Classroom of the elite: The Four elites

Ayanokōji's POV:

That night passed, and at some point, I had drifted off to sleep. Early in the morning, however, I felt something warm and stiff pressing against my cheek. The sensation made my skin crawl. I instinctively tried to stretch my neck and move my face away, but I couldn't, something was holding me firmly in place.

A wave of discomfort washed over me as I stirred awake. The moment my eyes adjusted, I found myself in a rather disturbing predicament. Sudō was sound asleep, both of his legs sprawled across my face.

"Suzune... I can't hold back anymore..." he mumbled in his sleep.

I broke free from his iron grip without hesitation. The sudden movement must have woken him up, because he groggily grumbled, "Gah, shut up... The hell? Ayanokōji, don't wake me up like that."

This guy had nearly forced an unforgettable trauma onto me. He had definitely mistaken me for someone else. Still, causing a scene in the middle of a tent full of guys was hardly the best course of action.

A quick glance at my wristwatch showed it wasn't even six in the morning yet. But after that experience, I knew there was no going back to sleep. I needed to get to get some fresh air. So without a word, I slipped out of the tent.

The moment I stepped outside, I noticed that the scenery had changed drastically from the day before.

"So... am I lucky or unlucky?" I said quietly to myself.

It was the sixth day of the special test, and trouble seemed inevitable. The sky overhead was layered with thick, gray clouds, and judging by the puddles and mud patches scattered across the ground, it must have rained last night. The air carried a heavy dampness, as if a storm was brewing.

It wouldn't just be a light drizzle either, if those clouds were any indication, we were looking at heavy rain and strong winds by the afternoon. In the worst-case scenario, we'd have to relocate entirely. That meant reinforcing tent stakes, moving luggage, and preparing for whatever else the weather might throw at us.

As more students started to wake up and began noticing the sky, murmurs of concern rippled through the group. Anxiety built up, but we had little choice but to power through. By combining the food we'd gathered with our emergency rations, we managed to stretch our supplies for another day. There had been complaints about our frugal lifestyle throughout the week, but now that we were so close to the end, everyone seemed determined to endure.

"I'm glad we haven't had any more incidents," Hirata said, standing nearby.

He was right. If something like the underwear theft had happened again, things would have spiraled into an even worse disaster. The guys who had taken turns standing guard outside the boys' tent were now fast asleep, having done their part to prevent another incident. It was a necessary measure, one that not only protected the girls but also kept me, the apparent villain in their eyes, in check.

Hirata, ever the leader, gathered the students and gave a few final words of encouragement before assigning teams for one last food search. If we could gather enough today, we wouldn't have to waste any more points. This was our last critical moment.

"Would it be better if we went too?" Ike asked, already seated by the riverbank with a fishing rod in hand.

"No," Hirata replied. "Ike-kun, Sudō-kun, I want you two to continue fishing. We don't have time to teach anyone else how to do it."

Once the plan was settled, Hirata had volunteers raise their hands to form groups. Naturally, I stayed in the background, blending into the crowd. The moment everyone was preoccupied, I slipped away unnoticed.

My destination? Class B's campsite.

I had no intention of speaking to anyone, nor did I plan to interfere. I was simply there to observe. Our temporary alliance was fragile, and I needed to assess whether it was nearing its end.

It took some time to find their base, but once I did, I saw that they were already preparing for the incoming weather. From my position behind a tree, I quietly watched as they moved anything valuable under shelter.

A quick headcount told me that some of their members were missing, likely out searching for food. There wasn't anything particularly noteworthy about their setup. From a distance, I could see Ichinose engaged in conversation with another student, but they were too far away for me to catch their words.

I remained hidden for nearly an hour, watching as things unfolded. Yet nothing stood out. With a quiet sigh, I pushed myself away from the tree and turned to leave.

Just as I stepped into a spacious part, a voice called out from the nearest tree to my left.

"Oh, Ayanokōji. What a coincidence."

It hadn't been long since I'd last seen him, it was Ryūzaki.

"A coincidence?" I repeated, my tone flat. "That seems unlikely."

He shrugged, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "I figured you'd want to analyze Class B for yourself sooner or later. I came to watch too, but it looks like I missed the spectacle, huh?"

I nodded slightly, my voice as neutral as ever. "I think I know who planted the evidence on me."

Ryūzaki raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Oh? Do tell."

I closed my eyes briefly before reopening them. Then, with absolute certainty, I spoke.

"It was you, wasn't it?"

