The joint study group of Class B and Class D had been going on for several days, and the initial novelty had gradually settled down... or so it should have been. Instead of settling, the study group became increasingly restless.
At first, it was just a Class B student, while explaining a problem to someone from Class D, who asked in confusion: "Huh? This type of question... our teacher said it wasn't within the scope of the exam, did she?"
A member of the same group was also very puzzled: "No way, I personally saw Teacher Chabashira say that the exam scope included this part, didn't she?"
This small disagreement was initially dismissed as Class D students having poor memory or misunderstanding, brushed off with a laugh. However, as communication deepened across different subjects and different groups, similar voices began to rise one after another.
"This part of Modern Society, Teacher Hoshinomiya clearly marked it."
"Impossible! Our Class teacher didn't include this part in the exam scope."
"The English grammar scope doesn't seem to match either..."
If only one person reported it, it might be a memory error, but if everyone in Class D reported it, there could only be two possibilities. After receiving feedback from several groups in a row, Hirata Yosuke's handsome face, which always carried a gentle smile, became extremely solemn. He repeatedly checked the exam scope circled in his notes, as explained by Teacher Chabashira, against the syllabus shared by Class B students. The glaring discrepancy sent shivers down his spine.
If... if Class B's syllabus was correct, what would that mean? It would mean that the vast majority of Class D students were desperately working in a completely wrong direction! It would mean they might face a large number of unreviewed questions on the exam! It would mean... the risk of expulsion had not only not decreased but had been infinitely magnified unknowingly!
The news quickly reached Ichinose. Her brow, too, was slightly furrowed as she led Class B students in their studies. She immediately realized the seriousness of the problem. Without any hesitation, she pulled out her personal terminal and found the number she had been frequently contacting recently.
"Natsukawa-kun! Emergency! Our two class study groups have found significant discrepancies in the announced exam scope for Class D compared to our Class B in many subjects! What's going on? Did Teacher Chabashira give the wrong scope? Or..." followed by a worried emoji.
After sending the message, Ichinose felt a bit uneasy inside. Her fingers unconsciously twirled her hair, and a hint of confusion was hidden in her blue eyes. She believed Natsukawa must know something.
Soon, Natsukawa's reply came, concise and to the point:
"Your class's scope is correct. If you want to know the specifics, come to the Library and I'll explain in detail."
Seeing this reply, Ichinose's heart settled a bit—at least, Natsukawa knew the inside story. She immediately got up, quickly gave a few instructions to the classmates beside her, confirmed the correctness of Class B's exam scope, and then hurried towards the west side of the Library.
By the window in the Library, Natsukawa was leisurely flipping through a book, now treating his textbooks like storybooks, while Sakura Airi quietly did her exercises beside him. Seeing Ichinose rush over, her cheeks flushed with a healthy blush from walking quickly, Natsukawa put down his book.
"Natsukawa-kun, what exactly..." Ichinose sat opposite him, impatiently asking in a hushed voice.
Natsukawa made a "calm down" gesture, looking at her calmly: "It's simple, Teacher Chabashira did it on purpose. She gave an incorrect, or at least severely off-target, exam scope."
"Why?!" Ichinose's eyes widened in disbelief. For her, who always acted according to the principle of "goodwill," this was almost incomprehensible.
"To force the students in our class to find the 'exam questions' themselves," Natsukawa explained. "In this school, the midterm exam questions for the first semester in previous years don't change, and previous test papers, the so-called 'archived questions,' can be bought from upperclassmen. Chabashira's goal is to casually announce the change in exam scope just a few days before the exam, or even later, or simply wait for students to discover it themselves. She's using this method to filter out students who possess information gathering skills, initiative, and adaptability. As for those who can't find out, or don't have the money to buy them..." He paused, not saying more, but the meaning was self-evident.
