Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

After school, most of the students in Class C of Grade 1 went to participate in club activities or went back to their dormitories.

At the back of the classroom, where the room was gradually quieting down, Huashan was placing the picture frames he had bought from the convenience store side by side on the table.

With his extremely thick fingertips, he carefully placed each of the midterm exam answer sheets that had just been handed out into a frame, as if handling a national treasure of washi paper.

"...What are you doing?"

Horikita Suzune, carrying her schoolbag, was taken aback by the bizarre scene and spoke in a tone tinged with helplessness.

"You'll understand when you see it. It's being framed."

"You can tell that just by looking at it. What I want to ask is, why do you decorate your barely passing exam paper like a medal? ...No matter what, there's no need to make such a big deal out of it."

Huashan didn't stop, clicking and clacking as he fixed the back cover of the photo frame, while quietly shaking his head.

"No, Horikita. This is the first time in my life I've passed all my subjects. It's a truly memorable moment."

Huashan gazed at the neatly formatted math answer sheet, casting a look of inexplicable pride upon it.

"My mother's birthday is coming up soon... I need to show this to her."

Deep within those words lies a pure and straightforward longing for one's mother.

Horikita lowered his eyes slightly and sighed softly.

"...While I understand how you feel, this school has a rule that students aren't allowed to leave unless there's a special reason. You know that, right?"

"I will never miss my mother's birthday."

It's not some grand principle, but rather an unshakeable assertion that this is the way of being human.

Over the past few weeks, Horikita has come to realize that once this man makes a decision, it is absolutely impossible to stop him with rules or common sense.

She relaxed her lips slightly and looked into Huashan's eyes.

"...Is that so? In that case, I have nothing more to say."

Then, she added in a quiet and gentle tone, unlike her usual cold voice.

Happy birthday to your mother.

......

The upper floors of the special building are silent and still.

Thump, thump

The heavy wooden door marked "Student Council Room" was opened with a knock.

"Sorry to bother you."

When Huashan stepped inside, there were only two people in the spacious room.

The student council president, Horikita Manabu, was reviewing a mountain of documents at the central desk. The student council secretary, Tachibana Akane, was assisting him.

When faced with Hanayama, Tachibana's shoulders twitched for a moment in fright, but she immediately turned around with a resolute attitude.

"Y-you're from Class 1-C... Hanayama-kun, right? What brings you to the student council room? This isn't a place just any student can come in..."

Faced with Tachibana's reproachful question, Hanayama showed no fear and simply stated his purpose.

"I want to go outside the school in three days. I'm here to ask for this permission."

"Huh...? What are you talking about, Hanayama-kun? This school is a full boarding school. How could the school rules allow you to go out without a valid reason—"

Just as Ju frowned, preparing to reject it immediately.

"Tachibana."

Horikita Manabu, who had been silently reading the documents, interrupted the secretary's words with a quiet voice.

Sharp purple eyes met Huashan's unwavering gaze.

"Please go to the printing room and compile the midterm exam results for each class. This is an assignment that will take some time."

"Huh...? Yes, yes. I understand."

Tachibana seemed a little bewildered by the president's sudden instruction, but she did not disobey. She merely glanced at Hanayama before quickly leaving the student council room.

The heavy door closed, leaving only Horikita Manabu and Hanayama inside.

Horikita Manabu put down his pen and crossed his hands slightly.

"...You should be able to understand how strict the rules are for going out at this school."

"That's why I'm here to apply to you."

Horikita Manabu squinted and let out a soft breath.

"Although I am the student council president, I do not have the authority to directly approve someone's unauthorized outings."

It was as if he was about to reject the other person's words. However, Horikita Manabu did not end the conversation there.

"However, it's not like you can't go out at all."

Horikita Manabu lowered his voice.

"There is only one person who has the final say that transcends all the rules of this school: Chairman Sakayanagi Shigemori. Go talk to him directly; if your reasons are accepted, the possibility of being allowed to leave as a special measure is not zero."

This was definitely not information that should have been given to a first-year student.

"The chairman, huh? ...I owe you a favor, chairman."

"I was just stating the facts. Whether you can persuade him or not depends entirely on your own skills."

Huashan nodded slightly, then turned away without saying anything.

The people I'm going to see next have already been decided.