Act 7: Scene 1

The week flew by and before they knew it, everything was almost back to the way it was. Why 'almost'? It's because after the big revelation dropped on them by their homeroom teacher, Chabashira-sensei, a lot of changes happened within Class D.

Everyone started listening more attentively during discussions. There were times when one or two people would do the opposite and attempt to fall asleep or do something else, but they would get scolded or smacked in the head right away.

Of course, the sole exception to this was Koenji. The man was capable of doing whatever the fuck he wants whenever he wants, and none of them would be able to scold or even speak out against him. That being said, he did seem to understand that in order for their class to not go any lower than they already are, he acted like an attentive student... somehow. Regardless, it was enough to calm his classmates' nerves and assure them that he knew how to hold himself back..

While the class was managing to prevent a further decrease in their points, they still had no idea how they could increase their points as a class. After Chabashira-sensei told them about the issue regarding the school and its class hierarchy and chewed them out for being failures, she went back to normal and acted as if nothing happened. Every time someone would ask her how they could increase their points, their teacher would only apologize and say that the answer can't be disclosed to students.

Regardless, they were making good progress for a class that almost drowned in chaos a few days ago. That day, almost everyone got humbled by Chabashira-sensei and made them realize that this wasn't anything like your typical high school. It made them realize that their life here won't be one that's filled with luxury.

Despite their efforts in becoming a better class so far though, there is one remaining dilemma that they would still have to deal with when it arrives.

As lunch break began, Hirata quickly stood up and faced his classmates.

"Chabashira-sensei mentioned that the midterm exams are coming up soon. Remember that if you fail an exam, you'll be expelled. I don't want that scenario to come to fruition, so I think it would be a good idea to form study groups in order to prepare for it."

Everyone had their attention directed towards him as they listened to his plan of action.

"Neglecting your studies will get you a failing grade and be expelled. I'm sure none of you want that to happen, right? Furthermore, studying won't just prevent expulsion; I have a feeling that it may also help us earn points. If we receive high marks in our midterms, our class's assessment should also improve. I've asked some of the students who scored high on the test to help in tutoring those who need it. So, I would like the people who are experiencing difficulties in any of our subjects to approach me or any of the tutors. Everyone is welcome to, of course."

The blonde teen walked up to the blackboard and wrote the names of the tutors for everyone to see. Yukimura, Horikita, Wang, Kushida, and Hirata himself were the designated people who would be helping their classmates.

Hirata asked the other four earlier this morning if they would be willing to help out their classmates who are in need of guidance when it came to their different subjects. He was honestly surprised that Horikita actually accepted the task of being a tutor, because she blatantly refused to help out in the class discussion that happened a few days ago.

He wondered if something happened to her that caused her to change her stance about the class because according to her, helping out would have been 'a waste of time'.

Well, never mind. Hirata wasn't going to waste time thinking about it. He wouldn't complain about this turn of events either. After all, the more students who are willing to cooperate, the higher their chances of pulling this off without problems.

If only Koenji was the same...

"Starting today at five o'clock, myself and the other tutors will study for two hours a day either here, in the library, or whichever place your group decides. Those of you'd like to join us, please approach one of the tutors. Of course, if you need to leave in the middle of the session, you can. That's all I have to say."

Immediately after he'd finished speaking, several of the failing students got up and went to their preferred tutors. Ike and Yamauchi approached Kushida, no doubt taking the opportunity to be with the cutest girl in the class under the guise of studying. Time can only tell if they were going to take studying seriously. Onodera and Sudo went to Horikita together, most likely with the intention of studying together under the latter's guidance.

With that, the study groups began to form by themselves. Hirata was approached by many of the females, some of the males went to Yukimura, while there was a mix of boys and girls that went with Wang, who was doing her best to adapt to this new environment.

Kiyotaka quietly watched the whole event unfold from his seat. He was surprised that the class was already somehow organized despite the bomb that was dropped on them by Chabashira-sensei several days ago, or maybe he just underestimated Hirata's ability to unite the class? Either way, with him around, it would be easier to get everyone under control.

He also felt glad that he wouldn't have to tutor anyone. That would be tiring and would take an even bigger toll on him along with his eroge superpower. After he agreed to help Suzune with her goal of reaching Class A, he expected that she would want him to help out their classmates who are in need of special lessons. But when Yosuke talked to her earlier about being one of their class's tutors, she never mentioned him. It looks like she was keeping her word about him not needing to be in the limelight.

He could just join Suzune or Kikyo's study group and lend a hand to either of them instead. Of course, being a tutor would be tiring, but that didn't mean he couldn't help out here and there when someone is having trouble with their studies.

[A Special Event Has Been Triggered!]

"What the..." Kiyotaka's eyes widened slightly as he stared at the notification that just appeared, as a sense of fear started building up inside him.

...did he just jinx himself?

Well, of course he would. What better time for the system to screw him over, right? Just as he was thinking about how he could fulfill his end of the deal, his bullshit superpower comes in to ruin everything. Of course the system would do something like this. What better time to make his life harder, right?

"Ayanokouji-kun, may I have a word with you?"

