In Classroom of the Elite, but the Underworld

Ike was just about to punch him when he was swatted aside with a single slap.

However, Ike didn't give up and tried to make another move.

At this moment, Yukimura, who was off to the side, spoke up:

"Can you two be quiet? I'm still trying to sleep."

His tone was stern, much like a homeroom teacher conducting a class meeting.

Ike curled his lip and laid back down.

Eito chuckled and stopped talking as well.

And so, they made it through to the morning.

During the morning roll call, Chabashira informed everyone that two students from the class had already returned to the ship.

This came as a heavy blow to the students of Class D.

Because it meant that on the very first day, their class had lost 60 points for no reason.

Setting Koenji aside, regarding Sakura's absence, Karuizawa actually stepped up this time and questioned:

"Wasn't Sakura-san with Takeda yesterday? Why did she get sick? Is it because Takeda-kun didn't take good care of her?"

The reason given for Sakura's absence was that she wasn't feeling well; although there were hidden factors involved, Chabashira had accepted it and presented it as the official explanation.

Seeing all eyes turn toward him, Eito bowed slightly:

"It's my fault. My apologies, everyone."

The students were just looking for an outlet for their frustration, so there was no point in him arguing, and it was indeed his fault that points were deducted.

Seeing this, Shinohara quickly stepped in to say:

"It's fine, you can't control getting sick. Maybe Sakura-san is just naturally weak, and it's not like anyone could help it if she was affected."

Sato also chimed in:

"It probably has nothing to do with Ei... Takeda. He's usually quite gentle; it's impossible that he would let Sakura-san get hurt."

Others followed suit:

"Takeda-kun even helped me pick up my pen once. He's very gentle."

"Maybe it's just Sakura-san's own issue."

"..."

Hirata also stepped forward: "I trust Takeda."

"Fine." Karuizawa glared at Hirata and said, "I was just saying. I didn't mean to suspect him. Let's just leave it at that; you guys don't need to worry about me."

Her unusual attitude made Eito start to speculate.

It was certain that Karuizawa was targeting him, but what exactly was the reason?

Although she was ostensibly the leader of the girls, she rarely made decisions, not only because she lacked the ability but also because she lacked the nerve.

Her status was actually derived from Hirata.

She was already one of the top figures in the class, and by gaining the status of Hirata's girlfriend, her position among the girls had effectively surpassed Kikyo's, making her the number one.

Combining this with what Eito knew about her, there was likely only one reason.

It was that he was already beginning to threaten her status.

And the method was through Hirata.

His previous actions had undoubtedly raised his reputation among the girls to a new level.

While not enough to surpass Hirata, it carried a subtle sense of threat.

If things continued this way, the method she used to maintain her status through Hirata would go up in flames.

The higher his influence, the lower hers would become.

I see.

Of course, this was just his conjecture; he never drew conclusions until things were absolutely certain.

However, he estimated there was at least a 90 percent chance of this being the case.

To make up for his mistake, he decided to give his classmates a gift, and at the same time, test the waters.

He took out the map he had drawn:

"This is a topographical map of the island I drew. Take a look."

Seeing the map, the students in the class couldn't help but show expressions of surprise.

This map wasn't just a topographical one; it also marked numerous food gathering spots, and even the locations of base camps and rivers.

In other words, with this map, they wouldn't have to struggle to find food, and half of the island exam would effectively be over.

"Wow, Takeda-kun is amazing!"

"Could it be that Takeda was observing while we were on the boat? I was just looking at the scenery; I never even thought of that."

"At least we won't starve to death now."

This time, not only the girls but even the boys cast looks of admiration his way.

He said:

"Actually, this is all thanks to Sakura. If she hadn't taken those photos beforehand, I wouldn't have been able to do this."

"That's still amazing. So you guys did all that yesterday? We misunderstood you earlier, we're sorry."

"Me too, I'm so sorry!"

With this, Sakura's reputation not only didn't suffer, it actually improved quite a bit.

He noticed that the way Karuizawa looked at him had worsened, which only made him more certain of that possibility.

What a pain.

But he didn't want to pay any attention to Karuizawa right now.

Besides, some of his preparations weren't finished yet.

He was already laying the groundwork for these preparations; as soon as the timing was right, making Karuizawa submit would become very simple.

With his map in hand, the gloom that had been on the students' faces vanished without a trace. To get there before anyone else discovered the food, more than half of them had already gone to haul it back.

The ones remaining were mostly girls.

He followed behind the group of boys.

Chapter 44: Suzune Horikita

"Yo, Horikita."

On the other side, he found Suzune acting alone.

Suzune didn't even look at him:

"What do you want with me again? Why aren't you off playing with your Kushida?"

"I mainly wanted to check on my dear friend, Horikita. I'll go with you. Come to think of it, what are you going to do now?"

"Scout the terrain and look for anything hidden." Suzune said, glancing at him.

"Horikita, you've gotten smarter. But unfortunately, there isn't any treasure hidden on this island. Things like point cards buried in the ground don't exist."

The rules had already stated that wantonly damaging the local environment would result in point deductions.

How stingy.

He added: "How about we go check on the situation with the other classes?"

"What are you plotting now?" Because of his recent behavior, Suzune had become wary of him. "You aren't trying to lure me to some deserted place to do something strange, are you?"

"Something strange?" He tilted his head.

"Don't play dumb. I'm not talking to you anymore." Suzune snorted and quickened her pace, as if trying to shake him off.

He followed after her.

Suzune stopped, then actually started to run.

Interesting.

He followed closely behind her as she ran.

30 minutes later.

Suzune was exhausted and crouched on the ground, sweat from her face and arms dripping onto the dry earth.

He was also a bit winded. He walked over to Suzune's side and patted her head:

"Is that all you've got?"

Suzune swatted his hand away and said:

"You're definitely not an ordinary person, are you?"

"Oh~"

Even though she hadn't eaten her fill at breakfast, the fact that he could run for so long and still seem fine—she felt like a clown for having intentionally slowed down during their morning jogs in the past just to accommodate him.

Suzune continued:

"We've been together for almost half a year. Did you think I wouldn't notice anything?"

"Has it already been half a year?"

Time flies. Back then, Suzune was still a green girl, and the way she looked at him was like she was staring at excrement. Although that look was gone now, the disdain in her eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest.

If a person hates another to the extreme, could they eventually fall in love with them?

It was actually quite possible.

Extreme hate can turn into love; it only takes a small change to turn the situation around.

However, this was impossible to achieve when it came to Suzune.

Setting aside how long it would take to make Suzune loathe him to the extreme, she would likely walk away out of sheer disgust long before he reached the halfway point.

Therefore, theory is just theory; it must be adapted to the individual.

He said:

"Even though so much time has passed, Suzune, I feel like you haven't really improved at all."

"Who do you think you are? Why should I listen to you?"

Although he said that, there had been changes, such as her face, which had become even more beautiful than before.

Just a little bit.

If he hadn't been observing her carefully every single day, he truly wouldn't have noticed.

"How about I help you?"

"Help me?" Suzune looked at him with disbelief. "If you were going to help, you would have done it sooner. Do you really think I'd believe you now?"

"No, no, you've misunderstood. The help I'm talking about isn't doing things for you, nor is it becoming your tool; it's helping you change," Eito said.

"I don't need to change."

As expected of the Suzune he had his eye on, her response was exactly what he had anticipated.

I don't need to change; it is this world that needs to change.