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

"I don't really mind."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka did not choose to refuse; in fact, he felt that doing so wouldn't be bad at all, especially since his contact list was so pitifully sparse—only Kushida Kikyo and Chabashira Sae... well... calling it a list when it only had two people was a stretch.

"I refuse. I have no need to make any friends."

Horikita Suzune's voice remained ice-cold, keeping everyone at a distance.

"Alright, let's become friends once you've cured your chunibyo... and your stalker tendencies," Shikime Natsu said with a carefree smile, picking out his items before lining up to pay.

"You...?!"

Hearing Shikime Natsu's words, Horikita Suzune's eyes widened. This guy was truly infuriating; there was no way in this lifetime she would ever be friends with him!

Shikime Natsu finished his purchase, checked out, and walked out of the convenience store.

"Don't you look down on me!"

Suddenly, a booming voice erupted from outside the store, loud enough for everyone inside to hear.

It was a red-haired boy. Judging by his appearance alone, he seemed like the type who would be difficult to get along with—and judging by that explosive tone, he certainly sounded like it, too.

"That looks like someone from our class."

After paying, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka followed Shikime Natsu outside, his gaze landing on the source of the noise. The red hair looked familiar.

Standing in front of the red-haired boy were three other students in school uniforms.

"You're from Class D, first year, right?"

The leader spoke, his tone dripping with certainty and his eyes filled with disdain.

"So what if I am?"

"You've got quite a lot of nerve talking to upperclassmen like that."

So they were upperclassmen. However, looking at them, they didn't seem like the type who were desperate for money. Shikime Natsu lost interest and shifted his gaze back to Horikita Suzune, who had just walked out.

"Don't you plan on stopping them? Things might get pretty troublesome."

"Getting involved with him would only lower my standards."

Horikita Suzune didn't even lift an eyelid, acting as if she were completely ignoring the people arguing.

"I'll let you off the hook today. It would be too pathetic to keep bullying 'defective products' like you. Keep barking like a dog if you want; soon enough, you'll see hell."

After leaving those words behind, the three of them walked away, leaving the red-haired boy fuming. The boy kicked a nearby trash can to vent his anger before storming off.

"Oh, something major just happened. Don't you plan on cleaning that up?"

Shikime Natsu continued.

"It has nothing to do with me."

Horikita Suzune gathered her things and left immediately, not even glancing at the overturned trash can.

"What about you, Ayanokouji?"

Shikime Natsu's gaze fell upon Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka lifted his gaze slightly, noticing the surveillance camera above Shikime Natsu's head. He sighed softly and chose to clean it up anyway.

"I'll help you."

Shikime Natsu took out his phone, found "Kamuro Masumi" in his contacts, and sent her a message.

"Thanks."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka spoke, though it felt strange. He wasn't the one who kicked it over, but... oh well.

With an extra pair of hands, the cleanup went much faster.

"Don't mention it. You look like you've got it pretty tough, too. By the way, is your class representative Kushida?"

Shikime Natsu asked casually.

"No, it should be Hirata..."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka shook his head. Still, Kushida Kikyo seemed quite popular among the girls. Even though it was only the first day, he felt he was completely different from them.

Chapter 13: A Mole in the Class?

Shikime Natsu didn't gain much information from his exchange with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka; the guy really didn't have any friends.

However... a man's intuition told Shikime Natsu that Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was no simple character. For instance, while cleaning up the trash, he had clearly tilted his head slightly—not looking at him, but at the surveillance camera above his head.

If that camera hadn't been there, would Ayanokouji Kiyotaka have taken action?

Shikime Natsu found it hard to say, but one thing was certain: this guy was definitely not simple. Because of this, during their chat, Shikime Natsu kept the topic strictly on their classmates. As for the points, or the "defective products" comment from earlier, he didn't mention any of it.

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's observational skills were sharp—sharp enough that Shikime Natsu would rate them as "not inferior to my own."

