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

『』『』『』『』『』

Honk!

The long whistle echoed as if reverberating in the sky, resounding through the entire sea.

The sky was blue.

The ocean was blue.

Seagulls roared in the sky.

The blue waves rippled in the sunlight.

This was the center of the Pacific Ocean.

"Wohooo! Haha, this is really the best vacation I could ever think of!" Ike shouted, enjoying the sea breeze while gripping the railings of the ship.

Normally, someone would have been annoyed by his loud voice, but everyone was too captivated by the endless sea. Sunbeams danced on the water's surface, creating a shimmering scene too beautiful to ignore.

Among them, one person leaned lazily against the railing, his posture so relaxed it was unclear if he was even paying attention.

Kumagawa Misogi.

Ayanokouji strolled over, his expression as emotionless as ever. He glanced at Kumagawa, who seemed lost in his own world. "Did you get another headache?"

It was pretty weird seeing Kumagawa so unusually quiet. Normally, he'd be the most excited one, especially since they were on vacation on some island in the Pacific Ocean. And with an island, there had to be a beach, which meant swimsuits.

Knowing Kumagawa's perverted nature, seeing him like this was definitely off.

『Oh? Ayanokouji-kun. How did you know? Did you finally decide to become a world-renowned detective?』

"No, I'm not," Ayanokouji replied plainly.

Kumagawa smirked. 『Well, in that case, I'd like to offer my congratulations from the bottom of my heart—that is, if I had a heart. 』

"..."

Well, it really seemed like he didn't. Ayanokouji felt a twinge of sympathy for saying it, but honestly, it was hard to argue with that observation.

『Well, if I could see some naked apron, I'm sure this headache would vanish. And once the headache goes away, then, just like broken bones grow stronger when they heal, maybe my brain will end up becoming a little more decent. 』

"If something like that were true, then I'd also like to offer congratulations from the bottom of my heart... Since it's not my problem, I'm even starting to hope for it a little. Really, just a little..."

Incidentally, even so, the idea that broken bones grew stronger when they healed was just an urban legend—so his hopes had already been dashed by science.

In that case, Ayanokouji wanted to at least pray that Kumagawa's headache lasted a bit longer, but, well, he wasn't the kind of person who would entertain such inhumane thoughts.

『Ayanokouji-kun, did you know that water is neither colorless nor transparent? 』 Kumagawa said, his tone playful.

"Eh?"

As always, he started his conversations incoherently. Ayanokouji raised an eyebrow, trying to follow along.

"Water is colorless and transparent, isn't it? It's not like it's juice—there's no color at all. If it's not transparent, then what color is it supposed to be?"

Water, in fact, does have a slight color that most people don't notice. Pure water absorbs light in the red part of the spectrum, which gives it a faint blue hue when viewed in larger volumes. This is why oceans and lakes often appear blue; it's not just a trick of the light.

『Light blue. 』

"Is that so...."

『Hey, Ayanokouji-kun. Do you think...If you filled the whole ocean with blood, would it still look blue? 』

Ayanokouji paused for a second, then exhaled through his nose.

"Are you planning something ridiculous?"

『No way, no way. I was just wondering. If blue is just the absence of red, then maybe, if you erase everything properly, there'd be nothing left at all. 』

Ayanokouji wondered how the conversation had suddenly taken such a drastic turn.

As far as he knew, there hadn't been a single indication that things were heading in this direction. Nothing they talked about had anything to do with blood. Maybe water, but that was a whole different topic entirely. The two weren't even remotely connected.

In fact, you'd have to be some kind of psychopath to casually link the sea to blood.

"...Well, I don't think that's how it works."

He decided not to think too deeply about it. Kumagawa's nonsense had a way of leading people down strange rabbit holes.

『Really? 』 Kumagawa tilted his head. 『I thought it made perfect sense. If you take all the red away, what's left is blue. And if you take everything away, then there's nothing. Isn't that how erasure works? 』

Ayanokouji didn't answer immediately. It wasn't that he didn't understand Kumagawa's logic—he did. The problem was that it was the kind of logic only Kumagawa would ever think of.

It was pointless to argue against something so fundamentally broken.

"Then, by that reasoning, if you add enough red, does everything turn black?"

