Classroom of the Elite: Alter - Self-Test

Well, I guess that was a fruitful meeting for Horikita.

I'm sure Katsuragi already beat us to the punch with that VIP-trading strategy. However, he knew that none of us would ally with him. After all, they're Class A— they're at the top. All of us aim to topple them off their throne.

That said, I think Horikita will be able to figure things out in the end.

8:00 PM arrived and it was finally time for our second group discussion.

"Woah... They really did sit in the far corner..." Ichinose smiled bitterly seeing all four Class A students get settled in the back.

"Katsuragi-kun, do you really not want to talk with us?" asked the troubled Kikyou.

"I've already concluded our stance, have I not? And besides, I'm sure there are enough people for you to talk with. That said, thank you for your concern, Kushida." Katsuragi gently replied.

"I think finding the VIP would be hard if you don't join in, though," said Hirata.

"I could also speak for every other group, Katsuragi-kun. Would you please reconsider your strategy? I believe participating in the discussion would help us clear the exam. I'm sure it'll benefit Class A, as well." Ichinose stood up and faced him head-on.

"No matter how many times you try to convince me, I won't change my mind." Her determination was admirable, but Katsuragi only shook his head in response.

Ichinose refrained from replying. She didn't want to give in, but there were no other options. Well, there is one, but none of us would suggest it apart from him...

"Kukuku, c'mon Ichinose. Why don't you tell him what's up instead of staying silent? I know you're thinking of that strategy. Even Katsuragi would be thoroughly crushed by it," snickered Ryuuen.

"Are you fond of such a strategy, considering that you're Class D?" asked Kanzaki.

"It's the easiest way to siege Class A, isn't it?" he replied with a shrug.

Ichinose sat down with a somber expression after acknowledging Ryuuen's proposal. Kikyou and Hirata did the same. I glanced at Horikita who was beside me. She stayed composed, calmly observing everyone inside the room.

"So, how about it? I'm sure you've arrived at the same conclusion the moment Katsuragi unveiled his strategy. To break his seemingly impenetrable defense, we just need to attack all at once." Ryuuen chuckled seeing our firm faces. "We'll work together. We'll share the names of our VIPs and from there, figure out the pattern to crush Class A."

After Katsuragi declared his plan, it was all too easy for all of us to appraise this option. I'm sure Horikita and Ichinose have already considered it after thinking things through. Katsuragi's plan made us feel cornered, but it also unlocked the possibility of all three classes teaming up against him.

However, looking at Katsuragi now, the man didn't even feel the least perturbed. Ryuuen's suggestion bypasses the school rules and ensures Class A's defeat, but Katsuragi's composure doesn't feel fake at all.

"Hmph. Let's entertain that idea for a bit, Ryuuen-kun. Surely, we'll be able to get some results by cooperating. However, if we're talking about benefits, I wouldn't be hasty in working with you in particular," said Horikita.

"The island exam has shown us how easy it was for students from different classes to betray each other. That goes double for someone like you." Kanzaki voiced his agreement.

"Well, we can make a pledge, you know? How about making 'expulsion' the punishment? Would that satisfy you? I'll even make the contract myself," he replied.

"It doesn't matter even if we sign a contract. Vague terms will only work against us, anyway. And because of the rules, it's practically impossible for us to know who betrayed whom. Let's say you betrayed us. If we don't have enough evidence to work with, we could only dream of expelling you for breaching the contract," argued Horikita.

"So it's a no-go for you two, huh? What about you guys? It seems like they disagree with the plan." Ryuuen continued smiling as he faced Ichinose and Hirata. "You've thought of this too, right? Both of you hold more influence on your respective classes. If you go along with my plan, I'm sure it would be good for your points."

"I'm sorry, Ryuuen-kun, but I agree with everything that Horikita-san said. That's why I stayed silent," replied Hirata.

"It's quite the plan, but both of them had good points. And besides, I don't think I can work with you. You've hurt the people of Class C with your actions. Even if it's possible for us to get more points, we can't be allies for that reason alone." Ichinose replied with a serious expression.

"Well, that's unfortunate," answered Ryuuen.

He didn't look dejected at all. Seems like he expected everything that came out of their exchanges.

