I came, I saw, I lost! (Classroom of the Elite Fanfiction)

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"Huff... Huff... Huff..."

Ibuki ran through the forest, putting as much distance as possible between herself and Class D's camp. That place was a disaster.

She had expected some level of dysfunction, but Class D was even more of a mess than she thought. Even though Class C had its own problems, at least it wasn't that bad.

Though not everything had gone according to plan—no, scratch that, nothing had gone according to plan—she had still accomplished her goal.

She glanced down at the card in her hand.

"Kumagawa Misogi."

It was Class D's leader card.

She hadn't expected them to pick the most troublesome student in the entire school, but in a way, it made sense.

After putting more distance between herself and the camp, Ibuki arrived at a specific tree and began digging at its base. She grabbed a nearby stone, using it to dig faster. Dirt got under her nails, but she ignored it. Soon, she had uncovered a flashlight and a wireless transceiver wrapped in vinyl.

Then—

BOOM!

A sudden explosion roared behind her. Startled, Ibuki turned her head sharply to check the source. It had happened too fast for her to see, but judging from the sound and the timing—

"...A lightning strike?"

From the direction, it seemed to have hit Class D's camp.

Ibuki exhaled, shaking her head.

It felt like misfortune followed Class D wherever they went. For one reason or another, they always ended up in disaster.

"...Is there someone cursed with misfortune on that class?"

Ibuki muttered to herself before turning back to the transceiver in her hand and activating it. She quickly relayed her location to the other side, knowing that the person waiting was probably growing impatient.

After a few moments, she noticed a faint gleam of light in the distance. It blinked twice, then three times, a signal.

Ibuki picked up the flashlight at her feet and responded with the same pattern.

The approaching light grew closer, cutting through the darkness of the forest. And then, She saw his face. An irritating face she didn't want to see.

Ryuuen appeared.

"Yo. Excellent work, Ibuki. You did well."

"Naturally, yes?" she replied flatly.

"Naturally? If you hadn't made any mistakes until now, I wouldn't have had to risk coming over here."

"That couldn't be helped. I hadn't planned for the digital camera to be stolen."

Originally, her plan had been simple. She would take a picture of the leader card using the camera and leave without a trace. That would have been enough definitive proof. There wouldn't have been any need for extra risks, and she wouldn't have needed to contact Ryuuen at all.

But things didn't go as planned.

The digital camera, which she had hidden inside her bag, was stolen.

Thankfully, she had stored the transceiver and all other suspicious items separately, knowing that the camera was the most crucial piece. Even so, she hadn't expected it to disappear.

She had assumed her camera would be safe in her own bag—after all, no one had a reason to search her things. But it had vanished anyway.

Of course, she immediately suspected someone from Class D. First, she searched the girls' belongings, but came up empty.

That left only the boys as suspects.

But as an outsider, she had no way of demanding a search through their belongings—especially not for a camera. If she brought it up without proof, it would only raise suspicion toward her instead.

So, she needed a justification.

That was when she came up with the idea of planting Karuizawa's underwear in one of the boys' bags.

With that, the girls had a perfect excuse to demand a search. It would create enough tension between the boys and girls to make them turn on each other, and in the process, she could slip in unnoticed and reclaim her stolen camera.

Or at least, that was the plan.

But in the end, even after all the chaos, the camera was nowhere to be found.

Yet, through a series of coincidences and Class D's sheer misfortune, she still managed to steal the leader card, right at the moment Kumagawa fell into the mud.

"So, where's the card?"

"It's here."

She took it from her pocket and handed it over. Ryuuen shined his flashlight on the card and confirmed that the name "Kumagawa Misogi" was clearly engraved upon it.

"Hah, So that cockroach really is the leader. I thought he was just playing mind games." He turned to Ibuki. "Now that my suspicions are confirmed, we can move to the next phase."

"You sure you're up for this? I won't be holding back, you know." Ibuki cracked her knuckles

Ryuuen spread his arms wide, almost mockingly, as if inviting her to attack.

"Kukuku... Come on, Ibuki."

She didn't hesitate. Ibuki threw a punch straight at his face, pouring all her frustration and hatred into it.

She hated this man.

And yet, the bastard took the hit gracefully, not even flinching as the one sided beatdown truly began.

