A Simple Life in the Classroom of the Elite

After classes ended, Yosuke, the girls, and I planned to walk around the campus, hoping to find something fun to do.

Or at least, that was the plan—until I suddenly found myself the only guy left.

"Sucks that Yosuke had to ditch us." I sighed, thinking back on how he'd run off after receiving a sudden notification from the football club.

"Huh? You're on a first-name basis now?" Shinohara asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.

"Yeah. Why?" I replied, not understanding what the big deal was.

"No, it's nothing." She shook her head, but I caught the quick, suggestive glance she exchanged with Sato.

Sato, for some reason, mumbled something under her breath.

"You two are really something else. Stop with your weird fantasies, Satsuki." Karuizawa scoffed, crossing her arms.

"It's just a name, after all. Right, Ryuto-kun?" She added, her tone light.

"Uh, yeah…I guess." I blinked at her sudden choice of address.

"It's not just a name! It shows that two people are close!" Sato rebutted, her eyes narrowing as if this was some grand revelation.

"Well, you and Chiaki have been calling him that since the first day. Does that mean you were close?" Karuizawa countered with a raised eyebrow.

"I was just being friendly." Matsushita replied, keeping herself out of the growing discussion.

"Well, you can call me Maya from now on, Ryuto-kun!" Sato—Maya—declared, her voice a little embarrassed but firm.

'What's with this sudden escalation?'

"Me too! You can just call me Kei!" Karuizawa added, flashing me a grin.

I wasn't sure why this had suddenly turned into a competition, but I simply nodded along. It wasn't like I had an issue with it.

"Alright, alright, you guys should stop." Shinohara—who had started this entire thing—sighed before mumbling something about the 'genre suddenly changing.'

'Not one normal person in this school.'

Matsushita then quickly redirected the conversation. "Let's think about what to do instead of aimlessly wandering around."

"Right." Kei cleared her throat. "How about the café?"

"We always go there." Shinohara dismissed the idea immediately.

"The swimming pool?" Maya suggested.

"It's not that hot yet, and we don't have swimsuits either." Kei replied.

"What do you think, Ryuto?" Matsushita turned to me.

"To be honest, I don't know what you guys would like." I shrugged.

"Really?" Shinohara huffed. "It can't be that hard to come up with something. We don't have shopping on our minds all day, you know?"

"Well then, how about…a movie?"

"Nah."

And so, the discussion looped around in circles until, somehow, we ended up in the most predictable place—

The shopping center. Or, more specifically, a boutique.

I let out a quiet sigh, only to feel Shinohara glaring holes into me.

"I didn't force you to come in, you know?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

She huffed and turned her head away, clearly unwilling to admit how things had played out.

'This is what I get for tagging along, huh?'

…

I always thought girls liked shopping for themselves. But why did it feel like they enjoyed dressing others up even more?

I now stood outside the changing booth, wearing a formal suit—probably the hundredth outfit they'd made me try on.

"Hmm…It looks good." Matsushita commented, tapping her chin. "But it might be a little too formal for everyday wear."

Kei smirked. "I don't know, I think it suits him. Maybe we should get him a tie too?"

"I don't need a tie." I deadpanned, loosening the collar of the dress shirt.

"You're surprisingly obedient about this." Shinohara noted, crossing her arms.

"Not like I had a choice." I sighed, glancing at Maya, who was grinning mischievously. "The moment I said no, you guys ganged up on me."

"It's for your own good!" Maya chirped. "You should care more about fashion, Ryuto-kun!"

"I care enough." I muttered, though no one seemed to believe me.

Kei tilted her head. "Well, what do you think, Ryuto-kun?"

"I think I'd rather not spend money on clothes I don't need." I replied dryly.

"Ugh, you're no fun." She pouted. "But fine, one more outfit, then we'll stop."

"That's what you said four outfits ago." I pointed out.

She waved off my complaint. "Yeah, yeah, but this time I really mean it."

I wasn't convinced, but I still took the next set of clothes they handed me and went back into the changing booth.

Inside, I sighed, looking at myself in the mirror.

'How did I even end up here?'

Just as I was about to start changing, I heard whispering outside.

"Hey, do you think he looks better in casual or formal clothes?"

"Formal, definitely. It gives him a cool, mature vibe."

"But casual suits him too! It makes him look more approachable."

"I dunno…I kinda like the stylish bad-boy look."

'Maya and Kei seem way too invested in this.'

After a few more minutes of suffering, I finally walked out in the last outfit—a simple but stylish jacket over a fitted T-shirt and jeans.

Kei's eyes lit up. "Now that looks good."

"See? This wasn't a waste of time." Maya added, satisfied.

"But this is how I've been dressing till now." I spread my arms in confusion.

My words fell on deaf ears. After a few more minutes of playing dress-up, the girls finally got bored and decided to head out.

