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

Then what reason did he have not to do so?

As for the potential plot changes that might result from selling the information?

Pfft, he was already writing a diary, so why would he care about that?

Naturally, the more chaotic things became, the better.

Shaking his head to conclude his review of the day's actions, Asakusa Toru pulled out the Diary.

It was time to write in the diary.

First, he needed to check the Plot Index.

[Today's Diary Plot Index: A]

"Oh?" Looking at that glaring 'A', Asakusa Toru couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Should he say it was to be expected for the first day of school?

Yesterday's index was a B, and today it had already risen to an A.

Indeed, the first day of school was crucial; whether one could notice the true nature of the school was often determined on this very day.

However, since the index was an A... the content of the diary couldn't be written carelessly.

It was a rare opportunity; he should try to see if he could get an even higher rating.

The structural format of his last diary entry had no major issues, so it didn't need adjusting.

Whether the content was interesting or not was hard to change; that could only rely on improvisation.

But, the degree of spoilers and the emotional fluctuations the content could evoke were things he could control.

To test the limits of how much he could spoil, Asakusa Toru hadn't overdone it in his previous entry.

Judging by the A rating he received, he had likely gauged the limit quite accurately.

To get the highest rating possible, this time, he would try to include a few more spoilers.

Of course, he also had to avoid over-spoiling, which could backfire and lower his score.

"..." After his brain whirred for a long while, Asakusa Toru finally picked up his pen and began to write today's entry.

Today was the first day Horikita Suzune entered Advanced Nurturing.

It was also the second day since she had obtained that inexplicable Diary.

Yesterday, while she was filled with immense anxiety and nervousness, imagining what kind of expression her brother—whom she admired so much—would show when they reunited after she enrolled, Horikita Suzune had been pestered by the Diary.

It appeared by her side no matter where she went, and no matter how many times she tried to throw it away, it would always return to her, clinging to her like a curse.

She had assumed it was a hallucination caused by her extreme tension, so she hadn't touched the Diary for the entire day.

But, once she had fully enrolled in Advanced Nurturing and her tension had eased slightly, the Diary still remained at the edge of her vision.

"...Should I open it and see?" This thought suddenly popped into her mind.

Just taking a look shouldn't, well, be anything.

After all, curses couldn't possibly exist in this world, and the act of opening the Diary itself was a way to examine her own hallucinations.

She needed to face her own psyche.

That's right, she was no longer the useless person her brother once knew; she had come to this school to catch up to him.

She had to find a way to resolve this erroneous hallucination, and the best way to resolve a hallucination was to face her inner self.

"..." Taking a deep breath, Horikita Suzune gently opened the Diary.

The paper slid across her fingertips, and the incredibly realistic sensation made it hard to imagine this was a hallucination of her own making.

As the Diary opened, the scent of paper and ink seemed to drift out slightly.

Immediately after, incomprehensible characters began to pop up one after another.

Vocational school? Transmigrator? Cheat? Kidnapping? Spoilers?

...Is this all the stuff I've been thinking about in my head?

No, no, impossible, this absolutely cannot be what I am thinking in my heart!

So, this Diary... is not a hallucination?

Before she knew it, the pages she had flipped through had reached the end. Even though the Diary didn't look thin, it had reached the final page in an instant.

Horikita Suzune hesitated.

The next moment, the pages at the end of the Diary suddenly increased in volume.

New text refreshed and appeared.

Chapter 14: Horikita Suzune Wants to Prove Herself

[Today is the first day of school. Just thinking about how I'll use my exquisite and extensive galgame experience to conquer all the girls in the school after classes start makes me unable to stop laughing.]

Wait, why doesn't a dialogue box pop up when I talk to girls? And where are my options? If you don't give me options, how am I supposed to know what to say?

...I am very sorry, but the plan to romance every girl in the school has been forced to a halt. It is with an incredibly heavy heart that I write these words.

I think this is undoubtedly the greatest loss for the girls of Advanced Nurturing, a precious and rare opportunity that cannot be compensated for, even by graduating as Class A.

But what is missed is missed. I will not look back, and I ask that you all do not grieve too much.

Because it is time for me to start today's spoilers.

...Let me think carefully about what to write today.

Yesterday, I pointed out a Two-Faced Person, but perhaps it was a bit too subtle. Aside from the person involved, no one probably understood it, which isn't good.

