I came, I saw, I lost! (Classroom of the Elite Fanfiction)

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Now it was Monday, and tomorrow, the hearing would begin.

Class D acted as usual, as if nothing was happening. But rather than forgetting, resignation was the more accurate term. No one discussed it. No one even glanced in Kumagawa's direction unless necessary. It was as if they had already written him off, like a character who had been killed off in a story but was still walking around, unaware of his own demise.

For Kumagawa, the situation was a textbook example of a losing battle.

There was no evidence in his favor, no witnesses to prove his innocence, and no goodwill to rely on. The school operated on a meritocratic system—whoever made the stronger argument would win. And right now, Class C had the upper hand.

It was like being thrown into a boxing match with his arms tied behind his back, blindfolded, and standing on a platform made of soap. Every time he tried to regain his balance, he'd slip further. Meanwhile, his opponent—equipped with brass knuckles and an iron will—was free to pummel him as much as they wanted.

Or maybe it was more like playing chess, except all of his pieces were pawns, the opponent had four queens, and the referee kept taking his turns for him, ensuring he always lost.

Actually, maybe it wasn't chess or boxing. Maybe it was more like being locked inside a sinking submarine with no oxygen and the only escape hatch led to a room full of landmines.

...No, that didn't make sense either.

But that was fine. Losing never needed to make sense.

Kumagawa Misogi had lost before he even had a chance to play.

As Kumagawa sat at his desk, absently flipping through a manga he had already read backward and upside down, a familiar voice broke through the stagnant atmosphere.

"I don't get it," Horikita said, standing beside him with her arms crossed. "Why aren't you doing anything?"

『Because it sounds like work. And I'm allergic to effort.』

"....."

A few moments later, another presence approached.

Ayanokouji.

"I take it you're not planning to fight back at all?"

『Oh, Ayanokouji-kun. Don't tell me you've become my guardian angel? That's really touching, but I think you'd make a better demon lord.』

Ayanokouji ignored his nonsense and simply took a seat behind him.

Then, Hirata arrived. Unlike the others, his face carried an obvious concern.

"Kumagawa-kun... I still believe in your innocence," he said earnestly. "I'm trying to get the class to—"

Kumagawa offered him a smile. It was his usual smile, carefree and light, but Ayanokouji, who had been quietly observing from behind, saw something else beneath it.

'Is he... mocking him?'

It wasn't obvious, but somehow, it felt that way. Like watching someone pat a child on the head for trying to carry a boulder.

It was like seeing some idiot declare they were going to drink the ocean dry with a straw. Or a fish passionately explaining how it planned to one day walk on land.

Ayanokouji frowned. Why did he think something so nonsensical? His thoughts had been getting stranger and stranger whenever he observed Kumagawa.

It was making him uneasy.

He shook the thought away. It was nothing. Just a random slip of the mind.

And finally, Kushida arrived.

Unlike the others, her expression was bright and cheerful.

"Kumagawa-kun! Don't worry, okay? I'll do everything I can to help you!"

Her words were sweet, her smile even sweeter.

But Kumagawa only gave her a lazy wave.

『Thanks, Kushida-san. Your unwavering kindness is truly inspiring. Like an angel descended from heaven...』

Of course, he knew.

She wasn't here for him. She was here for her image—the perfect class angel who would help anyone, no matter who they were.

Then, as usual, when the bell rang, the teacher entered the class right on time.

The lesson proceeded as usual.

First period went by without much incident, students took notes—some more diligently than others—and the general atmosphere was one of passive endurance.

Then came the second and third periods. Science and mathematics.

Then, when the lunch bell rang, Kumagawa glanced at the clock.

『I suppose it's time, I guess. 』

With a relaxed motion, he stood up from his seat and walked toward the door.

The rest of Class D instinctively turned to look at him. Their gazes weren't friendly, nor were they curious—they were simply watching, as if making sure the source of their problems was still in sight. Whether Kumagawa noticed or not, was unknown.

Horikita watched Kumagawa leave with narrowed eyes. She had been observing him closely these past few days, trying to understand how he operated. But no matter how much she analyzed him, he remained unpredictable.

Ayanokouji, sitting nearby, noticed her expression.

"You're unusually focused on him," he commented.

"He's about to do something," she said simply.

Ayanokouji glanced toward the door where Kumagawa had disappeared. "And?"

For a moment, Horikita remain silent. She keep staring toward the door where kumagawa had dissapeard, before turnig his head toward Ayanokouji.

"Ayanokouji....What are your impression of Kumagawa?"

"My....Impression?"

Ayanokouji was caught off guard by her question.

Horikita wasn't the type to ask for opinions without reason

His mind briefly sorted through his interactions with Kumagawa so far. His attitude, his speech patterns, his actions. Unlike most students, Kumagawa didn't fit into any clear category.

