Try your best

　　In the class meeting, Mafuyu explains various things for this semester.

　　From the beginning of September to the start of winter vacation in December, the second semester is always the most active and interesting period of the entire school year.

　　Sports festivals, autumn outings, student council elections, Shuchi'in Academy's unique Bonshin Festival, etc. They will all be held one after another during this semester.

　　Ordinary students could enjoy it, but as a member of the student council, Shinichi felt like a pile of materials and official documents were waiting for him in the student council room, and the pressure on his shoulders was getting heavier.

　　[The position of library committee member is always made into homework until death when there are no books to manage]

　　He didn't know which student council handbook, but Shinichi had read this sentence, and he angrily tore the page and threw it into the shredder.

　　But fortunately, as long as this student council is disbanded and does not participate in the reorganization election, these things will not be detrimental to it.

　　The next student council president is Iino, right?

　　When the time came for Iino to come to him to join the student council, he had to think of a suitable reason to reject her.

　　Even though Shinichi feels disappointed with the fact that this student council will soon be disbanded, the problem can still be saved. Shirogane's husband and wife crosstalk is no more, and most of his reasons for staying in the student council have been reduced.

　　At most, they could only help organize some activities, and use the contacts gathered from the forest school to provide assistance when Iino and the others encountered difficulties...

Wait...

　　It's better to just join the student council. Since he planned to help, wouldn't it be nice to continue enjoying that authority?

　　Shinichi thought carefully about the pros and cons of remaining on the student council.

　　He didn't have an accurate future plan, so everything happened naturally as he pleased, doing things aimlessly and based solely on his mood.

　　But maybe from now on, if he seriously considers what kind of school life he wants to live and what he wants to study in the future, he will know which path to take after graduating from high school.

　　When thought touches this point, it comes suddenly.

　　Even though Mafuyu was still explaining about the semester on stage, Shinichi was pushing.

　　...Because it seemed like he was getting closer to them.

　　They have dreams and goals. He can only look back, not even pursue.

　　Now, he had fully understood how to stand beside them, and moreover, to surpass them.

　　Shinichi suppressed the feelings surging in his heart, but he still whispered them.

　　"Isn't that amazing..."

　　"What did you say?"

　　A cold voice suddenly sounded from beside him.

　　Shinichi's pupils contracted, and panic emerged from the bottom of his heart.

　　But a second later, he relaxed and raised his head.

　　Everyone in the class turned, because Mafuyu was standing in the hallway between him and Fumino, looking at him with eyes as cold as winter.

　　"What's so amazing?"

　　When his eyes met, Mafuyu asked again.

　　"It feels good to be a member of the student council because you know there are lots of things to do throughout the semester."

　　So, Shinichi said this with a wry smile.

　　"I apologize for interrupting your explanation."

　　"Um..."

　　 Mafuyu frowned slightly, unsure whether Shinichi was making excuses or really making fun of himself as a member of the student council who had a lot of things to do next.

　　However, she received a reply and an apology, and her attitude was inappropriate. Mafuyu didn't intend to continue this matter and turned around and walked back to the podium.

　　"Come to your senses. Student life is not just about academic assignments, these extracurricular activities are also very important for you. Even if you can't find out the time of the event, let alone gain beneficial growth for the future in the activity."

　　The serious voice quickly caught the attention of the other students, Shinichi sat up straight in his chair and let out a sigh of relief.

　　The girl sitting next to him wiggled her finger before Mafuyu turned around, making Shinichi turn to look. At the same time, she blinked and showed something with her eyes.

　　Shinichi nodded, and smiled slightly.

　　At this moment, Shinichi's back was stabbed.

　　He didn't look back, but put his hands behind his back and made an OK gesture. After three seconds, he took his hand back.

　　"…"

　　For some reason, Shinichi always felt that there were displeased gazes staring at his back.

　　When the class meeting time was over, the entire class walked towards the auditorium in the middle of the school broadcast to prepare for the second semester opening ceremony.

　　Now that he can talk, Shinichi has to deal with the worries of Fumino, Itsuki, and even Fuutarou and Nariyuki. There were also other students who wanted to talk to him.

　　But at some point, a group of people seemed to surround them by chance, protecting them as they moved forward like a shield.

　　The reason why Shinichi said that seemed to be because among that group of people there were three giants of the Thorns Club, namely Kashima, Chouno, and Inomori. They didn't chat with Fumino, but instead just walked beside them with a smile.