This was why Katsuragi didn't feel shaken in the slightest. He simply figured out that a three-way-tag team between our classes wasn't realistic at this point in time.

At that moment, Ryuuen's eyes finally veered toward me.

"Hey, you're pissing me off, Ayanokouji. When will you stop acting like a damn mute?" Ryuuen's tone turned sharp. It would make anyone feel intimidated.

"I'm not. I just don't think that it's necessary for me to talk, so I'm not talking," I replied.

"Heh, what a joke. You're seriously leaving this to Suzune?" he scoffed.

"She's plenty capable. I'm sure we'll be fine," I answered with a shrug.

"Alright then. Suit yourself." Ryuuen then faced Horikita. "Did you hear that, Suzune? It seems like you're the one I'm up against— for real this time."

Ryuuen knew that I was the mastermind behind Class B's successes, so it was natural for him to conclude that Horikita was just acting during the negotiation.

"Well, I can't just leave everything to Ayanokouji-kun all the time. I may be lacking compared to him, but I won't make things easy for you, either," replied Horikita.

"Interesting..." Ryuuen glared at the two of us before asking a question that took us on a trip down memory lane. "That thing with the recordings— Was that planned by you, Ayanokouji?"

"What's the point of asking? It happened a month ago."

He must've been thinking about the things that led up to his defeat. With a piece of fabricated evidence, Ryuuen has been nothing but confused.

"Let's put the recordings aside for now... I'm just curious. How did you know that I was planning to crush Ike and Yamauchi?" he asked.

Since Kikyou was present, I don't wanna end up talking about the audio bugs. I suppose I can entertain Ryuuen for a bit. I'll drive his attention away from the recordings until the discussion ends.

Ichinose also turned to me. Given how she was the catalyst for my conclusion back in July, she should be able to infer a few things from our conversation.

"Your first mistake was to attack us again after failing your first attempt."

"Hahaha..." Ryuuen chuckled slowly until he let out a laugh. "Hahaha! So you knew about it, after all— that I tried to mess with Sudou. I was mulling over how you got to prepare, but I guess it all makes sense now."

If I was in Ryuuen's position, I, too, wouldn't have expected someone to figure anything out from a simple fistfight. It shouldn't have been suspicious given Ken's personality and reputation. Ryuuen's plan would only become clear once the hearing and trial happened, but everything would've been too late by then.

"I was just lucky. He's a close friend of mine, so of course, I'd hear about it."

"Quit the clown show, Ayanokouji. No ordinary person would ever conclude that I was attacking your class just because Ishizaki and the others almost fought with Sudou. The traces, evidence, motives— All of them had to be meticulously investigated. Only someone like you could come up with a deduction that leads to me."

I could play dumb as much as I can, but doing that just risks the loss of my control over the conversation.

"Sigh... I told you, I just got lucky. I wouldn't have been too vigilant about it if I didn't notice the large point decrease for Ichinose's class in June."

Any more and Hirata would figure out that Horikita and I lied back then. And worse, Kikyou would ask about the details of how we really negotiated with Ryuuen.

"Ahh, I remember that! You called me on a Sunday, right?" asked Ichinose.

"Mn," I nodded in response.

I stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

"Let's stop talking about pointless stuff and just continue discussing the exam." was what I wanted to say, but Ryuuen would immediately notice how forced that sounds. He would sense that I was trying to run away.

"Well, whatever. You've bested me on two separate occasions now. However, it's really thrilling when I'm up against someone who's just as if not more cunning than I am." Ryuuen leaned back, putting his hands behind his head while resting it. "I just can't get enough of it."

Fortunately, Ryuuen was under the impression that Kikyou and Hirata knew everything. That's why he wasn't uncorking the details. I can't let him figure out that Horikita and I were keeping things from the two of them— at least not yet.

"Now then, why don't we go back to this Zodiac test? I don't know about you guys, but I already know all of the VIPs from my class. It's only a matter of time before I figure out yours."

In stark contrast to Katsuragi, Ryuuen's strategy was to attack. And unlike Class B or C, he rules his class as a tyrant, so it is only a matter of time before the VIPs reveal themselves to him.

"There's no way for you to figure out the pattern. We don't know if it even exists," said Horikita.

