Classroom of the Elite, A Hypocritical Gray Life

The after-school bell, set to the tune of Big Ben, rang with an impatient urgency, and Ichinose left in a hurry after exchanging a few words with me.

Her destination was the Special Building, the very place where Horikita's plan was set to unfold.

As for me, I slung my messenger bag over my shoulder and decided to head in the opposite direction.

"Leaving so early today, Raku?" Okabe and his two friends lounged in their chairs, eyeing me with suspicion.

"Yeah, I'm a bit tired. I think I'll get some rest early today."

"Don't tell me you saw Ichinose rushing off and you're planning to follow her?"

"Why would I do that? I'd just be pegged as a pervert."

"If you're into that, we wouldn't mind."

"...You guys are truly disgusting."

"Coming from the boring guy, that's rich. Calling us disgusting? You're a bit too cold-hearted, don't you think?"

"Being labeled a pervert would hurt my feelings, so let's drop the jokes."

"Hey, you're not coming to the hangout tonight either?"

"To Okabe's room? I'll pass. Those games look like a real pain to play."

"But you haven't even tried them yet..."

"Sorry, I'm just feeling really exhausted today. If you want to roast me, save it for next time. See you." With that, I waved a hand dismissively behind me.

"See you tomorrow."

That's right, I had no intention of joining the plan. My destination was straight to room 301 of the first-year dormitory. I wasn't skipping out due to laziness, but because it simply wasn't necessary. In other words, if I were to participate, it might only make the situation more chaotic.

With some distance between me and the first-year dorms, I took the time to review Horikita's plan in my head.

Until the meeting ended yesterday, our thinking had been stuck on finding evidence that Class C had thrown the first punch to prove Sudo's innocence. In reality, even if we found such evidence, both sides would end up suffering, and it would still represent a failure for Horikita.

However, the plan Horikita proposed was different; her goal was to force the students of Class C to drop the charges. This would completely eliminate the unfavorable factors for Sudo while securing a victory in the competition. To achieve this, making the Class C students feel guilty and admit their wrongdoing became the crux of the plan, and all subsequent actions would revolve around that struggle.

Yesterday, after the meeting, Horikita borrowed a large sum of points from our Class B leader, Ichinose. She did this to purchase enough surveillance cameras and circuit boards to install in the Special Building, creating the illusion that the entire incident had been recorded. This process had to be completed before school ended today.

Then, we would use the popularity of the Class D goddess, Kushida Kikyo, to lure the Class C plaintiffs out under the guise of a date, scheduled for about ten minutes before the meeting—around 3:50 PM. There was no need to worry about them not taking the bait; as Kanzaki said, boys at this age are like monkeys in heat at a zoo. Furthermore, the timing was crucial, as the plan had to be executed while the opposition was left with no room to breathe or recover.

After that, we only needed to rely on the assumption that the school already knew the full scope of the dispute, using that to reason with them and break them down psychologically. We would then immediately bring them into the meeting room to force them to choose to drop the charges.

Well? Does this plan sound stupid to you?

Take the cameras, for instance. Since Ishizaki and his two cohorts from Class C dared to provoke Sudo in the first place, it's certain they had already confirmed there were absolutely no surveillance cameras in that area on the third floor. This lie is easily exposed.

At the same time, if the school already knew the full truth of the incident, why would they go out of their way to delay the hearing and give Class D time to find evidence?

With just these two points, our plan seems utterly ridiculous and extremely foolish.

To list the truth in front of the truth is an act of folly.

But is the reality truly that absurd?

Chapter 35: On the Importance of a Mental Pillar

[Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's Perspective]

Conformity.

It refers to individuals changing their thoughts or behaviors due to the influence of the crowd, a concept scholars have applied to various fields, giving birth to the mindset known as "quasi-conformity."

It includes one vital rule: "informational pressure."

The issue of the surveillance cameras can be easily controlled through quasi-conformity.

