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

"Are you disillusioned with me, Sakura?"

With a light chuckle, Aoyama cast his gaze toward the seemingly bottomless surface of the sea.

This was the first time he had revealed his cunning side in front of Sakura.

Perhaps, in Sakura's heart, the version of him from before today had been a figure of absolute righteousness.

"Disillusioned... that's a bit of an exaggeration..." Sakura murmured softly.

Although her perception of Aoyama had changed, it was far from being completely overturned.

Perhaps because of the appearance of this blemish, she even felt that the current Aoyama was easier to get close to than before.

"Since you aren't disillusioned, let's head back together. We have class tomorrow."

Turning around, Aoyama began walking in the direction of the dormitory building.

Behind him, after following Aoyama in silence for a while, Sakura gathered her courage and took hold of his hand as it hung naturally at his side.

She felt that, compared to words, actions were more persuasive.

"The school's message is that this is a one-time warning."

A few days later, along with the arrival of two million private points, came a warning brought by Horikita Manabu.

By hiring security guards in advance as witnesses and bodyguards, it had been confirmed that Aoyama's attack on Kusuda was premeditated.

Fearing that Aoyama might repeat the same trick to bait others, the school chose to cut off that possibility in advance.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't treat the school like a fool; I'm not stupid enough to do that." Looking at the surge in illicit funds within the system, Aoyama laughed with delight.

Another two ten-pulls secured; it was simply wonderful.

"That's good."

Nodding coldly, Horikita Manabu left Aoyama in the hallway and returned to the Student Council room.

Should he pull in the fiery Sakura's room, or in the room of the blonde gyaru Karuizawa?

Standing in place for a few minutes, Aoyama still hadn't found an answer.

Having pulled only one purple card in two consecutive ten-pulls had scared him, and he had started to become superstitious.

July, July... didn't Ichinose's birthday fall around these two days?

Suddenly remembering that Ichinose's birthday was coming up, Aoyama decided on the person whose luck he would borrow for the draw.

There is a saying that girls who smile often don't have bad luck, and with the added buff of her birthday, it was perfect.

It has to be you, the archangel Ichinose Honami.

Chapter 63 I Love You to Death

"Good work, everyone."

With a bright smile, Ichinose Honami parted ways with her classmates in front of the library entrance.

Today was July 20th, her birthday, and there were less than three days left until the final exams.

Spending her birthday with classmates was a happy thing.

But thinking that it might turn into a class party, Ichinose hadn't told any of her classmates that it was her birthday; she didn't want to waste everyone's precious study time.

It wouldn't be too much to secretly reward herself with a small cake, right?

Holding onto this small wish, Ichinose walked toward the cake shop with light steps.

"Yo, good afternoon, Ichinose."

As if he had been specifically ambushing her, Aoyama Shiki, who had been leaning against the roadside wall with his eyes half-closed and lost in thought, immediately walked toward her upon seeing her.

His tall figure quickly blocked most of her view.

"Good afternoon, Aoyama-kun. Is there something you need?" Ichinose looked up, gazing gently into Aoyama's eyes, curious as to why he was looking for her.

Because of the adversarial relationship between their classes, students from different classes rarely interacted.

Without special circumstances, some reclusive students might not even have friends from other classes after three years.

"Do you have any plans for later?" The boy's handsome face always carried a smile, radiating intense confidence.

"Not at the moment."

Shaking her head, Ichinose temporarily pushed the cake she had been craving to the back of her mind.

This was the first time Aoyama had taken the initiative to invite her, and she didn't have a single thought of refusing.

"Then how about we go to GINZA ONE? I booked a private room there."

GINZA ONE, a famous dessert shop in the Keyaki Mall, was top-tier in both taste and price.

Ichinose had only been there once during the first month of school, invited by a friend.

"Are we going to discuss something private? Wouldn't that be too expensive? How about Palette?" Missing the top-tier desserts there, Ichinose still shook her head slowly.

"I just extorted two million points from the school a few days ago; I could eat at GINZA ONE three hundred and sixty-five days a year."

"You'd turn into a big fatty if you did that."

Watching Aoyama's smug smile, Ichinose couldn't help but chuckle along.

She found it strangely natural that Aoyama had managed to extort so many private points from the school.

"It's settled then, let's go."

"Mm."

Without resisting Aoyama's assertiveness, Ichinose slowly caught up to his slowed pace.