The moment her fist connected with Ryuuen's face, she followed up with another punch to his jaw. Then another. And another.

Ryuuen staggered but never fell. He barely even raised his arms to defend himself.

After a few minutes, Ibuki finally stopped, breathing heavily.

Ryuuen wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand and let out a low chuckle.

"Kukuku... Not bad. You really put your heart into it, huh?"

Ibuki clicked her tongue in irritation.

No matter how much she hit him, he never changed. Even now, despite the bruises and cuts, he acted like nothing happened.

"Tch. You're seriously annoying."

Ryuuen laughed again, stepping back. "Anyway, I was never here. You handle the rest."

And with that, he turned around and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Ibuki alone with her thoughts and her frustration.

A couple of minutes after Ryuuen disappeared, the rain began to fall.

Heavy droplets pelted the ground, masking the sound of approaching footsteps. But Ibuki didn't need to turn around to know someone was there.

"I know you're there. Come over here and confirm it, too. There shouldn't be anyone else around. It's great to be cautious, but don't waste time."

A man emerged from the shadows.

Katsuragi from Class A.

Unlike Ryuuen, Katsuragi was steady and dependable, the kind of person who valued discipline and order above all else. The difference between them was almost comical.

Ibuki reached into her pocket and handed over the Class D leader card.

Katsuragi took it and shone his flashlight over it. The name "Kumagawa Misogi" was clearly engraved on the surface.

"It looks like the real thing," he said.

"Are you convinced now?"

Even with undeniable proof in his hands, Katsuragi's expression remained cautious. Ibuki had heard he was an overly cautious man, but this was borderline paranoia. It was almost like an illness.

Ryuuen had already explained the rough details of the plan to her. All she needed to do was follow through. Not that she liked following his orders. In fact, she hated it. But as much as she despised him, she couldn't deny how skilled he was at being the absolute worst.

"You managed to infiltrate Class D quite well. Weren't you suspected?" Katsuragi asked.

"Under normal circumstances, I would have been. But as for my methods, that's a trade secret."

Ibuki unconsciously rubbed her cheek. When she first started her spy operation, Ryuuen had slapped her—just to make her lie more believable. That was just the kind of person he was. But the pain and hatred she felt toward him were all very real.

"You've already been told the details, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, I've heard the rough outline."

She had heard about the deal with Class A from Ryūen. In exchange for spending their points on this exam, Class A had struck a contract with him—offering a set amount of Monthly Class Points as compensation. Ryūen hadn't told her the exact number, but it was easy to imagine.

It was just like him.

A deal where Class A spent their resources in the short term but ensured long-term gains? That was a very Katsuragi-like decision.

And Ryūen?

He probably had no intention of holding up his end of the bargain.

Ibuki knew him well enough to understand that he wasn't someone who played fair. He was only interested in results. If betraying his so-called allies gave him the advantage, then he wouldn't hesitate to do so.

She had no interest in whatever plan Ryūen was cooking up, but she had to admit—he was dangerous for a reason.

"...So? What now?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Katsuragi then extended his hand toward her.

Ibuki frowned.

"The hell are you doing?"

"Solidifying our deal. Since Ryuuen isn't here, I assume you're his proxy."

Her eyebrow twitched.

'Proxy?'

Being called that—especially for him—was beyond irritating. If Ryuuen was a venomous snake that slithered in the dark, then she was... what, his messenger pigeon? Just following orders without question?

Disgusting.

Still, she had no choice.

With an annoyed sigh, Ibuki shook Katsuragi's hand, sealing the deal.

After shaking his hand, Ibuki turned away without hesitation. As far as she was concerned, her job was done. There was no reason for her to stay on this cursed island any longer.

But just as she was about to leave, Katsuragi spoke up.

"What will you do now?"

Ibuki exhaled through her nose, her irritation clear.

"I'm retiring. There's no reason for me to stick around. I'm going back to the cruise ship to enjoy the rest of my vacation."

Katsuragi regarded her carefully. "And what about Ryuuen?"

"He retired, of course." Ibuki shrugged.

"Is that so..." Katsuragi murmured, deep in thought.

"You done with the questions?"

"Yeah. You can go."

Without another word, Ibuki turned on her heel and disappeared into the rain, leaving the island and Class D's disaster behind her.

