Classroom of the Elite, but It's a Diary Style

Even so, the feeling of being constantly dragged down like this... was even more nauseating.

"I have no explanation to give you people." She swayed as she stood up, rubbing her eyes, which were a bit blurry from being pressed down for so long.

Ignoring Hirata Yosuke in front of her, she turned around on her own accord and, under the gaze of everyone, walked right up to Yamauchi Haruki.

Horikita Suzune was healthy.

Whether it was academic ability or physical fitness, she didn't believe she would lose to the vast majority of people.

Let alone Yamauchi Haruki.

"Hey, you, what are you trying to do?" As if sensing her intentions, Yamauchi Haruki couldn't help but start backing away.

Even though it was just a girl in front of him, for some reason, he had the feeling that Hirata, with his dark expression from earlier, was standing right there.

"If you want an explanation..."

As her words fell, Horikita Suzune's long leg swung through the air, a swift and powerful strike landing directly on Yamauchi Haruki's lower abdomen.

"--then this is your explanation."

Chapter 58: How About a Popsicle

"Ugh--"

The incredibly heavy blow sent gastric juices surging through his fragile abdomen; if it weren't for the fact that he hadn't eaten breakfast at all, he likely would have vomited everything he'd consumed this morning.

The expression on Yamauchi Haruki's face twisted. The strike to his weak point not only left him unable to react, but also robbed him of any strength to fight back, leaving him only able to crouch on the ground, clutching his stomach and trembling.

Horikita Suzune did not pursue, but instead turned her head to glance at the security camera that was faithfully and steadily recording all their ugly behavior, then turned back to look at the others in the class.

"I don't need to give anyone an explanation, nor do I have to take responsibility for anything." If it were her brother... no, if it were the person behind the Diary, perhaps they would say something like this.

She casually pulled a tissue from Ike Kanji's desk nearby, wiped her indoor shoe that had struck Yamauchi as if she were cleaning off something filthy, and then, after crumpling the tissue into a ball and tossing it onto Yamauchi, Horikita Suzune took a deep breath and continued:

"At the end of the day, what you want isn't an explanation from me."

"You just want someone to take the blame for the zero-point evaluation."

"But I'm sorry, I won't be that person." With a cold face, Horikita Suzune turned around, bypassed Yamauchi Haruki as if avoiding trash, and opened the door at the back of the classroom.

Before leaving, she paused, her footsteps faltering, and turned her head: "Also, I'm leaving early today."

"That is all."

Horikita Suzune's figure disappeared behind the door, leaving Class D in dead silence.

"..."

"Hahaha." Breaking this silence was Koenji Rokusuke, who seemed to have finally finished trimming his nails: "Horikita-girl did well. She is more interesting than I imagined."

"You lot, on the other hand, are incredibly boring."

"I should take my leave as well. You all can continue searching for a suitable scapegoat." Rising from his seat, Koenji walked out of the classroom quite nonchalantly.

Including Kushida Kikyo, even though it wasn't yet time for the lunch break, three chairs in the classroom were already empty.

"..."

The others who were left behind looked at each other in silence, unable to say a word.

The deserted tree-lined avenue was unexpectedly spacious, with the occasional fallen leaf rustling as it moved. A soft breeze carried a hint of chill, dispersing the sweltering heat brought by the midday sun.

Horikita Suzune strolled along the avenue, wandering, without a destination.

Although she had kicked Yamauchi Haruki in a fit of anger, and although she had walked out of the classroom after making such harsh remarks.

She didn't actually know what she was doing.

Class D's evaluation had already dropped to zero, and there was no room for it to fall any further. Even if the class was in such chaos, even if she kicked Yamauchi, even if she slept in class, skipped lessons, played truant, or left early.

None of it would have the slightest impact.

The camera would faithfully record everything.

The Advanced Nurturing Survival Rules provided by the Diary stated that she needed to be constantly aware of any facilities that could record her words and actions.

So she would remember the existence of the camera, and she would remember her previous words.

But... then what?

Should she find a way to save up twenty million private points to transfer classes?

At this point, it was probably very difficult for her to work together with that group of people in Class D anymore.

But to take the transfer route... where would the money come from?

She hadn't received a single point this month. If it weren't for the fact that most of the daily necessities had already been purchased and the dormitory was equipped with kitchenware, she might not even be able to survive this month on the ten thousand or so points she had left, forcing her to eat the vegetable set meals at the cafeteria.

With even her current life being so difficult, twenty million was a number she could only dream of.

"..."

Horikita Suzune never expected that she would one day have to worry so much about money.

She had once thought that as long as she did everything to the best of her ability, just like her brother, she would never have to worry about something as vulgar as money.

As it turned out, she had failed to be the best like her brother, and she had failed to avoid worrying about money.

A total failure.

She walked aimlessly, turning without direction, as the empty surroundings gradually began to show scattered figures; she had no idea where she had actually wandered.

...But it didn't matter.

Wherever she ended up, that was where she would be.

Horikita Suzune did not know where she had walked to; she hadn't looked carefully, nor had she put any heart into thinking about it.

She just suddenly felt a bit tired, and as luck would have it, there was a bench by the side of the road.

