Classroom of the Elite, It's Not About Meritocracy, It's About Me Ruling the World!

"Eh? How is that possible?"

Tachibana Akane was even more astonished.

Horikita Manabu was undoubtedly the strongest person she had ever met, and Nagumo Miyabi had only been hoping to face Horikita Manabu in a match in that manner.

But now.

It seemed more like Horikita Manabu felt a sense of dread toward Kijima Tsukur?

Why was that?

In the eyes of Nagumo Miyabi and the others.

Kijima Tsukur might just be a first-year with a bit of talent, but only Horikita Manabu truly understood how terrifying he was!

He had to be treated with extreme caution.

Otherwise, The entire Student Council would be finished.

That could no longer be considered driving a tiger to fight a wolf; it was practically suicide. He would have to make private contact first!

Dormitory Room 703.

At the low table, Kijima Tsukur and Yamamura Miki sat facing each other. He looked at the large plate of fried chicken and side dishes before him and nodded:

"You spent a lot of time on the food today. Thank you for your hard work."

"Don't mention it."

It's not like I made it for you, Yamamura Miki thought to herself, a hint of small pride in her tone.

She had originally hesitated about whether to continue just going through the motions today, but she figured she shouldn't let her stomach suffer regardless of the circumstances.

Therefore, she still prepared a decent feast.

Perhaps this feast was nothing compared to the massive sum of 100,000 points, but Yamamura Miki still felt it was enough!

Most importantly!

This was the first time she had eaten fried chicken with someone other than her parents!

Thinking of the books she had read back in middle school.

How to Make 100 Friends?, 101 Ways to Quickly Build Rapport!, Social Rules, and so on!

Yamamura Miki felt that these books had finally found a use!

"I'm digging in!"

Yamamura Miki closed her eyes and pressed her hands together. She opened one eye to peek at the plate of fried chicken, thinking of the social etiquette taught in the books.

She tentatively whispered:

"There's lemon here...?"

"..."

Kijima Tsukur picked up a piece of fried chicken and put it in his mouth. The crispy skin crunched, and the juices burst inside his mouth.

Although he didn't have high standards for food, having something delicious was indeed better. He frowned while eating the chicken:

"You put it there yourself, don't you know?"

"Uh..."

Yamamura Miki lowered her little head.

That was true...

But...

Expressing shock with a "Wow, there really is lemon!" would have signified agreement to add lemon juice.

Or replying with "Yes, please" would have signified that she didn't need it—that would have been proper etiquette.

She had been looking forward to this for so long, hoping to have a moment like that with a friend!

Forget it.

She should have known.

Kijima Tsukur was simply not a normal person; the methods taught in books were clearly not suited for him.

Yamamura Miki picked up a few pieces of fried chicken, placed them on her own plate, squeezed the lemon juice over them, and muttered in a voice only she could hear:

"You definitely don't have any friends."

"I suppose so."

Kijima Tsukur didn't hide anything: "I've been in contact with adults since I was little, so I really haven't spent much time playing with people my own age."

"Eh?"

Yamamura Miki froze for a moment, then her pretty face flushed bright red. She hurriedly stood up and stammered:

"Y-y-y-you... you heard that?"

"Is there a problem?"

"N-no..."

Seeing Kijima Tsukur eating his fried chicken as if he hadn't paid much attention, Yamamura Miki sat back down in her seat, her face flushed red.

To think she had been caught bad-mouthing someone—it was mortifying...

However, she also felt that, aside from being a bit strange, Kijima Tsukur was actually quite easy to talk to.

Thinking of this, after a moment of hesitation, Yamamura Miki finally asked the question she had been dying to know!

"Um..."

Yamamura Miki held her chopsticks with slender fingers, speaking with some hesitation:

"Kijima-kun, earlier in the Student Council, you analyzed that only people in Class A would have the opportunity for free career selection. Is that true?"

"Not certain."

