-Ayanokoji's POV-
"Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of class 1-D. Please report to the teacher's office immediately."
All eyes turned to me as I got up from my seat.
"Ayanokoji-kun, did you do something?" Horikita asked me.
I don't recall doing anything worthy of being called upon so I'm not exactly sure.
"Uh...no, not that I know of." I replied, glancing up at the ceiling listlessly. "Maybe it has something to do with my grades."
"I see." She nodded. "Well, I was thinking of heading there as well, so I suppose I'll tag along."
Nodding, Horikita and I left the classroom. We silently made our way up to the third floor. Approaching the door to the faculty office, I knocked and waited a few seconds.
No one came.
I rapped my knuckles against the door again and the result was the same. Horikita and I exchanged a brief glance before I slowly turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Entering, we inspected the room and found that she wasn't there.
"Excuse me, is Chabashira-sensei here?" Horikita asked a woman, presumably a teacher, who was busy inspecting herself in the mirror while doing various poses.
"Hmm? Sae-chan? Oh, she was just here a minute ago." She regarded us with a slight tilt of the head and a thoughtful expression. The teacher had wavy hair that stretched down to her shoulders and a chest that threatened to spill out of her clothes.
Calling Chabashira-sensei by her first name probably meant that they were close both age and relationship wise.
"She must have stepped out for a bit. Do you guys want to wait here?"
I groaned internally. If you weren't going to be here, then why would you bother calling me to the office!
"I suppose I don't have much of a choice." Horikita answered with a resigned sigh.
"Then, I'll be outside in the hall." I said and turned to leave. I didn't like being in the faculty office. I hated attention, so the hall would do just as well.
Just before I could leave though, the young teacher grabbed me by my blazer, effectively stopping me in my tracks.
"Hey don't leave~ Let's talk." She smiled at me, "I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, in charge of Class B. Sae and I were best friends in highschool. That's why we call each other Sae-chan and Chie-chan."
That information seemed kind of superfluous.
"Anyways, why did Sae-chan call you? Huh? Huh? Why?" She was pretty assertive.
"No idea."
"I don't understand, you were called to the office without a reason? Hmm? What's your name?" As she bombarded me with questions, she eyed me from head to toe; sizing me up like I was a freshly served hunk of meat.
For some reason, I got goosebumps.
"My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."
"Ayanokoji-kun, huh? That's a pretty cool name. I bet two cents you're popular with the girls."
I'm pretty sure those two cents just went down the drain.
Stepping in closer, she stared up into my eyes before glancing at Horikita then back to me with a cheeky grin, "I'm guessing she's your girlfriend, right? I must say, she's quite pretty."
Horikita visibly recoiled at her words and took a couple steps back before retorting, "Please don't say such immoral things, Hoshinomiya-sensei. I have no intention of dating anyone much less Ayanokoji-kun."
Ouch.
"Wow really? How unexpected, if we were in the same class I'd never leave him alone." As if to prove her point, she began clinging onto my arm. Due to our proximity, her chest almost swallowed my bicep whole. It was warm.
"Hmm," She then began caressing my cheeks.
No, not the one that you're thinking. Don't let Ike and Yamauchi's perversion corrupt you!
"Are you into older women, Ayanokoji-kun?"
"No, not really." I averted my eyes and separated myself from her, trying to seem reluctant, but she continued to push herself onto me.
What's with this overly friendly teacher? She acted more like a student.
If this were an all boy's school, she would have immediately captured every boys' hearts within a matter of days. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them even got into trouble for her sake.
"Ohh, playing hard to get I see."
"That's not it. I just don't have a specific preference."
"Uh-huh~"
Although she was attempting not to show it, Horikita's face conveyed disgust. What respect she had for Hoshinomiya-sensei had already disintegrated at this point.
I couldn't blame her, honestly.
"What are you doing, Hoshinomiya?"
Chabashira-sensei appeared out of nowhere. With a loud thud she smacked Hoshinomiya-sensei upside the head with her clipboard, causing her to crouch and clutch her head due to the pain.
"Hmph. Serves you right." Horikita muttered.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Hoshinomiya-sensei sensei cried.
