Classroom of the Elite (LN)

Volume 15, Chapter 5 : Each And Everyone’s Opinion

Intro

The timeline goes back to the ninth day of After a brief sleep, I turn on the GPS search just as 6:00 AM arrives. If I do this today I should see some unusual activity among top freshmen, including Housen.

There is nothing unusual about the positioning. The only one at the same table, Housen, is in a close position, but everyone else is at least three squares away. There is no indication that they are preparing anything at this time. It's hard to imagine being attacked in a public place, so as long as Ishizaki and the others are around, we can assume we're safe.

Hiyori, Ishizaki and the others began to wake up and prepare for the 12th day of the exam. When everyone was ready, we started walking together.

Ishizaki complained, still groggy from sleep.

It can not be helped. We will lose points if we suddenly step on the designated area.

Ishizaki and Nishino started talking. They must have been talking like this for more than ten days. The rest of the group concentrated on walking, as if they weren't listening.

"Ayanokouji-kun, do you ever feel lonely being in the exam?" Hiyori, who was walking beside me, asked me.

"Not especially. I feel more comfortable. " "I think It's a bit lonely and scary."

“Scared, huh? I can't imagine Hiyori being scared. "

Since she is always so relaxed, she seems to be insensitive to these issues. Even when psychic phenomena occur, she seems to just clap her hands and say, "This is amazing!"

“But I'm still pretty scared, you know. That is why I am sincerely impressed withAyanokouji-kun. "

I think Horikita and Ibuki are doing better than me.

The longer you struggled with loneliness, the weaker your mental state became, and the more you began to think about things you didn't need to think about.

You begin to feel things that are not there in the sound of the wind or the swaying of the trees.

"Surely … living on an uninhabited island alone is impossible for me."

Hiyori looked a bit scared when imagining it.

Only through this test of the uninhabited island was I able to see an unusual side of her.

“They are very close. Don’t they?"

I'm not sure how long he had been walking in front of everyone, but Ishizaki turned around, looked at us, and said so. (You don't need to get involved in anything else)

"Why don't they go out? They can be couples and that's how Ayanokoji comes to our class, right?”

“You’re thinking about it a lot."

Nishino throws a strong punch and Ishizaki yells holding his head. "It's funny, isn't it, Ishizaki-kun?"

With a giggle, Hiyori replies without seeming to care. If I took Ishizaki's words at face value every time, I'd be in trouble. I will let it pass.

"Ouch, that hurts. If you want to put Ayanokouji in your class, don't you think it's necessary?"

"I do not think so at all. You are the one who is so obsessed with Ayanokouji-kun. "

For those of other classes, who do not know the details of the situation, that would be more mysterious. Getting a perfect score on an exam can seem like too demanding.

"Well, what can I say? … We are on the same wavelength."

“I don't think you are on the same wavelength. I don't think anyone is on the same wavelength as you. "

Faced with Nishino's harsh response, Ishizaki sought help without hesitation. "That's not true. Ishizaki-kun has a determined look."

Hiyori says as if to continue, but they all bow their heads in unison. "What do you mean?"

"It is what it is. I can't answer any more questions."

"…So yes. In any case, it's good that Shiina-san praises you. "

"Oh yeah! I don't know what it is, but I don't feel bad about being praised! "

I guess I couldn't think of anything specific to say. There was no way to say something so cruel, so I listened silently.

Later, at seven in the morning, it was announced that the first designated zone was H10. Hiyori and her friends seemed to be in a different designated zone than J9, so it seemed like we weren't going to compete with each other. I appreciate it, because it is not good to compete with other students in the same course.

"That's all for now, Ayanokouji. See you later."

“Ah. There are only a few days left, so don't lose your temper. "

Ah. There are only a few days left, so don't lose your temper. "

Ishizaki offered me his fist, which I accepted, and then we started going our separate ways. After a short walk, I thought I heard a voice behind me. I turned around and saw Ishizaki and Hiyori waving at me. I waved goodbye to them and headed for H10.

I spared no effort to repeat the GPS search every hour this day, but there were no signs of any change in the movements of the freshmen.

The information Nanase had risked so much to tell me about the trick of the 12th was empty. Either Amasawa, who knew of Nanase's betrayal, pointed out the information leak. Or the plan was going to go ahead today but was postponed or canceled due to some accident.

In any case, I can't let my guard down tomorrow, the 13th and last day. The third and fourth designated zones of the day had to pass twice due to random zones.

