Classroom12.5

Classroom of the Elite 2nd year Volume 12.5

Chapter 6. Illusion

March 30th, a very important day.

A date with Kei, to watch the movie we've been looking forward to.

After confirming on my phone that a certain someone still hadn't replied to my message, I opened the chat with Kei and looked at our recent conversation.

[I've booked the seats for March 30th. Is 10 o'clock okay?]

[Of course! I'm so excited!]

Kei, completely unaware, had replied with those words, which still remain in the chat history. The movie itself had premiered earlier, on the 26th, but due to the residual effects of the end-of-term special exams, Hoshinomiya-sensei's situation, and my personal considerations, I decided to delay watching it.

On the TV, the long morning news program had just ended, and a cartoon character was playing rock-paper-scissors with the viewers.

I glanced at the screen just as the scene changed to an advertisement for the movie we were about to see.

This was the third time today this ad had aired—clearly, they'd invested heavily in promoting this film.

Kei wanted seats in the fifth row from the front, right in the middle. She doesn't like being too close or too far back and prefers the central position for watching movies.

Although it would have been more convenient to meet at the dormitory and head out together, Kei seemed to want to enjoy a little sense of ritual and suggested meeting in front of the theater instead. Is this what they call a romantic gesture?

Normally, today should have been a sweet, happy day between a couple.

However, after watching the movie today, I'm going to break up with Kei.

This was something I'd planned from the very beginning when we started dating a year ago.

In middle school, Kei suffered severe bullying, which had a profound impact on her life.

Unlike adults, students are confined to the small world known as school.

Technically speaking, anyone can escape at any time, but no one ever makes that choice.

Often, one must endure loneliness and despair while fighting to survive.

Kei's past was spent in a harsh environment. So, when she entered high school, she changed her approach to survival.

She prioritized survival instincts and thought about how to avoid repeating her past mistakes.

The survival method she ultimately mastered was to attach herself to the strong, living parasitically under their protection.

That's why she chose Yousuke Hirata, a member of the class's upper echelon, as her host.

For a parasite, the host's existence is crucial.

No matter how strong someone is, it's meaningless if they don't allow themselves to be used.

Yousuke, as a host, possessed an unshakable sense of responsibility and a personality driven by an almost compulsive desire to help others.

Such a person appearing was purely coincidental. But for Kei, he was the perfect candidate.

However, another trial eventually befell Kei.

Ryuen's class members—Manabe, Yabu, Yamashita, and Morofuji—discovered that Kei had been a victim of bullying in the past.

If left unchecked, Kei was at risk of falling back into darkness. But I stepped in to help her and successfully rescued her.

As a result, she took the risk of attaching herself to me.

No, to be precise, I deliberately guided her to attach herself to me.

I figured that if I could manipulate Kei, a member of the Horikita class's upper echelon, it would bring significant advantages to my school life.

However, as days passed in school, my perspective gradually began to change.

It wasn't just about using the other students; it became about fostering their growth.

This applied not only to Horikita and Yousuke but also to students from other classes, like Ryuen and Ichinose. Kei is just one among them.

If I could free Kei from the "I can't survive without relying on others" curse, she could grow significantly as a person.

It's clear that there's mutual benefit here. I provide Kei with opportunities to grow, and in exchange, I learn from her.

To understand the opposite sex, to understand love, to understand parting.

This long love textbook I've been reading is about to reach its final chapter.

Of course, for Kei, who avoids trouble by relying on others, this will be troubling.

Being forcibly severed from her host leaves no guarantee of survival.

The future can be predicted, but it is never certain.

Whether she decides to skip school, voluntarily drop out, or reject the world altogether, cruel endings abound, and each choice is intriguing.

Dead or Alive.

Today begins the battle for Kei's survival.

I prepared to head to the entrance but found myself unable to take the first step.

There was a foreign element mixed in with my thoughts.

"But—"

That's right. Even so, it's not wrong to think about it.

During the year-long process of reflecting on this relationship, I wondered if any unforeseen byproducts had emerged.

Would breaking up with Kei Karuizawa stir unknown emotions within me?

Would the time spent together as a couple bring about new changes in myself?

While I predicted my state of mind would remain unchanged, I held a sliver of expectation.

In the end, when facing her directly, perhaps I would change.

No, I hoped for change.

The battle between my thoughts and predictions about the future raged intensely.

Would I truly be able to break up with Kei?

Yes, I was certain I could, but hesitation lingered as I pondered new possibilities.

I was looking forward to it.

Looking forward to the possibility of unquantifiable emotions existing within me.

