4.1 Midterms(1)[Edited]

[A/N: I am now free to write, no more shall I copy from the LN! Yay! Also, in this chapter we find out what Horikita thinks of Heylel.]

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It had already been a week since everything had been revealed to the class and there had been changes in Heylel's classmates. Not that it mattered but a start was a start.

When everyone got up for lunch, Hirata spoke.

"Chiyabashira-sensei mentioned that the midterm is coming up soon. Remember that if you fail, you'll be expelled. Therefore, I think it would be a good idea to form a study group."

The hero of Class D had started another project.

"If you neglect your studies, you'll get a failing grade and be expelled on the spot. I want to avoid that. However, studying won't just prevent expulsion; it may also help earn points. If we receive high marks, our class's assessment should improve as a result. I asked some of the students who scored high on the test to help prepare a study plan. So, I would like people who are anxious to come join our group. Everyone is welcome, of course."

Hirata stared directly at Sudou while making his grand speech.

"Tch."

Sudou averted his gaze, crossed his arms, and closed his eyes. Ever since Sudou had stomped all over Hirata's introduction game, their relationship had been rocky.

"Starting today at five o'clock, we will plan to study in this classroom for two hours a day until the test. If you'd like to join us, please come whenever you like. Of course, I don't mind if you need to leave partway. That's all I have to say."

Immediately after he'd finished speaking, several of the failing students got up and went over. There were three people with failing grades who didn't though: Sudou, Ike, and Yamauchi.

Ike and Yamauchi were unsure of what to do for a moment, but in the end, they stayed in their seats. A mix of jealousy and fear of Sudou plus their bonds kept them in place.

Heylel for his part knocked on Kouenji's back, who gave him a smug look, with his legs still perched atop the desk. The knock carried a simple question, would he join or not? And the answer came, "What do you think?"

Heylel shrugged, "I will join them, I need help in Japanese and Social."

The blonde nodded, "Just do not forget to keep up with the exercise routine."

Giving him a slight nod, Heylel walked over to Yukimura's deck. The boy, lean and thin, was momentarily confused, "What?"

Heylel took the empty seat beside him, a girl's, not that he cared, "I need help with Japanese and Social."

"So? You are good at studies, go read," Yukimura rebuffed him, his arms folding as he did.

Not deterred, he pulled on his backup plan, turning his eyes to the girl who was standing two steps from them, Kushida, she quickly closed the distance, "What are you guys talking about?"

An unintentional smile spread on Yukimura's lips, "Oh, noth—"

"I asked him for help with two subjects," He said and she beamed after hearing him. "Oh!" She leaned down on Yukimura's deck, "That's awesome! So cool Yukimura!"

"Yea-yeah! Of course!" He stuttered out, turning to Heylel who had a mischievous glint in his eyes. He spoke, "Oh but he rejected—" Instantly Yukimura put him off, "NO! No! I will help! Of course, I will. I was just kidding!"

"Oh," Heylel's face turned to one of understanding, "Thank you, dude. I knew I could count on you. Say, how about at 5 in the school library?"

"Yes! Of course." He said, excitement morphing his lips to a bright smile.

Picking himself up from the chair, Heylel exchanged gazes with Kushida. He would be in the study group and so would Yukimura, that was the deal.

Walking away from the crime scene, he slid back into his seat and rolled out his lunch from his bag. As he opened the lid, a girl stood in front of his seat, her eyes boring down on him, Horikita, "Care to join us for lunch?"

"I do not," He said only to see Ayanokoji standing next to her—he had already been webbed by the black spider.

Horikita bent down and brought her face an inch from his, so much so that he could see her every feature in exquisite detail—her perfect skin, her glowing amber eyes, her soft lips. And then she whispered, "Do you want me to tell everyone you got every question for maths and science correct?"

His eyes blew and she smiled. "What?"

Ignoring his expression she pulled away, "You are coming, right?"

He heaved a sigh and stood up with this lunch box, "Lead the way."

And as they passed Kouenji, he seat shot Heylel a smile, "See? You have much to learn from me, Heylel boy. Like handling women."

Rolling his eyes at Kouenji, Heylel followed the girl into the cafeteria, where Ayanokoji bought the most expensive meal set on Horikita's dime and together they sat down on an empty seat...he was being bribed.

"So, what do you want?" Heylel asked her but she didn't say just yet, instead, she goated Ayanokoji on, "Now, now, let us have a bite first, shall we?" She opened her set and took a bite of the rice, leading by example as they say.

