The loudspeaker came alive with a soothing sound effect, and a robotic voice issued an announcement.
"Ayanokouji-kun, from first-year Class D. Please come see Chiyabashira-sensei in the faculty office."
"Oh, we'll be seeing this?" Ike took a sip of his juice.
'Where did he got that? We can't bring anything here other then our phone and ID, right?'
"I was wondering why sensei called you over." Horikita looked my way, she knows the reason, and understands it, I think.
"Looks like the teacher wants to see you."
"Yeah… Sorry, Kushida. Gotta go."
I was sure I hadn't done anything to get me called to the office. Exiting the classroom, I could feel my classmates' stares drilling a hole into the back of my head. Timid as a rabbit, I found the faculty office and entered. I looked all around, but I didn't find Chiyabashira-sensei anywhere. Baffled, I called out to a teacher inspecting her appearance in a mirror.
"It's me!" Hoshinomiya-sensei squealed.
"Can you keep it down? You're bursting my ears."
"But– I was so excited. It's my first appearance, you know!"
"Excuse me, is Chiyabashira-sensei here?"
"Hmm? Sae-chan? Oh, she was just here a moment ago."
The teacher had wavy, shoulder-length hair, which made her look mature. The way she said Chiyabashira-sensei's name made them sound close.
They were near in age and probably friends.
"She must have stepped away for a minute. Do you want to wait here?"
"No, thank you. I'll wait in the hall."
I didn't like being in the faculty office. I hated attention, so the hall would do just as well. However, the young teacher unexpectedly followed me.
"Who would like that?" Sudo mumbled.
Chabashira glared at her friend, while Hoshinomiya whistled innocently.
"I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, in charge of Class B. Sae and I have been best friends since high school. That's why we call each other Sae-chan and Chiechan."
That information seemed kind of superfluous.
"You wound me, Ayanokoji-kun!" Hoshinomiya-sensei dramatically gasp and held her chest.
'But it is an unnecessary information.'
"Hey, why did Sae-chan call you? Huh? Huh? Why?" she asked.
"No idea."
"I don't understand. You were called to the office without a reason? Hmm? What's your name?"
An onslaught of questions. She scanned me from top to bottom, as if sizing me up.
"My name's Ayanokouji," I said.
"Ayanokouji-kun, huh? Oh, wow, that's a cool name. You're pretty popular, aren't you?"
"He's not popular! Hahahahaha" Ike laughed.
"Well, you're not either. So stop laughing." Horikita retorted in behalf of me.
'Who's expecting me to reply back from every single jab, or question that is throw at me? How troublesome.' I sighed tiredly. O stood up quietly to head to the exit. It seems the teacher are allowing the students to bring food and drinks. Maybe I'll buy some chips? I never tasted that before. Is sour cream and onion a good flavor? Well, let's find out.
What was with this overly friendly teacher? She acted more like a student. If this were an all-boy school, she would have immediately captured every student's heart.
"Hey, do you already have a girlfriend?" she asked.
"No… I'm, uh, not especially popular."
I tried to seem reluctant, but Hoshinomiya-sensei kept pushing herself onto me. She grabbed my arms with slender, delicate hands.
"Hmm? How unexpected. If we were in the same class, I'd never leave you alone. Perhaps because you're so innocent? Or do you like playing hard to get?"
She caressed my cheeks. I had no idea what to do. She'd probably stop if I licked her fingers, but I had a feeling that'd get me expelled.
"Why is your next course of action is licking her fingers? That's creepy." Ibuki grimace in disgust.
"What are you doing, Hoshinomiya?"
Chiyabashira-sensei appeared out of nowhere. With a loud thud, she smacked Hoshinomiya-sensei on the head with her clipboard. Hoshinomiya-sensei crouched and gripped her skull in apparent pain.
"That hurt, just so you know!" Hoshinomiya pouted at Chabashira.
"Deserved."
"Huh? What do you mean deserved?! That's mean!"
"Ouch! What was that for?" she cried.
"For getting involved with one of my students."
"I was only keeping him company while he waited for you, Sae-chan."
"It would have been better if you just left him alone. Thanks for waiting, Ayanokouji. Let's go into the office."
"The guidance office?" I asked.
"Did I do something wrong? I've been trying to keep a low profile here."