"Well then... I'll take my leave here. I forgot I had something else to take care of."

Shikime Natsu waved goodbye to Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.

"Mm."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka didn't ask further, simply nodding before continuing on his way toward the dormitories.

Shikime Natsu arrived at the cafe in Keyaki Mall as agreed. There were still quite a few students present, and upon entering, he immediately noticed two cold-faced beauties, though their styles were distinctly different.

"The rest is up to you. I'm heading back."

Kamuro Masumi still wore an expression of deep dissatisfaction, as if it were her signature look, her arms crossed and her cheeks puffed out.

"Mm, sorry for the trouble. I'll buy you a drink tomorrow."

"No need!"

Rejected again.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Horikita Suzune's icy gaze was locked firmly onto Shikime Natsu.

"Exactly what I said. Do you really think this school is so generous that it gives every student 100,000 points a month, along with free mountain vegetable sets and daily necessities?"

Shikime Natsu led Horikita Suzune to a more inconspicuous spot. The people around them were mostly busy with their own affairs, chatting happily, completely oblivious to the two of them.

"Isn't that exactly what this school is doing? At least based on current observations and judgments, that is what the school is doing, and even the teachers have guaranteed that 100,000 points will be deposited every month."

Horikita Suzune continued to speak with a cold face; she wanted to see what kind of nonsense this annoying guy would spout.

"Ryuen Kakeru from Class C of the first year paid me 60,000 points for information. How much are you willing to pay?"

Shikime Natsu pulled out the transfer record from Ryuen Kakeru and showed it to Horikita Suzune.

"How do I know this Ryuen Kakeru isn't someone from your Class A, working with you to swindle points out of me?"

Has her intelligence finally taken the high ground?

"Do you remember what just happened?"

Shikime Natsu didn't mind and continued.

"The incident where that red-haired guy from your class was provoked by three upperclassmen."

To prevent Horikita Suzune from failing to recall the event, Shikime Natsu kindly reminded her.

"The trash can incident has nothing to do with me."

Hearing Shikime Natsu bring it up, Horikita Suzune frowned.

"That's not it. Do you remember how those upperclassmen knew which class you were in? And why they used the word 'defective'?"

It seemed Horikita Suzune really hadn't been paying attention to that detail.

"They weren't wrong; that guy is indeed a 'defective'."

Horikita Suzune responded coldly, her face wearing an expression that suggested it was only natural.

And you?

Shikime Natsu was momentarily speechless.

"No, I think they meant that the entire Class D is defective."

Shikime Natsu shared his own perspective.

"Enough. I don't want to hear any more of your nonsense. You're just wasting my time!"

Hearing Shikime Natsu imply that she was a defective, Horikita Suzune's wine-red eyes were filled with fury. Did this guy call her here just to humiliate her?

This was truly going too far!

"I remember... Horikita-senpai is a student in Class A of the third year, right?"

Shikime Natsu didn't stand up, simply sipping the coffee that had been brought to him.

Upon hearing the topic of her brother, Horikita Suzune's entire body stiffened.

Could this guy be some kind of brother-complex?

"Besides... after interacting with you and Ayanokouji, I've discovered that you seem to know absolutely nothing about this school."

"What exactly do you mean?"

Stop talking in riddles!

Horikita Suzune absolutely loathed Shikime Natsu's vague way of speaking.

"The answer is right there on your phone. How many points are you willing to spend to buy the information I possess?"

Shikime Natsu was perfectly calm. His goal had been clear from the very beginning; that's right, he had his sights set on Horikita Suzune's personal points.

This was an impulsive idea for Shikime Natsu, sparked when he realized at the convenience store that Horikita Suzune knew nothing and was foolishly believing that the school was coddling its students.

In terms of insight, Horikita Suzune ranked very low in Shikime Natsu's estimation, because she truly cared about nothing other than herself.

Even on the bus, she only paid attention because Shikime Natsu had looked at her.

"Contact information."