Although someone seemed to be sitting on one end of the bench, she was too lazy to care about such things.

Turning around, she tugged at her skirt and sat down, relaxing her tense spine against the backrest as Horikita Suzune let out a long breath.

"Ha..."

She tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and let the sunlight cast its warmth onto her cheeks through her eyelids.

"..."

Her steady breathing made her mind incredibly relaxed, so relaxed that... she almost forgot there was someone else sitting next to her.

"Eek--" Suddenly, an incredibly cold sensation reached out from the side and poked her cheek, startling her into letting out a strange cry.

Her body shuddered, her head instantly clearing up quite a bit, and she whipped her head around to look in the direction from which the cold touch had come.

Was that... a popsicle?

It still had its packaging intact, a cold and refreshing popsicle perfect for beating the summer heat.

No, the point wasn't the popsicle; the point was who had handed it over.

Following the direction of the popsicle, Horikita Suzune soon saw the figure behind the hand that was offering it.

Horikita Suzune: "...?"

She seemed to have some impression of this person.

If she remembered correctly, this was the guy who had run into the gymnasium and caused a scene when she first reunited with her brother, not only forcing her brother into an awkward spot but also leaving with him afterward.

"Don't you want one?" Asakusa Toru shook the popsicle in his hand and tilted his head: "Clearing your head a bit wouldn't be bad."

"..."

Although there was some wind here, unfortunately, this bench wasn't shaded by any trees, and as the time pushed toward noon, the sunlight shining down became increasingly scorching.

There was, after all, still a sense of stifling heat.

Logically, she shouldn't accept food from a stranger, but... he should know her brother.

So, even if she took it, it wouldn't be a big deal.

Besides, the packaging looked intact, and there were people around, so she didn't fear being poisoned.

Surely no one would dare to drug someone here at Advanced Nurturing...

Horikita Suzune thought a lot, but what it boiled down to was that she chose to take the popsicle.

"Rip..." The packaging was torn open casually, and wisps of cold air slowly drifted up.

After hesitating for a moment, she stuck out her tongue and gave it a light lick.

It was sweet and icy cold.

Unexpectedly, it felt like it was helping her calm down.

Chapter 59: My Brother Called Me a Big Idiot

"Is that how you eat it?"

Quite dissatisfied, the owner of the popsicle furrowed his brows.

"Stick it in." As soon as he finished speaking, Asakusa Toru reached out and shoved the entire popsicle into Horikita Suzune's mouth.

"Mmph--" The icy cold air instantly invaded her mouth, and the brief adhesion of her lips and teeth allowed the temperature to melt the surface ice, coating the popsicle in water that allowed it to slide deep into Horikita Suzune's throat in one go.

With her mouth suddenly blocked and even poked in the throat, the cold sensation gave her head a jolt.

Hastily pulling the popsicle out, Horikita Suzune couldn't help but glare at the reckless Asakusa Toru.

"What are you doing!" She instinctively let out a question that sounded like a coquettish rebuke, her cold face unexpectedly gaining a bit of vitality under the sunlight.

Facing the girl's questioning, Asakusa Toru looked completely indifferent as he casually explained: "If you eat it like that, you'll have sticky water all over your hands in a few minutes, it's disgusting."

"If you want to eat it slowly, just put it in your mouth and hold it; at least it won't drip outside."

Asakusa Toru's words were very reasonable, so reasonable that Horikita Suzune couldn't find anything to refute.

The annoyance was blocked off instantly, and she could only pout, turn her head away, and put the popsicle back into her mouth.

She had to admit, it was very sweet.

Her delicate tongue wrapped around the melting ice, and trickles of sweet water flowed down her throat bit by bit.

Before long, only the wooden stick remained of the popsicle in her hand.

Horikita Suzune raised the stick, gazing up at the unexpectedly clear sky, and the rigid thoughts in her head suddenly seemed to begin thawing.

"...Name." She muttered softly.

Her voice was very faint; had the surroundings been even slightly noisier, it might not have been audible at all.

But Asakusa Toru's ears were quite sharp.

"Asakusa Toru." And so, he gave his name.

"Asakusa... Toru?!" Horikita Suzune whipped her head around, eyes wide as she stared at the man beside her.

He was Asakusa Toru?

The very same Asakusa Toru who the Diary claimed had traded information with Ryuen of Class C early on?!

Horikita Suzune had never known his name before, but now, she finally knew.

In that instant, a flurry of chaotic thoughts erupted in her mind.

Why was he here, why had he handed her a popsicle, what did he want, and what was he planning to do?

Then, after a brief brainstorm, the conclusion she reached...

Was this.

"Are you here to mock me?" Horikita Suzune stared straight at Asakusa Toru, biting her lip as a sense of grievance welled up within her: "Despite being my brother's sister, despite having convinced myself that I was no longer the useless person he once saw, I still ended up in Class D. I couldn't see the true nature of the school, and I couldn't even understand the hints others gave me."

"In the end, I've been reduced to this, becoming a target to divert conflict, not even knowing what I should do..."

The more she spoke, the more Horikita Suzune felt the grievance in her heart begin to quietly swell.