Before long, they arrived at a dessert shop with very few customers.

Several months had passed since the start of the school year, and now that students understood the value of private points, they generally didn't spend them recklessly.

"You're not allowed to order cake." As Ichinose picked up the menu, Aoyama raised his hand and shook his index finger, a mysterious smile on his face.

"Are you being mean?"

"It's not being mean. You'll see in a moment."

Waving a hand to signal the waiter to lean in, Aoyama whispered his instructions before looking back at Ichinose.

The girl looked slightly confused, which made her look even cuter than usual.

"Is there something you wanted to talk to me about, Aoyama-kun?" After ordering an ice cream for herself, Ichinose couldn't help but ask.

"Can't I see you if there's nothing specific? I thought we were closer friends than that."

"I don't know how to respond to that, but even if there's nothing, I'm always happy to see you, Aoyama-kun."

"Good, then I'll see you every day."

Feeling that teasing Ichinose was quite fun, Aoyama pressed his advantage.

There was still some time before the prepared cake would arrive, so they had to pass the time with idle chatter.

"Then I'll be a little troubled."

"If it's only a little troubled, then I won't hold back."

"..."

The seemingly useless small talk continued for several minutes.

Then, after the waiter knocked and entered the private room, the bright lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a soft, warm spotlight shining on the table between them.

"Happy birthday to you."

"Happy birthday to you."

"Happy birthday to Ichinose."

"Happy birthday to you."

While Ichinose was bewildered by the sudden change, Aoyama began to sing the birthday song in a very magnetic voice.

As the song ended, the waiter, pushing a small cart with a cake, arrived between them.

A cake the size of two palms, topped with sixteen small red candles, was gently placed between them.

"Happy birthday, Ichinose." After the waiter silently retreated, Aoyama said gently to the very surprised girl.

"Aoyama-kun... how did you know my birthday?"

"I only know what I ought to know." Aoyama pushed the cake a little closer to Ichinose. "Alright, my sixteen-year-old birthday girl, it's time to blow out the candles."

"Honestly, Aoyama-kun."

Wearing a helpless yet happy smile, Ichinose tucked her pink hair behind her ear, lowered her head, and parted her lips slightly.

A silent breeze blew past, and the sixteen red candles were extinguished one by one.

"Make a wish."

"I hope that I can reach graduation with all of my friends in Class B, without a single one missing."

Clasping her hands together and closing her eyes, Ichinose made her wish with great sincerity.

It was a wish that perfectly matched Ichinose's character.

"It won't come true if you say it out loud," Aoyama teased.

"But it's fine as long as you can hear it, right?"

Seemingly very satisfied with her own answer, Ichinose smiled triumphantly, her fair cheeks flushed with a layer of pink, looking incredibly cute.

"Well, now you've put me in a difficult spot."

Aoyama felt like he had tried to be clever only to end up trapped by his own game; ensuring no one from Class B dropped out for three years was no easy task.

Especially in the latter half of the second year and the third year; the special exams during those times were not as gentle as the ones in the first year.

"I was just joking. You aren't even a student in Class B, Aoyama-kun."

"I was only pretending to be troubled, too."

As he spoke, Aoyama pulled up the system interface only he could see.

If he pulled a gold card, he would grant Ichinose Honami's wish.

After setting this flag, he decisively clicked on a ten-pull.

The familiar mist, the familiar cards.

The unfamiliar result.

Double gold!!!

Holy crap!!!

Suppressing the massive "what the hell" in his heart, Aoyama's attention was no longer on the impossibly cute girl, Ichinose.

[Akai Shuichi's Sniping: A mere thirteen hundred yards? Isn't that something anyone could do with their eyes closed?]

[Perfect-grade APTX4869: Eat it and turn into a grade-schooler, little brother.]

I love you to death, Ichinose Honami.

You are my god.

Screaming with excitement internally, Aoyama wished he could hug the Ichinose in front of him and plant a kiss on her.

How could a person be this lucky?

A 0.5% chance to pull a double gold, and one of them was the top-tier gold card, Perfect APTX4869—this flag was worth setting.

"What's wrong? You seem very happy, Aoyama-kun?"

After happily slicing the exquisite cake, Ichinose noticed that the corners of Aoyama's mouth were practically reaching the sky.

He was beaming, looking as if he had just won the lottery jackpot.

Chapter 64 Special Exam

"I am very happy, Ichinose-san."