Chapter 8: The group of failures, attempt 2

The fragrance of the first tea of the season is now in the air. I hope all of you are doing well.

A month and a half since the start of school. I spent every day carefree.

"Excuse me, can you hear me? Is your head ok?"

She hit my forehead with her palm, and I rubbed it in pain.

"You don't have a fever, huh."

"I don't! I was just lost in thought."

I remembered how we reached this situation, and I involuntarily sighed. Maybe I shouldn't have agreed to cooperate with her.

Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.

At the time, I agreed to help to cheer her up, but thinking back on it, it's really not like me to accept.

"So, Mr. Strategist. What should I do?"

"Well… of course, we need to persuade Sudou-kun and the others to participate in the study group again. To do that, you'll have to grovel at your feet, begging them to join."

"Why do I have to do that… In the first place, you're the reason there was a fight."

"The true reason is that they didn't want to study. Don't mistake that."

This girl… Does she even want to help them?

"It's impossible to gather them again without Kushida's help. You know that too, right?"

"… I know. I guess we'll have to make some sacrifices."

Looks like she doesn't want to be involved with Kushida in any way possible. Even though she wasn't happy about it, she agreed since it was an emergency.

This is the best compromise possible for someone like Horikita who doesn't want her close.

"Alright, go and quickly get her to work with us."

"Me?"

"Of course. You formed a contract with me. Since you agreed to be my workhorse until we reach class A, you have to comply."

I don't remember making that kind of contract.

"Here, look at this written contract."

Wow. It had my name and even my seal.

"You'll be charged for document forgery, you know."

Giving up, I walked away from her. Horikita tidied up her desk and faced Kushida.

"Kushida-san. I want to talk to you. If possible, do you want to eat lunch together?"

"Lunch? It's strange to be invited by Horikita-san, but sure."

Even though I was nearby, Kushida didn't waver at all. She quickly agreed. Kushida then walked towards the school's most popular Cafe Pallet.

It's the place where Horikita got mad at us because we made up a lie and called her out.

Horikita paid for Kushida's drink. Of course, I paid for my own.

Taking the drink with a smile, Kushida sat down in a seat. We also sat down in front of her.

"Thanks. What did you have to talk about?"

"I'm making a study group to help Sudou-kun. Can you help us one more time?"

"Who are you doing this for? Is it for Sudou-kun's sake?"

Kushida also recognized that her request wasn't purely altruistic.

"No, this is for me."

"Is that so. Horikita-san, like usual, acts for yourself, huh."

"Will you not help people who don't act for their friends?"

"I think you're free to think however you want. However, I wanted make sure that you wouldn't lie, so I'm happy that you answered honestly. Ok, I'll help you out. After all, we're classmates, right? Ayanokouji-kun."

"Y-yea. Please help us."

"I want to ask you directly, though. It's not for your friends, not for the points, but rather, you want me to help so that we can reach class A, right?"

"Yes."

"That's, that's unbelievable… isn't it impossible? Oh, I'm not trying to call you stupid. But how should I say it… more than half the class has already given up, you know?"

"Is it because the difference between our class and class A is too big?"

"Yea… Honestly, I don't know if we can catch up. I don't even know if we can get any points next month. I feel disheartened."

Horikita hit the table with a clang.

"I'll absolutely do it."

"Ayanokouji-kun, are you also aiming for class A?"

"Yes. He is my assistant in reaching class A."

You made me an assistant without my consent…

"Hmm… ok. Let me help."

"Of course, that's why we're asking in the first place."

"Not that, I want to join you guys in aiming for class A. Not just the study group, but I want to help with everything else you'll be doing from now on."

"E-eh? But…"

"Then do you not want me to help?"

Kushida looked at Horikita with widened eyes.

"Fine. I'll formally ask for your help again if this study group goes well."

That was her reply. Even though Kushida probably had something in mind, Horikita decided to let it go for some reason and let her join.

After receiving an affirmative reply from the usually stubborn Horikita, Kushida jumped up in excitement.

"Really!? Yay!"

Looking truly happy, she cheered in delight. This appearance of hers is also cute.

"Best regards again, Horikita-san! Ayanokouji-kun!"

She extended her left and right arms towards the two of us.

