Outsider : Classroom Of The Elite

Chapter 1.9 - Insanity

[T/W: Contains offensive content (ie. sexual violence, threats, assault).

I'd much rather you skip this chapter because I'm trying to think of a way to fix this mess. But if you're curious, go ahead.]

"Anything, huh?" I said emotionlessly. My eyes were devoid of anything. They became hollow pockets.

"W-What?"

Horikita sensed the change in the air. She knew there was something wrong and quickly moved her arms in front of herself. A classic defense mechanism.

But it didn't matter.

I quickly moved in front of her and pushed her against the wall, pinning both of her arms above her head with my left hand. I leaned forward.

"S-Stop! What are you doing!?"

"Let me begin by asking you this, Horikita Suzune." I began my forced interrogation. "Do you understand how this school works?"

"H-huh?"

"Class A, B, C, D. All academic years are differentiated by these four classes in this school. Each class has different individuals with different sets of skills and personalities. Perfectly normal, just like every other normal class in every other normal school in this country. But is that really the case?"

"That... that's correct. What's the meaning of this, Levent-kun?"

"I see. But remember Horikita. This is Ikusei Kyoudo National High School, Tokyo. A government-sponsored, arguably the best educational institution in Japan. A high school that holds a ridiculous hundred percent acceptance rate in college/job sectors. Not only that, we live in those lavish dormitories free of charge, a ridiculous amount of money provided to us 'every month', high-quality facilities with affordable expenditure etcetera etcetera... Just getting accepted here means a free ticket to a better life. I'm sure most of my classmates have interpreted it like this. But I wonder, I just wonder how brandish that fantasy world sounds like."

"What are you talking about?" Horikita probed me, visibly confused.

"Have you not wondered why the school seems so lenient in hindsight? Why are they not taking any action against the ignorant bunch? Why are they giving us so much freedom?"

"....."

"Do you want to know?" I asked coldly.

My job was to forcefully feed her all the information. It was still more than two weeks away from the revelation. But I had concluded it to be fruitless if I waited that long. It was a huge mistake not to probe Chabashira in the first place. I cursed myself for trying to portray myself as "John Doe".

Just, what kind of arrogant fool was I, back then?

Horikita nodded, reluctantly.

"Then, let's get started..." I began my explanation.

"First hint, I'm sure you must've noticed the 'free items' section in the convenience store during our third fateful meeting. And the question I raised during sensei's briefing. Do you remember them?"

"Yes. I do remember."

"Then, you may be asking yourself, what are the meaning behind those abnormalities? Simple, it indicated that we would not be receiving the same amount of points at the end of each month. It means we're going to receive a different amount of points, quite possibly lower, judging by the 'free items' section. But that raises another question, how will the amount change? On what basis?"

"That's..."

"Second hint," before she could answer, I interrupted. "I'm sure you must've noticed it by now. How the entire school seems to have developed this passive aggressiveness toward us. No, toward the title 'class D' itself. This condescending outlook holds true to all the other academic years too, not just the first years. Compared to that, apparently, our seniors hold class A in incredibly high regard. Is there a reason for that?"