"For getting involved with my students." Chabashira-sensei responded crisply.
"I was only keeping them company while they waited for you Sae-chan."
"I don't suppose harassment counts as keeping us company, Hoshinomiya-sensei." Horikita chimed in, her eyes narrowing at the aforementioned woman, "To be honest, I found it quite unbecoming of a teacher. Especially one who works here."
Averting her gaze, Hoshinomiya-sensei pouted. If I didn't know better I'd have thought she was the victim here.
"It would have been better if you had just left them alone." Chabashira sensei replied exasperatedly, seemingly annoyed, "Anyway, one of your students, Ichinose Honami, is waiting for you outside the office. Go."
"Okayyy." She drawled, standing up and walking to the door. After she left, Chabashira sensei sighed again and walked over to her seat, before gesturing for Horikita and I to do the same.
"I apologize for the inconvenience. I'll be sure to reprimand her more thoroughly later." Our teacher said, looking slightly miffed.
Composing herself, she continued, "Now, Ayanokoji, why I've called you will have to wait until after I've spoken to Horikita."
What did you want to talk to me about?"
Without giving me a chance to speak, she turned her full attention to Horikita. How unreasonable.
"Today, you told us that the school sorted superior students into Class A and Class D was filled with the leftovers, 'the last bastion of delinquents'."
"And?"
Horikita's brows furrowed slightly, "I solved nearly every problem on the entrance exam. I made no substantial mistakes on the interview either. At the very least, I shouldn't have been sorted into Class D."
From her perspective, her argument was solid. Nothing she said was incorrect.
However, Chabashira sensei eyed her with an almost amused expression.
"Just as you said, you did exceedingly well on the entrance examination; coming in as the fourth highest score among the first years and were closest to the third through first highest scoring students."
"And you're right, we found no particular problems in your interview. On the contrary, we evaluated you quite highly. It was the same for Yukimura-kun and Monty-kun." She replied.
"So, then...why were we placed into Class D?"
"Before I answer, why are you dissatisfied with your current class?"
"Who could be happy with an incorrect evaluation? Furthermore, the class rankings greatly impact our future prospects! Of course I'm dissatisfied." Horikita answered.
As she did, Chabashira sensei's gaze flitted to mine with a snort before returning back to Horikita.
What was that about?
"Perhaps your self evaluation is far too high. The school made no mistakes in your class placement." Chabashira-sensei snickered, or rather, laughed outright as she continued.
"I acknowledge that your academic ability is excellent. You're definitely very smart. But who decided that smart people are categorically superior? We never said that."
Horikita seemed stunned, "But...that's just common sense." Was her reply.
"The term superior doesn't only attribute to academics. If you believe that academics alone places you in a higher class, you are mistaken. That was the very first thing we explained to you."
"Besides, think rationally. Would we have admitted someone like Sudo if we decided superiority based solely off academic merit?"
So I was right, then. Academics was only one of the aspects required to determine our placement. Afterall, despite being one of Japan's leading prepatory schools, they allowed students to enroll for purposes other than academics.
Example: Kayano Onodera enrolled here to further her career in swimming. She wasn't particularly strong in academics so her admittance simply meant that the school evaluated us based on aspects like our physical capabilities and uses those results to determine what class we'll be a part of.
If academics isn't the only reason for our admittance then could the entrance exam have been a decoy exam? Thinking back on it, during the interview, we tested our academic, physical and social skills so it's safe to say that that's the case.
Chabashira-sensei had given us a couple hints that was pointing us in this direction earlier today as well.
"Furthermore," she continued, "You may be too hasty in proclaiming that no one would be happy to be incorrectly evaluated."
"Take class A, for instance. They are under incredible pressure from the school, and also the target to extreme envy from other classes. Competing every day with that kind of pressure bearing down upon you is far more difficult than you might imagine."
"...Be that as it may, I refuse to believe that there are people who are happy with an incorrect evaluation. Only a fool wouldn't use his innate abilities." Horikita replied.
Chabashira-sensei snickered,"Is that so? I think the current Class C boast some of those people. Strange students who would happily be set at a low level."