『Oho, now we're getting philosophical. I like it. But if we're talking realistically, adding too much red would probably just turn everything into a big, sticky mess. 』

"...I see."

『Yup. Blood doesn't actually dry black, you know? That's a common misconception. But I'm sure if you piled up enough of it, it'd look dark enough anyway.』

"....."

『Now that I think about it, doesn't the ocean look darker the deeper you go...? Does that mean there's an ocean of blood if you dive deep enough?』

Ayanokouji was momentarily speechless.

That analogy was—no, wait. Wasn't that basically the same as saying space was just an endless void filled with dead stars? Technically not wrong, but also not something a normal person would casually think about.

Ayanokouji let out a quiet sigh. "I take it back. I don't like this conversation."

『Well, it's fine. I was just thinking out loud. Nothing serious, nothing serious. 』

Despite his words, Ayanokouji couldn't shake the feeling that, for a brief moment, Kumagawa had actually been thinking about it very seriously.

Ayanokouji decided to change the topic before the conversation spiraled any further into Kumagawa's peculiar logic.

"...By the way, what do you think about this trip?"

『Hmm? What do I think about it?』 Kumagawa repeated, tilting his head. 『Well, well, let's see... A luxury cruise, an exotic island, a beautiful ocean... What's not to like? But honestly? I probably want to see Chabashira-sensei in a bikini.』

"....Is that really your reason?"

Ayanokouji wasn't sure if Kumagawa was just messing with him. He knew Kumagawa had a talent for saying absurd things with a straight face, but this time... he wasn't sure whether to take it as a joke or a genuine goal.

『Look, I even brought an apron. 』

Without hesitation, Kumagawa reached into his pocket and pulled out a neatly folded white apron.

Ayanokouji stared.

"...Why?"

『Well, you never know when the opportunity for a naked apron might come up, right? 』

Ayanokouji sighed.

He should've known. It was his fault for expecting a normal answer. But still...

He glanced at the apron.

"When did you even have time to bring something that useless?"

『Useless? Ayanokouji-kun, I'm disappointed. An apron is an essential tool for life. Cooking, cleaning, seduction—it's truly a versatile item. 』

"I see. And do you even know how to cook?"

『Not at all. 』

"...So it really is useless."

Kumagawa just laughed, tucking the apron back into his pocket as if it were the most natural thing in the world and leaning further against the railing. The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays reflecting off the deep blue sea.

『You know, Ayanokouji-kun, you really should enjoy this vacation more. Who knows when we'll get another chance like this? 』

"I'd enjoy it more if you weren't around."

『Ouch. That almost hurt. 』

Almost. Of course. Ayanokouji doubted anything could actually get to him.

The two stood in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves filling the gap in conversation. It was strangely peaceful—at least until Kumagawa spoke again.

『By the way, Ayanokouji-kun. I've been thinking. If I were to get stranded on a deserted island, who do you think would be the most useful person to bring along? 』

Ayanokouji gave him a tired look. "You're not stranded. You're on a luxury cruise."

『But what if I was? Hypothetically speaking. 』

"...If it's just survival, probably Ryuen. He's resourceful."

Kumagawa clicked his tongue. 『Tch. I was hoping you'd say Chabashira-sensei.』

"...Why would I?"

『So I could say, "Sensei, let's repopulate the island!" 』

"..."

Kumagawa had just said something truly vile and disgusting. Even for him.

Thankfully, no one else was around to hear it. If anybody had, it would've been bad.

Not long ago, Kumagawa had already been accused of being a sexual predator. The case had ended in his favor, but that didn't change how the other students saw him. As far as they were concerned, he was branded as a pervert, whether he actually did anything or not.

And now, here he was, casually throwing out an extremely questionable remark—toward a teacher, no less.

If anyone had overheard, there was no doubt they would start associating Ayanokouji with him.

And Ayanokouji did not want that.

So, he decided to quietly leave before things got worse.

Just as he took a step back, Kumagawa turned to him, as if sensing his attempt.

『Oh? Ayanokouji-kun, are you running away? That hurts, you know. We were just getting to part two out of twenty-five things I want to talk about. 』

Ayanokouji didn't respond. He just kept moving.

