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

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『I'm happy. It seems everything goes according to your plan, isn't it?』

"What plan? I don't know what you're talking about."

Ayanokouji feigned ignorance, his expression remaining unreadable. He wasn't going to entertain Kumagawa's assumptions.

Kumagawa, however, didn't look convinced.

『Oh, come on. You're not fooling anyone. But don't worry, I don't blame you at all. But, it's kind of unfair, though. Here I was, doing my best to act like a proper leader, and now look at me.』

His smile stretched wider, unfazed by the blood still trickling from his forehead.

『Shouldn't I at least be able to vent this injustice, misfortune, tragedy, misery, calamity, catastrophe, and every other horrible thing to someone else? But, in order to bring any further trouble to anyone, I'm going to grab some nameless sucker that have the unfortunate circumstance of meeting me, and do something nasty to them to let my anger out for all this pain. 』

Without a second thought, Kumagawa lunged forward and threw a straight punch toward Ayanokouji.

Although Ayanokouji was slightly surprised by the sudden attack, it wasn't enough to shake him. He moved effortlessly, blocking Kumagawa's fist with minimal effort before countering with a strong kick to his stomach.

Crash!

The impact sent Kumagawa flying backward, crashing hard against a tree as coughed up blood.

『That hurts. Whoa my right arm isn't moving. Breathing is somehow becoming Painful. Did you train in martial arts Ayanokouji-kun? 』

'Ugh...'

Ayanokouji grimaced.

Kumagawa stood up in the most disgusting way inhumanly imaginable. His body twisted unnaturally, bones creaking as he forced himself upright. If a normal person saw this, their heart would break just from watching.

『Ahaha, look at you, Ayanokouji-kun. That face of yours-are you disgusted? Or maybe just a little bit intrigued? 』

"...No, I'm just wondering why you're still standing."

『That's cruel, Ayanokouji-kun. I'd rather you say something like, 'Wow, Kumagawa-kun, you sure are tough!' That would make me happy. 』

Kumagawa took a shaky step forward, then another. Blood dripped from his mouth, his breathing ragged, yet his smile remained intact.

『You really don't hold back, huh? That kick just now... If I were a normal person, my ribs would be shattered. Ah, wait, maybe they already are? I can't really tell. 』

"...Then sit down before you collapse."

『No can do. After all, I still have to let out all my frustration. Otherwise, wouldn't this be unfair? 』

Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes. He could tell. Kumagawa wasn't bluffing. Despite his injuries, he had no intention of stopping.

This time, however, Kumagawa's speed was noticeably faster. Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe he had been holding back earlier, but his movements were sharper, more refined. Even so, Ayanokouji kept up without issue.

He threw a feint, a quick jab meant to draw out a reaction.

Kumagawa dodged it effortlessly.

'As expected, he managed to evade it, but...'

Without a moment's hesitation, Ayanokouji swung his leg upward. In just a fraction of a second, his foot reached its peak before crashing down sharply onto Kumagawa's calf.

With his balance completely thrown off, Kumagawa crumpled to the ground.

Ayanokouji targeted a specific point where the nerves were highly sensitive. A strike there disrupted movement, forcing the body into a temporary shutdown. Coupled with Kumagawa's already weakened state and blood loss, that should have been enough to knock him unconscious, even if only for a short while.

Yet-

『Ugh... Agh!!! So violent. I wonder if my collarbone is broken and went into my lungs. 』

"!!!"

Kumagawa stood up again.

Ayanokouji's expression remained unchanged, but this time, he was genuinely surprised. That kind of strike should have shut down his nervous system for a few moments, enough to render him unable to move.

Ayanokouji took a step back and spoke in a calm yet firm tone.

"Kumagawa, stop. If you keep moving like that, the blood loss will be too much."

He wasn't bluffing. The cut on Kumagawa's head was still bleeding, and with every movement, he was accelerating that loss. If they continued like this, the worst-case scenario wasn't just losing the fight-Kumagawa could actually die from excessive blood loss before anyone could help him.