Why do I feel attacked right now? It was almost as if she was talking about me.
"You still haven't given me an explaination as to why I was placed in this class. I'm afraid the school made some sort of error somewhere. If you could please double-check, that would be great." Horikita said.
"I'm sorry, but you weren't sorted by mistake. You are definitely fit for the current Class C. You are at that level." Was Chabashira-sensei's crisp response.
"Is that so? Then, I'll ask the school again at another time." Horikita didn't look like she would back down anytime soon.
She'll probably ask someone higher up the chain. Chabashira-sensei also seemed to notice and addressed it.
"You'll get the same answer from anyone in a higher position. Besides, there's no need to be disappointed. As you already know, one class can overtake another. Considering your starting point, you may very well reach Class A before you graduate."
Horikita frowned and fell silent for a while before sighing, "I suppose. However, I can't imagine it will be easy."
"Respectively, Class A and B are 311 points and 141 points ahead of us while Class D is only 41 points behind. If not for Hirata's warning, I'm afraid we'd be somewhere in the low hundreds points wise." Is what she deduced.
Chabashira-sensei smirked slightly at her words, closing her eyes with a snort, "Well...I suppose that's enough for now. Ayanokoji, let's talk about you." She turned her attention to me.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me." Horikita got up, moving to leave.
"Wait, Horikita." She said stopped by our homeroom teacher, "It would be in your best interest to stay. It might provide you with a hint on how to reach class A."
Without hesitation, Horikita sat back down, "Please keep it brief."
"Were you the one?" Her question was directed at me. It was rather ambiguous and sudden, so I didn't know how to reply.
I tilted my head.
Chabashira-sensei laughed as she glanced over her clipboard. "Regardless, you're an interesting student, Ayanokoji."
"I don't think I am. I haven't done anything particularly curious." I said truthfully.
I'm guessing whatever it is she thought I'd done has been somehow confirmed.
She smirked, "Well, your entrance exam results say otherwise." Turning the item in her grasp for us to see.
On her clipboard, I saw a rather familiar answer sheet.
"Fifty points in Japanese History. Fifty points in Mathematics. Fifty points in English. Fifty points in Social Studies. Fifty points in Science. You even score Fifty points on the recent surprise test. Do you know what this means?"
A stunned Horikita looked over my test paper and then shifted her focus to me, "That's a rather frightening coincidence." She said.
"This was no coincidence, he intentionally scored 50's across the board." Chabashira-sensei informed.
"It's a coincidence. There's no evidence that it's not. Besides, what would I gain by manipulating my test scores in the first place? If I were intelligent enough to get high marks, I would've tried to get a perfect score." I argued back. But, as I feigned ignorance, Chabashira sensei sighed in exasperation.
"You really do seem like an odious student. Listen. Only 3 percent of students solved the fifth math problem successfully. However, you solved it perfectly, and used a complex formula to do so. But, the tenth problem on the test had a completion rate of 76 percent yet you got it incorrect. Did you make a mistake in it? Is it normal?"
"I don't know what normal is. It was a coincidence I tell you. A coincidence."
Chabashira sensei shot Horikita a glance that said, What do you think?
"Why do you pretend not to know?" She asked another question.
"I don't like studying and I don't plan to try hard. That's why I get those scores."
"Well, students who chose this school wouldn't say something like that. However, some students may have different reasons for getting in. You, for example and Koenji as well. I think you're fine with being in either Class D or A."
This school wasn't the only abnormal thing. The teachers were weird too. Moments earlier, Chabashira sensei had upset Horikita with just her words.
It was almost as if the teachers knew every students' secrets.
"What other reason do you have?" Horikita asked.
"Do you want me to explain in detail?"
I noticed the sharp gleam in Chabashira sensei's eyes. It was almost as if she wanted to provoke Horikita.
"No. We best stop here. Anymore of this and I might go mad and destroy all the furniture in here." I said.
"If you did that, Ayanokoji, I would demote you to Class E."
"Wait, there's an E class?"