Feeling a bit confused, both Horikita and I shook her hand.

"However, I don't know if Sudou-kun and his friends with agree to join again."

"Yea. In the current situation, it certainly looks difficult."

"Well then, can you leave it to me once again?" I can do at least this much after joining you guys. Ok?"

I felt overwhelmed at the pace Horikita and Kushida were moving at.

As if she was about to leap into action immediately, she took out her phone. Soon after, Ike and Yamauchi came over with ecstatic expressions. As soon as they saw me and Horikita, they looked at me as if they were saying, "You really told her about the chat!?". Well, it's convenient, so I'll just stay silent. Their feelings of guilt will probably be effective in getting them to agree.

"Sorry for calling you two out. I have, or rather, Horikita has something to ask of you two."

"W-w-what, what is it? What do you have to do with us?"

What an overreaction… They backed away in nervousness.

"Do you two have any plans to join Hirata-kun's study group?"

"Eh? S-study group? No, we didn't want to join because he's too popular… We're going to cram the day before the test. It's worked since middle school."

To Ike's words, Yamauchi nodded two, three times. They seem to have somehow managed by cramming last-minute for the past few years.

"That kind of thinking suits you two. However, the probability of getting kicked out of school is pretty high right now."

"You're the same as ever, whatever that means."

Sudou appeared while scowling at Horikita. Looks like Sudou was also caught in Kushida's trap.

"The one who should be the most worried is you, Sudou-kun. You look like you have absolutely no worries about dropping at of school."

"You already knew that. If you're not careful, I'll beat you up. I'm busy with basketball right now. It'll be good enough to study right before the test."

"C-calm down, Sudou."

Ike tried to calm down Sudou, as if he didn't know what he said in the chat.

"Hey, Sudou-kun. Won't you try studying one more time? You can probably barely pass the test by cramming. However, if it doesn't work, you won't be able to play basketball here anymore, you know?"

"That's… but I don't want to receive 'charity' from this girl. I haven't forgotten the words you threw at me the other day. If you're going to ask, apologize first. With sincerity."

Sudou declared that, showing hostility against Horikita. Personally, I think that even though he feels that it's dangerous to not study, he was more insulted by her words about basketball.

Of course, Horikita wouldn't apologize so easily. There's no one that would openly brag about having been wrong with their own mouth.

"I think you are wrong, Sudou-kun."

"What!?"

Instead of apologizing, she only added more fuel to the fire.

"However, our antipathy for each other is only trivial in this situation. I will teach you for my sake. You will study for your sake. Is that bad?"

"Do you really want to move up to class A? To go as far as to invite me."

"Yes. Otherwise, who would choose to be concerned with you?"

At Horikita's blunt words, Sudou got more mad.

"I'm busy with basketball. Even before a test, the others don't take a break in order to study. I can't afford to fall behind while I'm off studying."

Having predicted that Sudou would say such words, Horikita took out a piece of paper and showed it to him. It was a detailed schedule until the day of the test.

"At the last study session, I learned that regular method of studying didn't work for you. None of you understand the basics of the topics. It's like taking a frog and introducing it to the ocean. The frog doesn't know where to start. Also, I understand that taking time away from your hobbies adds to your stress. Therefore, I thought of a plan to address that problem."

"What kind of sorcery is this? If there is such a plan, tell me."

Both studying for tests and club activities can coexist. Believing that there was no way for that to be true, Sudou laughed with his nose.

"We have two weeks from now. You will start studying every day during class as if you'd die tomorrow."

At first, I didn't understand what she was saying. Everyone was confused.

"Usually, you three don't work seriously during class, right?"

"Don't decide that on your own."

Ike objected.

"Then, are you diligent during class?"

"… No, we aren't. I do nothing until class is over."

"Right? In other words, you spend six hours a day just idling. Even outside of the one, two hours available after school, there is a ton of precious time being wasted. We must take good advantage of this time."

"Certainly… in theory that would work, but… isn't that kind of absurd?"

Kushida's worries are spot on. It's because they can't study that all the time during class is wasted.

If they can't even stop themselves from talking during class, I don't think they'll be able to understand any of the problems by themselves.

"I can't keep up with the material covered during class."

"I already know that. So, we'll use all the free time we have and have a small study session."