Following her, Ayanokoji took a bite and seeing so, she smiled with the devil's lips, "I know this is rather sudden but I want to talk to you about something."

"Knew it," He cursed and Heylel shot him a glare—yeah, Ike would see through this, so Heylel barked, "And what do you think was gonna happen?"

Still, just her eyes turned to Heylel and Ayanokoji saw his chance. He slightly shifted and was immediately grabbed by the hand. "Ugh!" He was trying to escape but she caught him.

"Ever since Chiyabashira-sensei's warning, fewer people have arrived late or talked in class. When I say we eliminated more than half of the reasons our class got into trouble, I'm not exaggerating." She began.

"Yeah, that's true. It wasn't a difficult issue to begin with, though." He said.

"The next step is to improve our chances of scoring well on the midterm. Hirata-kun started taking action toward that end earlier."

"The study groups, huh? Well, I suppose that a study group certainly could help. Only…"

"Only what? It sounds like you're implying something. What's the problem?"

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. I have to say, it's unusual to see you so worried for others."

"I can't truly imagine failing a test. However, some students in this world can indeed do just that."

"Sudou and the others, you mean? You're vicious as ever, I see."

"I'm just telling the truth."

Because students couldn't leave campus, contact anyone on the outside, or even attend cram schools, their only option was to help one another.

"I'm relieved that Hirata-kun set up a study group. However, Sudou-kun, Ike-kun, and Yamauchi-kun didn't join, did they? That worries me," Horikita said.

"Oh, those guys. I wouldn't say they're Hirata's enemies, but they aren't on good terms with him. They wouldn't join." Ayanokoji agreed.

"Yeah," Heylel said, "They are envious of him."

"Why?" Horikita asked, leaning on the table.

"Girls like him way more than anyone else in class," He clarified while taking a bite of his fried chicken.

"I see," She raised a brow, "Are two in the same boat?"

Heylel shrugged, "Other than the girls acting like attack dogs around him, I couldn't care less. I have seen enough seniors buzzing around Kouenji to know that 90% are shallower than a puddle."

Ayanokoji nodded, "While it would be nice to have a girl's attention, I don't think I want it from any who are around Hirata despite him having a girlfriend." Truth be told Ayanokoji didn't care, but showing that he had principles helps.

"He does?" Heylel was now interested and got a nod from the other person, "Kai Karuizawa. How did you not know that?"

Heylel tilted his head, "I don't communicate with that many people I will be honest with you."

"You seem to communicate well with Yukimura and Kishida just now," Horikita gave him an accusing look.

Heylel clicked his tongue, "Don't spy on people."

"Regardless," Horikita said, "Back to the idiot trio, there remains a high probability that they will fail. To reach Class A, we need to avoid demerits and build toward a positive evaluation, correct? I think it highly likely that good test scores will help with that."

"And?" Heylel spurred her on.

"I am getting to it…I want to hold a study group just for those three," She pulled out her phone and placed it on the table, it showed a snap of a neatly organised table with all the midterm topics on it.

Heylel took a sip of water, "And I suppose you want us to get them there."

"Yes, very perceptive."

"Then why drag me?" Heylel asked, and pointed to Ayanokoji, "He's friends with them."

She grinned at that, "I wasn't going to...then I saw you with Yukimura."

He slammed his head into the back of his hand, "I dug my own grave." Raising his head back up he looked at her, he didn't want to do it but he was going to get her to cough up a promise for this at least, not that he placed any value in them, "Well, you have cashed in your blackmail. If you try anything like this again. You will not receive any help."

She nodded, "Alright." But he could see it in her eyes, she would. Well, he would teach her to not fuck with him then.

With that, he closed the lid on his half-finished lunch and left them alone.

"He does not look happy about this," Ayanokoji said.

"You aren't?"

"I am dissatisfied," He placed his eyes on the retreating back of Heylel. Silent determination and anger were smouldering in his eyes. She couldn't see it but he could. "But he is pissed."

"He will come around to it. He could even be a valuable pawn." She assured him. He was clever, sure, but intelligent? If he was, he wouldn't be Kouenji's pet. Well, that would just make him a better pawn.

"'Pawn?' Huh." Ayanokoji wondered how it would turn out if knew the truth of anything. No, never mind for now, "Well, I understand that you want to move up to Class A. However…"