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

『』『』『』『』『』

『Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~ ♪』

Kumagawa strolled leisurely through the cruise ship's hallway, whistling a horribly out-of-tune melody. Despite the bandages wrapped around his arms and the faint bruises peeking out from under his uniform, he moved as if nothing was wrong.

His footsteps were light, his hands tucked into his pockets as if he didn't have a single care in the world.

Today, he was visiting someone.

"How are you going to take responsibility, Katsuragi?!"

『Oh? 』

His ears perked up at the loud commotion ahead. From the way they were shouting and the familiar name he heard, it wasn't hard to guess what was happening.

"That contract you signed was a huge mistake!"

A group of Class A students had gathered in front of Katsuragi, their expressions a mix of anger and frustration. Meanwhile, Katsuragi himself stood there, arms crossed, unmoving like a statue. He wasn't backing down, but his usual imposing presence didn't seem as firm as before.

With an amused smile, Kumagawa walked right into the chaos.

『Katsuragi-chan! 』

His voice carried easily over the tense atmosphere. The moment they heard him, every Class A student simultaneously turned to face him.

『Stop it, you're going to make me act all bashful. 』

Katsuragi narrowed his eyes slightly, looking more annoyed than anything else.

"What is it, Kumagawa?"

『Huh? Did you already develop dementia? I'm here to make you fulfill our contract.』

At those words, the frustration among the Class A students boiled over. Those in Katsuragi's faction raised their voices, clearly upset.

"What contract?! Don't joke around!" one of the students snapped.

It was probably one of Sakayanagi's lackeys. But Kumagawa found the outburst amusing.

After all, wasn't it obvious?

Class A had just achieved an embarrassingly low score in the exam. Their so-called "elite" status had taken a serious hit, and Katsuragi—the one who had been making the decisions—was the perfect scapegoat.

Katsuragi's leadership was already built on shaky ground. His logical, conservative approach clashed with Sakayanagi's ruthless, manipulative style. Up until now, his influence had remained intact only because he had consistently led the class without any major failures.

A twenty-point outcome? That was a humiliation no one in Class A would overlook. His credibility had taken a massive blow. His faction was weakened. His supporters were questioning him.

And, in turn, Sakayanagi's own influence would only grow stronger.

Kumagawa always considered himself a good person. And what kind of good person doesn't help disabled people? Sakayanagi, with her crutch and her ambitions of usurping leadership, was practically screaming for assistance.

So here he was, giving her the perfect opportunity to take over.

『Man, I really am too kind. Helping out the less fortunate like this... 』

He flashed a pleasant smile at the increasingly furious Class A students.

『Now then, Katsuragi-chan, let's talk about that contract, shall we? Or don't tell me you're planning to run away from our agreement? 』

"I haven't forgotten, But the situation has changed." Katsuragi replied firmly, his tone filled with irritation.

『Oh? You mean because you lost?』

Katsuragi's faction flinched. The words must have hit a nerve.

『Come on, Katsuragi-chan, a deal's a deal. If you try to back out now, won't that make you just another liar? I mean, I wouldn't mind that. I hate liars. But I thought you were the honorable type. 』

"I remember the deal. But the agreement is off. Since you're the one who broke the agreement first."

『I don't remember doing anything like that. Care to enlighten me?』

Katsuragi didn't bother with further words. Instead, he pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper and held it out for Kumagawa to see.

——————

Formal Contract Agreement

Party A: Katsuragi Kōhei

Party B: Kumagawa Misogi

Clause one — Party B shall provide Party A with the identity of Class C's leader at the moment of disclosure along with supporting evidence.

Clause Two — If the provided information is correct, Party A and only those who recognize Party A as their leader shall transfer 50% of their total private points to Party B. However, if the information is deemed incorrect, Party B shall provide appropriate compensation to Party A.

Clause Three — Party A reserves the right to determine the validity of the information based on the provided evidence. However, any errors in judgment or misinterpretation of said evidence shall not affect the terms of Clause 2. Upon execution of either Clause 2, this Agreement shall be considered fulfilled, and no further claims may be made.

By signing below, both parties acknowledge and agree to the terms stated above.

