Classroom of the Elite (LN)

“Uoh, what a guy.”

Sure enough, at the space near the fitness gym where the exam results were being displayed, many students had formed a crowd. Beside the monitor was a label saying “Taking of pictures is strictly prohibited” along with two adults who were intently observing the students. They were probably related to Tsukishiro.

At a glance the monitor seemed to be displaying the rankings and their respective points, scrolling through them automatically.

Right now the groups between the 50th and 60th place as well as their members were being displayed.

“Hm…?”

I suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of discomfort with all of my body.

What?

I didn’t learn the cause right away. It felt like an indescribable bad feeling.

“I thought I’d take my time looking through the results, but now it looks like I won’t be able to focus at all.”

As if he didn’t feel it, Ishizaki looked at the monitor and murmured with displeasure.

“Can’t be helped. Many people probably wanted to see the specific results of the uninhabited island test after all.”

Ishizaki clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. Not being able to help it, he started staring at the results from where he was.

He was bold but as one would think, he wouldn’t push seniors aside.

The monitor scrolled by itself, but it seemed that one could stop it from scrolling to look at a certain place. Someone from the 3rd year did that. It was troubling.

Because of that Ishizaki wasn’t able to look at the top ranks that he wanted to see.

“What’ll you do?”

At this rate even if we wait for a while, it would take a while for the screen to change.

“I’m curious but let’s not push it. We can see later.”

That’s what I said a few minutes ago but… well, it’s fine if you understand yourself.

“By the way, haven’t you noticed something?”

“Eh? What?”

Ishizaki, who was making to turn back, didn’t seem to have noticed anything.

This unnatural air.

The number of gazes turning here.

It’s not something I can write off as my imagination.

It’s not like Ishizaki didn’t notice because he was dull.

It’s because these gazes aren’t aimed at Ishizaki or any other student, but only at me.

They obviously didn’t hold any intention to hide it. They were watching my every move.

The ones looking all had one thing in common. All of them were 3rd year students.

I don’t know the details yet, but there’s no mistaking that Nagumo has something to do with this.

One of the things I had put aside for later at the deserted island has started to move.

“What happened?”

It looks like Ishizaki is wondering about it to the point of worry.

“No, it’s nothing. It looks like other students keep coming in so let’s go back.”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

At any rate I can imagine that they’re planning something, but this is a little dangerous.

Nagumo coming in and trying something by himself was far easier.

He’s starting something against me.

“Hey you haven’t eaten lunch yet right? Let’s eat together.”

“Eh? Ah, I haven’t eaten yet…”

The 3rd years made no sign of chasing me as I left.

It seems that they’ll stick to only looking at me.

Being constantly glared at doesn’t feel good.

“What the heck, I don’t get you. You don’t wanna eat with me? What a rude guy.”

“That’s not it. I was just thinking of something else.”

I thought to avoid getting Ishizaki involved, but if they won’t chase me it’s fine.

“Thinking of something else is also rude.”

It’s as he says. Let’s forget the 3rd years for now.

“You’re fine with me?”

“Fine with you? We’re just eating food.”

I can’t deny that he’s quite pushy, but it never rubs me the wrong way.

There’s no mistaking that it’s just him treating me like a friend.

“I may have said something before, but I don’t really want to pull you into our class so this isn’t me trying to alright? You’re just a good friend.”

Ishizaki said something that was irritating in a certain way without hesitation.

But after that, as if he had noticed something he turned around with a jolt.

“…Could I be annoying you?”

“Not at all.”

“Yeah, of course I’m not!”

It seemed that he thought he might have been acting selfishly for a second, but Ishizaki smiled nonchalantly right after. Well, I did understand that he had that kind of personality.

He never felt malicious, so I’ll go with Ishizaki.

Just after leaving that place we heard someone trotting behind us.

“Ayanokouji-senpai!”

Those footsteps belonged to the one who accompanied me for the whole first half of the uninhabited island test, Nanase.

“You came to look at the test results too.”

“Yeah. Though it doesn’t look like we can see them well so we’ve given up.”

“Is that right? Right now the 3rd years have assembled and are now manipulating the monitor, so us Juniors probably won’t be able to look at it freely for a short while.”

It seems that Nanase wanted to see the detailed results too for some reason, but she had given up.

Ishizaki looked at our exchange in bewilderment.

Come to think of it, he’s never met Nanase before.

“O – oi Ayanokouji. When did you get to know such a cute girl?”

“A lot of things happened.”

It would be extremely bothersome to explain everything from the beginning, so I told him that in summary.

“Oi, you’re not going out with a junior… are you?”

“You’re jumping to conclusions. It’s just the relationship between a senior and a junior.”

I replied along these lines.

I didn’t think that Ishizaki was very interested in unusual things, but it looks like that’s not the case.

“Did you need something?”

“No, after seeing you I called unintentionally.”

With honest, shining eyes and no hesitation, she said something somewhat embarrassing.

“Sorry for disturbing you. Please excuse me!”

I thought that she came near by trotting. She also headed somewhere else by trotting. I didn’t think that it was okay to run onboard or in the hallways, but her speed was barely safe.

“What a cute girl. Uh, that’s quite, you know.”

Sorry but please allow me to ignore that “you know” part.

“You’re really not going out with her?”

“No, really.”

Clumsily causing a misunderstanding and making this longer than it needs to be would also be bothersome.

Because of that, I solidly denied what Ishizaki was saying one more time, as if to remind him.