Classroom of the Elite (LN)

“No~ Scary~”

After we finished hanging out and returned to our rooms, Miyamoto soon came back too while saying something.

“Did something happen?”

“Nothing really happened. At the nearby bathroom, that Tokitou guy was grabbing Katsuragi by the collar. Ah, of course it’s that Tokitou with a quick temper. He gets into quite a bit of fights, that guy.”

“Oi, oi, has it not stopped yet? It’s quite scary when Hiroya snaps, you know?”

Akito talked as if he wasn’t a part of it. Miyamoto looked pouty.

“They’re not stopping. It has nothing to do with me so it’d be trouble to get dragged in.”

Katsuragi and Tokitou Hiroya. They’re both from Ryuuen’s class.

“Katsuragi just moved there from A-Class. If you remember that they were enemies until just a short while ago, it’s no wonder that one or two incidents would happen. Right Kiyotaka?”

“Yeah probably.”

“I’m a bit worried. Wanna look?”

“Leave it Miyake. If another class is infighting then that’s relatively good for us isn’t it? In the first place Katsuragi was from A-Class. It’s not unusual for them to not get along.”

“But… we’re all 2nd years.”

“If you actually stick out your neck here, we might actually get involved too, you know? And if we get Ryuuen’s attention what do you plan to do?”

Akito seemed unsatisfied with Miyamoto’s explanation, but for now he settled down.

If he comes in then the situation may indeed take a turn for the worse.

Listening to their conversation, I stood up quietly.

“Leave it, I said.”

“No, I think it’s correct to not interfere. My throat is dry so I’m just going to go to a store.”

I said that and left the room.

If I recall correctly, he said that those two were fighting at the nearby toilet room.

If it were a small fight, then it would be best to leave it alone as Miyamoto said, but…

When I heard Tokitou, the first thing I remembered was Ichinose’s classmate with whom I shared a group in the mixed training camp, Tokitou Katsumi. But this is a different person, Tokitou Hiroya. Seeing the relatively rare surname Tokitou isn’t a coincidence. I remember hearing that they had a distant relative and being surprised. I haven’t seen him often since then, but Tokitou Katsumi is a comrade I ate, bathed and slept with.

He didn’t seem to know me, but if it’d be okay for me, an outsider to intervene, then I’d more or less want to offer my hand.

I took action with that in mind, but…

Even after I came close to the restroom, I couldn’t see Katsuragi.

It looked like there was a fight, but maybe it got resolved right away.

“Ayanokouji-kun.”

After I made to look at my surroundings just in case, Hiyori called me.

“Didn’t you see Katsuragi?”

“It looks like other people haven’t seen him either. I also heard that Katsuragi-kun and Tokitou-kun were fighting and came here. Then I asked them to move somewhere else just now.”

I see. They unintentionally stand out around the restroom.

I followed Hiyori’s guidance and heard a small voice from a discreet place.

I was directed to peek from a dark place and quietly looked at the source of the voice. Just as Miyamoto said, it was Katsuragi and Tokitou. But aside from them the girl Okabe also seemed to be there.

“Katsuragi, are you following someone like Ryuuen?”

“We’re not getting anywhere. Your wording more or less changes but this is the third time you’ve asked that question.”

“Because you don’t answer.”

“I can’t answer. I keep asking what you mean.”

Katsuragi was dealing with it calmly. In contrast, Tokitou was letting his feelings get the better of him.

“I’m asking if you’ve become his dog who’d follow his every order.”

“I don’t remember becoming a dog, nor do I remember following his orders.”

“Sorry but I don’t think so. Because why did you join him on the island?”

“It’s hard to understand why you’re saying it. For our class to win, obviously.”

What was there aside from that? Katsuragi answered naturally.

“Even though you couldn’t even get 3rd place?”

“Indeed it seems like things didn’t go according to plan. But the result wasn’t that bad.”

“What? Everything below 4th place is the same isn’t it? Besides that, didn’t your piggyback card end up being useless too?”

“That means Ryuuen thought of something you’re not thinking of.”

“This, coming from an outsider? Then tell me. What did he think of?”

“Now is not the time to speak about it. Sorry but I can’t.”

“What is that? It doesn’t matter anyway does it? Anyway, I hate Ryuuen.”

