Classroom of the Elite, I Also Want to Be a Good Person

Although she wanted to ignore it, the sensation against her thigh was a constant reminder that she was currently providing a lap pillow to a boy.

It was a strange feeling, especially since they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Aside from studying survival skills and learning about camping equipment, what other preparations should be made?"

Forcing her attention away from her lap, Horikita Suzune continued to press Aoyama for more advice.

Those were the only preparations she had managed to think of so far.

"There's one more thing you seem to have forgotten."

"Forgotten what?" Horikita Suzune pondered for a moment, but she had no clue what Aoyama was referring to.

"Take a guess."

Leaving her with the answer she least wanted to hear, Aoyama left the girls' dormitory floor just before eight o'clock.

The greatest reward for pushing Horikita Suzune into the position of leader for Class D was the decision-making power for the class's first special exam.

Yet, Horikita had already forgotten about this, or perhaps she simply didn't care much about it.

The reason was likely that she had been misled by Aoyama's recent displays of attentiveness, leading her to believe that when the time came, Aoyama would consult with her and take on the role of a strategist.

At most, she expected to pay him some private points as a reward.

Don't hate me too much when the time comes, Suzune.

Returning to his own room, Aoyama lay back on his bed to check for any gaps in his plans for the uninhabited island.

He had given Horikita Suzune enough carrots; it was time to give her a taste of the stick.

Should he try his luck at Karuizawa Kei's dorm next time?

As he thought about it, Aoyama's mind began to wander.

He had struck it big in the dorm of the black-haired beauty Horikita Suzune; perhaps going to the blonde's dorm would yield gold.

Maybe Sakura's dorm wouldn't be bad either—something fiery and exciting.

As for Kamuro's dorm, would that yield more purple cards?

"Buzz, buzz, buzz."

Just as Aoyama was lost in his whimsical thoughts, a call came in from a contact labeled "Little Blondie."

"Moshi moshi, no need to explain. Since the mission failed, there's obviously no reward."

To prevent Hashimoto from pouring out his grievances, Aoyama cut off any possibility of rambling right from the start.

It was already past eight o'clock, and there was no video as promised.

Needless to say, Hashimoto had failed.

"I succeeded, I just don't have the evidence."

On the other end of the line, Hashimoto, his face bruised and swollen, wore a bitter expression.

Just as Aoyama had said, Sakayanagi Arisu had indeed come to the meeting.

However, her phone had been on an active call, and on the other end of that line was Kito Hayato, waiting in ambush.

The moment he heard Sakayanagi's exclamation after he 'accidentally' kicked her cane away, Kito Hayato—who looked as fierce as a demon and was just as enraged—had burst out from the stairwell.

What followed was a brutal beating, and the video on his phone had been deleted.

"No video means failure."

As a qualified businessman, Aoyama didn't offer a single cent in compensation.

No proof, no pay.

Chapter 57: Testing Abilities

"Don't you go too far, Aoyama."

The next morning, Kito Hayato slammed his hands on Aoyama's desk with a stern face, the loud noise quickly drawing the attention of the students in the classroom.

As the leader, Katsuragi immediately stepped between the two of them.

"Too far? I don't think so at all."

Ignoring Kito's terrifying expression, Aoyama maintained an indifferent look.

This undoubtedly made Kito even more furious.

"Can you tell me what happened, Kito-kun?" Looking at Kito seriously, Katsuragi said in a steady voice.

He needed to understand the sequence of events before he could pass judgment.

"Aoyama ordered Hashimoto to pretend it was an accident and kick away Sakayanagi's cane, and he even told him to film it."

"What?! Hashimoto is that wicked? Bullying Sakayanagi like she's a primary schooler—he's not even human." Aoyama put on a look of utter shock. "But isn't he part of Sakayanagi's faction? Did you guys have an internal conflict?"

"Don't spout nonsense without evidence. I never did any such thing."

Standing up from his seat, Hashimoto denied Kito's accusation with a bitter smile.

He wasn't an idiot; he had deleted the video himself right in front of Kito, giving Kito no chance to copy it.

"Hashimoto said that, Kito. Do you want to beat him up and force him to say I instigated it?"

"Or, you could beat me up and force me to confess. That works too."

Tilting his head, Aoyama tapped his cheek with his finger, looking utterly punchable.

Even Katsuragi, standing right next to him, was left speechless.

"Kito-kun, please don't be angry. I told you already, I'm fine. Just consider it me accidentally tripping and falling." With a graceful step, Sakayanagi approached with a smile to relieve the helpless Kito.

She didn't explicitly state anything, yet she hinted to the Class A students that what Kito said was the truth.

"Hashimoto, solve the mess you made yourself. Don't bother me with it."

"I think the podium is a great place to speak. You can even pour your heart out about the black-hearted nature of your former elementary school boss."

Trying to play the victim, are you, you brat?

Noticing the shift in the students' gazes around the classroom, Aoyama immediately launched a counterattack.

