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

『』『』『』『』『』

Chirp chirp chirp.

It was 7 AM, and the first roll call of the second day was set to begin in an hour.

The atmosphere inside the boys' tent was far from comfortable. The air was thick with the smell of sweat. The tent's mesh material had allowed a cool breeze to pass through at night, but now that the morning sun had risen, the temperature was steadily increasing.

Ayanokouji glanced at Kumagawa, who was somehow sleeping soundly amidst the discomfort. His peaceful expression, completely unbothered by the heat or the smell, made no sense. Was it because he was just weird? Ayanokouji briefly considered the thought before dismissing it.

It was far too early in the morning to start thinking about Kumagawa. If he did, he wasn't sure he'd be able to hold himself together for the rest of the day.

Letting out a small sigh, Ayanokouji quietly exited the tent and made his way toward the luggage section. They had decided to keep their bags outside to maximize space inside the tents. Since the boys' and girls' tents were positioned near each other, their bags were placed together as well.

He reached for his own bag, looking for a towel. Sleeping in this humid tent had left him drenched in sweat, and he wanted to wipe himself down. As he searched, his eyes landed on a distinctively colored piece of luggage.

Ibuki's bag.

Unlike the others, her bag stood out, making it easy to recognize. Without hesitation, Ayanokouji crouched down and unzipped it. Inside, he found the usual items—towels, a change of clothes, underwear—things that everyone else had. However...

Something felt out of place.

"A digital camera?"

Ayanokouji considered the possibility that Ibuki was simply a photography enthusiast, but that didn't seem likely. Students weren't allowed to bring personal items into the exam unless they used points to purchase them. There was no reason for her to have a camera.

He examined the device carefully. It had no data and showed no signs of recent use.

After finishing his inspection, he placed it back where he found it, making sure to leave everything exactly as it was. Then, grabbing his towel, he headed for the river to wash his face before stopping by the bathroom.

On his way, he ran into Hirata.

"Good morning, Ayanokouji-kun. Heading to the bathroom?"

"Ah. Did I wake you, by any chance?"

"Oh no. I can't exactly sleep soundly in this environment. Ouch, ouch... Ah, my back hurts." Hirata rolled his shoulders with a small grimace. "Well, I guess that's only natural without a proper mattress."

It certainly wasn't easy to sleep when they were packed together without real beds. Yet, somehow, most of the others were still asleep, likely exhausted from the previous day's activities.

"If you include Kouenji-kun's penalty, we spent almost 100 points yesterday, I told everyone that in the worst possible outcome, we'd be left with 120 points, but now I'm not even sure about that. I guess the anxiety woke me." Hirata continued, taking out the manual to confirm his calculations

Kouenji's early retirement had been a massive blow. The penalty had drained their resources significantly, and the class had been thrown into disarray.

Ayanokouji glanced at Hirata.

He truly was carrying the weight of the entire class. Unlike a certain someone who didn't care at all... Hirata and Kushida were doing everything they could to keep the mood from collapsing.

Meanwhile, Kumagawa...

Ayanokouji didn't even want to think about him right now.

『』『』『』『』『』

After morning roll call, Class D began to explore. Hirata provided roles to the more reliable students, starting his plan to save us points. Meanwhile, the less helpful students and the more independently minded like Horikita and Ayanokouji did as they pleased.

Ibuki, perhaps feeling guilty about being offered food the day before, decided to help out. It was an attempt, no doubt, to not feel like a burden.

As for Kumagawa—he went back to sleep.

Ayanokouji wasn't sure what prompted him to willingly return to that humid, suffocating tent, but he did.

And then—

"What the hell, you guys?!"

Ike's angry voice boomed through the campsite, drawing everyone's attention. Two male students stood there with wide, smug grins. Ibuki, at the sight of them, flinched before quickly ducking behind a tent to hide herself.

"Komiya and Kondou, huh?"

From her reaction, it was clear they were from Class C.

"Wow, you Class D rejects really are living frugally, huh? I guess that's what I'd expect from a class of defectives."

