Classroom of the Elite

Part 3

In a rectangular table of the cafeteria, I was seated with my friend Keisei, who was sitting directly across me.

During lunchtime, the members of the Ayanokoji Group were free to go and come as they like. It was an easygoing group who came and went as each of them pleased.

Today Haruka and Airi said that they had something to talk about with only two of them And as for Akito he had been called to have lunch with his seniors from the archery club. 

So, only the two of us were left. Although it wasn't mandatory for the two of us to eat together, Keisei had wanted to eat together and I had no reason to decline. 

We both bought the daily special. At our seats, we were slowly tucking into our lunch when a beautiful feminine voice called out to me.

"Excuse me, can I sit here, Ayanokoji-senpai?"

The one who had asked me that was Nanase Tsubasa from Class D-er- no it was Class C now. After their recent test, Class D had overthrown Class C. 

"Go ahead."

I slowly shifted as if to signal her to sit down.

"Thank you very much."

Saying that she elegantly sat down in her seat and placed her plate on the table without producing much sound.

Shortly after, without minding any of us, she started eating her lunch as we did ours.

All this time, Keisei didn't ask anything about why she had sat beside me. It was because it was almost a daily routine nowadays.

After the uninhabited island test, she had regularly joined us during our lunchtime. So, she was fairly acquainted with all of the members of the Ayanokoji Group, and of course, Kesei was no exception.

So, without saying anything we continued our lunch.

After finishing our lunch, Keisei finally spoke to Nanase.

"Nanase-san?"

"Yes, Yukimura-senpai."

"You are quite close with Kiyotaka, right?"

"Yes."

Why was Keisei asking this question to her right now?

"How did you get to know each other?"

This was a question I knew many had wanted to ask but didn't for reasons of their own. Finally, Keisei had asked that question today.

She seemed a bit troubled to answer that question and looked at me for help.

Of course, the manner in which we met wasn't something to tell others about. She had enrolled in this school to expel me and I had found that and used her weak spot to manipulate her. But there was no way either she or I could tell others that. So, I had no choice but to lie.

"We both went to the same middle school."

I answered his question in her stead.

"Same middle school?"

"Yes."

Nanase nodded as if to affirm my statement.

"Which middle school did you attend? Somewhere in Tokyo?"

"T-That's.."

Nanase seemed a bit hesitant.

It was a question that put us at a disadvantage.

I don't know which middle school she attended and the facility where I got my education couldn't exactly be called a school. So, she had trouble answering that question.