Classroom Of The Elite: A Battle Of Ideals

As Ryota stepped into his bedroom, room 320, his sharp eyes instinctively scanned every corner. It was a standard dormitory room—bed neatly arranged, a study desk by the window, and a personal locker adjacent to a modest-sized closet. However, what caught his immediate attention were the gutters. They were seamlessly integrated into the design of the room, but something about them felt off. Unlike typical drainage systems, these gutters carried no foul odor, and their depth suggested they led to something far beyond a simple sewage system.

Ryota narrowed his eyes. A mental image began to form—a subterranean network beneath the Advanced Nurturing High School. A maze-like labyrinth spanning across the entire campus, possibly an escape route in case of emergencies or a concealed passage for specific administrative purposes. If such an underground structure existed, it could serve multiple purposes: an escape system, a transport route, or even a hidden monitoring network. His mind immediately jumped to a crucial question—were there cameras in this labyrinth? Would the school leave such a network unmonitored?

Shifting his focus, Ryota leaned against his desk and reflected on the information he had gathered so far regarding the S system. The structure of the school's economy and its implications were clear, but the true enigma was the special exam. He recalled the exact words of the senior students—the special exam was not a simple written test; it was a dynamic assessment meant to evaluate adaptability, intelligence, and strategic thinking.

But something else nagged at him. Would the seniors be so careless as to spill sensitive information to a first-year student from Class D? It seemed unlikely. Which meant one of two things—either they were expendable pawns within a much larger system, or they were testing Daichi, Amane, and himself. It was almost certain that a deeper conspiracy lay beneath the surface. The real question was: who was pulling the strings?

As the first morning of real classes arrived, Ryota made his way towards Classroom B, his thoughts preoccupied with the most efficient way to ensure the class functioned as a disciplined unit. The S system rewarded collective success, not individual brilliance. If Class B wished to rise above the others, they needed structure and self-regulation. But convincing the entire class to act as a unified entity was a daunting challenge.

Then, his mind settled on one person—Ichinose Honami.

Her presence on the first day of class had already established her as a leading figure. Her ability to rally the students, maintain a cheerful demeanor, and naturally attract others meant she was the ideal focal point. If he could subtly guide her into reinforcing the philosophy of maintaining discipline and strategic cooperation, the rest of the class would likely follow.

His feet carried him to the classroom while his mind ran through possible approaches. Should he be direct? Subtle? Push her towards an epiphany rather than spoon-feeding her conclusions? A person like Ichinose wouldn't accept pure logic alone—she needed to feel the importance of such a decision on a moral and emotional level.

Finally reaching his destination, Ryota sat down at his desk and cleared his mind, allowing himself a brief moment of blank thought. The familiar chatter of his classmates filled the room, but he paid it no heed.

Then, the door opened.

Instinctively, his eyes flickered open, and the first thing he saw was the very girl he had been thinking about.

Ichinose Honami.

For a brief moment, their eyes met. She seemed momentarily surprised before a warm smile formed on her lips.

Ryota remained impassive, but deep inside, he knew.

This was the first step.