They were stuffing their faces with potato chips and drinking bottles of soda—not water, soda.

"What did you guys even eat for breakfast? Grass? Maybe bugs?" Komiya grinned, shaking a bag of snacks mockingly. "Here, have some chips."

A bag landed near Ike's feet.

It was obvious provocation. And it was working.

"We have a message from Ryuuen-san," Komiya continued, ignoring the tense atmosphere. "If you wanna enjoy your summer vacation to the fullest, come to the beach right now. Don't hang back. If you're sick of living like idiots, we're happy to share our luxuries."

They didn't leave. They just stood there, snacking, taunting.

And then—

『What's with the commotion in the morning...? 』

Everyone turned toward the voice.

Unlike the rest, who had already started their day, Kumagawa had just emerged from the tent, fresh from sleep. His shirt was a wrinkled mess, his hair stuck out in odd directions, and his expression was dazed. He yawned, rubbing his eyes lazily.

"Oi, what's with this guy?" Kondou scoffed. "Didn't even bother washing his face?"

"I guess it makes sense," Komiya sneered. "I mean, he is in Class D."

『Mmm... Yeah, you guys are right. 』

Kumagawa accepted the insult without care, without resistance. Just a simple agreement.

He yawned again.

And for the first time, Class D saw a Kumagawa Misogi with zero energy, zero presence. Not that he had any in the first place, but this was a whole new level.

Kondou and Komiya continued their insults, but Kumagawa barely reacted.

He just mumbled to himself, stretching his arms above his head. 『Man, my back hurts... Sleeping on the ground really isn't great for my spine...』

His complete lack of response only seemed to irritate them more.

"The hell's with this guy? Is he even listening?" Komiya muttered

"Oi, say something, you damn reject." Kondou clicked his tongue.

『Huh? I just woke up from my beautiful night's sleep, and the first thing I hear is a bunch of noise... I was shocked, you know? I just came out to check what was going on, and now I have to deal with this first thing in the morning? Honestly, shouldn't you guys show me a little gratitude? 』

For a moment, there was silence.

'Wow.....'

No one said it out loud, but everyone in Class D felt it.

Class C had tried to provoke them. But somehow, Kumagawa had turned it around so effortlessly that it almost felt natural.

It seemed like Class C still had a lot to learn about the art of provocation.

Because this jerk was the personification of an annoying personality.

"Tch." Kondou clicked his tongue, clearly fed up.

Komiya, on the other hand, turned to the rest of Class D. "The invitation's open. If you guys want to stop being losers, you know where to find us."

『Invitation? 』

With that, they left, leaving behind a bag of potato chips as a final act of mockery.

As soon as they were gone, Ike stomped over and kicked the chips aside.

What the hell was that?! I can't believe those guys! Acting all high and mighty just because they have points!"

Hirata picked up the chips with a troubled smile. "I suppose they were trying to provoke us... But I think Kumagawa-kun handled it well."

『Though I do have to wonder... How'd they afford all that? Soda, snacks... That's a lot of points to throw away just to rub it in our faces, huh?』

Everyone went quiet.

It was true.

Food and drinks weren't cheap in this exam. No way Ryuuen would waste so many points just to taunt them. That meant there had to be a reason for it.

"It's likely Ryuuen's making some kind of move. We should stay alert."

A heavy mood settled over the group.

Meanwhile, Kumagawa just yawned again. 『Well, you guys have fun with that. I think I'll go take another nap.』

And just like that, he turned and walked back to the tent, leaving everyone else to deal with the mess.

The class continued their discussion, considering possible countermeasures. At some point, Horikita mentioned that Class C's base was set up at the beach.

Kumagawa stopped mid-step.

『...Beach? 』

The next moment, as if possessed, Kumagawa pulled out his Suisou Academy uniform and quickly put it on. Since wearing the school's sportswear wasn't mandatory, he had brought his own uniform instead.

He even ran his fingers through his hair, styling it into something vaguely presentable.