He wasn't a leader, yet he wasn't a follower. He acted like he didn't care about anything, yet he was strangely perceptive. He joked around constantly, but there was something unsettling about him.

He was a contradiction, a walking paradox.

Granted, Ayanokouji didn't meet many people in his life, but Kumagawa was among the strangest he had ever encountered.

After a brief pause, Ayanokouji finally answered.

"...He's inconsistent."

"That's not an answer." Horikita frowned slightly, as if expecting a more detailed response.

"..."

Horikita then sighed.

"It was my fault for expecting something from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Ayanokouji looked at Horikita, slightly irritated. Ever since day one, anything that came out of her mouth was either blunt, dismissive, or outright rude.

How was she supposed to survive in this school if she continued to act like that?

For some reason, Ayanokouji felt a slight sense of pride knowing he was at least better at socializing than her.

At the very least, he had exchanged phone numbers with several people—including girls.

"Go after him," Horikita suddenly said.

Ayanokouji raised an eyebrow. "Why me?"

"Because you're his friend."

Ayanokouji stared at her for a moment before sighing.

"He's.....Nevermind."

Realizing there was no point in arguing, Ayanokouji stood up and quietly made his way toward the door.

During this time, there were only two places Kumagawa could reasonably go—the cafeteria or the convenience store.

Ayanokouji decided to check the cafeteria first.

As he entered, his eyes scanned the room. Lunchtime meant it was packed with students. He walked further in, weaving through the crowd. Some students were chatting loudly, others were focused on their meals, but there was no sign of Kumagawa.

After a brief moment of observation, he concluded that Kumagawa wasn't here.

That left only one other option.

Without wasting any more time, Ayanokouji turned around and exited the cafeteria, heading toward the convenience store.

As Ayanokouji approached the convenience store, he slowed his pace slightly. If Kumagawa was here, there was no point in rushing—he'd find him soon enough.

Stepping inside, the familiar hum of the refrigerators and the soft beeping of the registers filled the air. A few students browsed the shelves, picking out snacks or quick meals.

Then, near the magazine section, he spotted him.

"Kumagawa."

Ayanokouji called out to him.

Kumagawa stood in front of the racks, flipping through a Weekly Jump with a relaxed posture, as if he had no care in the world. He slowly turned to face him.

『Mm...』 he said, looking at ayanokouji languidly.

It was the kind of reaction one might have if a neighborhood dog had wandered into the store—mild surprise, but not enough to warrant any real concern.

『Oh... It's just Oborobigawa-kun.』

"And who in the world is that? With such a stylish name like that."

『.... 』

Ayanokouji thought that he was just joking as usual, so he responded as usual. But instead of laughing, Kumagawa simply looked at me vacantly, as if genuinely confused, before speaking again.

『Oh... It's just Ayanokouji-kun, 』 he amended.

'Had he actually made a mistake...?'

Then really, who the heck was this Oborobigawa person? Was there actually someone with such a name? It was a name Ayanokouji had never heard before, and he had no idea what could have happened to such a person, but for some reason, he felt compelled to offer his condolences.

'Allow me to pray for your happiness in the next world.'

『So, you were alive, huh? That's great. 』

"..."

Even after two months of being around him, Ayanokouji still couldn't predict anything resembling a coherent response from Kumagawa.

"What are you planning to do?"

『About what? The whole 'Kumagawa is the worst human being ever' situation?』

"Your hearing is tomorrow," Ayanokouji reminded him.

『Yep. That's what they say.』

He responded so lightly that it was as if they were talking about someone else's problem entirely.

"You don't seem worried."

『Worried? Me? I don't know the meaning of the word.』Kumagawa chuckled. 『You know, Ayanokouji-kun, I was thinking about something interesting. Have you ever heard of the concept of winning at the end?』

"...If you're referring to the scientific theory, then yes. I've read about it before."

It was a concept from game theory and probability. In certain games with multiple rounds, someone could lose continuously but still end up victorious if they won the final, decisive round. It was often used to describe strategies in economics, politics, and even evolutionary biology.

"What about it?" Ayanokouji asked.

『It's a concept that describes a continuous loss until the final win. So, it doesn't matter if you've lost a hundred times before that. As long as you win at the end, you're the real winner.』

"...."

Of course, the theory was correct. Ayanokouji was actually a little surprised that Kumagawa even knew about it. It wasn't a widely recognized scientific principle, more of an abstract strategic philosophy, yet Kumagawa spoke about it like it was second nature to him.

But that wasn't the problem here.

Kumagawa's current situation wasn't a game with multiple rounds—it was a one-sided affair where the entire school had turned against him. This wasn't a matter of slow, calculated losses leading up to a final win. If anything, he was already at the last stage.

