It was a weird feeling to join the celebration of a group you only had a tangential connection to. Even weirder when you were only friends with one person in that group.
I sat beside that one friend, well not really. I was on the floor and leaning against the bed frame and her legs were dangling off to my side as she sat on the bed.
"Cheers!" Ike shouted joyfully and toasted with a can of juice. I held my own underneath my palm as I played with it.
Everyone in the room was smiling, except the usual suspect. Well, Ayanokoji was not smiling but his case was understandable.
Not to Ike though, "What's with the long face, Ayanokouji? Sudou wasn't expelled. Everything's fine now, right?"
"I don't particularly mind that you're holding a celebration party, but why are you holding it in my room?"
"Mine's a mess. So are Sudou's and Yamauchi's. And we can't go to a girl's room, right? I mean, yeah, I would've loved going to Kushida-chan's room. But your spectacularly plain and empty room is the best option."
He sighed then Ayanokoji pointed at me, "Why not his?"
Ike scratched his head, "Actually we didn't even think of Heylel."
I put a heart on my hand and made a hurt expression, "Oof my heart!"
Yamauchi nodded, "Yeah why is he even here? He was not—"
Horikita was the one who cut in, "He made significant contributions to your study material and helped save this study group," She eyed me, "Among other things."
They eyed me, Kushida also turned to me, "Yes! Heylel was very important to our group."
"Ah! What are you guys even talking about? He is our friend! Of course, he should be here!" Sudou declared. The two idiots—no, Ike didn't even object, it was Yamaidiot who did, not reading the atmosphere at all.
"Then he should have at least brought something to celebrate," Yamadumbass continued.
I shrugged, "Sorry I was half asleep when Horikita called to come here."
"Oh, so that's who you were talking to?" Soudo asked her. She nodded, "I saw you were not here and realised we had not invited you."
"Guys, stop you are going to give me a big ego—"
Horikita smirked, "Yes, it might not end up fitting in this room."
I glared at her, "Shut it."
"Of course, the only thing the brute can do is tell women to shut it."
Did she just call me a muscle head, no, there are more allegations there, "What are you insinuating?"
"Nothing other than the obvious," She said before she went back into her book.
"Wow! I didn't know you two were friends!" Kushida joined in. She, as with the rest, was sitting on the floor.
I shrugged and then leaned back into the farm, drinking my can, "Really though, I don't think I saved the group."
Ayanokoji tilted his head, "I wonder about that."
That wasn't an affirmation or otherwise. He is good with his words. Now that I think about it, excellent even.
No, now was not the time to think of his speaking habits, "I stopped you from disbanding once, if you guys didn't figure it out yourself it would have happened again."
"I think so too," Kushida added, her finger on her chin. "If our group kept not trying it would not have worked out."
"Exactly," I confirmed her statement.
"I think everyone here deserves the credit," I eyed the idiots, "For studying so hard," then Horikita, "Teaching others," finally Kushida and Ayanokoji, "And Keeping the group together."
"Yeah!" Ike was dialled in.
Yama-something just blushed, "Yeah, I worked hard for this!" You should have used 'we' you idiot but, of course.
Then an arm came to rest on my shoulder, "Hey how about another basketball match?"
"If I am free, sure."
"You know where to find me!" He said and I nodded.
"I would like to establish something," Horikita once again closed her book and marked the page she was on, "I did it for my own sake. If someone had been expelled, Class D's evaluation would've worsened."
"Just say that you didn't want us to get expelled, even if it's a lie. We'd like you better."
"It'd be fine with me if you didn't."
What she is saying is true, but she doesn't need to tell anyone that.
Oh well, one step at a time.
"Well, I guess, but…you're a surprisingly good person, Horikita," replied Sudou then he turned to me, "I thought you were just Kouenji's pet but I was wrong."
"Fuck off," I said only to get hit in the side by Horikita's leg.
"Language," She scolded.
I glared at her, "Why did you hit me though."
"I have told you to not curse multiple times and since you don't listen…" She closed her book and threatened to smash it into my head.
I huffed, "Gorilla," and was stuck by the book for my sins.
—
[A/N: And so ends the first volume. Hope you enjoyed it. Think of this as an extra chapter.]