Even on this final day, even in this very moment, I continued to pray.

Taking the step that had halted earlier, I left my home, determined not to be late for our date.

1.

When a girlfriend greets her boyfriend with a smile, most guys would naturally feel a sense of ease.

"Good morning, Kiyotaka."

It was 10 a.m., right as the Keyaki Mall opened its doors.

Having arrived first, Kei waved at me.

She didn't seem any different—of course, she wouldn't.

The decision to break up was mine alone, something Kei couldn't possibly know.

Yet, she might have sensed subtle changes, aware of my quiet preparations to leave her.

Even so, there were no visible signs of unease in her demeanor.

At that moment, her cheerful smile from earlier shifted as she clasped her stomach, feigning a deflated posture.

"I'm so hungry! I haven't eaten anything since morning," she complained.

"You're still the same as ever. You should at least eat a little something," I replied.

"But it can't be helped! I need to save room for all the popcorn during the movie!"

Though we hadn't gone to the movies often, I had come to understand her preferences to some extent.

Half salty, half sweet—the largest tub of popcorn. Kei would always devour the sweet portion, leaving the salty half for me.

Whatever was left over, she'd bag up and bring home. Later, when we'd watch TV together, we'd munch on the leftovers, joking about how stale they had become.

This routine had turned into a tradition of sorts for us whenever we watched movies.

Standing side by side, we naturally held hands.

Though it was slightly chilly, the warmth quickly spread.

"Let's go," Kei said, taking the lead as her eagerness to watch the movie had her stepping ahead of me.

"By the way, has anyone blamed you about anything recently?" I asked.

"Huh? Why would they? Is there any reason for that?"

"Considering Maezono's expulsion was technically my fault, I wondered if you got caught up in the aftermath."

"Nope, not at all," Kei replied immediately, without hesitation. She wasn't deliberately covering for me—it seemed genuine.

Apparently, the incident hadn't affected her.

"But—"

"But?"

After a brief pause, Kei spoke again:

"It seems some students are starting to notice something unusual. Some even suspect that you intentionally orchestrated Maezono-san's expulsion as punishment for her betrayal."

There was no need for surprise. Kushida had picked up on this immediately as well.

It was only natural for some students to make that connection, though the details of their assumptions might vary.

"I see. And what do you think, Kei?"

"You mean whether I believe you deliberately got Maezono-san expelled?"

"Yes."

I asked out of genuine curiosity.

"Hmm... how should I put this? I think... you did it on purpose."

"And your evidence?"

"Because no matter who you face, Kiyotaka, you always win. So if you expelled Maezono-san during the exam, there must have been a purpose beyond just winning, right? Maybe it was to show the consequences of betraying the class. Expelling someone creates a strong impact, doesn't it? That way, your true capabilities and intentions could be obscured by the shock factor."

Kei concluded, summarizing the incident without dwelling on it excessively.

Like Kushida, she had more or less pieced it together.

Just as I was about to evaluate her response, Kei glanced at me, signaling me to wait.

"Well—there might be other reasons too. Although I think it mostly aligns... For example, maybe Ichinose-san was an even stronger opponent than I imagined, and you used Maezono-san to turn a 99% chance of victory into 100%. Or perhaps Kiyotaka's focus wasn't just on this instance but on future situations, so defeating the opponent at that time was a necessity or something like that."

Her initial answer had scored 70 points, but now she had raised it even higher.

"Did I get it right?"

I didn't think my expression had changed, but Kei, watching me intently, was confident she had nailed it.

We had arrived at the movie theater and were in the process of picking up our tickets.

"Have to hand it to you. That answer was closer to the core than anyone else in the class."

"Of course!! Ehehe~ You can praise me more if you want!"

Kei struck a confident pose with her hands on her hips, proudly showing off how she got the answer right.

"With that—well, I suppose my uneasiness has been dispelled."

"Uneasiness?"

"I always felt that there was something strange between Ichinose-san and Kiyotaka. I thought you might go easy on her during the match."

"Oh, that? Didn't I already tell you there was nothing to worry about?"

"Well, maybe I was wrong, so I won't press it. But your actions this time were definitely a bit obvious, Kiyotaka."

"Luckily, it didn't draw too much attention in the end, even if it was a bit of a bold move."

"Right. Sakayanagi's gamble in Class A's exam, where she risked an expulsion, was even more shocking. From the disbandment until today, it's all anyone talks about. The noise around Maezono's expulsion has completely been drowned out by that."

Thinking about it, the teachers who stepped in to assist during Hoshinomiya-sensei's incident were remarkable too.

