Classroom of the Elite (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ)

#16 For a Desired Future

You've resorted to rather heavy-handed methods...

Acting Chairman.

Nothing ever seemed to go my way.

I don't want to damage such a valuable commodity.

I've been hoping you'd come along willingly.

I've finally found what I want to do at this school. Responsibilities, too.

You're an exceptional success even by White Room standards.

Don't you find the competition at this school beneath you?

There are lots of exceptional people here, too.

Plenty for me to enjoy until graduation.

If you insist. Then...

I'll subdue you with my fists.

I won't have you claiming it's unfair.

You're the White Room's masterpiece, after all.

The only path to the future is one I take for myself.

Noon

Expulsion

It's so simple, it's barely even a code.

At noon today in Area I2, Ayanokoji-kun will be expelled.

Caught you! Finally!

What are you doing here?

Your score! Show me your score!

What in the world are you talking about?

I told you before! I'm going to beat you in this test!

Now show me your score!

I've got 131.

We may both be second-years, but you're still my competition.

I can't risk showing you my information.

Chickened out after hearing my score, huh?

Bet you're losing, right?

Sorry, but I'm in a hurry.

You're running away?!

All right, fine.

If I show you, will you please stop stalking me?

Found you!

Hey there, Horikita-senpai!

Who's that?

Amasawa Ichika-san from Class 1-A.

You're in the way, you know.

I have a prior appointment.

An appointment?

This all looks less than mutual to me.

Excuse me?

Was there something you wanted, Amasawa-san?

Where are you off to, Horikita-senpai?

Your designated area is nowhere near here.

It wouldn't be...

I2, would it?

You seem to know a great deal.

Even using GPS search, it shouldn't be easy to intercept someone like this.

Which means...

Would you shut up and butt out already?

Ibuki-san.

My score is 145.

Horikita Suzune

What? Seriously? This sucks...

I suggest you return to the test.

You still have a chance to overtake me.

Okay, but still...

Why aren't you going after your designated area?

There's something I have to do at my destination.

This is your chance, Ibuki-san.

Yeah, I guess.

Then I'll gladly use it to turn things around!

So, why are you going to I2?

I suspect you know that very well.

Whatever do you mean?

Don't play dumb.

You left this paper by my tent.

Why did you do it?

Sheesh. You just love your little games, don't you?

Games?

What exactly are you getting me and Ayanokoji-kun mixed up in?

Couldn't say!

Looks like I'm mixed up in it the same way you are, Senpai.

I don't have time to play along with your riddles.

You don't know the first thing about Ayanokoji-senpai.

Acting like you're on the same side is just cringe.

Are you saying you know more about him than I do?

Oh, I sure do!

I know all about him.

What makes him so cool and smart...

and why he's stronger than everyone else.

So? What do you know about him?

What do I know?

He's... Ayanokoji-kun is the first friend I ever made at this school.

At first I thought he was a normal student,

but he's proven far more capable than I ever imagined.

My brother acknowledged him.

But he wanted to hide that side of him to live a quiet school life...

You're right. I may not know much about him at all.

But I intend to spend the time between now and graduation learning more.

As a classmate. As a friend.

I'll learn far more than you know now.

You think a peon like you can be useful to him?

Perhaps I'm not capable enough for that yet.

But I intend to become someone who can help him when he needs me.

What a joke.

Ayanokoji-senpai would never come to you for help.

At the moment, perhaps not.

You think that'll change in the future?

Thanks to you, I know something's happening at I2.

You think you'll get there?

Yes. I certainly think I will.

If you're that determined to make it to him...

I guess I'll have a little fun!

That's a "one point to me!" kinda thing.

Don't worry. I'll give you time.

Take as long as you need. Five or ten minutes, even!

One more time.

You thought I just did judo?

Better start thinking bigger.

Who in the world are you?

Well, first off, I'm pretty disappointed.

You're not nearly as good as I expected.

That's why Ayanokoji-senpai never talks to you about anything.

You say you want to help him,

but I bet you want to know what he really thinks of you.

Maybe I do.

But I want to hear it directly from him!

It would just annoy me to tell you, so let's finish this instead.

Bye-bye!

Yow! What a punch.

Nice catch there! Wasn't expecting that.

What are you doing here?!

I'm the one who's going to beat you.

I won't let you lose to some random first-year.

I'm Amasawa Ichika-chan!

Try to remember my name, okay, Ibuki-senpai?

I'll keep her busy. You go on!

What are you talking about?

I thought you were trying to beat me in the test!

You're not going for your designated area, right?

There's no point in beating you like that!

This is my fight!

Yeah, right! I saw you getting your ass kicked!

You can't beat her!

You don't know that!

If you insist, I'll prove—

Then prove to me how determined you are.

Join my group.

If one of us were to end up knocked out,

we would immediately fail the test due to dropping out.

What a joke! Why should I work with you?

If you can't commit that far, then stay out.

I don't like it.

You don't have to.

But if you're going to participate, I want to know I can rely on you.

I'd honestly rather be dead.

But seeing you get expelled by a first-year...

would be even worse.

Not a bad plan at all.

You're both one-person groups,

so dropping out means you're expelled on the spot.

But you've miscalculated on one thing.

If it's okay for one of you to drop out,

it's okay for me to break one of you.

So, which will I crush first?

Bring it on!

Left!

Don't give me orders!

Okay, let's stop right there!

This first-year is insane!

Agreed.

Okay, let's start again.

Why won't she just put us down?

She's clearly good enough to do it.

Can it be...

If she's looking down on us, I'll teach her—

If you want to work with me, you have to do as you're told.

What? Hell no!

Ibuki-san,

as a combatant, you're equal to me.

No, perhaps a bit better.

Where'd that come from?

But that's all you have.

You refuse to study. You refuse to work with anyone.

It's ridiculous for you to call yourself my rival like that.