But before he could escape—

"You're Kumagawa from Class D, right?"

Ayanokouji stopped mid-step.

With those words, a man approached them from the opposite direction, stopping directly in front of Kumagawa and Ayanokouji.

He was tall and burly, with a bald head and a serious expression. His posture was firm, exuding an air of discipline.

Behind him stood another student, unremarkable in appearance but giving off a sycophantic and presumptuous vibe.

Kumagawa raised an eyebrow. He truly didn't recognize this person.

The bald man spoke.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Katsuragi Kouhei from Class A."

Ayanokouji sighed internally.

There was no slipping away now.

『Class A? Where did I hear that word before? Class A... Class A... Class A.』

Kumagawa muttered to himself, tilting his head as if the very concept of "Class A" was something new and unfamiliar.

『Ah! The class with two expelled students, right? I'm sorry, I don't know what happened to them to get expelled, but you have my condolences. 』

Katsuragi remained calm, but there was a barely noticeable change in his expression.

The man behind him, however, was visibly less composed. His face twisted in irritation, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

"You couldn't be a little more twisted, could you?" Ayankouji said. It was a sarcastic remark.

Ayanokouji had to wonder—how could Kumagawa say something like that with such a straight face? He was literally the reason three first-years had been expelled in just three months.

Kumagawa, of course, didn't seem bothered at all. In fact, he simply smiled.

『If you're asking a twisted contrarian like me to twist even further, then that's a crazy request. My spine will just twist right off. 』

Ayanokouji exhaled quietly.

What a Kumagawa-like answer.

He then turn back to the person named Katsurai kouhei.

『Then? What does a person from a class with two expelled students want from an uninvolved student from Class D?』

'Wow.'

Ayanokouji couldn't help but think that Kumagawa truly had no filter. It wasn't just what he said—it was how he said it. He spoke with genuine curiosity, as if he were completely oblivious to how provocative his words were.

Before Katsuragi could respond, the student behind him apparently spoke up, his dissatisfaction clear in his voice.

"It's your honor that Katsuragi-san is even talking to you defective products who only stay in Class D. You better understand your position."

But just as Kumagawa opened his mouth probably to say something that would make things even worse, Katsuragi intervened.

"Shut up, Yahiko." Katsuragi's voice was calm, but firm. "I'm here to greet him, not embarrass myself. Don't make a fool out of yourself."

"Katsuragi-san..."

Yahiko immediately shut his mouth, his frustration evident, but he didn't argue.

"I apologize for my classmate's behavior," Katsuragi said, turning back to Kumagawa.

Kumagawa waved him off like it was nothing. 『No, no, don't mind it. I completely understand. If I were in Class A, I'd probably want to crush my enemies under my heel, too. 』

Katsuragi didn't react to the provocation.

『So? What does a noble Class A student want with an innocent, uninvolved Class D student like me? Did you come to blame me for something I definitely didn't do? Like, I don't know, getting people expelled from your class?』

Katsuragi stared at him in silence.

If it were anyone else, they probably would've already thrown a punch at Kumagawa's face.

Finally, Katsuragi spoke. "I just wanted to say hello. Since you're the one who defeated Ryuuen in his own game."

He hesitated, just for a moment, before continuing.

"...And expelled two of my classmates."

Kumagawa blinked. Then, as if processing the words for the first time, he tilted his head.

『Huh? I did? That's strange. I don't remember doing anything like that. You must be thinking of someone else. 』

Ayanokouji almost sighed. That was an even lazier excuse than usual.

Katsuragi ignored the remark and continued.

"Suppose in the future, Class D manages to overtake Class C. Then, when the time comes, Class A will mercilessly crush you."

『I see, I see. In other words, if we want to defeat Class A, then we at least need to advance to Class C first, correct?』

Ayanokouji raised his eyebrow slightly. That was a surprisingly straightforward summary.

『What an idiotic roundabout way of saying things. 』

"....."

『If you want to say things in a roundabout way, then you should really commit to it. For example—』

Kumagawa took a deep breath before launching into an unnecessarily long-winded monologue.