Signed:

Party A: Katsuragi Kōhei

Party B: Kumagawa Misogi

——————

Kumagawa carefully scanned the document before flashing an easygoing smile.

『Hmm, hmm~ I don't see anything wrong with it. Looks totally legit to me. 』

"You clearly violated Clause One," Katsuragi stated, his voice laced with restrained anger. "Ryūen wasn't the leader of Class C. It was Ibuki Mio."

『Oh, that's what you meant? But, you see, Katsuragi-chan, I did give you the correct leader of Class C... at that time.』

Katsuragi's expression darkened.

"What are you saying?"

『It's simple. When I told you that Ryūen was the leader, he was the leader. That's not my fault if he got dethroned later. 』

The moment those words left his mouth, the entire group erupted.

"You bastard!"

"Don't screw with us!"

"You tricked us into believing a lie!"

『I thought Class A was supposed to be full of geniuses, but it turns out you guys can't even read properly. Maybe you should try reading Shōnen Jump instead. The pictures might help you understand better. 』

That pushed them over the edge.

"You little—!"

Several students lunged forward, but Katsuragi held up a hand, stopping them. He wasn't about to let Class A lose any more dignity.

Katsuragi took a deep breath and countered, "No matter what excuse you give, the contract was made under the assumption that you'd provide the correct answer. Your so-called truth means nothing if it led to an incorrect conclusion."

『Hmm, but where in the contract does it say my answer had to be right? It only says I had to provide an answer and supporting evidence. Which I did. The fact that you guys made a bad bet is on you, Katsuragi-chan. You shouldn't blame someone for your own action, only a loser would do that. 』

Katsuragi clenched his fists.

Class A had started the exam with 270 points. Since they had guessed all three leaders wrong—Class C, Class B, and Class D—they lost 50 points per incorrect answer, totaling 100 points lost.

Additionally, it seemed that every other class had correctly identified their leader, meaning another 150 points lost from being exposed.

A 250-point loss.

With that, they had crashed straight to twenty points.

『Now, moving on to actual business, let's talk about my payment. 』

Kumagawa's voice turned cheerful.

『All of Katsuragi-chan's followers, please transfer half of your private points to me. No need to rush. I can wait~』

An immediate uproar followed.

"No way!"

"You expect us to pay after this?!"

"This isn't fair!"

Kumagawa ignored them and turned toward the Sakayanagi faction students standing at the back, watching silently.

『Oh, but you guys don't have to worry. I made a deal with Katsuragi-chan and his followers, not you. You can just sit back and enjoy the show~』

Some students from the Sakayanagi faction smirked. They had no love for Katsuragi's group, and seeing them humiliated like this was entertaining.

Kumagawa clapped his hands together.

『Alright, alright, let's not drag this out. If you guys refuse to pay, that just means you're dishonorable cheats who break contracts. But that's fine by me! I love liars.』

He gave them an infuriatingly smug grin.

One by one, pings echoed through the system as Katsuragi's followers begrudgingly transferred their points. Each sound was like music to Kumagawa's ears.

He lazily pulled out his phone and glanced at the updated balance.

[2,552,348 Points]

『Oh wow, Katsuragi-chan, your people sure are generous. I just made 1,169,350 points in one go. Maybe I should start calling you my sponsor~』

With a satisfied hum, he slipped his phone back into his pocket, patting it lightly as if to savor the weight of his newfound fortune.

『Well then, this has been fun! Money really does make the world go round, huh? Thanks for the donation, everyone! I'll be sure to use it wisely.』

The way he said it made it painfully obvious he had no intention of doing that.

Katsuragi's faction looked ready to explode, but they couldn't argue. A deal was a deal.

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, humming an off-tune melody.

『Hmm~ Hmm~ Hmm~ ♪』

Behind him, Class A stood in stunned silence, their pride and wallets equally shattered.

Kumagawa, unfazed by the commotion he had left behind, casually strolled down the hallway. There was still one more thing he needed to return to someone.

"Kumagawa!"

Someone called out to him.

Kumagawa turned around and saw a blonde guy approaching him. His hair was tied up in a horsetail style, giving off an air of carefree confidence.

