"Since everyone has nothing else to do right now, and you'll just be studying when you go home anyway, why don't we all head to the library instead?" Chika Fujiwara suddenly suggested. "Not only does it have a great atmosphere for studying, but we can also help each other out! If there's a tough question, we can discuss it together instead of banging our heads against it alone!"
Hearing this, Kanade Natsukawa glanced at Chika and began to analyze her true intentions. He wasn't naive—she had just proposed a "competition" moments ago, and now she was suggesting a group study session at the library. Clearly, she had something up her sleeve.
Knowing her tendencies, it was likely she planned to "help" Kaguya by disrupting his study time. After all, Chika had declared that if Kaguya won, it would count as her own victory too. With her history of bending the rules and her love of scheming, she wouldn't pass up the chance to cheat.
However, Chika had no control over how he spent his time at home, so she was likely plotting ways to waste his study time while still at school.
Yeah, that's probably her plan, Kanade thought with a nod. He felt he had a good grasp of Chika's thinking. But something puzzled him—if the goal was to disrupt him, why suggest the library? Wouldn't a family restaurant or some other casual setting be more effective? The library was a quiet space by nature, leaving little room for distractions. How could she possibly interfere with his studying there?
...
Kanade decided not to overthink it. There was no need to obsess over her motives—it would make him seem overly fixated on winning.
So, he nodded in agreement.
"I don't mind. I don't have any other plans anyway."
Whatever Chika had in mind, he would deal with it as it came. For all he knew, the tables might turn, and he'd end up disrupting her instead.
"Oh wow, President! So decisive!" Chika praised half-heartedly, then turned to Kaguya. "Kaguya-chan, you're fine with this too, right?"
"Yes, I don't have any extra classes today, so it's fine if I head home a little later." Kaguya smiled. This was all part of her plan, after all, and she couldn't afford to let anything slip. As for other matters… she would leave those for Ai Hayasaka to worry about.
With everyone agreeing, the group exchanged glances before turning to the two first-years, Ishigami and Iino.
Ishigami seemed to have regained some awareness and finally responded to their conversation. Chika eagerly stepped forward to ask his opinion.
"How about you, Ishigami? Want to join us at the library to study?"
"Study… together…?"
"That's right! So far, it's me, the President, and Kaguya-chan!" Chika nodded enthusiastically, clearly aiming to gather as many participants as possible.
"Study… with Kaguya-senpai…" Ishigami muttered, his face twitching. Then he suddenly shuddered, snapping out of his daze entirely.
He glanced up at Kaguya, who was smiling kindly at him.
"...Eek!" One look at her, and Ishigami froze like a deer in headlights. Memories of Kaguya's relentless "motivational" sessions over the past few days came flooding back to him. The intensity of her study enforcement felt like he had just crawled out of hell.
"Uh… um… I think I'll pass… I-I have something to do! Yeah, something important! I-I'll just head home!" Ishigami stammered as he jumped up, grabbed his bag, and bolted for the door.
Having just barely escaped hell, there was no way he was voluntarily returning for more!
"Oh no, he ran away…" Chika stared at his disappearing figure, puffing her cheeks in frustration. "What a useless underclassman!"
"Well, in that case…" Chika turned her attention to Miko Iino, who was diligently marking up her notes, completely absorbed in her study session.
Chika couldn't help but admire her focus. To stay so dedicated despite all the noise around her was quite impressive, even to someone like Chika.
She sat down beside Miko and waved her hand in front of her notes several times until she finally caught her attention.
"Did you need something, Fujiwara-senpai?" Miko asked, taking off her headphones and looking up.
"Well, Miko-chan…" Chika blinked, a little curious about what Miko had been listening to that kept her so absorbed. Maybe the volume was just too loud?
"The President, Kaguya-chan, and I are heading to the library for a group study session. Want to join us? You can get a sense of how upperclassmen study, and if you run into any tough problems, you can ask us directly. Doesn't that sound like a great opportunity?"
"..." Miko sat up straight, her gaze darting between Kanade and the others. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "I don't mind, but… won't I be getting in the way?"
Normally, it was rare for students from different grades to hang out together outside of specific contexts like club activities or paired projects. A mix of upperclassmen and one lone underclassman, as in this case, could easily invite rumors. People might start saying things like, "Wow, she's so full of herself, cozying up to the seniors like that. She must think she's better than us!"
Such rumors could lead to isolation, a common phenomenon in Japanese student social dynamics. Respecting seniors was fine, but spending too much time with them could send the wrong message. It might even imply disdain for one's peers.
Exile! Someone this arrogant has to go!
Miko wasn't entirely aware of this unspoken rule, but even if she had been, it wouldn't have bothered her much. She was already accustomed to being socially excluded due to her strict personality and role as the disciplinary committee member.
What truly concerned her was something else entirely.
This was her first time being invited to a study session. What if she didn't know how to behave? Should she bury herself in her studies the whole time, or should she actively engage and exchange ideas with the others? She had no experience with this sort of thing and was completely at a loss.