They were perpetually going back and forth.

One thing for certain was that Tokitou truly hated Ryuuen.

“Indeed, if you ask me if he is seen as a likable person I wouldn’t be able to honestly answer yes.”

Instead of denying that part, Katsuragi nodded in agreement.

But Tokitou didn’t seem to like that gesture either.

“Yet you joined with Ryuuen on the island. Even today you were getting along eating together.”

“We’re going in circles. It seems like there’s somehow been a misunderstanding-“

Katsuragi tried to deny it. In response, Tokitou flared up and interrupted him.

“Even though he was that hostile he won you over so quickly. I thought you had more backbone than that.”

“The times I’ve clashed with Ryuuen whether as a friend or as a foe haven’t just been once or twice. But now, as a member of the class and as Ryuuen’s classmate I am doing my part. And if this class revolves around Ryuuen, following him is a matter of course.”

“Not something I’d expect from the guy who fought Sakayanagi.”

“That’s different. When we were 1st years, the leaders hadn’t been decided. And because my thinking, as a candidate, contradicted that of Sakayanagi, I also volunteered myself as a leader and opposed her. In this class, Ryuuen has already been designated as the leader. He’s manning the rudder. In the first place, would you acknowledge me as a leader, having transferred here from another class?”

“That’s…”

“Besides, Sakayanagi and Ryuuen are different types. The classes are also very different.”

Katsuragi admonished him with sound arguments, but Tokitou didn’t seem to be able to swallow it at all.

“It’s as I said Tokitou. You can’t have a conversation with Katsuragi-kun.”

Okabe, who was watching until now, patted Tokitou’s shoulder and told him that anymore would be meaningless.

“In the end, Katsuragi-kun was just happy to be picked up by Ryuuen after having no place in A-Class right? In other words, his dog.”

“Though I’ve denied that, it looks like you people won’t understand.”

I see. It’s rough but I can see the root of this quarrel.

My shoulder was lightly tapped by Hiyori’s index finger. I turned around and faced her.

“It’s not just today or yesterday that some of our classmates have been discontent.”

“I see. Their resentment until now had been piling up.”

In response to Ryuuen’s dictatorship, strong opposition was naturally born.

I thought he had been suppressing that well until now, but it’s started to come back to him little by little.

“What’s Ryuuen doing? Until now he wouldn’t have tolerated insurrectionists.”

“Until now that’s been the case.”

“Is the reason for that not being the case anymore recent?”

“Hiyori nodded slightly.

“Everyone is changing. I didn’t hold any strong feelings towards my class either at the start. If I could really spend three years with them, then I wouldn’t contend.”

Indeed, if someone were to ask me if Hiyori had a strong presence from the beginning then I would say no.

Rather, she wasn’t enough to even be noticed.

“Tokitou-kun has always hated Ryuuen-kun’s way of doing things. No, not just him. Hideaki beside him right now also feels that way.”

“So they wanted to take Katsuragi in and then openly rebel against Ryuuen?”

“Maybe.”

In terms of ability Katsuragi held enough to represent them. And precisely because he transferred from another class, he can cut as deep into Ryuuen as he wants to.

“But, Tokitou Hiroya huh. Ryuuen has once again made a dangerous enemy.”

Akito said something similar about him, but I’ve learned that he speaks with determination and vindictiveness.

“Do you think so?”

Hiyori is right to worry. This isn’t a situation anyone can gain from.

“Indeed, right now, our class is okay. I think that one of the main reasons for that is because Ryuuen has shown big growth after he left and returned.”

Compared to their 1st year, Ryuuen, Ishizaki and the others around them have shown great growth.

“However, how long this will continue is another matter. I don’t know if this is something to say to other classes, but if Ryuuen-kun is expelled after this, then I think our class would collapse right away.”

“Ryuuen’s way of fighting is full of danger after all.”

In order to pull off great victories he takes great risks. He will probably continue to do so after this.

His 『promise』 with Sakayanagi also weighs considerably on my mind.

“If that happens, there will have to be people who will take the fall.”

A candidate to lead in case of an emergency, is what she means. Hiyori smiled at me.

“At that time, Ayanokouji-kun… won’t you come to our class?”

