Classroom of the Elite: An Alternate Masterpiece

Prologue. The Masterpiece and the Genius

I adjusted the collar of my uniform, loosening it. Whether it was because of the stuffiness of the room, or just an idle whim, I wasn't certain.

The sounds of the school principal's speech reverbed throughout the hall. A classic entrance ceremony affair, but still a tiresome one.

A soft sigh came out of my mouth. One of disappointment.

I had hoped for something a bit different, exciting perhaps.

Perhaps I was expecting too much-too soon from my new high school life. But can you really blame me? Considering that this was supposed to be the best school this country had to offer?

Not that I had any other first-hand experience to compare it to. Perhaps I was expecting too much.

"Excuse me?"

I blinked, before turning my head towards the soft voice.

A girl. Short and petite, one would be forgiven if they assumed she wasn't even a high school student. She wore an assured expression. I couldn't help but feel like it complimented her regal lilac hair, or even her prim headwear. The most attention grabbing part of her, however was something else. The cane she was using.

"Sorry if I'm bothering you, but I wanted to ask if the seat next to you is available, or is it already taken by another person?"

I couldn't help but get the impression that she already knew the answer to that question.

"Nobody has sat there, as far as I'm aware." She smiled at my statement, before making her way to sit down.

While she did so, I glanced briefly around the room. Plenty of open chairs around; courtesy of the ceremony's recent start, I'm assuming. It allowed for a simple conclusion.

This girl either really liked this particular chair, or- more likely- she specifically wanted to sit next to me.

The blossoming of my romantic school life, perhaps? Doubtful. I do not recall ever meeting this person, and she was a far too memorable person for me to just forget.

I also hadn't done anything to attract myself any attention from this school, at least not yet.

So she already knew of me beforehand. Who I actually was. Troubling.

Or, of couse, I could simply just be overthinking this. Perhaps she simply didn't want to be seen sitting alone, and the fact the she chose to sit next to me was a complete coincidence.

That would be the ideal scenario, I think.

The sounds of the entrance ceremony simply served as ambience now. I rested my head on my hand, waiting till this waste of time would be over.

I heard a soft chuckle. "A dull affair, is this not?" the girl asked. I glanced at the her.

Seeing no harm in it, I decided to reply. "This whole has been a bit boring, yes."

She turned her head towards me. Our eyes met. "Ah, how rude of me to not introduce myself." The self-assured smile she wore on her face told me she felt otherwise. "My name is Sakayanagi Arisu. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, though I suspect you already knew that." There was a brief pause between us. It was broken by her chuckle.

"May I ask what gave you that idea?"

"I don't feel like answering that." I turned my head to fully look at her. "So you don't deny my statement then?"

"Ah, but I haven't confirmed it either."

"Some people may take silence as conformation on its own."

"Are you one of those people, Ayanokoji?"

I answered her with silence. I turned my attention back to the podium, where the principal is saying his closing words. It wasn't long before the man stepped down, accompanied by the clapping of the student body, and the school's faculty members.

We were soon told to arrive and wait in our own respective class for some sort of debriefing with our homeroom teachers.

Most of the students got up from their chairs soon after. Some chatting and leaving with their friends, and some stretching their body before wandering off by their lonesome.

It seemed I was about to be one of the latter, before I was interrupted.

"I was curious." I paused, and slowly looked towards the girl next to me. She was staring at me. Her eyes seeming like they were piercing through me.

"About what?" I asked.

"A finished product." She gestured towards me. "When I visited your father's institution you and your peers were simply works in progress. Still in the assembly line so-to-speak." Her ever present smile grew wider. "But now I have the chance to observe the actual finished product directly."

"And what are your thoughts so far?"

"Not much. It's far too early to tell, after all." She got up from her seat. Her grip on her cane trembled slightly as she stood up. "I have a good feeling however. That you'll be a worthwhile entertainment in the future."

I felt the edges of my mouth rising. "Funny, I felt the same thing about you."

"Then let us hope that we won't disappoint each other." She began walking away, only to stop. She tilted her head to look backwards. "I hope you enjoy your stay at school, Ayanokoji." And with that, she strode off.

I just sat there for a moment. The first day at school, and already somebody knew about my past.

Arisu Sakayanagi.

I smiled. Ah, no. At this point it would be called a grin, I suppose.

"Looks like this is turning out to be a worthwhile experience, after all."

For me- the masterpiece of the White Room- a stimulating scenario such as this is rare thing to encounter, and perhaps one that I've sought after.

I stood up. There was only about a dozen people left in the room now. Seeing no reason to stick around, I walked off.

Class D awaits.