　　The more he looked at it, the scarier he felt, so Shinichi decided to ignore it, since they didn't cause any trouble for anyone else.

　　After the opening ceremony, Shuchi'in Academy did not let them leave directly, but officially started classes.

　　And because Thursday and Friday were the start of the school year, entire class days were devoted to high-intensity problem solving, which left the students wailing, but they could only endure the teachers' torment.

　　As for Shinichi, after the opening ceremony, he got the chance to borrow books from the library, so he didn't attend classes all day.

　　Time passed quickly, and it was time to finish school.

　　"I have to attend the Diversification Talent Exchange meeting. Sorry, today… No, this week's study meeting will be reduced by one hour."

　　Since Rizu still had to go home to help, it was a deduction, Shinichi had already mentioned this arrangement to the two of them beforehand, and Shinichi told Fumino again when school was over.

　　"Does not matter! I don't want to bother you any more. There are many things to be busy with, but you still have to take care of our studies..."

　　Fumino wanted to encourage him, but as she spoke, she felt a little embarrassed.

　　Shinichi waved his hand, took his school bag and stood up.

　　"It's something we agreed on beforehand, there's nothing to worry about. See you in the study room."

　　Fumino smiled and nodded: "See you in the study room!"

　　After saying goodbye to her, Shinichi walked to the Student Guidance Office. It felt like he had met Mafuyu there several times at school, and it was definitely not exclusive office.

　　Now it will be the conference room for their multi-talented exchange meeting raid team again...

　　"Asada-kun!"

　　When he reached a corner of the stairs where there were rarely any students, a familiar voice suddenly sounded.

　　He stopped and looked back in surprise.

　　"Itsuki? When will you..."

　　Itsuki who quietly followed him out of the classroom, blushed a little, but still looked straight at Shinichi.

　　"Th-there's something I want to tell you."

　　Her voice was serious, causing Shinichi to face her directly.

Itsuki lifted her chest and took a deep breath.

　　"A diverse talent exchange meeting... You, Ichika, and Yotsuba are participating on behalf of the school, right?"

　　"That's right." Shinichi answered, "What's wrong?"

　　"I... I know, I'm actually not qualified to say such things..."

　　The hand holding the strap of her school bag slowly tightened, Itsuki bit her lip and whispered.

　　"Ichika has appeared in the film, and her fans have started appearing at school."

　　"Yotsuba is the next president of the athletic club. After Forest School, half the people at school knew her..."

　　"It's natural that they were selected, and I'm very happy for them, I'm sure they will never lose to people from other schools..."

"But!"

　　Ahoge hair drooping, Itsuki said weakly.

　　"Obviously we were quintuplets, and we all started from the same starting line, but in an instant, I discovered that they had already stood so far away, and I was still in the same place, worrying about my grades every day. Don't know what I should do..."

　　Her voice trembled slightly, and Itsuki raised her head.

　　"I really don't want to!"

　　"I want to know what I can do, how I can catch up with Ichika and the others, and how far I can reach the glory of the school with Asada-kun!"

　　"Even though I know this can't be finished in a short time, maybe even the current semester exams won't live up to expectations… I know, I'm just an ordinary fool!"

　　"But, I can't resist quintuplets..."

　　Itsuki seemed to be whispering something, and Shinichi understood through lip reading.

　　After that, Itsuki calmed down again.

　　Her eyes were still looking straight at him.

　　"Asada-kun, I know you still have a lot to do, and I am not qualified to ask anything from you."

　　"But if possible, may I see you prepare for the exchange meeting?"

　　"Also, I want to participate in your affairs in the student council. I want to be like you, experiencing many things that can make people grow, rather than just sitting in the study room all day, but not improving my grades much."

　　Itsuki placed her hands in front of her, bent her upper body straight down, and bowed to Shinichi at a 90 degree angle.

　　"Just like forest school, let me follow you and be your assistant to learn more things that are not taught in school!"

　　"I want to be a person who can proudly raise my chest and stand shoulder to shoulder with my sisters. Please help me! "

　　Nervousness and unease were revealed in the fingertips that were tightly gripping the strap of the school bag.

　　"…"

　　Shinichi stood still with a complicated expression.

　　For some reason, the words Itsuki said felt familiar as if Shinichi had said them before. Every word and sentence fits perfectly into the heart of him who only knows how to learn.

Shinichi was silent for a long time, and when Itsuki was disappointed and about to say goodbye, Shinichi slowly spoke.

　　"Itsuki..."