『Who's the background character I'm speaking to? 』

"Hah, real funny."

『... 』

"...."

Kumagawa said nothing, simply staring at the boy in front of him with empty, unreadable eyes. The silence stretched between them, turning the situation increasingly awkward.

"...My name is Masayoshi Hashimoto."

『Oh, is that so? What an incredibly normal-sounding name. 』

"Man, you really don't hold back, huh?"

『 So? Did you just come here to introduce yourself? If so, I'm not interested in making acquaintance. 』

"Nah," Hashimoto replied smoothly. "I just wanted to say—I liked what you did to Katsuragi back there."

『Oh? 』

"It's been a long time since I've seen someone toy with Katsuragi like that. That was pretty damn entertaining."

Kumagawa tilted his head slightly.

『I see. That must mean... you're from Sakayanagi's faction?』

"Yeah. I don't really swear loyalty to anyone, but let's just say I'm on the princess's side."

『Princess? That's a pretty obnoxious nickname for just a high school girl. What's next? Is she sitting on a throne made of test scores while her subjects grovel for private points? Or maybe she's waiting for some noble prince to come sweep her off her feet?』

Hashimoto chuckled. "Not too far off, actually. She does have that way of making people bend the knee. But hey, don't go telling her I said that. She'd probably have me executed for treason."

『Oh, don't worry. I'd never betray a fellow commoner. At least, not for free. 』Kumagawa grinned.

"Yeah, I figured as much."

Then, as if remembering something, he pulled out his phone. "Speaking of which, give me your number. I get the feeling we'll be great friends later."

『... 』

Kumagawa simply stared at him, smiling.

For a moment, Hashimoto felt an odd chill, but before he could say anything, Kumagawa pulled out his phone and exchanged contact details.

The two finished the exchange, and Hashimoto tucked his phone away.

"Alright, I'll see you around, Kumagawa. Oh, and don't forget—you never heard me badmouthing the princess, alright?"

『My lips are sealed. 』

Hashimoto gave him one last grin before turning and walking off.

Kumagawa watched him for a moment.

『Well, that was amusing. 』

He glanced at his phone, then slipped it back into his pocket before continuing down the hall. There was still one more thing he needed to do.

『It should be around here somewhere...』

Kumagawa made his way to the upper floors designated for guests. The third floor was primarily for boys, while the fourth floor housed the girls' quarters. As he strolled down the hallway, humming his usual off-tune melody, a sharp sound reached his ears.

"Ugh."

『Hmm? 』

Kumagawa heard the sound, short, sharp, filled with barely restrained disgust. Like someone had just stepped on something unpleasant.

He turned his head toward the source and found exactly who he was looking for.

『Agent Ahoge. My treacherous subordinate.』

Ibuki's eyebrow twitched.

"Who the hell are you calling 'Agent Ahoge'?"

Her already sharp glare became even sharper. The nickname was obviously referring to the single strand of hair that stood defiantly atop her head—her 'ahoge.'

『You, obviously. I expected better from my trusted agent, but alas, you turned out to be a backstabbing spy. 』

"...I was never your agent in the first place."

『And yet, you don't deny the betrayal. How cruel.』

"...What do you want?"

Kumagawa's usual smile widened.

『Oh, nothing much. I just came to return something that belongs to you.』

Kumagawa reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, sleek device.

『Here you go. 』

Without waiting for her to react, he grabbed her hand and placed A digital camera firmly in her palm.

For a moment, Ibuki just stared at it, as if processing what had just happened. Then, her grip tightened.

"You...!"

『It's not good to steal underwear, you know. And then blame it on someone else? Tsk, tsk. Truly shameful behavior. 』

Kumagawa wagged his finger in mock disappointment, his voice carrying the same tone as an elementary school teacher scolding a misbehaving child.

From the very beginning, Kumagawa had been aware that Ibuki was a spy from Class C. Her confrontation with Ryūen was likely genuine, but that wasn't the whole truth either.

How did he know?

Simple. Because he was a liar.

A good liar.

Kumagawa understood deception better than anyone else. It was second nature to him, as easy as breathing. He could tell when someone was lying, because he knew exactly how he would do it himself.

