A Transmigration on the Bus

Yuto Hayashi opened his eyes to the sound of noisy chatter.

He froze. Before him was a moving bus filled with boys and girls wearing identical school uniforms. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making his vision swim slightly. An unfamiliar cityscape slipped past outside, rows of roadside trees and low houses flashing by.

Memories flooded into his mind like a tide. In his previous life, his name had been Yuto Hayashi. He was twenty-six and worked in operations for an internet company. That day, he had worked overtime until three in the morning, rested his head on his desk for a moment, and never woke up again. Then another set of memories connected to his own. The original owner of this body was also named Yuto Hayashi, sixteen years old, and today was his first day of high school. The original owner had been too excited to sleep well the night before and had dozed off on the bus. When he woke up, his soul had been replaced.

The two sets of memories intertwined, making his head throb for several seconds.

He vigorously rubbed his temples and took several deep breaths before gradually recovering.

He had transmigrated. Into what looked like a Japanese high school entrance bus.

He secretly pinched his thigh. It hurt. This was not a dream.

Fine. Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. He had read plenty of transmigration novels in his previous life and knew this was standard procedure. The important thing was to understand his current situation first, then make a plan. He looked around at the other people on the bus. Two boys in the front were chattering loudly enough that people several rows ahead had turned around. Several girls in the middle spoke quietly among themselves, occasionally letting out soft laughter. A bespectacled boy sat alone in the back row, silently staring out the window without interacting with anyone.

Every face carried either anticipation or unease for their new lives, but not one of them knew the school's true nature.

"Hey, are you okay?"

A girl's voice came from beside him. Yuto Hayashi turned to see a girl with long, straight black hair looking at him. She was beautiful, with delicate features and fair skin, but her expression was cold, and her eyes held a hint of vigilance and scrutiny.

"I'm fine. I just haven't fully woken up yet," Yuto Hayashi said.

The girl said nothing else and turned to look out the window, as if her question had merely been basic politeness. Her profile was lovely, but she gave off an unapproachable air.

Yuto Hayashi did not mind. He looked toward the front, where the two boys were still talking.

"I'm telling you, this school is insanely good! You're guaranteed a job after graduation, and they're all major companies!"

"Seriously? Even someone with grades like mine can get into a good company?"

"Of course. Why else would everyone be fighting to get in?"

"That's true. But I heard this school is kind of different. I just don't know how."

"Who cares? We get jobs after graduating. Isn't that easier than getting into college? My brother told me graduates from this school are always in demand."

"That does make me feel better. By the way, what class do you think we'll be assigned to?"

"Who knows? I heard there are Classes A through D, assigned by grades."

"Then I'm definitely in Class D. Your grades are a little better than mine, so maybe Class C?"

"Come on, we're about the same."

As he listened to their conversation, Yuto Hayashi silently recalled the original story. Classroom of the Elite, set at Advanced Nurturing High School. On the surface, it was an elite educational institution, but in reality, it followed a brutal doctrine of meritocracy. Students were assigned to Classes A, B, C, and D according to their abilities, while class points determined their treatment and future prospects after graduation. Class A enjoyed the best resources and went on to the most prestigious companies. Class D stood at the very bottom, gathering together students judged to be problem cases.

And he was most likely in Class D. It was not because he was pessimistic; that was simply how the original story was set up. Besides, judging from the overall state of the students on this bus, it really did not look like a gathering of top students.

This was troublesome.

Yuto Hayashi leaned back in his seat and sorted through the chaotic memories in his mind. His memories of his previous life were gradually becoming clearer, and his impressions of the original plot were slowly surfacing. There were several important events at this school that he needed to watch out for. The incident involving Sudo's fight was the first fuse. Someone framed a Class D student and triggered a conflict. Then came the Uninhabited Island Special Exam, the first true survival test. After that came the VIP Exam, the sports festival, the cultural festival, the final exams... The timeline was a little muddled, and he needed time to recall it all. But at least he knew which people were key characters and which events were turning points.

