Classroom of the Elite: Houtarou Oreki

The two of them prepared to head down the stairs.

They were about to pass each other.

But Karuizawa seemed to freeze for a moment.

Then she let out a sound of surprise—or perhaps delight.

"Finally, I get to see you again, Houtarou!"

As she said that, Karuizawa walked straight up to Oreki. While he was still somewhat confused, she directly threw her arms around him.

Oh.

Huhhh!?

What kind of development was this?

Teleportation—Isn't This Awesome? I, Oreki, Am Going Home!

For the first time in his life.

He had been hugged by a girl.

A girl's body was remarkably soft, almost impossible to resist.

She also carried the scent of jasmine, which was pleasant and comforting.

It felt as though his soul was about to ascend to heaven.

Of course.

Oreki had been hugged by his sister before, but his sister was his sister, and other girls were other girls.

This was an entirely different experience.

"So, what are your thoughts?"

A girl's voice sounded beside Oreki's ear.

But it was not Classmate Karuizawa's voice. It was Classmate Kamuro's cool, detached voice.

Right.

He and Classmate Kamuro had already arrived on the third floor and were on their way back to class.

Five minutes earlier, he and Kamuro had been in the Class 1-D hallway, where he had been hugged by Karuizawa from Class 1-D.

This was high school. Students came from all sorts of places, so it was possible that one or two of them knew each other.

But for Oreki... every student at this school was a complete stranger.

So.

Karuizawa suddenly hugging him... she had probably mistaken him for someone else.

However, judging from the delighted expression on her face.

It did not seem like she was playing Truth or Dare. She had genuinely been thrilled to discover that he was at this school too.

And.

She knew his name.

Unlike ordinary students, who called him Oreki, she had called him Houtarou.

That meant.

Oreki glanced at his phone screen.

He and Karuizawa had exchanged phone numbers.

And she had sent him a message as well.

[I'm so happy. I never thought I'd see you here, Houtarou.]

[I'm truly grateful that you saved me back then.] —Kei Karuizawa.

Oh.

So what exactly were you talking about?

And what did you mean by saving you?

He had no idea whatsoever.

Moreover, he searched through his memories and found no recollection of ever having interacted with Kei Karuizawa.

He did not recognize the middle school she had attended, either.

Then had something happened to Karuizawa?

Not necessarily.

Because.

He himself had already encountered a Supernatural Phenomenon.

So perhaps those memories involving Karuizawa that he did not possess had truly existed.

"Then we'll part ways here." Oreki and Masumi Kamuro arrived at the classroom.

There were no students left in the room. Everyone had gone to explore the school.

Although they had spent Points to obtain the school rules from Teacher Majima, that was merely acquiring the information. They still had to spend three years at this school.

It was better to experience it firsthand.

Still, this was Class A after all. The students' caliber and overall quality were quite high.

So they had either gone to explore the school or headed to the Shopping District to buy daily necessities.

After all, starting today, they would be living in the dormitory for the next three years. The school had assigned each student an individual apartment, and every student had a keycard for a single-occupancy unit.

Oreki had been assigned Room 303.

However.

Classmate Kamuro was still beside him.

"Are you thinking about Class D?"

"Indeed, Class D is like a garbage dump. Letting them freely decide whether to spend Points to hear the information was actually a small test."

"Those capable of self-discipline or possessing a sense of the bigger picture would choose to stay."

"So remember the names of the eleven students who stayed behind. Those students may be the essence of Class D."

"Class D has plenty of deadweight, but don't forget that there are talented people among them as well. For example, socially, you definitely can't do what Classmate Kushida and Hirata can."

"So."

"Once enough Class D students are expelled and that deadweight is removed, they will be capable of threatening Class A."

"So don't underestimate Class D," Oreki analyzed.

Then he looked at Classmate Kamuro. Had she taken it in?

Apparently not.

Classmate Kamuro had not even questioned him.

Even though she had always felt a strong sense of belonging to Class A and wanted to ride Class A's coattails.

Yet now she was not listening to his analysis?

"What are you thinking about?" Oreki asked.

The furrow between Kamuro's brows seemed to ease, and then she said,

"I was just thinking that after that girl with the single ponytail hugged you, you were completely unable to move."

"..." Oreki.

Fine.

When it came time to tutor Classmate Kamuro, Oreki decided to increase the difficulty.

Or once he no longer needed Classmate Kamuro, he would hand her over to Classmate Sakayanagi.

Classmate Sakayanagi was physically unwell, while Classmate Kamuro had excellent stamina and athletic ability. They complemented each other perfectly.

However.

"Classmate Kamuro, I need to ask one more thing of you."

Houtarou Oreki said, "Investigate the cameras at this school."

"Because of the Behavioral Standards Exam, the school is probably observing and evaluating students through cameras."

"So finding secluded places without cameras is also very important."

"After all, people need somewhere to relax." Oreki sounded remarkably serious. "You don't want to constantly maintain the image of a diligent, motivated student who never loses Points, do you? That would be exhausting."

But all of that was just an excuse. Now that he had Teleportation, he naturally could not use it openly in front of everyone.

Otherwise, he might very well be dissected.

Therefore.

Choosing secluded places where no one went and where there were no cameras was extremely important.

They would be suitable for him to use Teleportation to travel between school and home.

But he did not want to do such a thing himself.

So he stared at Classmate Kamuro.

"That really is troublesome," Classmate Kamuro said, her expression becoming stern again.

Yet it seemed as if she did not mind being assigned work.

In other words, she was even enjoying it a little.

What kind of trait was that?

Was she an M?

After parting with Classmate Kamuro, Oreki took a deep breath and suppressed the agitation in his heart.

Yes.

He was somewhat excited, but also somewhat restless.

Because.

[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining the special reward: Teleportation]

[Teleportation: You may travel to places you have visited up to three times per day]

[Congratulations, Host, on obtaining an additional reward: Set home as a base. You may use Teleportation an unlimited number of times per day to return home]

He could go home even while attending a boarding school.

Wasn't that a wonderful thing?

So he had to test it.

But just as there were cameras in the classroom, and cameras had been placed throughout the school for the Behavioral Standards Exam, if this kind of superpower of his... was discovered, he would be dissected.

So he needed to find a place that was absolutely safe and without cameras.

He had already arranged for Classmate Kamuro to look for one.

But he also had a special place of his own.

That was.

The Student Dormitory.

"Beep!"

His dorm room number was 303.