"A good answer. Come."
While I wondered what this was all about, I followed Chiyabashira-sensei. Hoshinomiya-sensei remained by my side, smiling widely. Chiyabashira-sensei noticed and turned, her face much like a demon's.
"You stay," she ordered.
"Come on, don't be so cold! It won't be the end of the world if I listen, right? Besides Sae-chan, you're definitely not the type to give one-on-one guidance. Pulling a new student like Ayanokouji-kun into the guidance room out of nowhere… Are you after something, I wonder?"
Grinning, Hoshinomiya-sensei scooted behind me and placed her hands on my shoulders. I sensed a storm brewing.
"So, Sae-chan, are you looking to be dominated by a younger man?"
Some boys got a nosebleed.
Dominated by a younger man? What did that mean?
"HUH?"
"Oi, oi, you don't know what it means?" Hashimoto crackled, next to him, Sakayanagi was laughing quietly to herself.
"I didn't know Ayanokoji-kun was that innocent." Ichinose blushed a little at the question earlier.
'You really have a habit of lying to yourself, huh? No way I'm gonna believe that, especially after the all spread your legs you did to me.' Karuizawa huffed. She's still shaken from the whole fiasco, even if a day already passed.
"Don't say such stupid things. That wouldn't be possible."
"Hee, you're certainly right. It wouldn't be possible for you, Sae-chan," Hoshinomiya-sensei muttered, her words laced with a double meaning.
Mashima and Sakagami ried to inched away from the two hostile teachers that are glaring at each other.
"Why are you following us? This is a Class D matter."
"Huh? I can't go to the guidance room? That's not okay? Come on, I can give advice, too."
As Hoshinomiya-sensei continued to follow, a female student came up to us, a beautiful girl with light-pink hair. I'd never seen her before.
"Oya? Beautiful? Well I can see you're spitting facts, Ayanokoji-kun." Hashimoto looked at where Ayanokoji is seated and deflated when he didn't find the male there.
"Pathetic," Kamuro sneered. "You sure you want to scout her?"
"And be involve in some disgusting thing as trust and friendship? No, thanks." Hashimoto flatly denied. Luckily, the Class B students didn't heard him.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, do you have a moment? The student council wishes to discuss something with you." She glanced at me, but quickly returned her attention to Hoshinomiya-sensei.
"All right, you have someone who needs you. Get to it." Slap!
Chiyabashira-sensei smacked Hoshinomiya-sensei on the butt with her clipboard.
"Aw! She'll get mad at me if I hang around any longer. See you later, Ayanokouji-kun! All right, Ichinose-san. Let's go to the faculty office."
With that, she turned on her heel and left with the beautiful Ichinose. Chiyabashira-sensei lightly scratched her head while she watched Hoshinomiya-sensei leave. Soon after, we entered the guidance room, which stood beside the faculty office.
"So. Why did you call me here?" I asked.
"Well, about that… Before we begin, please come here."
She briefly glanced at a clock hanging on the wall, which gave the time as nine o'clock, and opened the door. Inside was a small office kitchenette. She placed a kettle on top of a stove.
"I'm going to make tea. Is roasted green okay?" she asked.
I picked up the container with the tea powder.
"Don't make any unnecessary moves. Shut up and get in here. Understand? Don't make a sound and stay until I tell you it's okay to come out. If you don't do as I say, you'll be expelled," she said.
"Huh? What did she mean by expelled?" Hiyori asked.
"Teachers can do that?!" Ike wailed. Horikita looked exasperated.
"She can't do that, Ike-kun." Hirata assured the boy.
"That's blackmailing!"
"Kukuku, Ho? It seems Class D also have a defective teacher." Ryuuen watched with interest.
"That will be your biggest mistake, Chabashira-sensei. I already pity you." Sakayanagi glanced at the teacher in her peripheral vision.
Mashima simple reprimanded her, "We are talking about that later, Chabashira."
Chabashira stayed silent.
"Huh? What do you mean by—"
She closed the door to the kitchenette without explanation, leaving me in there. What in the world was she scheming? I did as I was told and waited. Soon after, I heard the outer door to the guidance room open.
"Ah, come in. So, what did you want to talk to me about, Horikita?" I heard Chiyabashira-sensei say.