That was enough. Wasn't a transmigrator's advantage foresight? As long as he made good use of the information gap, he could avoid countless pitfalls, plan ahead, and quietly build up an advantage. By the time everyone else caught on, he would already be relaxing at the top, sipping tea.

Of course, that was assuming he survived that long.

The bus drove for another ten minutes or so before entering the front gate of a school. Through the window, Yuto Hayashi saw several gray-white school buildings, a sports field covered in green grass, and a rather impressive gymnasium. The campus was huge, with neatly planted roadside trees lining both sides of the roads and small unknown flowers blooming in the flowerbeds. The environment really was nice, looking exactly like the sort of place a prestigious school should be.

After the bus came to a stop, the students got off one after another. Yuto Hayashi followed the crowd down and stood beneath the sunlight. The April sun was gentle, neither cold nor hot. The breeze carried a faint scent of grass and earth, making the air feel pleasant.

He looked around and saw other buses arriving one after another. New students in the same uniforms converged from every direction, streaming toward the gymnasium. The air was filled with noisy voices, footsteps, and conversation.

"All new students, gather in the gymnasium!" a teacher shouted through a megaphone, his voice echoing across the open plaza.

Yuto Hayashi followed the crowd forward. Along the way, he carefully observed the students around him. Although everyone wore the same uniform—white shirts and dark trousers—the differences could still be seen in the details. Among the students who had gotten off his bus, some were roughhousing, some complained about the sun, some looked around in confusion, and some played on their phones while walking and nearly bumped into others. Overall, they seemed lax, lacking the discipline one would expect from top students.

Class D without a doubt.

"Hey, do you think this school's going to be strict?" the carefree boy from the front of the bus came over and asked.

Yuto Hayashi glanced at him. The boy had darker skin, a strong build, and stood half a head taller than those around him. His voice was loud, and he liked to gesture with his hands when he spoke. He seemed easygoing and boisterous. Sudo Ken, Class D's athletic specialist in the original story. He was impulsive and hot-tempered, but reliable when it mattered.

"Probably," Yuto Hayashi said.

"Damn, don't scare me!" Sudo said nervously. "I don't want to be controlled too tightly. I finally got into high school. I was hoping to have some fun."

"You're dreaming," Yuto Hayashi said. "This school doesn't look like the kind of place meant for fun."

"Now I feel even less sure about it." Sudo scratched his head. "Forget it, no point thinking about it. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. By the way, what's your name?"

"Yuto Hayashi."

"I'm Sudo Ken. Take care of me from now on!" Sudo patted him on the shoulder with considerable force.

Sudo was about to say something else, but they had already reached the entrance of the gymnasium. Yuto Hayashi followed the group inside.

The gymnasium was huge, capable of holding over a thousand people. Several rows of hanging lights were suspended from the ceiling, while the smooth wooden floor reflected the overhead light, making the entire venue feel bright and spacious. The new students took their seats by class order. Signs for Classes A through D hung at the front, black lettering on white backgrounds, clear at a glance. Following the signs, Yuto Hayashi found Class D's section at the far edge, where the chairs were also the farthest back. Meanwhile, Classes A and B were at the very front, and their chairs looked newer and more comfortable, with visibly thicker cushions and taller backs.

Class D's treatment was obvious from the first day. No explanation was needed. Simply sitting here was enough to feel the difference.

After sitting down, he found that the girl with long, straight black hair from the bus was seated beside him again. What a coincidence. Not only were they in the same class, but they were even seated next to each other.

"What a coincidence," Yuto Hayashi said.

The girl glanced at him but said nothing.

Yuto Hayashi did not mind and turned to survey the Class D students. There were a little over thirty in total, both boys and girls. His gaze moved from one person to the next as he tried to match them with the characters from the original story.