『The structure of a social hierarchy is much like a multilayered cake, where each successive layer, while appearing soft and inviting, is in fact burdened by the weight of the layers above it. In this analogy, Class D represents the bottommost layer, compressed under the overwhelming mass of its superiors. However, should the base prove resilient enough to withstand the crushing force of those above, it may, over time, accumulate enough structural integrity to ascend. 』

He paused for dramatic effect.

『But, of course, as any skilled pastry chef would know, should a cake layer prematurely attempt to shift upward without sufficient support, it will inevitably collapse under its own instability, resulting in a catastrophic structural failure. This, metaphorically speaking, is what happens when a lower-ranked class overestimates its own capabilities without preparing adequately.』

He exhaled, then smiled.

『—That's how you say it in a truly roundabout way. 』

Ayanokouji only stared in silence.

Katsuragi, to his credit, did not react.

Yahiko, on the other hand, looked like he had just lost several brain cells.

Ayanokouji did not blame him.

It was the kind of nonsense that, given enough time, could erode a person's patience to nothing.

Katsuragi exhaled through his nose, seemingly deciding to ignore everything Kumagawa had just said. Instead, he moved forward with his original point.

"Regardless," he said, "I'd advise you to be careful. One success could very well just be a fluke."

His tone remained composed as he explained his perspective in an objective and logical manner.

Simply put, the distance between Class A and Class D was like heaven and earth.

Class A had been sitting comfortably at the top with around 1000 class points. While the expulsion of two students would have caused a noticeable drop, it wasn't enough to change the overall landscape. Meanwhile, Class D's points had been fluctuating in the low hundreds—sometimes a bit more, sometimes even lower.

At this stage, the gap between them was staggering.

From a purely strategic standpoint, Class A had no reason to even concern themselves with Class D. Their real threats were Class B and Class C, both of whom were much closer in standing.

Given all this, it was clear that Katsuragi wasn't speaking out of malice. His words weren't an attempt to mock or belittle Kumagawa.

They were just the plain, unfiltered truth.

But that was exactly why Ayanokouji was interested in how Kumagawa would respond.

Because if there was one thing he was certain of, it was that discussing this kind of topic with Kumagawa was a mistake.

If Katsuragi had approached someone like Horikita or Hirata, the conversation might have remained logical, straightforward. But Kumagawa?

Kumagawa had the ability to twist discussions into something completely absurd. For all Ayanokouji knew, in the next minute, they could be talking about the mating habits of deep-sea fish.

However—

『You seem to misunderstand something. 』

"What did I misunderstand?"

『You said my win was just a fluke, right? That's where you're completely wrong. In fact, it wasn't a win at all. If anything, it was more of a loss. 』

Katsuragi furrowed his brows slightly. "What are you—"

Before he could finish, another voice cut in from the side.

"If it isn't Cockroach and Baldy. What is this, a gathering of losers?"

Katsuragi and Kumagawa both turned toward the voice.

"Ryuen..."

Katsuragi's expression became more serious, while Kumagawa remained as carefree as ever.

Just then, Ryuen kakekru was leading two people from the other end of the deck.

『Hello, unnamed Class C student. I seem to have broken my promise—I didn't remember your name at all. It just vanished instantly the moment you left last time. 』

Ryuen's grin widened as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Is that so? I should be honored you even tried to remember, considering how useless your head must be."

Kumagawa nodded in agreement.

『That's the thing. I always forget the names of idiots who can't even remember others' names properly. But for some reason, I do remember Ryuen's name.』

He paused for a moment, before tilting his head.

『But since I don't know what he looks like, I assume he must not be you. 』

For a brief second, there was silence.

Then, Ryuen laughed. "Hah! Now that's funny."

Katsuragi sighed, looking as if he wanted to leave. Ayanokouji, standing off to the side, fully understood how he felt.

"So, you're still running that mouth of yours, huh, Kumagawa?"

『Unfortunately, I don't think before I speak. So I'm just as shocked as you are. 』

Katsuragi let out a quiet sigh. "Ryuen. If you're just here to cause trouble, I'd rather not waste my time."

"Relax, baldy, I'm not here for you." Ryuen grinned, his gaze locking onto Kumagawa. "I just happened to spot this little cockroach and couldn't help myself. After all, he went through all that trouble just to 'lose' against me, right?"