Apparently Horikita was in need of guidance.
"I will be frank. Why was I sorted into Class D?"
Manabu shook his head disappointed.
"Having a sister in Class D? That's embarrassing, President." Nagumo lazily commented.
Horikita clenched her fist tight. She's nothing but a embarrassment to her prodigy of a brother.
"That's quite frank."
"Today, you told us that the school sorted superior students into Class A. You said that Class D was filled with the leftovers, the last bastion of
delinquents."
"That's true. You must consider yourself to be a superior person."
I wondered how Horikita would respond. I'd bet she'd confidently object.
"I solved nearly every problem on the entrance examination. I made no substantial mistakes on the interview, either. At the very least, I shouldn't have been sorted into Class D."
Looks like I would have won that bet. Horikita was definitely the type to think herself superior. She wasn't excessively self-conscious, either. She'd tied for first place on the test, as shown in the morning's results.
"You solved nearly all of the problems on the entrance examination, hmm? Normally I couldn't show the examination results to individual students, but I'll make an exception in this case. I just so happen to have your answer sheet here."
"You're incredibly prepared. It's…almost as if you knew I'd come here to protest."
"I'm an instructor. I understand the mind of a student, at least to some degree, Horikita Suzune. Just as you said, you did well on the entrance examination. You had the third-highest test score among the first-year students and were close to the highest- and second-highest-scoring students. You did exceedingly well. And you're right: We found no particular problems in your interview. On the contrary, we evaluated you quite highly."
"Thank you very much. So then…why?"
"Before I answer, why are you dissatisfied with Class D?"
"Who would be satisfied with being sorted to the lowest class?" Yukimura murmured. He still can't accept the truth. Hopefully, he'll understand after watching this scene.
"Who could be happy with an incorrect evaluation? Furthermore, the class rankings greatly impact our future prospects. Of course I'm dissatisfied."
"Incorrect evaluation? Perhaps your self-evaluation is far too high."
Chiyabashira-sensei snickered, or rather, laughed outright. "I acknowledge that your academic ability is excellent. You're certainly very smart. However, who decided that smart people are categorically superior? We never said that."
Sakayanagi and Ryuuen laughed loudly.
"But…that's just common sense."
"And who created that common sense?" Sakayanagi disagreed.
"Common sense? Didn't common sense create our current, flawed
society? Before, Japan relied solely on test scores to separate the superior and inferior. As a result, the incompetents at the top tried desperately to kick down the truly superior students. In the end, we settled on a system of hereditary succession."
"Which is exactly the truth in equality." Nagumo sneered, "This school doesn't need incompetent students competing with the gifted ones."
A system of hereditary succession meant that things like social standing, prestige, and employment were passed down to future generations. At those words, I groaned unintentionally. My chest hurt.
"You're a capable student. I don't deny that. However, this school's goal is to produce superior people. If you believe academics alone place you into a higher class, you are mistaken. That was the very first thing we explained to you. Besides, think rationally. Would we have admitted someone like Sudou if we decided superiority based solely on academic merit?"
Those people who's dissatisfied with their placement like Yukimura listened carefully. Little by little, they're understand the reasons behind the sorting. But not the whole truth, of course.
Ayanokoji went back to a perfect time. The scene where his test scores are about to be reveal.
"Tch…"
Despite the fact that this was one of the country's leading preparatory schools, this place allowed students to enroll for purposes other than academics.
"Furthermore, you may be too hasty in proclaiming that no one would be happy to be incorrectly evaluated. Take Class A, for instance. They are under incredible pressure from the school, and also the target of extreme envy from the lower classes. Competing every day with that kind of pressure bearing down upon you is far more difficult than you might imagine. There are some students who are happy to be incorrectly evaluated at a lower level."
"Who would be happy being place in a lower class?" Katsuragi asked,
"Only an idiot, maybe."
"You're joking, right? I can't understand such a person."
"Is that so? I think that Class D boasts some of those people. Strange students who would happily be set at a low level."
It was almost as if she were talking to me.
"What?" Many students exclaimed, Nagumo in particular spark a bit of interest in Ayanokoji.
Ryuuen suspicious about him continued to grow and grow every passing moment. 'If you want an ordinary life, this school isn't for you. Why help if you're satisfied with your placement?'
