In Classroom of the Elite, My Future Daughter Gives Me a Hand

But a few scraps of information would still be useful.

After all, just like what had happened to Ichinose Class last month, Class A had framed them.

And although they still didn't know what the Special Exams over the coming months would involve, they couldn't rule out the possibility that they'd need to cooperate with other classes.

So if they built a good relationship with Ichinose Class now, it would be much easier to work things out if an exam required cooperation.

After all, both Class A and Class D had bosses of their own. By comparison, Ichinose Class had meekly accepted Class A's frame-up and then fallen from Class B. Of the four classes, they seemed the most trustworthy.

Of course, they still had to keep an eye on the grudge over the class rankings.

But Class A was taking the blame for that anger.

"I'm planning to go to the Student Council and join it."

"But President Horikita is someone who values ability above all else, so I'll have to show him that I have what it takes."

"And just now, when I came to the upperclassmen's area, I was simply gathering information."

In other words, she needed to gather more information and use it as a trump card. That would improve her chances of getting into the Student Council.

Ichinose had initially thought that, since her class had lost the exam last month, applying to join the Student Council might help her earn some points back for her class.

But now she felt that if she simply applied... she'd very likely be rejected.

Especially since her class had fallen in the rankings. Class A's students had been behind it, but her class had still fallen for the trap, failed to uncover the school's information, and mishandled its response.

"Um, Classmate Shirogane, could you wait here for me?" Classmate Ichinose had also been thinking about how to increase her bargaining chips. She needed to gather some information.

"Sure." Shirogane didn't refuse.

President Horikita had sent Miyabi Nagumo to pass along a message, and Nagumo had then asked Classmate Shiina to relay it. But Senior Nagumo's behavior was disgraceful, so Shirogane didn't mind making him take the blame for things not getting done.

He could just wait a little longer before heading over.

Interestingly, as soon as Ichinose left, Kanzaki, who had just been speaking so eagerly, fell silent and immediately returned to his introverted self.

"Shouldn't you go with Classmate Ichinose to gather information?" Shirogane asked.

Kanzaki shook his head.

"I'm not as capable as Ichinose. All I can do is support her."

"And information gathering isn't something I'm good at, either. If I went along, I'd probably just cause her more trouble."

"There are several clubs at this school. If you join one and become a regular player, you can receive a living allowance of 30,000 Private Points."

"I've joined the Soccer Club."

Was Kanzaki sharing information with him?

"You can come by and take a look if you have time. The Soccer Club still hasn't filled out its roster," Kanzaki said.

Was that a sales pitch?

Kanzaki had just brought up exactly the wrong thing.

Shirogane could handle ordinary physical activities like running and long jump, but he was hopeless at more complicated sports like volleyball, soccer, and tennis.

So Shirogane sat obediently on the bench where he'd been before, while Kanzaki headed back first because he still had club activities to attend.

Shirogane wasn't exactly sitting there doing nothing.

He took out his vocabulary book and, while the Narration System was still online, started memorizing words with it.

"Spell 'population,'" Shirogane said.

[Population. In biology, it can also mean a group of organisms; in statistics, it means the entire population. By the way, why are you testing me on something like this?]

"You're always pushing me to study. There's no harm in you studying along with me once in a while," Shirogane said.

[...]

The Narration System seemed momentarily at a loss for words.

[You seem eager for the written exam.] The Narration System quickly changed the subject.

"After all, that's the kind of test I'm good at," Shirogane admitted.

[Then you may be disappointed. This month's Special Exam is indeed a written test, but it won't be what you're expecting.]

[Besides, although you're good at written exams, your current level still isn't enough to beat Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.]

[His ability to learn is extraordinary, and his knowledge spans a wide range of subjects. He's already finished the university curriculum.]

Is that so?

In other words, the task Classmate Sakayanagi had given him was too difficult.

Even if you said his level could improve, you couldn't expect someone at level 10 to take on someone at level 99.

"I'm just a high school student," Shirogane said.

[So, are you going to turn down Sakayanagi Arisu's task?]

"No." Shirogane answered quickly. "Two million points is a lot."

"And besides..."

Shirogane paused, then continued, "If Ayanokoji is still studying, then I might not be able to catch up with him."

"But before I came here, I went to the library and checked Ayanokoji's borrowing history."

"He borrowed two books this month, and both were literary classics. One was Jane Eyre, and the other was Boule de Suif."

"That means he hasn't continued studying."

"So although he's already finished the university curriculum, he's stopped there. That means I might have a chance to catch up."

[I see.] The Narration System seemed to agree.

But that wasn't what it really thought at all.

Because...

It was very difficult for ordinary people to catch up with geniuses. Even more frighteningly, when they worked as hard as they could to catch up, they might discover that the genius was working hard too, making it impossible to catch them.