『Ah, so you are Ryuen. That's a relief. For a moment, I was worried I was talking to some random extra from Class C. 』 Kumagawa clapped his hands together. 『And here I thought I forgot your name, but it turns out I just forgot your face. You're pretty forgettable, huh? 』

Ryuen's grin widened, but his eyes were sharp.

"Careful now. Keep talking like that, and I might just get the urge to crush you for real this time."

Ayanokouji, watching from the sidelines, had no intention of stepping in. It was abd enough as it is to be with Kumagawa, so he doesn't want to attact anymore unwanted attention.

『Is that your friend right there? 』

He casually pointed at two people standing behind Ryuen.

The first was hard to miss. A tall, well-built student with sharp features and tanned skin. Judging from his appearance, he seemed to be either mixed-race or a full-blooded foreigner. Kumagawa didn't know which, nor did he particularly care.

Standing next to him was another student—shorter, stockier, with noticeably more meat on his frame compared to the average high schooler. He lacked the intimidating presence of the first guy, but his size alone made him stand out more than the usual unremarkable lackeys.

Ryuen chuckled. "Oh? What, interested in making new friends?"

Katsuragi, who had been silent for a while, finally spoke.

"You seem to be wasting your time here, Ryuen. What do you want?"

Ryuen shifted his gaze toward him, amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Oh? Look who's talking. Acting all high and mighty even after getting kicked off the throne. You sure you've got the time to be standing around here? Keep playing the tough guy, and Sakayanagi's gonna crush you sooner or later."

Katsuragi's expression remained neutral, but there was a slight change in his posture. But, before he could fire back, another voice cut in.

"Ah, so this is where everyone was!"

A cheerful voice, completely out of place in the tense atmosphere.

Ichinose Honami approached with a bright smile, her presence instantly softening the mood.

Ayanokouji internally sighed in relief. Out of everyone who could've shown up, she was probably the least troublesome.

"Good morning, everyone!" she greeted casually. "Looks like we've got quite the gathering here."

Behind her, a man followed closely. "All the key figures from each class are gathered here. It's quite surprising."

The man behind Ichinose spoke with a composed tone.

It was true that all the key figures of Class A, B, and C were present at this moment. But Ayanokouji wasn't sure if that included Kumagawa.

Sure, Kumagawa was arguably more famous than any of them in terms of reputation, but for all the wrong reasons.

If anyone from Class D were to be here representing them, it should've been someone like Hirata, Kushida, or even Horikita. Someone competent or normal.

Instead, they had Kumagawa.

Ayanokouji could only compare it to a formal meeting where every attendee was dressed properly—except for one guy who showed up in pajamas and had the audacity to act like he belonged.

『I see, I see. 』

Kumagawa stood among them as if he had just come to some profound realization.

Then, he turned to Katsuragi.

『One of the dysfunctional leaders of Class A.』

Next, he turned to Ichinose.

『The naïve but beautiful and charismatic leader of Class B.』

And finally, his gaze landed on Ryuen.

『And the tyrant with the charisma of a sewer rat from Class C.』

"..."

The atmosphere tensed for a moment.

Ryuen narrowed his eyes, but instead of reacting with anger, he let out a short laugh. "Hah. Sewer rat, huh? You sure say some interesting things."

"Ehh, naïve? That's a bit mean, Kumagawa-kun." Ichinose, on the other hand, pouted slightly.

"...Dysfunctional, huh?" Katsuragi simply sighed.

Ayanokouji was once again reminded that talking to Kumagawa was like throwing logic into a blender and hoping for a reasonable outcome.

The other students also began to notice the situation, and murmurs spread through the crowd.

At first, they only focused on the class leaders—Katsuragi from Class A, Ichinose from Class B, and Ryuuen from Class C. Their presence alone was enough to attract attention.

However, after a long delay, some students finally noticed Kumagawa standing among them. It was as if their minds had automatically filtered him out at first.

Perhaps, in the presence of the other class leaders, his existence had been overshadowed. Or maybe, it was simply his nature.

Ayanokouji had already slipped to the sidelines, watching the situation unfold from a safe distance. He had no intention of getting involved, and fortunately, the attention was nowhere near him anymore.

