Classroom of the Elite, A Hypocritical Gray Life

"It's finally over." My body felt as if my spirit had been drained dry, collapsing limply onto the wooden chair. Being squeezed into a group consisting entirely of women for an entire study session, all while enduring the inexplicable gazes of others, was truly a painful experience.

Everything has a first time, yet why was my first time so scorching and frustrating?

"Raku, it's time to go eat dinner."

"You don't need to remind me of such things; I'm not a child."

"That's only because Raku is being so lazy."

I truly feel like apologizing to the very concept of laziness.

After parting ways at the library, Kanzaki and I had dinner at the school cafeteria before returning to the dormitory. The May weather wasn't quite enough to make me sweat, but I decided to head to the bathroom to rinse off anyway.

In the mirror, I carefully observed my own body. The scars left behind from a few months ago, when my skin was pierced by branches, had completely healed; there wasn't a trace left on the surface. To this day, I still maintain a perfect physique. This habit has never changed since the beginning.

I put on my yukata and returned to the area that served as both living room and bedroom. Having nothing to do, I watched an entire movie by myself.

The movie was brilliant, and the content it displayed was something I couldn't have imagined. I don't think I have ever given a film such a high rating. The only pity was that I, as the viewer, wasn't watching it as part of a couple. After all, movies don't seem to be things meant to be savored alone.

Thinking of this, I opened the boys' group chat.

They were talking about an internet goddess named "Shizuku," so I followed the link they provided and casually clicked on a photo of her in a swimsuit. Then, I couldn't help but click on the official website hosted by "Shizuku," admiring the photos of the energetic idol.

I thought this was just a meaningless way to kill time, but I received some unexpected news. For instance, 'Shizuku' is a student at our school... Perhaps it's a coincidence, but the background in her latest photoshoot is identical to the layout of this dormitory I'm in.

Maybe she's a first-year student like us; I might even be able to get an autograph or something.

I tried to fantasize about a chance encounter, but in the end, I couldn't even get the opening to play out. I self-deprecatingly tossed my phone onto the armchair and opened the window, which felt like a barrier between me and the world.

The chirping of insects drifted in from outside, and the night breeze blew, the air permeated with a sense of tranquility. I began to think about the things that had happened recently.

Everything was going smoothly.

A chance meeting with Ichinose, a chance to be in the same class, a chance to be seated in front of and behind each other. A successful self-introduction, successfully making friends, successfully integrating into the class... No, it should be said that the class successfully "integrated" me. Plus, I also got to know two people from Class D.

It was too smooth; the starting advantage of Class B was simply too great.

However, even so, even in a class like this, I could still notice the flaws in his existence. To this day, just like that team operation back then, I still cannot empathize; I cannot make it feel like it concerns me.

"Are we... not teammates..."

I recalled the twisted expression on his face before he died, his pores exuding an indescribable sense of confusion.

Ah, at least I flatter myself—that keeping one's true nature hidden is a superior talent.

Therefore, in every aspect, I will achieve this.

Outside the window, the chorus of insects fell silent at some unknown moment, and the light from the streetlamps quietly cast shadows. The mottled, rhythmic darkness mocked the meaning of my existence at every moment.

Tonight, I think I won't sleep.

I closed the window, no longer looking at the world that felt so full of barriers.

Chapter 16: The Non-existent Eavesdropper

What kind of feeling is exhaustion? I have forgotten since when I stopped knowing. Perhaps because of the medication, the only time I can feel that living-is-worse-than-death, drowsy pleasure is during my endless sleep.

People feel pain as long as they are alive, and I am no exception. I tried my best to pursue the ultimate root of pain, but I could never reach the end.

Thinking about it, it seems like it's been a long time since I wandered through the dim alleys in the middle of the night. Maybe I should do that today.

I sat alone in the swivel chair, looking at the endless night outside the window, thinking this. The dormitory handbook doesn't strictly regulate the curfew, only reminding us that it's best not to go out late at night, so this action wouldn't be directly punished.

I have always been the type to do what I say, so I took my room card, walked smoothly through the light-filled corridor, and pressed the elevator button. The elevator rose to the fourth floor, just as it always did.

Rose to the fourth floor, just as it always did...

"Huh?"

Looking at this familiar daily routine, a terrifying possibility rose from the depths of my heart.

No way, isn't this just too strange? That kind of thing is absolutely impossible.

I desperately tried to deny the answer I had reached in my heart, but the moment the elevator doors opened, my fantasy was completely shattered.

"...You've got to be kidding me?" The person inside the elevator was the first to voice their disbelieving confusion.

"Why aren't you sleeping at this hour?" I followed his words and complained to him.

"It's a bit stuffy in my room, and I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd go downstairs to buy a drink..."