Katsuragi watched as she vanished into the darkness. He remained standing in the middle of the forest, alone, the sound of rain filling the silence.

"...Liar."

He reached into his right pocket and pulled out a photograph. The dim glow of his flashlight illuminated the image—Ryuuen Kakeru, standing in front of a fire.

Ibuki had claimed that Ryuuen had retired, but this was undeniable proof that he was still on the island.

Katsuragi had assumed that Class C had completely withdrawn from the exam. That was the logical conclusion, given that all their students had supposedly retired. But with this, he knew the truth—Class C hadn't given up.

And Ryuuen Kakeru was still moving behind the scenes.

With this, the real leader of Class C was confirmed.

『』『』『』『』『』

Class D's mood was at its absolute worst.

With Ike retiring from the exam and Kumagawa's leader card missing, the situation was already a disaster. Their morale was in shambles, and their chances of recovering were slim.

Some of the boys, already exhausted and frustrated, started talking about following Ike's lead and retiring as well. Their complaints grew louder, and for a moment, it looked like Class D would completely fall apart.

But Horikita stepped in before that could happen. She reminded them that every point mattered. Even if they had already lost a lot, giving up now would only make things worse. The way she spoke—calm, sharp, and confident—somehow made them hesitate. Hirata also attempted to help, but he seemed so out of it that his presence barely made a difference.

In the end, the boys reluctantly backed down. Maybe it was logic, maybe it was Horikita's sheer force of will, or maybe Horikita's beauty had swayed them. That didn't mean they weren't angry

And then, lightning struck near the camp, and in an instant, flames erupted. The dry wood and supplies caught fire, spreading rapidly.

Panic spread like wildfire, just like the actual flames devouring their campsite. Thankfully, the rain, which had started just moments ago, was strong enough to douse the growing inferno.

Just how much worse could things get?

Right now, Class D didn't even have the time to be angry at Kumagawa due to the situation.

Ayanokouji, watching the fire spread, murmured in an indifferent tone, "Well, that escalated quickly."

『Don't just say, 'such things really do occur'. You make it sound like it's somebody else's problem, Ayanokouji-kun,』 Kumagawa commented in a rather annoying manner,.

"Isn't it? This all started because of you."

『Ehh? That's pretty unfair, don't you think? I mean, I did lose my card, but I didn't tell the sky to throw lightning at us. That part's definitely not my fault.』

Even now, when everything was literally burning around them, Kumagawa remained as unserious as ever. Ayanokouji could already hear the others muttering behind them—half of them wanted to blame Kumagawa, while the other half were too panicked to care.

But regardless of who was responsible, one thing was certain—Class D had completely lost control of the situation.

"Speaking of your card, it seems Ibuki really stole it."

『Oh? That's pretty rude, Ayanokouji-kun. Accusing a delicate girl like Ibuki-chan of theft.』

"Then where is your card?"

『...Ahh, well, that's a good question. 』

Ayanokouji ignored Kumagawa's blatant ignorance and continued.

"The moment you fell in the mud, she was the only one close enough to grab it. At the time, everyone's attention was on you. No one would've noticed her taking it in the confusion."

『That's a pretty logical deduction, Ayanokouji-kun. Almost like you saw it happen yourself.』

"I didn't. But considering she disappeared immediately after, it's obvious enough."

『What a shame. I liked being the leader. 』

Ignoring his nonsense, Ayanokouji shifted his gaze back to the campfire. The situation was getting worse by the second, and right now, they needed to do something about it.

But with their leader card gone, one of their key advantages in this exam had already vanished.

"I saw where Ibuki was heading."

『Oh? Really now? 』

Ayanokouji ignored the sarcasm.

"She slipped away the moment you fell into the mud. She was heading in the direction opposite to the ship."

Ayanokouji had caught a glimpse of Ibuki slipping away. It had only been for a brief moment, but it was enough. As soon as Kumagawa fell into the mud and the argument between the boys and girls escalated, she had taken her chance. Moving swiftly, she had vanished into the trees, heading towards the deeper parts of the forest.

『Is that so... 』

"We still have a chance. If we go after her now, we might be able to take back the card before she delivers it to her accomplice. But we can't take too many people with us."

『Oh? And why's that? 』

"If we bring too many people, we'll draw attention. Not just from Ibuki, but from anyone else lurking nearby. Right now, Hirata, Horikita and the others need to focus on stabilizing the situation here."

