Chapter 19: Ayanokoji Kiyotaka Is Forced to Reveal Himself
After answering everyone's questions, Chabashira Sae read from the textbook in a monotonous voice.
Since the students' minds weren't on the lesson at all, there was no need to put much effort into teaching it.
Ding~~ The bell rang.
Most of Class D's students surrounded the Big Three.
Koenji Rokusuke looked a little impatient and launched into another outrageous remark.
"I told you, I'm only interested in beautiful girls and Tanaka-kun. Everyone else, leave on your own."
Tanaka Yukishin had been about to chat with Karuizawa Kei, but the stares around him were putting him in a bad mood.
He had just raised his hand when he heard Koenji Rokusuke's outrageous remark, so he changed direction and pointed at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"I had no choice but to come to this school. I have no interest in moving up a class. Right now, I just want to enjoy myself."
"You might as well focus on Ayanokoji and Horikita behind me."
"They're both capable and ambitious."
Everyone exchanged glances, then obediently surrounded the two of them.
If Horikita Suzune was enjoying the fruits of someone else's labor, then Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was in an awkward spot.
His expression remained as blank as ever on the surface.
But inside, he was already muttering to himself.
Annoying teacher. Annoying Matsushita Chiaki. Annoying Horikita Suzune. Annoying Koenji Rokusuke and Tanaka Yukishin.
Koenji Rokusuke and Tanaka Yukishin felt not a shred of guilt.
What a joke. If you want to do something, do it yourself. Nobody owes you a helping hand.
As for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, it was his own fault for failing to keep up his act and getting called out by the teacher, then getting a double endorsement from Matsushita Chiaki and Horikita Suzune.
The more capable you are, the more work you get. So why not do a little more?
After some discussion, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka managed to deal with the crowd around him.
Class D was full of talented people, after all. They had the temperament to match.
Even when they'd started out with zero points in the anime, some students hadn't taken it seriously and had simply gone about their own business.
Now that they were on equal footing with the other classes, they had even less reason to feel pressed for time.
Few people liked being pushed around, or having someone give them orders from above.
Realizing this, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka seized the opportunity to dismiss the free-spirited students with a few words.
The remaining students, like Hirata Yosuke and Horikita Suzune, were easier to handle. They had their own ideas.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka first tried to politely brush them off and get out of it.
But Horikita Suzune spoke up, and his attempt failed.
So he changed tactics.
"The situation is clear now. You've all seen how our classmates feel about it."
"There isn't much we can do at this stage. We should wait and see how our Class Points change in a month."
"In the meantime, I hope the few of you—Hirata Yosuke, Kushida Kikyo, and Horikita Suzune—will put your skills and strengths to use. Within the class, make sure our classmates behave appropriately in their daily studies and lives. They should try to remember that they're students."
"Outside the class, build relationships with the other classes and gather information."
"If any classmates are reluctant to cooperate, you can try persuading them with the following argument."
"Graduating from Class A three years from now may seem far away, but your personal points are directly relevant to your lives right now. You'll need them for food, clothing, housing, and transportation. There's no need to explain the relationship between personal points and Class Points. You don't want your points to go down next month, do you?"
"I'm sure that argument will help you persuade at least some of them."
The others agreed and left. Only Horikita Suzune shot him a fierce glare.
During class, Koenji Rokusuke had just pointed out one of her flaws: she wasn't good at socializing.
And now he was talking about skills and strengths.
Was he mocking her?
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, I'll remember this.
As the others dispersed, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's thoughts came and went in a restless stream.
He hadn't planned to put himself in the spotlight or draw attention to himself.
But the changing situation had caught him off guard.
First, the Sender had stirred up a huge storm among the first-years. Then his homeroom teacher and classmates had stabbed him in the back, one after the other.
At this point, staying hidden beneath the surface and keeping things as they were was no longer realistic.
Sure, he could slack off and brush everyone aside for now.
But what about later?
You had to think long-term.
Thanks to the information Hirata Yosuke had shared, he already had a basic understanding of the school.
With the fierce competition, it was inevitable that some students would be expelled.
If he slacked off and brushed everyone aside now, what would he do when trouble really came later? He might not get another chance.
