Time moved forward to February, shortly after the midterm exams.
The homeroom teacher immediately announced the schedule for the final exams and emphasized that a mock exam would be held in the middle of the month.
Since there was no mention of the dreaded pop quizzes, the atmosphere in the class relaxed somewhat, though the necessary vigilance remained intact.
Thanks to past experiences, most first-year students were well aware of the school's tactics.
This was the final semester—the end of the academic year—and they didn't believe the school would remain idle.
Thus, it was highly likely that a special exam awaited them.
Students with good connections in clubs had also gathered information from the upperclassmen.
Both second and third years were undergoing special exams, especially the third-year seniors, who not only had to deal with the current tests but also prepare for the graduation exams after the finals.
"Ahaha, looks like we'll have to hold another Study Group session. Exams really are the worst. High school life should be more relaxed, shouldn't it?"
The former Study Group members had gathered again in the school café.
Hasebe Haruka slumped listlessly over the table in a rather unrefined posture, her chest pressing against the edge as if trying to lift the round table in front of her.
"B-but we have to study. If we mess up the exams, someone might get expelled."
Miki Yamamura had already taken out her textbooks and notebooks.
"Mitoma-kun said both of you need extra tutoring."
Before Airi could speak, Haruka suddenly sat up straight and covered her ears.
"I don't wanna hear it, I don't wanna hear it! Tutoring can wait until the last week at least. Until then, we should enjoy the final semester!"
"But your humanities scores are too weak. Even Airi is doing slightly better than you. We can take it slow with the review."
After spending time together, Miki had gradually grown accustomed to Haruka and Airi's presence.
In the past, she would never have dared to speak so boldly to others.
"O-okay, fine!"
Haruka had no choice but to comply, though she couldn't help voicing her curiosity.
"Hey, Miki-chan, are your grades really good?"
"Not really. I just study hard." Miki replied softly.
In truth, her grades weren't bad—they were much better than Haruka's—but she lacked confidence, feeling she was nowhere near the likes of Sakayanagi and Kaoru.
"No wonder Miki is so nervous. You should relax once in a while."
Haruka nudged Airi beside her without much thought.
"Right, Airi?"
The sudden contact seemed to startle Airi, who flusteredly glanced around before realizing both girls were staring at her.
With a soft "Eep!", her face flushed bright red.
"Oh-ho? What were you thinking about just now, Airi?"
Haruka's eyes gleamed with mischief. "You've been spacing out ever since we sat down. Thinking about someone special?"
"N-no! I wasn't thinking about anyone..."
Airi stammered, "I-I-I... was just wondering when he'd come over... N-not that I—ah, um—"
She had tangled herself up in her own words, nearly biting her tongue in the process.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
"'He'? You mean Mitoma-kun?"
Miki tilted her head. "He's been busy with student council work lately. He said he'd come find us when he's free."
In truth, they all knew Kaoru's schedule was packed—either running around for the student council, spending time with upperclassmen, or going on dates with his girlfriends.
"I... I see..." Airi's disappointment was palpable.
Ever since the semester began, she'd been in a constant daze.
"So Airi's been hung up on Kaoru, huh? No wonder you've been zoning out." Haruka chuckled. "Want to invite him out this weekend?"
Airi's face instantly burned crimson as she frantically waved her hands. "N-no! I can't do that! He has a girlfriend!"
The moment the words left her mouth, she froze—realizing she'd slipped up.
Eep!
Sure enough, Haruka gave her a knowing look, nodding as if in approval.
"Good thinking, Airi. The girlfriend hurdle is a tough one. One wrong move, and it could turn into a bloody battlefield."
Thud!
Airi slammed her forehead onto the table, utterly mortified. She'd completely exposed her feelings, and Haruka's sharp gaze had sliced through her mask like a knife.
"So when did you start liking him?"
"P-please stop, waaah!"
"Come on, this is a rare, serious love talk!"
"Guh... Just kill me..."
"Wait, don't die, Airi! Get up already!"
Haruka tried pulling Airi upright, but the latter refused, convinced she'd rather perish than face the humiliation.
"Uh... What are you two talking about?"
Miki, slow to catch on, asked timidly. "Love talk...? You mean Mitoma-kun and Ichinose-san?"
Haruka blinked, studying the quiet girl before her.
With her cool, reserved demeanor, it was hard to imagine Miki had much experience in this area.
She'd always struggled with social interactions, often lagging behind others when it came to navigating relationships.
"Miki, do you know something?"
"Huh? Should I know something?"
"Isn't he super popular lately? Rumor has it he has at least four girlfriends and brings different girls back to his room every night for wild parties."
"W-wild parties every night is way too much!"
As she spoke, Miki's cheeks and neck flushed slightly. "He's definitely not that kind of person. Don't listen to their nonsense."
The way this girl defended him piqued Haruka's curiosity, so she asked, "Aren't Kamuro-san and Sakayanagi-san from your class quite close to him? I heard the ring on Sakayanagi-san's finger was a gift from him."
"I... I don't know, but it can't be as bad as they say. I believe in Mitoma-kun."
Miki was convinced that Kaoru wasn't a bad person.
Even if he were, he must have had his reasons—someone who could be redeemed at any moment.
So how could Kaoru possibly play with girls' feelings?
Haruka's expression turned odd.
It seemed this guy still had that same ability to bewitch people, just like back then.
After all, some idols had joined the agency purely because of him.
"I believe in him too," Airi murmured softly. "Even if he really... really did play with girls' feelings, he's not a bad person."
Haruka slapped her forehead.
Great.
She had known this Study Group might end up as his harem—after all, he had a habit of grazing near his own nest—but was this really going to be a full-on surrender?
She had been planning to make a stealthy advance herself, keeping things ambiguous while stringing him along.
Yet here were her two teammates, surrendering faster than she could.
"Fine. Since you both believe in him, I'll believe in him too—just in his lecherousness."
With that, Haruka bit down on her coffee straw.
She didnt want to resort to seducing Kaoru, but now it seemed like her only play.
The other option, of course, was to take it slow.
She didn't mind the idea of his harem.
Before this, she hadn't even had a chance to get close to him—only seeing his face in her dreams, always out of reach.
If she couldn't be his idol, couldn't she at least be his friend this time?
Or maybe... something more.
Haruka suddenly chuckled, realizing how obsessive she sounded.
Maybe this was just the recklessness of youth.
"Ahem, should we keep talking about romance?"
Miki and Airi exchanged a glance before answering in unison:
"No!"