Classroom of the Elite, A Hypocritical Gray Life

"That was the plan, but I suddenly felt like trying to find something I'd lost."

"What an odd way to put it... Has this thing been missing for a long time?"

"About twenty days, I suppose."

"Is it something valuable? Let me help you look for it."

"It's nothing of great value. Though it's hard to believe, I actually just found it a moment ago, so please don't worry about it... Would you like to come over and sit for a while?"

To pick up my things, I had to toss my messenger bag onto the long wooden bench, which coincidentally freed the seat from the crushing weight of a nearby couple's affection. Thankfully, there was no one else around; otherwise, being a lone wolf in such a setting would inevitably force me to wear an ugly mask of envy and jealousy.

"You found it? But just now, you looked so melancholy." As she spoke, Ichinose sat down beside me, and I did my best to avoid her gaze.

"Melancholy is a bit of a stretch," I thought, surprised by her perception, as I didn't believe I wore my emotions on my face. "I was just thinking about where to head next."

"Are you planning to skip dinner again, Raku?"

"Could you please drop the 'again'? Thanks to you, Ichinose, I haven't missed a single dinner in these past three months. By the way, why are you here? This isn't the shortest path to the dorms, the cafeteria, or the Keyaki Mall. If you were headed to any of those places, this is quite a detour."

"Well, I was actually just out for a walk."

She seems unusually nervous.

"You haven't had dinner yet, have you, Ichinose?"

"How did you know, Raku?" Ichinose looked at me with curiosity.

"I had stomach issues when I was a kid, and that memory is quite vivid. The doctor told me that walking before a meal helps stimulate the appetite and improves gastrointestinal secretion and motility. I figured that was what you were aiming for... wasn't it?" Seeing Ichinose's expression turn strange, I realized my words must have been a misunderstanding.

"Oh, I didn't mean to imply you were gaining weight. I was just talking about physical health. Besides, I think you have a great figure, Ichinose."

"Mm—" Ichinose didn't answer me immediately; instead, her face flushed a faint red, though it was obscured by the scorching glow of the setting sun. At this moment, I felt like someone peering at the mysteries of the world through a glass lens—a mere outsider who couldn't see the truth, feeling like a total clown.

Our figures looked just like a couple in the twilight, and to ease the awkwardness, I scrambled to find a topic of conversation.

"Why aren't Shiranami and the others with you today?"

"I had some personal matters to attend to, so I let them go on ahead."

"Didn't they try to keep you there? Or maybe make plans to meet up later?"

"Of course not, Chihiro and the others wouldn't do something like that. You don't have a prejudice against girls, do you, Raku?"

"If that were the case, I wouldn't be sitting here having a pleasant chat with you, Ichinose. I just thought it was strange, that's all."

"Strange?"

"Ah... well, you know. Because of what happened while we were resolving that incident. Even though you turned her down, Shiranami still interacts with you like normal. So, I was just thinking about the look in her eyes back then..."

"I think Chihiro has moved past those things. I was really scared at the time, too, wondering if that rejection would affect our future relationship... but thankfully, the next day, we were back to normal. It was such a relief. If her inner bias..."

"Bias?" I felt a restless anxiety at her sudden silence; the truth was right in front of me, yet I couldn't quite touch it.

"Sorry, the rest involves Chihiro's personal privacy, so it's probably not right for me to talk about it."

"Then let's just leave it at that. I wasn't too concerned anyway..." I shook my head to clear out the useless information. After enjoying a moment of rest on the wooden bench, I continued the conversation.

"Do you still want to continue your walk, Ichinose?"

"Hmm, I suppose I could end it whenever." Ichinose gave her answer after a moment of thought.

"Then, would you like to go to the mall and have dinner together?"

"Oh? You mean Keyaki Mall?"

Keyaki Mall is the name of the complex facility the students use, though I'm more accustomed to calling it the commercial district.

"Yeah, it's closer than the school cafeteria... is there a problem with that?"

"Just the two of us, won't you mind that, Raku?"

"I should be the one asking you that, Ichinose. Are you sure it's really okay for it to just be the two of us?"

"I don't mind at all..."

Why does she seem a little shy?

"If you don't mind, then I certainly don't either. Let's head out." I stood up and shouldered my messenger bag, and Ichinose followed right behind me.