If this kept going... things could spiral into a point of no return.

『That superficial way of thinking is outdated, Ayanokouji-kun. 』

His body was battered. Normally, it would be impossible to stay conscious with that kind of wound, let alone stand. But Kumagawa was different. No matter the circumstances, he would always stand up.

『Nobody thinks that they will die. Even though everyone understands that life will eventually end, they just think it won't be today or tomorrow. But you will eventually die.』

Kumagawa buttoned his shirt, as if preparing himself.

『Today, you will die. Tomorrow, you will die. Next week, you will die.』

『Accidents, disasters, illnesses, coincidences, recklessness, betrayals, foolishness, despair, cruelty, inevitability, powerlessness, fate, and misfortune. Eventually, everyone dies.』

It was an unsettling smile. A smile that would make anyone shudder.

『So let's stop talking like that, yes? 』

Then, without hesitation, Kumagawa dashed forward once again.

This time, Ayanokouji made a decision. He needed to do something more drastic-something that would force Kumagawa to lose consciousness.

Kumagawa's physicality was abnormal. His durability was inhuman. Even Ayanokouji himself wasn't sure if he could still move properly under such conditions. Yet, despite that monstrous endurance, Kumagawa lacked any refined fighting style. He charged in recklessly, throwing his body forward without any care for the consequences.

Ayanokouji saw his opening.

He moved with precision, launching his attack at the exact moment he predicted Kumagawa would overextend. His confidence was absolute-this strike would undoubtedly knock him out.

"!!!"

But-

At the last second, Kumagawa reacted.

He twisted his body in an unnatural way, slipping past Ayanokouji's attack and delivering a powerful punch straight to his ribs.

The impact sent Ayanokouji stumbling backward, forcing him to take a few steps to regain his balance.

"..."

『What? Are you surprised? Well, I'm also surprised myself. I don't usually resort to violence since I don't have my "All Fiction," but I finally understand what kind of person you are, Ayanokouji-kun... and what kind of glaring weakness you have. 』

'All Fiction?'

Ayanokouji didn't understand the nonsense that came out of Kumagawa's mouth, but the part about his weakness caught his interest.

『But I don't want to tell you. Out of pure pettiness.』

Kumagawa grinned.

『If you want to know, you'll have to defeat me first. That's how it works, right? Like something straight out of a Jump magazine. The hero doesn't get to learn the final secret of his enemy unless he beats him in a fight. 』

Crackle.

Kumagawa stretched his body as if he were just waking up from a nap. His movements were eerily natural-but the sounds that accompanied them were anything but. A sickening series of cracks and pops echoed through the forest as his broken bones shifted unnaturally.

Even Ayanokouji, felt a rare moment of discomfort watching him.

Realistically, Kumagawa should be incapable of moving at this point. His body had taken too much damage. His muscles should be failing. His pain receptors should be screaming. And yet-

『Let's go again. 』

Kumagawa rushed forward.

This time, something was different. His crude movements, which had once been aimless and reckless, were now slowly adjusting.

The fierce fight continued.

Ayanokouji remained calm, analyzing every movement. He struck with perfect timing, but Kumagawa absorbed each hit with a twisted smile, refusing to go down. He countered in unpredictable ways, forcing Ayanokouji to make constant readjustments.

But in the end-

Ayanokouji's fist connected cleanly with Kumagawa's face.

The impact sent him flying backward, his body hitting the ground with a dull thud.

For the first time since this fight started, Kumagawa lay still.

He looked down at Kumagawa's motionless body, sprawled out on the damp forest floor. His chest was still rising and falling, albeit faintly. He was alive.

"...Stay down."

It wasn't a command, nor was it a plea. It was just a quiet thought that slipped out.

This entire situation was ridiculous. From the moment Kumagawa fell off the cliff to the moment he stood back up with injuries that should have left him unconscious, nothing about this had made sense. His resilience, his adaptability, his sheer refusal to stay down-none of it followed any logical pattern Ayanokouji had encountered before.

"...Just stay down, Kumagawa."

