Classroom of the Elite, Kusuo Saiki

Chabashira Sae organized her teaching materials.

"Ayanokouji, I need to talk to you. Come to my office."

Chapter 63: The Summer Vacation Trip Officially Begins!

After the last class, most of the students left.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji packed his things and headed to Sae Chabashira's office—

Behind him, Kusuo Saiki used invisibility to quietly follow.

He knew that Chabashira Saeko's search for Ayanokouji Kiyotaka was definitely not for anything good, and to prevent any unexpected situations from happening, it was better to stay with him.

'I wonder what the teacher wanted to see Ayanokouji about... A strange teacher and a strange student, they're a perfect match.'

Just as Saiki Kusuo was internally complaining, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had just reached the corner, stopped and turned around abruptly—his gaze seemed to be fixed on Saiki Kusuo, and the distance between the two was less than two meters.

"Strange, I have a feeling that someone is following me. Am I just overthinking it?"

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji muttered to himself, and after carefully observing his surroundings, continued toward the office.

'This guy... is his sensory ability like that of a wild animal? I've already used invisibility.'

A flicker of panic crossed Saiki Kusuo's mind, but he quickly calmed down, further concealing his presence, and followed behind Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, soon arriving near the office.

Chabashira Sae was leaning against the doorway, seemingly waiting for Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Come in."

"I don't understand at all why you called me here."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji replied expressionlessly.

"They say it's inside."

Chabashira Sae led Ayanokoji Kiyotaka into the office, with the invisible Saiki Kusuo following behind.

"Although the word 'counselor's office' might give you an unpleasant impression, this place is surprisingly nice—the reason being that there's no one monitoring you here. This is because the school is concerned that teachers and students often discuss matters involving a lot of personal privacy, so there are no cameras."

"Tea Pillar Sae said with a smile."

'Heh, if the school were really that humane, they wouldn't have created this inexplicable S system, would they?'

Kusuo Saiki thought to himself.

"So, what is it you want to talk about? I'm busy making summer plans right now."

"That's ridiculous. You probably don't have any friends, so why would you need to make a summer vacation plan?"

"No, no, no, that's a bit of an exaggeration. I do have a few friends, though you can count them on two fingers. But the number isn't the important thing."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji said.

From a high school student's perspective, who could be considered a friend? I'm not sure if Horikita counts, but Sudo, Ike, and Yamauchi probably do, Kushida should count... I'm not sure if Saiki counts.

'To say such things with a blank expression...it's so disconcerting...'

Kusuo Saiki was already considering leaving.

"I called you here today because I wanted you to hear a little about my life experiences."

【oh? 】

'oh? ’

The same words simultaneously came to the minds of both Kusuo Saiki and Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.

"This is something I've never said to anyone since I became a teacher. Just take it as nonsense. How do you students in Class C view me as your class teacher?"

'I won't do anything related to teaching.'

Without the slightest hesitation, Kusuo Saiki gave himself his answer.

"That's another strange question. I think you're a beautiful woman—may I answer that?"

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji said without changing his expression.

'ox.'

Kusuo Saiki gave Kiyotaka Ayanokouji a 'high evaluation' in his heart. He thought that only Kiyotaka would speak to his teacher like that. At the same time, he could also keenly sense the terrifying killing intent emanating from Sae Chabashira.

[This guy... No, I need to control my emotions. Ayanokouji is an important pawn in my climb to the top...]

"For a teacher to have such thoughts is a major failure."

Just like the story of the Wings of Icarus, the simple summary is this: Once upon a time, there was a great inventor in Greece named Daedalus. He was commissioned by King Minos to build a labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur, but he was later abandoned by King Minos...

"Hey, hey, hey, aren't your thoughts wandering a bit too far? Are you telling a story from your inner monologue? It's like a novelist trying to reach a word count because they don't know what to write."

