In the White Room, he had learned only the abilities deemed "useful."
Everything else, all the unnecessary "worldly" things, was discarded.
The whole string of things Keima Katsuragi had just said was completely unfamiliar to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. He had never heard of any of it in the White Room.
It was a gap in his knowledge.
If this were an exam, I'd probably get zero and be expelled.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka thought to himself.
"Since that's the case, I'll give you a proper introduction."
Keima Katsuragi then told Ayanokoji Kiyotaka all about the history of the development of the game.
This was knowledge Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had never studied before.
It was an entirely new field.
Perhaps...
Was this why he had come to this school?
"Ayanokoji, did you understand?"
"Yeah."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka repeated what Keima Katsuragi had said, and the latter patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.
"Not bad."
"But I still have a question."
"What is it?"
"What does this have to do with swimming? Are games connected to the real world?"
"You're still an outsider after all. Games are games, and reality is reality. Even though I love games, I'd never choose to mix them up."
Keima Katsuragi sighed.
"If you want to learn more, I recommend starting with Youthful Love Story. It's pretty beginner-friendly."
"Understood."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded.
He had never explored this kind of field before.
From what he could tell, it was worth learning about.
Especially since Keima Katsuragi had demonstrated abilities that went beyond the White Room's principles.
Keima Katsuragi's very existence seemed to deny the entire White Room.
However, based on their conversation, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka judged that Keima Katsuragi didn't seem to have come after him.
"I have nothing else to ask."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded to indicate his farewell, then left first.
Keima Katsuragi watched Ayanokoji Kiyotaka walk away, narrowing his eyes slightly.
He knew Ayanokoji Kiyotaka seemed different from the other students. Keima Katsuragi had noticed it during the quizzes, the swimming lesson, and even in the way Ayanokoji had secretly watched him.
Still, Keima Katsuragi didn't care much.
The other boy's way of life had nothing to do with him.
He was also planning to hurry up and find Elsie.
Before Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had approached him, Elsie had worn a confident smile and looked ready to say something. But Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's appearance had interrupted her.
At the time, Keima Katsuragi had said he didn't have enough points and could only afford the cheapest set meal.
He had a feeling Elsie was about to do something weird...
The more confident she was, the more likely something was to go wrong!
Whatever Elsie was planning, he had to stop her!
Thinking this, Keima Katsuragi didn't even have time to play a game. He quickened his pace toward the dormitory.
"I'm so tired... I haven't eaten... My head's spinning..."
But after nearly running himself into the ground during swimming class, Keima Katsuragi moved like a skeleton soldier on the verge of falling apart. He could barely control his limbs.
On top of that, he had lost track of time while playing games the previous night and stayed up far too late. He hadn't eaten breakfast, either, so his physical condition was abysmal.
At that moment, Keima Katsuragi's consciousness was beginning to blur.
"Damn it, what's with this intense feeling that something bad is going to happen..."
"I have to find that girl quickly, before she causes another disaster!"
"I'm so tired... Move, you dead legs!"
Just as Keima Katsuragi was about to take out his handheld console and use up the last of his strength to keep going, someone came around the corner from the road's blind spot—
Sakayanagi Arisu.
The two of them collided.
"?!"
The sudden impact caught them both off guard.
Sakayanagi Arisu stumbled back a step, bracing herself with her cane and barely managing to keep her balance.
Sakayanagi Arisu was physically frail and petite. If an ordinary student had collided with her, she would definitely have lost her balance and fallen.
But this time, she didn't seem to have been affected much.
It was almost as if... a strong gust of wind had blown past her.
Sakayanagi Arisu had no idea what had happened, but she was displeased. She turned, ready to see who had just run into her.
But when she saw Keima Katsuragi lying on the ground with his eyes closed and an utterly peaceful expression on his face, her expression stiffened slightly.
"A-are you all right?!"
First Volume: Chapter 54: Sakayanagi Arisu's Greatest Confusion Ever
A few minutes later, Masumi Kamuro arrived at the scene as quickly as she could.