The young man was quickly brought out of his thoughts when he saw Hirata standing in front of his desk, looking like he wanted to ask something.

"What is it?" he asked, still managing to sound perfectly calm even though he was already tempted to bang his head against the wall or his desk for being an idiot. He should have seen this coming but once again, he was caught off guard despite being more alert of the system for the past weeks.

"I'm sorry if I'm dropping this on you right now, but would it be fine with you if you become one of our class's tutors?" asked Yosuke.

Kiyotaka wasn't surprised. He just had to jinx himself, huh?

He was tempted to ask if there was a shortage of tutors in their class, but decided not to waste his breath in doing so. The most likely answer would be 'yes', simply because the system wanted it that way. It could even bring about something as drastic as being the tutor of all his heroines in this class if it wanted to.

At this point, being more alert and attentive won't even help him. The system can activate whenever it wanted to just to make his life more of a mess, even if he kept his 'heroines' happy.

Kiyotaka sighed. Obviously, there's no way he could get out of this one, lest he risk challenging the ability of an ability that had a mind of its own and could bend reality to its whim if it wanted to.

"Who exactly do I have to tutor?"

"Karuizawa-san and Sakura-san," Hirata revealed, which were two names that didn't surprise the 'Masterpiece' one bit. "Again, I apologize if this is sudden, but it's something that I have noticed for some time now. I simply haven't said a word about it because I knew it would bother you. If you don't want to help tutoring our classmates, then it's fine."

"What did you notice?" asked Kiyotaka, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"Karuizawa-san seems to trust you despite her claims about being unable to trust any of the boys. I don't think she has a problem with me either. I thought of helping her study by myself so that you wouldn't have to go through this, but I figured that she'd be fine with you instead. Of course, it would have been easier to let Horikita-san help her, but I don't think they'll get along well, and that would only lead to a bigger problem. Kushida-san was also a possible option, but I can tell that she already has her hands full, and the same goes for Wang-san.

"I see..." the young man muttered. Hirata's words made sense, even though there's no doubt that his eroge superpower is the one behind it all. Putting Karuizawa in the same group as Horikita would be another recipe for disaster. While she wasn't as cold as before, Karuizawa wasn't anything like Kushida (in terms of being a calm person), and he doubted that they would get along right away. If Kushida herself and Wang were already handling many of their classmates, then it's for the best not to make things harder by adding Karuizawa to either of their respective groups.

Hirata... wasn't even an option. The system is definitely pushing for him to be their tutor, nobody else.

"In Sakura-san's case, she is actually one of the seven people who failed the short test that Chabashira-sensei gave us last week. She is someone who is in desperate need of help when it comes to studies, but approaching her is a hard task because she is shy and seems to get nervous around other people. However, I believe I've seen you two speaking with each other several times, and Sakura-san doesn't seem to have a problem being around you. Out of everyone here, I believe you're the only one who can help her, Ayanokouji-kun."

"He must be talking about the fact that we greet each other in the morning when either one of us arrives at the classroom," he thought. Or at least, Kiyotaka hoped that Yosuke was talking about that. Surely he wasn't referring to the time when they spoke to each other at the boys' restroom after the 'incident'... right?

Anyways, Sakura was completely different from Karuizawa. She wouldn't even be able to attend a tutoring session because of her shyness. It'd be a waste of time to try and get her to join one of the assigned tutors and at the same time, if she's left to her own in studying, then there's a big chance of her failing and causing her to be expelled.

Kiyotaka doubted that she would actually be expelled. The system would most likely alter reality in order to save her from expulsion and in the process, make her fall for him even more. Even so, the young man would rather have that not happen, if only to prevent the system from driving him insane.

"What do you say, then? Is it okay for you to be their tutor? You won't have to teach anyone else if you wish, Ayanokouji-kun. The rest of us will be able to handle everyone else who wishes to exert their efforts in studying," asked Hirata.

"Leave it to me."

Hirata blinked a few times in surprise. Like with Horikita, a part of him had expected that Ayanokouji would decline the plea because it would be a hassle. From what he knew of his classmate thus far, Ayanokouji seemed like the type of person who would rather avoid doing work because it's a tiring task. Either way, he wasn't going to complain about this turn of events as well.

"Thank you for considering it, Ayanokouji-kun. I'm sure our efforts will be rewarded in the future. Now, I will inform Karuizawa-san about this. Maybe you can be the one to tell Sakura-san instead of me?"

Kiyotaka nodded. That seemed to be the best option they had of informing Airi. "Tell her we'll do it at the library. At least it'll be peaceful there," he told his classmate.

Yosuke nodded in return and smiled at him gratefully. "Once again, thank you, Ayanokouji-kun."

As his classmate walked away to tend to the girls who wished to have him as their tutor, Kiyotaka buried his head into his arms on the desk, hiding his face from everyone else. If he had to be honest, he was still contemplating the suicide route, but thought better of it. He had already come this far while living with an ability from a divine being, why not see where this will take him?

Still, for the 'Masterpiece' of the White Room who had accomplished many extraordinary and terrifying feats, Kiyotaka had no idea what to do in his current situation... for now, at least.