『Why didn't anyone say so sooner?!』

A serious look crossed his face. 『Alright, leave it to me! I'll go conduct some top-tier espionage, and Infiltrate Class C,』

Nobody believed him.

Not even for a second.

Kumagawa's motivations were painfully obvious, and Class D already knew better than to expect anything remotely useful from him.

Ike voiced what everyone was thinking. "This guy just wants to go because there are girls in swimsuits."

『H-how rude! You wound me, Ike-kun. I would never be swayed by such shallow desires. This is purely for the good of the class!』

They carefully considered Class C's invitation.

Horikita quickly volunteered to go, taking the initiative before anyone else could.

"I'll go. Ayanokouji, you come with me."

"I don't see why I have to go."

"You don't need to see why. Just follow me."

Ayanokouji sighed, realizing he wasn't getting out of this.

At that moment, Kumagawa lazily raised his hand.

『I'd like to go, too. 』

"No way," said Kushida.

"Absolutely not," said Yukimura.

"Denied," said Hirata, though much gentler than the others.

Immediate rejection.

It wasn't just because they feared Kumagawa would mess up—it was also because he was the leader. If he accidentally revealed that fact, the consequences would be disastrous.

Even though they were speaking openly, two of the girls had been assigned to keep an eye on Ibuki, ensuring she wouldn't overhear anything.

Kumagawa, surprisingly, didn't get upset. Instead, he gave an actual argument.

『But, you see, there's a problem. If I don't go, won't that seem weird?』

The group hesitated.

『Think about it. If I suddenly start acting careful and avoiding unnecessary interactions, wouldn't that make people suspicious? They might start thinking I have something to hide. In contrast, if I just act like usual, no one would even consider me important enough to suspect.』

Ayanokouji nodded. "He has a point. Even if someone doesn't know the leader's identity for certain, they might guess correctly if they notice suspicious behavior."

If anything, the worst thing they could do was make Kumagawa look important.

Horikita frowned, clearly reluctant, but she didn't argue.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are we seriously letting him go? What if he does something stupid?" Karuizawa crossed her arms, clearly displeased.

Shinohara quickly chimed in. "Yeah! He's, like, the last person we should trust with this."

Before the argument could escalate, Hirata stepped in. "I understand your concerns, but Ayanokouji-kun and Horikita-san will be there too. They can keep an eye on him. Right?"

Horikita sighed. "I don't like it, but... if he has to come, then fine. We'll make sure he doesn't do anything unnecessary."

Ayanokouji, of course, had no say in the matter.

With that, the decision was made.

『Great! It's settled, then. I'll go observe Class C... and if I happen to see a swimsuit or two, well, that's just a bonus. 』

The group collectively groaned.

『』『』『』『』『』

As the group finalized their plan, Ayanokouji and Horikita walked a short distance away from the others. She had been frowning ever since Kumagawa's participation was decided.

"This is a bad idea," Horikita muttered.

"Because of Kumagawa?" Ayanokouji glanced at her.

"Obviously."

Ayanokouji considered her words. "True. But at the same time, forcing him to stay behind would probably make things worse."

Horikita exhaled through her nose, clearly frustrated, since she cannot rejcet the logic in that.

"Even so, he's a liability."

"I wouldn't say that." Ayanokouji shook his head. "If anything, his presence lowers the chances of anyone suspecting us. No one would ever take him seriously."

Kumagawa's personality was well known throughout the school, and without a doubt, Ryuuen knew it too. And with Ibuki here, Class C already had someone inside Class D camp. If Class D suddenly acted more careful, or if Kumagawa, of all people, started avoiding unnecessary interactions, it might raise suspicion.

Horikita fell silent for a moment, then sighed.

"Fine. But if he causes problems, you deal with it."

"Noted."

—

With their plan set, the three of them—Ayanokouji, Horikita, and Kumagawa—left the camp and made their way through the forest toward Class C's base at the beach.

The path was uneven, with thick roots and patches of mud forcing them to watch their step. Despite that, Kumagawa walked ahead without a care in the world.

