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

Is it possible to prove that the philosophy of the White Room is wrong?

This thought flashed through the mind of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, though only for a fleeting moment.

"You are a student of Class D, so this matter concerns you regardless. Do you want to aim for Class A, or would you rather be expelled? Choose whichever you prefer."

Sae Chabashira's breathing grew increasingly rapid; she seemed anxious for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to provide an answer.

"You might come to regret this—the fact that you are trying to use me."

"Rest assured, my life is already full of regrets."

"I understand. In that case, I will act with the goal of leading Class D to Class A for the time being, but I have one question, Teacher Chabashira—"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked toward Sae Chabashira.

There was no emotion in those eyes, as if they were an endless, bottomless darkness:

"If, along this path, my methods diverge from those of Keima Katsuragi, what should I do?"

"It doesn't matter what method you use, as long as you can lead the class to promote to Class A."

"I understand."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded, then walked out of the counseling room.

He lowered his head to glance at his terminal, where posts regarding last night's incident were being uploaded one after another.

Who was posting them?

It was as if someone were deliberately guiding others to take notice of this matter.

However, this had nothing to do with him for the time being.

Right now, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wanted to understand Keima Katsuragi a little better.

He possessed knowledge that the White Room did not have.

"My points are still quite sufficient; I'll go buy a handheld console."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka muttered to himself.

On the other side, the somewhat awkward meeting between Keima Katsuragi and the others had finally come to an end.

Airi Sakura and Shiina Hiyori were both the type of people who were not good at socializing.

One couldn't get a single word out for half a day.

The other didn't like to talk much either, but once she did, nine out of ten sentences were related to novels.

This made the gathering somewhat awkward.

Usually, when they were in the library, they mostly talked about things related to their coursework, but this occasion was completely different.

Fortunately, Elsie was able to talk incessantly, which kept the situation from becoming even more awkward.

This was the day Keima Katsuragi missed Haruka Hasebe the most.

But come to think of it, it was all Elsie's fault.

"It's getting late, so I'll be heading off now. I still have to go to the library later!"

Shiina Hiyori stood up and pressed her hands together.

"If I come across any more interesting novels later, I will definitely introduce them to you, Katsuragi-kun."

"Mm."

Keima Katsuragi nodded, then turned to look at Elsie beside him.

"We should head back too. Elsie, you still need to go to the supermarket to buy things, right?"

"I need to buy things?"

Elsie looked at Keima Katsuragi with a surprised expression, only realizing what he meant a second later.

"Oh, right! I need to go shopping! I'm heading out now, Big Brother! Hiyo-chan, let's go together!"

With that, Elsie left the cafe with Shiina Hiyori.

"I'm planning to head back to the dorms now. Do you want to come along, Airi?"

"Mm!"

After the other two left, Keima Katsuragi and Airi Sakura walked on the path back to the dorms together.

"Um... Katsuragi-kun."

"What is it?"

"That... you and Hiyori-san are very close, aren't you?"

Airi Sakura asked in a voice that could only be heard because the two of them were walking close together.

"We're alright. Since she's been trying out games recently, we've been talking quite a bit about that."

Keima Katsuragi said.

He had deliberately sent Elsie away just now, all to create an opportunity to be alone with Airi Sakura.

He had raised Shiina Hiyori's affection level quite a bit today, but because of Elsie, he had been forced to drag Airi Sakura into this situation as well.

If he didn't communicate with Airi Sakura afterward, there was a chance her affection level might drop.

"Um... what were you and Hiyori talking about today?"

Airi Sakura was incredibly concerned.

Earlier today on the road, she had seen Shiina Hiyori and Keima Katsuragi chatting very enthusiastically.

"Hiyori has started playing games recently, so we've been talking about games."

"I see..."

Airi Sakura nodded thoughtfully, then continued to ask, "But, um... did Hiyori give anything to Keima-kun?"

This was the thing she cared about most.

"Give me something? Why do you ask that?"

"I, I... I was just saying it randomly!"

Airi Sakura shook her head hurriedly.

She absolutely could not let him know that she had been peeking at them from the side!

"Now that you mention it, Hiyori did recommend a few novels to me earlier, wanting me to read them, but I didn't accept them."

"Ah? Wh, why didn't you, didn't you accept them?"

"Because I had already read those books before; I borrowed them from the library and haven't returned them yet."

"Oh..."

Airi Sakura lowered her head.

Hiyori and Keima-kun have so many topics in common...

While she could barely say a few words to him...

Wait a minute.

Just then, Airi Sakura thought of something and lifted her head again.

Her eyes, clear as the ocean, cast a fervent gaze onto Keima Katsuragi's face.

"Um, Keima-kun, I, I want to try playing games..."

"Oh? Are you serious?"

"Yes!"

Airi Sakura nodded very vigorously.

She wanted to understand Keima Katsuragi more.

She also wanted to be like Shiina Hiyori, to be able to have plenty of common topics with Keima Katsuragi.

And playing games was the first step.

"I, I'm very serious!"

Airi Sakura added immediately, "I... I am indeed quite interested in this... and... I, I saw some bloggers who seem to dress up as game characters for photos."

"Cosplay?"

Keima Katsuragi held a neutral attitude toward cosplay.

After all, those female characters in games could not be imitated by people in real life; even if the appearance was very accurate, the inner temperament and personality could never be replicated, and Keima Katsuragi could tell at a glance that they were 'fakes'.

However, regardless, cosplay was somewhat related to games, and it might even help promote some obscure masterpieces, so Keima Katsuragi didn't exactly reject it.

"I think that's it, so, so, I want to learn about it too--"

"That's great, then let me recommend a few games to you."

Keima Katsuragi immediately rattled off the names of a few games to Airi Sakura.

However, this left Airi Sakura feeling a bit puzzled.

"Eh... Keima-kun, the games you recommended to Hiyori seem different from mine."

"That's because Hiyori prefers puzzle-solving, while I felt that Sakura-san would prefer the type with beautiful character art and delicate storylines."

Airi Sakura nodded.

In her heart, she increasingly felt that Keima Katsuragi was a very gentle person.

He had seriously considered her preferences before recommending different games to her.

Thinking of this, Airi Sakura's face turned even redder.

"Um... Keima-kun."

Airi Sakura rested her hand gently against her chest, appearing somewhat hesitant, but after careful consideration, she finally spoke up once more.

"Keima-kun, I have a question I'd like to ask you..."

"Oh?"

"Keima-kun... how do you see Hiyori-san?"

"Hiyori-san is a very special student; although she fits the literary girl archetype, there are quite a few discrepancies compared to those in games."

"Literary girl...?"

Airi Sakura whispered the term she had never heard before, repeating it to herself.

"Even though she looks lethargic and isn't good at socializing, she is actually a very kind and gentle person."

"That's true... Hiyori-san is really a good person."

Airi Sakura lowered her head.

In every aspect, Shiina Hiyori was surely more outstanding than she was.

Although they weren't the same type, even Airi Sakura couldn't help but sigh at how beautiful she was.

Even if she wasn't good at socializing, she didn't cause trouble for others when interacting with those around her.

Shiina Hiyori was, fundamentally, a high-spec version of herself.

A sense of inferiority slowly rose within Airi Sakura's heart.

"Hiyori-san is, as expected, better than me in every way..."

But just at that moment, Keima Katsuragi suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Keima-kun?"

"In my heart, you and Hiyori are completely different, Airi."

"Eh, I, I, I..."