Someone like Sakayanagi Arisu was a fiercely competitive girl, never inferior to anyone in any regard. It was that blend of fragility and strength that drew so many people to her.
Now,
Sakayanagi Arisu was supporting Kijima Tsukur without hesitation?
Why?
Feeling everyone's eyes on her, Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, looking rather pleased.
"Just as Kijima said, if the information we heard earlier is true, then choosing a leader is inevitable. It'll make us more efficient and let us get the most out of our collective strength. Naturally, I believe Kijima has what it takes."
Even so,
everyone still found it a little distasteful. But since Sakayanagi Arisu had agreed, her close friends couldn't very well say anything against it.
After all,
judging by how he'd performed over the past few days,
Kijima Tsukur might have been strange, but there was no question about his ability.
The rest of them looked toward their central figure. Katsuragi Kohei furrowed his brow. He wasn't someone consumed by ambition, either.
In fact,
back when they were in the Student Council, Katsuragi had understood perfectly well that Kijima Tsukur was undoubtedly more capable than he was.
As long as he could lead everyone to victory, Katsuragi had no objections.
"I don't have any objections either, but I..."
He hesitated, then changed his tone. Looking gravely at Kijima Tsukur, he said,
"I have one question. According to what you just said, some Special Exams will result in students being expelled. What will you do when that happens?"
"Don't worry. I'll do everything within my power to prevent anyone from being expelled."
"Then I have no objections."
Hearing Kijima Tsukur's promise, Katsuragi let out a breath of relief.
He knew, of course,
that it was probably impossible to prevent every expulsion.
As long as Kijima did everything he could to protect his classmates and didn't treat them as sacrifices, that was enough.
"Huh...?"
Yamamura Miki couldn't help letting out a surprised squeak. Her face reddened, and she relaxed only after realizing no one was looking at her.
What was going on?
Kijima Tsukur barely knew anyone.
And he'd become their leader just like that?
This had to be a joke.
Sakayanagi Arisu, seated in the middle of the classroom, let the corners of her mouth curl upward.
She wanted Kijima Tsukur to become the class leader, then she'd crush him completely!
There was some amusement in it, but more importantly, this would make her rule more secure.
She'd been born with a weak heart and impaired legs.
No matter how much the people around her cared for her, liked her, and were willing to look after her, that appearance of hers made it difficult to command their respect!
They'd never say it aloud, but the truth was plain:
people were born seeing her as weak. If she wanted to stand at the top, she'd have to work harder than anyone else!
As things stood, Kijima Tsukur had beaten Katsuragi.
So,
all she had to do was make Kijima Tsukur lose.
Only then
would Class A know that Sakayanagi Arisu was the strongest!
And then she could toy with this pawn to her heart's content!
Feeling Sakayanagi Arisu's gaze, Kijima Tsukur didn't care what she was thinking. He lowered two fingers to one and said calmly,
"Then, here's my first order!"
Chapter 22: I'm About to Fight to the Death, Your Majesty—Why Are You Surrendering First?
"I'll share this information with all the first-years."
Kijima Tsukur spoke calmly.
Since he'd decided to get every first-year into Class A and prove that the school was wrong, there was no way he'd keep this information to himself.
What if they fell out of Class A and another class overtook them?
Kijima Tsukur had never even considered that possibility.
The thought didn't even cross his mind. He had absolute confidence in his own abilities.
No matter what kind of Special Exam they faced,
if he wanted to win, then he would be the one who won in the end!
No matter what difficulties stood in his way, he would be the one to emerge victorious.
That was an unquestionable destiny!
But Kijima Tsukur's words left everyone in Class A stunned. Yamamura Miki, who knew him, as well as Sakayanagi Arisu, Katsuragi, and the others, all stared at him in bewilderment.
Because,
everyone in Class A had the exact same thought.
Had they heard him wrong?
"Wait, wait a second?"
Hashimoto Masayoshi quickly stood up, looking at Kijima as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Kijima, what did you just say?"
"I said I'll share this information with all the first-years."
Only then
did everyone in Class A realize they hadn't misheard. The classroom erupted in an uproar. Hashimoto Masayoshi slapped the desk, his expression troubled, making one last attempt to reason with him.
"Kijima, if the information you just gave us is true, then you know that only graduating from Class A gives us the freedom to choose our careers, right?"
"Yes!"
"And you know we're taking some kind of Special Exam right now, and that it could affect our Class Points?"
"Yes!"
"Wait, wait..."
Hashimoto Masayoshi was even more confused now, and he was starting to panic.
"And you know that if you make this information public, it could affect how the other classes act. They might end up doing better than they otherwise would have?"
"Of course."
Kijima Tsukur leaned back in his chair and spoke calmly.
"You don't have to ask. I understand what you're all thinking. I made this decision with full awareness of everything involved."
"What kind of joke is this?"
After a brief silence, Hashimoto Masayoshi erupted in anger, feeling as if he'd been badly betrayed.
He'd supported Kijima Tsukur becoming their leader, too.
If Sakayanagi Arisu hadn't spoken up first, Hashimoto Masayoshi had planned to be the first to support him.
There was no other reason.
Katsuragi Kohei and Sakayanagi Arisu were too ordinary. They had some ability, but they seemed mediocre and were easy to read.
A capable oddball like Kijima Tsukur, on the other hand, was harder to read and more likely to earn Hashimoto Masayoshi's support.
But now,
the guy had become Class A's leader, and the very next thing he wanted to do was make the information public.
Hashimoto Masayoshi couldn't understand him at all.
I'm about to fight to the death, Your Majesty—why are you surrendering first?
Hashimoto Masayoshi wasn't the only one who didn't understand. After a moment's silence, Katsuragi finally asked in a low voice,
"Kijima, I know you said you wouldn't accept challenges, but I still think I have to ask: why are you doing this?"
"Don't worry. I'll tell you why."
This time, Kijima Tsukur didn't refuse outright. This was about the general direction of Class A, so he had to explain.
"Because my goal is ALL-A! I want everyone to graduate from Class A, so naturally, the more Class Points each class has, the better."
"..."
The classroom fell completely silent.
Everyone stared in shock at the man at the lectern.
ALL-A?
The entire first year would graduate from Class A?
"Kijima, is there some information you haven't told us?"
Katsuragi asked gravely. His first thought was that there had to be some other information, some other possibility.
Otherwise,
it was obviously impossible, even without thinking about it.
"No!"
Kijima Tsukur made no attempt to hide the truth. "This is all the information I have right now."
At those words,
Class A erupted into an uproar.
There was no other possibility. Kijima Tsukur simply wanted everyone to graduate from Class A.
"I object!"
Just then, Sakayanagi Arisu raised her hand. There wasn't a trace of anger on her face; she still wore a composed smile.
"I don't know what makes Kijima so confident. Perhaps he really does have the ability to pull it off. But personally, I don't think we, as Class A, need to care about the other classes. We only need to focus on maintaining our lead."
"That's right. I agree with Sakayanagi."
"Exactly. We don't even know those other classes. Why should we care about them?"
"Right, right. Keeping the information secret, focusing on our studies, and waiting for the school to announce the Class Points—that's obviously the best thing to do!"
"I agree. I don't support Kijima's plan."
"'Don't support' is putting it mildly. I reject it. Only an idiot would hand over their advantage!"
"Exactly!"
Sakayanagi Arisu's words quickly won everyone's agreement.
After all, even an idiot should have known that keeping the information secret was in their best interest. One after another, the students of Class A dismissed Kijima Tsukur's idea.
Down below, the corners of Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth lifted slightly.
Before you continue