Kei stretched her arms above her head as we walked. "Shopping without the buying part is really awful."

"You can say that twice." Maya nodded along.

I chuckled. "I'm sure it's not that bad."

"Yep. So don't worry, Ryuto-kun. I'm not shallow enough to waste points on stuff like this!" Kei declared, stepping a little closer.

"I never said you were…" I replied, slightly taken aback.

'Didn't she act like this with Yosuke too?'

"To be honest, I'm feeling a little exhausted. Should we head back?" Matsushita asked.

"There's still time before we have to go back." Shinohara pointed out.

"How about the café? We can just relax for a bit." I suggested.

A round of agreement followed, and just like that, we found ourselves settling into a familiar routine—this time, at a café.

…

As we stepped inside one of the most popular cafés on campus, I glanced around, taking in the cozy atmosphere.

"You haven't been here before?" Shinohara asked curiously.

"Nah. Mostly girls and couples come here. I would've felt out of place." I shrugged casually.

"Well, I can come with you whenever you want, Ryuto-kun!" Maya suddenly exclaimed, her voice bright with enthusiasm.

"Didn't you hear? Couples come here. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be misunderstood." Kei smiled sweetly at her.

The two locked eyes for a moment.

'This is really starting to weird me out.'

"Hey, isn't that Koenji?" Matsushita suddenly cut in, steering the conversation away.

'Is she helping me on purpose?' I couldn't help but wonder, noting that this wasn't the first time it happened.

Even so, true to her words, the blond boy stood at one of the tables, his legs casually propped over it, surrounded—unsurprisingly, by a group of admiring girls.

As we glanced in his direction, it felt as if he sensed our stares. His gaze instantly locked onto us.

"Hey, Rokusuke!" I waved before realizing my mistake. I hadn't called him that even once since we met once again at school.

"Huh, first name basis again?" Shinohara's eyes lit up as Maya's world seemed to come crashing down.

"No way…" She muttered with a vacant expression.

Kei huffed, unimpressed, while Matsushita maintained a calm smile—though it carried a hint of awkwardness.

And then, it finally clicked.

"It's not like that!" My brow twitched in annoyance.

"I do not think I've called for your presence, Simplici-ryu." Rokusuke intervened, looking clearly annoyed after being called and then ignored.

"I just wanted to say hi." I chuckled, unfazed.

Some of the girls around him finally turned to glance at me curiously.

"Is he a friend of yours, Koenji-kun?" One asked.

"Merely an acquaintance. One I haven't granted the privilege of familiarity." Rokusuke scoffed.

"I mean, you did allow it outside of formal events."

"Huh? You two already knew each other before school?" Kei looked at us dubiously.

"That's right. We don't seem that friendly because he doesn't want me to ruin his perfect, unapproachable image." I nodded, amused by the slight irritation on Rokusuke's face.

Some of the girls giggled.

But before I could enjoy the moment, Rokusuke's smirk widened.

"I admit it, but I suppose only someone of similar status could be considered close to me." He exclaimed with a smirk.

"Eh? What does that mean?" Matsushita asked.

"He's only joking around!" I quickly stepped forward, sweating slightly.

Rokusuke scoffed, his smirk deepening. "Don't play a game you can't win, Simplici-ryu."

I sighed. "Sorry, sorry."

Even though I knew my family background would eventually be exposed, I had hoped for a little more time before the inevitable headaches began.

"I understood none of that, but I guess you guys really are friends." Shinohara mused, sounding a little disappointed.

"I'm just glad it was a misunderstanding." Maya sighed in relief.

"Ugh, I think we stood around here long enough." Kei suddenly grabbed my arm. "Let's go find a free table!"

I could feel Rokusuke's gaze still on me.

"So many girls around you, Simplici-ryu. It seems you're finally stepping into your role as–"

"Kei's right. Let's go."

…

3rd POV.

Inside a Private Room of the Café.

Arisu stood on one of the couches, delicately sipping from her cup of tea. Her cane and phone rested neatly on the table before her, untouched.

The room was empty except for Masumi, who stood guard near the door, her reluctance evident even though she obeyed Arisu's orders.

A few moments later, the door opened, and a slim, blue-haired boy hesitantly stepped inside. His movements were tense, his eyes darting toward Arisu before quickly shifting away.

A boy that Ryuto would recognize instantly—after all, the guy had fallen for their trick just days ago, inadvertently revealing the existence of class points.

Arisu observed him for a brief moment before allowing a small, pleasant smile to form on her lips.

"Kaito-san, good to see you." She greeted him lightly as he settled into the seat across from her.

"Good to see you too, Sakayanagi-san." Kaito's voice carried an uneasy mix of embarrassment and fear—something that did not escape Arisu's notice.

"Why did you invite me here?" He asked, curiosity in his tone.

Arisu tilted her head slightly, her eyes unwavering as they met his.