And the more he interacted with her, the more certain he became—Ibuki was here on purpose.

The only real way to sabotage another class in this exam was to uncover their leader. That much was obvious. With that in mind, it wasn't hard to piece together her true goal.

But, just like in a Jump manga, if there's a spy, there must also be some kind of communication involved. No spy operates completely on their own. There had to be a way for her to report back to Ryūen.

Thankfully, this wasn't some medieval war drama where people had to rely on carrier pigeons or coded letters. This was the modern age.

Phones, radios, digital cameras, transceivers—there were plenty of ways to send information, even in a restricted environment like the exam. The school had banned most electronic devices, but with the use of points, students could buy anything available. And buying something small like a transceiver wasn't impossible.

So, during the night on the fourth day, Kumagawa decided to ransack Ibuki's bag to search for her communication devices. If she was a spy, she had to be reporting to someone.

But instead of a transceiver, he found something unexpected.

A digital camera.

That discovery alone made him very happy.

Without a second thought, he took it and secured it for later use.

Of course, Ibuki realized it had gone missing. That was why she set up the entire incident with Karuizawa's underwear. She was getting impatient—it was already the fifth day, and she still hadn't secured Class D's leader identity.

Kumagawa wasn't entirely sure why she needed the camera, but it was important enough that she was willing to cause a commotion over it.

Too bad for her—it was already useless.

By the time she had staged her little scene, Kumagawa had already buried the camera, carefully wrapped in vinyl, a little ways away from the Class D camp. Even if she had torn through everyone's belongings, she wouldn't have found it.

But Kumagawa wasn't one to let something valuable go to waste.

Using that very camera, he had secured a deal with Class A.

With it as leverage, he promised to deliver definitive proof that Ryūen was still on the island—while the rest of Class C had already retired.

Ibuki's scowl deepened. "...So you're the one who stole it?"

『Ah, that hurts, Ibuki-chan. I didn't steal it—I rescued it. There's a difference. 』

He casually placed a hand on his hip, looking as if he were some kind of righteous hero who had saved a kidnapped hostage.

『But seriously, putting something valuable in your bag like that? You're lucky it was me who found it. 』

He shook his head in exaggerated disappointment.

『Come on, think about it. If you leave something important lying around, it's always going to get stolen, destroyed, or conveniently lost right when it matters most. 』

Ibuki's temple throbbed.

"...You are the bastard who stole it."

『Wow, you're really stuck on that, huh? I just gave it back, didn't I? Shouldn't I be getting a thank you or something? 』

"Like hell I'd thank you. You had no reason to steal it in the first place."

『Steal? Now that's a harsh word. I was just keeping it safe. I mean, leaving something valuable in a bag? That's just asking for it to be taken. Haven't you read Jump manga? You know, the ones where the protagonist always hides their important stuff somewhere secure? Unlike you, who just left it lying around like a side character. 』

"...What did you just say?"

『Ah, don't take it the wrong way, Ibuki-chan Some people are just born to be side characters. It's not like it's a bad thing. Background characters have their own charm too, you know? 』

That was the last straw.

"Tch—!!"

Ibuki's fist shot toward Kumagawa, frustration finally boiling over.

Pak!

With zero effort, Kumagawa caught her punch in his palm.

『Hey, come on. Look at all the bandages I have on my body. It's bad manners to punch an injured person.』

Ibuki tried to yank her hand back, but Kumagawa only let go when he felt like it. Clicking her tongue, she took a step back, visibly irritated.

『Well, since you don't seem interested in thanking me, I'll leave you to your brooding. Bye-bye, Agent Ahoge. Try not to lose your stuff next time. 』

Without waiting for a response, Kumagawa turned on his heel and walked away, humming his off-key tune once again.

『』『』『』『』『』

Ichinose stood among her classmates, listening as Kanzaki and the others reassured her.

"You don't need to blame yourself, Ichinose. We still managed to hold onto third place. That's not a bad result."

Shibata Shō tried to lift her spirits, his voice full of casual optimism.