Ichinose gasped, her face full of shock: "It's... it's like this... What exactly does Teacher Chabashira want?" she murmured, then as if she had thought of something, her gaze towards Natsukawa became filled with inquiry and curiosity, "But, Natsukawa-kun, how do you know all this so clearly? Even Teacher Chabashira's intentions..."
Natsukawa looked at her blue eyes full of curiosity, then suddenly gave a mischievous smile. He leaned forward from his chair, crossing the midline of the table, his eyes directly meeting Ichinose's. His finger brushed her cheek, with a hint of seductive ambiguity: "Well... that's my secret. Only someone who truly accompanies me for life is qualified to know. Does Ichinose really want to know?"
"Ugh..." Ichinose was completely unprepared for his action. Her cheeks instantly flushed, like a ripe apple. She instinctively lowered her head, her fingers nervously fiddling with the hem of her skirt, her heart inexplicably skipping a beat... Such words... were too unfair!
To hide her embarrassment and to change the subject, she glanced at Sakura Airi, who had been trying to minimize her presence and pretend to be part of the background since Ichinose arrived, but whose eyes were secretly peeking over. With a hint of teasing and an almost imperceptible probing tone, she asked: "Um... Sakura-san, I heard classmates say they often see you and Natsukawa-kun studying here recently? Could it be... are you two dating?"
"Eh?! N-no! Absolutely not!" Sakura jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, shaking her hands frantically in front of her chest. Behind her thick glasses, her entire face, including her neck, turned crimson, and her voice was flustered, "I-I'm just... receiving Natsukawa-kun's... study guidance... that's all!"
Seeing Sakura's cute, flustered denial, Ichinose couldn't help but let out a giggle, and much of her earlier shyness and tension dissipated. At the same time, deep within her, in a place she herself hadn't clearly perceived, she seemed to quietly breathe a sigh of relief.
"So that's how it is~" Ichinose's smile returned to its usual cheerful self. She said kindly to Sakura: "I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B. Nice to meet you, Sakura-san."
"H-hello... I'm Sakura Airi from Year D... N-nice to meet you..." Sakura responded softly, secretly glancing at Ichinose's warm smile, and her nervousness inexplicably eased a bit.
Natsukawa watched the interaction between the two girls, feeling the timing was just right. He spoke up: "Ichinose, actually, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Oh? Please tell me, Natsukawa-kun."
"I have some personal matters to attend to, and I also need to focus on reviewing so I don't accidentally fail." He pointed to the book on the table, his tone slightly self-deprecating, then looked at Sakura, "Sakura is still a bit weak in all subjects. Could I trouble you to occasionally help guide her? You're both girls, so communication might be easier."
He then looked at Ichinose, with a hint of teasing: "Besides, as the leader of Class B, caring for and helping students from a friendly class is also leading by example, isn't it? And thank you, Ichinose-san, for bringing the correct exam scope."
Ichinose paused, then a even brighter smile bloomed on her face. She nodded without hesitation: "Of course! I'd be happy to help Sakura-san!" She could feel that Natsukawa's action wasn't just for Sakura-san's grades, but also to help the introverted Sakura interact more with others. This thoughtfulness warmed her heart, and as for the last part of his sentence, she pretended not to hear it.
"Sakura, what do you think?" Natsukawa looked at Sakura.
Sakura looked at Ichinose, who had a gentle smile, then at Natsukawa, and nodded softly, whispering: "Um... thank you, Ichinose-san... And, and thank you, Natsukawa-kun, for all your help... I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time..."
"It's nothing." Natsukawa smiled. "I'll go tell Horikita and the others next door; they're probably still studying and not checking their phones."
Afterward, Natsukawa left his seat and walked towards the other side of the Library.
Under the soft lights of the Library, three figures formed a subtle and harmonious picture. The intricate web of human relationships seemed to be quietly undergoing new changes. Ichinose looked at the shy but diligent Sakura beside her, then at the back of Natsukawa, who always seemed to have everything under control. A certain vague emotion in her heart, like a stone thrown into a lake, rippled outwards in gentle, continuous waves.