Classroom of the Elite, A Hypocritical Gray Life

Besides, how exactly did you sense my state? I thought I was hiding it quite well.

"Hmm, come to think of it, Raku, you always have the same look on your face. You wear your annoyance—the very definition of the word 'troublesome'—all over your expression."

"Eh, is it that obvious?"

"Quite obvious... and also very contradictory."

"Contradictory?"

"It's just that, even though you clearly look annoyed, you're also unexpectedly... indifferent? That's the feeling I get."

"...I'm impressed you can think that much into it."

"I just let my mind wander sometimes, please don't mind it!"

Ichinose suddenly raised her voice, leaving me feeling a bit bewildered.

"Perhaps everyone just thinks differently. In any case, given the current environment, I'm more or less repulsed by it too." Having said that, I glanced at Ichinose. Her forehead was covered in sweat, and her hair was matted against her skin because of it.

There was a certain allure to it, like someone who had just been caught in the rain...

"That's true, the environment here really is unbearable. I've never had to work for this long in such temperatures before. I can't wait to take a shower."

"It'll probably get a bit better by nightfall; the temperature should drop slightly."

"I've already asked Chihiro and the others to help me sprinkle some water around the campsite, so it should be cooler when we get back."

As thoughtful as ever, I see.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

I stopped in my tracks instantly and cast my gaze toward the northeast.

The sound was faint, but the rustling vibrations between the leaves didn't escape my hearing. Something was approaching at high speed, or perhaps 'flying' would be a more fitting description.

"What's wrong, Raku?" Ichinose asked, noticing I hadn't kept up with her pace. However, what followed was a declaration that looked down upon the world.

"Beauty! It is truly too beautiful! I am indeed a flawless human being! Wandering through this forest, I am truly too beautiful! Hahaha—"

A blonde, half-naked man was swinging back and forth between the branches, his movements so skilled that even a wild monkey couldn't compare. He kept clenching his arms, coordinating his body to generate the momentum for his upward swings.

Even I couldn't help but admire his athletic talent for such a fluid, seamless performance.

"Hahaha—it is truly too beautiful! Oh?" The man spotted us, immediately adjusted his direction, and after a few hand-swings, came to a halt right in front of us.

Ichinose was stunned by this sudden arrival, her eyes filled with disbelief as she stared blankly at the blonde man before her.

I silently stepped back to Ichinose's side.

"Yo, greetings to you both, this lovely lady and this ordinary boy."

The man smoothed back his golden hair and placed his hands on his hips, exposing his perfect physique and his sharp, chiseled, handsome face for all to see.

"Um... hello. I remember you're a student from Class D, right? May I ask if you need something?"

"Lady, my name is Kouenji Rokusuke. Please, do remember it."

"I understand, Kouenji-kun. My name is Ichinose Honami, and I'm a student from Class B... um, are you having any trouble?"

"Are you worried about me? There is no need. A person as flawless as I am will never encounter any problems. So, please, rest assured."

"I-I see, haha... then is there something you need?"

"Nothing in particular, I just wanted to get to know you a little."

"Get to know... me?"

"Of course. As the saying goes, everyone appreciates beauty. Although you are not as perfect as I am, I do acknowledge the cuteness of your appearance."

"Eh eh eh? I'm sorry, I—" Unable to grasp the situation, Ichinose panicked and took a few steps back, leaning closer to me. This caused Kouenji's gaze to land directly on me, shifting back and forth between us.

Finally, he suddenly laughed. "I see, so your heart is already spoken for, making it difficult to accept my praise? But I will forgive you. After all, failing to notice the perfect me simply means you have poor taste. Besides, a perfect being like me is not meant to be possessed by anyone. So, I can understand."

Absolute confidence.

I saw an absolute, unshakable self-confidence in the eyes of this man named Kouenji. It was the kind of arrogance that only stems from genuine ability.

He looked down on everyone, displaying absolute superiority only toward his own talents.

"No, I just—"

"Your feelings are obvious, lovely lady. It's just that this boy doesn't look like he'll be so easy to deal with."

Having said that, Kouenji probed me with a subtle look, and I met his gaze calmly.

Silence suddenly descended upon us, and we held that stance for nearly a minute. Finally, his arrogant laughter broke the stillness, and he leaped forcefully onto a tree trunk.

What incredible jumping power!

"What a boring mortal. Not interesting at all."

"However, since the mood has struck me, I shall ask you, as mere mortals. You—"

"Do you find it beautiful?"

Kouenji bared his snow-white teeth, spreading his arms wide, facing us with a fearless posture.

"May I ask which aspect you are referring to?"

"This unintelligent boy, it is I who am asking the questions here. However, I shall not mind; after all, you are not a perfect existence, so I will forgive your error. This time, I shall tell you."

"Do you think that I, who possess a perfect physique, look beautiful in a place like this?"