Masumi Kamuro looked at the bewildered Sakayanagi Arisu, then at Keima Katsuragi lying on the ground nearby, and froze for a moment.
Sakayanagi Arisu had just called Masumi Kamuro to say that someone had bumped into her. She couldn't explain the situation clearly and had told Masumi Kamuro to hurry over.
Masumi Kamuro's mouth fell slightly open, but she had no idea what to say. She could only stare at the scene before her in disbelief. After several seconds of silence, she finally spoke.
"Sakayanagi... Even if someone accidentally bumped into you, you didn't have to take things this far, did you?"
"What are you talking about? You make it sound like I killed someone."
"Honestly, you seem like the type."
Masumi Kamuro looked at the girl before her.
Though she had a petite frame and a cute appearance, her personality was the complete opposite. She was far more calculating than anyone else, and she never let a grudge go.
That was Masumi Kamuro's impression of Sakayanagi Arisu.
"But this really has nothing to do with me."
Sakayanagi Arisu accepted Masumi Kamuro's opinion of her, but she refused to admit that she had anything to do with Keima Katsuragi's condition.
"This person bumped into me, and then he ended up like this."
"So you're saying he bumped into you, then passed out on his own?"
Masumi Kamuro's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"That's exactly what happened. And even if I wanted to do something to him, I couldn't."
Sakayanagi Arisu shook her head helplessly for the first time.
"That's true... But why did you call me here?"
"I wanted to ask you to help me move him to the bench over there. It wouldn't be right to leave him lying on the ground, and I can't manage it by myself."
As Sakayanagi Arisu spoke, she lightly tapped the ground with her cane.
Her physical strength wasn't enough for her to do that on her own.
Masumi Kamuro let out a long sigh. She didn't want to get involved in this kind of trouble, but Sakayanagi Arisu had something on her, so she had no choice but to agree.
"Fine."
Before long, Masumi Kamuro had carried Keima Katsuragi over and laid him on the nearby bench.
Although he was a boy, Keima Katsuragi was surprisingly light, which took Masumi Kamuro by surprise.
"Is this guy a first-year? Masumi, check his terminal. His student ID should have his personal information."
Sakayanagi Arisu spoke to Masumi Kamuro, who nodded and reached into Keima Katsuragi's pocket to find his terminal.
"Found it."
Masumi Kamuro's hand touched a cold, hard object, and she immediately pulled it out.
A handheld console.
"Looks like he really likes playing games."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled.
Masumi Kamuro frowned, then reached into his pocket again.
There was another handheld console.
"..."
Sakayanagi Arisu and Masumi Kamuro exchanged a glance and fell silent.
Masumi Kamuro continued searching Keima Katsuragi's pockets, only to find a pile of game cartridges. Some of the titles were quite suggestive.
"What is this guy's deal?"
Masumi Kamuro's cheeks flushed slightly.
Sakayanagi Arisu also noticed that Keima Katsuragi didn't look like he had passed out...
It looked more like...
He was asleep?
A few seconds later, Masumi Kamuro finally found Keima Katsuragi's Student Terminal.
"Keima Katsuragi. That's his name. He's a Class D student."
"Class D, huh?"
Sakayanagi Arisu gently rubbed her chin with her other hand, her gaze settling on Keima Katsuragi with a hint of amusement.
She had always been arrogant and never paid any attention to the lower classes.
But ever since she learned that Class D had been the first to discover the rules of the S-System, Sakayanagi Arisu had developed a little interest in the class.
There might be someone in Class D who could interest her.
Could it be this person—
Probably not.
Still, perhaps she could use him to learn something about Class D.
To find that special student in Class D.
"Ah! God of Conquest is here!"
Just then, Elsie's voice rang out from nearby.
She spotted Keima Katsuragi lying on the bench and rushed straight over, shaking him vigorously.
"God of Conquest! Wake up! God of Conquest!!!"
Before you continue