The fate of being assigned to Class C

Natsukawa and Ichinose searched the noticeboard for their class assignments.

"Natsukawa, I'm in Class B. What a shame. I couldn't find your name."

Natsukawa Tatsuya was also searching the Class D list for his name, but he did not seem to find it.

Had I miscalculated?

"It's all right. Even if we aren't in the same class, that won't change our friendship, will it?"

"Mm-hmm! I'm really happy to become friends with someone like you, too!"

Then the lively Ichinose raised a finger and leaned toward the lists on the noticeboard to search.

"Let me look. There! Natsukawa, you're in Class C!"

Class C, huh.

Natsukawa sighed inwardly. Aside from the fairly capable Ryuen Kakeru-ko, most of Class C were problem children.

But that's fine. Now that I'm here, I might as well settle in.

"Let's go, Ichinose. Let's head to the classroom building together."

Then the two carried their schoolbags and walked side by side, admiring the campus scenery as they chatted and laughed, looking like a couple.

Ichinose said troubledly:

"It's such a shame we aren't in the same class. The school confiscated our phones and things, too. Otherwise, we could have added each other as friends."

"I don't think you need to worry about that, Ichinose. The school will probably provide replacements. We'll be here for three years, after all. We'll have a chance to add each other then."

"Mm-hmm, that makes a lot of sense. It's a promise, then. Don't forget about me when the time comes."

"You seem really smart, Natsukawa. Could I come to you if I run into trouble with schoolwork that I can't solve?"

"Of course. You're my first friend, after all."

Since Natsukawa Tatsuya and Ichinose Honami had arrived at school relatively early, there were not yet many people in the first-year classroom building.

Even so, a string of notifications rang out from Natsukawa's system.

"Ding!"

"Conquerable character detected..."

"Ding!"

"Conquerable character detected..."

"Ding!..."

Natsukawa simply turned off the notifications.

Some of the new students scattered outside in the corridor also saw Natsukawa and Ichinose walking and talking together.

"Look, are those two a couple? Even their hairstyles and hair colors are similar."

"I'm so jealous. They get to attend the same school as the person they like!"

"Damn it! I'm still single! I'm going to find a partner I can trust over these next three years, too!"

Amid these rumors, Ichinose and Natsukawa came upstairs, drawing closer to the people discussing them.

Ichinose Honami also heard their quiet chatter, and her face reddened.

Only then did Ichinose realize it. They're right. Natsukawa's hair color really is very similar to mine...

She stole a glance at him and found his expression unchanged. Only then did Ichinose breathe a sigh of relief and speak:

"Sorry, Natsukawa. You heard them too, didn't you? I've caused you unnecessary trouble."

"Don't worry about it. They're just imagining things without knowing the situation."

"But this is all because of me. I'd feel really bad if it affected your chances of making friends with girls or finding a partner later in your school life."

"It's fine. Should I say that their rumors don't affect me in the slightest? Actually, I'd quite like things to develop along the lines of those rumors. But that's impossible, right? Anyway, don't worry. That's how school life is. This sort of talk will die down soon."

"Um, saying you'd like that... That's so embarrassing. You're joking, right, Natsukawa?"

"Sorry, I was joking. Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"N-no. So you have a mischievous side too, Natsukawa! Hehe, it feels like we've been good friends for ages. I don't mind joking around with each other at all."

"Haha, you're so cute, Ichinose. Maybe they're right. Our hair colors really are similar. Maybe we really are a good match?"

At Natsukawa's teasing, Ichinose blushed slightly, her heartbeat quickening a little as she hurried away toward the Class B classroom.

"C-cute... Um, anyway, calling me cute is just unfair. You're awful. I'm not talking to you anymore. I'm heading to class first."

"Ding! Affection +10."

Ichinose turned back and said:

"N-Natsukawa, I hope you get along with your classmates! If the school gives us something we can use to communicate, don't forget about me. B-bye!"

Natsukawa waved as well and said:

"Bye! Good luck to you too, Ichinose!"

Afterward, Natsukawa Tatsuya found the Class C classroom, went inside, and looked for his seat.

(Oh, right. Natsukawa Tatsuya was just as handsome as everyone here, rivaling Takeshi Kaneshiro on the high end and Daniel Wu on the low end...)

After Natsukawa Tatsuya entered the classroom, his unusual hairstyle and exceptional looks caught some of his classmates' attention.

But anime schools were very relaxed about hairstyles and clothing, so his classmates soon stopped paying attention and began forming their initial school relationships.

At a glance, probably only a little under half the students had arrived in the classroom.

Ichinose had come so early because she wanted to get along with her classmates first, whereas he had been dropped off early in the morning by his enthusiastic underling. Their meeting could probably be called a special twist of fate.

He focused his attention on the system for a look, and it kept making sounds.

"Ding! Detected..."

"Ding! Ding! Ding!... Detected, detected, target character detected..."

...This was how the system behaved at their first meeting, its head in a spin.

There really were some female characters who had appeared in the original story.

Natsukawa soon switched off the detection function and stopped paying attention. Although the world of Classroom of the Elite was confined to a school, dozens of named female characters had appeared in it.

Although Natsukawa had learned how to increase the system's friendship points, he would not accept just anyone.

Maybe I should learn from Ayanokoji and only take in useful pawns and the like. Of course, I won't pass up anyone good-looking, either...

Heh heh heh...

Oh no. Second row, by the wall. The king's downfall.

Most of the students sat alone at their seats, either reading the school materials or staring into space. Some others, who perhaps already knew each other or had only just become friendly, chatted off to the side.

The female student seated in front of Natsukawa saw him approaching the seat behind hers and wanted to greet him, but when she raised her head, her cheeks flushed red, and she shyly lowered it again.

Without Natsukawa noticing, this girl's thoughts had actually jumped back and forth several times.

Ooh, that handsome boy is coming this way. Is he sitting behind me?

Th-that's great!

H-hello.

Come on, say it out loud.

I-I've been ignored again.

Never mind. I'll just be a quiet student.

There'll be a chance to get to know him later, right?

Natsukawa tossed his schoolbag onto the desk and sat down in the same motion.

It's not the ideal seat, but I'll make do for now.