Classroom of the Elite (LN)
Classroom of the Elite (LN) - Volume 11 Chapter 2.1: The First Years’ Final Battle Part 1

Part 1

After Chabashira left, there was still a bit of time before classes started.

Our classmates crowded around the handout of the event rules that had been left on the podium.

鈥淚f you鈥檇 excuse me.鈥?/p>

Horikita squeezed her way through the crowd and took pictures of it with her cell phone.

She had probably taken the initiative to do so in order to take her time to read through it once she got back to her own seat.

I simply stayed in my seat and watched as it happened.

鈥淚鈥檇 be willing to show you too. Though, you might not be interested.鈥?/p>

鈥淚 appreciate it.鈥?/p>

Immediately after, she texted me the two pictures.

Event Selection Exam 鈥?Rules for Selecting Events

There are restrictions on events and rules that are overly obscure or complex. Exceedingly niche event genres may not be allowed. Should an event include written exam questions or anything else of that nature, the school will provide the problems in order to maintain fairness. Additionally, attempting to deviate from or modify the fundamental rules of an event is prohibited.

Usable Facilities:

鈥?On the day of the special exam, the designated commanders will operate from the multipurpose room. Additionally, school facilities such as the gymnasium, sports grounds, music room, and science lab are generally permitted for use, but there are some exceptions.

Event and Time Restrictions:

鈥?For each class, events deemed to be duplicates of pre-existing events will not be accepted. Additionally, it is possible for events that have no stated time limit or that take too long to complete to be dismissed.

Number of Participants:

鈥?The number of participants required for each of the ten proposed events must be different, excluding those acting as substitutes.

鈥?The minimum number of participants is one and the maximum number is twenty, including those acting as substitutes.

鈥?A class may not submit more than two events that require more than ten participants from a single class, including those acting as substitutes.

Conditions for Participation:

鈥?Each student may participate in one event and no more than that. However, if every student from a particular class has participated in an event, students from that class will be allowed to participate more than once.

The Role of the Commander:

鈥?Commanders hold the right to be involved in all seven events. How exactly they鈥檒l be involved will be determined by the class that proposed the event. These methods of participation must be approved by the school prior to being accepted.

It was roughly divided into five categories.

For any given event, there could be anywhere from one to twenty participants. There aren鈥檛 very many events that would require twenty people but, depending on how it鈥檚 handled, it would be more than possible to come up with some. If we manage to come up with two events that collectively use close to forty people, we鈥檇 be able to let some students participate two or even three times depending on the circumstances. No matter how much we want to keep the numbers low and only choose a select few to participate, it would immediately become difficult to do so since we have to ensure that the number of participants in each event is different.

鈥淛eez, the school鈥檚 gone and made quite the special exam for us, haven鈥檛 they?鈥?/p>

鈥淵eah. But, I guess that might be what they鈥檙e going for, testing our overall growth this past year and all.鈥?/p>

While many students would be participating, a class would still never be able to win if they didn鈥檛 work together. That was the kind of exam the school had created for us.

It鈥檚 similar to how it was back during the sports festival, except this time physical ability wasn鈥檛 the only thing that would give an advantage. Depending on how one looked at it, it was entirely possible that it could turn into a battle purely focused on dexterity, academics, or mental capability.

Most likely, the key to this exam was not only understanding our own strengths and weaknesses, but figuring out those of the other classes as well. Furthermore, I have to agree with the amount of time they鈥檝e allotted to us for event selections. We would have to go through a considerable number of group discussions and choose carefully if we wanted to get the most out of it.

Moreover, there are also students in our class who might neglect to participate. If we can鈥檛 get everyone to participate in an event at least once, nobody would be able to go a second time, which we鈥檇 have to make additional adjustments for.

Having more or less understood the rules, Horikita let show a slight face of discontent.

鈥淪eems you have some complaints about the special exam.鈥?/p>

鈥淵es, many. The biggest one being the fact that the class with more of their own events chosen on exam day pretty much holds the key to victory. We鈥檒l be put at a major disadvantage if the events happen to favor our opponents.鈥?/p>

The only events we could have absolute confidence in are the ones we prepared ourselves.

So, it was only natural that we鈥檇 prefer to compete with our own events instead of those of our opponents.

