Classroom of the Elite, I Really Just Want to Collect All the CGs

Looking closely, the two of them really do look somewhat alike. Standing behind the podium, Horikita Manabu looks like a very cold and aloof guy, and that guy is also very cold and aloof, it's just that... he's a bit silly.

Shikime Natsu wants to see where Horikita Suzune is at the moment, but unfortunately, there are two classes between Class A and Class D. Even with Shikime Natsu's decent eyesight, it is quite difficult to look past two classes to find Horikita Suzune.

He refocuses his attention on Horikita Manabu.

"On behalf of the current students, I extend a warm welcome to the new students entering our school this year."

"Our school is renowned for its emphasis on both academics and athletics, as well as its high rates of advancement and employment."

"I am sure you are all aware that these are the results of the continuous efforts of our graduates and current students, and they are the pride of our school."

"This school is a complete meritocracy."

Shikime Natsu didn't really listen to the preceding nonsense, but he caught one very crucial term: meritocracy.

Is this the law that this school upholds?

Isn't this just "survival of the fittest"?

Then... the elimination of the weak must also exist, right?

Suddenly, a bad premonition arose in Shikime Natsu's heart. Could it be that the school's high advancement and employment rates are achieved by weeding out students?

If you eliminate all the unqualified students, wouldn't the remainder be one hundred percent?

If this were in the past, Shikime Natsu would definitely think this was absurd, but... knowing that this school gives students points every month that can replace yen, it's not that strange.

Even if this school is funded by the government, it definitely couldn't withstand such massive consumption. Eliminating unqualified people is the best way to save resources.

After Horikita Manabu's speech ended, it was time to dismiss. Since it was the first day of school, there were no additional classes.

"Um... hello, I'm Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B."

Just at that moment, that super popular girl came up to Shikime Natsu to introduce herself.

With a very gentle and cute smile on her face, plus the way her chest curved when she jogged over, it was hard to look away. Ichinose Honami wasn't wearing any perfume; all that lingered was the scent of body wash. What brand of body wash is this? How is the scent so long-lasting?

"I'm Shikime Natsu from Class 1-A. Is there something you need, Ichinose-san?"

Shikime Natsu naturally wouldn't give a cold shoulder to someone smiling and greeting him, so he wore a faint smile on his face as well.

"If you don't mind, let's exchange contact information. I want to become friends with everyone."

Ichinose Honami took out her phone, her smile kind and warm, making it very hard to refuse.

There were quite a few people behind her watching this, and their expressions were all quite pleasant. They looked like a group of nice people.

The people in Class B seem pretty good. It would be nice if I were in Class B.

This thought flashed through Shikime Natsu's mind.

"Of course."

Shikime Natsu happily added Ichinose Honami's contact information.

"Thank you! I won't disturb you any further!"

Ichinose Honami waved at Shikime Natsu with a smile, then returned to her own class, chatting and laughing with those around her.

Chapter 9: Do you think the school will believe your story?

"You're really popular."

Kamuro Masumi leaned in at this moment, her tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

"Do you want me to help you become as popular as I am?"

Shikime Natsu chuckled, ignoring the sarcasm in Kamuro Masumi's tone.

"I don't need it!"

Hearing this, Kamuro Masumi glared fiercely at Shikime Natsu, even more viciously than when they first met.

"So... is there something you need from me? It's free time now."

Shikime Natsu turned his head to look at the girl with the annoyed, blushing face. Hmm... as expected, she's cuter like this; she's not cute when she's always cold.

"Didn't you say we were going to have a boring self-introduction later? Did you forget all about it?"

A look of disbelief appeared on Kamuro Masumi's face. You have to realize, this was something Shikime Natsu had said only a short while ago.

"I didn't. I said we would put the self-introduction segment later, I didn't say it would be right after the opening ceremony."

Shikime Natsu corrected Kamuro Masumi's mistake once again, looking quite patient.

"Let's eat first. It's lunchtime now, we can do the self-introductions this afternoon."

As he spoke, Shikime Natsu took out his phone and sent a notification to the class group. After everyone received it, they agreed one after another.

"Do you want to go eat together?"

Since the topic of eating came up, Shikime Natsu took the opportunity to invite Kamuro Masumi. However, this girl would likely not agree, though that didn't stop Shikime Natsu from asking.

Upon hearing this, a hint of hesitation appeared on Kamuro Masumi's small face, but it quickly turned into determination.

"Fine."

This actually caught Shikime Natsu a bit off guard.

"Really?"