A blonde girl with a ponytail was chatting with someone beside her, her smile especially radiant. Her voice was pleasant, and her tone was lively enough to make the people around her laugh. Kushida Kikyo, the popular queen of the original story. Outwardly cheerful and sunny, but in truth, an utter two-faced person. Several boys and girls surrounded her as if she were the center of attention. To have such influence on the very first day of school was certainly not simple.

In a corner, another girl with long, straight black hair sat quietly reading. Her head was lowered, as though the bustle around her had nothing to do with her. Hiyori Shiina, a quiet girl who loved books. She was gentle and introverted, with little presence in class, yet she was a very popular character in the original story. Yuto Hayashi's gaze lingered on her for two seconds. She seemed to notice him looking and slightly raised her head, meeting his eyes. Yuto Hayashi did not panic and naturally looked away. Hiyori did not seem to care and lowered her head to continue reading.

Aside from them, several other people in the class seemed rather distinctive. A short-haired girl sat next to Hiyori and whispered to her. In the back row, a boy wearing a hat sat with his head lowered, playing on his phone and showing no interest in anything around him. Near the front was a boy who looked quiet and reserved, carefully flipping through the school handbook. He seemed like the serious and responsible type.

Yuto Hayashi silently noted this information in his mind. A transmigrator's greatest advantage was foresight. He knew everyone's background and weaknesses. But that also meant he needed to act carefully and could not reveal that he knew too much.

"Quiet."

A voice came from the front. A female teacher who looked to be in her early thirties stood before Class D, staring expressionlessly at everyone. She wore a neat business outfit, her hair tied up behind her head. She looked capable and stern. Her presence was cold enough that the previously noisy Class D quickly fell silent.

"I am your homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae. Before the entrance ceremony begins, I have a few things to say."

Her tone was flat, but when her eyes swept across everyone, quite a few students unconsciously straightened their backs.

"You should already know that Advanced Nurturing High School follows an educational system based on meritocracy. What exactly that means, you will naturally understand after enrolling."

She paused.

"I will only remind you of one thing. This school will not cater to anyone's feelings. How high you can climb depends entirely on your own ability. If you think you are incapable, prepare yourself mentally as soon as possible."

At those words, the Class D students exchanged looks. Some swallowed nervously, some curled their lips in disdain, and some casually picked at their ears without caring at all. Their reactions varied, but no one dared to speak up in objection.

Chabashira said nothing more and stepped aside.

"What the hell? She made it sound so scary," Sudo muttered quietly from the back.

But Yuto Hayashi knew that every word Chabashira had said was true. This school really would not cater to anyone. Class D in the original story went through countless trials, each one fraught with danger. One wrong step, and they would fall into the abyss. But he was a transmigrator. He knew the direction of the plot and everyone's background. By using that information gap, he could avoid countless traps and even plan ahead.

"Next, please welcome the principal for his address."

The host onstage announced the official start of the entrance ceremony. An elderly man with graying hair walked onto the stage and began a long speech. It was nothing more than the usual platitudes about how the school was dedicated to cultivating society's elite, how meritocracy was cruel but fair, and how they hoped everyone would grow here. It was all printed in the school brochure already. Nothing new.

Yuto Hayashi listened absentmindedly as he considered his plans. The first thing he needed to confirm was the current point in the timeline. Based on the situation, it should be right at the beginning of the school year, before any major events had occurred. That meant he had time to observe and adapt.

The most important matter at the start of school was points. This school distributed one hundred thousand points to each student every month, and they could be used to buy anything on campus. But because Class D was the bottom class, the points they received starting next month would be drastically reduced. If they did not prepare in advance, they would soon be unable to afford even food. During this first month, he needed to save as many points as possible and cut every unnecessary expense.

He also needed to quickly understand the interpersonal relationships within the class. Who could be trusted as allies, and who needed to be kept at a distance. The Class D members from the original story all had different personalities. Some were worth trusting, while others needed to be watched carefully.

And he needed to secretly observe the important characters from the original story, confirming whether their personalities and positions matched the original. If there were any differences, he would need to adjust his plans immediately.