鈥淚t鈥檇 be much fairer if the school were to just select ten events, present them to each class, and then randomly pick seven of them on the day of the exam.鈥?/p>

Indeed, if one were to evaluate it on the basis of fairness, Horikita鈥檚 objection would certainly be correct. However鈥?/p>

鈥淚f they did it that way, the lower-ranked classes would most likely have even lower chances of winning though. We should probably interpret this way of handling it as the school being merciful and allowing the lower classes to also have a chance of coming out on top if they鈥檙e lucky enough.鈥?/p>

Generally speaking, the higher a class鈥檚 rank, the more excellent its students.

鈥淭hat鈥?That鈥檚 certainly another way to look at it, but鈥?this exam still doesn鈥檛 sit well with me.鈥?/p>

Speaking of which鈥?/p>

Despite it being such a critical time for the class to come together and wrap our heads around the exam, Hirata simply sat motionless at his desk, his eyes downcast as he quietly waited for time to pass by.

鈥淗e was the center of the class until just the other day.鈥?/p>

鈥淎re you saying that it鈥檚 my fault?鈥?/p>

鈥淲ell, who knows.鈥?/p>

It was Hirata鈥檚 own problem, but I didn鈥檛 think that anyone, himself included, knew exactly what that problem was.

鈥淕uys, there鈥檚 one thing I鈥檇 like cleared up about before we start talking.鈥?/p>

While Hirata remained completely motionless, Sud艒 spoke up instead, set on starting up an internal class discussion.

After a brief glance in my direction, he looked over the entire class.

鈥淢any of us aren鈥檛 happy with what happened last weekend. Ain鈥檛 that right Kanji?鈥?/p>

鈥溾€ell, I dunno if I鈥檓 unhappy with it. I really just don鈥檛 get what happened is all. Everyone鈥檚 been wondering how Ayanok艒ji ended up with the most praise votes. Like, how鈥檇 he even get 42 of 鈥榚m?鈥?/p>

Many eyes were beginning to turn toward me, with those from the Ayanok艒ji Group being no exception.

鈥淗e must鈥檝e gotten tons of praise votes from the other classes, right?鈥?/p>

There hadn鈥檛 been any time for explanations or excuses last weekend.

I had already anticipated that somebody would bring this matter up a long time ago.

The only issue was, there was no way for me to easily speak up about it in this situation.

As someone from the lower caste of the class, I wasn鈥檛 in any position where I could openly explain what had taken place.

鈥淎bout that, I鈥檒l explain what happened.鈥?/p>

Horikita took the initiative and spoke up in my place.

鈥淗old up. We want to hear it from Ayanok艒ji. We lost a buddy鈥?You know that right?鈥?/p>

鈥淭hat might not be possible.鈥?/p>

With that, Horikita stood up and began to cover for me.

鈥淣ot possible? How so?鈥?/p>

鈥淏ecause it鈥檚 quite likely that Ayanok艒ji-kun himself doesn鈥檛 quite understand what happened.鈥?/p>

鈥溾€yanok艒ji doesn鈥檛 understand?鈥?/p>

鈥淐orrect. To put it simply, it was all part of Sakayanagi-san鈥檚 plan. I鈥檝e personally taken the time to try and figure out why she did such a thing. I鈥檒l explain that as well.鈥?/p>

In order to provide a step-by-step explanation, Horikita began to answer in a way that was easy to understand.

鈥淔irst off, she targeted Yamauchi-kun, telling him to feel reassured since she鈥檇 provide him with praise votes. In fact, there鈥檚 no doubt about this since Yamauchi ultimately ended up admitting to it himself. But, behind the scenes, she had probably chosen to give those praise votes to a different student.鈥?/p>

鈥淭hat鈥?I guess that鈥檚 true. But, why did she choose to give them to Ayanok艒ji?鈥?/p>

鈥淕ood question. Why do you think that is, Sud艒-kun?鈥?/p>

鈥淯hm鈥?Maybe it鈥檚 somethin鈥?like Ayanok艒ji鈥檚 actually super incredible? So she decided he was worthy of praise votes鈥?or somethin鈥?like that?鈥?/p>

鈥淗ave you seen anything unusually exceptional about him? To me, he just seems like a student who鈥檚 quick on his feet.鈥?/p>

鈥淭hat鈥?Well, I guess that鈥檚 true.鈥?/p>

鈥淗is grades on written exams haven鈥檛 been that great, and aside from that one time he ran fast, he hasn鈥檛 been very noteworthy in sports either. Instead, since his other qualities aren鈥檛 on the same level as his running speed, it鈥檚 possible that he鈥檚 not even athletically capable in the first place. What鈥檚 more, he most certainly doesn鈥檛 come across as charismatic either.鈥?/p>

From the perspective of those in our surroundings, her words almost described me to a fault. There simply wasn鈥檛 any room for disagreement.

