Classroom of the Elite: Alter - Self-Test

I admire his abilities, much like how I admire Nii-san's.
"It doesn't look like he's aware of the last layer. We'll win, Horikita."
To think that there was someone like him. It's laughable how I even challenged him in the beginning.
"It'll be fine. Thanks for worrying about me."
He was my first "friend". I never thought I'd think of someone like that.
"It's necessary. I'm sure Hirata won't like it once everything's revealed, though."
If it's with him, I believe I can learn more and improve myself.
"This little bit of rain is quite a nuisance, but it helped with our plan..." 
"It certainly did."
"Well, anyway, I'm leaving this key card to you, Horikita."
"I understand, Ayanokouji-kun. I'll acquire those last points without a problem."
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"-rikita? Horikita...? 'You alright?"

"Oh, yes. Pardon me. I was just remembering something."

"I see," Ayanokouji-kun replied before continuing his meal. "I'm surprised, though. The food here is better than I thought."

"It's not a luxury restaurant for nothing."

"Yeah, I can only imagine the number of private points we'd spend if this vacation wasn't free."

Speaking of which, I still have 359,872 private points thanks to our high amount of monthly class points. It would've been ideal if all Class B students practiced the same amount of prudence, but according to Mori-san, it seems like a lot of our classmates have spent an excessive amount of points on things like cosmetics or games. Some of them were estimated to have 100,00 to 150,000 private points left.

With that being said, it's now the 10th of August. Ayanokouji-kun invited me to have breakfast with him, so we're currently eating at a restaurant on the 9th deck.

We've eaten together a lot in the past. However, most of them had secondary purposes like meeting about the class and such. It doesn't seem to be the case right now, but I guess he invited me because I was the only one awake. We got here around 6:30 AM, so I imagine most of the students still lying comfortably on their beds by that time.

It was now a little bit past 7:00 AM. The two of us were almost done eating, so I asked Ayanokouji-kun about something that I'd been wondering about.

"Do you think we'd be able to take the lead on the next special exam?"

Ayanokouji-kun continued eating the rest of his smoked pork baby back ribs before glancing at me.

"It depends. We don't even know what kind of exam it'll be let alone when. I doubt they'd give us another one during summer vacation, so we'd probably have to worry about it in the second semester."

"Do you think the exams happen once every semester? Personally, I don't think that's the case."

"I'm also inclined to think that it's not. We may have a trimester curriculum, but nine total special exams won't be enough for any class to make a comeback, especially if the gap is wide."

Indeed. Even if we include the midterm and final exams in the mix, the higher classes would still have the advantage since they're innately composed of more academically gifted students.

"We can only speculate until the next one, huh?" I muttered before going back to my original question. "Ayanokouji-kun... Do you think we can overtake Class A on the next special exam?"

Our plates were finally cleaned up of edible food. We relaxed on our chairs across from each other with the fancy round dining table separating us.

"I wish I could give you a concrete answer, but a lot of factors stop me from doing so. Of course, you already know what I'm talking about."

Yes... Firstly, we knew about the special exams before everyone else. After the island exam, the other classes won't be caught off-guard anymore. Secondly, Class A made a big blunder by making a deal with Ryuuen-kun while having a traitor in their midst. And lastly... we haven't seen what the student named Sakayanagi Arisu is capable of just yet. Then again, I can't help but feel like Ayanokouji-kun would win against her.

I need to catch up soon. It's only a matter of time before we reach Class A by solely relying on Ayanokouji-kun's overwhelming abilities. Once he takes a step back, it'll be up to me and Hirata-kun to lead the class with Karuizawa-san and Kushida-san's support...

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August 10th, 11:00 AM.

I was walking out of the sun deck's hallway near the pool area after getting some alone time. When I got off the elevator, two of my classmates called out to me.

"Oh, speak of the devil! It's Ayanokouji-kun!" exclaimed Azuma.

Azuma Sana. Much like Ichihashi or Matsushita, she was close with Karuizawa and Kikyou's group. She was also one of the smartest students in our class in terms of academics.

The students around us were conversing at the same level of enthusiasm so I barely heard her voice. In a twist of fate, the girl beside her was none other than Ichihashi.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun!" she greeted.

Ichihashi was a social butterfly from a young age. Along with her innately attractive appearance, she should be experienced in neutralizing romantic tension. Hence, she can naturally speak with me regardless of what happened yesterday.

"Hey," I greeted back.

"We were just talking about you." Azuma nudged me with a smirk.

"Me?"

"Yeah... I was telling her the story of my confession last night," Ichihashi answered with a smile.

Eh-? Seriously? Is this the true power of mature girls...? It's honestly amazing how straightforward she can be.

"I see. Did you find it amusing, Azuma?" I asked.

At this point, I can only reply with the same amount of directness.

