Classroom of the Elite Final Year

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

I WENT TO the third-year class and found that quite some students had already settled in. I searched for my name and found it at the very back of the column by the window.

"The same seat as in the first year..."

As I sat there, I was hit by a certain sense of nostalgia. I put my hands on my chin and gazed outside the window as I used to do back then. I felt glad that I was in this seat but not for too long. I noticed the nameplates of the seat surrounding me.

"Yo, Kiyotaka."

Akito waved his hands towards me and gave me a smirk. I knew what that meant.

"What's up with that face so early in the morning?"

"No, I was just thinking how lucky you are. The whole year, surrounded by girls. You sure are lucky right off the bat. I am telling you this year's going to be lucky for you."

"But I feel just the opposite." And I meant that.

Just like what he had said, I was surrounded in the corner by three girls. And the three were;

"Oh, Ayanokoji-kun. I look forward to this year with you."

"Same here."

Doesn't it almost feel like a new year greeting? While I was thinking that, Matsushita sat down on the seat, closest to me diagonally.

"Good morning, Ayanokji-kun."

A short-haired girl strode into the class and settled herself in the seat beside me.

"Morning."

And that was the end of the conversation. She took out a book from her bag and started reading it without being disturbed by the surrounding noise. I took a closer glance at the book title and was shocked afterward. "Dark Psychology: Manipulation."

Dangerous. I don't think a high school girl like her should be reading something like this. Although I thought that, I didn't say that aloud as I knew I would be chewed out.

"Do you have something to say to me?"

Without taking her eyes off the book, she said.

"No, I don't."

"I get to seat in front of Kiyotaka. Yay!"

A joyous voice rang in the classroom and rushed towards where I was.

"Isn't that great?!"

With sparkling eyes, she leaned towards me.

"Yeah."

I mustered my best joyous sound possible which earned a sound from Horikita that implied how disgusting my attempt was. Well, sorry about that. This is the best I can do.

"Yeah." And not to mention, Kei had no complaints about that. She was full of energy since the morning. She sat down in her seat and turned towards the other two girls.

"Let's get along, Matsushita-san. And Horikita-san too."

"Yes!" Matsushita returned her smile while Horikita said the same but her eyes were still focused on her book.

I suddenly felt someone looking at me and found that Sudou was at the other end of my sight.

He gave a slight nod and I returned the gesture.

He may be frustrated that he wasn't seated anywhere near Horikita. Horikita was in the seat beside me at the very back while Sudou was on the very front seat of the same column. Talk about bad luck. And I wasn't just talking about Sudou. It was about me as well.