"You're talking as if you've already decided you're going to lose first," Ayanokouji noted.

『Well, isn't that the whole point? 』 Kumagawa grinned. 『I've been losing my whole life, Ayanokouji-kun. I might as well do it properly.』

That answer didn't clarify anything. If anything, it only made his intentions murkier.

As the two continued talking, the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch break.

Ayanokouji turned toward the door.

"I'm heading back."

『Mm. Have fun. 』

Noticing that Kumagawa remained standing in place, flipping through the same magazine, Ayanokouji stopped.

"...Aren't you coming?"

Kumagawa lazily waved his hand. 『Nah, I think I'll skip. 』

".....Why?"

『I just realized something important. 』

Ayanokouji waited for him to continue. Kumagawa's expression was serious—at least, as serious as he could get.

『Attending class every day is kind of like pouring milk into a glass. 』

"...?"

『You keep pouring and pouring, and at some point, the glass is full. So what happens if you keep pouring after that?』

"...It overflows."

『Exactly! That's why I'm skipping. My brain is already full, so if I try to add more, it'll just spill out. It's basic logic.』

Ayanokouji stared at him.

"...That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard."

『That just means you don't appreciate the delicate balance of mental storage, Ayanokouji-kun. 』

"...Do whatever you want."

Without wasting another second, Ayanokouji turned and left the convenience store.

Kumagawa, now alone, flipped another page of the magazine, looking completely satisfied with his reasoning.

He glanced toward the entrance. Through the glass, Ayanokouji's distant figure was growing smaller, blending into the flow of students heading back to class.

『It should have arrived by now. 』

Closing the magazine, Kumagawa placed it back on the shelf with care, as if he had never touched it. He then slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned against the wall, waiting.

Skipping class wasn't just a whim. Unlike his usual nonsense, this time, he actually had a reason.

If he had attended, he would've missed this meeting.

After waiting for a little longer, he finally saw the one he had been waiting for.

That day, Kumagawa never return to class. Until the end of the day.

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"Kumagawa-kun..."

Hirata's concerned expression was the first thing that greeted him when he finally stepped into the classroom.

Today was the day of the hearing.

And Kumagawa had skipped an entire day of class right before it.

"You were absent all day," Hirata continued, frowning. "Do you understand what kind of position you're in right now?"

『Oh, do tell. 』 Kumagawa smiled as if he truly had no idea.

"Do you even care about clearing your name?"

"Why should he?" Someone scoffed.

It was Karuizawa, Hirata's girlfriend.

"Kumagawa, seriously, what the hell is wrong with you?" Ike clicked his tongue in irritation. "You've been accused of something huge, and instead of trying to prove you're innocent, you're skipping class like it's nothing?"

"If you don't care about proving it, then maybe it's because you really did it," Yamauchi added.

『Oh, come now, let's not jump to conclusions. 』

"You being absent just makes it more suspicious," a girl said, arms crossed. "Even if you say you're innocent, how do you expect us to believe you when you act like this?"

Kumagawa's eyes lazily scanned the room.

Ah, he really was hated, wasn't he?

Ayanokouji, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke.

"Well, considering the situation, maybe skipping class was the right move," he said casually. "If you were here, you might've gotten stabbed before the hearing even started."

The room fell into a brief, awkward silence.

Hirata looked at him in shock. "Ayanokouji-kun, that's not funny."

Kumagawa let out a small chuckle before shaking his head. 『That's not something you should joke about, Ayanokouji-kun. 』

"..."

Ayanokouji remained silent.

All he had wanted to do was lighten the atmosphere. He wasn't particularly good at these kinds of conversations, but he figured making a dry remark would at least break some of the tension. But now that he thought about it, was that really fair?

Kumagawa joked about everything. Even when he was in trouble, even when the whole class was against him, he laughed it off like it was nothing. Yet the moment Ayanokouji made a dark joke, it was suddenly inappropriate?

In the end, he decided not to argue about it. There was no point.

Before the conversation could continue, the bell rang.

The first period began.

And just like that, despite today being the most scandalous day in the history of this school, everything proceeded as usual. Teachers entered on time, lessons were taught, and students went about their routines as if nothing was happening.

Nothing would truly begin until lunch break.

So when the lunch break bell rang, Chabashira entered the class with her usual stride, and emotionless face.

"Kumagawa," she called out, her gaze locking onto him.

The class immediately fell into an uneasy silence. Some students avoided looking in Kumagawa's direction, while others outright glared.

Hirata hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.

"Chabashira-sensei, are you taking him to the hearing?"

Chabashira didn't respond, but her silence was answer enough.

"But... he hasn't been proven guilty yet. If anything, forcing him to attend like this will just make the class more—" Hirata clenched his fists slightly.