As her appearance suggested, Hiyori didn’t talk naively but about plans to make her class win.

“Again? What a bold proposal.”

“We’ve invited you before this too, but that was something like a half-joke I went along with Ishizaki-kun on. But this invitation is different.”

In other words, it’s serious.

“I definitely don’t think we’re a weak class. But it’s also a fact that someone to guide us in the worst-case scenario is very important. What do you think?”

Fighting with Hiyori, Katsuragi and Kaneda backing me up as advisors, huh.

“We can’t be sure that Ryuuen will get expelled. Right?”

“Of course, that’s the best case scenario.”

But I also felt that it was a crazy invitation from Hiyori.

Even if I think about it in my heart of hearts, if I give an answer now doubts would remain.

“Haven’t they told you anything they’d worry about if that happens or something?”

I made up my mind and tried asking her, but Hiyori just gave me a small smile and no answer.

Even while I was talking with Hiyori, the dialogue between Katsuragi and Tokitou had been continuing.

Katsuragi never gave Tokitou an answer he was happy with at all, so their stiffness was finally starting to dissipate.

“…What a waste of time. I thought you’d understand so I talked with you, but I was mistaken.”

“Seems like you understand.”

“I won’t ask you to not speak of this. Report it to Ryuuen as you like.”

“I don’t intend to report it.”

“Is that okay? I’m saying this in advance. I’m serious. If you leave us alone you don’t know what we’d do.”

“Don’t misunderstand Tokitou. There are many things wrong with Ryuuen’s methods. I don’t think you’re wrong to carry dissatisfaction. But I won’t praise deeds that go too far.”

It was obvious that Tokitou was thinking of something.

And there was no doubt that they were thoughts on how to eliminate Ryuuen.

“Shut up.”

Leaving him with that, Tokitou disappeared from Katsuragi’s sight.

We hid our bodies and followed Tokitou and Okabe such that we wouldn’t be noticed.

After that, we thought we’d disappear without any noise but…

Hiyori grabbed my arm and dragged us in front of Katsuragi.

“Did you need something, Ayanokouji?”

Escaping here would also be out of place. I followed the flow and approached Katsuragi until I was right in front of him.

“No. Your class has it rough in a lot of ways, Katsuragi.”

“That goes for any class. Though I wouldn’t have wanted you to hear that.”

Katsuragi looked at Hiyori by my side once.

“I can’t praise this, Shiina. It looks like you trust Ayanokouji, but I can’t say that dragging him into our class’ problems because of your personal feelings was the correct judgement.”

Katsuragi said it harshly, but what he said was true.

If you give your enemy information that you don’t need to give, that could end up giving you a fatal wound in the future.

“I don’t know if that is the case. But could you not talk about this with any of our classmates? If it reaches the person concerned, Ryuuen’s ears, then he probably wouldn’t let Tokitou-kun go. That’s the same for other students. They might sell out their friends who want to betray him to try and save up money.”

“I can’t decide that since Ayanokouji has heard.”

“Isn’t this a good opportunity to organize your thoughts about what you should do from here, Katsuragi-kun?”

“What?”

“In order to determine what direction you will go, how about spitting out what you’re thinking about right now?”

What a schemer. Hiyori is trying to use me to influence Katsuragi in the way she wants.

Katsuragi is inclined to think about things on his own. It’s not easy for him to open his heart to other people.

He probably understood her motive as well. Though amazed, he agreed.

“It seems like you think about our class more than I thought you did, Shiina.”

“Of course. I intend to graduate from A-Class with our classmates after all.”

As if to push those words behind him, Katsuragi put his thoughts into words.

“This is something I’ve felt as the only 2nd year student who has been in two classes. There are decisive differences between Sakayanagi and Ryuuen’s classes. It’s easy for class members to hold complaints about their leaders in both of these classes, but despite that Sakayanagi’s class holds a constant unity. On the other hand, there are many students in Ryuuen’s class who still don’t approve of him, whose discontentment is piling up.”

Tokitou and Okabe, who had just hounded Katsuragi, were exactly that kind of student.

“And while the class is rising, they will keep holding their complaints back even if they pile up, but…”

“It’d be scary if the class falls next.”

“Yeah. According to the situation, the class could split in half. I don’t believe that man doesn’t see that, but… I don’t think he’ll change the current system either.”