Horikita then turned to the next page. It had a full description of what we would do.

In summary, it's like this. After first period, everyone will meet up and discuss what they didn't understand. In the ten minutes of break, Horikita will then teach what they didn't know.

And then the whole process would repeat for the next period. Of course it's not as simple as it sounds.

However, since they can't keep up with the lesson, it may be difficult for them to be able to understand in that short time.

"W-wait. I'm confused. Is this possible?"

Ike also recognized that this would be a hard task.

"Yea, isn't it unreasonable to think that you could teach us in just 10 minutes?"

"Don't worry. During class, I'll make sure to get all the answers to the every question. And then Ayanokouji-kun and Kushida-san will teach you guys one-on-one."

If it's like that, I guess there is a chance that everyone can understand in just 10 minutes.

"You two, if it's just explaining the answers, you can do it, right?"

"But… I still don't think it's possible in that amount of time. Studying is hard, so I don't know…"

"The content covered in a single period is surprisingly small. It's only 1 page of notes, or at most about 2. And the material concerning the test only takes up half the page. Anyway, if the time isn't enough, we can always use the lunch break. I'm not saying I want you to understand the material. I just want to make sure that it's in your head. The important thing is to make sure that you pay attention to the teacher's voice and the letters on the blackboard. Just forget about taking notes."

"Are you telling us not to take notes?"

"Trying to memorize the question and the answer is surprisingly difficult while taking notes."

Certainly, that might be true. By focusing on taking notes, valuable time is wasted.

At any rate, it looks like Horikita doesn't want to use any after school time.

"Just try it out. You can give it a run before you refuse."

"… I still don't want to do it. I want to spend my time differently than someone who studies 24/7. Also, I don't think I'll be able to study with an cheap trick like that."

Horikita thought of the plan while considering the three of them, but Sudou still did not agree.

"It looks like you're misunderstanding the fundamental concept here. Cheap tricks? There's no such thing. There's no way but to spend your time and study carefully. That's not only for studying, but also for everything else. Or are you saying that there are cheap tricks and shortcuts for basketball?"

"Of course there's no such thing. Only after you practice and practice do you get good."

Realizing what he said, Sudou inhaled sharply in surprise

"It's absolutely impossible for people who don't have the ability to focus. However, you would pour in all of your energy in order to get better at basketball. Even if it's only a fraction, use some of that energy for studying. In order to continue playing basketball at this school. So that you don't get kicked out."

It was a really small one, but Horikita unmistakably offered Sudou a small compromise. He hesitated.

However, his pride got in the way. No matter what, he would not agree.

"… I still won't participate. Thank you for being more civil, but I still can't agree."

Sudou tried to leave without ever having sat down, but Horikita stopped him.

If she let this chance go, there probably wouldn't be another opportunity to form a study group. Normally, I wouldn't have said anything, but I guess I have to pitch in and help here.

"Hey, Kushida. Do you already have a boyfriend?"

"Eh? Ehh? I don't have one, why are you asking me out of the blue?"

"Then, if I get 50 points on the next test, will you date me?"

I stuck out my hand.

"Ha? What are you saying, Ayanokouji!? Date me! I'll get 51 points!"

"No, no, me! Date me! I'll get 52 points!"

Ike quickly responded. And then Yamauchi. Kushida quickly recognized what I was trying to do.

"E-embarassing… I don't judge people by their test scores, you know?"

"But they want a reward for doing well. Look at their enthusiasm. If there's such a reward, they'll probably try even harder."

"W-well, how about this? I'll date the person who gets the highest test score… I like people who work hard to achieve something they might not even like."

"Woahhhhh! I'll do it! I'll do it!"

They were all breathing heavily in excitement. I called out to Sudou.

"Hey Sudou. Are you going to do it? This is your chance."

It's a bit different than saying "Do you want to date Kushida?"

I have a rough understanding of Sudou's character. In a situation like this, it's hard to get him to participate. So, I have to find a compromise in order to get him to join.

"… A date, huh. I guess it's not bad. Seriously, can't help it… I'll participate too."

Sudou turned and replied in a small voice. Kushida let out a sigh of relief.

"Keep in mind, boys are simpler creatures than you might think."

I welcomed Sudou to the group after saying so to Horikita.