The Story Starting from Classroom of the Elite

The two leaders analyzed the 1W information and made the corresponding arrangements.

With this, the four classes of the first year seemed to return to their original tracks.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of Class D leaned against the corner of the corridor, watching Hirata Yosuke hurry past.

Katsuragi Kohei of Class A was recording something in front of the bulletin board when he suddenly turned his head and met his gaze.

Their eyes crossed and then quickly shifted away, like black and white chess pieces temporarily holding their positions on the board.

The only change was that the four classes were now collectively gathering information from the outside and establishing diplomacy with other classes.

Chabashira Sae returned to the office, filled with joy.

The rhythm of her black high heels striking the marble floor was lighter than usual, and the breeze stirred by the hem of her suit ruffled the test papers in the hands of passing students.

When she pushed open the door, the teacher duty roster hanging behind it was still swaying slightly, and the words "Class D" circled in red ink on it glinted in the sunlight.

She had just sat down and taken out a cigarette, preparing to light it.

The crisp click of the silver lighter's lid opening was exceptionally clear in the quiet office, and the moment the flame flickered, the distinct, charred scent of tobacco began to permeate the air. But the next second—

Hoshinomiya Chie, who was nearby, spoke up.

"Little Chabashira, you can't smoke in the office."

A figure carrying the scent of citrus perfume suddenly popped out from behind the copier.

As her friend placed her hands on her shoulders, the hand holding the cigarette paused imperceptibly.

She then put the cigarette away.

"Class D has finally produced a few good seedlings."

"Could it be that you still haven't let go of your obsession with climbing to Class A, Little Chabashira?"

Obsession? That didn't quite fit.

Perhaps "regret" would be more appropriate.

Those who have never been poor cannot imagine, nor can they truly understand, the kind of suffering that poverty brings.

Chabashira Sae was born in an ordinary village.

There was an old grandmother in the village who was very kind-hearted.

When she was a child, she would occasionally visit her while playing.

Young Chabashira Sae was curious back then.

"Grandma, why do you live alone?"

The old woman didn't speak; she just patted her head and smiled.

When she got home, she asked her parents, but they remained silent.

Many years later, the old woman passed away.

When the villagers were burying her, her parents finally told her the answer.

The old woman had a family when she was young.

She had a husband who loved her, two sons, and a daughter.

"Then how did she end up all alone?"

The answer was that one day, the old woman cooked a pot of wild mushrooms.

She poisoned her three children and her husband to death.

She hadn't eaten a single bite herself because times were too poor back then.

She couldn't bear to.

After that, she never remarried and stayed in that house until she died.

Living in the same village, Chabashira Sae's family was also not well-off.

But she had her family by her side, and they had food and drink.

She would help her mother with chores after school and help her father with farm work.

In her spare time, she would play with her friends, and the days passed happily enough.

Therefore, she had never imagined that poverty could bring such misery.

Just from her parents' words, she could imagine the scene at that time.

It was a hot summer, and the young grandmother was out picking wild vegetables when she luckily discovered a patch of wild mushrooms.

She was filled with joy on the way home.

The family was too poor, and everyone was starving.

These mushrooms could provide some nutrition for her husband and children.

She hummed a tune while cooking, and at mealtime, her family returned.

She watched with a face full of happiness as they ate them bite by bite, and when they called for her to eat, she lied and said she had already eaten.

Shortly after, she discovered her husband and child collapsed on the floor, their faces twisted in agony.

She couldn't believe it, calling out their names in a panic and shaking their bodies.

She ran to the neighbors to beg for help, eventually collapsing onto the floor, unable to accept the reality.

Afterward, pain, self-reproach, and regret—every possible emotion—bound her tight.

She became a living earthbound spirit, trapping herself in that house, trapping her heart in the day she cooked wild mushrooms for her family.

In this moment, the silence passed down through time from the grandmother to the parents, and from the parents to her.

In this moment, the girl seemed to grow into an adult.

She made up her mind that she would ensure her family lived a good life.

Afterward, she studied hard, but her family was poor and couldn't afford tutoring.

Fortunately, when she graduated from middle school, Advanced Nurturing High School sent her a recommendation letter.