But if the genius stopped working hard, it was as if they'd come to a halt, giving others a chance to catch up.

Shirogane, did you know that even if an ordinary person worked as hard as they could, they still might not reach the starting point of a genius? The idea that hard work always pays off was nothing more than a comforting lie.

The two were like different species, unable to bridge the gap.

But you were different, Shirogane. As long as you worked hard, you'd reap rewards. You could pass the starting point of a genius, get ahead on the road to the finish line, and even stay in the lead.

That was what made you frightening, Shirogane-kun.

"Sorry to keep you waiting—"

Shirogane had gone through the vocabulary book he carried with him three times. In the distance, a lively young girl came running toward him.

She waved as she ran, wearing a warm smile.

Even if you were just sitting here, looking up and seeing her would lift your spirits.

"Since you're ready, too, let's get going." Shirogane slipped the vocabulary book into his pocket and stood up.

"Meow?" Classmate Ichinose looked at Shirogane curiously. "Were you studying while you waited here?"

Shirogane had been memorizing vocabulary, but that counted as studying.

"My academic ability is average, so I have to cram whenever I have time," Shirogane said.

"Oh." Ichinose nodded lightly.

But...

[She doesn't believe you at all.]

"..." Shirogane.

All right, then. There was no point trying to figure out what Classmate Ichinose was thinking.

"Now that I've just arrived at this school, there's so much information that it's overwhelming."

"And it was my mistake that cost our class so many points. I heard from some upperclassmen that our class was the first in the school's history to drop in rank during its first month."

As they walked, Classmate Ichinose chattered away like a little sparrow looking for someone to confide in.

That said, it seemed Classmate Ichinose was her class's representative.

That was another unusual thing.

The students in Class A had chosen between two factions, while Shirogane's Class B was united through Ryuen's forceful control. Things were different in Class C, where Ichinose and the others seemed to have won people over with their personal charm.

As for Class D...

Shirogane had met Classmate Kushida and Classmate Horikita, and had also heard about the two geniuses, Koenji and Ayanokoji. But unfortunately, Class D still didn't have a leader who could step up and speak for everyone.

But...

As the two of them walked, they soon found two people standing in front of the Student Council's entrance.

One was a tall, bald boy. The other had plenty of hair, but it was green.

Both were First-Year Class A students. The bald boy was Katsuragi—the Katsuragi of the Katsuragi Faction—and the other was named Totsuka Yahiko. From Classmate Kushida's information, it seemed that Totsuka Yahiko was something like Katsuragi's lackey.

The fact that Classmate Kushida had directly labeled Totsuka a "follower" showed she probably didn't think much of him.

And yet, even though he'd run into students from Class A, Shirogane realized he'd somehow learned more about Classmate Kushida from Class D.

When Shirogane and Ichinose noticed Katsuragi and Totsuka, the two of them noticed them as well.

"Ichinose, why are you here with a student from Class C?" Totsuka Yahiko asked.

It seemed he knew Ichinose.

"Katsuragi-kun, Totsuka-kun." Ichinose greeted them. They were both from Class A, the class responsible for attacking her class and making them lose so many points last month.

"The Student Council hasn't forbidden students from coming here, has it?"

"And Classmate Shirogane is a student from Class B now." As she spoke, Ichinose edged a little closer to Shirogane, as if to shield him.

Ichinose was pretty clever.

Wasn't this deliberate show of closeness meant to make them wonder whether the two classes were connected?

She could release a smokescreen if she wanted to. But Shirogane felt she was standing a little too close. He could even smell her fragrance.

However, Shirogane noticed that Katsuragi had started looking at him.

Shirogane had actually seen Katsuragi in the cafeteria last month, but back then Katsuragi hadn't shown much of a reaction. Now, though, he was looking Shirogane over.

"Congratulations on being the first class in school history to climb from Class C to Class B in just one month," Katsuragi finally said.

"And congratulations to Class A for retaining more points than any other class after the first month," Shirogane replied.

They seemed to be trading barbs.

"Um... are you going to keep talking right in front of the Student Council entrance?"

"As first-years, you must have a reason for coming to the Student Council." Just then, the Student Council entrance opened from the inside, and a purple-haired girl with her hair tied in a bun stepped out.

She was Tachibana Akane, a third-year student and the Student Council's secretary. She was almost always by the Student Council President's side.

"Uh—"

Totsuka, Katsuragi, and Ichinose all looked awkward and stiff.

Shirogane understood all too well: the door to the Student Council Office wasn't soundproof at all.

So the four of them went into the Student Council together.

"This is quite unusual today."

Only Student Council President Horikita Manabu and his secretary Tachibana Akane were in the office. Miyabi Nagumo, whose information Shirogane had gone out of his way to gather, wasn't there.

Still, the four of them entered the Student Council together.

"Four first-years, and they all have the same goal."

Horikita Manabu said.