"Of course. The 'E' stands for 'expelled.' As in, you'd be kicked out of school. Well, I suppose our conversation has ended. Enjoy your lives."
And with that, Chabashira-sensei kicked us out of the teacher's office.
Why had Chabashira sensei called us in together? Also, why did she ask that question? She didn't seem like the type to do meaningless things.
"Should we head back?" I said.
Horikita didn't respond and I walked away. It was probably best if we weren't together or she'd start asking questions.
"Wait."
Shoot.
I continued walking. If I just manage to keep away from her until I got to the dorms, then I'd be home free.
"Was your score...really just coincidence?" She asked.
"I already said so, didn't I? Or do you have proof that I got that score on purpose?"
"I don't but...I also don't understand, Ayanokoji-kun. You said you like to avoid trouble, but you don't seem interested in Class A."
A beat of silence passed as we trodded through the halls, "You seem to have an extraordinary fixation on Class A." I replied.
"Should I not? I'm simply striving to improve my future prospect."
"Oh, absolutely. You should. It's perfectly natural."
Horikita fell silent for a moment before continuing with another question, "Are you not interested in reaching Class A, Ayanokoji-kun?"
"...Aiming for class A will bring nothing but trouble." I replied, trying to sound dubious.
To me, it made no difference whether or not I reached Class A, so long as I got to live the life I wanted.
Horikita sped up and started walking next to me.
"So how do you intend to reach Class A?"
"First, I want to ascertain this school's true motives. Why was I placed into the current Class C? Chabashira sensei said I am at that level, but why? When I discover the answer, I'll aim for Class A. No, I'll definitely make it to Class A."
Anxiety had replaced Horikita's previously overflowing confidence.
Was she really sure that was the case?
The only thing I could draw from today was that loss and gain were one syllable words. If you followed the fundamental school rules, you could avoid losing points. However, it was still unclear how to turn those losses into gains.
I tilted my head upwards slightly, staring absentmindedly at the lights strung along the building ceiling.
"That's not going to be difficult. We've already gotten a massive headstart due to our recent promotion to Class C. In addition to that, our class seems to hold quite some degree of respect for Hirata after he took up a leadership so aiming for Class A shouldn't be too lofty a goal."
Even if we had found an efficient way to increase points, the other classes might also find a way to do the same.
With the current class standings, it isn't guaranteed that we'll catch up to Class A or even remain in Class C during the coming months.
"I understand your thoughts, but I don't think the school will continue supervising us so carefully. If they did, there'd be no meaning in competition." Horikita said.
"I see. I suppose you could think that. So, you'll try to take care of it yourself?" I asked.
"Yes."
Great.
"Don't act so proud."
A hand chopped my side.
Ouch.
Horikita ignored my pained expression.
I watched her walk a few steps by me before speaking, "Look...I understand how you feel, but you can't solve this by yourself. Think about Sudo. Even if you improve, the rest of the class will drag you down."
"No. You're right that no lone individual can solve this problem. We won't make it past Class B without everyone, who are of use, participating." Horikita said, looking ahead, "Building off that, we have one major problem. Making sure no one fails the midterms."
"The midterms, huh...That is quite troublesome."
The short test we'd taken contained a few difficult questions, but overall, it was rather easy. Even on that level, some students had failed. Honestly, the chances of passing the midterm exams were slim.
"I need your help, Ayanokoji-kun."
"What if I refuse like how you refused Hirata this morning?" Horikita glared at me.
"Do you want to refuse?"
"What if I said I'd gladly help?"
"I always knew you'd help, Ayanokoji-kun."
"Hey, I didn't say I would. It was only a hypothetical." I raised my voice, trying to sound agitated. Well, as agitated as a monotonous voice could be.
"Don't worry, I don't require your brainpower. Leave the planning to me, and act as I tell you."
"Huh? What do you meant by act?"
"Do as I say and I promise you, we'll see an increase in points. I would never lie."
"I don't know what you're cooking up, but there are other people you could count on. If you made friends, they'd cooperate with you."
"Unfortunately, no one in class D is as easy to manipulate as you."
"No. There are several other people. Hirata, for example. He's popular and smart so he'd be perfect." If she reached out to him, they'd probably be good friends.
