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

Compared to the anger of being blamed, she was even more furious that both Horikita and Onodera had displayed athletic abilities that completely crushed her own.

Among the three of them, she was the weakest.

Chapter 77: Quarreling

"Horikita-san, how can you say that? Is this really Kushida-san's fault?"

Watching Kushida lower her head in apology, Onodera immediately became displeased.

She had never really liked Horikita Suzune's self-righteousness, though it hadn't reached the point where she felt the need to voice it.

But now that Kushida, the class's go-to nice girl, was being treated this way, she could no longer hold back.

"Why wouldn't it be her fault?" Horikita's expression was cold. "The competitive nature of this school was already revealed back in April. Knowing your own athletic ability is lacking, why didn't you train?"

"You only attend friend gatherings during your free time between classes and chat with students who have no ambition. This is the consequence of failing to properly improve yourself."

After becoming the leader of Class D, Kushida, who was extremely popular in the class, became a primary focus of Horikita Suzune's attention.

Even someone as strong as Aoyama Shiki had to form factions within the Student Council.

Therefore, Horikita also knew that an individual's ability was limited, and she had been scouting for students who could help her for a long time.

However, Kushida, whom she had been watching, showed no intention of improving herself at all; she spent every day pandering to others, falling into a state of utter decadence.

"Not everyone can be like you, Horikita-san. Besides, they are all my friends. Isn't it a bit excessive to say they have no ambition?"

Being accused by the girl she hated most, Horikita Suzune, Kushida was furious inside but couldn't show it; she even had to put on a pitiful, aggrieved expression.

She felt that the dark emotions she had accumulated throughout the day today were more than what she usually felt in a whole week.

Why doesn't Horikita Suzune just go die!

"Horikita, aren't you going too far? Is that any way to talk? And choosing who to be friends with is a private matter, isn't it?" Onodera's tone began to turn hostile, and she no longer used honorifics.

Kushida was her friend too; although their relationship wasn't deep enough to call each other best friends, it was impossible for her not to be angry on Kushida's behalf.

And even if they weren't friends, seeing Horikita's aggressive demeanor, Onodera felt she couldn't just stand by and watch.

"So you think making friends with bad influences is a good thing? Do you think someone like Yamauchi Haruki is going to be of any help to you?"

"Is it considered the 'correct' approach to only make friends if you think they are beneficial to you?"

Standing on the path in a standoff, Onodera glared annoyedly at the cold-faced Horikita.

The trio, who had been cooperating perfectly just an hour ago, was now on the verge of a falling out.

"Why are you already arguing on the first day, Suzune?"

Successfully catching up to Horikita Suzune and the others, Aoyama could tell what had happened just by looking at the expressions on their faces.

It was highly likely that Horikita's sharp tongue had caused this dispute.

"We need to prioritize the next Base. I don't have time to argue with you." Realizing it was Aoyama, Horikita Suzune decisively prepared to set off again to check in at the next Base.

Among the students on the island, only Aoyama was there, so she wasn't worried about him leaking who held the Class D Key Card.

If Aoyama really wanted to know, he wouldn't have let her decide for herself back then.

"But isn't Aoyama-san a student from Class A?"

"He is our temporary ally for this special exam."

After a quick explanation, Horikita turned and walked away, not intending to waste a single second.

Seeing this, Aoyama thought for a moment and decided to stay silent and wait until Horikita was finished with her business.

"Why the sudden departure, Horikita? Was our hospitality lacking?"

Just as Horikita Suzune finished checking in at the fourth Base and was about to leave, Ryuen, drenched in sweat, appeared before them.

After wiping his brow, he fixed his sharp gaze on each of the three girls.

Having discovered that the previous two Bases had been occupied by Class D, he realized that moving as a large group would only leave them with nothing to show for it, so Ryuen had decisively left his team to travel alone.

But was he just a step too late?

Glancing at the device that had already been checked in, Ryuen felt a bit disappointed.

If he had been a little earlier, he might have seen who had checked in.

However, being able to confirm that there wasn't a hidden fourth person was a good thing.

"Let's go search for supplies." Not wanting to waste time talking to Ryuen, Horikita signaled for Kushida and Onodera to leave with her.

With Ryuen around, she wouldn't dare check in at any new Bases they found, so she planned to spend the remaining time searching for supplies.

Because of the time constraints, the students hadn't ventured deep into this half of the island yesterday, so finding edible food wouldn't be difficult.

"Bring the Class D Key Card to me, and I'll give you 1.5 million personal points."

Seeing that Horikita Suzune chose to head back, Ryuen didn't stop her at all.

But as the girls passed by him, he turned his head and spoke with a serious tone, attempting to sow discord.

"Anyone will do."

After the four of them fell silent, Ryuen added calmly.

Aoyama was instantly tempted; the original plan to find Horikita in the morning was canceled.

Since the Key Card holder would have to change eventually, as long as Ryuen didn't set any additional insurance conditions, this deal was perfectly doable.

It was essentially a malicious scam, which would likely count as dirty money—worth about one and a half ten-pulls.

A plausible new plan quickly took shape in his mind.

"Starting tomorrow, Kushida, you don't need to follow Horikita and the others to check in anymore."

After putting some distance between them and Ryuen, Aoyama called out to Horikita Suzune and the other two, saying he had something to discuss.

After sitting down on a grassy, shaded area, he looked at Kushida and dropped a bombshell.

"No, that would easily make the other three classes target me and Onodera. Besides, Onodera isn't exactly calm; there's a high chance she'd be tricked into revealing the Key Card holder."

"If Class D ends the exam with a score of zero, I'll give Class D five million personal points." Not intending to reveal Karuizawa's existence just yet, Aoyama used another method to persuade Horikita.