鈥淭hat is to say, your idea is improbable.鈥?/p>

Horikita spoke without even the slightest hesitation.

鈥淪o you鈥檙e saying he was chosen by mere coincidence? Man, I just don鈥檛 see it.鈥?/p>

鈥淭ry using your head a little. For argument鈥檚 sake, let鈥檚 suppose Ayanok艒ji-kun is actually an incredibly talented person. Would an enemy like Sakayanagi really be willing to deliberately give a protection point to somebody like that? It鈥檇 be undeniably stupid for them to cast praise votes on a seemingly formidable opponent. If there had to be an exception, it鈥檇 be to cast them for someone predestined to end up with the most votes in their class from the very beginning like Ichinose-san, wouldn鈥檛 it?鈥?/p>

In reality, Ichinose had ended up with a total of 98 praise votes. This came from the idea that it鈥檇 be better to stack all the praise votes on one single person, instead of casting them for somebody at random.

鈥淚鈥檇 totally never wanna give a protection point to someone like that.鈥?/p>

鈥淭rue! That鈥檚 true.鈥?/p>

Kei and Sakura both spoke out in agreement with Horikita鈥檚 deduction, followed by many of the other boys in the class.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know the reason why Sakayanagi-san targeted Yamauchi-kun, but everything that happened makes sense if we assume that she wanted to have Yamauchi-kun expelled from the school. It probably went down exactly as she planned for it to, setting it all up so that Yamauchi-kun and Ayanok艒ji-kun would butt heads. In which case, she could seal Yamauchi-kun鈥檚 fate by focusing a large number of praise votes on Ayanok艒ji-kun instead.鈥?/p>

鈥淪o you鈥檙e saying鈥?Haruki鈥檚 expulsion was the entire purpose of Sakayanagi鈥檚 strategy?鈥?/p>

鈥淓xactly. And it follows that Ayanok艒ji-kun being chosen鈥?no, being used was just a mere coincidence. He doesn鈥檛 stand out, nor does he pose a threat to her class. From what I can gather, that must have been how it all played out.鈥?/p>

Generally speaking, Horikita鈥檚 explanation was very advantageous to me. I couldn鈥檛 think of a single way it could be used to implicate me any further.

鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty much the only reason I can think of for why she targeted Yamauchi-kun and protected Ayanok艒ji-kun.鈥?/p>

After hearing everything she鈥檚 said, even Sud艒 and Ike would have no choice but to agree with her.

And yet, it still seemed like Sud艒 just couldn鈥檛 come to terms with it.

鈥淎re you upset that I stood up for him?鈥?/p>

Horikita asked, having seen Sud艒鈥檚 conflicted expression.

Sud艒 simply looked away from her without giving her a response.

鈥淚 stood up for Ayanok艒ji-kun because I鈥檓 well aware that the one most responsible for Yamauchi-kun鈥檚 expulsion is me, not him.鈥?/p>

The one who had exposed Yamauchi鈥檚 schemes to the rest of the class and had driven him into a corner was none other than Horikita herself.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e looking for someone to blame, it would be ridiculous for you to pin it on anyone other than me.鈥?/p>

鈥淭hat鈥檚鈥︹€?/p>

It would be impossible for Sud艒 to blame Horikita for what had happened.

Deep down, he understood the reality of the situation: that unnecessary students would inevitably be discarded and cast away.

It鈥檚 just, no matter how profitable it was to think this way, it wasn鈥檛 just something everyone could take at face value.

At the end of the day, the frustration was really because I had ended up with a protection point.

Because I was the only person who could safely watch over the exam from the sidelines.

鈥淭his special exam鈥?How about I volunteer to be the commander?鈥?/p>

Having sensed an opportunity, I cut in.

While I still hadn鈥檛 heard anything from Sakayanagi, I was nearly 100% certain she鈥檇 be the commander for Class A.

In which case, we probably wouldn鈥檛 be able to faceoff against each other unless I held the position as well.

