TL: Graze
ED: Graze and Catalystic
PR: Josh-kun and Catalystic
The provisional exam began despite the traces of the awkward, uneasy atmosphere that were still lingering within the cla.s.sroom.
It was a critical time for the end of the school year.
The content of this provisional exam was more challenging than that of any of the exams we had taken so far. It was really difficult.
However, the students who managed to get through the previous exams without any problems should probably be able to get through this one smoothly as well. On the other hand, the students who have been just barely sc.r.a.ping by from test to test would probably have to study intensely moving forward.
I had gotten an invitation to study together with everyone in the Ayanokōji Group, but I was already going to be meeting up with Kanzaki together with Horikita after school, so I got in touch with them and let them know to start without me. Kanzaki didn't appear to want to stand out very much, so he arranged for us to meet up at Keyaki Mall after the provisional exam was over.
After cla.s.s, I followed Horikita to the spot where Kanzaki was waiting. It was near the southern entrance to the mall.
It was the place on campus furthest away from the school, so students would only rarely be in the area.
I had no interest in the inter-cla.s.s struggles that were going on, but as a friend, I was still a little worried about Ichinose.
Getting more information couldn't have hurt as well.
Besides, Has.h.i.+moto had been continuously keeping an eye on me over the past couple of days.
If I was to get into contact with Cla.s.s B, the looming shadow of Cla.s.s A would continue to draw even closer.
And that was exactly the kind of development I was hoping for.
In fact, Has.h.i.+moto had tailed me from an appropriate distance all the way to the southern entrance of the mall.
"Two days off in a row. And you still haven't been able to get in contact with Ichinose-san yourself?"
"It's not that we can't get into contact with her, it's just that she's been slow to respond to us. The most I've gotten from her was a notification that she's been out sick with a cold."
Recently, Kanzaki has been in a constant state of stress, completely unable to relax. Ichinose has probably told him countless times to stop worrying about it by now, but it doesn't seem like it's that easy for him.
Her poor physical condition may be one of the reasons for why she's so reluctant to meet her cla.s.smates face to face, but at the same time, she really didn't want to have to talk about the rumors.
"What did your homeroom teacher say about it?"
"Nothing different from usual. Just that Ichinose is staying home again because she's caught a cold."
Their homeroom teacher should've been told the same thing as anyone else.
The reason why Kanzaki's expression was heavy was that he couldn't help but question the true reason behind Ichinose's absences. Recently, Ichinose has been at the center of a maelstrom of rumors. Kanzaki's uncertainty was entirely justified.
"How about going to visit her? Wouldn't it all become clear if you go and meet with her in person?"
"Some of the girls from my cla.s.s have tried to see her, but it doesn't seem like any of them have been able to get her to open her door."
Realizing that the situation wasn't very optimistic, Horikita carefully considered the options before speaking up.
"I guess if there's a bright side, it's that she's excellent with her academics. Even though she didn't take the provisional exam, I don't think she'll run into any problems."
Sick students who missed the exam like Ichinose still had options. They'd be able to take a make-up exam and reach out to other students to see what the exam was like.
"That's not what any of us are worried about. We're just concerned about her state of mind."
Horikita and Kanzaki.
Just as the two of them were beginning to come up with a plan, a group of people approached us.
It appears Has.h.i.+moto already gave her a report about our meeting…
"It seems that Ichinose-san is absent today as well. The end-of-year exams are going to begin at the end of next week. If her string of absences is to repeat itself until then… it may turn into quite the problem, don't you think?"
"…Sakayanagi."
Sakayanagi and her underlings approached Kanzaki, making it very clear who she had actually come to meet with. She was accompanied by Has.h.i.+moto, Kamuro, and one more student, a boy from Cla.s.s A named Kitō.
In other words, the main members of the Sakayanagi faction.
"Now what in the world could you be discussing with these Cla.s.s C students?"
"This has nothing to do with you."
"It seems like we're not welcome here."
"If you wanted to be 'welcome', then you should've stopped spreading strange rumors everywhere before things got out of hand."
Sakayanagi and her cla.s.smates looked at each other and couldn't hold back their laughter.
"Oh please. What are you talking about?"
"I hope you know that the unity of my cla.s.s won't falter just because of a couple of rumors."
"I do not know anything about what sort of situation Cla.s.s B is in, but I am looking forward to the future."
Sakayanagi may have only come by in order to see the results of her plans in person, but Kanzaki was making it perfectly clear to her just how effective her plans truly were.
"Don't let her get to you, Kanzaki-kun. This is all a part of Sakayanagi-san's strategy."
"I know."
Faced with a problem like this one, Kanzaki was suffering precisely because of his modesty and concern for those around him.
TL Notes:
Part 5 very soon. I won't even say anything else here. Expect it sometime tonight.
