Felix's Classroom Of The Elite

When Karuizawa, Ayanokoji, Yukimura and I entered the room, we already saw students from the other classes sitting and waiting for us. Guessing by the number of free chairs, we were probably the last group to arrive.

All of them turned at us but no one voiced out any complain since we arrived at the arranged time.

There were only two girls I recognized, Ibuki and Ichinose. As for others, I didn't know any of them.

Even though I know names, I wouldn't be able to pinpoint the name to the right person.

We, students from Class D moved to sit down on the empty chairs which were positioned close to each other. Students seated here already sat down based on their Classes which wasn't that surprising. They probably felt awkward about the entire exam...cooperating with other classes.

I noticed that Ibuki was sitting even further from her own class.

It seems that she is a loner inside her class.

She immediately smiled at me upon seeing Karuizawa take a seat beside me.

I frowned but my train of thoughts was interrupted by an announcement that came from the speakers installed in the room.

"From this point onwards, we will begin the first group discussion"

It seems that they will also record the contents of our talks.

What arrived after the short announcement was awkward silence since no one knew anyone and no one was willing to take an initiative to start the conversation.

After the awkwardness was getting thicker and thicker, Ichinose stood up with a bright smile on her face.

I knew that she will be the one who will take the initiative...

"I think if we want to get rid of this block of ice between us, it would be best to start with the introductions. I myself know almost everyone in this room but not everyone might be familiar with each other" She said with her hand resting on her ċhėst.

Someone from Class A voiced their objection to this ridiculous situation. They didn't want to cooperate with others to find out the leader.

"If you don't want to cooperate then I can't force you but you should at least introduce yourselves. The school could be recording our conversation so what do you think will happen if you won't even start the discussion?" Ichinose replied to their objections with reasonable facts.

Upon hearing her reasons, Class A's students could only sigh and start with the introduction of themselves.

After that, everyone said a thing or two about themselves.

"Yaa~ho Walker-kun and Ayanokoji-kun. It seems we were placed in the same group" After the self-introductions were over, Ichinose said with a wide smile and friendly voice.

"Now that we have done what the school requested from us. How would everyone like to proceed? I myself would like to clear this exam with the first result option" Ichinose said to all of us, it was apparent that she wants to take leadership and she even let the room for the objections but who would even want to take a lead with all Classes cramped up together.

"I agree, the first outcome is the most desirable one" Yukimura joined in the conversation.

A student from Class B named Hamaguchi Tetsuya raised his hand and also agreed with his class leader, Ichinose.

What I find disturbing is the way students were divided into groups...

Horikita is part of the 'Dragon' group where students like Ryuen, Katsuragi, Hirata and even Kushida were placed. Every one of them can be called a representative of their Class but why is Ichinose here if 'Dragon' group is practically gathering of important students.

I woke up from my thoughts after Ayanokoji also agreed, probably out of concern for appearing suspicious.

"What about you, Walker-kun? You were pretty quiet the entire time" Ichinose asked me with a friendly voice without showing any suspicion towards me even though she was probably suspecting me already.

"Unfortunately, I have to disagree with your ideal first outcome, Ichinose-san" I said with a slight smile and my answer made everyone turn at me with a surprised expression.

"Why do you think so?" She asked me with a thoughtful expression and finger pressing on her lower lip.

"It might be an ideal outcome for us as individuals but before being the members of the 'Rabbit' group, we are members of our respective class. Everyone wants to earn Class Points for their class. Do you think that if the 'target' would reveal themselves, no one would betray us? Let's take for example Class A, they don't want to cooperate which is a fairly defensive move. Now let's say that the 'target' is not among them and they just want the outcome where no class gains any Class Points. Do you think that once the 'target' would be revealed they wouldn't betray us for free Class Points?"

"You are the ones who don't want to cooperate...We can't force you to talk during the discussion then you can't force us to trust you" I threw him an uninterested look and then redirected my gaze at Ichinose who seemed to be in deep thoughts.

"I guess there is some truth in your words, Walker-kun..." Ichinose said after a while with a bitter smile.

"I guess we will have to be most suspicious of people who refuse to answer questions and then we can name the 'target'" Ichinose's aid Hamaguchi said with a dejected expression.

"Not necessarily" I shortly said which ignited his curiosity and even Ichinose looked at me, interested in what I have to say.

"Although Class A suffered crushing defeat the previous test, they are still ahead of other classes by a fair sum of Class Points. If the 'target' is among them they don't have to do anything and if the 'target' is someone else then they can act like what they are doing right now to mislead us. If they can't find the 'target' themselves then make others more confused so no one will be able to gain any Class Points" After I explained, I noticed that faces of all the students from Class A looked very grim.

"That could be the thing but if that's the case then how are we supposed to find the 'target'?" Yukimura asked while looking at me with a bit of respect visible in his eyes.

Did I go a bit overboard? I think that what I just said was perfectly normal, no earth-shaking explanation.

"We can simply talk to each other and if we won't discover the target by the end of the exam then we can only make the majority vote. But I believe that we will be able to discover the 'target' eventually" Ichinose was the one who answered Yukimura's question.

"Do whatever you want but we of Class A will stick to our strategy not to talk to anyone" Machida pointed out his Class's standing and snorted.

"I think it will be even easier since there will be only 3 classes holding the discussion. Also, why focus on 'who', just by knowing 'where' the exam will become much easier" Ichinose said with a confident smile.

"And what if you are the 'target'? I can't just blindly trust you..." Yukimura pointed out and a few students from Class C agreed with his statement.

"You are free to suspect me too, that's why we will be holding a conversation between each other, to find the 'target'" Ichinose said without any change in her expression.

If I wouldn't be the 'target' I would definitely think that she isn't the one either.

...

"You are Karuizawa-san, right? There is something I want to confirm" The girl from Class C named Manabe called out to Karuizawa.

Class C... I frowned a bit after hearing that Class C want to discuss something with Karuizawa.

"Hm? What is it?" Karuizawa answered with a combination of confused and annoyed expression.

"Maybe it's just a misunderstanding but over the summer holiday, did you have a quarrel with a girl from our Class named Rika?" She asked Karuizawa with a serious expression.

"Are you sure? Because we heard something else from our friend. If it's the truth then we want you to go and apologize to her"

"...I have no idea what you are talking about" Karuizawa answered with a small delay which made her quite suspicious.

Manabe took out her phone and pointed the camera towards Karuizawa but when she took a photo, the one on the photo wasn't Karuizawa but my body instead.

"I think that taking a photos of someone without their permission isn't a nice thing to do" I narrowed my eyes at the girl Manabe and she shivered a bit under my glare.

"This doesn't concern you! We just want to take her photo so Rika can confirm if it's her or not!" The one who shouted that was none other than Manabe's friends.

I redirected my glare at them which made them retreat a bit.

"How does it not concern me when you are trying to take a photo of my classmate without her permission?" I asked while looking down on them.