"There's also Monty. You're already acquainted with him so it shouldn't be too difficult to get his help."
From what I've seen, he doesn't really like being bothered, though he's not against interacting if what we're discussing isn't unnecessary. He's also pretty smart so it'll make Horikita's job a lot easier while providing me with a way out.
Horikita took on a thoughtful expression. "Hmm...the second option does sound quite appealing."
Now that I've managed to divert her attention. I should be able to slip away-
"Regardless, I require your help. Two pawns are undoubtedly better than one."
Did she just call me a pawn?
"So, if a pawn were to cooperate, he could become a gold general?"
"An interesting answer, Ayanokoji-kun. But I don't see you making the same effort as Monty-kun." She replied, "Besides, haven't you been thinking, 'I've always been a pawn, I don't want to advance,' all along?"
She shot me down with precisely the right brand of ammunition. If I were a normal person, my feelings would have been hurt.
"Sorry, but I can't help you." I said flatly.
"Contact me once you've given it some thought. I look forward to hearing from you." Horikita replied, handing me her phone.
How troublesome.
She wasn't paying attention to anything I was saying at all.
I reluctantly added my contact information before handing it back to her. So this is how I get a girl's number for the first time?
Considering it's Horikita's, I can't quite say I'm happy about it.
-.-
May 1st came and went. Before I knew it, it was already the 4th, Friday.
Yesterday, in the group chat, Ike and Yamauchi said they had joined Hirata's study group but were kicked out soon after the girls casted votes which were, unsurprisingly, against their favor.
It was expected. They were rather notorious for being perverts afterall.
It made me wonder why I associated with them in the first place.
....
Do people see me as a pervert too?
"Hey, Horikita." I called out monotonously.
"What?" She answered, eyes still glued to her book.
"What kind of person am I to you?"
"Pathetic and Idiotic." Horikita drove a stake through my chest with zero hesitation.
"Geez, you could atleast sugar coat it." Thankfully she didn't lump me in with Ike and Yamauchi.
Ignoring my emotional scars, Horikita moved on, "Monty-kun, do you want to eat together?" She asked, lifting her head.
Monty, who was seated infront of me, turned his head slightly before addressing her, "Why?"
"I've something to discuss with you, it's in regards to the study group." She answered truthfully.
"Why not ask Hirata?" He posed.
"I'm not acquaintanted with him. Also, you don't seem to have any business to attend at the moment so you seemed like the more viable option."
The green haired boy fell silent for a moment before slowly rising to his feet and adjusting his glasses, "I see. Let's go then."
Horikita nodded, getting up from her seat while placing her book inside her bag. She addressed me.
"You're coming as well Ayanokoji-kun."
"No thank you."
Ah!
"That was unnecessary!" I raised my voice slightly as I rubbed the sting on my arm.
"What was, Ayanokoji-kun?"
"You just stabbed me!"
"What? When did I stab you with a compass needle, Ayanokoji-kun?"
"You're holding a dangerous weapon right now!"
"So just because I'm holding something means I stabbed you?"
I sighed. So she stabbed me and denied it? I suppose denial is her default setting. My eyes shifted to Monty who had a hand in his pocket while the other slung his bag over his shoulder as he walked away.
"Are you coming?" She asked, taking up her own bag.
She hadn't hidden away her compass as yet.
For fear of going through another bout of pain, I reluctantly gave into her demand.
We all walked to the cafeteria. There was a bald headed male and a few others at the front of the line so it took a while to get what we wanted.
After each of us had bought something to eat, we followed Monty up to the roof. It was rather quiet up here so there was no worry of being interrupted.
Sitting cross legged on the floor, Monty opened his drink and took a sip. "Who are your study group members?" He asked suddenly.
So he's getting straight to the point, that's convenient.
Horikita closed her eyes, "Excluding Ayanokoji-kun, none."
"I don't recall agreeing to join." I protested.
"Neither did you reject." Came Horikita's swift response.
"You didn't propose the question so there was no way for me to reject." I shot back.