I didn't lose much ground in the rankings, but the searches took a toll on me and I dropped to 16th place.

Tomorrow, I have to step on the designated area at all costs.

uninhabited island trial, the day after Nanase left Ayanokouji.

Although he was in a group of three, Housen, who had been alone since day one, was still lying in his tent when the designated zone was announced at 7 a.m. Shortly after 8 a.m., a shadow approached Housen and called out to him.

"Good morning, Housen-kun." "Oh?"

"It's me, Nanase."

“I know from your voice. What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean? We are a group and it is not unnatural for us to make contact." It was a serious answer, but Housen laughed when he heard it.

“I don't know if you can say that. You seem to have had a lot of fun with Ayanokouji, how have you been? "

"There is no I was no match for him."

"Ha, you didn't even use your woman's weapon to challenge him head on, did you?" "A woman's weapon ?"

"I do not know what you're talking about", Housen continued in disgust.

"You have big breasts, but you don't have any brain.

"Well, I really don't understand the relationship between the size of my breasts and my head."

"It's enough. And that? Did you come here just to make that report? "

Pulling out his tablet, Housen didn't hesitate to run a GPS search. Not knowing who Nanase was following, he decided that he should keep an eye on the surroundings. However, there were no shadows of the people Housen had marked in the vicinity.

“It was a mistake for me to try to expel Ayanokouji-kun by myself. So I have come to ask for Housen-kun's help. If you have a plan, let me hear it. "

Housen does not easily trust Nanase, who has been acting on his own and now wants to join him. Not sure what to do.

"Leave it, I'll do it myself."

" I'll wait until you change your mind."

“Go to the designated area, for God's sake. The only thing you can do is avoid a

penalty. "

He tried to get rid of her, but Nanase showed no signs of leaving.

Housen ignored her and closed his eyes, trying to get over it. About ten minutes later, Nanase calls him again.

"Housen-kun."

"Still no luck, huh? Why are we wasting time?" "It seems we have a visitor."

When Housen opened his eyes, he saw that there was another silhouette besides Nanase.

"Oh, it's me, Housen-kun "

“Who are you? I don't know you."

He intimidatingly told the person who approached him without giving his name. "Huh, from class C. I'm Katagiri."

"I do not know you."

"I'll talk to him for you. What happens?"

"I have brought something that I have to give to Housen-kun." "Do you have to give him something? What is it?"

"Well, they told me to just tell Housen-kun "

Housen, who was listening without interest, left the tent to see what was happening. And when he stood up, the giant looked down at little Katagiri.

"I'll punch you in the face if you bore me." " East!”

He closed his eyes and trembled, and handed the walkie-talkie into his hand. "It looks like a walkie-talkie."

"Here, take this. You can talk to Utomiya-kun." Katagiri speaks, a little scared by Housen.

"Hah. You want to contact me through a little boy." He picked up the walkie-talkie with annoyance.

"What the hell are you doing contacting me? Do you want us to play? Utomiya "

Housen says but without any response.Meanwhile, Housen operates the tablet to check Utomiya's location on the map.

"I don't know if you are not aware of it or if you are ignoring it, but this is your first and last chance, okay?"

A reaction appears on the other side.

“ I didn't want to contact you. But I can't help but do it to carry out my plan. "

"Plan?" What the hell are you talking about?" "Have you forgotten the sixth day?"

"If you mentioned something about talking in secret, I think I forgot." Looking sideways, Housen listened to the walkie-talkie without turning away.

"I took that fact into account" "I see. And?"

"We should have a strategy to rescue the freshmen (1st year) soon." "Will you save the first years?"

After answering like this, Housen interrupts Utomiya's voice.

In a hurry, Nanase takes the tablet out of her backpack and displays the last 10 groups. Currently, a total of four groups of freshmen are at risk of dropping out of school.

"We also have two first-year D class groups." Says Nanase.

"Ha, I don't care if those garbages disappear. Don't tell me that this guy thinks I'm going to make a move to save my classmates?

"Be on your guard. I'm afraid they are up to something." "Shut up."

Housen turns the transmission back on, knowing full well that this is so.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but what does it have to do with me?"

Nanase only feels firsthand that some kind of negotiation has already started. She listens quietly, but her location is obvious from the GPS search. They have certainly done some research on the Housen area before speaking.

I have the impression that the other party did not dare to mention it either. "It's because we need you to save us."