"Isn't this just too strange?"

What is this? Pressing the elevator button to summon Ayanokoji Kiyotaka? Either I've gained some strange ability, or there is definitely something wrong with him. I simply cannot believe that such a coincidence exists in the world.

"I'm also confused on my end; it feels like you're following me."

"Please don't treat me like a pervert. If I could, I would also try my best to avoid you."

If this really is a coincidence, then what could possibly cause two unrelated people to have the same lifestyle, thoughts, and behaviors?

I gave him a subtle look, and at the same time, an alarm bell rang in my heart, as if I were being watched by a hunter. He must have some connection to me, yet as it stands, neither of us can be certain. But then again, who could possibly be linked to me?

While harboring these suspicions, we had already arrived in front of the vending machine and each bought a drink. Then, like delinquent middle schoolers, we occupied the space by the vending machine.

"Did your recent quiz go well?" I casually interjected into the silence that only the chirping of insects could fill.

"Is Raku trying to probe into the situation of our class?"

"If that's how you want to think about it, I suppose there's no problem with that. But I was just asking casually; if you feel like you're at a disadvantage, I don't mind telling you about our class's situation. Though I don't think there's much to discuss regarding academic ability."

"You probably know this even without asking. This school divides classes based on student ability, so for Class D, the results of this quiz should be easy enough to figure out."

"Is it really going to be that difficult? Are you going to be alright?"

"My situation is also precarious; if I make a mistake, I might end up expelled. Just maintaining my grades is exhausting enough... Does being in Class B mean your grades are pretty good?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you. My grades this time are barely above the bottom of the class, which is why I had to attend the study group organized by the class for this exam. Class B's good grades only reflect the overall average, though there aren't many students at the very bottom, it seems."

"Are your grades in danger?"

"That's what I said, but I still have the ability to protect myself; it's just that everyone in Class B is very worried about students falling behind... Come to think of it, I checked the class points for this month, and your Class D is at zero. That means there was no point transfer this month. Do you still have enough points on hand?"

"One hundred thousand points is a huge sum; that should be enough for one person to spend for several months, right?"

That's true; the school must have considered this issue when they set the initial points to one hundred thousand.

I leaned my weight comfortably against the hard frame of the vending machine, idly shaking the Fujiya peach juice in my hand; meanwhile, Ayanokoji stood with his back against the wall, staring at the light and shadow under the streetlamp, lost in thought.

We didn't know how much time had passed like this, until finally, the drink in the can was finished and tossed into the trash bin, the sound of metal colliding ending the silence.

"Do you plan on staying here?" Ayanokoji asked, seeing that I was still lingering by the trash bin.

I hesitated for a moment; the current situation didn't seem suitable for continuing any longer.

"No, I plan on heading back too. Let's go."

When we returned to the elevator lobby, the elevator wasn't waiting for us as we had hoped; instead, it was already in motion, climbing straight up to the seventh floor. That was the girls' floor.

"There are surprisingly many people who aren't sleeping tonight."

I turned to look at the electronic display screen beside me. After the elevator doors opened, a woman with long black hair and a subtle bust size came into view.

"I remember this woman is your personal advisor... You wouldn't happen to have been planning a secret meeting, only to be interrupted by me, would you?" Looking at the woman named Horikita Suzune on the screen, I couldn't help but ask Ayanokoji. I expected him to brag a little, but instead, he flatly denied the fact.

"If I had a girlfriend, she would be the last person I'd choose. Besides, she doesn't seem to take me seriously at all... Sorry, I think I need to hide for a moment."

"Hmm, a guilty conscience?"

"It would be very awkward to run into a classmate at this hour. Plus, she might misunderstand our relationship and perhaps even brand me with some baseless stigma like 'betraying the class'."

"...She doesn't sound very friendly."

"Anyway, I'll avoid her for now." After saying this, Ayanokoji hurriedly hid in the shadow of the vending machine. It was an excellent hiding spot that could be utilized in a short amount of time. If one didn't look carefully, I don't think anyone would notice.

Come to think of it, I didn't really want others to know that I was wandering around outside at this hour either, but that fact seemed to have been exposed from the start, so I might as well just give up and let it be.

After the elevator doors opened, I brushed past that learning advisor of Ayanokoji's. The girl's face was always cold, yet the moment our eyes met just now, she revealed a hint of panic.

I hadn't done anything to startle her, so the only possibility was that she didn't want anyone to know about this outing. Even so, she quickly suppressed the panic in her heart and didn't make any threatening gestures toward me.

I pressed the button for the third floor as if nothing had happened and stepped out of the elevator as soon as it arrived.

"My shoelace is untied..."