"Yeah! It's not like we finished last or anything. Our points are just one point behind Class C, so it's not that bad," another student added.

Ichinose smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

She knew they meant well. That they were trying to cheer her up. But she couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed them.

Class B prided itself on cooperation and teamwork. Unlike other class, er class had always focused on unity. It was their greatest strength.

And yet...

"If I had just been a little sharper... maybe we could have won," Ichinose murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

Kanzaki shook his head. "It's not that simple. We didn't anticipate that Kumagawa would retire from the exam and force a leader change on the last day. But we still did our best, and we learned something valuable. That's what matters."

Ichinose didn't respond immediately.

Kanzaki sighed inwardly. He knew Ichinose. She always took responsibility for everything, even when it wasn't her fault. Right now, she was probably blaming herself for not seeing through Kumagawa's play, for not countering Ryūen properly, for not securing the win.

Kanzki reasoning, that he didnt want ichinose to be down right now, while it may be a good experience for the class to lose this exam, seeing ichinose like this was probably not good in the long run.

Losing this exam wasn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it could be a valuable learning experience for Class B. But seeing Ichinose like this—doubting herself—was a problem. If she lost confidence, it could shake the entire class in the long run.

"Ichinose, it's fine, we're still in a good position. We just need to learn from this and move forward." Kanzaki said.

Ichinose wanted to agree. She should have agreed. But deep down, she couldn't help but wonder—

Was her way of doing things really enough to reach Class A?

'What is my priority?'

She looks at her classmates, altough they were still chatting with each other while looking cheerful as usual.

"...Hey, Kanzaki-kun"

"Hm?"

"Do you think... my way of doing things is wrong?"

Kanzaki blinked, slightly caught off guard by the question.

"What do you mean?"

"The way I lead Class B. The way I always try to make sure everyone is working together, supporting each other... Do you think that's enough to win?"

For a moment, Kanzaki didn't respond. He hadn't expected Ichinose to ask that herself. He thought it would take a lot longer for her to start questioning her approach—but it happened much faster than he expected.

It must be because of Kumagawa.

That annoying bastard advice has planted something inside her heart. A single doubt. A tiny seed of uncertainty. And now, it was starting to grow.

Ichinose forced a smile. "Never mind. That was a weird question."

"I don't think it's wrong, But I do think it has limits." Kanzaki said.

Ichinose's breath caught slightly.

"Ichinose, you're a good person. That's why everyone in Class B trusts you. But in this school, just being good won't get us to Class A."

She already knew that.

But hearing it out loud—especially from Kanzaki, someone who always supported her—made it sting a little more.

'Then... what should I do?'

The answer to that question was still out of reach.

『』『』『』『』『』

Now back to the present.

Kumagawa, Ayanokōji, and Horikita stood facing each other in one of the ship's quiet lounge areas. The gentle rocking of the cruise ship barely registered as the two Class D students stared at Kumagawa, waiting for an explanation.

Horikita crossed her arms, her sharp gaze locked onto him.

"Now, tell me—what exactly did you do during the exam?"

Kumagawa, seated comfortably in a chair, simply smiling.

『Oh? You're interested? 』

"Enough with the nonsense."

『Ayanokōji-kun here already figured out the rough idea, right? I did the opposite of what he did. 』

"The opposite?"

Ayanokōji, who had remained silent so far, spoke up. "I made sure to minimize unnecessary conflicts and avoided standing out."

『Ding-ding-ding! That's exactly right!』 Kumagawa clapped his hands together. 『If we couldn't win by scoring high, then the only other way was to make sure no one else did either. So, I played a little game~』

"A game?"

『Yeah. I played around with Class A, Class B, and Class C, feeding them just the right amount of lies, half-truths, and 'maybe-truths' to make sure they all tripped over themselves. 』

That explanation did not clear anything at all, in fcat it just make horikita more confused than before.

That explanation did not clarify anything at all. In fact, it only made Horikita more confused.

"What?"

『Oh, you still don't get it? Well, what can I expect from Class D?』 Kumagawa sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if he were truly disappointed.

Horikita's expression morphed into something terrifying—her brows twitched, her eyes sharpened into a glare, and the corners of her lips twitched as if she was barely holding back the urge to say something venomous.