"Huh? What the hell's up with you two? No awkwardness whatsoever? Even after a rejection? Well, aren't you perfect for each other then? Just date already, geez. You can also explode in the process, riajuus." Azuma bludgeoned us with a bitter and spiteful comment. However, her smug expression told me that she was joking.

That's weird. I thought Azuma was also a riajuu— albeit single.

"S-Sana, it's not like that. Ayanokouji-kun and I just don't like making the atmosphere pointlessly uncomfortable."

Ohh, Ichihashi really gets me.

"I know, I know. I was kidding," she chuckled. "Well, now that you're here, why don't you join us for lunch, Ayanokouji-kun?"

Before I could respond, my phone started vibrating. I didn't really have any plans with anyone, so my friends might be calling to invite me for lunch.

"Haruka?"

"Oh, Kiyopon~! Wanna have lunch with us? Ken's hanging out with Kikuchi-kun and the others right now, and Miyacchi had some business with Hirata-kun. So, Airi and I were wondering if you could join us for lunch."

"Ahh, sorry, Haruka. I already have plans to eat with Azuma and Ichihashi." The two girls gasped in surprise. "Let's grab dinner as a group later. Is that alright?"

"Oh, you had plans. Well, sure! We'll see you later then~!"

We briefly hung up and I put my phone back inside my trusty pocket.

"A-Ayanokouji-kun, was that alright...?" asked Azuma.

Our friendship wasn't so volatile and shallow where doubts and arguments would pop up just because one person bluntly declined an invitation to hang out.

"Yeah, why not?" I replied. "If you have any place in mind, then feel free to lead the way."

"Sigh... Okay, then." Azuma shrugged with a smile.

Ichihashi and I followed her silently as the atmosphere got warmer.

We ended up in a cafe. Like Palette, there were a lot of female customers inside. Luckily, there were four or five guys that I could suffer with. I wouldn't feel too embarrassed about spending my time here.

It was Azuma on my left, and Ichihashi on my right.

The three of us were friends, sure, but we were certainly a strange combination.

"Alright, why don't you continue your tale, Ruri? Let's make the man himself hear it." Azuma smirked at me.

"Uh... I don't think that's a good idea. It'd be pretty embarrassing for both of us." Ichihashi chuckled bitterly.

"Why not? We might see Ayanokouji-kun's... flus-ter-ed face... you know?" Azuma subtly leaned in on her with a teasing smile.

"Ah— That's true..." Ichihashi replied with a wondering look.

"Oi, Ichihashi, don't stray from the righteous path," I retorted jokingly.

"Ahaha, well, I already heard everything up until Ruri left crying." Azuma sipped her milk tea with a shrug.

"Sana!" Ichihashi panicked instantly.

"You were crying?" I asked.

"W-Well..." Ichihashi frantically tried to salvage the situation by forcing out a smile. "I was rejected, right? Of course, I'd feel sad. A teardrop or two shouldn't be too weird."

"You were bawling your eyes out last night, though. Mae-chan and Satsuki were really worried, you know?"

Maezono and Shinohara? That's strange.

"Sana! Can you please stop outing me for one second?!" cried Ichihashi, whose face was flushed pink.

None of us gets to see Ichihashi's embarrassed expression that often. It's really cute, to say the least.

We ate up and chatted with each other. They were the ones who were mostly doing the talking, though.

Apparently, Azuma secretly swapped rooms with Airi last night. I thought it was strange since Maezono and Shinohara were Airi's roommates. Of course, Airi wasn't against the idea since Haruka was one of Azuma's roommates, as well.

They wouldn't do it again, though. Last night was an exception since she wanted to be there for Ichihashi. And it'd be bad if they got caught.

"So much for putting up a tough front in front of Ayanokouji-kun..." Ichihashi lowered her head in dejection.

"Don't mind it, Ruri. If Ayanokouji-kun rejects even you, then there's no way he'd accept anyone else!" Azuma tried to cheer for her friend with a thumbs up.

"Sure... Except for Chiaki-chan and Kushida-san, of course," shrugged Ichihashi.

"Oh... Right... Those two are on a level of their own... Haha..." Azuma replied with a flat tone.

"If they turn out to like Ayanokouji-kun, Maya and Horikita-san also have higher chances."

"Hmm... I'd say you're about as cute as Maya, but Horikita-san is really pretty, isn't she...?" Azuma evaluated the girls' looks with a serious expression. "Do you agree, Ayanokouji-kun?"

"You're asking me?" I pretended to think for a brief second. "Hmm... Well, I do think Horikita's pretty."

Ever since the start of school, I always thought that Horikita had the potential to become as popular as Kikyou if she had a bright personality like her.

"In my honest opinion, Horikita-san is about top two or three in our class when it comes to sheer beauty," said Ichihashi.

"If you're alright with me asking, who's the top one?"

"Ohoho~? It seems like our boy here is curious..." Azuma teasingly smirked at me. Wait, scratch that. Both of them were.

I shouldn't have asked.