"I just came to say hello to Kumagawa, but I didn't expect all this attention," Katsuragi said, his tone composed.

"How lucky." Ryuuen smirked. "I also wanted to greet this cockroach—just to see if he can still play games with me."

It was obvious who was being referred to as a cockroach. Even Ayanokouji somehow agreed with the imagery.

Kumagawa always exuded an unpleasant aura, making others instinctively avoid him, much like a cockroach skittering across the floor.

Ayanokouji, too, was someone who would rather avoid him if possible. And yet, for some reason, Kumagawa always managed to stick around to him

"The game mentioned by Ryuuen seems to be dangerous, if possible, I'd like for you to restrain yourself." Ichinose said.

"Don't worry, I won't break him just yet."

『Oh? That's quite a threat. You sound just like a sadistic kid playing with bugs. 』

"Isn't that exactly what I am?" Ryuuen shot back.

Their exchange, though casual on the surface, held an underlying tension. Meanwhile, Katsuragi remained silent, choosing not to engage in their games.

Then, as if sensing the shift in mood, Ichinose changed the subject.

"By the way, Katsuragi-kun, I heard that one of your classmates didn't participate in the vacation."

Katsuragi nodded. "Yes. That would be Sakayanagi. Due to her health, she was unable to come. But there's no need to worry—she's staying back at the school and is doing fine."

"I see..." Ichinose said, her concern evident. "I was just a little worried."

Ryuuen, however, chuckled as if he had found something amusing. "Kukuku....Class A must be in a difficult situation without Sakayanagi, huh?"

It was a reasonable assumption.

The absence of another Class A leader could never be a good thing.

Even if Katsuragi was somehow competent, there was no denying that the absence of another leader could create an opportunity for other classes to exploit.

But Katsuragi countered it like this.

"I think it's better this way," he said calmly. "There are many contradictions between me and Sakayanagi in our principles. Without her, Class A's actions won't be hindered by our differing ideologies and unnecessary disputes."

『Ah, so it's like that. 』

Kumagawa suddenly clapped his hands together, as if he had just reached another epiphany.

『It's just like when two parents have completely different views on raising their kid, so one of them suddenly disappears, and now the kid gets raised in only one way. 』

The conversation had mostly run its course, and one by one, the students began to disperse.

Katsuragi was the first to take his leave. "I've said what I needed to. I'll be going now."

Yahiko, his ever-loyal follower, quickly moved to catch up. "Katsuragi-san, wait for me!"

Ichinose, ever the friendly type, smiled warmly at everyone before turning away. "I should get going too. Enjoy the rest of the trip, everyone!"

The man who had accompanied her gave a polite nod and followed behind.

With the more composed figures leaving, only the infamous ones remained.

"Well, well, that was a fun little gathering," Ryuuen said, stretching his arms. "But I've got better things to do than stand around chatting. Later, cockroach."

『Goodbye, sewer rat. 』

Ryuuen laughed, not at all offended, and walked off with his followers.

Ayanokouji, who had remained a silent observer throughout the entire conversation, finally allowed himself to relax. With most of the attention shifting away, he could quietly slip away as well.

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Kumagawa's voice behind him.

『Ayanokouji-kun, you're leaving too? But we've been through so much together just now.』

Ayanokouji didn't even bother looking back. "I was never here to begin with."

『Oh my, how cold. 』

Ignoring him completely, Ayanokōji continued walking, leaving Kumagawa standing there alone.

『Shouldn't you be with Horikita-chan right now? 』

"Why should I?"

That was the end of their exchange. Ayanokōji didn't wait for a response and kept moving forward.

But after a moment, a thought crossed his mind.

'...Where is Horikita, anyway?'

『』『』『』『』『』

"Why are you calling me out here?"

Horikita was called out by an unexpected person. This person was usually indifferent toward her students and didn't bother to involve herself beyond the bare minimum.

"I just want to talk, that's all," Chabashira said.

"That's not like you."

"Is it bad for a homeroom teacher to check in with their own students?"

"....."

Horikita didn't respond. She knew what kind of teacher Chabashira was, and there was no way she called her out here just for a casual chat.

"You don't seem convinced," Chabashira noted.