Kumagawa considered his words for a moment before standing up.

『Alright, alright. I'll follow you, Ayanokouji-kun. After all I am your friend, right? 』

"..."

Ayanokouji didn't respond to that. He simply turned and started walking toward the forest, with Kumagawa following close behind.

The weather was a bothersome problem. If it got much worse, he might get stuck or have an accident. Due to the weather, it difficult to push forward without a flashlight. The passing showers grew even stronger, and the winds started to howl more violently. The weather was just negative all around, no favorable points at all.

The deeper they went into the forest; the rain made it harder to see ahead. Ayanokouji could only make out a few meters in front of him. The ground was slippery, and if he wasn't careful, he could trip over a root or even fall off a ledge. The sound of rushing water in the distance meant there might be a river or a cliff nearby. Walking in this weather without a clear path was dangerous.

The flashlight barely helped. The rain reflected the light, making it harder to see the ground properly. The shadows kept shifting, making everything look unreliable. One wrong step, and he could slip into a ditch or worse.

Ayanokouji glanced back at Kumagawa, who followed behind without a care in the world. Even in these conditions, he looked completely at ease. His posture was relaxed, and he moved like he wasn't worried about slipping or getting lost.

Ayanokouji found that impressive in its own way.

"Did I pick the wrong path?" Ayanokouji mumbled to himself

Their route ended in a steep, sheer slope. If he took one step further, he would fall. He shined his flashlight down, but all he saw was darkness. It was at least a ten-meter drop. Unfortunately, he'd been walking in the wrong direction.

『So, Ayanokouji-kun. Where are we heading now? Since it doesn't seem like you're particularly hesitating in your footsteps. 』

"..."

This was rather troubling. If he admitted that he had gone the wrong way, there was no doubt Kumagawa would start mocking him. And that was something he absolutely wanted to avoid. He'd pick apart every little mistake, twist words, and exaggerate everything to an unbearable degree. Honestly, Ayanokouji would rather take his chances with the cliff.

So instead, he changed the subject, with that question.

"Kumagawa, do you perhaps have an idea of your own? Regarding Ibuki's location."

『I don't have any ideas. I don't have any familiarity with this place, either. But since I trust your mechanical instinct, you can guide me like you're doing right now. 』

"...Mechanical?"

『Yep. Kind of like a robot, I suppose? Since you always think logically, I assume you must have a plan, right? 』

"..."

Ayanokouji tried to change direction slowly, but then right after... The soil underneath them collapsed, and both of them lost their balance.

Ayanokouji's body lurched forward, but he instinctively reached out, grabbing onto a nearby tree with both hands. His grip held firm.

Kumagawa, however, wasn't so lucky.

The moment Ayanokouji regained his bearings, he saw Kumagawa slipping away, his body vanishing into the darkness below.

『Ahh, Ayanokouji-kun, this is pretty bad! I think I might di—』

His voice was cut off as he disappeared into the darkness below.

Ayanokouji listened, waiting for the sound of impact. But between the pounding rain and howling wind, he heard nothing. The darkness had swallowed Kumagawa whole.

"...That's concerning."

He adjusted his grip on the tree, steadying himself. The ground here was unstable—one wrong step, and he'd be the next to fall. But he couldn't just leave Kumagawa, either.

After a brief pause, Ayanokouji made his decision. He needed to find a way down.

He looked around, searching for a safe path, but found nothing. The only way was to descend directly down the steep slope.

Without much of a choice, he began his descent. He bent his knees, keeping his body low to maintain balance. Using nearby tree roots and protruding rocks as footholds, he carefully made his way down. The rain made everything slippery, forcing him to slow down even more.

At one point, the slope became too steep to walk down properly, so he shifted his weight and slid, using his arms to control his speed. It was like flying.

After reaching the bottom, he looked up and saw just how steep it really was. Climbing back up wouldn't be easy.

But for now, his priority was finding Kumagawa.

Ayanokouji took a moment to assess the situation. Given the height of the fall and the rocky terrain, there was a real chance that Kumagawa had sustained serious injuries—or worse.

The slope was steep, but not a sheer drop. If Kumagawa had managed to slow his descent by hitting tree branches or landing on softer ground, his chances of survival would be higher. However, considering the rain and the slippery conditions, it was also possible that he had tumbled uncontrollably, slamming into rocks along the way.

