Even if he knew, he still couldn't stop this from happening—he could only shift the target to someone else.
Nagumo and Ryuuen must have started plotting this on the bus.
Fortunately, Kaoru had many acquaintances among the girls, so there were no blind spots Nagumo could exploit.
If Nagumo were to confront him head-on, it would actually be troublesome, since Nagumo still held influence among the second-years.
"So, they targeted Miki because they thought you would save her?"
Haruka rarely felt this angry. "Aren't they worried about getting expelled themselves?"
Though they hadn't known each other for long, Haruka already considered Miki Yamamura a friend—just like Airi Sakura.
In the eyes of those two, Haruka might have seemed gloomy, but to her, a friend was a friend.
If she really disliked them, she wouldn't have joined the Study Group in the first place.
Wouldn't it have been easier to sneak off alone when no one was looking?
"I understand how you feel, but for now, let's set aside their motives. The first issue we need to address is your own situation."
Kaoru spoke patiently. "You always isolate yourselves—that's too dangerous. Even if no one targets you now, what if you end up expelled later for lacking connections?"
Haruka froze.
She had never considered that before.
Could someone really be expelled just for being unpopular?
Airi Sakura and Miki Yamamura would probably be the most anxious about this.
"Imagine a special exam where students can form teams or act alone, and the penalty is expulsion for the last-place finisher."
Kaoru asked gently, "In that scenario, what would you do if no one was willing to take you in?"
"Couldn't the loners band together?"
Haruka's tone was complicated.
"They could, but humans are social creatures. Even if the loners form a group, they'll create their own small circle—and that circle will still exclude certain people. Someone will inevitably end up marginalized."
Kaoru didn't elaborate further because Haruka had already understood.
"When a crisis comes, the marginalized are the first to be sacrificed, right?"
"Don't forget, this is a place that believes in meritocracy. If you don't demonstrate your worth, the school will be more than happy to watch you get eliminated."
"How cruel. Though I suppose it's the same outside too."
Kaoru neither confirmed nor denied this, then smiled: "Since no one's helping us, why can't we help each other?"
If friends were in the same group, Miki Yamamura couldn't possibly be targeted by Ryuuen.
The only ones who could be selected would be loners and the timid.
Otherwise, Ryuuen wouldn't be able to push forward and might even suffer backlash from victims fighting back.
The school might even intervene.
Haruka looked at Miki and Airi, feeling an inexplicable sense of helplessness and protectiveness.
"Kaoru's absolutely right. If we're in the same group, no one would dare bully Miki."
Hearing Haruka stand up for her, Miki was deeply moved.
"I... I don't deserve your concern like this..."
"Don't deserve it? In your eyes, Miki, don't we count as friends?"
"No, that's not what I meant. It's just... hard to believe."
Miki lowered her head, and just seeing her like this, Haruka could vaguely sense she might have gone through something difficult before.
"I actually understand how Miki feels."
Airi Sakura interjected softly, "When you're alone for too long, you become shrouded in darkness. The brightness from someone like Haruka can feel overwhelming at first."
Haruka's expression froze.
"But you don't dislike it, do you?"
Airi asked quietly.
Kindred spirits recognize each other.
Miki shook her head, then instinctively glanced at Kaoru—some people's radiance was strong enough to pierce through the fog.
At that moment, Airi was also stealing glances at Kaoru, her eyes sparkling with light before dimming slightly with disappointment.
"It's not just about sticking together. You'll need to interact more with others from now on."
Kaoru sighed, feeling like he'd become the caretaker of troubled kids again.
"Haruka, do you see any difficulties with that?"
"Shouldn't be a problem, though I don't want to deal with boys."
Haruka disliked the boys in their class.
Besides, the person from her dreams was right here—why would she bother with other guys?
Ahem.
"What about you, Airi?"
Kaoru softened his tone, as he couldn't quite grasp the idol's thoughts—she seemed so withdrawn.
"I... I'll try my best."
Airi spoke nervously, slowly adding, "As long as no one hates me."
'If you're willing, no one would hate you,' Kaoru thought.
But given Airi's personality, she probably wouldn't manage well.
He'd just have to guide her more.
"And you, Miki?"
After hesitating, Miki asked, "How should I interact? Does talking count?"
"It counts. Your presence is too faint—start with natural conversations."
Kaoru didn't consider Miki an outcast.
Apart from her low visibility, her personality wasn't particularly odd—Airi was far more timid.
Something from her past must have warped her self-perception, making her undervalue herself to this extent.
As for Airi, Kaoru suspected she might have experienced some form of bullying in the past.
For instance, girls who develop early during puberty often attract unwanted attention.
Airi habitually hunched her shoulders and kept her head lowered—a clear sign of low self-confidence.
She was also highly sensitive to male gazes, and Kaoru noticed she always seemed to detect his glances.
Despite her lack of confidence, she had taken the path of a gravure idol, taking self-photos in front of a mirror—an obvious result of excessive repression.
Kaoru recalled the photos Airi had sent him, most of which were private body shots never meant for public viewing.
She had truly been suppressing herself too much.
"Let's pause the topic of making friends for now. What should we do about Miki's situation?"
Haruka was deeply worried.
What if Class C's students actually succeeded?
At this, both Miki Yamamura and Airi Sakura turned their eyes to Kaoru.
Unconsciously, the girls had grown heavily reliant on him.
"Don't worry, I'm here."
Kaoru smiled faintly. "The problem will be resolved in a couple of days. Not just for Miki—I won't let them affect any of you."
Not now, and not ever.
Otherwise, what was the point of him securing so many class points for Class A?
However, as his words trailed off, Haruka's eyes flickered nervously, as if trying to hide something.
She took a sip of coffee, found it too sweet, and quickly took a bite of dessert.
Airi buried her face even deeper, her legs tightly pressed together under the table, her toes curling slightly as if bracing for a fight.
Kaoru glanced at Miki, whose face had turned red.
Had he said something wrong?
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