Classroom of the Elite, Keima Katsuragi's Love is War

Keima Katsuragi first went to the nearby gaming section to purchase a second console, while Airi Sakura headed toward the camera aisle.

Upon seeing the dazzling array of cameras in the shop, Airi Sakura's eyes practically sparkled with light; she spotted the pink camera she had been eyeing last time at a glance and carefully cradled it in her hands.

"This customer, it looks like you really love this camera, don't you?"

Just then, the clerk in charge of this area walked up, a seemingly enthusiastic smile on his face as his gaze swept up and down over Airi Sakura.

"This model is currently on promotion, and there's a pretty good discount!"

His features were below average, perhaps even bordering on ugly, and that smile added a touch of sleaziness to his demeanor.

The moment she saw him appear, the enthusiasm Airi Sakura had just felt was dampened significantly.

Immense pressure, like invisible hands, weighed heavily on Airi Sakura's shoulders, making it hard for her to catch her breath.

"I, I..."

Airi Sakura wanted to say something, but her throat felt as if it were blocked; she couldn't get a word out for a long time, and her breathing became somewhat rapid.

In her eyes, the man's gaze even carried a hint of unbearable discomfort.

"Would you like me to introduce this camera to you? I remember you were here last time, too!"

The clerk took another step forward, closing the distance between them to less than a meter.

Airi Sakura could feel his heavy, murky, and seemingly quickening breath.

And the fact that he remembered her presence...

This made Airi Sakura's sense of discomfort even more pronounced.

"I..."

Just as Airi Sakura was feeling at a loss, Keima Katsuragi's voice rang out from the side:

"No need for the trouble, we'll just take a look ourselves."

Keima Katsuragi was standing next to Airi Sakura, holding the new handheld console he had just picked out.

"Customer, the differences between these cameras are quite significant. If it's your first time buying one, you wouldn't understand the advantages and distinctions of each model at all, and I'm sure you don't know how to use them either..."

"No, we are very clear on that."

Keima Katsuragi said immediately.

"Alright, if you need anything later, feel free to contact me."

The clerk gave an awkward smile and immediately walked a short distance away.

Keima Katsuragi watched the clerk, his brows furrowing slightly.

He had heard the conversation between the clerk and Airi Sakura just now.

Although Airi Sakura possessed an outstanding appearance and figure, she usually wore glasses and kept her head down, hiding her features, while her figure was obscured by her school uniform.

No matter how you looked at it, Airi Sakura in this state shouldn't be a particularly eye-catching existence.

The foot traffic in the school was not low, and besides students, faculty members also shopped here.

Airi Sakura had only been here once before; the clerk shouldn't have such a deep impression of her.

This guy's gaze also seemed to have lingered on Airi Sakura for far too long.

And...

This guy's looks, as well as his words and actions, were the quintessential image of a perverted villain in a game.

"Katsuragi-san... have you finished buying your things?"

Airi Sakura asked in a small voice.

"Yeah, because I had already decided which model I wanted before coming here, so it didn't take much time."

Keima Katsuragi looked at the handheld console in his hand with satisfaction, then quickly shifted his gaze to Airi Sakura.

"Sakura-san, you should have a model you're interested in as well, right?"

"Yes... it's this one..."

Airi Sakura slightly raised her hand to show the camera she was holding.

"Then let's go pay."

"Pay..."

Airi Sakura pursed her lips, her gaze hesitant. She turned her head to see the clerk, who was smiling and seemed to be watching her from afar.

That uncomfortable feeling grew stronger and stronger.

It was at this exact moment last time that the meager courage Airi Sakura had finally mustered was completely shattered.

"It's a bit troublesome to pay separately; how about I pay for you, and you can transfer the points to me later?"

"Can we do that..."

Airi Sakura was a bit surprised; she hadn't thought that was possible at all.

If she did this, she could avoid the awkwardness of the checkout process.

"Yeah, splitting the bill is a bit of a waste of time."

"Right... then, sorry to trouble you, Katsuragi-san..."

Airi Sakura took out her terminal and exchanged contact information with Keima Katsuragi.

This was the first time she had ever exchanged contact information with anyone.

After transferring the points to Keima Katsuragi, the latter headed to the checkout counter to pay, while Airi Sakura went outside the supermarket to wait.

Before long, Keima Katsuragi walked out and handed the packaged camera to Airi Sakura.

Airi Sakura cradled the camera in her arms, and for the first time in a long while, a happy smile appeared on her usually timid face.

However, she quickly put the camera away and looked up at Keima Katsuragi, who had already pulled out his new handheld console and started playing, the game screen reflecting in his glass lenses.

"Is there anything else you need to buy?"

"No, nothing else! Thank you so much for accompanying me, Katsuragi-san... If it weren't for you, I don't think I would have even dared to speak to the clerk..."

"That's perfectly normal. Even I thought that clerk looked a bit intimidating."