Due to the walkie-talkie, we cannot see Utomiya's expression. But Housen senses that there is a hidden part in him that does not mean it. Housen is not foolish enough not to see that.

“Has someone told you? How funny you are."

“If you want to say no, say no. I'm only discussing this to make sense, and I

originally thought we could do this without you. "

“Then that's it. I will reject it. "

Housen said so and finished sending a short reply. He waits patiently for an answer, clutching the walkie talkie as if to immediately drop it.

"…Housen".

Utomiya calls out Housen's name in frustration. But Housen's answer to that is silence. "I'm not going to get any help from you, am I?"

Due to Utomiya's personality, it is likely that he will be cornered once Housen refuses.

Housen read that the reason he didn't do it was because someone else was involved in the plan.

"Wait a minute. No one said anything about not cooperating. "

“What the hell is ?"

On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Utomiya was a bit nervous. It is seen that he was prepared for the fact that his call was no longer received.

"If you come here and beg me on your knees, I'll give you a hand, okay?"

" Do not be silly. Who is going to bow down to you? "

“Then we don't have to talk about it. Do you think it's OK? Tsubaki "

Housen tells Tsubaki, who is probably listening to the conversation on the other side of Utomiya.

“You realized? Or did you do a GPS search? "

“I didn't spend a point on something so obvious. I've always known that you are a stinky bitch. "

It was a lie. Housen had realized that Utomiya and Tsubaki were in the same place thanks to the GPS search he had just used, so he told her as if it were his own intuition.

"I guess, after all, I can't leave it to Utomiya-kun."

Housen laughs a little when hearing the exchange between Utomiya and Tsubaki.

"Are you saying you don't trust Utomiya?"

"No, only with Housen-kun. It is a known fact that the two of you are on bad terms, and I am not willing to let the negotiations break out of unnecessary emotion."

"So, what about the rescue of the first years?"

“You already know that, right? Four of the last ten groups are freshmen. Also, the second group is first-year D class. If the special exams end like this, the damage done to us freshmen and to Housen-kun's class will be great. "

For the person in charge of the 1st year D class, this is a situation that should be very serious. It would be strange if they weren't in a rush to do something about it.

However, Housen not only didn't flinch, he didn't even care

"Well, aren't you trying to rescue all the first years that are in the lower rank?"

“One thing before answering. You're sure Nanase is on our side, right? "

Tsubaki comes into contact with Nanase's existence for the first time here. She was trying to gather information from a lot of bad language and silence.

"Just so you know in a class D full of garbage, I am someone who could be useful."

"Yes. So don't worry, but it's the right thing to do. I'm going to bail out the last four current groups, as well as all the groups that are about to sink into the last five. ”

“You talk a lot, but can you do it? You haven't even done anything noteworthy up

to this point. If my valuable time is taken from me for no reason, I will not tolerate it." "You seem to take your time, although it is precious time."

Tsubaki's words indicate that he had been monitoring Housen with the GPS from the beginning.

“Just for fun, do I send errand boy ‘Katagiri’ back half dead? "

When his face stiffened, the Katagiri in front of him started to shrink. The slightest change in mood can make most students flinch and scare.

“Don't get carried away, Housen. If you put a hand on Katagiri, you will see it with me."

"Utomiya, don't interrupt me now." "But…".

They start arguing on the other side and the communication is cut off. "What are they doing?

"Whoa!"

Housen's smile looked creepy, and Katagiri wanted to run away.

“Damn, you're boring. You should leave."

"But the walkie-talkie …"

“I'm going to keep this for you, okay?

"But ”

"Katagiri-kun, nothing's wrong. I think you should leave this place to Housen-kun.”

Nanase intervenes and convinces him to do so. While he send a look, he didn't knew what will happen if it doesn't work out. Housen's eyes looking at him from behind crushed Katagiri's heart. He was about to fall on the road, but he ran away.

"Moron."

"That was a bit insistent."

"That's how I do it. Now you know".

After that exchange between the two, a reply comes from Tsubaki. "I'm sorry I made you wait … Can we resume our discussion?" "That's fine, but that Katagiri put down his walkie talkie and left." "You threatened him, right?"

Tsubaki answers briefly, without needing to guess.

“It is difficult to be weak in a fight, because it is resolved before it begins. The same thing happens to you, you know? Tsubaki. "

“'It's true that I can't win a fight if I go face to face. But not here."

"Here?"

"The head, the brain."