Realistically speaking, if he had landed on a bad spot, he could have broken bones or lost consciousness. But if he was still alive, he should be somewhere nearby.

Ayanokouji turned his flashlight forward and began searching.

Ayanokouji carefully moved forward, scanning the area with his flashlight. The rain made it difficult to see, and the uneven ground was a constant hazard. If he wasn't careful, he could slip and end up just like Kumagawa.

He swept the light across the surroundings, trying to estimate where Kumagawa might have landed based on the direction of his fall. The dense foliage and jagged rocks made it clear that a bad landing could have been fatal.

After a while, he finally spotted him.

Kumagawa was slumped against a tree, completely still. A closer look revealed a trail of blood trickling down from his forehead, mixing with the rain as it dripped onto the muddy ground. His uniform was torn in places, and his entire body was soaked. It seemed he had hit something hard on the way down, knocking him unconscious.

Ayanokouji crouched beside him, checking his condition. He was still breathing, but in this rain, his body temperature would drop quickly. Leaving him here wasn't an option. Without hesitation, Ayanokouji lifted Kumagawa onto his back and started moving.

Carrying an unconscious person in these conditions was risky. The rain made the ground slippery, and one wrong step could send them both tumbling down another slope. On top of that, Kumagawa's injury could worsen. If his head wound was serious, the cold rain and the continuous movement might make things even worse.

However, there was no shelter in sight. The deep forest provided no man-made structures to take refuge in, and there were no caves nearby. Ayanokouji had no choice but to rely on the natural cover around them. Fortunately, the trees here were thick and overgrown. Their large branches provided some protection from the rain, making this the best spot he could find.

He carefully lowered Kumagawa onto the driest patch of ground available and observed him again. His breathing was steady, but the wound on his head was still bleeding.

Ayanokoui stare at him quietly and let out a sigh.Bottom of Form

"It would have been easier if you didn't recommend yourself as a leader."

The unpredictable Kumagawa had just made everything messier than Ayanokouji intended. No, perhaps it was more accurate to say that he made everything messier than he could have anticipated.

But despite that, he wasn't completely useless.

A broken knife was still a weapon. A faulty lockpick could still open doors. And Kumagawa... well, even if he wasn't predictable, even if he wasn't reliable, even if he was a complete disaster waiting to happen...

He was still useful.

Despite all his speeches about friends and comrades, despite how hollow they were, just for this moment, Ayanokouji would tell him his one and only truth.

"I have never thought of you as my friend. I've never cared about you as a classmate. In this world, winning is everything. Your methods don't matter. I don't care what I have to sacrifice. As long as I have my victory in the end, I'll be fine."

"So, don't worry, Kumagawa. It's not your fault. "

...

『That's right, Ayanokouji-kun. It's not my fault.』

Bottom of Form

Ayanokouji was caught off guard by the sudden response, but his expression didn't change one bit.

『But that's kind of cold. Couldn't you at least sound a little more worried? 』

Ayanokouji didn't respond right away. Instead, he calmly observed Kumagawa, who was still lying there, blood running down his forehead.

『I mean, I get it. You're that kind of person, but don't you think it's a little unfair? It seems my token of friendship is as good as cat litter on the road. I'm truly hurt you know?』

"You're awake."

『Barely. It feels like my head got split open, though. I hit my head really hard. It was like getting hit by a steel bat. It feels like someone's trying to spoon out my brains. It's giving me a headache.』

"Headache?"

『Yup. If a usual headache makes you want to commit suicide, then this is a headache that makes me want to commit murder. 』

Ayanokouji eyed him coldly. Considering his wound, he should at least be unconscious right now. Yet, despite the blood dripping down his face, Kumagawa was strangely active.

Adrenaline? No, that wasn't it. If it were just a rush of adrenaline, his movements would be more erratic, his pain tolerance artificially heightened. But Kumagawa didn't look like someone forcing himself to move through sheer willpower.

It wasn't just his mentality—his entire being was abnormal.

『Hey, hey, why are you looking at me like that? No matter how you see it, I'm the victim here.』

"...."

Ayanokouji didn't answer.

A smile and a blank stare.

Two opposing expressions met under the rain.

『END』

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