Looking at Ayanokouji in front of me, for some reason I thought of the Wings of Icarus... because comparing various situations, this seemed the closest... I was forced into a corner, so this was the only thing I could do; I had to try my best to climb up...

"No, since you're also aiming for Class A, then at least fulfill your duties as a teacher, okay? If you don't care about anything else every day, there's no way you'll get into Class A."

Kusuo Saiki was somewhat speechless at Chabashira Sae, but he was also curious about what Chabashira Sae was trying to do.

"If you don't mind me comparing you to other teachers, then I think you seem to think it doesn't matter what happens to our class. You're probably an indifferent teacher who isn't interested in students."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji replied.

'Are you really going to just say it outright?'

"You're not wrong, but it's not entirely the truth... I used to be a student in Class D at this school too..."

"So you're in Class D too?"

"However, the difference wasn't as huge in our time. In the last semester of third grade, we were only less than 100 points behind Class A..."

Chabashira Sae began to tell her story of the past, while Saiki Kusuo found a box of popcorn in his arms at some point.

I wanted to use my story to move Ayanokouji, to let him know that getting an A requires tremendous effort.

"...That's my story from before."

"Chabashira Sae said, while carefully observing Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, anticipating her reaction.

"I can't understand these things. What do these life experiences have to do with me?"

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji answered without hesitation, showing no reaction to Sae Chabashira's words.

[Is Teacher Chabashira trying to make me empathize by saying something like this? But that's impossible.]

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already figured out Chabashira Sae's purpose.

"I believe you are indispensable to getting promoted to Class A."

Chabashira Sae immediately spoke, her gaze becoming serious.

[Damn it...this guy is completely impervious to reason, I can only resort to that one trick—]

“A few days ago, a man contacted the school and said he wanted to expel Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.”

Chabashira Sae immediately spoke.

[I've heard a lot about Kiyotaka Ayanokouji from Chairman Sakayanagi. It seems Kiyotaka's father, the man who appears to know Chairman Sakayanagi, wants him expelled! I can use this to get Kiyotaka to help me advance to Class A!]

'Good heavens! How could a homeroom teacher use such methods to deceive students?'

Chabashira Sae then threatened Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, claiming that if he did not cooperate with her, she would use various means to expel him from school.

At this point, it's impossible to determine whether her words are true or false. However, if what that man said does seem to fit his style, then for me right now, I can't afford to lose this time on campus.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka thought this to himself, and then spoke:

"Teacher, you might regret using me."

"Don't worry, my life is already full of regrets."

Chashu Sae gave a self-deprecating laugh.

'So that's what it was all about? Luckily, it has nothing to do with me.'

It seemed their conversation was nearing its end, and Kusuo Saiki was preparing to leave.

But at that moment, Chabashira Sae spoke again:

"You were the one who recorded that video of Class D not long ago, weren't you?"

"It wasn't me."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, however, gave a direct negative answer.

"I already know about you, so there's no need..."

"It wasn't me."

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji gave the same answer again, and Chabashira Sae's expression finally changed slightly.

"Not you? Then who did it?"

'Seriously, how did the conversation suddenly veer towards this?'

Kusuo Saiki, who was standing to the side, gave up his plan to leave.

"I don't know anything about this either."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji shook his head.

"Without any clues or useful information, it's more likely that there's internal strife within Class D."

"Internal strife in Class D?"

Chabashira Sae's brow twitched slightly. She didn't quite agree with Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's words, but Ayanokouji Kiyotaka had no reason to lie at the moment.

After pondering for a moment, Chabashira Sae seemed to have thought of something, and then continued:

"Also, did you find anything out about Qi Mu?"

"No."

Ayanokouji Kiyotaka replied,

"It feels very ordinary, nothing special."

Although he answered in this way, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka did not think so at all.

[Since that man wanted to use the teacher to get me expelled, it means there are no other people from Shirofusa at the school. This further confirms that Qi Mu has nothing to do with Shirofusa.]