If only one camera were installed at the "crime scene," the opposition would suspect we were bluffing. But if more cameras were installed—even in irrelevant areas—things would start to feel wrong. Add to that the informational pressure created by the presence of Ichinose and Ayanokoji at the scene, along with the assumption that the school is involved, and Ishizaki and his group will begin to doubt their own certainty.

This situation is common in daily life, and almost everyone has experienced it.

Try to recall your student days. Have you ever experienced a moment where, after giving a clear and confident answer to a teacher's question, you were met with their skepticism?

"Are you sure?"

This is a common tactic used by teachers, and it's just a simple question.

Yet, that single sentence creates a level of anxiety and doubt within the heart that far exceeds the information contained in the question itself. The words used by Ayanokoji and Ichinose to attack the opposition possess that same capability.

Furthermore, the third floor of the Special Building houses the staff offices and science labs, where valuables and chemical reagents are stored. This provides a perfectly reasonable premise for the existence of surveillance cameras.

Perhaps you think such a one-sided psychological attack isn't enough to break down an individual's mental defenses? In truth, as you say, if it were only to that extent, the human heart wouldn't be described as so unfathomable.

But our goal isn't to break them; it's to confuse them.

The ground absorbs solar thermal radiation and subsequently conducts it into the air through radiation, convection, and turbulence. In our region, between 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM, although the sun is setting, its angle of elevation remains high, meaning the heat stored by the surface is still greater than the heat being released. After this period—the time when the plan is executed—the surface releases a massive amount of heat, causing the temperature to reach its daily peak.

The tightly closed corridors, the continuous exposure to sunlight, the release of heat from the ground...

In such a stifling, uncomfortable environment, the human brain struggles to function even during simple thinking, let alone during deep, logical argumentation.

Anxiety between certainty and uncertainty lingers within the burden of that stress.

How many people can truly think with precision under such conditions?

As for the school's delay, it would be easy to brush it off with an excuse like wanting to test the students' ability to resolve their own disputes.

From the moment they began to doubt the existence of the surveillance cameras, the other party had already fallen into our trap.

Do you still think they are foolish after hearing that?

I paused by a vending machine on the street, debating whether to buy a coffee to taste its bitterness. Just then, a female student hurried past me, clutching a bundle of documents and letters. I watched her figure for a moment, and it wasn't until she disappeared around the corner that I recalled a fatal flaw in the plan.

This flaw, which I had mentioned previously, was the existence of a pillar of support.

1

"If you do something like this, you will be expelled. Are you really okay with that?"

Under Ichinose's pressing words, Ishizaki and the others couldn't even grasp the depth of their predicament.

The outcome had already been decided—

"Hey, hey, hey, what are you saying to the students in my class?"

"Ryu, Ryuen—!" In their desperation, Ishizaki and the others looked toward this man, who carried himself with an air of lawlessness, as if he were a light in the darkness.

Ryuen, is it...

"Oh my, I really didn't expect this. I never thought the always-amiable Ichinose would bring some nameless small-fry to threaten the students of our class." The man stood before us with a mocking smile, shielding the three of them behind him.

"Ryuen, it really was you pulling the strings behind the scenes. You were the one who caused trouble for the Class B students earlier, weren't you?"

"Huh? I don't recall ever causing trouble for Class B students. Besides, this time a Class D student hit a Class C student. I didn't expect you to stand on the side of the perpetrator. Is your outward kindness just a facade after all?"

"This dispute was clearly caused by your lies, aren't you going to admit it? The school—"

"Stop, stop, stop, hold it right there." Ryuen shook his head impatiently. "I won't be threatened by you into admitting to false facts. And I'm not stupid enough to let you bully me so easily. Right, you lot?"

"..."

Is he the source of the violence?

"Threatened? You ordered Ishizaki and the others to deliberately provoke Sudo into a staged fight, and then you were the first to file a complaint. Isn't that the truth?"

"You really have no shame, Ichinose. Even now, you still want to threaten us? Since it's your mistake, we won't just sit here and be slaughtered."

His logic was clear; given this, withdrawing the complaint was unlikely to happen.