Horikita, walking beside Ayanokouji, sighed in irritation.

"This guy..."

『Come on, Horikita-chan, don't be so stiff. We're on a tropical island, walking toward the ocean. You should enjoy it a little. 』

"We're not going to enjoy the beach. We're gathering information."

『Of course, of course. But while we're at it, might as well enjoy the view, right? The shining sun, the sparkling water, the girls in swimsui—』

Thwack.

Horikita's fist struck Kumagawa's shoulder before he could finish. He staggered a bit but didn't seem the least bit bothered by it.

『How violent. What happened to treating your classmates with kindness?』

"Try acting like a proper classmate first."

Ayanokouji ignored their exchange, instead focusing on their surroundings. The closer they got to the beach, the more he could hear the distant sounds of waves crashing against the shore. The thick canopy of the forest gradually thinned, allowing more sunlight to filter through the trees.

Before long, they reached the edge of the forest. Beyond it, the blue sea stretched out endlessly, and on the white sandy shore, a cluster of tents and students could be seen. Class C's base.

"No way... All this stuff... Is it even possible?"

Horikita could never have imagined the situation she beheld.

They had installed temporary toilets and shower rooms. But they also had a tarp to protect against sunlight, a barbecue, chairs, and a parasol. They had snacks and drinks. Everything required for a good, relaxing time was here. We smelled the smoke of cooking meat, and heard laughter. Jet skis whizzed past the shoreline. Students were enjoying themselves in the ocean, screaming with joy

With all of this equipment, it wouldn't be strange if they had spent most, if not all, of their points.

"What in the world is Class C doing? Do they not plan to save points?"

That was the sole explanation. This went beyond splurging.

"Let's check things out. I wonder what Class C is thinking?"

『.... 』

They came out of the forest and walked to the beach. One of the boys from class C noticed them, and appraoch them in a hurry.

"Um, Ryuuen-san has requested your presence," he said. Judging from the timidity of his voice, he was either frightened or naturally listless.

Horikita and Ayanokouji exchanged glances.

"He rules his classmates like a king. It's like a royal welcome. What should we do?"

"It's up to you, Horikita."

"Fine. I'm interested in learning his intentions. Let's go."

Horikita and Ayanokouji intended to follow the boy, but midway, Ayanokouji suddenly stopped.

"Where's Kumagawa?"

He had been right beside him just moments ago, yet now he was nowhere to be seen. The strange part was that Ayanokouji hadn't even noticed when he left. Even if someone walked away slowly, he would have realized it since they were standing just a few centimeters apart.

"That idiot! Where the hell did he go?" Horikita scowled.

"Calm down. We'll deal with it later, let's focus on Ryuuen for now."

Clicking her tongue in frustration, Horikita nodded, and the two of them followed the Class C student toward their base.

—

Meanwhile, Kumagawa was perched atop a tree at the far end of the beach.

He had climbed to the highest point available, from where he could see Class C's entire base spread out below him. His eyes lazily followed the movement of Horikita and Ayanokouji as they walked toward Class C base.

Then, shifting his gaze, he turned his head in the opposite direction.

A thin trail of smoke was rising in the distance. It wasn't particularly large, but it was distinct.

『Hm..... 』

Though he didn't have a complete view of the island from here, he could make a rough guess about each class's location.

Class A would undoubtedly take the cave.

Class C was right here on the beach, spending points like water.

Class D had settled by the river, prioritizing survival and resource management.

That left only Class B.

Since the smoke wasn't coming from Class D's direction, that meant it had to be from Class B's base.

He look back at class C base. He saw Ayanokouji and Horikita in some kind of conversation with ryuen. It doesnt take much of a genius to guess what's they're talking about.

Considering Horikita personality, she must have been calling ryuen an idiot, or something like that, while ayanokouji just wathc from the sidelines like he usually do.

『Man, this place really is full of defects and liars. 』

Unlike Hakoniwa, this place seems like a pain. He doesnt know why would anshin'in would send him here.

The only interesting people in he met in these school could be count with one hand.