Kijima Tsukur wasn't being so dogmatic, replying while he continued to eat:

"It's also possible that the top 40 students in the school have the opportunity to graduate from Class A. It's currently unclear which probability is higher, but Hashimoto and the others clearly lean toward individual rankings."

"I see..."

Yamamura Miki sighed softly, her tone lacking confidence:

"It would be nice if Class A could have the opportunity for free career selection."

"Is that what you think?"

Kijima Tsukur stopped his chopsticks and glanced at her.

People like Hashimoto Masayoshi clearly leaned toward individual competition, and their thoughts gravitated in that direction.

Whereas types like Yamamura Miki and Morishita Ai.

Generally lacked confidence in their own abilities or lacked initiative; they preferred collective competition, hoping to rely on the strength of the class to gain the opportunity for free career selection!

However, they failed to see the downsides hidden within that.

"Eh..."

Yamamura Miki was startled, suddenly feeling guilty, her voice dropping significantly:

"I-is... is there a problem?"

"No."

"..."

Yamamura Miki breathed a secret sigh of relief and didn't dare to speak anymore.

Although Kijima Tsukur seemed easy to talk to, the way he suddenly got serious like that felt rather intimidating.

Just then, she heard Kijima Tsukur say calmly:

"However, you don't need to worry. Since your destiny is to take care of me, then no matter what the conditions are, I will ensure you have the opportunity for free career selection."

Yeah, right~

What kind of destiny is that?

Does he really think she's a fool who would believe in something like that?

Yamamura Miki rolled her eyes in secret, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly; he didn't seem so scary after all.

As for the opportunity for free career selection, she naturally wanted it, but she didn't want it that badly; as long as she didn't get expelled, she would be fine.

The two finished dinner, and after Yamamura Miki washed the dishes, she left the room.

After a simple rest, Kijima Tsukur did 200 burpees before heading into the bathroom.

Ten minutes later.

Kijima Tsukur walked out of the bathroom, wiping his hair with a towel, just as the room's internal telephone rang.

He picked up the receiver to listen while wiping the water from his hair.

"Kijima-kun?"

"Horikita Manabu?"

Kijima Tsukur replied indifferently. He had been particularly sensitive to voices since he was a child and had undergone special training, so he recognized the caller instantly.

Given Horikita Manabu's position as Student Council president, it naturally wouldn't be difficult for him to find out his internal phone number.

"Yes, it's me."

After a brief silence on the other end of the line, Horikita Manabu said in a low voice:

"I have something I'd like to discuss with you. Is now a good time?"

"Thirty minutes from now, at the vending machine downstairs."

Having said that, Kijima Tsukur hung up without waiting for Horikita Manabu's response and picked up a hairdryer to style his hair.

Kijima Tsukur was not surprised that Horikita Manabu had contacted him.

He had more important things to worry about than Horikita Manabu!

He hadn't had time to go shopping over the last two days, so he really should set aside some time to buy a few pieces of casual clothing once the break started.

Downstairs at the dormitory.

Kijima Tsukur arrived at the vending machine wearing his school uniform, and from a distance, he could already see Horikita Manabu sitting on a bench.

Seeing Kijima Tsukur walk over and feeling the overwhelming pressure radiating from him, cold sweat instantly broke out on Horikita Manabu's forehead. He hurriedly stood up, his expression hesitant, unsure of how to begin.

"Hmm?"

Kijima Tsukur scrutinized the Horikita Manabu before him. After a moment, he rubbed his chin, feeling puzzled for the first time:

"I assumed you wanted to secretly recruit me into the Student Council to oppose or keep Nagumo Miyabi in check. What is the meaning of this silence?"

"Whew..."

Hearing this, Horikita Manabu took a deep breath.

Facing Kijima Tsukur felt like standing before a king; it was enough to make him feel suffocated.

After a moment of contemplation, he glanced at the vending machine before speaking: