6 Chapter 4.3: Means of Survival (3)

After school, I started to take action immediately. I spoke with Yukimura and then got in contact with Miyake. We all agreed to hold a study group. I had asked Hirata in advance and got prior consent from the two of them.

"What about Hasebe?"

As soon as class was over, Hasebe vanished from the classroom without anyone noticing.

"Did she run away?"

Yukimura muttered a bit angrily.

"Hasebe isn't that kind of girl, perhaps she left ahead of us?"

"Why would she leave first?"

"Eh, there could be a variety of reasons."

Miyake appeared to understand Hasebe well, so he wasn't particularly worried.

For the time being, we headed towards Pallet which was the planned meeting place for the study group.

Then, in the middle of the corridor along the way, we came across Hasebe.

"Why did you head out without us?"

As soon as Yukimura saw Hasebe, he asked her.

"Should I say that I don't want to attract attention? It's a little inconvenient for me to stay in class."

She answered him ambiguously. Yukimura seems to have taken it personally.

"Are you saying you would hate to be seen talking to us?"

"It's not like that. I just have a lot of difficulties with it."

"Don't worry, Yukimura. Hasebe is always like this."

"The seats will all be taken while we stand here and talk. So in the meantime, why don't we get going?"

I understand Yukimura's feelings and that he's getting irritated, but we should put that aside for the time being.

In fact, now that school has ended, students would start to gather at Pallet.

"That's right... It would be troublesome if all of the seats were taken. Let's go."

Yukimura quickly regained his composure and took the lead.

"You should pay a little bit more attention to what you say."

"Was what I was saying really so unpleasant? I'll reflect on this a little."

It seems that Hasebe wasn't intending to be rude.

We managed to secure four seats and reorganized the situation.

"Uh, well, in short, please advise me."

Yukimura sat next to me, with Hasebe across the table. Miyake sat next to Hasebe.

I don't know how this gathering managed to happen or how it turned out this way, but the group of 4 had managed to come together despite the atmosphere of discomfort.

"If you have any questions, I'll hear them out first."

After I said this, the only female in the group, Hasebe, rose her hand lightly and said:

"So Ayanokōji-kun can talk?"

"......Is that really the question you chose to ask?

Hasebe looks up at me as if intrigued. It's apparently incredible that I was talking and speaking to them.

"How do I put it... I didn't have any impression of you at all. Are you the type of student who isn't even noticed when you're absent?"

I haven't had many conversations with Hasebe. Even if I had made an impression, there was no way for her to know much. After hearing her comment, Miyake brings up the topic of the sports festival.

"But the way he ran as the anchor at the relay race was awesome. Because of that one event, Ayanokōji became the center of attention of the school."

"I wanted to see it. But I went to the restroom and missed Ayanokōji-kun's race. So for me, it feels a little strange. Didn't you race against the former student council president? It seemed to be a hot topic right after the sports festival ended."

"Were you in the track and field club back in middle school Ayanokōji? After watching the relay, a talent scout from the track and field club came."

"Ah, well, I received some solicitation, but I refused."

After all, that type of motivation to recruit was only temporary, and not something that would go on for long. The people in the track and field club shouldn't be thinking about me anymore. Even if someone is a good runner, if they don't want to take part in club activities, it's meaningless to keep on trying.

"To be honest, I haven't ever done any club activities, so I'm not aware of the situation."

"Ah really? What a shame."

As the conversation continued, Yukimura listened without inserting a single word. Hasebe changes the topic over to Miyake without worrying about the state of the situation.

"Miyatchi is in the archery club. Is it fun to shoot a bow every day?"

"I wouldn't do it every day if it wasn't fun. By the way, the bow doesn't get shot, the arrow does."

He's right.

"I'm not interested in club stuff, like... I'm good with spending my time doing the things I like."

The two of them are quite different than what I've experienced so far. They were much more talkative than I expected.

"Oh Miyatchi, is it alright for you to miss your club activities?"

"I took time off."

"How brief."

"I will put my time into whatever takes first priority. Archery club isn't very strict so there're no particular penalties."

"Will you all listen to me for a moment? I want to say something before we begin the study session."

Yukimura, who had been listening to the conversation quietly, calmly spoke up. The person his eyes focused in on was neither Hasebe nor Miyake, but me.

