-36- The most precarious?

As the first month of freshmen at Advanced Nurturing High School passed, the true nature of this school was revealed to everyone for the first time, and the atmosphere throughout the campus seemed to have changed accordingly.

The previously ubiquitous relaxed and cheerful atmosphere completely disappeared, replaced by a subtle sense of tension.

Even the bustling atmosphere at Keyaki Mall seemed to have decreased compared to last month.

Realizing that personal points are not something that can be obtained unconditionally, the freshmen finally began to restrain themselves, no longer daring to spend their personal points recklessly, right?

Coupled with the midterm exams approaching, once they fail, they will be expelled, so naturally, everyone dared not relax anymore and started to seize the time to study more.

As a result, Keyaki Mall naturally didn't seem as lively as before.

Of course, the changes in freshmen had no effect on sophomores and juniors.

So, although Keyaki Mall was not as lively as last month, it still had some foot traffic, and you could still see quite a few people.

But the sense of tension had already pervaded, which was beyond doubt.

If one couldn't even feel this tension, then they would truly be idiots, right?

Unfortunately, no matter where you go, there are always such idiots.

People like Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken, who were part of the combination that failed the last quiz, showed no sense of crisis at all when Class D started a study group for exams. They showed no intention of participating at all.

In response to this phenomenon, Horikita Suzune seemed to have Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who usually had contact with these three unpopular individuals, probe for information.

The result was that the three brought back the following responses:

"Don't worry, I often failed exams before, but I managed to get through it in the end. As long as I cram before the exam, there's no need to worry," said Ike Kanji.

"I've scored full marks on the TOEIC (the world's top professional English proficiency test) before, so I'm fine," said Yamauchi Haruki.

"I find schoolwork bothersome enough, and after school, I have club activities. How could I possibly focus on reading? And don't bother me," said Sudou Ken.

In short, these three people completely disregarded the outcome of the midterm exams and had no sense of crisis, hence their reactions.

This is not surprising.

In ordinary schools, there are also many students like Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken, who, even though they know failing exams would be bad, still cannot concentrate on studying and can only cram before the exams with a mentality of relying on luck, right?

Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken belong to this type of people.

No matter where you go, there are always people who simply cannot study.

For such people, our high-achieving student, Horikita Suzune, just coldly dropped a line.

"They're truly hopeless."

Although this evaluation is harsh, it cannot be said to be wrong.

It's just that if they continue like this, these three people will undoubtedly be expelled, right?

This certainly troubles Horikita Suzune a lot.

But it's none of Nanaya Hori's business.

Originally, Nanaya Hori wasn't very familiar with these three people, and even though he had interacted with Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki once, it was only that one time, and afterward, they were hostile to him because of Kushida Kikyou's relationship.

Now, since these three don't want to work for their own future, let them bear the consequences of their actions themselves.

Nanaya Hori didn't look down on these three people either.

Because...

"Those who are eliminated will not be remembered."

Like prey consumed by predators, only bones remain.

Like spent bullets, only shells are left.

Survival of the fittest, natural selection, this is a universal law wherever you go.

In order to gain the title of "Nanaya," how many people did not survive to the end in that clan?

Only Nanaya Hori survived until the end.

So, Nanaya Hori had long been accustomed to this kind of thing.

Given this, when Horikita Suzune was troubled by this, Nanaya Hori simply remained aloof.

"If the individual doesn't have self-awareness, then whatever others do is just meddling."

Anyway, now that the class points are all at 0, even if there's a risk of expulsion resulting in points deduction triggering the S system's rules, there's no way to deduct points from Class D anymore, right?

Considering this, perhaps even Horikita Suzune is thinking of just abandoning these three.

However, Nanaya Hori forgot one thing.

That is, to the people in Class D, he is actually no different from Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken.

No matter what, Nanaya Hori is a zero in all subjects, just like Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken. Since he didn't participate in the study group organized by Hirata Yousuke, in the eyes of the class, Nanaya Hori also belongs to the category of those who lack self-awareness, right?

Precisely because of this...

"Can I bother you for a moment?"

After nightfall, Nanaya Hori's room received such a guest.

Kushida Kikyou, holding textbooks, dressed casually, stood outside Nanaya Hori's room, wearing a lovely smile.

"Everyone is very worried about Nanaya's grades, so after discussing it, we decided to let me help Nanaya study."

The angel of Class D, at this time of night, visited the boy's room.

If Ike Kanji, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudou Ken knew about this, they would surely be jealous to the point of tears, right?

Nanaya Hori didn't expect such a thing to happen, looking somewhat dumbfounded at Kushida Kikyou standing awkwardly outside the door.

Finally, Nanaya Hori could only say this.

"Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudou should also need help with their studies, right?"

Meaning, why didn't she go to them, but instead came to him?

Even if it were those three, if Kushida Kikyou came to their room late at night to spend time alone with them and study together, they would definitely welcome it eagerly, even anticipating some sweet moments.

But Kushida Kikyou didn't look for them, she came to Nanaya Hori.

The reason was also quite sufficient.

"Because Nanaya's grades are the most precarious, aren't they?"

Kushida Kikyou said this as a matter of fact.

Nanaya Hori couldn't refute that either.

In fact, objectively speaking, Nanaya Hori's grades were indeed the worst.

If all subjects are scored zero, then anyone would consider Nanaya Hori the most precarious, right?

Helping the most precarious person first is what anyone would think of.

Kushida Kikyou's reason for coming here was indeed quite sufficient.

Nanaya Hori could only sigh and say this.

"In any case, since you're here, come in first." 

Even Nanaya Hori wouldn't directly drive away a visitor who came to call.