"No, it's not just the clerk... When it comes to these kinds of things, I... I really am not good at it... I've caused you trouble, Katsuragi-san..."

"There's no need to apologize. Everyone has different personalities and ways of thinking. Some people are good at socializing, and some aren't. This isn't your fault, Sakura-san. You don't need to blame yourself, nor do you need to change anything. People should just live in the way that makes them comfortable."

Keima Katsuragi shifted his gaze away from the screen and met Airi Sakura's eyes.

The sudden eye contact startled Airi Sakura, and she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"Let's head back then."

"Mm."

Meanwhile, in a corner of the school cafe, a petite, white-haired girl was holding a cup of hot coffee, blowing on it gently.

"It seems Class D has also figured out the truth about the school's rules."

Beside the white-haired girl, another tall, beautiful girl asked with a worried expression, "I suppose the other classes will find out soon enough, too? In that case, our advantage..."

"Don't worry so much, Kamuro-san~ That just makes things more interesting, doesn't it?"

The girl named Arisu Sakayanagi wore a meaningful smile on her face.

Volume 1: Chapter 27: The God of Conquest is my role model!

Looking at Arisu Sakayanagi in front of her, Masumi Kamuro bit her lip slightly.

Even though school had only been in session for a few days, she had already become something of a lackey to the other girl...

She supposed this was her own fault.

Her personality had a flaw: she was obsessed with stealing. She had no interest in the items themselves; she simply enjoyed the thrill that theft provided.

Before enrolling in Advanced Nurturing, Masumi Kamuro's thefts had never been discovered, which was how she managed to be assigned to Class A.

Until... the first day of school.

After the entrance ceremony, Masumi Kamuro went to the school supermarket and stole a can of beer—but she was caught by Arisu Sakayanagi.

Arisu Sakayanagi was impressed by Masumi Kamuro's sleight of hand, kept the stolen beer for her, and used it as leverage to force Masumi Kamuro to become her subordinate.

And Masumi Kamuro had to admit that the girl named Arisu Sakayanagi in front of her truly possessed exceptional capabilities.

"Kamuro-san, I wasn't originally interested in those lower classes, but now, I've changed my mind a little."

Arisu Sakayanagi took a small sip of her coffee and said with a smile.

In just a few days since the start of school, Arisu Sakayanagi had also discovered the rules of this school.

She already possessed a brilliant mind—

Moreover, Arisu Sakayanagi's father was the chairman of this school.

She had been sickly since childhood, so her physical fitness rating during the entrance evaluation was at the lowest level.

No matter how excellent her grades were, her physical condition meant that Arisu Sakayanagi shouldn't have been in Class A; she should have been in Class C or Class D.

But because her father was the chairman, Arisu Sakayanagi successfully entered Class A, and in just a few short days, she had already established her own faction within the class.

Of course, there were others in the class who seemed like they might become rivals, but Arisu Sakayanagi didn't care about them.

The arrogant Arisu Sakayanagi was like a queen, and the only person who interested her even slightly was the boy from Class C named Kakeru Ryuen.

In just a few days, he had completely taken control of his class and become the one in charge.

As for Class D, Arisu Sakayanagi didn't care about them at all.

That was until just now, when a student in their Class A received news from Class D, revealing that their class had also figured out the rules of the school.

Arisu Sakayanagi hadn't expected the lowest-ranked class to be able to obtain such information in such a short time.

"Perhaps Class D has some interesting characters after all."

"But I find it a bit strange. Since Class D already knows the information, why would they share it voluntarily—even though some of us in Class A knew about the S-System in advance, and even if we didn't, almost all the students follow classroom discipline and don't lose many points. If Class D had kept this secret, they could have reduced the gap with the other two classes, or perhaps even surpassed Class C, right?"

Masumi Kamuro did not quite understand.

"Perhaps, there are some unstable factors within Class D as well~"

Arisu Sakayanagi said with a smile, downing the remainder of the coffee in her cup.

She picked up the cane resting beside the table, using it to support her small frame as she stood up:

"It is time for us to return as well."

After parting ways with Airi Sakura, Keima Katsuragi returned to the entrance of his dormitory room.

"I've cleared another game today; I'll find an opportunity to write down the walkthrough later tonight."

A smile played on Keima Katsuragi's face as he opened the door and stepped inside.

"God of Conquest! Help me!"

Just at that moment, a figure rushed out and lunged directly at Keima Katsuragi.

"Ahhh!"

Keima Katsuragi was startled, stumbling backward and falling to the floor.

Elsie, who had just rushed out, was so agitated that she tripped and landed face-first on the ground.

Keima Katsuragi checked his handheld console first, and only after confirming the device was safe and sound did he let out a long sigh of relief and stand up from the floor:

"Thank goodness it's okay. You, what are you doing?!"

Keima Katsuragi demanded, then looked around to ensure no one had seen him and Elsie before pulling her into the room.

"God of Conquest!"