『... 』

A weak groan filled the silence. Then, slowly, Kumagawa started to rise.

"!!!"

『Yeah, I lost! It's my defeat. You're really strong, Ayanokouji-kun.』

"....."

Despite his cheerful tone, his body told a different story. Blood dripped from his forehead, his mouth, and even his ears. His right arm hung limply at his side, clearly broken. His breathing was shallow, and even standing up looked like a struggle.

『That is to say, it seems this Kumagawa Misogi has been soft lately. 』

'Soft?'

That word felt out of place.

Kumagawa wobbled but managed to steady himself. His movements were sluggish, like a puppet held together by fraying strings. And yet, even now, he smiled.

『Let's go talk to Sae-chan sensei. No matter how you look at it, it doesn't seem like I can be a leader much longer.』

Without waiting for a response, Kumagawa started walking.

Ayanokouji didn't stop him. He simply watched as Kumagawa, battered and bloodied, trudged toward the beach where the staff was stationed

He'd won.

But.... It didn't feel like it.

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Kumagawa and Ayanokouji walked down the muddy road toward the beach, but due to the rain, the visibility of the road was poor. The downpour had turned the dirt into a slippery mess.

Ayanokouji took a glance at Kumagawa, who walked without much of a problem despite the serious injuries covering his body. His face was bloodied, his arm hung at an unnatural angle, and his breathing was uneven. By all accounts, he should barely be able to move.

Ayanokouji still didn't understand it. Even after their fight, even after seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't rationalize how Kumagawa remained conscious, let alone walking.

"...You don't want to ask anything?" Ayanokouji finally spoke.

Kumagawa didn't stop walking.

『Ask? About what?』

"About what just happened."

『Ah, that. No, not really. If you don't want to say anything, then I won't ask. If you want to lie, then go ahead. 』

Ayanokouji remained silent, watching him.

『Besides, I don't really care about things like 'why' or 'how.'』 Kumagawa turned his head slightly, giving Ayanokouji a sideways glance. 『It doesn't change the fact that I lost. And losers don't get to ask questions.』

Ayanokouji found that logic flawed. But at the same time, Kumagawa spoke as if he truly believed it.

Eventually, they arrived at the beach. The ship was floating in the water, and the lights were on.

They started walking toward the beach.

Normally, a tent for the staff would be stationed nearby, but it had been taken down to prevent it from being blown away by the wind. The storm had been relentless, and the rough conditions made it impossible to keep the setup intact.

They walked up the ramp and reached the ship's deck. Almost immediately, one of the teachers noticed their presence and rushed toward them.

"You're prohibited from entering here. You'll be disqualif-"

The teacher's words stopped mid-sentence.

His gaze fell on Kumagawa. And in that instant, his expression changed from stern to shock to worry.

It was an expected reaction-anyone who saw Kumagawa right now would have reacted the same way. His body was a mess.

Despite looking like he had just been through a life-or-death situation, Kumagawa's posture was completely relaxed. He wasn't staggering, groaning, or showing any signs of pain. He simply stood there, smiling, as if nothing was wrong.

Suddenly, Chabashira arrived, her expression shifting to one of deep concern the moment she saw him.

"Kumagawa! What the hell happened to you?!"

She reached out instinctively, as if to support him, but Kumagawa simply tilted his head with a carefree smile, taking a small step back to avoid her touch.

『What's wrong, Sae-chan-sensei? You're making a face like I'm about to drop dead at any moment.』

"Your entire body is covered in blood! Do you even realize the condition you're in?!"

『Hmm... I don't know? Maybe? Honestly, I haven't been keeping track. But, if you say so, then I guess I must be pretty messed up.』

Chabashira clenched her fists. She wasn't in the mood for his usual nonsense.

Still, Ayanokouji was impressed by how Kumagawa still managed to play around.

『Ah, wait, wait, Sae-chan-sensei! 』 Kumagawa called out.

Chabashira stopped, glancing back.

『Before that, I have something important to tell you. 』

『I quit. 』

For a moment, her brain didn't process the words. "...What?"