Ryūzaki's eyes widened slightly, not out off shock, but out off amusement.

"Hmm... I suppose I made it a little too obvious," he mused.

I gave a small nod before continuing. "If it had been a student from Class B, they would've wanted to see it unfold firsthand I'm sure of it. Neither Kanzaki nor Ichinose seemed suspicious when they visited. That left only you or possibly Lelouch, who might've gathered information from them. But as I observed, something told me it wasn't him."

Ryūzaki listened intently before giving a simple, "I see."

I met his gaze before pressing on. "Not to mention, I had a feeling I was being watched near the end. I can only assume your plan was to lure me into forming an alliance under the guise of investigating Class B together. But when you noticed the weather shift, you realized we'd be trapped, forced into Class B's camp. That's why you held back before approaching me as you knew Ichinose wouldn't turn us away."

I stopped, watching for his reaction. He nodded, as if acknowledging I was right.

"So, I can only assume you wanted to test my reasoning ability... or perhaps the methods I'd use to figure out who it was."

Ryūzaki smirked slightly, raising his thumb to his lips. "Impressive. And you walked away because you knew that if I really wanted to confront you, I would've had to reveal myself much sooner than I intended."

His interest was clear, but he wasn't done yet. "I already have a general idea of how your mind works. But I'd like to put my theories to the test while I still have the chance."

I listened quietly before speaking again. "The way Horikita described your interrogations had also caught my attention. It seemed like you were trying to amplify emotions, making my classmates more sensitive to their own reactions."

A knowing smirk formed behind his thumb. "You're correct. I wanted to see how you handle pressure. I know you have something up your sleeve after the stunt what involved horikita's card being leaked."

I cut in. "And what makes you so sure?"

Ryūzaki lowered his hand and looked up at the sky for a moment. "Because if you didn't... I'd be disappointed in you."

I studied him for a few seconds before responding. "So, your plan is to pressure me into making a mistake? To stop me?"

He seemed to consider it before shaking his head slightly. "Not entirely. If my goal was to uncover your plan, my approach would've been different. But Class A is doomed in this exam, Katsuragi will see to that. I'm sure of it. So if I can't win, I might as well do something else instead. And that something is planting scenarios."

I followed his train of thought. If he was telling the truth, he wasn't trying to expose any potential plans I had, but he was trying to force me to adapt my strategies by changing the conditions around me. But something about that explanation didn't sit right. I had already tested that theory today and had slipped away unnoticed. This was the first time I genuinely felt he was hiding something more and wasn't telling the complete truth. It truth this wouldn't affect my plans for this exam, but it would become a major problem after this exam. I was more than certain of that.

"May I ask," I said, "where exactly did you learn about the underwear situation?"

He responded instantly. "Let's just say I made a deal with someone from Class C."

If that was true, the most likely candidate was someone opposing Ryūen or someone who simply disliked him. Logically, Light seemed the best bet, considering they had arrived together though I couldn't be sure how long he actually spent at that camp.

Ryūzaki suddenly looked up. "It's about to start."

A single droplet of rain landed on my skin. It was faint, but it was clear the storm was beginning to near its peak.

"I suppose we should head back to our camps," I said.

He nodded in agreement.

As we walked, our paths aligned for a short while.

"So, how did you find your interrogation alongside Horikita?" I asked. The account I had from her was minimal. She had given him some praise, but also made it clear she disliked certain aspects of his approach.

Ryūzaki looked straight ahead for a moment before glancing back at me. "She was alright, I suppose. I can see why you've grown to like her."

He turned away again before speaking once more. "You want to live a normal life, don't you?"

I nodded. "Yes."

He stole another glance at me before continuing. "But you also want to win."

Once again, I nodded. "Yes."

"That's a problem," he said. "Because in this scenario, those two things are incompatible."

How so?" I responded

Ryūzaki paused, his gaze sharp with calculation before he spoke. "After analyzing every year from One to Three, across all classes from A to D, I've come to a conclusion. Our year is very much different from the ones before us."

He paused, ensuring I was following along, before continuing. "Unlike previous years, every class in our year has a prodigy. Someone whose intellect should be unmatched if not for the fact that each prodigy has a rival standing in their way."

I considered his words. "I see," I murmured before adding, "I can make an educated guess, but why don't you tell me?"

"For Class D, it's you. For Class A, it's me," he said bluntly. "The other two you can figure those out yourself."