This was not a joke, but a serious response, and Housen laughs inadvertently. "Ha if you really are more pissed off than me, it would be a big problem."

“There is a way to forcibly rescue groups from their situation. To do this, you will need as many helpers as possible. Since it seems that those above are already using the same strategy, and we also need the help of the first year D-class. ”

That's why Tsubaki asks Housen for help, since he has done what he has wanted until now.

"I would love to help, but I have things to do. I'm very busy."

Tsubaki and the others knew that Housen's time was running out since he hadn't moved even after lifting the designated area, but they dared to tell him to see his reaction.

"Busy is you are trying to expel Ayanokouji-senpai?

"That's what I mean. I don't care if the trash from my class disappears "

“But how do you plan to expel him? Even on the morning of the eighth day, Ayanokouji- senpai continues to work alone. And yet it is not in the last 10 groups. The only conditions for being expelled from school are, according to the regulations, the only two options for this special exam: withdraw with the group or sink to the bottom of the score. "

And the situation where the lowest rank for the score cannot be clearly expected.

“There have been some students who have withdrawn so far this week, but so far there has been no group elimination, so it will be a difficult scenario for the rest of the week, and there could be an elimination of group somewhere.”

“It’s true. Some of them are already running out of food. "

Utomiya's voice also entered, who is next to Tsubaki. Utomiya and the others have already helped a group of first-year students in need of food several times.

“If the first five groups are defeated, it will be practically impossible to get Ayanokouji- senpai out of the school, right? You may think that rescuing the first years will also help Ayanokouji-senpai get expelled, right? "

Only here does Housen's smile fade and he begins to contain something serious.

"So saving the first years. Well, that doesn't sound so bad Let's hear how you do it."

“As I said before, we are going to stay together as one in our grade, like all the other students in the upper grades. We will absorb the sinking groups to the bottom and pick up where we left off with the groups we can afford. If need be, I could even use my hands to take homework from the group of sophomores and juniors sinking below. "

“If it were so easy to assemble, we wouldn't have any problem, right? We have Class A and Class B. I don't think they will help Class D and Class C. "

“I don't think we should worry about that. We have already decided to cooperate with each other. I'm just waiting for Housen's approval”

She says she's fit to move if freshman D class agrees to join.

“It is not a bad idea, but there is no guarantee that you will win with it. After all, even

if you use the same strategy, the scenario will be the same. The difference in experience, the result of losing the freshmen is unshakable. "

While he seemed to listen to the conversation on the sidelines, Housen developed Tsubaki's plan in his mind. And although the probability of a first-year bailout increases, it can be concluded that the handicap cannot be eliminated.

"So is. At this rate, we may not be able to reduce the first year's sacrifice to zero. ”

"That's not what you were saying. Didn't you think we were going to get all the first years out?"

“If all grades use the same strategy, freshmen will be at a disadvantage. That's what Housen-kun read. So why don't we withdraw some groups before the end of the last day? "

This is where Tsubaki's true nature and her goals come to light.

"There are still a couple of people in the upper class who are working alone, so we have to sink them."

"'I see, if five individual groups fall, surely we can save the whole year."

“I thought that the moment to make a move was when everyone started to get tired. We originally planned to do it between the eighth and the tenth day of the second half of the test, but something happened that we did not expect. ”

The fact that Housen didn't show up on the sixth day. The fact that almost the entire seventh day was destroyed by bad weather and he had to regain his strength. That thought immediately crossed Housen's mind

"And good? Be specific about what you want me to do for you. "

“The organizers of this test have made a proposal. They said they wouldn't mind bringing you down with an act of violence. Housen-kun, you are planning to forcibly defeat Ayanokouji-senpai, right? "

"Well, it's the only way."

That's what Housen replied, but his true intentions were different. He can find other strategies, but when it comes to crushing Ayanokouji, he decides to do it directly with his own hands.

"But it is difficult to keep Ayanokoji-senpai, who is always on the move in a solitary way. Until now, Housen-kun has not been able to fulfill that opportunity. But it is different if there is a wide siege network. Tsubaki mentioned that she would take on that role.

“I have been investigating how many of the first-year students, including Utomiya and Housen, trust their ability to fight or use violence and have no resistance. If you surround him well, you can block his escape routes. "

"Do you want me to help you prepare the place?" "Yes."

