Classroom of the Elite, Keima Katsuragi's Love Brain Battle

Elsie said with a serious expression, "Once the God of Conquest tastes it, he'll understand my culinary skills!"

"I don't want to; I'd rather go to the cafeteria and eat the vegetable set meal—"

The moment Keima Katsuragi turned to leave, an incredibly terrifying force seized him directly.

"God of Conquest~ where are you going!"

Keima Katsuragi looked down to see Elsie's haori wrapped tightly around him like tentacles, rendering him unable to move.

"What are you doing!"

"Preventing Big Brother from running away! After all, Big Brother needs to be in good condition, so he has to eat properly!"

"Let me down, the cameras will see this!"

"Don't worry, Big Brother! My haori has an invisibility function!"

"Arghhhhh!"

Without a shred of room to resist, Keima Katsuragi was dragged back into the dormitory.

In the afternoon, during class.

Keima Katsuragi returned to his seat looking completely withered.

Just a moment ago, he had been forced to eat food from hell.

This was meant literally.

Elsie had somehow obtained ingredients from hell and turned them into a meal.

It had to be said that while the presentation was truly too gruesome to look at—as if the ingredients had been dismembered in the most cruel way possible, with some even still wriggling, looking so disgusting that even the indescribable creatures from Cthulhu novels would pale in comparison—

The taste of these dishes was unexpectedly good.

However, the price for this was that Keima Katsuragi had suffered from diarrhea several times afterward.

Because of this, he now looked incredibly gloomy, and even his hand holding the handheld console was trembling slightly.

At this very moment, Elsie was also casting glances out the window from time to time, her face showing signs of worry.

Before she went to find Keima Katsuragi, one of the 'ingredients' had escaped.

To be precise, it was a creature from hell.

Although it wouldn't eat or kill people, it might cause a bit of trouble if someone else saw it.

I'll go look for it when I have time!

Elsie then turned to chat with the classmate sitting next to her.

Elsie was not the only girl worried about something.

There was also Airi Sakura.

Her peripheral vision kept drifting toward Keima Katsuragi, while her hands were tucked inside her desk drawer, gripping the game cartridge she had bought yesterday.

Since early this morning, Airi Sakura had been looking for an opportunity to give him the gift.

But until now, Airi Sakura hadn't found a chance to speak up.

This made it impossible for Airi Sakura to focus on the lecture for even a moment.

It wasn't until the bell rang for the end of class that Airi Sakura's consciousness finally returned to the real world.

"Let's go, the study session continues today."

Keima Katsuragi packed his things and said to Airi Sakura.

"Mm..."

Airi Sakura nodded.

The three of them soon arrived at the library; today, Kikyo Kushida said she had something to attend to and did not come.

However, Keima Katsuragi had already guessed the reason for her absence.

It was likely because of Elsie.

Keima Katsuragi couldn't help but admire the mental fortitude of Kikyo Kushida in his heart; facing a common-sense black hole like Elsie, she hadn't lost her temper from start to finish and had maintained a patient smile the entire time...

But come to think of it, what if he assigned Elsie to Suzune Horikita's study group?

Keima Katsuragi recalled that Suzune Horikita's study group was officially established today.

After the events of last night, Suzune Horikita's attitude toward those around her had improved quite a bit compared to before; although she still maintained a haughty air, she no longer felt as prickly, and the sharpness of her tongue had decreased significantly.

Several other students in the class who clearly weren't doing well academically had finally agreed to temporarily join her study group.

Of course...

If he sent Elsie over there, their study group would likely fall apart overnight.

What's more, in the eyes of Suzune Horikita, Elsie was also a 'straight-A student' type, and her low score on the last quiz was merely intentional.

Fortunately, although Kushida Kikyo wasn't here today, someone else had come to help.

Shiina Hiyori.

At the invitation of Keima Katsuragi yesterday, Shiina Hiyori had also joined this study session.

Although it hadn't been long, Keima Katsuragi could already sense that Shiina Hiyori's academic ability was quite outstanding, far surpassing that of Kushida Kikyo.

It was even possible she was above Suzune Horikita.

Furthermore, when it came to tutoring Elsie, Shiina Hiyori seemed to be even more effective.