He paused for a moment as he continued. "But that's not all. Every class in our year also has something else, something that I like to call a wildcard, Someone who isn't as brilliant as the prodigy, but who surpasses the rest of their class in an unpredictable way."

I processed his theory. If I had to guess, the wildcard for Class A was Arisu, and for Class D it was Koenji.

"So, by telling me this," I said, "you're implying that the school deliberately separated us into groups they deemed the most capable... or perhaps the most entertaining?"

Ryūzaki nodded this time. "I believe so. It's either that, or something very similar. There's a strong argument that all of us could've been placed in the same class but we weren't. That alone makes it suspicious enough for me to be curious about."

He had a point. But knowing Ryūzaki, there had to be a deeper reason for him sharing this information with me.

As if anticipating my next question, he continued. "What I'm telling you is that you can't do both. You'll have to choose, between living a normal life and winning. You might think you can stay in the shadows forever, but if you do, a loss is coming sooner than you expect."

His eyes sharpened. "And the person who forces you to choose... won't be me."

I held his gaze, my expression unreadable, but something stirred within me. "A loss, you say? No matter the opponent, I can assure you, that won't happen."

Ryūzaki studied me carefully, unconvinced. "I see. Words alone won't change your mind. But when that inevitable loss comes, when it's something even you can't control you'll understand that you will have to make a choice and sacrifice the other."

He didn't speak again after that. Neither did I. The light drizzle had picked up, signaling the arrival of the storm. It wasn't much longer before Ryūzaki wordlessly broke off from our path, disappearing into the rain.

As I made my way back to the campsite, a faint noise caught my attention. Instinctively, I slipped behind a tree, scanning my surroundings. A moment later, Ibuki emerged into view.

Something was off. Her movements were sluggish, erratic. Then, without warning, she lurched forward and vomited onto the ground. My eyes trailed downward, noticing the damp patches in the dirt, this wasn't the first time. She had thrown up multiple times by now.

Was she sick? Possibly from Horikita? No, that didn't make sense. Horikita had been ill herself yes, but she hadn't been sick like this.

I decided against intervening. Whatever the cause, Ibuki wasn't my concern at the moment. Instead, I turned toward the camp, which was only a few minutes away.

The moment I stepped into the clearing, Horikita's eyes met mine. Her pupils trembled, a flicker of something unusual in her gaze, fear.

She approached me with slow, deliberate steps, her body swaying slightly. Despite her weakened state, there was still a sharpness to her presence.

"Ayanokōji-kun... could you come here for a moment?"

"What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Follow me. We can't talk here."

Without another word, she turned toward the forest.

"Are you looking for more food?" I asked, trailing behind her.

She didn't answer. Not until we were far enough that the camp was no longer visible. Finally, she turned to face me. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, as if reconsidering whether she should say it at all.

"This happened because of my carelessness," she muttered. "I was reckless. I made a mistake."

"A mistake?"

"It was stolen."

"...What was stolen?"

Horikita exhaled sharply, looking more disgusted with herself than I had ever seen before.

"The key card. A complete blunder on my part."

The key card. The one that held our entire class's fate in this exam.

"I wanted to talk to you because I trust you," she continued. "I absolutely couldn't consult with someone who might be the culprit. This is humiliating, I want to die."

It wasn't often that Horikita let her emotions slip, but right now, she was undeniably shaken.

"It's not your fault," I said. "The one who stole it is to blame."

"That doesn't change my responsibility. Being sick is not an excuse."

She hung her head, visibly frustrated with herself. If word got out, this would be a devastating blow to our class.

"I wasn't supposed to let go of the card. Not even for a second. And yet—"

"Don't blame yourself," I cut in. "I doubt this will be much consolation, but I think you did your absolute best."

She stared at me for a moment before finally speaking.

"I think Ibuki is the one who stole it."

I nodded. It made the most logical sense.

Before we could continue, rain began to fall it was somewhat light at first, then heavier, the droplets pattering against my skin. As we returned to camp, the place was in chaos. Everyone rushed around, collecting their belongings before the rain ruined them.

I approached Hirata, but he didn't even acknowledge me.

"Why... why is this happening?" he murmured, his voice eerily low. "Just like back then..."

I wasn't sure what he meant, but it was clear this wasn't the Hirata I was used to.

I didn't have time to dwell on it. Neither Ibuki nor Horikita were in the camp anymore. I could only assume horikita has noticed and is now chasing after her.

I moved quickly, slipping through the forest. It didn't take long to find them. Instinctively, I hid, watching from a distance. The fight had already begun.

