“I’m thinking of holding a class-wide study session a few times a week—what do you think?”

After returning to the classroom and confirming there was still time, Toudou Mizuki made the proposal to everyone.

He had already asked a few people in advance, and since the response had been positive, he decided to bring it up now.

“…Just to be clear, Toudou’s participating too, right?”

“Yeah, of course.”

As Mizuki nodded to Kurosaki Ren’s question, Aihara Yura immediately raised her hand.

“I-I’m in!”

“I’ll try to participate as much as I can too.”

Minaki Suzu followed after her.

That seemed to be the cue, as several others spoke up as well.

After smiling at each of them, Mizuki looked around the classroom once more.

“If you’re already holding individual study sessions or planning to have a private tutor at home, you don’t need to force yourself to join.”

“We’ll start tomorrow. We’ll be supporting it. Even if there’s something you don’t understand, we should be able to answer most questions.”

Houjou Noa added, as if to clarify.

Then she turned her gaze to Isshiki Shizuku.

“What will you do, Isshiki-san? I’d be glad if you could take on a supporting role as well.”

“Of course, I will participate. I can’t possibly refuse to support Mizuki-sama’s decision, who opens the doors to all and grants fair opportunities to everyone.”

Shizuku spoke with a radiant smile, yet she gave off a strange pressure.

“Ah, thank you. That really helps.”

“Certainly. If there is anything else troubling you, please feel free to ask.”

At that moment, Kaminari Nene hesitantly spoke up, her voice timid.

“Um… I might not be able to come very often because of volleyball selection practice…”

“Okay, I understand. Participation is optional, so you don’t need to worry about it.”

“…I’ll do my best at home, then.”

Nene’s shoulders drooped as she looked dejected.

That bothered Mizuki slightly, and he paused to think.

Apart from the class-wide study sessions, he thought it might be a good idea to organize small-group study sessions at night.

“……”

When he raised his head, he saw Shizuku smiling brightly, looking at him in high spirits.

Shizuku had already used her class selection rights and could no longer move to another class.

Her affection had been obvious ever since she transferred on the first day, and he had intended to find a proper opportunity for the two of them to get to know each other better. However, with the sports festival keeping him busy, their relationship had remained distant for quite some time.

“Isshiki-san, could I ask you for a little more help?”

“…Yes!”

Shizuku’s smile bloomed like a flower.

For a brief moment, his gaze was drawn to that smile.

“…Ah, sorry. I’ll tell you later.”

Deciding it would be better not to bring up the small-group study sessions here, he waved his hand and returned to his seat.

“Yes. I’ll be waiting anytime.”

Shizuku smiled shyly, clearly happy from the bottom of her heart, and waved back.

◇◆◇

“There’s a loophole in the end-of-semester trade system.”

Lunch break.

The moment he stepped into Houjou Noa’s dorm room, she declared it outright.

“You mean Pairing, right?”

He asked as Noa led him inside.

The topic itself was something he had already anticipated.

“That’s right. If you form a Pairing, you can ignore most of the rules.”

Noa’s room was more modest than he had expected.

Despite her family being one of the Eighteen Founding Houses, the room was furnished quite ordinarily.

Prompted by her, Mizuki sat down on the bed.

“But I get the feeling it’s better not to do that too often.”

“I see. Let’s hear your reasoning first.”

As she said that, Noa leaned in from the side, clinging to his shoulder affectionately.

While organizing the thoughts he had been mulling over alone in the hallway, Mizuki spoke.

“If I form a Pairing, that person is protected, but all it really does is shift the trade onto someone else, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“If it shifts onto someone else who would’ve been safe, and they end up being traded out of the class, I think that’ll just lead to more bad blood later on.”

Noa clung close to him, smiling brightly.

“I completely agree. Yes, this doesn’t solve the problem at its root.”

And then, Noa brought up another concern.

“This is just speculation, but…I don’t think this trade system was the real plan.”

“The real plan?”

“I suspect there was another proposal that was meant to be the main one. But perhaps there were issues with the budget or schedule, so they rushed this trade system into place instead—that’s how I see it.”

“And why do you think that?”

“Because it doesn’t address the problem at its core. Only five people are granted trade rights. The vast majority of class selection rights remain useless. In other words, it’s nothing more than a pressure release.”

“Yeah, I thought the same.”

“That means there’s a strong possibility that a much larger system reform is planned. Which is why there’s no need to form a Pairing just to work around with this trade system.”

At that, Noa looked up at Mizuki, as if gauging his reaction.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to voice his thoughts honestly.

“Actually, I don’t think there’s much to worry about with the trade system to begin with.”

Noa, who had been clinging close to him, pulled her face back in surprise.

“It’s already been over a month since enrollment, and I feel like the higher-ranking classes have all gotten along pretty well by now. It’s hard to imagine someone deliberately transferring down to a lower-ranking class, you know.”

“……”

Male students are assigned to classes primarily based on their social scores.

The higher-ranking classes were supposed to be filled with boys who were personable and highly sociable.

The only one he knew from Class C, Shirakawa Kento, did have some emotional issues, but he was tall, handsome, and considerate. He seemed exactly like the kind of guy who would be popular with girls.

“Isshiki-san transferred in because we talked briefly before enrollment. It was really just a coincidence.”

“……”

“And Noa transferring in was because, after looking at my past records, you felt we were similar, right?”

“……”

“And sure, it might’ve caused a stir at first when Noa brought a bunch of friends with her, but I don’t think anyone’s going to transfer into Class K at this point.”

“……”

By then, Noa buried her face against his stomach and wrapped her arms tightly around him.

“So instead of worrying about the trade system, I was thinking it might be better for us to focus on the study sessions together. What do you think?”

“…I agree. Your way of thinking, prioritizing class points, is the right one.”

“Honestly, rather than worrying about people coming in, at this rate there will probably be people leaving the class by our second year. We need to do our best so no one loses motivation.”

“……I’m here. No matter how many leave, it won’t be a problem.”

“Yeah. Thanks.”

When he ran his fingers through her hair, Noa rubbed her head against him happily.

She was just like a cat.

“By the way, what were you planning to ask Isshiki-san to do?”

“Nene-chan doesn’t seem able to participate, so I was thinking of holding a small-group study session.”

“……You could just tell me. I’ll do anything you ask.”

“Yeah, but I wanted to properly talk with Isshiki-san at least once.”

“……”

Noa fell silent with a sulky look, and Mizuki tilted his head in mild confusion.

He wondered how the other colonies managed to deal with so many women at once.

“Sorry.”

“……If you really mean that, then stay like this with me a little longer.”

“Yeah.”

Noa clung to him even more affectionately.

Mizuki kept stroking her head and smiled.

“Study sessions… it kind of feels like normal school life, doesn’t it?”

The ordinary school life he had once dreamed of.

Now, each day was starting to feel just a little more enjoyable.