Kushida Kikyo simply explained the knowledge points, whereas Shiina Hiyori would combine the content of the material with stories.

At the very least, Elsie's ability to digest knowledge should be slightly higher with the latter.

"So, Elsie, have you understood this problem yet?"

"Mm! It's a multiple-choice question!"

Never mind what I said.

Keima Katsuragi tried his best to ignore the conversation between the two beside him, shifting his attention to Airi Sakura at his side as he asked.

"Sakura-san, have you understood this problem?"

"Mm..."

"If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to say it directly."

"I... I think I... understand it..."

Airi Sakura nodded, though Keima Katsuragi could see that she seemed somewhat distracted.

Just then, a tall figure walked up to the table where Keima Katsuragi and the others were sitting.

"You guys have already started, huh!"

Shiina Hiyori tilted her head slightly, looking toward the source of the voice.

Long blue hair, a stunning figure, a cute face—and that tear mole that served as her personal trademark.

Haruka Hasebe.

"Po-chan!"

Seeing Haruka Hasebe arrive, Elsie waved happily at her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Elsie-chan!"

A smile on her face, Haruka Hasebe sat down next to Elsie.

"You two are already this close?"

Keima Katsuragi looked up at Haruka Hasebe; the two of them had actually started using nicknames for each other.

He had observed previously that Haruka Hasebe was a somewhat solitary person in class, having yet to integrate into any small groups.

However, judging by the interaction between Haruka Hasebe and Elsie, she didn't seem entirely inept at or averse to socializing.

Was she the type who could quickly close the distance once she clicked with someone?

"Yes, Big Brother, Po-chan is my desk mate, and we talked a lot this afternoon! We're surprisingly compatible!"

Elsie said with a smile.

Volume One: Chapter 57: So We're All in the Same Boat

Haruka Hasebe nodded with a smile.

They had talked a great deal that afternoon, and the relationship between the two had closed significantly in an instant.

Haruka Hasebe had originally thought she wasn't good at dealing with overly sunny and cheerful types.

Although her relationship with Kushida Kikyo wasn't bad, she didn't consider her a 'good friend' in her heart.

Yet, Haruka Hasebe didn't have that feeling when talking with Elsie.

That was why Haruka Hasebe had ultimately agreed to Elsie's invitation to join this study session.

It just so happened that Kushida Kikyo wasn't here today.

Most importantly, Keima Katsuragi was the only male present at the study session.

His gaze was the only one Haruka Hasebe didn't find repulsive.

There wasn't a single trace of lewd thoughts in his eyes, only a longing for games.

"Hello... Hasebe... san..."

Seeing Haruka Hasebe arrive, Airi Sakura, though somewhat timid, still greeted her in a low voice.

Up close...

Hasebe-san is so beautiful...

"Hello, Sakura-san."

While greeting her, Airi Sakura also tilted her head slightly, using her peripheral vision to watch Keima Katsuragi, seemingly concerned about how he might react.

Haruka Hasebe responded to her as well.

It was only this afternoon that Haruka Hasebe learned Airi Sakura's first name, having previously only known her by her surname.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Hiyori Shiina."

Hiyori Shiina greeted them politely, her voice incredibly soft and slow.

"Nice to meet you too, Shiina-san. You aren't from Class D, are you?"

"Yes, I am from Class C."

"Eh, a student from Class C is joining us too?"

Haruka Hasebe did not view students from other classes as rivals the way Suzune Horikita did; she was simply curious.

"Because I am friends with Keima Katsuragi, I thought I would come to help out, and I might be able to learn a few things myself."

Hiyori Shiina said with great humility.

"Shiina-san, may I ask you a question?"

"Yes, go ahead."

Hiyori Shiina nodded.

"Do you have many friends in Class C, Shiina-san?"

"It's a bit embarrassing to say... but I don't really have any friends in my class."

"What a coincidence! Aside from Elsie-chan, it seems like everyone here is the same type of person."

A smile spread across Haruka Hasebe's face, as if she had found one of her own kind.

Hiyori Shiina had no friends in Class C.

Airi Sakura was the same in Class D.

And Keima Katsuragi went without saying.