The sun had completely dipped below the horizon by now, and the streetlights on both sides of the road flickered to life. The surrounding scenery looked like a set piece from a ski resort.

"Do you have any recommendations for a place to eat?" I asked Ichinose along the way.

"Shouldn't that be your decision to make, Raku? You were the one who suggested it, yet you're asking for my opinion."

"Even if you tease me, I really don't have any ideas. I'm not familiar with Keyaki Mall at all, and I don't know which restaurants have a good reputation."

"Have you never eaten at a restaurant before, Raku?"

"Before?" I paused at the question. "Never. I usually just grab something wherever I am."

"Haven't you ever gone out to eat with friends?"

"Sorry, once I 'crawl into my blanket,' I don't want to go anywhere, so I've turned them all down. Besides, when I go to a restaurant, I tend to get a bit... uh... overwhelmed?"

What kind of mindset was I in when I wandered the streets alone? What was I even trying to do? Was I just mindlessly acting like a walking corpse?

"You're talking about decision paralysis, aren't you? You can't choose because there are too many dishes you want to try?"

"Perhaps so. In any case, I can't think of anywhere to eat, so I'll leave the recommendation to you, Ichinose."

"Hmm, how about a vegetarian izakaya? I've been there a few times; it's cheap, the food is top-tier, and the menu is quite extensive."

Even if you ask me, I can't offer any useful input. Unable to come up with a response, I can only nod in agreement.

Led by Ichinose, we quickly arrived at our destination. Originally, izakayas were places where liquor store operators provided simple dishes so customers could drink on the premises after buying alcohol, which is why the shops were usually very cramped.

However, this place was different; it was quite large and very popular. Fortunately, there were still some empty seats available.

"Pan-fried tofu, mixed chicken breast, avocado and chicken breast with wasabi soy sauce, bean sprout and pork rolls, broccoli egg salad, salmon stir-fried with mushrooms, minced miso over bean sprouts... Is there anything else you'd like to eat, Raku?"

What is this? These aren't the kind of small dishes you'd expect at an izakaya.

Then again, times are always changing, and culture is always evolving.

"No, that's more than enough."

"Mm, then let's go with that for now."

Ichinose submitted the checked menu to the waiter, and then we settled in for a long wait.

"By the way, if you don't mind, could you help me take this?" As I said this, I suddenly recalled the 'conspiracy' I had been planning for a long time and pulled a beautifully wrapped small gift box out of my messenger bag.

"This is..." Ichinose reached out and took it, looking puzzled.

"It's something I bought on impulse. It doesn't really fit in my room, so I've been looking for a chance to give it away, but I couldn't seem to find the right person..."

"Can I open it?"

"Please do."

"This box... it doesn't look like it's been opened?"

"Yeah, I regretted it right after I bought it, so I never dared to open it."

"What kind of thing is it to be so dramatic..." The exquisite packaging was peeled away in Ichinose's hands, and finally, she opened the box.

"What a beautiful necklace... Raku, are you giving this to me?"

"Yeah. I was hanging out at the electronics market with Okabe and the others, and we ended up getting separated. I was just looking around when I found this necklace. At the time, I thought the craftsmanship was quite exquisite, so I bought it without thinking. It was only later that I realized it was a women's style. Even if no one would notice if I wore it, it would still be hard to accept, right?"

"..." Ichinose didn't reply after hearing my explanation; instead, she stared straight at me.

I have a feeling that I really want to die...

"Your expression is very ominous. If you don't really like it, it's fine if you don't accept it. Although I think it would look quite good if you wore it—"

"Raku, you knew, didn't you?"

"..." Faced with Ichinose's sudden question, I fell silent.

"That today is my birthday."

"...So today is Ichinose's birthday."

"Don't try to brush it off. No wonder Raku's behavior and answers were so strange today."

I thought I was being quite natural, but I suppose it was too deliberate after all. I should have staged it in steps.

"But how did you know, Raku? I never told anyone, not even Chihiro... Don't change the subject, you definitely knew."

"...On the day of enrollment, when Teacher Hoshinomiya asked us to verify our points, I accidentally saw your personal file."

"You knew back then... So that's why you asked me earlier why Chihiro and the others weren't with me?"