"False. You had the opportunity to decline the offer before it was presented."
I give up.
"Anyhow, Monty-kun," Horikita switched the topic, "I'd like your help in gathering more members. At the moment, I'm unsure of who isn't already in a group so I'd be grateful if you could inform me."
"Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki and Sudo Ken." Monty responded crisply before taking a bite out of his free bread.
Horikita's brows furrowed slightly, likely disgruntled at the fact that she'd been left with the three worst individuals to tutor.
Somehow it felt like he'd given her custody of those three on purpose.
Well, it's not my problem. It's her fault for not creating a group earlier.
As I took a bite out of my meal, my eyes shifted upwards to meet Horikita's gaze. She looked as if she'd thought of something.
"Ayanokoji-kun, those three are your friends, correct?"
I don't like where this is going.
"I wouldn't say we're friends, per se. Acquaintances would be more appropriate." I replied without missing a beat, "Also, I doubt they'd agree to whatever you're thinking of having me do."
"Regardless, it'll be quicker if you try to convince them. It shouldn't be a problem; they're happy to say that you're friends, right? Bring them to the library, and I'll tutor them."
Did she not hear a word I said?
"Do you honestly think that someone who does his best to lead an utterly harmless and inoffensive life would be able to do something that requires actual social skills?"
"It's not a question of ability. You simply must." She demanded.
How unreasonable.
"I think this is the first time I'm actually angry at you..."
"So what will you do? Cooperate? Or make me your enemy?" As usual, she ignored my feelings.
"It almost feels like you're holding a gun to my head."
"No, not 'almost.' I really am threatening you." Replied Horikita.
I stared at the unwavering eyes of the girl before me and sighed. She wasn't planning on backing down was she.
"You don't think I've forgiven you for conspiring with Kushida-san and inviting me out under false pretenses do you?" She asked.
"False pretenses?" Monty, who had been silent this whole time, asked.
"Ayanokoji-kun had asked me to accompany him to 'The Pallet' where he and Kushida-san had devised a plot to have her meet me 'coincidentally'. Though, I called them out before they even had the chance."
"I see..." Monty observed me with an unreadable expression before taking out his phone. He began typing.
"Hey, it's not entirely false. I really did want to go to 'The Pallet'." I defended myself, "Kushida simply happened to ask me to help her out, at the time. Also, you said you wouldn't blame me. Bringing that up is unfair."
"I said that to Kushida-san. I don't remember saying it to you, Ayanokoji-kun." She replied swiftly, "If you want forgiveness. Cooperate with me."
It looks as though I'd never had an escape route in the first place. At this conjecture, the only way to avoid a hassle was to help her.
Atleast, that's what I thought.
"There's no need for that." Monty spoke up, lazily holding his phone for us to see.
It was a chat with Matsushita Chiaki. The messages read:
[Matsushita. You're acquainted with Ike, Yamauchi and Sudo, correct?] -Monty
[Yeah. What's up?] -Chiaki
[Could you carry them to the library this afternoon?] -Monty
[Why? Are you gonna add them to the study group?] -Chiaki
[Can you?] -Monty
[What do I get in return?] -Chiaki
[A free session.] -Monty
[Heh, Done :3] -Chiaki
He works fast. With this, I won't need to do any heavy lifting.
"I see. I'm grateful." Horikita said with a curt nod. She heaved a sigh, "Now that that's settled. I suppose all that's left is composing a lesson plan."
"Why not use Monty's lesson plan? He's already established a study group." I proposed.
"Though I have an idea of what to do, having a reference will increase my efficiency..." She murmured, "Are you fine with that, Monty-kun?"
Taking a small sip from his drink, his eyes veered towards Horikita, "If you're this reliant on others, I question your ability to manage a group on your own."
Horikita's eyes narrowed. "I don't recall asking for your evaluation."
Monty replied with a faint shrug, "Neither do I. I simply felt it was worth stating."
"I'll send it to you."
He handed her his phone.
Accepting the device, Horikita quickly typed in her information and saved it before giving it back. Monty tapped his device a few times whereafter Horikita's own dinged, indicating a successful transfer.