Especially Mashima-sensei.

Having a class demoted and losing its leader to expulsion would understandably dampen anyone's spirits.

Yet Mashima-sensei remained composed as ever in front of the students, never showing his emotions.

"Kiyotaka, you were pretty ruthless towards Ichinose-san too."

Even though the conversation had shifted, Kei dragged it back on topic.

"Didn't you just say you wouldn't dwell on it? Why are you looking at me so suspiciously?"

"I'm not~ Noooope"

Kei squinted her eyes playfully and then smiled.

The fact that I put in the effort to crush Ichinose seemed to make her quite happy.

"Giving it your all for the sake of the class is only natural, isn't it?"

"Ugh, I can smell the lies. So strong! You're definitely hiding something, Kiyotaka."

Impressive.

Although Kei didn't know the specifics, she had picked up on the fact that something was going on behind the scenes.

After that, we lined up at the concession stand and bought some popcorn and two cups of oolong tea.

"I'm so excited for the movie!"

"Yeah, me too."

Chatting as we walked, we headed towards the ticket check and were about to hand our tickets to the staff when a student in front of us turned around.

They must have thought our voices sounded familiar.

"Ugh, it's Ayanokōji and Karuizawa."

Ibuki looked visibly annoyed and quickened her pace as if trying to escape.

But she soon realized we were headed to the same theater.

"Don't tell me we're watching the same movie? This is the worst..."

Come on... it's just the same movie. No need to call it the worst.

After muttering that, Ibuki hurriedly opened the door to the theater and disappeared inside.

"What's up with Ibuki-san?"

"Who knows? Don't worry about it too much."

After exchanging a glance, we walked into the theater and made our way to the fifth row in the center...

"Oh, come on! Why do you two keep haunting me?!"

It looked like Ibuki's seat was right next to Kei's.

In other words, the seating order was Ibuki, Kei, and me, sitting side by side.

"There's no way we could've known who'd be sitting next to us beforehand. Right, Kiyotaka?"

"Exactly."

Ibuki and I didn't get along well to begin with, and Kei got along with her even less.

After all, Kei had been through quite a bit because of Ibuki last year, so her reaction was understandable.

But so far, Kei hadn't brought up those events. She was probably choosing to forgive and let bygones be bygones.

It might have felt awkward not to say anything, so she spoke up:

"Ibuki-san, you like movies too, huh?"

"…No, not really. Just once in a while."

Ibuki let out a light snort and turned her head away.

"Just ignore her."

"I know, but... oh, want some popcorn?"

"No, thanks."

While avoiding looking this way, Ibuki's gaze also drifted away from the popcorn.

"By the way, why didn't Sakayanagi figure out the traitor's role?"

"Huh? What're you suddenly talking about? If you're curious, why don't you just ask that idiot sitting next to you?"

"That's why I'm asking you, Ibuki-san."

"…You trying to pick a fight with me?"

Still not looking our way, Ibuki angrily turned her head.

Watching her flustered reaction, Kei laughed.

There were likely lingering feelings she couldn't completely let go of. So, to avoid being obvious, Kei chose to interact with Ibuki naturally.

This stemmed from Kei's inner strength. And with time, room to resolve the issue had also emerged.

"How should I know…? You're the one who should know, right?"

Ibuki's gaze skipped past Kei and landed squarely on me.

"I don't know. Since it was an exam other classes couldn't interfere with, it's impossible to say."

"Is that so…?"

Since Sakayanagi hadn't publicized the matter of me sending a message through Hashimoto, only the fact that she failed to uncover the traitor's role remained.

I had also briefly checked on the situation with Morishita and the others. While Hashimoto had been the subject of some finger-pointing in the class, he still carried on as if nothing had happened.

It made sense that a student holding the traitor's role would act to avoid detection by their representative.

Therefore, the logic was clear: it was Sakayanagi's fault for failing to see through it.

Soon after, the screen began showing ads before the movie, and we quietly watched.

2.

When the movie ended, Kei and I stayed through the credits and then left the theater hand in hand.

The ads promoting the film had made bold claims about "changing the history of Japanese cinema," which were quite eye-catching.

While the movie didn't quite exceed expectations, it was still enjoyable.

Incidentally, the person sitting beside us had left midway through the credits.

She probably hated the idea of leaving the theater at the same time as us.

I had been thinking of asking her opinion about the movie… but oh well, no big deal.

Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the hand I was holding.

My girlfriend's captivating profile.

Her gaze was fixed intently on her phone screen.

Time quietly passed.