『Being the leader. I mean, let's be real, there's no way I can keep going like this, right?』 Kumagawa gestured to himself, as if just now acknowledging the sorry state he was in.

『So, I officially resign. I leave the rest to Ayanokouji-kun. 』

"...We'll talk about that later. For now, get inside before you collapse."

『Ehhh, that sounds like a pain. 』

"Kumagawa."

For once, there was no teasing tone in her voice. No sarcasm or the usual frustration. Just genuine concern. Seeing that their emotionless teacher worry for someone was weird, but that mean she still have empathy in her heart as a human being.

Seeing that, Kumagawa chuckled softly.

『Alright, alright. I'll be good.』

With that, he finally allowed himself to be led inside.

With this, Class D would lose another thirty points due to Kumagawa's retirement.

『』『』『』『』『』

August 7th.

It was finally time for our short period on the uninhabited island to come to an end.

"We're now tallying up the test results. Please wait a moment. Feel free to use the rest area if you would like, or have a drink."

With that announcement, the students began making their way toward the rest area. Underneath the provisional tents, tables and chairs had been arranged for them, providing a bit of comfort before the final results were announced. It seemed the school had at least a little consideration for its students.

Each class gathered separately.

Class A and B had a composed, almost lively atmosphere while Class D felt heavy with tension. Meanwhile, Class C was nowhere to be seen, having been wiped out by mass retirements on the third or fourth day. That left only three classes competing for the top spot.

But among them, Class D was in the worst condition.

Their morale was at an all-time low, thanks to the ongoing war between the boys and girls. On top of that, three members of their class had retired, costing them a total of 90 points.

And, as expected, the students were still bitter about Kōenji.

Ike had also retired out of sheer frustration, but nobody really blamed him. The girls, in particular, seemed to avoid mentioning him, as if they still felt guilty over what had happened.

Then there was Kumagawa.

When Ayanokōji explained his situation, the initial reaction was frustration. Another lost member meant another deduction in points. But as soon as they heard the details, their attitudes shifted.

"Kumagawa fell off a cliff?!" Sudou nearly shouted.

"Seriously?" Yamauchi looked skeptical at first, but the way Ayanokōji spoke made it clear he wasn't joking.

Even Horikita, who was usually indifferent to Kumagawa, let out a small sigh-whether it was concern or exasperation, it was hard to tell.

The strangest reaction, however, came from Hirata.

Of everyone, he seemed the most affected. His brows furrowed, and he looked genuinely troubled. Considering it was Hirata, his concern wasn't surprising, but there was something different this time.

Before anyone could dwell on it further, an announcement came over the speakers.

"Alright, let's begin."

Mashima and the other teachers stepped forward. The results of the exam were about to be revealed.

The first-year students hurriedly tried to form a line, but Mashima-sensei waved his hands at them to stop

"It's fine. We don't mind if you want to keep relaxing. The test has already concluded. Now we've entered the summer vacation part of the trip, so it's all right if you loosen up."

Even though he'd said that, tensions were naturally running high for the students. They all stopped their chatter in an instant.

"Over this past week, we, your teachers, have closely watched your efforts in this special test. There were some students who took on the challenge honestly, head-on. There were some who devised schemes to tackle the test. Many things have happened, but overall, the test results were splendid. Good work."

The students appeared relieved to receive such straightforward praise from Mashima-sensei. It seemed like everyone was finally starting to believe the one-week test was really over.

"Well then, to get straight to the point. I would like to announce the results of the special test."

"We will not accept any questions regarding the results, no exceptions. We would like you to accept the results you have been given, analyze them, and use them to help you for the next test. It is what it is. Don't wet yourselves over these results. You must accept reality, you know?"

With that blunt statement, the mood in Class D plummeted.

No one had high hopes, but this confirmed their fears. At best, they would earn less than 100 points. And with Kumagawa having retired as the leader-his key card lost-there was a high chance their final score would be even worse.

