shifted to Karuizawa Kei.
Karuizawa Kei also smiled at her.
*"I'm here for Saiki!"*
*"I'm here for Kusuo!"*
Their thoughts were almost identical.
Saiki Kusuo sighed, knowing this study session would be another disaster—
And there was someone else he hadn't expected.
*"Kusuo-kun... is having a study session..."*
*"I didn't expect Karuizawa and Satō to be here... Did Kusuo-kun invite them? No... they must have come on their own..."*
*"I want to join too... but I'm too shy to ask Kusuo-kun directly... so I'll just sit nearby..."*
It was Sakura Airi's voice.
She was at the table next to Saiki Kusuo's group, occasionally glancing their way.
Even without telepathy, Saiki Kusuo noticed Sakura Airi's movements.
*"That's Sakura. She's been following us?"*
Not just Saiki Kusuo, but the sharp-eyed Ayanokōji Kiyotaka also noticed Sakura Airi.
Previously, Sakura Airi had been troubled by a stalker, and now, in a way, she'd become like one herself.