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

Hearing Shikime Natsu's counter-question, Kamuro Masumi's tone turned sour again, and a blush crept up her cheeks. She had finally worked up the resolve to do this, only for him to throw a question back at her—wasn't that just too much?

"It's nothing, nothing. Let's go together then."

Shikime Natsu chuckled and started walking ahead, while Kamuro Masumi followed behind him, keeping a certain distance. This feeling was truly a bit strange.

Is this the distance two people who agreed to go eat together should keep?

It was clearly more like she was being stalked, wasn't it?

Of course, Shikime Natsu didn't say that out loud. If he had, Kamuro Masumi would likely have flown into a rage and left.

If they eat together, will a new CG appear?

If one really does appear, then Shikime Natsu feels he'll have to join the Masumi Cult. She really is a great person—one person, one day, and she's already given him three CGs!

She truly has massive development potential!

"Those few over there... they look like people from Class C, don't they?"

Shikime Natsu stopped in his tracks and whispered carefully to Kamuro Masumi, as one of them looked so much like a delinquent that it was easy for him to remember the guy's face.

"So what if they are?"

Kamuro Masumi looked at Shikime Natsu with some impatience. They were dragging their feet just to get a meal, and she was waiting to finish this meal with him quickly so she could pay back her water debt.

"Haven't you noticed that the atmosphere around them is a bit off?"

Shikime Natsu continued, completely ignoring the impatience in Kamuro Masumi's tone.

Only after hearing Shikime Natsu's words did Kamuro Masumi turn her gaze toward the group from Class C.

There were four people in total: one was a tall Black student, there was one girl, and the remaining two were boys who also looked quite sturdy.

As for the atmosphere... it was indeed off, because the girl's fists were clenched tight, and it looked like she might throw a punch at any moment.

"It really is a bit off."

Kamuro Masumi frowned. These guys looked like they were planning to start a fight.

"Be careful, follow them."

Shikime Natsu said. Hearing this, Kamuro Masumi looked at him in disbelief. Was he really going to get involved in something like this?

However, Kamuro Masumi also knew that there was no way she could talk Shikime Natsu out of a decision once he'd made it. She wasn't very good with words and couldn't out-argue this guy, so she could only choose to follow behind him while treading lightly.

It was also at this moment that Kamuro Masumi realized that Shikime Natsu didn't make a single sound when he walked. How on earth did he manage that?

That, of course, was the merit of Master Thief!

"Wait!"

Shikime Natsu grabbed Kamuro Masumi's hand and pulled her behind a nearby building. The first sensation when his fingertips touched her wrist wasn't softness, but a cool chill; it felt quite nice to touch in this season.

That hand was surprisingly slender, and the skin was very smooth. Kamuro Masumi didn't look like the type who put much effort into skincare, but the quality of her skin was quite good.

Kamuro Masumi's hand tensed up the moment she was grabbed, and her purple eyes held a hint of surprise, a touch of shyness, and a bit of irritation.

Of course, all Shikime Natsu saw was that she seemed to find him repulsive. Once they were hidden, he quickly let go of her hand.

"What are you doing?"

Kamuro Masumi hissed, questioning him. She was very angry that Shikime Natsu had grabbed her hand without her consent.

"They're about to enter that corner. If they're planning to fight, they'll definitely check their surroundings. If you just follow along blankly like that, you'll definitely be spotted. You need more practice."

That explanation... was passable, at best.

Kamuro Masumi gripped the hand that Shikime Natsu had just held; a trace of warmth still lingered there. Shikime Natsu's palm was large, and... warm. Being grabbed by a peer of the opposite sex for the first time, Kamuro Masumi felt a very strange sensation in her heart.

"Alright, follow me."

Shikime Natsu checked the surroundings and then signaled for Kamuro Masumi to follow. There was a hint of excitement in his tone. Looking at him, Kamuro Masumi had no idea what this guy was looking forward to.

As they reached the corner, the two heard dull thuds coming from inside—the sound of fists hitting faces.

"Thud! Thud!"

Shikime Natsu stopped and gestured for Kamuro Masumi to stay quiet, then pulled out his phone and opened the recording mode.

His first reaction wasn't to stop them?

Kamuro Masumi stood behind him, stunned, though she also wanted to see what this guy was planning to do.

He recorded the video for about five or six seconds. There was no clumsy mishap where the phone made a sound upon hitting the record button and alerted the others. Shikime Natsu had obtained what he wanted.

"It's time to stop. Fighting inside the school—the consequences of that are hard to say..."

Shikime Natsu put away his phone and walked out openly.

Hearing these words, the four people inside couldn't help but turn their gazes toward Shikime Natsu.