Meanwhile, Katsuragi from Class A stood with his usual composed expression. Internally, however, he was more than confident. He had led his class with precise decision-making, ensuring they would secure the highest score. This test would widen the gap between Class A and the others even further.

Class B, in contrast, maintained their usual relaxed atmosphere. Some students appeared tense, but overall, their mood wasn't nearly as heavy as Class D's. They still had faith in Ichinose and the way their class operated.

Just as the teachers prepared to announce the rankings-

"Hey. Don't end this without me."

The entire beach fell silent.

Dozens of students turned their heads toward the unexpected voice. Emerging from the dense forest, covered in dirt and scrapes, his uniform disheveled and his hair an absolute mess-was Ryūen Kakeru.

Ryuen coming out from the forest with dirty clothing and injuries all over. His hair is even unkempt

"Ryūen?!?!"

Murmurs spread among the students.

"What? Didn't all of Class C retire?" Kushida voiced the confusion on everyone's minds.

Even Sudō, usually slow to react, furrowed his brows.

"You mean that bastard stayed on the island this whole time?"

As far as everyone knew, Class C had been completely wiped out by the third or fourth day. There shouldn't have been any reason for Ryūen to still be here.

Yet here he was.

Katsuragi stepped forward with a smug look, arms crossed.

"Excellent work, Ryūen. We of Class A will earn over 500 S-points. Let me extend a hand of gratitude for your hard work," he said, as if already declaring his own victory.

"Hey now. You're about to see something interesting."

"What do you mean by that?"

Rustle.

A sound came from the bushes behind Ryūen.

Ibuki Mio stepped out.

Katsuragi was surprised to see her here now of all times. He knew for a fact that Ibuki had already retired from the exam. There was no reason for her to be on this island anymore.

But before he could form a response, Mashima-sensei continued the announcement without pause.

"Now, we will announce the rankings. The lowest class is Class A, with Twenty points."

"Twenty?"

Katsuragi's eyes widened. He didn't understand. No-he couldn't understand. His class had been flawless in its execution. Their strategy was meticulous. There was no way they had gotten twenty points.

Yet Mashima-sensei continued without acknowledging the confusion.

"In third place is Class B, with 70 points. Coming in second place is Class C, with 71 points."

A commotion broke out.

"What the hell?! Class C?!"

"How did they-?"

The rankings made no sense. Especially to Class D.

"And finally, in first place, Class D with 111 points. This concludes the announcement."

Silence.

Not a single person reacted at first. The students of Class D all stared in stunned disbelief. Their eyes darted around, as if trying to confirm whether they'd misheard something.

"...Huh?"

The first to break the silence was Sudō. Then, realization hit him.

"HELL YEAH! WE DID IT!"

His voice rang out across the beach, snapping everyone else out of their daze.

"We actually won?!"

"How-"

The confused murmurs gradually turned into cheers as the students of Class D erupted in celebration.

Meanwhile-

"What's the meaning of this, Katsuragi?!"

Class A had turned on their leader.

Katsuragi clenched his fists, still trying to process what had happened.

"Something is strange... What does this mean?" he muttered under his breath.

Ichinose and Ryūen also remained quiet, both of them wearing similarly troubled expressions. None of the leaders understood how the rankings had ended up this way.

『Yahoo, everyone! How's your exam going? 』

A loud voice echoed from the cruise ship.

The students instinctively turned their heads toward the source.

Standing on the deck-wrapped in bandages from head to toe, grinning from ear to ear-was Kumagawa Misogi.

Katsuragi, Ichinose, and Ryūen all stared at him, their expressions a mix of shock, confusion, and disbelief.

Even Ayanokōji, who rarely reacted to anything, felt an unusual mix of emotions as he looked up at him. He had already expected something like this-but seeing it with his own eyes made it all the more absurd.

Kumagawa smiled.

It was the most annoying, most infuriating smile imaginable.

And with that, the Deserted Island Exam came to an end.

Class Ranking Updates

Class A : 824 ▲ (+20)

Class B : 733 ▲ (+70)

Class C : 463 ▲ (+71)

Class D : 198 ▲ (+111)

『END』

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