Having exhausted themselves in the sports festival, the students began leaving the classroom one after another, looking spent.

Since there doesn't seem to be any club activities today, Sudou-kun left while chatting with Ike-kun and the others.

My neighbour, Ayanokouji-kun, also appears to be leaving, as he hurriedly got up from his seat.

Perhaps he became curious about me, since I had yet to get up from my seat, as he looked towards me.

"You're not going back yet?".

"Yes, you see.....I have some business to take care of".

"Even though you usually always go back early, this is rather unusual".

"Such things do happen sometimes. Well then, that's enough for today".

"Yeah. I'll see you the day after tomorrow then".

Then, one after another they all left and in no time I was the only person left in the classroom.

As for why I've stayed behind, I don't even need to say the reason.

To respond to Ryuuen-kun's summons.

Throughout this sports festival, I had been made to dance in the palm of Ryuuen-kun's hand the entire time. It was too late by the time I had become convinced of that.

I was unable to take any countermeasures against it and I just kept on being beaten.

But---

Somehow, I felt refreshed. I am aware that I was completely and thoroughly crushed.

I was able to understand the fact that I am far, far weaker and more pathetic a person than I had imagined myself to be.

I feel like I need to thank him if only for teaching me that.

Nevertheless, the debt he's after isn't a light one by any measure. Because it's not just me, but a lot of other students who have been made to bear that burden. The fact that a million private points will be transferred to Class C means that I need to keep the possibility of a future struggle to myself all the more.

"Sorry I've kept you waiting, Horikita-san. I just got caught up in a conversation with my friends, sorry".

Kushida-san, who left the classroom with her friends once, came back while putting her hands together.

"No mind, looks like there's still some time left until the appointed time. Shall we go then?".