“It’s as you read. Ryuuen surely understands.”

“But if he understands, then he should compromise with Tokitou and the others.”

“Well, Ryuuen’s methods would always spawn opposition after all.”

It looks like Katsuragi thought that Ryuuen should fix this problem somehow.

“Didn’t Ryuuen bring you in from A-Class anticipating that?”

“…Me?”

“If something happened to Ryuuen, then you could serve as his substitute. I think he looked for someone after he experienced that.”

The thing Hiyori wishes for, an appropriate leader candidate.

“That’s so abrupt that I can’t believe it.”

Of course, just as Katsuragi says it’s just something I interpreted on my own.

“Ryuuen wants high risks and high rewards. Along with graduating from A-Class, there is also the possibility that he is suddenly expelled at some test somewhere. Therefore it’s necessary to have insurance in the worst case scenario.”

It’s also very thinkable that Ryuuen’s administration collapses from a single traitor.

“If that were the case… I couldn’t stomach it.”

I thought it was precisely because he evaluated Katsuragi highly, but Katsuragi didn’t try to hide his displeasure.

“I’m opposed to Ryuuen’s valuations. Even now that we’ve become classmates, that hasn’t changed. But, since we’ve become comrades, I think that graduating from A-Class with no one missing is the bare minimum.”

It’s probably because he understood that he was this kind of person that Ryuuen didn’t tell Katsuragi directly.

When I saw their individual growth, I thought that Ryuuen’s was remarkable, but his classmates hadn’t followed as vigorously.

“You said this a while ago, but not letting information about Tokitou reach Ryuuen’s ears is correct.”

“It would be fine if he would leave the rebels alone, but if he tries to eliminate them it would be a big problem.”

His head probably hurts from the sources of his troubles, but at the same time it becomes worth doing for Katsuragi.

It was at least very different from when he was being kept as a pet in A-Class without any screen time.

As if he had imagined something new, Katsuragi’s expression softened a little bit.

“What do you think, Katsuragi-kun?”

“…I know.”

He cleared his throat with a kohon and looked at me once again.

“Talking to you, I can almost see what I must do. I thank you.”

“No, I just spoke my mind.”

“If that were gibberish it wouldn’t be worth speaking of, but what you’ve said hit the target. Shiina letting you hear this was also because she was confident that you would give a suitable answer, right?”

Hiyori smiled happily.

It looks like I got used to it, but if this allows me to escape from Ryuuen’s class even a little bit then it’s fine.

“But Ayanokouji. There are probably students who thought of the same thing, but it’s a bit unexpected.”

“Unexpected?”

“This time’s special exam. You were at quite a dangerous spot, after all.”

Because of my low ranking there are quite a few students who have become sceptical regarding my ability.

In that sense, Tsukishiro ended up benefiting me.

“Is that your real strength? Or did something unexpected happen?”

“Well, who knows?”

I dodged the question, but Katsuragi didn’t seem to be letting me go.

“Shiina, sorry but I want to talk alone with Ayanokouji for a little bit.”

“Understood. I will return to my room. See you then, Ayanokouji-kun.”

I exchanged a light farewell with Hiyori. The two of us remained.

“On the uninhabited island, Ryuuen told me everything he knew about you.”

“Was he speaking honestly?”

“He dodged my question a little at first, but I told him that if he acknowledged me as a member of his class then he had to speak.”

Some kind of clincher.

If that’s the case, then it started from the guy who was doing secret maneuvers from Horikita’s class, X.

It means he told Katsuragi everything until the incident on the rooftop.

Sakayanagi also said it. I can’t avoid the number of students who know about me increasing, little by little.

“It looks like you’ve been conducting yourself well until now.”

“If I were to live a peaceful school life, I’d been thinking that it wouldn’t make much difference if I were in A-class or D-class.”

“That’s the reason you’re hiding your strength? I won’t tell others, but it probably won’t take long until it becomes common knowledge.”

Looks like it. It could be said that there was almost no way to suppress information that has started to spread.

“I’ll just do what I should do in this school as myself.”

“I don’t know when it will be, but I’m looking forward to the day when I can fight against you while you fight seriously.”

With that, Katsuragi gave me a deep nod and left this place.