"Why? Can't I be curious about how my classmate is doing?"

"Of course you can! I didn't mean to sound rude or anything!" Kaito fidgeted, his hands clasping together as if trying to steady himself.

Arisu remained silent, her gaze lingering on him as she analyzed his demeanor. Before the incident, he had been a reserved but functional member of the class. Now, however, his posture, his hesitant speech, and the way he avoided her eyes spoke volumes.

She took another sip of her tea, then set the cup down gently.

"I'm glad you confided in me back then. Knowing that I'm trusted means a great deal." She said softly. "But even after spending the last few days with me, Masumi, and the others, it seems like something is still weighing on your mind."

For the past few days, she and her followers had made an effort to include Kaito, giving him a sense of security in their group. Yet, despite their efforts, he had continued to hold something back.

That was why she had decided on a more direct approach.

"T-That's…no, why would you think that?" Kaito shook his head hurriedly, his reaction too quick.

Arisu's expression remained gentle, her voice warm and reassuring.

"You don't need to hide anything from me."

Her tone was carefully measured, continuing with the image she had built in the class. A benevolent leader—concerned, understanding.

Kaito hesitated, and in that brief moment, Arisu saw the cracks in his defenses. It was all she needed.

"Tell me…you're being threatened, aren't you?"

Kaito's eyes widened in shock. "How…no, I–" His words stumbled over themselves, his reaction betraying him.

Arisu let out a quiet breath, her gaze softening.

"It's alright. I'm not trying to force you. But I can't help but worry."

Kaito's face flushed slightly. He stayed silent for a long moment, then exhaled shakily.

"You're right…" His voice was barely above a whisper, a trace of fear hidden within. "After I left the cafeteria, someone approached me… they questioned me about what I talked about with that guy from Class D."

Arisu nodded slightly. "I see. And that's when you found out Ayanokoji-san was actually a first-year?"

Kaito clenched his fists at the mention of the name. "If I didn't listen…if I refused, the class would find out what I did. My reputation would be destroyed—I'd be at the bottom!" His voice grew desperate, his frustration boiling over as he nearly struck the table.

Arisu remained composed, her mind already piecing together the situation.

'Given the potential consequences of his actions, it's only natural that he's afraid of the class's reaction.'

His reputation? That was the least of her concerns. But this blunder of his…it might prove useful someday.

She filed that thought away for later.

"I understand." She said smoothly. "And what exactly did they want from you?"

Kaito's expression darkened, his gaze shifting away. "I…I can't say."

Arisu merely smiled. "I get it. This isn't easy for you, and I won't push."

She leaned forward slightly, her voice gentle but firm. "But even so, I hope you'll continue to trust me. Otherwise, I won't be able to help you."

Kaito looked back at her, his eyes a mixture of surprise, gratitude and guilt.

"Thank you, Sakayanagi-san." His voice was softer now, less guarded.

Arisu's smile widened just a fraction. "Just call me Arisu. We've spent the last few days together, don't you think we can be considered friends now?"

Kaito blinked, then nodded quickly. "Yeah! Then…you can call me Matsumoto!"

A hint of excitement entered his voice, though his enthusiasm was soon overshadowed by something else—hesitation.

"Uhm…since we're friends now, can I ask you something?" His fingers twitched slightly against his lap. "Did you find anything about that guy? Did he really act alone?"

His voice was laced with anger, his hands trembling just thinking about Ayanokoji.

Arisu gave a thoughtful hum. "From what I found, aside from the girl you mentioned speaking with him, no one else was involved in the scheme."

She tilted her head slightly, watching him closely. "But since you weren't able to take a good look at her…that only leaves one person, doesn't it?"

Kaito's jaw tensed, anger flickering in his eyes. "Yeah…" He muttered darkly.

Arisu's smile remained. "Regardless, I'm glad I could be of help."

Kaito exhaled sharply. "Thank you for looking into it, Arisu." He stood up from his seat, his expression more determined than before.

Arisu gave him an easy smile. "No problem. That's what friends are for, after all."

"Right! If you ever need anything, just ask! It's the least I can do!" He waved at her before quickly heading for the door.

"I'll keep it in mind." Arisu waved back, her voice light, pleasant.

The door clicked shut behind him.

And just like that, the smile vanished from her face.

She picked up her phone, stopping an ongoing recording—a precaution in case Kaito said or did anything worth keeping.

"He's still not responding…" Arisu muttered with a frown.

Despite everything that had just transpired, she felt no pressure, no concern. Instead, her attention flicked back to her phone, checking if her brother had finally answered the message she sent nearly an hour ago.

"Just what is he doing?" She murmured, only to be interrupted as Masumi stepped into the room.

"Everything's done?" Masumi asked casually.