"You still haven't given me an explanation. Was I honestly sorted into Class D? Did anything go wrong with the grading? Please double-check," Horikita said.
"I'm sorry, but you weren't sorted by mistake. You are definitely in Class D. You are at that level."
"Is that so? Then I will ask the school again, at another time." Apparently, she wasn't going to give up. Horikita had merely determined that her homeroom teacher was the wrong person to ask.
"You'll get the same answer from anyone in a higher position. Besides, there's no need to be disappointed. As I told you this morning, it's possible for one class to overtake another. You could conceivably reach Class A before you graduate."
"I can't imagine it will be easy, though. Forget overtaking Class A; how in the world could those immature Class D misfits gain more points? I can't see how it's possible." Horikita spoke the truth. The difference in points was overwhelming.
"Now with us winning the 1st special exam, that dream isn't impossible anymore!" Ike along the others cheered.
"Let's all keep working hard, everyone! And I'm sure we can all graduate from Class A together!" Kushida held up her fists in the air. The boys cheered with her.
"I don't know. You alone get to decide how you head down that path. At any rate, Horikita, do you need to be in Class A for any special reason?"
"Well…I suppose that's enough for now. Excuse me. But know that I'm not yet convinced I was sorted correctly."
"Understood. I will keep that in mind."
A chair squeaked against the floor, signaling that the discussion was over.
"Oh, that reminds me. I've summoned another person to the guidance room. It's someone relevant to you."
"Relevant to me? No, you can't mean… bro—"
"Come on out, Ayanokouji," the teacher said.
This was a bad time to reveal myself. Maybe I just wouldn't go.
"If you don't come out, I'll have you expelled."
"Chabashira." Mashima sighed.
Jeez. A teacher shouldn't casually wield expulsion like a weapon.
"How long do you intend to keep me waiting?" With a sigh, I entered the room. Naturally, Horikita appeared surprised and perplexed.
"Were you listening to our conversation?" she asked me.
"As you have watched, Do I look like I had a choice?" I munched on some chips, not minding the stares I got.
"Listening? I know you guys were talking, but I didn't really hear anything. The walls are surprisingly thick."
"That's not true. Voices carry pretty well into the kitchen." Apparently,
Chiyabashira-sensei wanted to drag me into the action.
"Sensei, why would you do this?" Horikita noticed that this had all been planned and was clearly angry.
"Because I deemed it necessary. Now then, Ayanokouji, I'll explain why I called you here." Chiyabashira-sensei dismissed Horikita's concerns and shifted her attention to me.
"Well then, if you'll excuse me…" Horikita muttered.
"Wait, Horikita. It would be in your best interest to stay and listen. It may provide you with a hint on how to reach Class A."
'Oh? A hint?' Ryuuen eyes glinted in interest. Katsuragi seemed to be interested too.
Horikita stopped dead in her tracks and sat back down.
"Please keep it brief," she said.
Chiyabashira-sensei chuckled as she glanced over her clipboard. "You're an interesting student, Ayanokouji."
"Not at all. I'm certainly not as interesting as a teacher with a strange surname like Chiyabashira."
Hoshinomiya burst out laughing, "You're so funny, Ayanokoji-kun!" She held her stomach.
"Would you speak like that to every Chiyabashira in the nation? Hmm?"
If you looked all over the country for another person with the surname of Chiyabashira, you probably wouldn't find one.
"Well, when I read over the entrance exam's results, your scores piqued my interest. I was shocked."
'I was too, only an incredible smart person can manipulate their test scores like that.' Manabu thinks in his mind.
Tachibana, who didn't saw the tests paid attention. Maybe it can solve why President is rather fixated with him.
On her clipboard, I saw a rather familiar answer sheet.
"Fifty points in Japanese. Fifty points in mathematics. Fifty points in English. Fifty points in social studies. Fifty points in science. You even scored Fifty points on the recent short test. Do you know what this means?"
"Wh-wha?"
"He manipulated his test scores?" Ryuuen asked no one in particular. 'what a monster. But the question is, is that all you've got? I might test you soon, Ayanokoji.'
'As I expected. Astonishing as always, Ayanokoji-kun. You never failed to provide me some little entertainment.' Sakayanagi praised Ayanokoji in her mind.