"You look like you're plotting something bad."

A voice came from beside him. Yuto Hayashi turned and saw the girl with long, straight black hair staring at him, her eyes full of scrutiny. This was the second time she had caught him spacing out.

"No. I was thinking about what to eat for lunch," Yuto Hayashi replied casually.

The girl frowned slightly, clearly not believing him. But she did not press the matter and turned back to listen to the principal's speech.

Yuto Hayashi understood. This girl was highly vigilant and observant. Horikita Suzune, one of Class D's core figures in the original story. She was cold, proud, and poor at dealing with people, but exceptionally capable. If he could work with her, she would undoubtedly be a great help. But with her unapproachable attitude, getting close to her would probably require time and an opportunity.

The entrance ceremony finally ended. The students left the gymnasium in class order, led to their classrooms by their respective homeroom teachers.

Yuto Hayashi followed the group out of the gymnasium, crossed the campus's main road, and headed toward the school building. Along the way, he noticed that the campus layout was very orderly. Several school buildings formed a U-shape around a small garden. A few cherry blossom trees grew in the garden, their petals drifting in the breeze and forming a thin pink layer on the ground.

Class D's classroom was on the fourth floor, the last room at the end of the hallway. Yuto Hayashi followed the group past the entrances to Classes A, B, and C. With every class they passed, he could clearly feel the quality of the classrooms declining. Class A had an exquisite metal class plaque at the door, engraved with the class number and homeroom teacher's name. Its hallway was broad and bright, with decorative paintings on the walls. Class B's plaque was plastic but still fairly new. Class C had already been given ordinary furnishings. By the time they reached Class D, the plaque was a plain plastic sign that had faded slightly, and the hallway was much narrower.

The disparity was everywhere.

When the door opened, Yuto Hayashi took a glance inside. The classroom was not large and could seat a little over thirty students. The desks and chairs looked old, with scratches and pen marks on the tabletops. The blackboard was an ordinary dark green one rather than a modern whiteboard. Even the curtains were faded and damaged around the edges. The entire classroom gave off an aged, worn feeling. Compared to the Class A classroom they had just passed, it was more than one level worse.

This was Class D's treatment. No one needed to tell you. One look was enough to understand.

The seating was free. Yuto Hayashi chose a seat by the window near the back. It had a good view of the athletic field and distant sky outside, and teachers were less likely to notice him. It suited his principle of keeping a low profile.

As soon as he sat down, the chair beside him was pulled out.

It was Horikita.

When she saw Yuto Hayashi, she paused for a moment, but she did not choose another seat. She silently sat down and placed her bag on the other side of the desk. Her movements were natural, as if this were merely a coincidence.

Yuto Hayashi leaned against the back of his chair and looked out the window. Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting a warm yellow patch of light across the desk. Class D's classroom might have been old, but the lighting was decent.

The other students entered one after another. Sudo carelessly sat down in the back, his loud voice carrying throughout the classroom. "This classroom is way too old! It can't compare to Class A at all!"

"Exactly!" Ike and Yamauchi echoed beside him.

Kushida Kikyo entered with a smile, greeting everyone she passed in a sweet voice. "Hi!" "Please take care of me!" She chose a seat near the front. After sitting down, she turned and swept her gaze over the classroom. Her eyes paused on Yuto Hayashi for a second before she smiled and looked away.

Hiyori Shiina quietly entered with her head lowered, walked to a window seat in the corner, and sat down. She took a book from her bag and placed it on her desk, but she did not open it. She simply sat there quietly, her gaze directed out the window. Sunlight fell over her, making her seem gentle and serene.

Everyone had arrived. Nearly all the seats in the classroom were occupied.

Chabashira Sae walked to the podium with a roll book in hand. She looked around the classroom, confirming that everyone was present.

"Then let us first confirm that everyone here is a student of Class 1-D."

She opened the roll book.