The moment Yukio showed up with his classmates in tow, everyone in Class D wavered—what on earth was he here for?
Students from Yukio's own class were just as puzzled: why was their boss poking his nose into this mess? Still, if he moved, they moved.
While the other classes were still quarreling, Yukio's class had calmed down fastest—one sentence from Yukio about "hidden layers to the exam" and they'd clamped their mouths shut. Now they tagged along, knowing he must have a plan; following him never cost them.
Because Matsushita and her friends stood closest to Yukio's group, she was first to ask his intent. "Yukio‑kun, what are you trying to do this time?"
However divided her class was, she didn't want him seeing it. Class D's business should stay inside Class D; besides, she suspected he was up to some fresh scheme and refused to let him act unchecked.
Yukio answered as though he'd come solely for her sake. "I'm not trying anything. I just saw you were in a tight spot and thought I'd see if I could help."
As he spoke he shot a sly glance at Karuizawa beside her; Karuizawa's heart gave a happy little leap. He's covering for me, right? Helping Matsushita is just an excuse—he saw me shouting and came to bail me out. A man like that… swoon.
Yet in the next second she lowered her arms and ducked her head. Oh no, he saw me acting so unladylike. Does he think I'm a crude girl?
Matsushita had no idea her best friend was day‑dreaming. She mustered every inch of etiquette she'd learned to keep from rolling her eyes. My "tight spot" is entirely thanks to you, Yukio‑kun! Coming now to "help" just pushes me deeper into the flames. With Chabashira‑sensei backing me I could still clear things up—this only makes it harder.
Sure enough, Onodera's eyes lit up exactly as Matsushita feared. Yukio had come to defend her—proof she was in the wrong!
"Matsushita, and you said you had nothing to do with Yukio? Look—he's here to save you!"
That reignited the classmates who'd quieted after Chabashira spoke.
"No way—does Matsushita really have ties with Yukio? Is she planning to sell us out?"
"Why else would he stroll over? Something's fishy!"
"Tsk, tsk. I told you their relationship isn't normal—I even saw Yukio carry her on his back all the way from the woods to camp. How close do you have to be for that?"
"Enough!"
Horikita, who had been holding back, stepped forward to confront Yukio. "Stop stirring things up. The special exam is over; everything's settled. What can you gain by provoking us now?"
Oh? He'd been seen through—Horikita still had a brain, after all. From a profit standpoint, the three group tasks were done. The individual test was beyond their reach. There seemed no advantage in sowing chaos—except stopping Matsushita from unifying Class D.
But Yukio felt the cohesion task was fishy; he wanted Class D to keep bickering. Matsushita probably sensed that too, but she wasn't calm enough. Horikita could stay cool only because the matter barely concerned her.
"Horikita, that's harsh." Yukio acted as if he heard nothing. "I'm simply helping Matsushita. How does that equal provoking discord? Is pure classmates' goodwill that filthy in your eyes? Or is it that filthy hearts see filth everywhere?"
A vein bulged on Horikita's forehead like the kanji 井; her fist clenched—she dearly wanted to punch that smiling face. How can anyone be so shameless? Exposed, yet still laughing it off! And calling me filthy? No one in the whole school is filthier than you!
Matsushita, meanwhile, felt something odd.
Logically, Yukio was suspicious, surely plotting. Emotionally, she felt strangely warmed—as though this scoundrel truly cared. Absurd: he'd maneuvered her into this mess, yet showing up and saying he could help actually comforted her. Too weird.
Maybe he had a pang of conscience? Stir things up during the exam, then explain afterward so no one misunderstands me? …No, impossible, she crushed the thought.
Regaining a bit of composure, she faced Onodera first. "Onodera‑san, whatever happens, we shouldn't quarrel in front of another class, right?"
That stilled Onodera's tongue. Only then did she turn to Yukio. "You say you're here to help me, but as Horikita said, you must have another motive, don't you?"
"How could I?" Yukio kept playing dumb. "I have no ulterior motive—I'm really here to help you. I want nothing in return."
Her cheeks warmed. Liar! Back when you carried me you laid every scheme out openly. Now that there's a crowd, not one honest word. If only we were alone, he'd probably tell the truth…
Wait, wait—what am I thinking? She hugged herself, pinching her arm to stay clear‑headed. Alone with him? Get a grip! She was about to retort when—
All their phones rang at once.
For the first time Chabashira, who had watched in silence, looked at Yukio with a strained expression. "Just how much of this special exam… have you already seen through?"
Not only her face but even her voice brimmed with bewilderment.
...
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