"Can I not say it?" Hashimoto's expression looked as bitter as could be.

"What do you think?"

Glaring coldly at Hashimoto, Aoyama's tone was icy.

If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price. Having his reputation tarnished was already getting off easy for Hashimoto.

Soon, after Katsuragi's failed attempts to intervene, Hashimoto stood on the podium with a look of resignation.

Mimicking Aoyama's "elementary school boss" moniker, he recounted how someone had ordered him to stalk others and poach them.

He claimed that after being caught in the act and reformed, he was now Katsuragi's man, and from this point on, he would draw a clear line between himself and his former boss, refusing to continue down the wrong path.

Early in the morning, the students of Class A were treated to a satisfying show.

"Long time no see, Shiranami. Did you grow a bit taller?"

Since it was already July, Aoyama fulfilled the promise he made to Sakura, adjusting his workout time to match Ichinose's.

Unlike before, when Ichinose only mentioned having Amikura Mako as a partner, there was now a third person: Shiranami Chihiro.

"Stop rubbing my head. I'm not a child." Gently blocking Aoyama's hand, Shiranami's face flushed as she hid behind Ichinose.

"Aoyama-kun knows little Chihiro too?"

With her long, high ponytail and toned thighs, the exquisite-looking Amikura Mako looked curiously between Aoyama and Shiranami.

She found it normal for Ichinose and Aoyama to know each other; after all, Ichinose had a very wide circle of friends.

But the soft and timid Shiranami was different. Her friends were almost exclusively girls from Class B, and she had practically no male friends at all.

"We had a rather pleasant conversation."

Aoyama smiled slightly at Shiranami, which made Shiranami, who hadn't found it pleasant at all at the time, pout.

"I'll leave Sakura to you, Ichinose. I'm going to go play over there."

"Eh?!!"

Pulling Sakura out from behind him, Aoyama shoved the stiff-bodied girl in front of Ichinose.

Then, he waved goodbye to the crestfallen Sakura.

The new ability from yesterday's purple card wouldn't be easy to showcase in a cramped room.

Gymnast, Aoyama Shiki, reporting for duty.

Arriving at the parallel bars in the open area of the gym, Aoyama provided his own internal narration.

He gripped one bar with each hand, pushed off, and with a surge of strength from his waist and legs, he brought his legs parallel to the bars, forming a ninety-degree angle with his body.

Easy peasy, so easy.

Feeling no strain at all, Aoyama lowered his legs and began to swing.

After swinging back and forth several times and feeling that he had enough momentum, he exerted force once more, sending his legs soaring into the air into a handstand split.

Immediately after, he slowly spread his legs, performing a split in mid-air.

His body didn't look the least bit shaky, displaying exceptional balance and core strength.

This was a feat that would have been impossible before drawing the card.

Refreshing!

Landing with a 360-degree aerial flip, Aoyama's stance was rock solid.

"A beautiful movement. It's no worse than a professional gymnast."

Clapping his hands, a boy wearing only three-inch gym shorts approached. Judging by the definition of his upper body muscles, it was clear that this level of fitness could only be achieved through years of dedicated effort.

Koenji Rokusuke, heir to the Koenji Conglomerate. His academic ability, physical strength, and judgment were all top-tier in the entire school.

"You flatter me. I reckon you could easily pull off that move yourself, Koenji."

Stretching his limbs, Aoyama offered a word of praise to Koenji.

Just as he admired the self-discipline of Horikita Suzune, he held a favorable opinion of the equally diligent Koenji.

"It seems my fame isn't quite as low as I thought, handsome boy."

"As the vice president of the Student Council, I keep an eye on the most capable first-year students. This year, I believe the strongest student in Class D is either you or Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."

With a smile, Aoyama blatantly used Koenji to try and rattle Ayanokoji.

He would do it even without a clear benefit; he was just that twisted.

"It seems you really dislike that gloomy boy."

"A little. While I do intend to provoke you into paying attention to Ayanokoji, it is also true that I cannot tell which of you two is stronger."

"And what about you?"

"For the time being, you two are still stronger." Without hesitation, Aoyama frankly admitted that his own strength fell short of theirs.

Koenji, born into a wealthy conglomerate, and Ayanokoji, a product of an artificial genius cultivation facility—both had been trained by masters since childhood and had mastered countless skills.

In both academics and martial arts, he was currently inferior to them both.

"Interesting. I admit you've piqued my interest."

Laughing audaciously, Koenji returned to honing his physique.

Aoyama did the same, leaping back onto the parallel bars.

[Killing Gymnastics: Having once studied gymnastics, you are capable of performing feats that even a world champion could not, allowing you to kill while riding a moving roller coaster.]

Although the nine white cards and one purple card he pulled yesterday had infuriated him, the ability granted by this purple card was truly impressive.

It just had a few too many absurd points.

Chapter 58: The Clerk with the Terrifying Gaze

"How about it? They're all good people, right?"