Nagumo's composure cracked at bit, no matter how talented he is, he can never manipulate his own test scores like that. 'Oh? It's seems you may make a decent toy, Kohai-kun'
A stunned Horikita looked over my test paper and then shifted her focus to me. "This is a rather frightening coincidence," she said.
"Coincidence can be freaky, trust me." Horikita looked back and found Ayanokoji sipping juice.
"Oh? You believe that getting 50s all across the board was a coincidence? He did it intentionally."
"It's a coincidence. There's no evidence that it's not. Besides, what would I gain by manipulating my scores in the first place? If I were intelligent enough to achieve high marks, I would've tried to get perfect scores."
Ike who always have something to say stays silent.
"But why hold back? Don't you want to contribute to the class?" Yamauchi asked.
I stop eating, "Why would I? It's not my fault that the rest of you didn't notice the hint sensei gave us in the start. Let's say I did warned you, but would you have listened to me? And If I did go all out what do you think our class average will be? It will rise in a big margin, most definitely, if it was a real exam, some of you might have been expelled right away." After that, I ignored him and continued to munch on my chips.
Who knew that this flavor is so delicious? This might become my new favourite.
As I feigned innocence, Chiyabashira-sensei sighed in exasperation.
"You really do seem like an odious student. Listen. Only 3 percent of students solved the fifth math problem successfully. However, you solved it perfectly, and used a complex formula to do so. However, the tenth problem on the test had a completion rate of 76 percent. Did you make a mistake on it? Is that normal?"
"I don't know what normal is. It was a coincidence, I tell you. A coincidence."
"For crying out loud! I respect your frank attitude, but it'll cause problems for you in the future," the teacher said.
"I'll think about that when the time comes."
Chiyabashira-sensei shot Horikita a glance that seemed to say, What do you think?
"Why do you pretend not to know?" she asked.
"Like I said, it was a coincidence. It's not like I'm hiding that I'm a genius or anything."
"Like that's not suspicious at all." Ichinose tried to tease me, she was quiet with all of this. Is she observing me? Trying to find some information? Whatever it is, I don't particularly care. They can try to defeat me all they want, but I will never lose.
I never lost before, and I won't start losing now. After all, I'm The Undefeated Masterpiece.
"I wonder. He may be even more intelligent than you, Horikita." Horikita flinched. Please don't say anything unnecessary, Chiyabashira-sensei.
"I don't like studying, and I don't plan to try hard. That's why I get those scores."
"A student who chose this school wouldn't say something like that. However, some students may have different reasons for getting in. You, for example, and Kouenji as well. I think you're fine with being in either D or A."
"Is there anything wrong with that? We all have different reasons on why we enrolled." I shut down the questions about to be thrown my way.
This school wasn't the only abnormal thing. The teachers were weird, too. Moments earlier, Chiyabashira-sensei had upset Horikita with just her words. It was almost as if the teachers knew every student's secrets.
Students flinched. I, in particular, watched Karuizawa, Kushida, Hirata, and Sakura? flinched back. I also noticed Matsushita eyeing me earlier.
"What other reasons do you have?" Horikita asked.
"You want me to explain it to you in detail?"
I noticed the sharp gleam in Chiyabashira-sensei's eyes. It was almost as if she wanted to provoke Horikita.
"No, we'd best stop here. Any more, and I might go mad and destroy all the furniture in here," I said.
"If you did that, Ayanokouji, I would demote you to E Class."
"There's an Class E?"
"Wait, there's an E Class?"
"Certainly. Of course, the 'E' stands for 'expelled.' As in, you'd be kicked out of school. Well, I suppose our conversation has ended. Enjoy your lives."
"Wha–"
What incredible sarcasm.
-x-
Previous Chapter: Classroom of the Elite.
Next Chapter: The Association of Failures.
Word Count: 3982
To those who's wondering why some important characters are not reacting (particularly, Hiyori, I know ); as the memories that have been play are not connected to them, or their class, they never spoke up. But expect them to react when some scenes play. And about Katsuragi, I honestly don't know how to portray him, he didn't have any amazing moments in the LN other than the 1st and 2nd special exams, and even after that I can't grasped his personality whatsoever, hence the lack of reaction from him. Please forgive me!
Asteria_Writer out!