Step by step, we walked.

I suddenly started to think.

On a day off, arranging to meet, sitting side by side in a theater, and watching a movie together—this is a classic date scenario seen everywhere in the world.

It's a tried-and-true option, but also a bit puzzling.

For two hours, the majority of the time is spent staring at a screen with little conversation between the two people.

Occasionally, you glance at each other during an impressive scene, and now and then, you might exchange a quiet comment.

But for the most part, the focus is entirely on the movie.

From an objective perspective, couples barely interact during those two hours.

So why has watching a movie become such a staple of dating?

For new couples, or those on the verge of starting a relationship, watching a movie offers a way to avoid forced conversation. It provides a shared topic to discuss afterward.

But for couples who already know each other well, this isn't really necessary.

And yet, going to the movies remains a standard date activity.

It's kind of mysterious, isn't it?

Although I had all sorts of questions about movies and dates, the greatest joy still came from creating shared topics of conversation.

"This movie was interesting, sure, but the entry barrier felt a bit high. What did you think, Kiyotaka?"

"I feel the same about the entry barrier. But putting that aside, it was pretty good. No, I'd even say I enjoyed it."

The one who initiates the invitation also takes on the challenge of choosing a good movie.

It might not have been a perfect pick, but as long as it was engaging, it was enjoyable.

"Really? That's great to hear. By the way, what part did you find interesting? For me, it was—"

Having spent so much private time together in the confines of school life, even a small topic could spark a long conversation.

Even if there was no movie, we could always talk about what happened today or yesterday.

Or about last month, or even six months ago.

And perhaps... about the future.

Topics you might not discuss with family or friends could be shared between lovers.

To put it in a cheesy way, it's irreplaceable time.

This time together was by no means wasted.

Hand in hand, we made our way to the karaoke lounge inside the Keyaki Shopping Mall for our next stop.

This too was one of the typical date activities.

Inside the room, we squeezed together on the spacious sofa, playfully fighting over the microphone, pushing and shoving each other as we sang our favorite songs.

Sometimes we sang solos, sometimes duets.

This kind of date had already happened many times.

Without a doubt, it was a joyful time.

As lovers, we naturally hoped for these moments to last forever.

To keep going, endlessly.

This wasn't just my wishful thinking.

My partner must have felt the same.

Hoping it would never end.

That endlessly stretching, bright future.

Yet, before I knew it, the two of us had sunk into silence.

Even though we were close enough to feel each other's warmth, there was a growing sense of coldness.

This was the signal.

Both of us instinctively created some distance.

And then, the moment finally came.

The feelings I had kept hidden within myself began to drive a wedge between us.

I followed her gaze and let my thoughts race.

The farewell words that were about to be spoken.

This had been decided long ago.

I had always dreaded this day, but here it was at last.

The moment of destiny.

Faced with it, I couldn't help but start to sweat.

Then, I found myself overwhelmed by hesitation and disbelief.

I'd been through countless trials and challenges until now.

But this was the first time.

The first time my steadfast heart felt shaken.

It pounded furiously, thudding louder and louder.

As the moment approached, regret surged through me.

What is this?

I felt embarrassed by how calm I had been just moments earlier.

The farewell words I thought would come easily...

Turned out to be anything but simple.

Ah, so this is it.

I only realized it at the last possible moment.

My true feelings.

I didn't want to break up.

I didn't want to part ways with her, standing right in front of me.

Finally, I understood.

I like her.

This feeling, without any warning, rose up from the depths of my heart.

I hadn't noticed it until now—

The other person's charm.

Their face, their voice, their body—everything about them was endearing.

I hadn't truly paid attention to their lovable qualities.

I couldn't bring myself to speak—

"Let's break up."

I had intended to make it clear here—

But once again,

I tried to say it.

Looking into their eyes, I wanted to say, "Let's break up."

But I couldn't do it.

And then, I finally understood.

At some point, this person had become someone important to me.

This is what it means to be in love.

From the very beginning, breaking up was never something I could say.

Because deep down, I had known for a long time that you are the one I care about the most—

Ah, how wonderful...

"Let's break up."

Yes.

Our feelings were aligned.

As our thoughts intertwined, everything would work out.

Thinking it over again,

Everything that happened until yesterday, today, tomorrow, and even next year—

A separation would never come.

That kind of thing just wouldn't happen...

I... I always believed that.

But this thought was nothing more than a delusion of mine, Kei Karuizawa.

A wishful hope for things to turn out that way.

His merciless gaze was fixed on me.

With the movement of his lips, he slowly spoke: "Let's break up."