鈥淚 know that the class is wary of me because of what happened during The Class Vote Exam, so I want to clear up those suspicions by becoming the scapegoat this time around.鈥?/p>

鈥淎yanok艒ji鈥︹€?/p>

Sud艒 looked at me, a bit surprised.

鈥淪weet! This way, nobody鈥檒l have to be expelled and Ayanok艒ji鈥檒l be able to clear his name as well!鈥?/p>

Thrilled at the idea that we鈥檇 get through the exam without any expulsions, Ike spoke up in support of my nomination.

鈥淣o, hold on a sec. I鈥檓 glad Ayanok艒ji-kun鈥檚 okay with taking on the position, but I鈥檓 not exactly okay with having him be the commander.鈥?/p>

The unexpected student who cut in this time was none other than Shinohara.

鈥淪ure, by having Ayanok艒ji-kun do it, we won鈥檛 have to say goodbye to anyone else if we lose because of his protection point. But, doesn鈥檛 that kinda feel like we鈥檇 be giving up on winning from the get-go? It鈥檇 be like we鈥檙e setting ourselves up just to get stomped on! Horikita-san said it herself, Ayanok艒ji-kun is just average.鈥?/p>

In other words, she simply couldn鈥檛 see our class coming out on top with me leading the way.

鈥淚f it turns out that we鈥檙e matched up with Class A or Class B, wouldn鈥檛 he have to face off against Sakayanagi-san or Ichinose-san? The commander seems like it鈥檚 real important, and I don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l stand a chance if it鈥檚 Ayanok艒ji-kun. You guys know we鈥檒l probably drop back down to Class D if we lose, right?鈥?/p>

Some of the students would undoubtedly agree with Shinohara鈥檚 opinion.

鈥淟ike, wouldn鈥檛 it at least be better to see if anyone else鈥檚 interested?鈥?/p>

Despite her words, the position came with a heavy risk attached to it. Nobody here would be foolish enough to readily raise their hand.

In the past, we might鈥檝e been able to rely on Hirata, but this time, it didn鈥檛 seem like that was going to happen.

Even now, he sat alone with his head down, not even attempting to act like he was taking part in the discussion.

Under these circumstances, if there was anybody else fearless enough to nominate themself for the role鈥?/p>

Everyone gradually turned and looked toward Horikita.

However, considering the situation, I didn鈥檛 think-

鈥淚 apologize, but I don鈥檛 want to take on the risk either. If Ayanok艒ji-kun鈥檚 volunteering himself, then I鈥檇 like to enjoy the same benefits as the rest of the class. Shinohara-san鈥檚 right. There鈥檚 no honest guarantee we can beat Class A or Class B if we go up against one of them at our current level.鈥?/p>

鈥淏ut鈥?You were totally just covering for Ayanok艒ji-kun, like, just a few seconds ago. And now you wanna have him be commander?鈥?/p>

Kei, having been listening from the sidelines for a while now, quickly called Horikita out on her inconsistency.

鈥淚 thought he might choose to volunteer for the position on his own if I spared him the effort of proving he had nothing to do with Yamauchi-kun鈥檚 expulsion. That鈥檚 all.鈥?/p>

With this, Horikita had cleverly blocked off any of my potential escape routes.

It seemed like she had been aiming to pass the responsibilities of the commander off to me, just like I had expected of her.

In her eyes, I was much more capable than most other students.

She had probably already decided that, instead of entrusting the position to some half-baked student, it would be safer to leave it to me. Because even in the worst case, I still had a protection point, so it wouldn鈥檛 matter at all.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to ask, is there anyone else who鈥檚 willing to be the commander?鈥?/p>

At this point, the only people who could object would be those willing to put themselves on the line as well.

Regardless, there didn鈥檛 appear to be anyone else willing to take on the risk.

鈥淓ven if Ayanok艒ji-kun is the commander on paper, we can just make careful preparations for everything ahead of time. As long as he acts as instructed on the day of the exam, it shouldn鈥檛 make too much of a difference who the commander is.鈥?/p>

Voices of agreement came from various students who weren鈥檛 willing to think about it too deeply.

鈥淎t any rate, class is starting soon. The school hasn鈥檛 set aside any additional time for us to iron out the details, so it seems to me like we should arrange a time for everyone to meet up together.鈥?/p>

From what it seemed, Horikita would be the one to look after the class now that Hirata wasn鈥檛 taking the initiative to do so.