Classroom of the Elite Volume 7

What kind of explanation was that?

But his words didn’t seem to be lies.

Even though Ishizaki was rude and violent (although I don’t have the right to
say that about others), his personality was very honest.

I understood Albert also wanted to drink tea with me –although I didn’t know
why he wanted to drink tea with me.

Those kind of things had never happened until now, where did this sudden
impulse come from?

Or was it because yesterday’s events left them a deep impression?

“If anything happens, I will also knock you down, there’s no problem in
that.”

“I’m telling you I don’t have that kind of intention. I’ll definitely not have
those kinds of thoughts towards you. Definitely not.”

Being directly rejected like this, why did it make me feel a bit in a bad mood?

“To sum it up, you will accompany us for a bit. After all, you don’t have
anything planned for winter vacation, right?”

“…I understand.”

Although I was not willing, my schedule for winter holidays was completely
in blank.

In addition, since I had been standing outside for so long, my hands were
almost frozen.

“If you want to go, then hurry up.”

“Albert, do you also want to come?”

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Facing Ishizaki, who was inquiring him, Albert calmly nodded his head.

PART 1

During the first day of the winter vacation, there were students everywhere in
Keyaki mall.
To the point that I couldn’t help but regret that I was too hasty to come here.
“Returning to our main topic, I didn’t expect you would stay on our side.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m talking about Ryuuen-san’s issue. I thought you hated him.”
“Ha? It’s clear that I hate him.”
What kind of misinterpretation led him to that conclusion?
“Then, why did you contact with us today?”
“That’s—”
It was just that it put me in a bad mood that that guy fled without permission.
But Ishizaki and the others would certainly not be able to understand my
feelings.
Since I entered this school until now, I had never liked Ryuuen. It was only
that I acknowledged his abilities in a certain extent.
That was why I was feeling irritated because of the things that happened in
these 2 days.

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“Anyways, it has nothing to do with you.”
“Well that’s true.”
It looked like the person who asked didn’t plan to inquire any further.
Ishizaki munched the ice cubes while drinking ice coffee with lots of gomme
syrup in it.
“Why are you drinking ice coffee during this season?”
“There’s nothing bad about that. It’s just because it’s very cold that’s why
drinking cold drinks will be more delicious.”
Of course, Albert and I ordered hot drinks.
“Anyway, what’s going to happen when the third term starts? Iya, really.”
Ishizaki took the initiative, and after finishing the drink his body was
trembling. It looked like the ice cubes were very cold. He’s stupid.
“How I would know those kind of things.”
“But… we need to think about that, don’t we?”
What exactly did Ishizaki want me to say?
Even if we didn’t think about that, it was very clear.
“Even if I think about that, Ryuuen’s decision won’t change. You are free to
fret by your own accord, but you’re probably wasting your time.”
“Uh…”
I used an intense tone to say the strict words.
I knew it. He probably wanted me to assist him, but it was really a waste of
time.

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Although I thought they were thinking about indecent things, it was that after
all.
“But.”
“No buts.”
“Ryuuen-san’s thing is like this, Class D’s–”
“Stop.”
I used the most straightforward tone I had used today to stop Ishizaki and
glared at him.
“Listen carefully. I forbid any topic related to “them.” If you can’t respect
that, I will be leaving.”
Since I told him that, Ishizaki had no choice but to admit defeat.
“I understand. I really understand.”
Ishizaki, in a panic, tried to ease my mood.
After all, I didn’t know why I had to discuss those things with these two.
“I’m leaving once I’ve finished this drink.”
There was still half of the drink left. I should drink it a bit faster.
“I’m not going to talk about that, do you really hate that topic?”
“I hate that. And after yesterday, the number of people I hate has increased to
2”.
That’s all.
“Good morning Ibuki-san.”

245

When we were having this tea party without chatting too much, Shiina came
to us.

She had her schoolbag and a drink in her hands.

“What?”

When I replied her indistinctly, Shiina smiled and said.

“I started a conversation with you by accident since I was thinking that this
combination is a rare sight. Isn’t it?”

“Is it? We are frequently together.”

“Not true.”

I hated being considered by others that “I was always together with Ishizaki”,
so I replied immediately.”

“May I join you?”

In the exams that needed to use the brain, she could be considered Class C’s
treasure. Together with Kaneda, they had been asked for help by Ryuuen
multiple times. But at the same time, she normally didn’t have any contact
with us.

“There’s no problem with her joining, right?”

Because she was a student Ryuuen acknowledged, Ishizaki and Albert easily
accepted her.

“Then, excuse me for disturbing.”

“Where did you go by wearing the school uniform?”

“I’m from the Tea ceremony club. During winter holidays we also have to
continue with the club activities.”

246

“Tea ceremony club… what do you do in there?”
“We do a lot of things. Learning etiquette, how to handle the tools or
receiving guidance.
“Ha, so there are still people that want to do those kinds of things.”
Ishizaki interrupted his conversation with Shiina, and said that while feeling
bored.
Although I was completely unaware of it, from Shiina I heard that there were
very few members in the tea ceremony club.
“If you don’t mind, do you want to try joining the club?”
“I’m not joining. I hate club activities.”
Ishizaki started chewing the remaining half of the ice cubes in the cup.
“I’m changing the topic a bit… actually, I saw Ryuuen-kun this morning.”
Shiina also mentioned Ryuuen.
“Since he was wearing the school uniform, I was a bit concerned.”
“Don’t worry, there’s nothing.”
“Is that so. I feel at ease after hearing your words.”
With these members, if that guy wasn’t present, they would naturally mention
him.
I was planning to leave silently, but Albert grabbed my shoulder.
“What are you doing, it doesn’t matter if I go back. There’s also nothing to
say.”
Facing me, who was saying these words, Albert silently pointed at the drinks.