"There were other reasons, of course." Even at this moment, I tried to quibble. However, Ichinose didn't take my words to heart at all.

"Then how do you explain what happened later?"

"Is there something else I haven't accounted for..."

"Of course. You realized I had no intention of celebrating my birthday, and perhaps you were even trying to avoid it, which is why you hadn't mentioned it until now."

Ah, what a total failure. I was seen through completely.

"But I'm still very happy that you were able to celebrate my birthday, so I will gladly accept this gift." Ichinose didn't feel angry or displeased by my taking matters into my own hands; on the contrary, a look of joy appeared on her face.

"Although it feels like a bit of a failure, I'll wish you a happy birthday nonetheless." After saying this, I let out a deep sigh, which stood in stark contrast to Ichinose's small, triumphant smile.

"Thank you very much. I really like the necklace you gave me; you must have spent a long time picking it out."

"Yeah, something like that. I had no idea what you liked."

"The gift isn't important; it's the thought that counts, so I'd be happy with anything you gave me, Raku. But I have another question for you."

"What is it?"

"Raku, you're actually super smart, aren't you?" As she said this, Ichinose leaned in with her incredibly pure eyes, making me feel uneasy.

"Spare me, I can't handle such praise. You know my grades, Ichinose."

"But is that really the case?"

"Haven't you all witnessed it for yourselves?"

"Hmm, well, let's just leave it at that for now. I won't press you any further. Whoa, the pan-fried tofu is here, I'm going to dig in."

Well, Ichinose's mood seems to have improved. However, what was removed wasn't the hidden anxiety deep in her heart, but merely a common sense of melancholy...

If possible, I would prefer to avoid choosing the option of abandonment until the very end.

...As I thought, it would be better to abandon it sooner rather than later; otherwise, I cannot be certain whether I will be affected by this in the future.

Looking at Ichinose, who was urging me to act, I could only say silently to myself.

"I'm digging in."

Chapter 21 More Than One Witness

It was probably July 3rd when the school still hadn't distributed our points; instead, we were informed of the reason for the delay.

"After club activities ended on the afternoon of June 28th, a student from Class D and three students from Class C got into a dispute in the special building. I don't know the specific details, but simply put, those kids got into a fight. The school hasn't been able to figure out exactly what happened even now. If there is no outside intervention, this situation will drag on until next Tuesday, at which point the school will issue a final arbitration."

"The reason I am explaining this to you is that the school wants to find witnesses among the students to understand the situation at the time and provide relevant testimony. The testimony of a witness must be provided voluntarily; in other words, if someone is coerced by others, the testimony will not be accepted. If any of you were witnesses and would like to help verify the situation, please come find me before the final arbitration."

After Teacher Hoshinomiya finished explaining the current situation, she swept her gaze over us without saying another word.

Not a single student among us showed any intention of testifying, though the sound of whispering was loud and lively.

"One additional point: the school will not provide any rewards to witnesses who voluntarily provide testimony." Only then did Teacher Hoshinomiya reveal the most important piece of information for us.

"Huh, no reward? Then who would do such a thankless job?"

"What is this? Isn't this just asking for trouble?"

Just as the students were voicing their confused complaints, Ichinose murmured to herself.

"So people from Class D and Class C got into a dispute..."

Although such matters of right and wrong always attract Ichinose's attention, I know that for the time being, she won't take this matter too much to heart. During this period, she is anxiously dealing with the student council interview, and the situation is not very optimistic; it looks like there is a possibility of being rejected.

Not many people are clear about the situation inside the student council, and very little news has leaked out. On the contrary, I have a vague understanding of the fight.

The conflict involved Sudo from Class D and Komiya, Kondo, and Ishizaki from Class C. After the fight, Class C unilaterally complained to the student council about Class D's disgraceful behavior. They claimed it was a one-sided assault by Sudo, and the bruises on their faces compared to Sudo's lack of injuries certainly seemed to confirm this; meanwhile, Class D's explanation was that the people from Class C provoked them first, followed by an act of self-defense.

Perhaps due to the contrast in injuries, the rumors going around basically say that Class D is at fault, because some people claim they often see Sudo from Class D grabbing others by the collar in anger, and he himself has even explained his methods of hitting people and the parts of the body that cause the most pain.