In Classroom of the Elite, Ichinose, You Will Regret This

Uesugi Gen suddenly stood up and reached out to touch Horikita Suzune's smooth forehead.

"I kept forgetting to ask if you were feeling better, but it looks like you've recovered just about enough now."

"Uesugi-kun, would you prefer to suffer while you regret this, or despair while you regret this?"

A faint smile tugged at the corners of Horikita Suzune's mouth.

"Hey, hey, hey, thinking of hitting me again, are you? You won't even admit you're a tomboy..."

"Go to hell!"

--

After Uesugi Gen returned to the Class B campsite, he approached Kanzaki Ryuji, who was busy taking inventory of their supplies.

"Uesugi, if you're bored, you can go find Ichinose. She was looking for you earlier to go gather food."

Kanzaki Ryuji said without even looking up.

"Hey, hey, Kanzaki, I heard you want to be the leader of Class B?"

Kanzaki Ryuji's expression changed instantly.

"Don't talk nonsense, I don't."

"Don't lie. The look on your face in the woods just now told me everything. You, Kanzaki Ryuji, are planning a coup, aren't you?"

Uesugi Gen struck a pose like a certain pint-sized detective and pushed up a pair of non-existent glasses.

"I didn't, I—"

"No need to explain, I understand, I understand everything..."

Uesugi Gen wore an expression of complete understanding.

"I have a big treasure here to show you."

Uesugi Gen dragged Kanzaki into a corner and shoved the key card directly into his hand.

"This is... hmm?"

Kanzaki Ryuji stared in horror at the key card engraved with his name.

"How about that? For this week, you are the true leader of our Class B. Aren't you excited?"

"You... you..."

Kanzaki Ryuji pointed a trembling finger at Uesugi Gen.

While others might not see it, Kanzaki Ryuji, coming from a prominent family, knew very well that this position, while called a leader, was actually a useless piece of bait.

Furthermore, he knew Uesugi Gen's personality all too well. Skipping the class discussion and appointing him as the leader directly was definitely a sign that he was up to something.

Could this guy be planning to use him as a sacrificial lamb?

"Revenge, this must be revenge!"

Kanzaki Ryuji grabbed the key card and turned to leave, muttering to himself.

"I'm going to see Ichinose, I'm going to report you!!!"

58

Chapter 58: I haven't slept yet.

[I am Uesugi Gen,]

[I am going to show you how to survive on one of the safest Uninhabited Island on Earth.]

[I must face a week-long challenge.]

[In a place like this, if you don't have the proper skills to kill time, you won't even last a single day...]

I can't take it anymore!

Uesugi Gen snapped his bloodshot eyes open and sat up from the ground in a flash.

He, Uesugi Gen, was suffering from insomnia.

On an Uninhabited Island with no lights, no air conditioning, no big bed, and certainly no computer, phone, or gaming console, Uesugi Gen found, to his misery, that he couldn't fall asleep.

What's more.

What time is it even? It's not even eleven o'clock yet.

Usually, this was the time when his energy was at its peak, the time he would fight until dawn.

And so, after lying down, Uesugi Gen found himself completely unable to sleep.

So, what should I do now?

Uesugi Gen fell into deep thought.

He turned his head to look at Shibata Hayate, who was sprawled out sleeping, then at Kanzaki Ryuji, who looked serious even in his sleep, and finally at the other boys around him.

I have a feeling that if I wake them up now, I'll be pinned to the ground and beaten to a pulp.

Uesugi Gen had to suppress his restless heart that was itching to court disaster.

Forget it, they had been busy all day, so let them get some good rest.

Uesugi Gen stood up, stepped over the bodies of the other boys, and walked out of the tent.

Since this island was entirely artificial, there was no need to worry about large wild beasts, so Class B hadn't arranged for anyone to keep watch.

The entire campsite was quiet, with only the sound of the distant waterfall and the chirping of crickets in the grass.

It really was completely different from home and Kōiku!

Uesugi Gen found a random rock to sit on and sighed.

"I guessed you wouldn't be able to sleep."

A sweet voice came from behind Uesugi Gen.

"You aren't asleep either, are you? You must be exhausted after leading the students to set up camp today; you should really go get some sleep."

Without turning around, Uesugi Gen knew exactly who it was just by the voice.