"No secrets like back at the sports festival, Ayanokōji"

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Studying. I've heard from Horikita that you're plenty capable at it."

"......That woman."

It seems Horikita has given unnecessary information to Yukimura that I was unaware of.

"I'm relatively good at memorizing things. I think I can score pretty well if I concentrate."

If I don't say at least this much, it will be difficult to gain Yukimura's trust.

"Are you the type who doesn't do things even though you have the capability to do them?"

"I can't compare to you, so don't expect too much of me. I'm not good at teaching."

"I understand. You should take this seriously so you can get even 1 more point. Since I will be teaching you, you will absolutely get a higher score than you did on the midterms."

Immediately after, Yukimura proceeded to ask the others:

"Did you bring your test papers from the first semester's final and the last midterm test as I instructed?"

"Well, yeah."

Hasebe spoke up, and Miyake nodded. They took the papers out of their bags and handed them to Yukimura.

I look at the papers from the side and confirm their contents. The conclusion that comes from there...

"Both of you are excellent at science, but your results in most of the humanities are devastating."

Their score in math was around 70 points, which was a relatively high score, but their scores in world history and language averaged around 40. It's clear that they would be worried if this was left as it is.

"I didn't think you two were on such good terms with each other, but I did know you both shared such a clear weakness."

"When I was studying in the library earlier, I was able to speak with Hasebe. That's the flow of things."

"Miyatchi and I are pretty independent types. I don't really wanna become involved with the class."

These two people held a sense of distance from the class and didn't belong to any specific group. Was this the reason for their lack of integration with the rest of the class?

"I feel the same in that sense. Even in this group we're in now, I feel very awkward."

"So why did you approve of making a group this time?"

"This isn't exactly a group, per say, it's more like a study club. If there are only a few people in it, it will be quiet. It doesn't bother me when I study by myself, so I'll have to think about finding a new method to study. I'm sorry, but it will take some time for me."

"Okay. I'll just wait and have a tea break, alright?"

Hasebe took out her cell phone immediately and began to relax. These days, it's easy to kill time as long as you have a cell phone. Should I also take out my phone? What should I do in this situation?

I suddenly felt a gaze, and inadvertently sent my own in that direction.

Several boy students were watching us while one of them spoke out to somewhere.

I could recognize the three students. All of them were from Class C. Though I could only remember the name of Ishizaki who stood in the center.

I hope I don't get caught up in trouble...

However, Ishizaki didn't come looking for trouble. Although they looked over to us from time to time, they still went to the front of the cake cabinet in Pallet positioned next to the cashier. There is a display of cakes that can be enjoyed with drinks or can be ordered to go. Strawberry Shortcakes and Mont Blanc seem to be the particularly popular options, but I was unaware of the details. The clerk judged that the group in front of him was customers, and appeared to have difficulties hearing the order from the students. The clerk showed no signs that he would be reaching out to the cake cabinet, and his expression gradually turned nervous and apologetic.

"You can't think of some way to do it!?"

Ishizaki had become impatient and cried out, and the noisy cafe became much quieter for a bit.

"Even if you insist... for a special order cake, it needs to be mentioned at least a week in advance. It would be very difficult to prepare something the same day."

After hearing this response from the clerk, Pallet became noisy once again as if nothing had ever happened.

"What was that about?"

As Hasebe twirled her pen between her fingers, she looked towards Ishizaki with a look of disgust.

"Come on. It doesn't involve us."

Yukimura didn't show any interest and was writing something based on the old midterm exams he was given. He was determining their specific weaknesses and planning out what exact measures to take moving forward.

"Cake..."

I wasn't interested in what happened with Ishizaki, but at the same time, it's my birthday tomorrow.

To be honest, I don't have any clear idea of how to spend a birthday like any normal person would. It only meant that I was one year older.

I didn't really know anything. I know that a birthday is a day when someone is celebrated by their family, their lover, and their friends. I just don't understand the emotions someone would feel at that time.

"What's up, Ayanokōji-kun?"

"It's nothing."

Tomorrow is the 20th of October.

There are many students, staff, teachers, and other people in this school.

Even if one or two people were to have the same birthday, it wouldn't be an uncommon thing.

The only difference between them and me is whether or not there would be anyone to celebrate it with.

I wonder if anyone will remember my birthday next year.