The two troublemakers, Tanaka Yukishin and Koenji Rokusuke, wouldn't mind getting the emotional students of Class D to kick him out.
Then he would have to change his strategy.
A small hermit lived in the wilderness, a middling one among the people, and a great one in the court.
Since Class D now had three people in the public eye, all he needed to do was keep his own performance in check.
Who could blame him?
Was he unwilling to help the class?
He simply wanted to contribute, but lacked the ability.
Time flew by, and before long, it was time to go home.
The morning's events had already been forgotten.
The loners were content on their own, while the other talented students gathered their friends and headed out in groups to have fun.
Koenji Rokusuke stood up. From his expression, it was clear he could hardly wait to pick a fight.
Just then, a message arrived on his student ID terminal.
It was from Matsuzaka Tomohito.
"Tanaka-kun, there's been a change of plans."
He gestured to Koenji Rokusuke, pointing at the terminal.
Tanaka Yukishin went outside and called him.
"Hello."
"This is Tanaka Yukishin."
"Sorry."
"Tell me what happened."
"Things went as expected at first. All the other clubs agreed. Only the Kendo Club and Archery Club are still holding out. The change came later, because of Kiryuin Fuuka."
...Kiryuin Fuuka?
He thought of the beauty he'd met yesterday.
She'd looked like she had fire in her eyes, eager to watch the drama unfold.
She was probably the one fanning the flames behind the scenes.
Matsuzaka Tomohito's next words confirmed his suspicions.
"Kiryuin Fuuka is the Boxing Club's Vice President. She advised the Club President. Her exact words were:"
"Since we've already paid the coaching fee, why not have Tanaka-kun coach us in person? Whether it's broadening our horizons, seeing how a strong fighter carries himself, or letting the club members see what someone stronger can do—"
"Or getting to know him and expanding our connections—"
"Any of that would be better than getting nothing out of it."
"I don't need to say more. You understand what happened after that, Tanaka-kun."
What a white-haired little menace. Let's see how she explains herself when I meet her.
"It's fine. Think of it as getting to know the school. A little exercise before dinner will give me a better appetite."
"I've already arranged for someone to meet you outside your building. He knows where all the clubs are."
"All right, thanks."
"Of course."
He put away his student ID terminal and hurried back to the classroom.
Koenji Rokusuke was having a lively conversation with Karuizawa Kei and the members of the Karuizawa Group.
"Did you sort it out? They're not postponing it again, are they, Tanaka-kun?"
"It's fine. It won't make much difference. Come on, let's go to the Boxing Club."
Under normal circumstances, Tanaka Yukishin didn't go back on his word.
What did he care about the club? Or Koenji Rokusuke?
He'd beat them both all the same.
It was easy enough to do on the way.
He'd run into similar situations so often lately that he'd gotten used to them.
"Yukishin-kun, let's all go sing karaoke later."
Karuizawa Kei clung to her boyfriend's right arm, with the rest of her group beside them.
"I have something to take care of first. You guys go ahead. I'll join you later."
"What is it?"
At sixteen, they were in the prime of youth, at an age when boys and girls were drawn to each other.
Besides, the two of them had gone all the way yesterday. They'd gotten a taste of it and couldn't get enough.
Karuizawa Kei wished she could be with her boyfriend every moment, without being apart for even a second.
"Club coaching."
"Can we come too, Tanaka-kun?"
"Suit yourselves."
The group went downstairs and followed the guide from the MMA Club.
Chapter 20: Regret Gave Rise to Obsession
While Classes A and D were taking action, Classes B and C weren't idle either.
With no outside interference, things unfolded as they had in the original story.
With the support of his homeroom teacher, Sakagami Suma, Class C's Ryuen Kakeru used violence to beat down everyone who opposed him, forcibly subduing the class and becoming its leader.
After the final loud crash of a desk overturning faded from the classroom, Ryuen stepped onto the podium, his foot on the trembling back of a boy. Chalk dust rose in a fine haze around his steps.
Sakagami Suma stood in the shadow by the back door. His eyes swept over the students huddled in the corner, and a satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
Class B, meanwhile, was led by Ichinose Honami, with Kanzaki Ryuji as her deputy.
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