What was he thinking? I had no idea... no, I didn't want to know.

"—Is that the only way?"

I forced the words out of my throat.

I couldn't believe how calm I sounded.

The karaoke room was unusually quiet, and I could hear someone passionately singing an anime song in the room next door.

"Yes. I'm not looking for a discussion about whether this is right or wrong. Let's end everything we've had until now here and now."

With his usual expression, Kiyotaka spoke cruel words.

"I... I see…"

My throat felt parched.

I wanted to drink water.

But my body wouldn't move.

I had used up all my strength trying to act like it didn't bother me.

"You don't seem surprised."

When did I start loving him?

I couldn't remember the exact moment anymore.

"Somehow... I kind of knew. I could tell that Kiyotaka's heart had drifted away from me."

No.

Kiyotaka's heart had never been with me from the beginning.

This feeling of mine had always been one-sided.

I only realized it recently, but deep down, I must have known for a long time.

Kiyotaka had never liked me, not even once.

I had just been pretending not to notice.

Then why did he even go out with me?

I wouldn't ask such a thing.

Because I already understood what Kiyotaka was thinking.

Half of it was for my sake, and the other half was for his own.

But if it came down to choosing between the two, he would undoubtedly prioritize himself.

That much had been decided from the start.

When the clock struck midnight, no matter how unwilling, Cinderella's magic would still wear off.

And my relationship with Kiyotaka had always been destined to end.

So this was merely the moment it all came to pass.

Honestly, I wanted to lean on him and cry, shouting that I was willing to do anything.

For you, I would do anything.

Maybe that's what I would have said not too long ago.

But not now.

Not anymore.

Resisting would only betray Kiyotaka's expectations of me.

"No reason needed, right?"

As he spoke, Kiyotaka unexpectedly took out his phone.

My thoughts were still a tangled mess, but I smiled and shook my head as if it didn't matter.

"Yeah, it's fine."

I desperately tried to maintain my composure.

Kiyotaka responded with a simple "Got it" and put his phone away.

"Sorry I couldn't meet your expectations."

"It's fine. I... I also... I also felt like the atmosphere between us had become... a bit heavy."

I pretended to act tough.

But that wasn't the truth. My heart had always been with you.

Even today, I tried my best to act like I wasn't uneasy, to seem like I was enjoying myself.

Even now, I want to tell you it was all a lie. I want you to hold me tightly.

But there's a reason I'm putting on this act of strength.

"Maybe so."

Kiyotaka's indifferent reply sounded as if he were talking about someone else.

And I continued to respond to him with a smile.

"Between us... how should I put it... it's like our feelings have faded. Ah, but it's not that I dislike you, Kiyotaka. It's just that I think we'd get along better as friends."

You'd never imagine how much courage it took for me to say those words.

Even if all I got in return was your cold emotions, I had to keep pretending.

"Yeah, going back to being friends is probably the best and most natural option."

"Yeah, I thought so too. Up until now—"

I nodded in agreement.

No... no more... If this keeps going...

"—Thank you for everything up until now."

It was over.

I forced a smile, one even I didn't know the meaning of.

The last moments were coming to an end.

"If anyone asks why we broke up, just say you dumped me."

"Huh? Is that okay? That feels a bit awkward."

"It doesn't matter. Make up whatever reason you like. If anyone asks me, I'll just say I was the one dumped."

Don't say goodbye.

I want to be with you forever, forever...

To stay by your side from now on—

"Goodbye, Karuizawa."

Hearing him address me by my last name made me freeze for a moment.

From friends to lovers. From lovers back to friends.

Reversing things means undoing everything we once had.

Isn't that right?

Kiyotaka picked up the receipt and left the room.

He didn't look back.

He didn't hesitate.

He didn't stop.

The door he opened quickly closed again. I was left alone.

"Good…"

I swallowed hard.

Instinctively, I didn't want to say the words.

But—

I had to say them.

"Good... goodbye... Ayanokouji-kun."

I waved at the empty space where he had disappeared, smiling as I did so.

This was enough.

Because this was the outcome Kiyotaka wanted, right?

To help someone like me, who couldn't survive without relying on others, learn to live on my own.

I'm not anything special.

But there's something only I can do.

Like understanding the feelings no one else could see—yours, right?

That's how it is, right?

Hey—

Even as I prayed for a miracle, the closed door didn't reopen.

In the soundless room where I sat alone, I finally broke down.

Until the very end, I kept up appearances in front of you, didn't I?

I managed to show you my independent side, didn't I?—

Kiyotaka.

Please save me.