"I have a way to make the other three classes misjudge who in Class D has the Key Card."

"What way?" Horikita couldn't easily trust Aoyama at this point.

Onodera had already proven today that she wasn't a calm person, and Horikita couldn't entrust her own safety to her.

"You'll know when the time comes."

Answering calmly, Aoyama began arranging their plans for tomorrow morning under Onodera's strange gaze.

Early in the morning, they would set off to check in with the dead weight that was Kushida, only to dump her halfway and have her hide.

If it were discovered that only the two of them were checking in, or if Kushida were found alone, the reason given to anyone who asked would be: "Horikita thought Kushida's athletic ability was subpar and ditched her without a shred of mercy."

"That sounds exactly like something Horikita would do." As soon as Aoyama finished outlining the plan, Onodera couldn't help but nod in affirmation.

Kushida, standing to the side, could only force an awkward smile.

"I'm afraid if you know too much, you'll give the game away. Only Kushida and I will know the follow-up plan."

Ignoring Onodera's muttering, Aoyama chose to play the riddle-maker again.

The fact that he intended to have the resentful, abandoned Kushida steal Horikita's Key Card to trade with Ryuen was something Horikita and Onodera could never know.

Chapter 78: The Arrival of a Furious Kushida

By the river, half-shrouded in shade.

Knowing that Kushida following Horikita Suzune was nothing but torture, and using the excuse that she was currently useless and would only slow them down, Aoyama had requested to take Kushida with him.

While exploring the new map and searching for supplies, the two walked intermittently for several hours.

Finding a fairly perfect resting spot, Aoyama decided to take a break for over two hours.

His own physical condition was fine, but Kushida was a different story.

She was drenched in sweat, and her face was deathly pale.

"Kushida, your stamina seems to be worse than I imagined."

Finding a relatively flat patch of grass to sit on, Aoyama rubbed salt into the wound of the girl sitting opposite him.

He guessed this was the reason for their argument that morning; after all, Horikita wouldn't have kind words for someone who was weaker than her and dragging her down.

Usually, Horikita Suzune looked perfectly normal when interacting with him, but that was the result of him establishing an image of strength.

Your highly respected older brother, Horikita Manabu, values me and sees me as his successor.

How could I not be stronger than you, who hasn't even earned his recognition? Do you have the qualifications to push me around?

"Shut up, shut up, shut up! If Horikita's stamina is so good, go find her! Why are you picking on me!"

"I didn't even get to finish my breakfast this morning because Horikita snatched it all away, but even if I had eaten, I'd still be this weak! What do you expect me to do!"

"Whether it's studying or sports, I've tried my heart out at everything, but even so, I still can't compare to others. My talent is just that limited!"

Slamming her right hand into the ground, Kushida looked up and roared at Aoyama's calm face.

She didn't hate geniuses, but she hated having them around her.

Aoyama Shiki, a genius among geniuses, currently the undisputed strongest student in the first year.

Little Kikyo runs so fast~

Your daughter's grades are excellent; being first in the class is truly outstanding.

She won first prize in the reading competition, how wonderful.

During elementary school, she was often praised by adults like this. While she felt incredibly pleased, she gradually came to believe that she was truly remarkable—a genius with outstanding talent.

But after leaving elementary school and entering middle school, she discovered that her so-called talent didn't exist. There were several classmates in her class who were better at studying than her, though not many, and the same went for sports.

Some things depend on talent; you can't surpass others just by working hard.

Having just left elementary school behind, Kushida quickly understood this point, and she also realized that her excellence in elementary school was entirely due to her own self-discipline and hard work, having nothing to do with talent.

Despite studying for over a dozen hours a day, she still couldn't compare to classmates who wasted their time on club activities. The bloody reality was laid bare before her eyes.

After realizing that no matter how much she practiced morning and night, she could only ever place third in the Sports Festival, Kushida gave up on trying to be number one in academics or athletics.

During the second semester of her first year, she abandoned her efforts in studies and sports, shifting her persona to that of a student whose personality was top-tier.

Understanding, helpful, never losing her temper, and smilingly accepting even the most unreasonable requests.

The result of this transformation was the birth of the perfect friend, Kushida Kikyo, the most popular girl at Kouiku and the one known as an angel.

"Someone like you wouldn't understand!"

Resting her chin on one hand propped against her knee, Aoyama smiled. "Honestly, you look more comfortable like this. If anything, I prefer this version of you."

He wasn't surprised by Kushida's outburst; after all, Horikita, having made a grave mistake and being desperate to make up for it, was acting even more insufferable than usual.

The psychological pressure Horikita alone had piled onto Kushida was likely greater than that of ten Yamauchi combined.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you take me for some gullible girl like Yamamura?" Kushida's gaze remained vicious, and she radiated a sinister aura that made it seem entirely possible she might lash out and hurt someone.

"Don't joke around. You're hardly gullible right now; you're as fierce as a demon."

"Then why say you like it! You jerk!"

Kushida's eyes grew three parts more ferocious. She felt that this jerk Aoyama was just toying with her, and the dark emotions pent up in her heart began to surge.

In the end, she began to give up on herself.

"That bitch Horikita Suzune, what's so great about that high-and-mighty attitude of hers!"

"Just go die already!"

Standing up from the ground, Kushida walked over to a fairly lush tree.

Kick after kick, with a force that looked painful just to watch, she made the innocent tree understand the meaning of human disaster.

"Scum Aoyama Shiki, walking around all day with that smug face like everything is under your control. So what if you're first in the grade? Always grinning, who knows what kind of pervert you are on the inside."

"If you're so good at smiling, why don't you get on stage and be a clown!"

Hey, hey, I'm standing right here, you know.