Classroom of the Elite [Year 2, Volume 5]

．intro

INTRO

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The summer break has ended, and the second semester of our 2nd year started today. Considering the 3 years of school we will have in total, this was undoubtedly a time of transition. I tied my tie and slipped my arm through my sleeve. I looked in the mirror, fixed my hair, and ensured my appearance was fine before leaving. On my way out, I bumped into Sudou, yawning heavily, and greeted him as we walked out of the dormitory together.

“Suzune warned me that the 2nd-semester exams might come earlier, so I ended up pulling an all-nighter.”

“Were you seriously studying on the last day of summer?”

“Thank god she’s already helped me work out an academic program for my needs. Even I can obtain high scores on the exams and maintain a B or higher in my Academic ability in the OAA.”

A B or higher in Academic ability was a bit far. But that being said, maybe it wasn’t that far from reality. 

I wouldn’t be surprised if his academics improved even more if he really had been studying hard during the summer. He had developed into a person who was in tune with the idiom, “Brains and brawn”. 

The minor behavioral issues, like tardiness and sleeping in class had also been decreasing drastically. 

Although there were still times where he showed his hot-headedness, it was just one of Sudou’s characteristics. 

“This is a strange question, but do you think Ike and Shinohara have kissed yet?”

“Eh?”

“I’ll give him props for getting a girlfriend. But if he’s too much ahead of me, I can’t say I’m too pleased. I feel like there’s a sort of barrier between us lately because of this.”

“Can’t you just ask him yourself? It’s Ike; he’ll definitely tell you.”

“…How can I ask him something like that. If they haven’t held hands yet, then that’s fine, but if I hear from him that they’ve gone further than that… Let’s just say that my right hand will get a bit restless.”

So that was the situation. That itch might cause big problems.

“If something that makes him happy happens to Ike, he’ll blurt it out at the first opportunity. Since that didn’t happen yet, doesn’t that mean they haven’t progressed to that stage yet?”

“True. But you never know, he’s a man in love. I don’t know myself, because I don’t have any experience. By the way, have you ever had a girlfriend before, Ayanokouji? …What does it feel like?”

Shifting from Ike, the subject of the conversation changed into something I didn’t expect. 

As if asking, “what does it feel like”, Sudou’s intense, trusting eyes were impossible to ignore. 

“There’s no point in lying, so I’ll tell you. I’ve had a girlfriend, my first, for some time now.”

“…Really? Are you serious?”

Even if I avoided the question here, the news would soon spread from Kei’s side, so hiding it wasn’t the best idea. 

After answering honestly, Sudou held his head and sighed.

Then, suddenly, he grabbed my shoulders urgently. 

“Is, is it is it is it is it is it her!?”

“Calm down. It’s not who you think it is.”

“Really!? I, I can trust that it isn’t Suzune, right?”