In Classroom of the Elite, Ichinose You Will Regret This

Uesugi Gen couldn't keep his composure any longer.

Are you equipped with radar? Damn it, that's exactly what I was thinking.

Just a moment ago, even though he was in her blind spot, she had known exactly where he was peeking from.

"In my heart, Uesugi-kun, you are a boy with extraordinary talent, someone whose abilities far surpass my own, yet at times, you can be incredibly cute."

"That is why I thought that as long as I could rely on you, I should do my best to ensure as few of our classmates as possible are expelled."

Uesugi Gen fell silent. Was the culprit behind all this actually me?

Ichinose continued, "Even now, I feel so incredibly lucky to have met everyone in Class B..."

"And more importantly, meeting you, Uesugi-kun—it's truly a blessing."

The voice of Ichinose beside him sounded as if it were overflowing with joy.

"I still remember it so clearly... that boy on the bus who offered his seat before I could... that was when I knew Uesugi-kun must be a very kind person."

"Cough, cough. So you were there too, huh?"

Uesugi Gen couldn't help but turn his head away.

"I was. I was right behind you, but you had just woken up, so you probably didn't notice me."

"Later, I wanted to look around the school first, so we got separated, but when I met that boy again, I discovered he was in the same class as me."

"At that moment, I thought to myself, how lucky I am."

Ichinose took a deep, steadying breath and closed her eyes, as if trying to imprint the scent of Uesugi Gen firmly into her mind.

"The day the students of Class B chose me as class representative, I thought I would be terrified and anxious, worried that I would ruin everything. But in reality, I wasn't afraid at all, because I kept thinking that there was someone in Class B far more capable than me."

"Whenever I couldn't handle things, I could still rely on him, just like... relying on my mother back home."

Ichinose's voice gradually softened, eventually trailing off into a dreamlike murmur.

"Perhaps it cost me all the luck in my life to have a sinner like me come to Kōiku and meet you..."

"That's why, when you suggested expelling students from other classes, I felt so afraid..."

"I was afraid that if I really let other students be expelled, heaven might take back this hard-won luck of mine..."

Ichinose had already fallen asleep, leaning against Uesugi Gen's shoulder.

A sinner, huh?

Looking at Ichinose asleep on the bed, Uesugi Gen let out a sigh.

Ichinose, if you're this naive, you're going to get bullied until you cry, you know...

Chapter 29: Ichinose, You Will Regret This!

"Shibata, I have 30 million points in a secret school account that I can't withdraw. Venmo me 5,000 points, and once I get them out, I'll take you up to Class A."

Ignoring Uesugi Gen's bizarre remark, Shibata asked curiously, "Uesugi, did you spend your points that fast? They were only distributed a few days ago."

Uesugi Gen covered his face and wailed, "You don't understand. To obtain the classified intelligence needed to defeat the Demon King, I have to pay tribute to those profiteers every day. I have an elderly former classmate to support at home, and I have to slave away for that sadistic guy with glasses all day long. My points were gone ages ago."

"..."

Shibata looked at Uesugi Gen, speechless.

"In short, you spent all your money on information, right?"

Himeno Yuki understood what Uesugi Gen meant.

"That's right. I don't even have money for food now. Have some mercy; I haven't eaten in three days."

Uesugi Gen shamelessly held out his palm to Himeno Yuki.

"Fine, I'll handle this."

Kanzaki rubbed his chin, tapped his fist into his palm, and called out, "Ichinose, Uesugi wants you to treat him to a meal."

"Kanzaki, shut up!"

Uesugi Gen's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly lowered his voice to shout at Kanzaki Ryuji.

Ever since Ichinose had fallen asleep in his room, he had been intentionally avoiding the girl.

Although their relationship appeared unchanged on the surface, the way Ichinose looked at him always gave Uesugi Gen the feeling of a little lamb being targeted by a big bad wolf.

At the front of the classroom, Ichinose, who had been talking to her classmates, heard Kanzaki's words. She quickly waved goodbye to them and ran over with a smile.

"I see."

After hearing the sequence of events, Ichinose beamed and said, "Then, Uesugi-kun, let me treat you to a meal."

"No."

Uesugi Gen turned his head away.

"Don't be so modest. I actually have a proposal I'd like to discuss with you all, so let's go eat together."

Ichinose grabbed the hand of Uesugi Gen, who was trying to leave.