Horikita didn't deny it. Instead, she met her teacher's gaze with a sharp look of her own. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Chabashira sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. I'll be blunt, then. What do you think of your class's chances of rising to Class A?"

It was an obvious question. One Horikita had thought about more times than she could count. But coming from Chabashira, it felt like there was more behind it.

"I believe it's possible," Horikita answered without hesitation. "As long as we continue to improve, we can—"

"Can you?" Chabashira interrupted. "You might be doing well now, but do you really think you can push through to the end? This school isn't so kind as to let effort alone decide everything."

"Are you doubting my ability?"

"I'm reminding you of reality."

Chabashira's tone was firm, but not mocking. It was as if she were testing her, waiting to see how she would respond.

Horikita clenched her fists. She didn't need to be told that. She already understood better than anyone that strength alone wasn't enough to secure victory in this school.

Chabashira then pulled out a piece of paper from her pocket.

"This is the current class point ranking of the first years."

Class A: 804 CP

Class B: 663 CP

Class C: 392 CP

Class D: 87 CP

'804...'

Horikita's eyes lingered on the numbers, processing the reality in front of her. The gap was still massive, but compared to how things were at the start of the year, the landscape had changed.

"Isn't this great?" Chabashira said, her voice carrying a mix of amusement and something else Horikita couldn't quite place. "Because of Kumagawa, the gap between classes is shrinking faster than expected."

Horikita's grip on the paper tightened slightly.

She didn't need Chabashira to tell her that. It was obvious. The class points of Class A had dropped significantly, the cause was clear.

Kumagawa Misogi.

She exhaled through her nose. "I don't see why you're bringing this up to me."

"If you're interested in reaching Class A, let me give you one piece of advice. Try to understand as much about Ayanokōji as you can now, while you can. If you don't, you might be too late."

"...What is that supposed to mean?"

Horikita frowned. She didn't understand what this had to do with Ayanokōji. She knew he was perceptive, with an unconventional way of thinking, but that was it.

Chabashira smirked slightly. "You really don't get it, do you?"

Horikita narrowed her eyes but didn't respond.

"Well, let's just say he's not someone you should overlook."

Horikita felt a flicker of irritation.

She knew Ayanokōji was smart. She wasn't blind. He had helped her multiple times in the past, and his way of handling situations was undeniably effective.

But to say she needed to understand him, as if he was some kind of hidden key to Class A? That was ridiculous.

"Let's say I give you the benefit of the doubt."

"Is that how you talk to your teacher?" Chabashira raised an eyebrow.

Horikita ignored her and continued. "Then what about Kumagawa?"

Whether Chabashira spoke or not, she had already decided—she would drag Ayanokōji and make him help her reach Class A, no matter what. That much was certain.

But the problem was Kumagawa.

Chabashira hesitated for a brief moment.

"...Class D is, in this school's words, a place for people with defective aspects," she finally said. "People who, for one reason or another, were deemed unfit for the upper classes, an incomplete product to be exact."

Horikita didn't react. She already knew this much.

"Kumagawa is... the embodiment of that idea," Chabashira continued. "Unlike you, unlike Ayanokōji, he doesn't fit within the school's system. No matter how competent he is, he wasn't placed in Class D just because of a few minor flaws. The school recognizes him as something fundamentally incompatible."

Horikita frowned slightly. "That doesn't explain anything. If he's so 'incompatible,' then why is he even here?"

"That's what I'd like to know as well," Chabashira muttered, almost to herself. Then, after a brief pause, she looked at Horikita.

"I'll give you another piece of advice," she said. "If you're serious about reaching Class A, then watch out for him."

Horikita crossed her arms.

"You make it sound like he's a threat."

Chabashira didn't answer. She didn't need to.

Horikita understood well enough.

Because she knew—Kumagawa Misogi was a problem.

She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

Chabashira didn't answer immediately. Instead, she simply gave Horikita a knowing look, as if expecting her to figure it out on her own.

"...I see," Horikita muttered. She had no intention of dragging this conversation out any longer.

Without another word, she turned and left.

Chabashira watched her go. Then, once Horikita disappeared from view, she pulled out her phone.

The screen lit up. She scrolled through her contacts and pressed call.

A moment later, the line connected.

"Hello. Meet me at the theater."

『END』

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