CLASSROOM OF THE ELITE X QUINTS: Complicated Feelings

Vol 2 Prologue

At the mini-park of Advance Nurturing High School. A boy wearing a blue shirt sits alone on one of the benches in the cold windy evening.

He rested the back of his head to the top of the wooden chair with both eyes closed, fully engrossed in his own thoughts.

The month of June will start tomorrow, Ayanokouji has to attend classes and will cross paths with students from the same year and upperclassmen.

Students who saw or at least heard about what happened.

Sigh.

He thinks it doesn't bother him.

He gained the outcome that he wants. Nothing else matters, besides cutting his ties from a certain girl.

A hot metal feels on his cheek, albeit being the only person in the place since earlier. – It's totally normal to shriek or jump off as one's reaction because of the eerie situation. – But Ayanokouji just opens his eyes and stares at the visitor.

There was no trace of surprise nor shock on his pair of hazel brown eyes. — it's lifeless.

“You’ll catch a cold on those thin-clothes, y'know.”

A black haired girl wearing a brown hoodie forward a can of black coffee to Ayanokouji.

He takes it from her hand then puts it down on the bench.

“Are you here to make fun of me, Horikita?” he asked.

Horikita pushes Ayanokouji to the side, forcing herself to sit beside him.

“Even I can read the room.” she answered and looked at the starless sky.

He glanced at her with an expression of not in the slightest convince of her words. There are lots of options he can give to Horikita but don't have the energy to bicker.

Ayanokouji also gazed at the same sky as her. They both observe the clouds moving in the dark horizon as the earth rotates in its core.

“Can you tell me your side of the story?”

“Why do you care?” he said, instantly. “Besides, I doubt you haven't heard of what happened considering it was a hot topic in the last few days.”

She sighs, “I’m not interested in those baseless rumors, Ayanokouji-kun. I can't fully say I know you very well but I can tell that you aren't the type of guy who does horrible stuff to a girl,” she cuts off her gaze to the sky and directly looks at him. “No matter how many times Kushida-san pushed herself on you. You didn't reciprocate to any of her advances and remain loyal to Nakano-san.”

“Are you saying I cheated?”

“I never mentioned that.”

“Well, I have news for you, Horikita,” – he faces her directly. – “I actually did.”

“You’re lying.” she said.

“I don't need to convince you.”

“Then why are you here by yourself? Why are you keeping your distance from others since that time? Why won't you come out from your room and avoid our classmates when they try to get in touch with you?”

He sighs, “Y’know the answer very well yourself, Horikita. Being in the company of those useless people will only needlessly drain your energy over time. I simply interact with them because I have to, but if there is no need, then why should I?”

She clicks her tongue in secret and moves her eyes to the other direction.

“I don't have the luxury to debate with you, Ayanokouji-kun. It's already deep in the evening, don't forget to return to your room and make sure to attend tomorrow's classes. Good night.”

Horikita stood up from the bench and walked towards the path to the dormitory. Ayanokouji remained sitting there and then opened the can of black coffee.

•••

The instant Ayanokouji steps inside the classroom, different types of gloominess greet him, making him confused about what happened.

He noticed that most of his classmates stared at their phone's screen then checked their seatmates phone and back and forth.

Ike, Yamauchi and Sotumura were talking loudly, voicing out their complaints to the school regarding points but didn't mention the specific reason.

Ayanokouji and Kushida’s gaze meet. The latter excused herself to her girl group and approached the newly arrived boy.

“Morning, Ayanokouji-kun.”

“What exactly happened her–” she interrupted him. “I was worried about you.”

“I don't need it,” he shrugged her off. “Anyway, what happened?”

Kushida clicks her tongue in secret but is still keeping her smile to him. Ayanokouji has become much colder than before. He mostly went along with her games and dragged Horikita in the process, unlike this time where he completely ignored her and went straight to business.

‘It’s all because of that girl!’

“We check our personal points and it is still the same.” – she pushed her phone into her chest. – “Everyone is anxious if all of their efforts amount to nothing.”

Ayanokouji's expression didn't change . He instantly lost interest upon hearing the answer and went towards his seat as if it's none of his problem.

Kushida was left standing there. She could only stare at his back, unable to do anything to make him stay.

‘How dare you.’

Taking his seat, the black haired girl who is beside him closed the book that she's reading and greeted Ayanokouji.

“Good morning,” – she glanced at him. – “I’m glad you attended today's class.”

“Did you not receive any points?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered. “What about you?”

Ayanokouji unlocked his phone and checked his points.

“Same as yours.”

“Any idea?” Horikita asks in a casual way but her eyes tell him that she's asking seriously.

“Not my problem.” he rocked back to the back of the chair.

“You're seriously saying that–” – she was interrupted when he pointed to the entrance of the classroom. – “Just ask her and you will have your answer.”

A woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail entered the classroom. She went straight to the teacher's podium with her history book and the attendance sheet. Ike and Yamauchi are supposed to complain to Chabashira-sensei as they planned earlier but didn't after they noticed her unapproachable aura more than before.

She stood behind the teacher’s podium and put down her stuff.

“I believe the rest of you have questions, no?”

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