"Well, for me... It'd be Chiaki-chan," Ichihashi replied candidly.

"Hmm... I'm the same, to be honest." Azuma followed with a shrug. "But of course, it's just our personal opinions."

"Yep~. I think it's just a matter of preferences, anyway. Like, in terms of cuteness, Kushida-san would definitely top everyone in our class," said Ichihashi.

Subjectivity is one hell of an idea, isn't it? Rooting back to the works of Descartes and Kant, it's been something that we as humans have been relying on whenever there's no objective reality to lean our backs against.

Judging someone's face can branch out in many ways. Cuteness, prettiness, beauty— there are many words to categorize someone's facial appeal. However, people have different preferences depending on what kind of face looks most pleasurable to their eyes.

"How about you, Ayanokouji-kun? Who do you think is the prettiest girl in class?" asked Azuma.

"Hmm..." I pondered before my eyes reflexively widened.

"Hehh~... So you do have someone. It's fine, if you tell us, Ayanokouji-kun. We won't tell a soul," smiled Azuma.

You just spilled the secrets of your best friend in front of me. And with that grin on your face, do you really think I'd believe that?

"Not really..." I shook my head in response. "I've never thought about it that way. To me, if I think someone looks pretty, then that's that."

"Ehh? I totally thought you had a girl in mind." Azuma exclaimed in surprise before nodding. "Well, I get what you're saying, but don't you have someone in your mind where you go 'Ah, if it's a competition of who's the prettiest, I'd have this girl represent Class B!' or something?"

"Ohh, that's a nice way of putting it, Sana."

There's no escaping now, huh?

"Hmm... If we look at it from that perspective... then the safest option would be... Matsushita, I guess."

I mirrored their opinions, but those were also my honest thoughts. In a competition where judges are involved, Matsushita might yield the most desirable results. Though if it were a poll, Kikyou would have a better chance.

They looked at each other with a simple "I guess it's her, after all." while shrugging.

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The three of us hung out after lunch until we split up at around two o'clock. I went back to my room and found one person rummaging over his luggage.

"Ayanokouji-kun, what's up?" asked Hirata.

"I'm just planning to relax for the rest of the afternoon. How about you?"

"I'm trying to find my keychain..."

"Ah, that. Was it from Karuizawa or something?"

"Spot on. How'd you guess?"

Who else would give you heart-bedazzled presents...?

"The class prince is on his way to tend to the tyrant princess' needs!", as the saying goes in Class B.

Hirata tried to invite me, but I declined, saying that I wanted to lie down for a bit.

It's good that Kouenji's not around. I can be alone with my own thoughts and maybe fall asleep while I'm at it.

So much has happened in these past three days... The learning curve for social interactions— it's all messed up for someone like me.

While thinking about those things, my phone rang with Kikyou's name displayed on the caller ID.

"Kikyou?"

"Kiyotaka-kun? Are you still inside your room right now?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?"

"I asked Hirata-kun when I saw him earlier. Is it alright if I go there?"

Ahh, it's been a while since her last venting session, after all.

"Are you sure? Kouenji and Yukimura might come back, you know?"

"Ah, it's fine. Apparently, Kouenji-kun is exercising in the gym. And Yukimura-kun is hanging out with Minami-kun and Okitani-kun."

"I guess I should've expected you to know already."

"Ahaha, my friends just happened to know when I asked them. It's not a big deal."

Kikyou's social connections were really something.

It wasn't long before she arrived in our room.

She had some complaints about our classmates, but other than that, her stories were positive for the most part. We chatted about the usual stuff and hung out like normal.

I thought things would stay that way until...

*Bzzt*

Our phones violently vibrated while emitting a very loud sound. They rang at the same time with a ringtone that's unique to messages sent by the school. They were usually used for events where students received news about sudden changes or new instructions. Even if your phone was on silent, it would still make a sound, indicating that the message was of high importance.

"What is it, all of a sudden...?" Kikyou grabbed her phone with a vigilant expression.

We were both confused since this was the first time in our entire summer vacation that they used it. As we took out our phones, an announcement could be heard throughout the ship.

"Attention, This is an announcement to all students. All students should have received a message from the school, as indicated in the contact line. Please check your individual mobile devices and follow the instructions accordingly. In the event that you do not receive a message, we apologize for the inconvenience. Please go to the nearest faculty member for assistance. Because the contents of the message are extremely important, please do not miss it. I repeat—"

The two of us glanced at each other before checking our messages.

[A special test will begin soon. Please gather in the designated room at the designated time. Anyone who arrives later than ten minutes after the start time may be penalized. Please gather in Room 202 on the deck by 20:40 today. Because it takes about twenty minutes to reach the area, we ask that you please use the restrooms now, if necessary. Either silence your phone or turn it off and please wear your uniforms as you make your way over.]

A special test, huh? Would you look at that? It seems like we didn't have to wait long.