Palette Cafe.

Looking at the rows of fair, tender thighs and fluttering skirts before him, Uesugi Gen let out a long sigh.

"Why did we have to come to a place like this? I feel like it clashes with my personality."

"Oh? Has Uesugi-kun never been here before?"

Ichinose asked in surprise, as Palette Cafe was incredibly popular among the girls at school, with many of them gathering here during lunch breaks and after school.

"It's a real shame, Ichinose. Aside from eating with me and Shibata, this guy spends most of his time in the dorms playing games. Since the three of us prefer places like ramen shops, I guess he's never been here."

Kanzaki Ryuji, who was following behind, waved his hand helplessly.

After hearing this, Himeno Yuki, who was beside Uesugi Gen, said with a look of exasperation, "Honestly, you're a well-known handsome guy in the first year, so could you please not act like such a shut-in?"

Uesugi Gen found a seat and sat down, squinting at Himeno Yuki.

"What's the point of that? Does it put food on the table? Yuki, don't worry so much about what others think. You live so uncomfortably precisely because you care too much about others' evaluations."

Himeno Yuki's face flushed red.

"Shut up!"

Once the five of them were seated, Ichinose wiped the smile from her face and said with a serious expression, "Back to the main topic. The reason I asked everyone to come here is that I have a proposal I'd like to discuss with you all."

"No problem. Whatever suggestion you have, just say it, and I will do my best to provide my input," Kanzaki said with a solemn look.

"Alright."

Ichinose took a sip of her coffee, took a deep breath, and said with a serious demeanor, "Hoshinomiya-sensei said that points can buy anything in this school, so I want to collect half of the personal points from the students in our class."

"This way, the points Uesugi-kun needs to buy information can be covered by this fund, and the class will bear the expense."

"Heh, after holding back for so long, you've finally decided to show your fangs, Ichinose? Still, I approve of this proposal."

The previously shrinking Uesugi Gen immediately perked up, returning to his usual state, and charged toward Ichinose like Don Quixote.

"I'd like to ask, Ichinose, what is your reason for doing this?"

Himeno Yuki, who had been silent, asked with some confusion. This didn't seem like Ichinose's style; it sounded more like something that guy Uesugi would do.

Ichinose said with a firm gaze, Uesugi Gen said with absolute confidence, "To ensure that the students in our class don't get expelled."

"To trample the other classes under our feet."

The two people sitting across from each other looked at one another, their eyes filled with confusion.

"Huh?"

"Isn't it to protect our classmates?"

"Isn't it to promote to Class A?"

The two spoke in unison once again.

Watching Uesugi Gen's reaction, Ichinose quickly explained, "Uesugi-kun, I heard from a senior in the second year that students from every class in the second year have been expelled. So, to prevent our classmates from being expelled, I want to save up points in advance for emergencies."

Uesugi Gen looked at Ichinose, completely bewildered. How could this woman think like that? If we get the people from other classes expelled, wouldn't our class win?

"Of course, we should use points as a weapon—to bribe others, form alliances, and if necessary, use points to directly kick out the opposing leaders."

After hearing Uesugi Gen's explanation, Ichinose's expression changed, and she said in a stern tone, "No, Uesugi-kun. That approach is too extreme. I won't allow you to do that."

"You're too naive, Ichinose. I'm doing this for the sake of Class B."

"Uesugi-kun, I am the class representative of Class B."

"Ichinose, you will regret this."

Uesugi Gen and Ichinose stood toe-to-toe, neither willing to give an inch.

The other three, listening to this conversation thick with the scent of gunpowder, hurriedly stepped in to intervene.

"Both of you, calm down. The other students are all watching us."

"In any case, let's explain the situation to the classmates first and collect the points. You both agree to that, right?"

The two of them stepped back simultaneously.

"That's acceptable."

"No problem."

"Then, who should be entrusted with keeping the points?"

Shibata Hayate asked the fatal question.

"That position naturally belongs to me."

Uesugi Gen declared, refusing to yield.

"Let's decide by vote."

Ichinose looked at Uesugi Gen with calm eyes; it was clear she had no intention of handing ownership of the points over to him.

"Ichinose, you're too naive. We have three men on our side."

Uesugi Gen wore an expression that suggested she had miscalculated, speaking with absolute confidence.

"Ichinose."

"Ichinose is fine."

"It's Ichinose!"