"Hmm~ I don't feel tired at all. Back home, I always waited for my mother to come back before sleeping, so I don't have any sleepiness right now."

Ichinose found a spot and sat down next to Uesugi Gen to explain.

Uesugi Gen didn't reply, just quietly watching the waterfall in the distance.

Ichinose didn't continue talking either, sitting on the rock alongside Uesugi Gen.

The night suddenly grew quiet.

"Hey, Uesugi-kun, you bypassed the class discussion and appointed Kanzaki-kun as the leader directly; there must be a reason why it had to be him, right?"

After a long while, Ichinose softly asked her question.

Uesugi Gen looked at Ichinose's delicate, rosy face, then said calmly.

"Yes, this plan requires Kanzaki."

"So, can you tell me? Uesugi-kun's plan."

Uesugi Gen was silent for a moment, then decisively refused.

"No, this plan isn't suitable for you."

Seeing Uesugi Gen's firm attitude, Ichinose gave a bitter smile.

"As I thought..."

If it were an upright and honest plan, Uesugi Gen would never hide it from her if she wanted to know, so...

It really was a plan that went against her own principles.

Should she beg him not to do this?

No!

She couldn't say it; doing that last time was already her limit.

She didn't want to see him busy running around for the sake of the class anymore... he could have spent every day at school happily, and all of this was happening because of her...

Slowly, a look of pain appeared in Ichinose's eyes.

At this moment, Uesugi Gen placed his hands on Ichinose's shoulders, looked directly into her large, blue-violet eyes, and said earnestly.

"Ichinose, listen. I'm not asking you to change your kind nature. Helping others and wanting your classmates to be safe—there is nothing wrong with that in itself."

"However, we cannot view everything so idealistically. To gain something, one must inevitably lose something."

"It's like playing chess; no one can win a game without losing a single piece, not even a god. The only thing a player can do is use every means at their disposal to minimize losses and win the game beautifully."

Uesugi Gen paused, then continued.

"From the very beginning, they were prepared to sacrifice themselves for the commander. The students of Class B chose you as their class representative because they hope you can lead them to defeat the other classes beautifully."

"Ichinose, I know you are smart. Use your intelligence for this. Only those who are willing to discard everything can win everything!"

In this place where no third person existed, Uesugi Gen bloodily exposed the fact that Ichinose had been avoiding, forcing her to face it.

"I know... I know..."

Ichinose gripped Uesugi Gen's hands tightly, tears welling up in her eyes as she said painfully.

"But Uesugi-kun, I can't do it. I really can't. Just thinking about the day I might have to sacrifice you to achieve victory makes my heart feel so heavy."

Looking at the girl crying like a tear-stained doll before him, a flash of reluctance crossed Uesugi Gen's eyes.

Did I push her too hard?

Uesugi Gen sighed.

Forget it, next time...

Uesugi Gen gently released Ichinose's shoulders.

He pulled Ichinose into his arms, patted her back lightly, and comforted her.

"Then don't change for now, Ichinose. If you can't change, then so be it. This time, just keep an eye on the students in the class like you always do."

"Leave the rest to me. I promise you, this time I will minimize the losses for Class B, and I won't let a single person get expelled, okay?"

The sound of Ichinose crying in Uesugi Gen's arms gradually faded, slowly softening until only faint sobs remained.

Finally, a slightly spoiled, naive voice whispered into Uesugi Gen's ear.

"Is that true, Uesugi-kun?"

"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"

"Liar, you lie to me every time."

"No I don't, that's only happened once or twice."

"Then why do you always say you've already eaten whenever I ask you to grab a meal together, even though Kanzaki-kun said you stay in the activity room playing games until seven or eight every night?"

Damn it, Kanzaki, you just wait. I thought you were the only man in the Uesugi-gumi who wouldn't stab me in the back, but you actually leaked my little hideout. You did it so smoothly, even Shibata wouldn't have dared to do that.

"Ahem, that was an accident. Let's talk about something else; I'm definitely not lying to you."

"No, you'll just lie to me anyway."

"Then what do you want me to do?"

"From now on, when I... ask you to eat, you... aren't allowed to say you don't have time..."

"What if I've really already eaten?"

"I... don't care, otherwise you're just lying to me..."

"Fine, how about we go every few days, okay? Hmm? Ichinose? Ichinose?"

Uesugi Gen stared blankly at Ichinose, who was fast asleep in his arms.