She passed the entrance exam and successfully enrolled.

That day, she shared the joy with her family.

Some time after enrolling, she discovered that the school's promise only applied to graduates of Class A.

So what?

She didn't fear competition; she only feared not having the qualifications to compete.

Just like when she had no money for tutoring in middle school.

She improved her academic ability and trained her body.

She united her classmates and fought with all her might.

Finally, during the last special exam of her third year.

The gap with Class A was only a hair's breadth; winning would mean graduating as Class A.

Everyone could realize the visions they had before enrolling, and everyone could have a happy life.

Regrettably, due to certain issues.

They didn't win this special exam.

They missed out on Class A by a narrow margin.

How ironic, to persist in the darkness only to fall on the eve of the dawn.

From then on, the regret of seeking but failing to obtain bound her like chains.

She never found release, not even after graduating high school, entering university, or graduating and entering society.

In the end, she chose to return to the school to become a homeroom teacher.

Sometimes she wondered what it would be like if she had succeeded one day.

Would her life be fulfilled once the regret was dissolved?

Would she smile with immense joy to welcome a new life?

Or would she suddenly realize that time cannot be reversed, and that relying on the actions of others was merely self-consolation and self-deception?

Her life, much like the grandmother's, was trapped on the day of that final third-year special exam.

She didn't know the answer either.

Because none of the classes she had led had ever graduated as Class A.

"Little Chabashira."

"Little Chabashira."

Hoshinomiya Chie called out a few times, and Chabashira Sae snapped back to reality.

"What were you thinking about just now? I called you several times and you didn't respond."

Chabashira Sae's mood was somewhat low, and she said wistfully, "I was thinking of an old woman from my village; she has already passed away."

"I'm sorry, I..."

"It's fine, it's not your fault."

"So, do you still intend to climb to Class A?"

The words were somewhat ill-timed.

But after all, they had been classmates and friends for many years.

Chabashira Sae saw that Hoshinomiya Chie's goal was to change the subject and lift her spirits.

"You're overthinking it. It's not like you don't realize that the class divisions have become increasingly obvious in recent years."

"I'm just hoping they climb a little higher so I can get a bit more money in my monthly salary and year-end bonus."

"I didn't feel it when I was a student, but after graduating and entering society, I realized. Food, clothing, housing, transportation, cigarettes, alcohol, bags, cosmetics—which one doesn't cost money?"

Hoshinomiya Chie covered her mouth and chuckled.

"I see, that is certainly worth celebrating. Why don't we get together tonight? We can invite Sakagami and Mashima out for a drink."

"Get together for what? We see each other every day at school. It's not like we're old classmates who haven't met in years."

Boxing Club.

Kiryuin Fuuka hummed a little tune as she pushed open the training room door, her freshly applied mint-green nail polish still staining the metal handle.

Ever since she successfully tricked the club president into changing the tournament format yesterday, the corners of the girl's mouth hadn't dropped once; she looked just like a cat that had successfully stolen a salmon.

"President, are we doing a group brawl or a gauntlet match today?"

The wave of sweat hitting her face made her wrinkle her nose.

The Boxing Club president was standing with his back to the door, wiping down his gloves, the sweat rolling off his bronze back muscles glistening under the fluorescent lights.

A "clang" of metal echoed from the equipment area as three burly men returned barbell plates to their racks.

"Three-on-one."

The president tossed out the three words without turning his head, then suddenly spun around, revealing a grin of successful mischief. "But if you want to join in the fun, I can count you in too. You love watching things turn into a bloodbath anyway."

The girl's mint-green nails "cracked" as they dug into the wooden door frame.

"Are you messing with me?!" She slammed the door with an explosive bang, shaking the sandbags hanging on the wall.

Students passing by in the hallway scrambled for cover, thinking an earthquake had struck.

The Boxing Club president paused his wiping motion.

"And you call yourself a spectator. You don't have the slightest bit of dedication as a prankster; your purity is far too low."

"A true prankster should have the resolve to throw themselves into the game."

He put away his sweat-soaked towel and couldn't help but shake his head and click his tongue.