"Would they cross such a dangerous bridge? I don't think they work for free, much less Utomiya"

"Of course. People who cooperate agree to do so for 500,000 points as a reward for success. I think it is a necessary expense to reduce Housen-kun's participation. "

A proposal to share the private points obtained by expelling Ayanokouji from the school. "Wait, Tsubaki, Violence is forbidden as a general rule, would you act accordingly just

to pay them 500,000? "

It seems that this is the first time that Utomiya has learned the details of the mission. That voice came from the other side of the walkie-talkie. There, Housen realized that Tsubaki was intentionally leaking something that Utomiya didn't know. Normally, the walkie-talkie can send voice to the other person only when the button is pressed. If Utomiya talks about something inconvenient, release the button. Indirectly conveys that it is confidential

“Of course, you can't ask me to do this the first day. The second half of the test has been tough, both physically and mentally. Student stress is considerable. We are all in a state of conflict between our desire to be comfortable and our desire to be radical. Of course, I think they feel a strong resistance to taking the first blow. That is why I want to leave the leadership to you, Housen-kun. "

Tsubaki calmly analyzes the situation and says that it is easy to notice.

“There are many people who want to ignore a red light in front of them. However, it is difficult to take the first step when there are other people's eyes. But if a person starts to cross, the situation changes. "

Tsubaki says she wants to leave that role to Housen.

"Well, I don't like how they do it, but schools aren't stupid."

“At that moment, it is either fight or lose both. I will take responsibility for expelling

him as the brain that gave instructions to the first graders… " "Ah?"

"I don't regret this school. So I feel like I can quit right away. I've made sure all the guys in my group have private points and half-price cards…"

Tsubaki replies that it's okay if the fault lies with the group, not just Tsubaki, who was the one who came up with the plan.

“People who can self-destruct are scary. I have changed my mind. "

Housen dedicates a few words of admiration to Tsubaki, who has come with a powerful weapon.

"I hadn't told Utomiya, but are you against the plan?"

“…… No. Rather, I thought that making bad plays was pointless… I have been observing Ayanokouji in my own way, and it is not just a coincidence that he has been the subject of 20 million. I think it's because it's clearly a rarity that he was the goal.

Even if you try to catch him within the rules, he will surely evade you. I have no right to stop you if you are willing to. "

Utomiya was not opposed to violence, but was concerned about the lack of expectations. If Tsubaki took full responsibility, the situation would be different. If Housen, Utomiya and the others were just the ones used, the story would be different. The school is unlikely to have dozens of expulsions, although they can be sanctioned in some way.

“I'm sure it's difficult to get Ayanokouji-senpai to drop out of school suddenly. I think that is why it was prepared on this uninhabited island, where the eyes of surveillance do not reach, as a setting. "

"I see. So it is not a coincidence. "

Housen closed the map screen on his tablet once and switched to recording mode.

"Do you mean that only you came up with the plan to violently withdraw Ayanokouji? Tsubaki. "

"That is a question?"

"If we follow you, no one will be expelled from our first year. Can you guarantee it?"

“I promise. And if something happens, I'll take the blame. " When he hears this, Housen is satisfied and ends the recording.

"Did you take the recording correctly? Is it not safe to have my testimony?" Housen smirks at Tsubaki's words, who sees right through him.

“And that? When are you going to do it?

“I can't tell you yet. I cannot easily divulge that information. "

"Can't you trust me? I appreciate your secrecy, but I won't be able to help you."

"That's what walkie-talkies are for."

The walkie-talkie that was taken from Katagiri was prepared for Housen from the beginning. The result does not change even if it was stolen.

"That's what I mean."

"I'll get in touch when the time comes, thank you." With that, Tsubaki ends the communication.

"Sounds like a woman who can't eat." Laughing, Housen put the walkie-talkie in his pocket.

"What will we do?"

“I'm not sure what to think, but I'm sure there's nothing wrong with following Tsubaki's strategy. In any case, she intended to crush Ayanokouji even if he was alone. "

This would require repeated GPS searches. He decided that if Tsubaki was going to provide him with all these things, it would be in her best interest to do so.

“We can do whatever we want, and the blame falls entirely on Tsubaki, the ringleader. It's too good to be true. "

“On the other hand, doesn't it seem suspicious that she sacrifices ?”

"Well, it's welcome. Anyway, that's it." " I'm willing to help"

"Ah?"

"Because I want to protect the first year D-class group too. Please let me be by your side until I get more information from Tsubaki-san.”

In response to Nanasese's offer, Housen simply replied: "Do whatever you want."