Outsider : Classroom Of The Elite

Chapter 3.11 - Expectations

Day 4, 9:57 AM.

"We are not trying to force you out. If anything, Ibuki-san is welcome to stay here for as long as you want. It's just..." Hirata paused.

"Just what?" Ibuki eyed him with skepticism.

"Hah~" Hirata closed his eyes and replied, "I think it would be the best for you if you resigned."

Ibuki didn't seem too surprised with that response. If anything, she was probably expecting it from the beginning.

"And how is that?" she narrowed her eyes.

"Well, your classmates have already decided to let go of this special exam instead of using it. They've received irreplaceable damage by spending all their points. This is a group exam, so I don't think your efforts alone would be enough to make any significant change in those numbers. That's why I think it would be for the best if you returned to your comrades back in the ship rather than staying here on this island."

"Comrades? Heh..." Ibuki chuckled in a deprecating tone. "Don't make me laugh. What kind of comrade would beat up their own and leave them without even bothering to do something as little as to inform?"

"That's..." Hirata was about to say something but applied brakes and went silent after realizing that he had no rebuttal against it. The other members who were within the conversation diameter remained silent, simply witnessing the play unfold, including me. This time, I simply wanted to be with the audience instead of joining the play.

"Hah..." Ibuki exhaled before saying, "You know, really envy you guys. There are so many good people here in your class, and you guys have great camaraderie, unlike my class which is full of idiots." she paused. "To think that they'd leave me behind like that."

She muttered the last part while patting her left elbow, trying to look hurt. Some were taken aback by her vulnerable stature. But some individuals weren't convinced by her performance.

"Ibuki-san, I must apologize for suddenly putting you in the spot like that. However, you need to make a decision now. Your choice would greatly impact how we would proceed from here." Straight to the point, Horikita asked with a serious face.

"If you don't mind me asking, how would it impact you guys?" Ibuki retorted. "You guys didn't say things like this when taking me in."

"Indeed. Some of my classmates did agree to shelter you on the first day. However, you should also keep in mind that it was because it was an avoidable situation. My classmates were too kind to leave an injured girl like you alone in the wilderness." Horikita threw a glance at me, and in reply, I raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so?"

"I'm sure you couldn't leave because of how the exam was designed. Up until now, you had been pushing yourself for the sake of your class." she continued. "But now that your classmates have completely exempted themselves from the exam, you've lost that sole reason for staying on this island. Logically, I don't see a single benefit in your staying here. At this point, any person with a rational mind would choose to drop the exam without delay. But for the sake of clearance, I'm asking you again..."

After a brief and intense pause, Horikita asked...

"What are you going to do?"

Horikita's blunt lecture left everyone astounded. She didn't tell her anything directly, but her passive aggressiveness bore the message, 'Get out, you're an obstacle'. I wondered if Ibuki had already caught on to that because, later she contemplated about her future words for a good few seconds.