In the past, she wouldn't have cared about any of this. If invited, she would have followed her own study routine without much thought. But things were different now.
Although she didn't say it aloud, Miko had grown to enjoy her time in the student council. Everyone was so kind to her, even Kaguya-senpai, who surprisingly bore no grudge despite their previous conflicts.
As time passed, Miko Iino had grown to appreciate the importance of "friends." She began to cherish her bonds with the student council members and paid more attention to how she interacted with them. Occasionally, she worried if her bluntness or inexperience might upset someone.
This was a sign of her growth, and this study session presented an excellent opportunity to mature further. Although she was nervous, she wasn't about to let this chance slip by.
With newfound determination, Miko declared, "Um… this is actually my first time being invited to a study session. If I mess up or do something wrong, please… please go easy on me!"
Eek! She bit her tongue!
Embarrassed, Miko's face turned red, but the others didn't mock her. Instead, Chika Fujiwara looked like she was about to cry. She wrapped Miko in a sudden hug, patting her head comfortingly.
"Wahhh! Miko-chan… I promise… I promise I'll invite you to every study session from now on! I won't let you feel alone again…"
"..."
Though Chika's words were heartfelt, Kanade and Kaguya exchanged silent glances before averting their eyes.
Study seriously? Yeah, right. Kanade thought to himself. If you study more than twice a semester, I'll give up my student council president seat to you—once for midterms and once for finals. The rest of the time, you're practically allergic to books!
Kanade stifled his inner complaints, choosing not to ruin the moment. Miko looked genuinely moved, as if she had finally found a sense of belonging.
"Yes! Please keep inviting me. I'll be ready!" Miko nodded firmly, blissfully unaware that the next invitation might not come until finals.
With everyone on board, the group quickly packed their bags and headed to the library.
Shuchiin Academy's library was spacious and grand, boasting an impressive collection of books. To accommodate students' needs, the library was divided into two levels: the lower level served as a space for borrowing and reading, while the upper level was dedicated to quiet study areas with ample seating.
Upon reaching the second floor, the group chose a more secluded corner and settled in.
The library was mostly empty. Students, by nature, weren't exactly the most diligent group. Those serious enough to study and invite others to join were even rarer. The vast, quiet space amplified even the smallest sounds, such as the soft rustle of turning pages, making louder disruptions unthinkable.
Kanade relaxed completely. There was no way Chika would have the audacity to disturb others in a place like this, no matter how shameless she could be.
The seating arrangement worked in his favor too: Kaguya sat beside him on the innermost side of the table, Chika across from her, and Miko directly across from him. This meant Chika was seated at the farthest diagonal from him, making any attempts to interfere nearly impossible.
As for Kaguya, her loyalty to their "competition" ensured she wouldn't disrupt him either. After all, if she spent her time sabotaging him, who would focus on studying? Chika? The idea of her outperforming Kanade in any subject was laughable.
Confident in this setup, Kanade quickly slipped into his study zone.
The others followed suit. As top-tier students, both Kaguya and Miko had excellent study habits and were soon engrossed in their work. Only Chika stood out.
After pulling out a few practice workbooks, she barely managed a handful of questions before her mind started wandering. She began twirling her pen absentmindedly, occasionally staring off into space.
"..."
Chika's actions starkly contrasted with the others, making her presence feel awkward and out of place. Uncomfortable, she suddenly leaned forward and whispered, her voice just loud enough for the table to hear:
"Ugh, I can't take it anymore! Somebody say something!"
Her volume, though restrained, showed that she still had a modicum of respect for the library's quiet atmosphere.
Unfortunately for her, nobody responded. The rest of the group remained absorbed in their work.
Chika grew increasingly frustrated. Realizing her plan wasn't working, she sulked, dropping her head onto the table.
"This is so boring… Everyone's just studying. Nobody's even talking to me…" She pouted, turning her head sideways to stare at them.
Miko was the first to respond, likely because she had been contemplating something and was already half-distracted.
"Um… why aren't you studying, Fujiwara-senpai?" Miko asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Oh! Good question, Miko-chan!" Chika immediately perked up, hands on her hips and a smug expression on her face. "Because I don't like it!"
She puffed out her chest and declared, "If you don't like something, you shouldn't do it! That's what Kaguya-chan taught me!"
"Don't drag me into this," Kaguya interjected without even looking up, still focused on her notes.
Despite her intense concentration, she had been subtly observing the situation all along. Balancing her studies and paying attention to Chika's antics was a trivial feat for her.
"Eh? You don't remember?!" Chika gasped, looking genuinely hurt. "You said it yourself! If you don't like something, you shouldn't force yourself to do it!"
She propped her chin on the table, gazing at Kaguya with an exaggeratedly forlorn expression. "I've always thought Kaguya-chan was right, so I remembered it all this time!"
"..."
Kanade, who had been half-listening while studying, couldn't help but chime in with a sharp remark.
"Don't shift the blame onto others! Get back to studying already!"