247

“…Do you want me to not leave until I’ve finished the drink?”

It seemed that since I had said I would be leaving after I finished drinking, I
had no choice but to do so.

Right now I was a bit in a bad mood, so I planned to just finish it.

“So hot.”

“Ara ara, don’t force yourself. I remember Ibuki-san can’t handle hot food,
right?”

“So noisy. Me being able to handle hot food or not has nothing to do with
you.”

“But we are classmates.”

Even if we were classmates, what about it?

Right now, asking for that kind of stuff in Class C was cruel.

“Starting the third term we will drop to Class D. The battle has already
ended.”

“Not necessarily, we Class C will definitely rise again.”

Shiina said with a serious face the words that made people feel
uncomfortable.

“What’s that? Do you have any basis? Or do you want to lead the class?”

“Of course I will provide assistance to the class. After that, we will gather
everybody’s strength.”

Even though I had thought this child always said things as if she was missing
something, but I never expected it would be to such extent.

What Class C lacked the most was unity – that is, helping each other.

248

That was something that didn’t exist in a Class C that Ryuuen led alone until
now.
Even Shiina should have understood those things.
“We may be late by a lot compared to others. But for that reason, from now
on we need to help each other in order to be promoted to higher classes, don’t
you agree?”
“I see. Then do your best. I’m not participating.”
I really wanted to leave earlier, but I still hadn’t finished the drink yet.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have ordered a hot drink and should’ve chosen a
cold drink instead.
“Why are you so irritated? Even if you are usually like this…”
“You too, do you plan to have a fight with me?”
“I don’t plan to do that.”
“By the way Iwasaki-kun, you look like you’ve suffered a lot of injuries.”
“So you’ve only realized now. And I’m not called Iwasaki, but Ishizaki.”
“Haha, I’m just joking. I remember clearly all the classmate’s names.”
It looked like the reason Shiina, who usually didn’t interact with us, didn’t
approach us because of Ryuuen not being here.
It was because she saw Ishizaki and Albert’s injuries and she was concerned
about the specific details.
“How did you get those injuries?”
“Well, some stuff happened.”

249

“Some stuff?”
“Actually, yesterday– ”
I believed Ishizaki would say unnecessary things so I unwillingly joined the
conversation.
“Because he had differences with Ryuuen about the policies and had an
argument. After that he got beaten up.”
It’s like that, right? – I glared like this at Ishizaki and he nodded in
agreement.”
“Difference in policies… that’s a rare sight.”
Since Ishizaki usually was stuck together with Ryuuen, it was difficult to
imagine those things happening.
“Don’t tell me you had a fight with Ryuuen-kun?”
That was ridiculing Ryuuen while he was not being here.
Albert realized what I meant, faced Shiina and nodded.
“I think sometimes fighting is good, but please make up as soon as possible.
If you need it, I can also help you.”
“What can you do?”
“I will request Ryuuen-kun and tell him “please stop fighting””
It seemed that she didn’t intend to do anything special and directly convey
that to Ryuuen.
With her like that, it was really fortunate that she didn’t get beaten by Ryuuen
until now.

250

However, Shiina was not good at sports and disliked violent conducts, so
Ryuuen wouldn’t take it to the heart.
After all, she had never done anything that went against Ryuuen’s policies, as
it should be.
“Fu, I’ve finished my drink. Bye.”
“Are you going back now?”
“I’ve kept company to you to this extent, it should be enough already.”
“Ah, by the way, Ibuki-san. I’ve heard that interesting movies are going to be
released soon. If you don’t mind, do you want to watch them together?”
“I’m not going.”
Even if I wanted to go, I would go alone.
“I see… it’s a pity.”
I picked up the empty cup and left the seat.
If I continued to frolic with these guys, I was afraid I would get hives.
Moreover–
Right now, I had never been so angry to myself.
That’s right.
I had finally realized why I had been so irritated in these past two days.
It wasn’t Ryuuen’s fault, nor Ishizaki nor Albert’s fault. And of course, it
wasn’t related to the Shiina who appeared by chance.
I couldn’t forgive myself.

251

That was the reason of my irritation.
If I was a bit more reliable, things wouldn’t have developed in a way that
made Class C be in such a dire situation.
Ryuuen Kakeru wouldn’t have made a mistake as the leader.
It was because I arrived at this conclusion.
If I kept staying in that place, I would have continued losing my temper.
That’s why I wanted to hurry up and be alone.
“I say, Ibuki.”
Ishizaki called me, who wanted to escape.
“What else do you want??”
“Don’t you just shoulder everything alone, you should also consult with us.”
“Ha–?”
I inadvertently made a dry laugh sound.
“You’re kidding. Who would look for you to discuss things? And there’s
nothing to talk about.”
A group of people that normally were very stupid, but why were they so
sharp only in times like this?
“Ibuki-san, let’s talk again together next time.”
Shiina also said that, and the silent Albert stared at me.
That really looked as if those 3 people invited me in order to cheer me up.

252

In retrospect, no matter if it was Ishizaki or Albert who invited me to drink
tea, or Shiina after seeing the group composition, the first member they
talked to was always me.
What is this.
I had never hoped for these kind of things.
Not being able to endure that scene, I started walking.
I didn’t hope for that kind of warm environment.
I thought today was an extremely boring day and at the same time it was a no
way out day.
But, in reality, the “real no way out day” would come just a bit later.

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