Chabashira cut him off with a sharp glance. She wasn't in the mood for arguments. Then, as if remembering something, she turned her head toward Ayanokouji.

"Ayanokouji. You're coming too."

Ayanokouji blinked. "Me?"

The sudden call caught him off guard. He wasn't directly involved in this case—at least, not in any way that mattered.

Seeing his confusion, Chabashira gave a brief explanation.

"You were the last known person to be with Kumagawa before the incident. Your testimony is needed."

Ayanokouji felt multiple eyes shift toward him, especially Horikita. Her expression remained neutral, but her gaze practically screamed, 'You never told me about this'. In more ways than one, it was concerning.

More murmurs spread. Some students glanced at Ayanokouji with curiosity, while others eyed Kumagawa with even more suspicion.

"..."

Ayanokouji wondered why this sort of thing always happened to him. He had made it a point to avoid unnecessary attention, to blend in, to simply exist without standing out and experiences a normal highschool life. And yet, time and time again, he kept getting dragged into situations like this.

Beside him, Kumagawa stood up with a lazy stretch.

『Alright, alright. Let's get this over with.』

Ayanokouji sighed, realizing he had no real choice. Without a word, he stood and followed them toward the door.

As they walked through the hallway toward the student council room, Chabashira spoke up.

"You sure have a way of getting involved in things, Ayanokouji."

Ayanokouji glanced at her but didn't respond immediately. It wasn't like he had done anything to warrant this. He had only been at the wrong place at the wrong time—like always.

And nine times out of ten, it coincidentally involved Kumagawa in one way or another.

Even if it was a situation with a one hundred percent probability of having absolutely nothing to do with him—if there was a problem, Kumagawa must have had something to do with it.

"You were the last person with him before the incident," Chabashira continued. "That makes your testimony important, whether you like it or not."

"I understand that, but do you really think my statement will change anything?"

"That depends on what you say," she replied.

『It's like a detective drama, huh? The witness, the suspect, and the investigator, all walking to the grand courtroom. I should've brought a fake mustache. 』

Chabashira ignored him. "This isn't a game. If you have any useful information, now is the time to think about it."

Ayanokouji didn't answer. Instead, he turned his gaze ahead, watching as the door to the student council room came into view.

As they neared the door, he spoke.

"Kumagawa, do you have a plan?"

From what he could see, Kumagawa was calm. Too calm.

Logically speaking, a person falsely accused of something so serious would react in one of two ways—either frantically trying to clear their name or steeling themselves with a forced calmness. But Kumagawa wasn't doing either. He looked like someone completely unrelated to the problem.

That, or he had completely given up and was just waiting to be expelled.

Even Ayanokouji didn't want Class D to hit zero points for the third time in a row.

『Of course, Don't worry about it, Ayanokouji-kun. I have a way. 』

Ayanokouji and Chabashira exchanged a brief look. Neither of them looked convinced.

"You've thought of a way..." Ayanokouji said slowly. "But what kind of way? If possible, I'd like to hear it before we actually go inside."

Ayanokouji and Chabashira wanted to hear and verify it before they proceed.

It wasn't impossible that Kumagawa had made yet another misconception like before. In fact, the likelihood of him doing so was pretty high.

But Kumagawa only smiled, putting on airs. 『That's something you can look forward to at the actual scene. 』

Ayanokouji's eyes narrowed slightly. "So you don't want to tell us beforehand?"

『Because if I tell you now, you'll probably just deny it. 』

His vague words weren't reassuring in the slightest.

"So it's something that I'll probably deny?"

"So you're deliberately avoiding telling us because you don't want to be denied..." Chabashira, arms crossed, let out an exasperated sigh.

But wouldn't that just mean it would end with him being denied at the actual hearing?

『No, no, even a lie can crush the truth depending on how you make your argument. That's how I've been living all this time. I used my might to make whatever I wanted right.』

That was what Kumagawa said.

Ayanokouji couldn't help but pause at that statement.

...Wasn't he basically admitting to being a "professional liar"?

Because what he was saying was pretty absurd.

"Then, at least tell me how much confidence you have in beating Class C in an argument. In terms of probability, how much?" Ayanokouji said.

『In terms of probability? 』

Kumagawa spoke in that affected tone of voice.

『Then of course, it'll be 'five-sixths'. 』

"...Five-sixths?"

Ayanokouji repeated the number, frowning slightly. It was a strangely specific probability. Chabashira also looked skeptical.

"And how exactly did you come to that conclusion?"

『Isn't it obvious? If you roll a die, the probability of rolling anything but a six is five out of six. 』

Ayanokouji stared at him blankly. "...That's just random probability. It has nothing to do with your actual chances."

『But it sounds convincing, doesn't it? That's what matters in a debate. 』

Ayanokouji let out a small sigh. He had a feeling this was going to be a disaster.

『END』

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