(The Advanced Nurturing High School is actually a university, as everyone knows.)
(All characters in this book are at least eighteen years old.)
(The author has made some adjustments to the characters and plot. If you have any questions, please refer to this book!!! Please read the synopsis before diving in. I beg you ᵒ̴̶̷̥́ㅂᵒ̴̶̷̣̥̀ )
(This book's author is a newcomer. If the writing is clumsy, the plot doesn't flow smoothly, or you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to point them out in the comments.)
(The author does not tolerate deliberate nitpicking or insults. If you're one of those people, look here: (︶︿︶)=凸. Or perhaps you'd like to find out whether the author has a sharp tongue.)
(The author may not handle the characters well at first, so please bear with me. Thank you all for supporting this book.)
(The author kneels in gratitude (シ_ _)シ)
(Brain storage area)
(And now, the main story. Enjoy.)
A month ago, Uesugi Hara had been staying up late in his tenth-floor apartment in a downtown residential complex, cramming for his upcoming university finals, when he was suddenly struck by a stroke of "great fortune."
A piercing screech of brakes rang out beyond the window, followed by a driver's hoarse roar: "If you've got a problem, take it up with my performance review! We're all working our asses off!" Before the words had even finished, he watched helplessly as an out-of-control truck came hurtling toward him like a crazed bull. Shards of glass and chunks of wall smashed into him.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar bedroom. A set of unfamiliar, complete memories had appeared in his mind—he realized he must have crossed into another world.
Unfortunately, he didn't have the system that every transmigrator was supposed to get.
As Uesugi Hara absorbed the memories in his mind, he discovered that the original owner had the same name as him. Although his parents had died when he was young, he had inherited several hundred million in assets and had a loyal butler.
Under the butler's tutelage, it had become clear that the young master was an undisputed genius. He learned everything quickly from a young age and easily reached a master's level. He was proficient in eight languages, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and various martial arts.
But a few months ago, the butler had been forced to leave this world due to health problems. Unable to bear the blow, the original owner had chosen to take sleeping pills and end his life.
As Uesugi Hara absorbed the memories, he also took stock of this body. It felt completely different from his fragile college-student body. The corner of Uesugi Hara's mouth twitched. "I feel like I could beat up dozens of my old self now."
He looked around and spotted an invitation on a cabinet to his left. The servants had brought it the day before, but the original owner hadn't been in the mood to read it and had left it there.
Uesugi Hara opened it and read the contents. It was an invitation for him to attend Advanced Nurturing High School a month later.
Only then did Uesugi Hara realize that the original owner was a university student too! It was no wonder he hadn't guessed—who would have thought that someone with so many skills was only a first-year university student?
His eyes twitched as he stared at the words "Advanced Nurturing High School." It can't be that Advanced Nurturing High School, can it? He called for a servant and asked them to look into the school.
Afterward, he learned that it was the very same Advanced Nurturing High School he remembered, with a 100% graduation rate and a 100% employment rate.
And so he was forced to accept the truth: he had transmigrated into the anime Classroom of the Elite, which he had watched before, and become a new student about to enroll at Advanced Nurturing High School.
Over the next month, Uesugi Hara adapted to his enhanced body while reviewing the plot details against his memories, making thorough preparations for enrollment. If he had a system, his status panel would probably look like this:
[Host: Uesugi Hara] [Status: Healthy] [Physical Fitness: 18 (Average for an adult male: 10)] [Intelligence: 22 (Average for an adult male: 10)] [Skills: Mastery of martial arts, proficiency in eight languages, mastery of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, mastery of... (many more omitted)]
The school bus's engine rumbled steadily. The new students inside either spoke in low voices or sat lost in thought, the air thick with anticipation and unease about their new surroundings. Uesugi Hara sat in an ordinary seat near the back, his gaze seemingly drifting over the crowd but actually zeroing in on several key figures. He knew that this seemingly ordinary ride was about to be stirred up by one person's presence.
The announcement, "Please mind the doors," had barely ended when the bus pulled up at the stop. The doors opened, and an elderly woman carrying a cloth bag stepped aboard unsteadily. Koenji Rokusuke followed right behind her. Dressed in a crisp uniform and wearing an arrogant expression, he headed straight for the priority seat in the front and sat down as if no one else were there.