"Trying to fool me is useless, Suzune. The school basically gave that information for free," he replied with a narrow grin. "And besides, I have my own methods. Whether it's by the use of wits... or by the use of force."

"You're crazy. Even if you can utilize force as a means to your end, it's useless for this special exam. We're heavily monitored, and violence is handled with harsh punishments. And besides, we ought to use our 'thinking' in this test. If you can't do that, then you've already lost, Ryuuen." Kanzaki heavily criticized his proposed methods.

"Maybe you're really just an idiot, Kanzaki. Since our 'thinking' is the one being tested, it's natural to 'think outside the box'. If you keep kissing the school's ass by worshipping the rules, then don't start crying when everything ends on Class C's loss." Ryuuen easily countered him with his own logic.

It seems like all we can do for now is agree to disagree. None of our discussions led to progress and Class A's lack of participation proved to be a huge problem.

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1st Day, 9:00 PM.

The second group discussion and the exam's first day finally came to an end. I should prepare an explanation for Hirata and Kikyou since Ryuuen mentioned the word "recordings" earlier. But unless they ask me, I'd rather not tell them anything.

That aside, I should start thinking about the moves I will make for this special exam.

Right now, all four classes were stuck in a deadlock. Thanks to Kikyou, my information sphere was much more massive than I could ever hope for. However, looking at the plans I have in store, none of them would work perfectly unless this deadlock was broken.

In order for that to happen, one unpredictable variable was needed— one that none of us would see coming— one that would turn everything into pure chaos.

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Earlier...

Tsube Hitomi and Kushida Kikyou were having a conversation while the others debated.

"Say, Kikyou-chan... They're kinda scaring me, especially Ryuuen-kun..." said Tsube.

"It's alright, Hitomi-chan. I doubt our classmates would lose in... uh, whatever they're arguing about." Kushida tried to cheer her up with a smile.

"Kanzaki-kun and Ichinose-san have already consulted me with all the possible and tangible approaches to find the VIP, but our ideas were all sorts of the same," she shrugged with a carefree smile.

"Ahh, to be honest, a lot of my friends already asked me about this stuff, but apart from the advice that Horikita-san and Hirata-kun already gave them, I couldn't really offer anything else."

"I can't really blame whoever the VIP is for hiding themselves. If I was chosen as the VIP, I would also try my best to act like I wasn't."

"Hmm~? Like how you're doing now?" teased Kushida.

"Ehehe, yeah, pretty much. We're friends, and our class leaders are allies with each other. But even then, we can't just do something on our own. Since our actions may affect the entire class, it's better to leave the super important stuff to the capable ones. For now, all I can do is stand by and be ready to support them."

"I totally feel you... Well, I'm sure Hitomi-chan's support will be valuable to Class C. You're a smart girl, after all."

"You're much more amazing, Kikyou-chan. You're cute and you have a lot of friends. I'm really just your plain, old honor student who can be sporty at times. If it wasn't for Honami-chan's efforts in bringing the class together, I don't think I would be friends with Yume-chan and the others."

"That's not true. And besides, we're pretty much the same. You're very social yourself, Hitomi-chan. You can talk with just about anyone!" Kushida said. "And besides, if it wasn't for Kiyotaka-kun, our class wouldn't even be in its current position."

"Yeah, Ayanokouji-kun is amazing, isn't he? Even though we're not classmates, I can't help but admire him." Tsube said candidly, but a small blush could be seen on her pink cheeks.

Kushida and a lot of Class C girls were already privy to Tsube's small crush on Ayanokouji, much to her denial. She could only sigh while thinking about how her best friend stole the hearts of many. His smarts, handsome face, and mysterious nature were a huge hit among the first-year girls.

"Anyway, I'm not as great as Honami-chan when it comes to strategy talks. And in this exam, we're almost required to lie. I may be book-smart and athletic, but if I was on the frontlines like Honami-chan, I doubt I could keep up." Tsube went back to the topic with a bitter smile.

"We're in the Dragon Group, after all. Most of us probably wouldn't last if we go up against the leaders of each class," replied Kushida.

"Well, it's not like I can't understand what they're talking about, but I need to keep acting like the 'normal' Kushida Kikyou, lest Ryuuen-kun catches wind of my identity as the VIP..." she thought.