Ibuki's foot lashed out in a high kick aimed at Horikita's head. Horikita barely leaned back in time to avoid the strike.

Ibuki followed up instantly. She feinted with her right hand, then twisted her hips to send another powerful kick toward Horikita's face. This time, Horikita dodged, her sharp reflexes keeping her just out of range. Though both didn't seem fully there the fight itself was still at a decent level.

Ibuki didn't let up. She rushed forward, launching a series of rapid punches. Horikita deflected them with precise movements, countering with a swift right hand of her own. Her punch connected, but the impact was weak, her illness was affecting her strength.

Ibuki staggered back, hitting a tree, but she didn't stop moving. As Horikita closed in, Ibuki slipped past a jab and retaliated with a spinning kick to the ribs. The impact made Horikita wince.

Even in her weakened state, Horikita refused to go down.

She adjusted her stance, blocking Ibuki's next punch before stepping in. She grabbed Ibuki's arm, pulling her forward to disrupt her balance, then swept her legs out from under her.

Ibuki hit the ground hard.

Horikita exhaled heavily, standing over her fallen opponent.

"Finally," she said between ragged breaths. "Now... give me the card."

Ibuki struggled to stay conscious. Her eyelids flickered, her body barely responsive.

Then, Horikita's entire body swayed. A second later, she collapsed.

"That's enough."

Ibuki's dazed eyes barely registered my presence as I had just struck the side of horikita's neck with precise force. She went limp, unconscious.

The rain was coming down even heavier than before.

I crouched, lifting Horikita into my arms. She was completely out cold.

Ibuki lay basically motionless beneath the tree, her breathing unsteady. Given her current state, it was unlikely she'd remember much of the fight when she fully woke up. I shifted my grip on Horikita and turned back toward the camp, it seemed as if Ryuzaki was going to be ultimately wrong.

Ibuki pov:

My eye's slowly fluttered open, and for a moment, everything felt hazy. My body was heavy, my limbs sluggish as I tried to piece together what had happened. The last thing I remembered was my legs giving out during the fight with Horikita. After that, everything was a blur.

I forced myself upright, a dull ache spreading through my body. The exhaustion from the fight, combined with whatever sickness had taken hold of me, left me feeling weaker than I'd ever admit. My fingers instinctively reached into my pocket, pulling out the Class D card. Proof that, despite everything, I had accomplished my initial goal.

I grabbed the walkie-talkie Ryuuen had given me and pressed the button.

"Hello?" There was no answer but I carried on "Everything is sorted. I'm on my way," I said, my voice quieter than I expected.

Complete Silence. No response. Tch. Annoying.

Shoving the device back into my bag, I pulled out the crumpled sheet of paper that Light had slipped to me before he tried to convince me to leave the island with him. A change of plans apparently, Ryuuen wanted to switch locations for the handoff. Said the original meeting spot was too risky or something like that.

I exhaled sharply. The new location was basically on the opposite side of the island from where I was now. Just my luck.

With no choice but to press forward, I started moving, following the directions scrawled on the paper. But each step felt heavier than the last. My body was a mess, a consequence of both the fight and whatever illness had started gnawing at me last night. Maybe I caught whatever Horikita had. Or maybe the food from yesterday didn't sit right with me. Either way, my condition was getting worse and the rain, plus walking so far wasn't helping it.

As I walked, I found myself gripping onto tree trunks just to stay upright. My vision wavered. I clenched my jaw. Just a little further. I was only a few steps away from the meeting spot now, but Ryuuen was nowhere in sight.

Had something happened to him?

I took another shaky step forward—then my legs gave out completely. My knees hit the wet ground, hard.

"Damn it..." I let out

A wave of dizziness crashed over me. My stomach twisted painfully, my head spinning as if I was going to lose consciousness at any minute. I gritted my teeth, trying to push myself up, but even with the support of the tree beside me, my body refused to move.

My gaze dropped to the ground, my breath uneven. But then, something caught my eye.

A soft glow, cutting through the curtain of rain as slowly, I lifted my head.

Ahead of me, standing in a patch of light, was a figure. His silhouette was clear against the stormy backdrop, his presence almost unreal. His arm was outstretched, as if beckoning me forward, his gaze locked onto mine.

At that moment, for reasons I couldn't explain, I felt it.The overwhelming sensation that I was standing before something far greater than myself. Like I was in the presence of an actual god.

***

The next chapter will be the final chapter, so feel free to give any early predictions.

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