Opening-Day Turmoil

Sakayanagi Arisu's words were like a block of ice dropped into a lake. The sudden chill lowered the temperature in the classroom by several degrees.

The applause from students who had supported Katsuragi's proposal came to an abrupt halt, and the eager smiles on their faces froze.

Most of the students had never experienced such a blunt, sharp rebuttal to their faces, especially on the first day of school, when everything was supposed to be harmonious and full of promise.

Katsuragi Kouhei's burly figure remained ramrod straight, like a statue.

His expression didn't change dramatically, but his eyes grew more solemn. He could feel the whole class's attention fixed on him and Sakayanagi.

Kazehara Tetsu leaned back in his chair, his arms still folded without a hint of relaxation.

A faint curve played at the corner of his mouth. Like an audience member who had stumbled upon a drama, he watched the scene with keen interest.

"I can't entirely agree with your point, Classmate Sakayanagi. We may be Class A, but Majima-sensei hasn't fully explained the school's rules. 'The school provides everything, and points can buy anything'—behind these seemingly generous conditions, there must be competition. If we don't even know one another's names and basic circumstances, how can we talk about standing united and facing whatever challenges may come?"

Katsuragi Kouhei finally spoke. His voice was steady and firm, unshaken by her mockery.

His words rang out with conviction, and his clear reasoning quickly gave him the moral high ground.

Rather than directly attack Sakayanagi's rudeness, he raised the issue to the level of the class's survival.

Many of the students who had been wavering now looked supportive again.

"Heh..."

Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled. She lightly covered her mouth with the slender, fair hand that wasn't holding her cane. "Katsuragi, your speech is so full of Leader-like charisma. It sounds like a passionate hero's rallying cry before the final battle in a shounen manga. Very moving, but also very naive."

She lowered her hand. Her smile remained sweet, but her words grew even colder.

"If this so-called unity is built on nothing but a fragile foundation of mediocrities huddling together for warmth, then it's no more than a celebration of a rabble. It won't help us face challenges. On the contrary, when a real crisis comes, it'll collapse in an instant because of suspicion and incompetence within the group."

She paused and surveyed the classroom. Her gaze seemed to pierce through everyone, and every student who met her eyes instinctively looked away.

"What I seek isn't this kind of false collectivism. It's an absolute functionalist system, led by the truly capable, with everyone else performing their duties and obeying orders. In this system, the personal talents and interests of mediocrities are meaningless. They only need to play their roles—that is, be Chess Pieces—and nothing more. So I'll say it again: introductions are a complete waste of time."

"Chess Pieces..."

"She's saying we're Chess Pieces?"

Low, slightly angry murmurs rippled through the class.

Katsuragi Kouhei's brows finally knitted tightly together.

Sakayanagi's words had undeniably lumped him and the vast majority of the class in with the "mediocrities."

"Classmate Sakayanagi, your elitist views are far too extreme."

There was a hint of sternness in Katsuragi Kouhei's voice. "Everyone has value. A person doesn't need to be exceptionally talented to deserve a name. Your approach will only divide the class and create unnecessary conflict within it."

"I think she's right! You there... Katsuragi."

Kazehara Tetsu stood up and looked at Katsuragi Kouhei at the front of the room, pretending not to know his name and glancing at his name tag.

"This isn't conflict. It's 'selection.' It's better for everyone to recognize their place from the start. Know whether you're the one in control or the one being controlled. That'll save a lot of unnecessary trouble."

The atmosphere in the classroom grew even more tense.

Katsuragi Kouhei's gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Kazehara Tetsu. "Kagihara, are you supporting Classmate Sakayanagi's extreme views? The school brought us together so we could all improve, not to rank one another and trade suspicions."

Kazehara Tetsu remained standing. He didn't answer Katsuragi's question right away. Instead, he looked away from him and leisurely turned toward the girl nearby.

"Classmate Sakayanagi, right?"

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear him clearly. "Your choice of words was precise: 'Chess Pieces.' A good chess player doesn't need to know every piece's background and interests, only what each one can do. If a Pawn tries to move like a rook, then it isn't a proper chess piece. It's a useless piece that needs to be cleared off the board."

The air in the classroom seemed to freeze.

If Sakayanagi's remarks had divided the class, then Kazehara Tetsu's words had rubbed salt into the wound.

For the first time, genuine, intense interest appeared in Sakayanagi Arisu's violet eyes.

She looked at Kazehara Tetsu as though she'd discovered a fascinating new toy.

"Kagihara, is it?" Her voice seemed to carry a hint of admiration. "That's an interesting metaphor. It seems the class isn't made up entirely of mediocrities who need someone to spell out reality for them."

Watching Kazehara Tetsu and Sakayanagi play off each other, Katsuragi Kouhei could no longer contain his anger. He took a deep breath and was about to retort when...

"Fine. I was just stating my opinion. What you do after this has nothing to do with me. Goodbye..."

Before Katsuragi Kouhei could respond, Kazehara Tetsu turned without hesitation and headed for the door like a gust of wind.

When Kazehara Tetsu reached Sakayanagi Arisu's seat, his steps suddenly slowed for a moment.

The subtle movement caught Sakayanagi Arisu's attention, and their gazes met.

"You're pretty interesting. I like you..."

With that, Kazehara Tetsu didn't linger. He soon disappeared through the classroom door.

Kazehara Tetsu's departure left the classroom in a brief, stifling silence.

The argument had also been cut short by his departure. The students looked at one another, unsure how to continue.

Katsuragi Kouhei looked displeased. He was clearly very unhappy with Kazehara Tetsu's abrupt exit.

Still, he did his best to control his emotions, taking a deep breath and temporarily suppressing his anger.

He turned his gaze back to Sakayanagi Arisu, seemingly ready to continue the argument.

"Sorry, I'm feeling a little unwell, so I'll take my leave."

Sakayanagi Arisu's lips curved upward as she rose, leaning on her cane. She didn't give Katsuragi Kouhei a chance to speak.

She knew it would be almost impossible to convince Katsuragi Kouhei with words alone. Better to find an opportunity later to show him the real difference in ability.