"Threatened? These were things your own class members said voluntarily. I have a recording right here." Ichinose took her phone out of her pocket and waved it in front of them.

Except for Ryuen, the other three began to panic.

"Does a compromise made under duress have any value? I don't acknowledge what we said before. If you want to use the recording in your hand as evidence, then go ahead. Who knows if you've tampered with it?"

"You—"

"I'm sorry, Ichinose. Your scheme isn't working anymore. I won't compromise with you. Also—"

"I don't remember giving you permission to meet with others at this time." Saying this, Ryuen glared fiercely at the three of them. "I told you, didn't I? We are guaranteed to win this complaint. Get back here, now!"

"We, we're going." Under Ryuen's roar, Ishizaki and the others scrambled away.

"Wait!" Ichinose tried to stop the three with words, but Ryuen blocked her with a chuckle.

"It's truly a pity, Ichinose. You were just a hair's breadth away from succeeding with your scheme."

"It really was you behind this. Why did you appear here at this time?"

"Thanks to you, I was originally planning to return to the dormitory to rest and wait for the results. But I didn't expect my homeroom teacher to inform me that the three students attending the meeting had gone missing. Fortunately, the notification came just in time."

"What a shame, Ichinose. Though, I really didn't expect you to use such despicable methods. I think that harmless little rabbit persona suits you better. If you really have the capability, I'll be sure to properly entertain you next time."

After saying this, the student known as Ryuen left the special building without looking back, leaving Ichinose and me staring at each other.

Chapter 36: So, I am just a tool man controlled by a distorted personality

Material civilization is highly developed, people's living standards are constantly improving, the emergence of numerous social welfare programs has caused the happiness index to grow exponentially. The national political system is sound, the legal system is perfect, the cultural quality of the citizens has improved, and the environment is slowly changing...

Various aspects of reality bear witness to the fact that society is progressing.

At the same time, we grow in the shadows, and human nature gradually becomes distorted. Distorted personalities degrade society; a sick city breeds abnormal personalities.

Therefore, society is not dark, and human nature is not sick.

The only thing truly distorted is your own perception.

After hanging up the phone, I finished the coffee I had bought shortly before, tossed it accurately into a trash can on the street, and resumed my walk toward the dormitory.

However, before I had taken many steps, my phone vibrated in my pocket again.

"Hello." I answered the call from Ichinose immediately, but for a long while, there was no sound from the other end.

So I waited quietly in the silence, wondering if there was an issue with the phone signal.

"Are you free right now, Raku?"

The signal was fine, then.

"My time is usually very tight; I'm either going to sleep or—" I intended to make a joke, but the atmosphere on the call felt dejected. "...What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"The result seems to deviate a bit from what we imagined... Where are you right now, Raku?"

"The meeting seems like it's about to start. Are you sure you still need me to come over and help?"

"Could I trouble you to come over? I've already contacted Kanzaki as well."

"I see, is it the special building, or perhaps a conference room?"

"The special building... if it's not too much trouble, could you come over, Raku?"

"Understood, I'm heading over now." With that, I hung up the phone.

15:59

The time was displayed prominently in the center of my phone screen.

There was no time left, so what could I possibly do now?

Honestly, I was just a moment away from being able to take the messenger bag off my shoulder.

Looking at the dormitory building right before my eyes, I let out a deep sigh.

In the sweltering heat of mid-July, running back and forth was hardly an ideal option.

Well, I was already feeling hopeless about the arrival of August. Why on earth do humans have to endure such extreme, bizarre temperatures?

0

"Raku."

As soon as I poked my head out from the stairwell, Kanzaki waved at me, and Ichinose turned to look my way.

"So, what's the matter?" I asked, adopting the attitude that necessary business should be handled as quickly as possible, yet the bitter smile on Ichinose's face made me realize the situation was anything but ordinary.

"The plan failed."

"...Can they really keep their cool and think straight even in this stifling heat? That's impressive."

Losing to opponents like that wasn't shameful; it just meant their willpower was exceptionally tenacious.

"No, that's not it. The reason for the failure is something else entirely."