Almost at the same time, Uesugi Hara's gaze shifted to a window seat diagonally ahead. A brown-haired boy sat there with his head lowered, apparently resting with his eyes closed, though his fingers rested unconsciously on his knee. It was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Uesugi Hara knew that this seemingly ordinary boy was the true "monster" at this school. Though he looked calm, his eyes were moving slightly beneath his lowered lids. He was clearly observing everything in the bus.
"Don't you feel ashamed sitting in the priority seat?" A girl in office attire suddenly spoke up, her sharp voice piercing the quiet. "Can't you see someone who needs it standing right beside you?"
All eyes instantly turned to Koenji.
"How terribly tedious, lady." Koenji looked up slightly, his tone contemptuous. "Why should I give up my seat for someone else?"
"Priority seats are for people who need them! You're perfectly healthy, so what right do you have to take one?" The girl refused to back down.
"What a crazy question!" Koenji scoffed. "It's not my fault I have all four limbs. Why should I give up my seat to someone who got here later than I did?" No wonder he was our Beautiful Guy. Even that reply was beautiful.
Just then, Kushida Kikyo, standing in the aisle, couldn't help speaking up. Her voice was earnest. "Excuse me, but the elderly woman really does need a seat. Could you let her have yours?" She hadn't found a seat since boarding, and sweat had begun to bead on her forehead, but she still kept up a warm smile.
What she didn't know was that guilt-tripping had no effect on Beautiful Guy.
Koenji merely glanced at her before closing his eyes again, ignoring her completely.
Kikyo helplessly turned to the others, her voice tinged with a plea. "Could anyone give the elderly woman their seat?"
Silence immediately fell over the bus. Most of the students lowered their heads, pretending to use their phones or look out the window, as if they hadn't heard her. Uesugi Hara noticed that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's fingers paused for a moment, then resumed their earlier rhythm. He was observing, but had no intention of getting involved—exactly in keeping with his habit of concealing his abilities.
Uesugi Hara stood up and spoke gently to the elderly woman. "Please, take my seat."
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly broke the silence. The elderly woman thanked him profusely as he helped her into the seat. When he turned around, Uesugi Hara made a point of glancing at Ayanokoji. The other boy's head was still lowered, as if nothing had happened, but Uesugi Hara was certain he had noticed.
"Thank you, classmate!" Kikyo looked at him gratefully, her smile now much more sincere. "I'm Kushida Kikyo. I haven't asked your name yet, have I?"
"Uesugi Hara," he replied, his gaze sweeping over Horikita Suzune, who was seated diagonally ahead. She put down her book and gave them a cool glance before picking it up again.
"You're so kind, Uesugi." Kikyo sighed. "Everyone else just..."
"It was nothing." Uesugi Hara interrupted her naturally. "But the students at this school seem to have more distinct personalities than I expected." He shot Koenji a pointed glance, then let his gaze pass over Ayanokoji as if by chance.
Kikyo followed his gaze, nodded, then quickly shook her head. "Maybe everyone's just a little shy. By the way, Uesugi, do you know anything about this school? I heard..."
The two began talking quietly, moving from rumors about the school to their own interests. Uesugi Hara responded precisely to what she said while keeping an eye on Ayanokoji out of the corner of his eye. Ayanokoji kept his head lowered, but his ear was angled slightly toward their conversation.
The bus drew closer to Advanced Nurturing High School, and the imposing school buildings appeared outside the windows. Uesugi Hara looked at them, reflecting on what awaited him here. There was Koenji's flamboyance, Horikita's sharpness, Kikyo's disguise, and, beneath Ayanokoji's ordinary exterior, a pair of eyes that saw through everything.
When they got off, Uesugi Hara deliberately walked behind Kikyo, keeping a moderate distance from Ayanokoji and Horikita. He noticed that Ayanokoji's steps seemed casual, yet each one precisely avoided the crowd, while Horikita's clenched fist betrayed how strongly she cared about this school.
"Uesugi, let's hurry and check the class list!" Kikyo tugged at his sleeve, her voice bright with excitement.
"Sure." Uesugi Hara nodded, giving Ayanokoji one last glance. The other boy happened to look up, and their eyes met briefly before they quickly looked away, as if it had been a coincidence.
But Uesugi Hara knew that the most troublesome opponent in this school game had already arrived. With foreknowledge of the plot, he would quietly lay the winning pieces without anyone noticing.
Sunlight fell across the brand-new school path, illuminating the figures of the boys and girls as they walked toward the future, and revealing the undercurrents hidden beneath the calm surface.