Chapter 324
Among the students occupying the seats, one could easily recognize Koenji Rokusuke, who was morally blackmailed and had been expelled from school like a stray dog. Seeing him again now was surprisingly poignant.
And then there's Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was sitting in the back row. Apparently, after hearing that his White Room had been converted into some kind of White Room, he, who was still just coasting along in Class D, suddenly chose to drop out of school. Apparently, he went back and unwittingly became a star trainer at the gym.
Also further back, oh, it's Horikita Suzune, Little Sister-chan. She probably doesn't recognize herself yet.
Those remaining at the back were just a bunch of low-level students.
Besides Koenji Rokusuke and himself, the others occupying the seats in front...
Surprisingly, Kushida Kikyo seems to have gotten a seat.
Did everything change because I got on this bus?
I don't understand, but in that case, she would probably choose to give up her seat, right?
Although it's true that Koenji is the one being morally blackmailed.
That makes it seem like things would be solved very simply.
It's getting a bit... boring.
Why should I give up my seat to this old woman? There's absolutely no reason for it.
A debate seems to be brewing.
"That--"
The debate seemed about to be interrupted.
Kushida Kikyo stood up.
As expected, with Kushida Kikyo around, arguments don't escalate so quickly. She'll decisively give up her seat when she senses the atmosphere is turning sour.
"Please sit down--"
But before she could finish speaking, another woman, who had been standing on the other side observing, appeared—whether it was something she had prepared beforehand or part of an improvisation—[...].
Without hesitation, I sat down.
"Oh? Oh, I'm so sorry, little sister, I thought you were getting off the bus. I'm so sorry."
Once she sat down, she began to feign an apology, but while she apologized verbally, she showed no intention of getting up.
That's interesting.
A woman who isn't particularly concerned with saving face, Kushida Kikyo who stood up intending to speak but then became bewildered, the old lady who still couldn't find a seat, and the office lady who was trying to morally blackmail her.
"Huh? How could you do this!" The office lady behind her was stunned for a moment, then realized that Kushida Kikyo was offering her seat, but it had been snatched away. Her face turned pale, and she pointed at the woman who had sat down and started yelling, "Have you no shame?"
The woman who sat down curled her lip indifferently:
"You're the one who's even more shameless for being so generous with other people's food! I've already sat down, it's too much trouble to stand up again. Besides, there's more than one seat here, why didn't the others give up theirs? Why don't you go and cause trouble for the others?"
"Snap." Koenji Rokusuke snapped his fingers, revealing a contemptuous smile, "Correct Answer, Lady. What you should be doing is finding someone willing, not clinging to someone like me who isn't."
The two of them went back and forth, leaving the office lady speechless.
Her face immediately turned a ghastly pale color, both red and blue.
Her acting skills seem very good.
I wonder how many shows she's performed here over the Advanced Nurturing ten years or so.
... No, she might actually have choked.
After all, this might be the first time a student has directly confronted her like this, and with another person, who might not even be a colleague, also taking the opportunity to make sarcastic remarks, it's normal to feel offended.
But...
It's time to speak up.
"If you don't mind," Asakusa Toru said, breaking the ice, "'Grandma' can sit on my lap."
Slightly deliberately, Asakusa Toru paused for a moment on the words 'old lady'.
The office lady was about to show her delight, but then she realized what Asakusa Toru was saying.
"...?" The other people in the car also raised a question mark.
... Sit on your lap?
No, even if the old lady doesn't mind, you... really don't mind?
This guy is actually quite handsome, but I never expected him to have such a peculiar hobby.
"Oh, sorry, I meant that 'old lady' who wanted to give up her seat but had it taken." As if realizing he might not have described it clearly, Asakusa Toru corrected him with a smile, "Come on, sit on my lap."
This supplementary correction... is even more confusing.
Trying to offer your seat only to have it taken... isn't that just like Kushida Kikyo?
Letting a pretty girl sit on your lap, you really have some nerve!
However, just when everyone else thought this kind-hearted girl would gently reject him...
"Pat-pat..."
Miss Kikyo quickly closed the distance and then sat on Asakusa Toru's lap as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Thank you." She turned her head and thanked Asakusa Toru from close range, "But I'm not some 'old lady,' you know?"
I have a grandmother, but she's not old at all.
If I had to say something, I should call her 'Good Grandma'.
The kind that stands proudly with its chest puffed out.
The girl's aura made people hold their breath for a moment. Her movements made her soft body press against his thighs. The cramped and narrow seat was a little cramped for two people, so Kushida Kikyo had to lean back a few more times.
Asakusa Toru was slightly surprised, but that surprise quickly turned into acceptance.
... This behavior, this attitude, this sense of closeness.
There's no doubt about it.
She was fully aware of the current situation.
Since she knows...
What about the others?
For example... Horikita Suzune sitting in the back seat?
While everyone else was utterly shocked by Kushida Kikyo's actions, while many men were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred at the sight of such a beautiful girl seemingly throwing herself into their arms, while the old lady standing there and the office lady who was morally blackmailing her were completely dumbfounded.