『Should I just screw everything up? 』

Kumagawa was really considering this choice. At this rate, the outcome would become a lot more predictable, and without medaka-chan around, things tend to get boring.

『Aaah~ I miss Hakoniwa so much. Why would those old geezer graduates me in the first place? Didn't they have any symphaty for the world by letting me loose? 』

With a lazy stretch, Kumagawa stood up on the tree branch, his usual smile creeping onto his face.

『Now then... Should I go say hello?』

And with that, he jumped down from the tree, landing effortlessly on the sand below. Horikita and the others were visibly surprised when Kumagawa suddenly appeared out of nowhere. One moment, he was nowhere to be seen. The next, he was casually strolling toward them, as if he had been there the whole time.

"Where the hell were you?" Horikita asked, narrowing her eyes.

『Eh? I was here the whole time, Horikita-chan. You just didn't notice me. 』

"Liar."

『How can I? Didn't you know I hate liars the most?』

It was said by the most pathological liar this world has ever seen. Ryuuen, Horikita, and Ayanokouji didn't know how he could say that with a straight face.

"Tch. No wonder I felt something unpleasant nearby. Looks like a cockroach was hiding in some dark corner." Ryuuen clicked his tongue, smirking. His tone was amused, but there was no doubt he genuinely hated Kumagawa.

『Hm? Ryuuen-chan, right? I almost forgot your face again, my apologies. Is it because your influence is fading in your own class? No, no, that couldn't be it. Who would do something so underhanded, making their own classmates despise them? That would be truly pathetic. Only the lowest of the low would resort to such methods.』

He said it in the most blunt way possible.

Ryuuen's expression darkened.

Because of Kumagawa's interference, Ryuuen had lost some of his grip over Class C. It was obvious from the way his classmates looked at him. And in response, Ryuuen had doubled down, using even more violence to silence dissent.

His glare sharpened, filled with an intensity that resembled a predator eyeing prey.

『What are we talking about here? 』

Horikita, who had been watching their exchange, looked somewhat satisfied. She turned to Ryuuen with a smirk.

"We're done here. It seems Class C will self-destruct on its own."

Ryuuen's gaze flicked to her. "Heh. Don't get cocky, princess."

"Princess?" Horikita raised an eyebrow.

"You're pretty uptight, but I bet that just means you'd be fun if someone broke you in."

"Is that supposed to provoke me?" she said flatly.

"Nah, just thought I'd have a little fun. I can prepare a tent for personal use."

"Let's head back, Ayanokouji, Kumagawa. If we stay here any longer, I'm only going to start to feel ill."

"See you later, Suzune."

"I don't know where exactly you found that out, but do not call me by my first name so casually."

With that, she turned and walked away, Ayanokouji following after her, but after taking a few steps, she noticed that Kumagawa wasn't following.

"You. Why aren't you coming?"

Kumagawa remained where he was.

『Hmm, I'm considering transferring to Class C? 』

"Stop being stupid and come with us." Horikita narrowed her eyes.

『How could you say that when I'm seriously thinking about my future? Look, Ryuuen-chan and I get along so well, don't you think? 』

"You think provoking someone counts as 'getting along'?"

『It does if you look at it from a different angle! Like, if we were best friends, wouldn't I tease him the most?』

"That's ridiculous."

Horikita pinched the bridge of her nose. "Enough. We're leaving."

『You can leave. I never agreed to anything, remember? 』

"Huh?"

Both Ayanokouji and Horikita were confused by that statement. It wasn't that Kumagawa was someone to be reasoned with, but the sudden turn of events caught Ayanokouji off guard. He could think of several ways Kumagawa might have screwed up, but this one is confusing.

『Should I describe it word for word? 』

Ryuuen grinned, watching the exchange like it was entertainment. "Hah. You really don't listen to your own classmates, do you?"

Horikita shot him a glare. "Stay out of this."

"Why? You're the one dragging him around like some pet, and now he's refusing to follow orders. Isn't that embarrassing?"