But revealing names directly doesn't fit my habits; if the spoilers go too far, it won't be fun anymore.

So, how about I list some menu items first?

Love-struck fool, Pseudo-human, parasite, fence-sitter, master thief, god-tier sister, beautiful brother, library-fixed NPC, Black Room's greatest masterpiece, Recorder Bro, Low-Spec Yukino, Low-Spec Hayama...

Hiss, counting them carefully, I realize there really are quite a few weirdos in this crappy vocational school.

I wonder if you, the one holding the Diary, are among them. Feel free to try and identify yourself.

The menu has been listed, so it's time to serve the dishes.

I've pretty much decided who I'm going to pick on today.

That's right, it's you, Low-Spec Yukino!

Chasing the shadow of your older brother, mistaking loneliness for aloofness, rejecting friends—a weirdo who only looks decent on paper.

I feel like calling you Low-Spec Yukino is actually an insult to Yukino. Aside from your character model, there really doesn't seem to be anything you can compare to her.

It feels inexplicably sad.

Forget it, I'll refrain from scolding you too much.

If you are reading this... then just keep reading.

I was thinking about whether to give you some advice, but after thinking about it, any advice seems useless. It would be better to invite your brother.

So...

--Hi hi hi, it's your brother now, okay?

I said I liked long hair, so Little Sister-chan grew her hair long.

I acted cold, so Little Sister-chan followed suit and pretended to be aloof.

What a sister with no mind of her own.

Why are you chasing my shadow? If you only know how to follow behind me, you will never be able to surpass me, understand?

...Forget it, there's no point in saying these things.

After all, the moment I saw you at the Entrance Ceremony, I knew you hadn't changed at all.

If you want to prove that you have changed... then go and observe.

In your class, there is a Pseudo-human.

Observe, think, and finally, reach an answer.

Once you can confirm the identity of the Pseudo-human, tell me his name, and perhaps I will change my opinion.

--Anyway, that's how it is, okay?

Disobedient Little Sister-chan~

Prepare for the Trial!

To prove yourself and shake off the 'defective product' label others have branded you with.]

The content of the Diary ended here.

Immediately following this, a cold voice rang out in the ear of Horikita Suzune.

"Today's reading completed, reading points +1."

However, she ignored the voice in her ear and stared blankly at the final words in the Diary.

'Defective product'

...Me?

Horikita Suzune never felt that she was wrong. Even if she was indeed chasing her brother's shadow as the Diary suggested, she was undoubtedly walking on the 'correct' path recognized by the world, whether it was maintaining high academic grades or keeping an incredibly stable daily routine.

She didn't need to rely on anyone; she didn't have to depend on anyone.

But...

The content written in the Diary made her feel a sudden sense of confusion.

Setting aside the messy nonsense from before—the talk about galgames, dialogue boxes, and options—the list of menu items and the mention of Low-Spec Yukino were all meaningless.

But there was one thing that, despite clearly not being written by her brother, gave her the illusion that this was exactly what her brother would say.

Her brother said he liked long hair.

That is why I grew my hair long.

My brother has always stood at the very forefront of excellence, so I decided to keep my eyes on his back and make him my goal.

...What could possibly be wrong with that?

Horikita Suzune could naturally tell that the Low-Spec Yukino written in the Diary was herself, and she could also see that the words written from the perspective of a "brother" likely corresponded to messages from her own older brother, Horikita Manabu.

No, calling them messages might not be accurate; after all, this Diary couldn't possibly belong to her brother, and it was even less likely that her brother would speak in such a tone.

But, but...

If what was written there was true, if he had actually said such things when they met, and if her brother truly thought this way...

Then, what was she supposed to do?

Horikita Suzune couldn't help but bite her lower lip.

She had come to Advanced Nurturing specifically to prove her own growth, to prove herself in front of Horikita Manabu.

But if she had already anticipated being rejected before they even met.

Then their reunion would only be a form of torment.

Unless...

Horikita Suzune's gaze drifted upward, settling on the word "Trial."

Observe, think, confirm the answer.

Find the "Pseudo-human" hidden in the class and prove herself.

If she did that, would her brother be able to acknowledge her?

"No, that's impossible." Sighing, Horikita Suzune shook her head.