Just as the atmosphere of giving up a seat seemed to be suddenly disrupted by the concerto of Asakusa Toru and Kushida Kikyo, it seemed impossible to continue. Both the office ladies who asked for seats and the elderly who needed to be given seats were caught in an awkward atmosphere, and the passengers who were asked to give up their seats no longer cared about whether or not they should give up their seats.
Just when it seemed the whole incident of giving up a seat was about to end quietly and unnoticed in this inexplicable atmosphere.
A girl stood up.
"Come sit here with me, 'real' old lady." Horikita Suzune said these words with utmost calmness, words she would never have said in the past, and performed the act of giving up her seat, something that would never have happened to 'Horikita Suzune'.
Incidentally, the words also seemed to subtly refer to a shameless woman who, following the person's 'old lady' rhetoric, sat on their lap.
Despite the precedent of Kushida Kikyo having her seat taken as soon as she stood up, the girl in the back seat didn't have that concern.
The bus route leading to Advanced Nurturing High School is not particularly popular; in fact, it's only on the first day of school that it gets so crowded that there are no seats available. At least for the students in the back, they all have their own seats.
Even if someone shamelessly tries to get closer, she can sit down again.
"Oh, thank you, thank you so much."
After repeatedly expressing his gratitude, the elderly man, supported by the office lady, gradually moved backward and finally sat in the seat that Horikita Suzune had originally occupied.
Horikita Suzune, having stood up, also moved forward...
He stood beside Asakusa Toru.
His cold face glanced expressionlessly at the two people huddled together beside him.
"You really have no shame."
She placed her hand on Asakusa Toru's seat, without turning her head, but simply looking straight ahead, and suddenly said this.
"Hey, Grandma, I don't understand what you're saying, little sister."
Kushida Kikyo hummed softly as her small hand touched Asakusa Toru's thigh.
"Heh." Horikita Suzune chuckled coldly, then changed the subject, asking, "Aren't you going to continue with your goal of becoming friends with everyone?"
It seems so.
She's just like Kikyo.
"So it's you who has no intention of continuing your arduous cultivation?"
The two went about their own business, speaking softly as if nothing was wrong, their voices blending into the noisy engine of the bus, though... it wasn't exactly silent.
But riddles are always meant to be incomprehensible.
They exchanged a sarcastic remark, and despite having been friends for a long time, their relationship inexplicably turned into something akin to hostility...
The reason?
It goes without saying.
Because Horikita Suzune knew that every single day, while she was actively trying to reach out to him to improve their friendship, while she was diligently writing and analyzing notes in her diary for the day, and while she was trying to work with him to find out Asakusa Toru's identity.
What are they all doing?
What a great friend! This woman is practically the best friend she's ever had in her life.
We didn't actually break off our friendship, but the way we interacted changed slightly.
In a sense, it's like going back to square one.
Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School.
After getting off the bus without any further complications, I walked through the school gate and arrived at this familiar place.
It's truly remarkable.
Having witnessed the fates of Kushida Kikyo and Horikita Suzune on the bus, Asakusa Toru had no doubt what kind of situation he would encounter after entering the classroom.
Considering that the other students on the bus didn't seem to have any particular reaction, only ordinary envy, jealousy, or unexpected admiration, it was clear that...
Koenji Rokusuke's reaction was just like his character, while Ayanokoji Kiyotaka maintained his unresponsive, Pseudo-human demeanor.
The pattern is obvious.
There is no Diary at this moment.
However, there are a number of female protagonists who appear in the second playthrough.
After pushing open the classroom door of Class D and scanning the room, he met the eyes of Karuizawa Kei, who was already casually mingling with the group of gyaru (gal girls), and Sakura Airi, who was nervously slumped over her desk.
Asakusa Toru then drew a conclusion based on his own conjecture.
Great, second playthrough, but everyone is on their second playthrough.
P. S.: I'll be writing the extra chapters until the end of the month, and I'll take two days off in between. I'll try to finish it within 8 chapters. I'll just write whatever comes to mind, so feel free to take a look if you want.
Side Story: Classroom of the Elite 2 - Everyone Scores Zero
After glancing around the classroom, Asakusa Toru actually wanted to take advantage of his sudden, unusual desire to act.
Do something interesting.
For example, he could pretend to be a teacher, walk up to the podium, and give the order to take away everyone's Personal Terminal. As long as Karuizawa Kei and Sakura Airi take the lead and don't make too many mistakes, he can easily take away everyone's Personal Terminal under the guidance of herd mentality.
Then I transferred the money directly to myself.
It's just a pity.
... The terminal hasn't been released yet.
So he simply put aside his pointless desire to perform, sat down in his seat in Class D, and watched as Kushida Kikyo quickly built relationships with quite a few people.
She said those things to Horikita Suzune, but she still started moving.
Similarly, despite being often told she doesn't have many friends, Horikita Suzune still doesn't change her mind and tries to strike up a conversation with others.