End of First Mid-Terms

Time passed normally. (Things went more or less the same way as they did in cannon.)

The midterm exams have been dealt with, the next major incident for the Class D occurs soon enough.

And in this incident, once again, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji has to involve himself.

(Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's POV)

The first day of the month always brought a buzz of excitement to Class D. This time, however, the energy crackled with something a little more electric.

It had been a week since the midterms, and whispers about the promised points for passing swirled throughout the room.

The door slid open, and Chabashira sauntered in, her usual air of nonchalance masking what might have been a hint of… amusement?

 Nah, couldn't be. Still, the students erupted in a flurry of questions.

"Chabashira-sensei! When are we getting the points for the midterms?" Ike practically yelled, his voice brimming with impatience.

"Yeah, come on, sensei! We passed, didn't we?" Yamauchi chimed in, his eyes gleaming with the promise of private points.

Chabashira allowed a small, predatory smile to play on her lips. She savored the anticipation for a moment before raising a hand to silence the room.

"Patience, Class D," she drawled, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Now, onto the matter of class points."

With a flourish, she projected the point totals onto the screen.

A collective gasp rippled through the class as the numbers for the other classes flashed by – all significantly higher than last month, some by nearly a hundred points. Impressive, I had to admit.

Then came Class D's score. A tense silence gripped the room as the number materialized on the screen. 87 points. Not bad, considering our usual abysmal performance. Hirata let out a relieved sigh, and even Horikita seemed to relax a fraction.

"See, not so bad, right?" Yamaguchi whispered to Ike, who was staring at the screen with a furrowed brow.

"Yeah, but… where are our individual points?" he grumbled. "The whole reason we studied for those stupid midterms was the promise of points, remember?"

A flicker of a smile played on Chabashira's lips. "Ah, about that, Class D," she began, her voice adopting an ominous tone, "there seems to be a slight… delay with the first-year points this month. The school is currently… deliberating. You'll just have to wait until a decision is made."

Deliberating? What the heck did that even mean? A frown creased my forehead. This wasn't part of the plan. Passing the midterms was supposed to be a guaranteed point boost. This unexpected development sent a wave of unease through the classroom.

Horikita was the first to voice the collective concern. "And how long will we have to wait, Chabashira-sensei?"

Chabashira shrugged, feigning helplessness. "Who knows? But rest assured, the school has your best interests at heart. Now, enough with these trivial matters. Class is in session."

With that, she launched into the day's lesson, her dismissal of our concerns hanging heavy in the air. The news had cast a shadow over the earlier excitement.

Earning 87 points was a feat for Class D, a testament to our collective effort. But without the individual rewards, the victory felt hollow.

~~

The lunch bell clanged, a welcome sound after a particularly dry morning lecture. The classroom erupted in a cacophony of chatter and shuffling as everyone bolted for the cafeteria. I, however, remained glued to my seat, the silence around me as deafening as the noise outside.

"Another solo lunch, Ayanokouji-kun?" Horikita's voice cut through the quiet, laced with a hint of amusement, or maybe it was pity. Hard to tell with her.

I shrugged, not bothering to meet her gaze. "It wouldn't be the first, would it?"

Truth be told, the lack of a regular lunch companion was starting to grate on me. Sure, I enjoyed my solitude, but there was a certain… efficiency to be gained from casual lunchtime conversations. Information gleaned, strategies discussed, alliances formed – all over a plate of mystery meat and lukewarm rice.

Horikita scoffed. "Well, don't blame anyone but yourself. Frankly, your social skills are about as appealing as week-old cafeteria food."

Ouch. Harsh, but probably true. I wasn't exactly known for my charm offensive. Then again, neither was Horikita, yet here she was, criticizing me while also being in the same boat – friendless.

As I was contemplating the irony of the situation, a splash of pink and sunshine materialized in the doorway.

"Hey there, Ayanokouji-kun!" chirped Kushida, her smile as bright as ever. "All alone again? Mind if I join you?"

My head snapped up, surprise warring with a flicker of… curiosity? Kushida wanting to have lunch with me? Interesting.

Even though Kushida is my tool, this felt unexpected to me. It made me wonder what she was planning.

My surprise must have shown on my face because she tilted her head in mock confusion. "Is that a no? Come on, don't be a stranger!"

Before I could formulate a response, a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. "Unless, of course, you have a secret lunch date already?" She batted her eyelashes playfully.

Internally, I rolled my eyes. Kushida's theatrics were sometimes a bit much, but her offer was a welcome distraction from my current predicament. Besides, who knew what kind of interesting intel I might glean from a casual lunch with the popular Kushida.

"No secret dates, Kushida-san," I replied with a neutral tone. "Please, join me."

Kushida beamed, her smile radiating pure, unadulterated… something. Maybe genuine friendliness, maybe something more calculated. It was hard to say with her. But one thing was certain – lunch just got a whole lot more interesting.

And just like that, my solitary lunch plans were thwarted in the best possible way. As I gathered my things, I couldn't help but notice Horikita's piercing gaze following us. She didn't say anything, but a flicker of something… curiosity? annoyance? … crossed her face before she turned and walked away.

~~

The final school bell blared, signaling the end of another day in this chaotic classroom. As students surged towards the exits, a dark cloud seemed to settle over Sudou. Chabashira, her usual smirk etched on her face, stood by the door, her gaze fixed on him.

"Sudou-kun," she drawled, her voice dripping with a false sweetness, "a word please. In the staff room."

Sudou groaned, his face contorting in annoyance. "Ugh, not now, Chabashira-sensei! I gotta get to basketball practice!"

Chabashira's smile faltered for a brief moment, then reappeared, sharper this time. "Practice can wait, Sudou-kun. This matter is far more important. Disobey, and you'll face consequences you won't like."

The threat hung heavy in the air. Sudou, his bravado momentarily deflated, slumped his shoulders in defeat. "Fine," he mumbled, following Chabashira out of the classroom like a condemned man.

"Well, that doesn't bode well," I muttered to Horikita, who was gathering her things beside me.

"Indeed," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. "Though knowing Sudou, he probably got himself into some kind of trouble again."

"Perhaps," I said, a thoughtful frown creasing my forehead. "But Chabashira's timing is interesting. Right after the announcement of the delayed points…"

Horikita's eyes narrowed. "You think they're connected?"

I shrugged. "It's a possibility."

Horikita snorted. "That wouldn't surprise me."

We fell into a comfortable silence as we exited the school building. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, and the air thrummed with the usual post-school bustle.

"By the way," I said casually, "you should check the class group chat sometime."

Horikita shot me a withering look. "And why would I do that? It's a cesspool of irrelevant chatter."

"Perhaps," I conceded, "but there might be some… useful information buried amongst the noise."

She scoffed. "Like what? Kushida's latest fashion tips?"

I rolled my eyes at that. "Maybe. Maybe not. The point is, staying informed can be advantageous."

Horikita remained unconvinced.

As we neared the dorms, I cast a final glance back at the school building. The sun was setting, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.