"Yes. I may not have gotten much out of him, but the details are already clear to me." Arisu put her phone down, her lips curling into a smile. "Though, I don't recall giving you permission to enter."

Masumi scoffed, arms crossed as she dropped onto the couch. "Like I need permission."

Her irritation softened as her thoughts drifted back to the cafe—more specifically, to who she had seen there.

'Go ahead, keep ordering me around. Meanwhile, your brother's getting stolen right under your nose!'

Suppressing a smile, she hid her amusement behind a neutral expression.

Arisu's gaze sharpened. "Something on your mind?"

"Huh? No." Masumi quickly shook her head. "So, what did you find out?" She asked, steering the conversation away.

Arisu studied her for a moment before sighing.

"As expected, Kaito approached us with ulterior motives."

Masumi scoffed. "I mean, obviously. Who'd willingly tell you something so important?"

Arisu tilted her head, feigning innocence. "I don't understand what you mean, Masumi-san. I'm loved by everyone in the class."

Masumi rolled her eyes. "Whatever. So, who's behind him?"

"That, I have yet to determine." Arisu chuckled. "Someone wanted Kaito to approach me, but the question is—what did they hope to gain?"

Masumi frowned. "Maybe he was supposed to spy on us?"

Arisu smirked. "And what, pray tell, would he even extract?" She paused, then added, "Besides evidence of your kleptomania, of course."

Masumi stiffened. "This isn't about me!" She snapped, glaring. "Just say who you think it is!"

Arisu leaned forward, resting her chin against her hand. "If you truly want to know, the list isn't as long as you might think."

"Meaning?"

"Considering Kaito actually revealed the details of his conversation with Ayanokoji-san, it means the one pulling his strings is someone he trusts—to some degree, at least. That makes it highly likely they're another Class A student."

Masumi furrowed her brows. "Couldn't he have lied? What if it's your brother? Or that guy you mentioned?"

Arisu waved a hand dismissively. "My brother? As much as I'd love for this to be his handiwork, he wouldn't use such methods."

"And Ayanokoji?" She pressed.

"He's certainly capable of this kind of manipulation." Arisu admitted. "But Kaito's anger toward him is different from the fear he has of this unknown figure. After all, his entire school life is in their hands. Unless Kaito is a very skilled actor, that rules Ayanokoji out."

Masumi sighed. "Fine. So it's someone from our class."

"Most likely."

"What about Katsuragi?"

Arisu gave her a look. "Do you really think he's the type to resort to threats?"

Masumi groaned. "Okay, yeah. So who else, then? Most people in class already see you favorably. Why would any of them go against you?"

Arisu's smirk widened. "Not necessarily."

Masumi blinked. "What?"

"I did say I'm loved by everyone, but Kaito wasn't sent as a spy." Arisu twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "If I had to describe his role better…I'd call him bait."

Masumi narrowed her eyes. "Bait?"

"The person behind him must be someone relatively average in the class—someone I wouldn't immediately suspect." Arisu's smile grew. "Kaito was a message. A deliberate 'I exist' from our unknown friend."

Masumi leaned back. "So they want you to know about them?"

Arisu hummed in agreement. "But why?"

"Ugh. So we still don't know anything useful." Masumi grumbled.

"Oh, we know one thing." Arisu turned to her with a calm expression. "You'll be following Kaito from now on."

Masumi stiffened. "What!? No way!"

"I doubt it will yield much, but you never know. Maybe we'll uncover who's controlling him."

"Ghh…fine." Masumi grumbled, slumping back in her seat.

"Good." Arisu stood up. "We've wasted enough time here. Now, I have something far more pressing to deal with—like figuring out why my dear brother hasn't even bothered responding to my messages."

She smiled, but the slight twitch in her brow betrayed her irritation.

Masumi panicked. 'If she leaves now, she'll see him.'

"W-wait a second!" She blurted out.

Arisu glanced back. "What?"

"I…I haven't eaten all day. I wanted to order something."

Arisu raised an eyebrow. "And what does that have to do with me?"

Masumi huffed, arms crossed. "I don't like eating alone."

Silence.

Then—

Arisu burst into laughter. "I didn't expect you to have such a cute side, Masumi." She gracefully sat back down. "Alright, I'll humor you for a little while."

Masumi exhaled in relief, quickly hiding the grin forming on her lips.

That was close.

Had Arisu walked out, she would've spotted her brother, surrounded by several girls from his class.

'That would've been fun to see…but I'd rather deliver the final blow when she least expects it.'

Masumi chuckled internally.

Nothing wounds a bro-con more than seeing their brother getting stolen away.

"What are you thinking about?" Arisu's eyes narrowed. "Aren't you going to order?"

Masumi quickly straightened. "Ah, right."

As she browsed the menu, her thoughts lingered elsewhere.

'I don't care what you do, Ryuto—just hurry up and get a girlfriend already!'

....

Points amount: 106.500