"Enough." She turned back to Kumagawa. "Just move."

Kumagawa smiled.

『Nope. 』

"...Excuse me?"

『No. Nyet. Nein. I refuse.』

Horikita inhaled sharply, trying to suppress her irritation. Ayanokouji, sensing things were escalating, finally spoke up.

"Kumagawa, stop messing around. Let's go."

『Hmm, but why? Give me a good reason.』

"We don't have time for this."

『That's not a reason, that's an excuse. Try again.』

Ayanokouji exhaled slowly, feeling a rare sense of mild frustration. Now he knew—bringing Kumagawa here was a mistake.

He had thought it through logically before making the decision. Kumagawa, despite his unpredictable nature, had certain qualities that could be useful. His reputation alone made him a perfect smokescreen, and with how absurd his behavior was, no one would ever take him seriously. That made him the perfect distraction.

But that was exactly the problem.

Ayanokouji realized now that he had made an error in judgment. He had treated Kumagawa like a normal, albeit troublesome person.

Ayanokouji wasn't used to dealing with people like this.

He had assumed that, even if Kumagawa was difficult, he would still follow some kind of reasoning. That was why Ayanokouji had justified his presence in the first place.

But now, he saw the flaw in his thinking.

"...Fine. Stay here if you want."

Horikita looked at him in mild disbelief. "You're just giving up?"

"There's no point arguing with him."

『See? Ayanokouji-kun gets it. 』

Horikita clicked her tongue, clearly annoyed, but didn't press further. With nothing left to say, she turned on her heel, and Ayanokouji followed suit.

As they walked away from Class C's camp, Horikita's expression darkened.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The sounds of rustling leaves and distant murmurs from other students filled the air. Then—

"Ayanokouji-kun, are you an idiot?"

"That's a bit harsh." Ayanokouji glanced at her.

"No, it's the only appropriate response. Why would you leave Kumagawa with Ryuuen of all people?"

Ayanokouji considered her words. She wasn't wrong. Leaving Kumagawa alone was already a risk, but leaving him with someone as volatile as Ryuuen made things even more unpredictable.

With him as the leader, Class D now had no idea what Kumagawa would do.

Horikita took his silence as agreement and pressed further. "Did you think this through at all? If something happens because of him, it'll be your responsibility."

Ayanokouji let out a small sigh.

"I understand your concerns, but think about it another way."

Horikita frowned but listened.

"If we forced Kumagawa to leave with us, what would happen?"

"He would've complained, but he would've come with us," she said.

"Are you sure?"

Horikita hesitated. "...No."

"Exactly. There's no guarantee he would've followed us quietly. And if we tried to force him, he might've just made things worse on purpose. It would be weird if we forced Kumagawa of all people to return with us. Everybody in the school knows what kind of personality he has, so if we did that, Ryuuen would definitely suspect something."

Horikita looked frustrated but didn't argue.

"Besides," Ayanokouji continued, "this way, we can observe what happens. If Kumagawa does something unpredictable, we'll at least know who he's interacting with and what effects he's having."

"You're saying it's better to let him run wild where we can see the results?"

"More or less. If he's going to cause chaos anyway, it's better for us to be aware of it rather than having him act behind our backs."

Horikita's expression didn't ease.

"That's not good enough," she said. "You're assuming we'll be able to manage the damage after the fact. But what if he does something irreversible?"

Ayanokouji met her gaze calmly.

"Then we'll adapt."

Saying that, was like trying to use an umbrella in a hurricane. Pointless. Leaving Kumagawa alone with Ryuuen was already a disaster waiting to happen, but there wasn't much they could do about it now. No matter how he looked at it, Kumagawa was a liability for this exam.

Ayanokouji had given Horikita his reasoning, but even she seemed aware that there weren't many good options here.

She exhaled through her nose and started walking again. "Fine. But if he screws things up, it's on you."

"Noted."

Even as he said that, Ayanokouji knew Horikita wasn't entirely wrong to be concerned.

But at this point, all they could do was wait and see.

『END』

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