I peered into the device and analyzed the lesson plan alongside her.
"You've compiled quite a bit of information. Though, I'm sceptical of some of these topics. They're far too easy for highschoolers."
"Those are all the topics we've touched on within the last month." Monty replied.
Horikita narrowed her eyes slightly, "I do admit that a fair amount of them are topics we've been taught in class, however, quite a few of these are junior high level. There're also some that are far beyond what a high schooler could hope to answer."
"Your point?"
She huffed, "I'm saying, we haven't gone through anything of that level outside of the surprise test. If you're using that as a base for your lesson plan, then I'm better off creating my own." Saying those words, she deleted the document without hesitation.
I don't blame her. Even though we weren't given a list of specific topics to study, we haven't been taught or told anything that insinuated we'd be getting questions like those during the upcoming midterms either.
Chabashira-sensei had stated that the surprise test was only being used as a reference so Horikita's assumption wasn't unfounded.
Turning his head slightly, Monty stared at Horikita for a few seconds before donning a small, yet obscure smile, "Do as you please." He said.
If he were someone like Sudo or Yamauchi, he might've been offended and started an argument. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. Though, his smile irked me somewhat.
Looking up at the sky, I let my thoughts wander as silence settled over the rooftop. It was the kind of quiet that invited reflection, though I preferred not to overindulge in such moments.
Since the beginning of the school year, I could count the times Monty's spoken to Horikita and me on one hand. Two of those times, he stayed involved. The rest, he quietly stepped away, uninterested.
His detachment wasn't whimsical. It was deliberate.
From Horikita's perspective, he might seem like someone trying too hard to appear aloof, but my observations suggest otherwise.
It's not an act. He really is as disinterested as he appears. On top of that, he carries himself with the sort of quiet confidence that makes it difficult to gauge his intentions.
I shifted my gaze to the male seated on the left of Horikita. His green hair and similarly tinted glasses caught the light, framing his pale, almost serene expression.
On the first day, he asked Chabashira-sensei a question; one which she deflected with a rather vague response. I hadn't paid much attention at the time, but the memory briefly resurfaced again a week and a half later, during one of Hirata's speeches.
Reason being, Hirata had proposed an answer to Monty's question. It was the kind of response that felt too insightful for someone like him to conjure up on his own. What's more, his subtle glances toward Monty during and after the explanation didn't exactly go unnoticed.
It was strange. Outside of the official first day, Monty and Hirata hadn't spoken much, if at all, within the class.
If Hirata was looking for validation, then wouldn't his gaze naturally fall upon Karuizawa? It would make more sense to seek her reaction rather than that of a relative stranger.
But Hirata didn't seem like the type to seek praise for his actions; which left me with two possibilities:
Either Hirata and Monty had interacted discreetly, or Monty had somehow influenced him without direct contact.
The first scenario seemed more plausible as there wouldn't have been a need for them to exchange contact information to have a brief meeting after class.
Then there was Chabashira-sensei's cryptic question to me: 'Were you the one?' At the time, I didn't understand its context, but now, it felt more relevant.
If Monty had figured out the S-System and provided Hirata with that information, it would explain a lot. It also made his approach to the study plan more intriguing.
Was he working off knowledge we hadn't been given? Or was he simply preparing for contingencies others hadn't considered? I had conjured up questions like those in my mind.
However, I had a feeling that the answer wasn't one or the other. It was both.
It was the most plausible given that contingencies usually hinged on the probability of an action.
Also, him being able to deduce the motive behind the creation of the S-system within a week meant that he could have acquired some knowledge on the upcoming exams through similar means of information gathering.
This would make Monty's lesson plan the correct one.
One thing still puzzled me, though—why had Chabashira-sensei asked me that question and not him? Had she mistaken me for Monty? Or was it something else?
In any case, it was worth looking into.
As if sensing my thoughts, Monty's gaze shifted toward mine. His expression remained as guarded as ever, his glassy eyes reflecting little more than the sunlight bearing down upon his pale skin as his amber gaze pierced through the green veil like daggers.
He's definitely an interesting character.
An undoubtedly useful one at that.