Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

The back of the special building at sunset.

In that stagnant space, a blind spot of the surveillance camera, Karuizawa Kei suppressed the violent pounding of her heart as she operated the smart terminal.

"...Oh, this is this month's protection fee. Ten thousand points, I've already transferred it."

In front of her was the figure of Kaoru Hanayama standing with her back against the wall.

Huashan didn't even confirm on the terminal; he simply nodded quietly.

"Thank you for your hard work. ...However, I'll be leaving this school for a few days. If you need anything, please ask Horikita for help."

Upon hearing this, Karuizawa's eyes widened in surprise.

"Leave...Leave...Where are you going? Are you saying you're dropping out of school or something!?"

Karuizawa's voice was tinged with genuine fear of losing his absolute defense.

However, the reply I received from Huashan was full of human warmth.

"It's my mother's birthday. I have to show up."

That deep and calm voice stunned Karuizawa for a moment.

In Karuizawa's heart, the last trace of fear of Hanayama disappeared.

She shifted her gaze slightly, fiddling with her blonde hair as she offered her suggestion in a lighthearted tone.

"...In that case, how about we take a picture with everyone in the class? We can show it to your mom."

Hua Shan slightly raised his eyebrows; the idea of ​​taking group photos was completely foreign to him.

Karuizawa continued, as if trying to hide her embarrassment.

"What parents can be most at ease about is seeing their child living a good life with everyone at school... I just think so. A photo of your child surrounded by classmates would definitely make your mom even happier."

Hanayama sensed the clumsy but genuine kindness behind the girl's words.

The scars on his face relaxed slightly.

"Yes, that's not a bad idea."

......

"Huh? It's Saturday, but we all have to get together? This is so troublesome..."

In his dorm room, Ken Sudo looked at the LINE notifications and complained.

However, his fingers flew across the keyboard, typing "received," and he immediately pulled out his T-shirt.

Although he complained, when he heard that it was a gift for Hanayama's mother, the option of not going did not exist in his mind.

"It's Hanayama-kun's mother's birthday... I can't not help with that."

Hirata Yosuke smiled gently and began to use his network of male contacts to greet everyone.

Then in the quiet library.

Horikita Suzune's terminal vibrated slightly. After reading the message, she suddenly looked up and gazed at the blue sky outside the window.

"...What a worrying man."

She sighed and quietly closed the book she was reading.

The courtyard on a weekend.

It wasn't ordered by anyone, nor was it threatened by anyone.

The members of Class C, who should have been a disorganized bunch, were all gathered there without a single absentee.

There was absolutely no atmosphere of timidity and fear like on the first day of school.

What exists there is a sense of awe and unwavering trust in the incomprehensibly powerful Flower Mountain.

"Look here, Hanayama-kun, stand in the middle! A little more in the middle!"

Karuizawa gave the instructions in a slightly raised voice.

Hirata set up the tripod, pressed the timer switch, and hurriedly ran back to the edge of the crowd.

Huashan stood silently in the very center of his noisy classmates.

On the right is Kushida, smiling broadly, and on the left is Karuizawa, making a V-sign.

At a slight distance, Horikita stood with her arms crossed, maintaining a cool expression, yet she was still firmly captured in the camera's frame.

3, 2, 1...

The timer's electronic chime indicates the countdown.

At that moment.

The murderous aura on the face of the man who had been constantly moving through battlefields of carnage, surrounded by the smell of blood and gunpowder, had vanished.

It was an awkwardness born of helplessness, yet it was also an undeniable expression of gratitude for this pure kindness.

The instant the flash went off.

Kaoru Hanayama did indeed reveal a faint, awkward smile.

On the day I went out.

Huashan, dressed in casual clothes, was walking towards the gate.

He carefully kept in his pocket the group photo he had taken with the entire Class C a few days ago.

The security personnel stationed at the gate were visibly tense and their expressions were stiff.

They pushed the cart to the front of Huashan.

"Hana, Hanayama-kun. These are items that were temporarily stored upon enrollment according to regulations... Please confirm."

There was a huge suitcase there, filled with a large quantity of Wild Turkey cigarettes, as well as stacks of Peace cigarettes.

Huashan nodded silently and easily lifted it up with one hand.

A heavy, high-end sedan, its black surface gleaming in the sunlight, was parked outside the gate.

Beside the car door stood Kizaki, dressed in a well-tailored suit and with an upright posture.

"I've come to greet you, General."

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Kizaki."

Hanayama gave a brief reply and then settled into the back seat that Kizaki had respectfully opened.

The car door slammed shut, completely cutting off outside noise.

The car started quietly, and the scenery of Tokyo flowed past the window.

"How is your life at school, General? Is there anything inconvenient?"

While keeping an eye on the driver, Kizaki, in the passenger seat, asked through the rearview mirror.

Huashan turned his gaze away from the window and let out a soft breath.

"Although there are all sorts of restrictive rules... it's not a bad place. It's just that the guys are a bit of a handful."

That sentence clearly contained a hint of pleasure and satisfaction.

Kizaki didn't miss this point, and a relieved smile appeared on his face.

"That's wonderful. I'm sure your mother would be very happy to hear that."

Huashan responded to this by looking straight ahead.

"How is Mom's health?"

Kizaki's expression immediately brightened.

That was a pure joy that people in the inner society rarely showed.

"Please rest assured. Your mother's condition has been improving at an astonishing rate recently. The attending physician has also said it's nothing short of a miraculous recovery. If all goes well, she may be able to be discharged soon; that's what the doctor said."

Upon hearing the report, Huashan's broad chest rose and fell slightly.

"……Yeah."

The reply was only two words long, but that was enough.

Huashan reached into his pocket, his fingertips confirming the feel of the group photo.

(...that way I can stand tall and report with my head held high.)

A gentle yet awkward smile appeared on Huashan's lips, the same one he wore when facing his classmates at school.