Classroom of the Elite Volume 7.5

Chapter 2.1: Ibuki's One Misfortunate Day

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka POV

Part 1

This is a note of the events from 2 days prior to the Christmas date, on the
morning of the 23rd. I was heading towards Keyaki Mall alone with a certain
goal in mind. Swiftly heading over to a certain shop, I looked around for what I needed.

"I've never taken the ones from here.........".

Having looked up its reputation on the internet, as well as hearing it from the
clerk, I chose about 2 of them. I put the items into a small paper bag and
proceeded with the checkout.

Amazed at the surprising expensiveness of each one of those items, I left the
shop with the paper bag in hand and for now decided to head back to the dorm.

All that's left is to stop by at the convenience store on the way back
and buy some things and that'll be the completion of my goal. After that, I'll
once again return to Keyaki Mall and watch a movie whose screening is
about to end soon.

That was my plan for this one day. However, due to contact from a certain
person, that plan began to crumble.

"How are you today, Ayanokouji-kun?".

Even though it's a wide area, the school grounds is still a confined space. If I
wander around like this I'm bound to encounter various students. Right before
the exit of the mall, one girl called out to me. Carrying a cane, she walks slowly as she approaches me. 1st year Class A's Sakayanagi Arisu. She knows I'm from the White Room. And the daughter of this school's chairman.

"You're going out this early? You're alone today, I see".

Normally Sakayanagi has an entourage accompanying her around, but I could
not see anyone.

"I came here to play with Masumi-san, but I haven't met her yet".

Sakayanagi notices the existence of the paper bag in my hands.

"Are you in ill health?".

"No, not at all. As you can see, I'm healthy".

Lightly spreading out both my hands, I appealed to her that I'm alone through
overaction. And on top of that, I put the small paper bag into my pocket.

"I'm glad. If you wouldn't mind, would you like to play together with me?".

She extends an unbelievably unappreciated proposal to me.I don't even need to consider my response.

"I'll have to decline. You're an existence that stands out after all".

If I were to be seen playing with Sakayanagi, it would unnecessarily cause an uproar.

"Fufu. That's a shame".

It's obvious. If she wanted to make my circumstances common knowledge,
she should have taken action a long time ago.

But even against Ryuuen, she did not let slip even a single fact about me. Judging from that, I could tell that Sakayanagi intends to take me on alone.

"Then would that mean there's no problem if we have a small chat while
standing around here?".

"To chat while standing around like this, what happened?".