"Th-this, what kind of question is that?" Ichinose muttered against me, lacking confidence, while pressing her body even closer to mine.

Ah, since he is that kind of person, he should be easy to handle; after all, his entire situation is written all over his face.

"Of course, it is not beautiful."

"Luomu," Ichinose said from the side, worried.

"Oh? Why do you say that? Could it be that you look down upon this perfect body of mine?"

"I mean that such an ugly island is unworthy of someone with such a perfect physique as yours. This background makes you look very unsightly, doesn't it?"

"..."

"Hahahaha—your answer is truly interesting, simply marvelous! What is your name, boy?"

"Luomu."

"Luomu, is it?" Koenji stroked his chin with interest, then flicked his hand and began to wander through the forest once more.

"I have remembered your name, wooden boy. Perhaps you are not such a boring person after all."

Having finished speaking, Koenji strode away before the eyes of Ichinose and me.

Until his back had completely disappeared, neither of us spoke a single word.

"...Luomu, did you actually understand what he was saying just now?"

"No, I didn't understand it at all."

"Then..."

"I just replied to him randomly, following his pattern of speech, and somehow it ended up like this."

"...Then, did you understand the things he said at the beginning?"

"Sorry, I don't think I have reached the level of Koenji-kun yet."

Although his psychology is very easy to understand, if you really want me to grasp the meaning of the content, that is asking far too much of me.

"You really are a block of wood..."

"Sorry, did you say something?"

"No, I was just thinking that he really is a strange person."

To ordinary people, Koenji is indeed far too ahead of his time. I really want to know what kind of family environment could cultivate such a mentality. Besides, I really hate the way he addresses me, just like that person.

Koenji... it must be that one of the few elite conglomerates.

For a person like this, I might as well call him Mr. Beautiful.

Driven by a sense of retaliation, I viciously gave him a nickname in my heart.

Chapter 58: Do Not Trust the Words of Others Too Much

The precision of "language" as a tool is shockingly low.

Therefore, we must admit that humans have a strong ability to speak. Merely answering a question with something irrelevant encompasses centuries of subtext, subtly influencing people even when they are unaware of what the topic is.

This is the realm of language, much like hitting a cliff and being unable to move forward.

Thus, most of what people say is hollow and deceptive.

Yet, it is also irrelevantly true.

1

"Is it what Koenji said just now that is bothering Ichinose? You seem a bit unhappy."

After dealing with that troublesome character Koenji Rokusuke, Ichinose has given me the strange feeling that she is sulking with a straight face. I cannot understand this unfamiliar sense of familiarity, so I asked directly.

"Eh, is it that obvious?"

"It is. You are completely different from before. So, you really are bothered by it?"

"No, it's not like that. I was just... just... just affected by this sweltering environment. Yes, that is exactly what it is." After the explanation, Ichinose turned her head away, at a loss.

"That kind of answer is clearly just a cover-up..."

"No, that is not the case."

"..."

Well, if you insist on burying it, I will not press the issue.

"By the way, how does your body feel?"

I do not wish for any mistakes regarding these controllable factors.

"Mm, I am fine now. This is all thanks to Luomu-kun's reminder and help; otherwise, our class might have wasted thirty points for nothing."

"Are you sure you don't feel dizzy or feverish?"

"Yes, I am sure. I am actually feeling quite energetic."

"That's good."

The moment I saw Ichinose on the deck, I confirmed her physical condition, and just to be safe, I returned to the cabin to get some medicine for her to take.

If something were to happen to Ichinose, the entire class might experience a massive shift in its pattern; I was certain that Ichinose possessed that kind of influence.

"But, how did you figure it out, Raku? Even I didn't realize it myself."

"By the time you realized it, it would have been too late. Besides, I didn't really 'figure it out'; it was just a hunch. I hadn't seen you before that, so it was just a guess."

"You noticed I wasn't around earlier?"

"Shiranami asked me where you were, and that was when I realized it."

"Hmm, you mean Chihiro?" Ichinose paused for a moment.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's just... no, it's nothing, I'm just a little surprised. I had been sleeping in my room until then, so I had no idea what was happening outside until the final announcement woke me up."

"You were probably feeling hot and cold at that time, weren't you?"

"Eh? You knew that too?"

"That's a common symptom of a fever. I read about it in a book before."

"Ichinose-san, the food is ready. Would you like to come and have some?"

"Wow, I'm actually starving. Raku, you must be hungry too, right?"

"No, I don't have much of an appetite right now. I'll wait a little while."

"Alright then, I'll go have some first."

Before we knew it, we had arrived at the campsite, and I found a spot to organize the firewood I was carrying.

"Have you lost your mind today? Your actions have been incredibly proactive in every sense of the word." Kanzaki walked over to my side quietly, leaning against a large tree to chat with me.