And it was a rare case where both shoes had come undone at the same time. I bent down to slowly tie my laces, and when I was working on the second shoe, the closed elevator doors emitted the sound of operation again. Perhaps to save electricity, the lights in the dormitory hallway were voice-activated and stayed on for a very short time. By the time I finished tying my laces, the hallway was pitch black.

The elevator was in operation, rising from the first floor. I stood up unsteadily, failing to balance myself for a moment, and my shoulder slammed heavily into the wall. The resulting noise caused the hallway lights to turn on instantly, completely covering the light emanating from inside the elevator.

Good grief, if it weren't for the cameras in the hallway and the fact that the electronic display showing the elevator's status was only on the first floor, I wouldn't have to go through all this trouble.

I swiped my key card and returned to my room.

1

My neighbor is a beautiful girl named Horikita Suzune, and her older brother is the student council president of this school—Horikita Manabu.

I followed Horikita's concerningly cautious behavior, and after successfully stopping the student council president from committing violence against his sister, I made a pact with Horikita because I couldn't bear the burning passion in my heart.

Ability, equality... Without thinking carefully, I quickly concluded the purpose of my coming to this school. But I should have just wanted to escape that man's control and gain freedom, right?

I sat on the wooden chair from shortly before the incident occurred, sorting through my slightly chaotic thoughts.

After calming my mind, I got up and circled back to the street corner, continuing to walk to the other side of the wall. At the end stretched a row of greenery, and on one side, it connected to a large lawn. The moonlight couldn't penetrate this area, replaced instead by dim light that was several times weaker.

I turned on the flashlight function on my phone and carefully observed the degree of soil compression and the creases between the branches.

No traces; was it just an illusion...

Then I checked the placement of the surrounding surveillance cameras again. This spot wasn't covered at all, but every path leading out would be recorded.

After understanding these circumstances, I returned to the dormitory lobby. When I sent Horikita upstairs, I had already confirmed that the elevator was on the fourth floor at that time, and the position of the note caught in the elevator door hadn't changed either.

"The double doors of the emergency exit staircase hadn't been opened either..."

Was I just being overly suspicious after all?

I waited quietly for the elevator coming down from the seventh floor, retrieved the note caught in the door gap, and after realizing the fact that there were no electronic displays on floors other than the first, I returned to my room.

Only then did I begin to consider the decision I had made on impulse. Perhaps I had made a deal with the devil.

Chapter 17: The Death Stare from Shiranami

"Welcome to the school that prioritizes meritocracy."

At the beginning of May, Teacher Hoshinomiya used this sentence to conclude the morning assembly. From this moment on, I began to think about what is called ability.

What is ability?

At first glance, this question seems incredibly simple, and we can even find the definition of the word in a dictionary—it refers to actual power.

At the national level, scholars divide strength into hard power and soft power. Hard power refers to dominant strength, meaning a country's economic, military, and technological power. Simply put, it is a tangible, substantial material capability. Soft power, on the other hand, is an intangible force, a type of ability. In terms of the mind, it achieves its goals through attraction rather than coercion or inducement.

However, at the individual level, the concept of strength appears somewhat ambiguous. Some scholars treat it the same way as they do at the national level. Yet, it is impossible to make a clear distinction. If one were forced to categorize it, it could only be divided into the soul and the body.

Of course, in its most superficial manifestation, it can be said that strength is the embodiment of power and wisdom.

Pulling force, grip strength, pushing force...

Technology, innovation, reasoning...

Individual competition can be treated like war; power is firepower, and wisdom is strategy. In war, one usually needs both to achieve victory in every engagement. So the question returns. What are the concrete manifestations of firepower and strategy in an individual? What do guns, troop strength, blueprints, routes of movement, and the like actually represent?

Up until now, I have still been contemplating the conclusion to this question, but a loud conversation forcibly pulled my wandering thoughts back.

"I remember now. It's Francis Bacon!"

"Correct."

I recall that there is a rule in the library prohibiting loud noises. Not far away, students from Class D are holding a study session, and the reason I know it is Class D is that half of the members are acquaintances of mine.

Ayanokoji, Horikita, and Kushida.

Tutoring... so they decided to just solve it all together, I suppose. And here I thought Ayanokoji would have the good fortune of one-on-one tutoring with a beautiful girl.

"Don't they know they're supposed to stay quiet in the library?" Shiranami complained from my right.

This student's full name is Shiranami Chihiro, and her grades are among the top in the class. She is an assistant helping Ichinose with the tutoring.

"Shiranami, you wouldn't have any problems even if you didn't attend the study session, would you?"

"But if I don't come to help, the burden Honami has to carry is just too heavy. Don't you think so, Raku? It's really heartbreaking."

"It's not much trouble at all; everyone's learning ability is quite good, and they caught up very quickly," Ichinose replied with a smile.