『Whoa there, Horikita-chan, your face is scarier than the jump scare in a horror manga. I mean, I get it, but it's kinda unfair when my face is always like this, don't you think?』

Her brow twitched even harder.

『How can I explain this in a way even an idiot can understand...? 』 Kumagawa tapped his chin in exaggerated thought.

"...Just get on with it."

"..."

Ayanokōji observed quietly. This was the first time he had seen Horikita look this irritated. Even when dealing with her brother, she had never seemed this on edge.

『It's simple, really. Most people don't seem to realize that you can't change the leader without justification. Once the leader is set, it's locked in unless something forces a change—like retirement. So, by stepping down, I made sure the wrong answer was permanently stuck in their heads. Class A, B, and C all lost 50 points for getting it wrong.』

With that, Class A B and C minus 50 points.

That meant Class A, B, and C had all lost 50 points just from that one move.

『Ryūen also did the same thing, dragging other classes down. Not only he change the leader, he also guess their leader. That's basically minus 100 points for class A and B. 』

Which meant both of those classes dropped even further.

Ayanokōji, analyzing the results, noted that Class A ended with only 20 points. That was because they had been guessed incorrectly for both leader changes. Meanwhile, Class D, Class B, and Class C had all made the correct choice when guessing Class A's leader, costing Class A even more points. That was the only possible explanation for why they had received such a low final score.

Ayanokōji was certain that Kumagawa had pinpointed Class A's leader just like he had—and that Kumagawa had deliberately leaked that information to Class B.

On the other hand, Class C managed to guess Class A and B's leaders, earning them 100 points. However, when Ryūen guessed Class D's leader incorrectly, he lost 50 points. Yet, despite that, Class C still ended with 71 points.

That meant one thing—nobody had actually guessed their final leader at all.

A small miscalculation on the other classes' part had resulted in Class C finishing slightly higher than expected.

But there was one thing Ayanokōji still wasn't sure about—how had Ryūen figured out that rule? Based on his personality, there was no way he would have let someone else handle the crucial parts of the strategy. There had to be something else.

『It seems he managed to figure out the hint I gave him. Since that brain of his can't think about anything other than winning dirty, it was bound to happen.』

"Hint?"

『Yup, a hint. You guys noticed the transceiver on his desk, right? Since it was for communication, it was pretty easy to guess his strategy based on his personality. After all, a bad guy is easier to predict than an idiot. But for some reason, he didn't expect me to retire. He must've underestimated me. Pretty stupid of him, don't you think?』

"..."

So that's how it was.

In the end, it was Kumagawa who had led Ryūen in that direction.

Ayanokōji couldn't say for certain how much of it was intentional, but the fact remained—Kumagawa's entire strategy was built around dragging every other class down with him. A "if no one wins, then everybody loses" kind of situation.

It was oddly fitting for him.

『Then again, if Ryūen managed to figure that out, then Horikita, you must be stupider than the stupid Ryūen. 』

Horikita's fists clenched at her sides. "You—"

『Oops, gotta go! I'm still injured, you know. It's bad manners to pick on a wounded guy.』

With a carefree wave, Kumagawa turned on his heel, leaving behind Horikita and Ayanokōji. Silence lingered between them for a moment.

"...I hate to say this, but it seems I underestimated Kumagawa," Horikita admitted reluctantly.

"You're not the only one," Ayanokōji replied. "He's unpredictable. He acts like a fool, but his thought process is far more intricate than it appears."

Horikita let out a small sigh before turning to him with a serious expression.

"I can't rely on Kumagawa. If I want to reach Class A, I need someone I can trust," she said. "Ayanokōji-kun, will you continue to help me?"

Ayanokōji regarded her quietly. Then, after a brief pause, he spoke.

"I don't mind helping you get up to Class A. However, I have one condition. Do not investigate me. If you promise not to touch on this subject ever again, I will help you."

Horikita took his hand without hesitation.

Her handshake was firm.

'I work for me.'

'You do things for yourself.'

The battle to raise their class up from the very bottom was about to begin.

『END』

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