Classroom of the Elite : Miles from Normal

Volume 1 : Chapter 8 (Swimming Lessons)

Strolling towards class, it hit me that it's almost been a whole week since we all piled into this school, buzzing with the newness of everything and everyone. I've kind of roller-coastered from being the new guy awkwardly hovering on the sidelines to actually getting nods and "hey"s in the hallway. Not too shabby for a week's work, if I do say so myself.

Thanks to Hirata, who's like the unofficial welcome wagon of Class D, and Kushida's crew, who've surprisingly let me hang with them, I've edged my way into the social scene here. It's nice, feeling a bit like I'm part of the in-crowd for once.

Then there's Horikita, doing her best impression of a lone wolf. Hasn't buddied up with anyone since day one.

I noticed Ike and Yamauchi were already there as I reached the classroom. Seeing them early was pretty unusual to say the least.

"Hey there, Yamauchi!" Ike shouted across the room, his voice full of a kind of excitement you'd expect from someone who just found treasure, not someone who just got to school early.

"Morning, Ike!" Yamauchi shot back, both of them looking way too happy for an early school morning.

Ike was practically bouncing on his heels. "Dude, I was so hyped for today I couldn't even sleep!"

Yamauchi laughed, adding, "Yeah, this school's awesome! Especially on swimming lesson day. And by swimming, I mean the chance to see girls in swimsuits!"

Oh, right. Swimming lessons today. That explains the sudden interest in being early. It all clicked. Ike and Yamauchi weren't here for the joy of learning. They were here for the swimming pool, which, for them, was less about swimming and more about... well, you get the idea.a.

Oh boy, high school really hits different, doesn't it?  It's almost like they've turned swim class into the premiere of "Poolside Glam: The Swimsuit Saga," with the girls in our class as the main attraction. The excitement? You'd think we were gearing up for a blockbuster movie release, not just hitting the pool for lessons. 

And yeah, I get the whole hormone rollercoaster thing we're all on. Every day feels like a quest in some wild, unexplored game. But broadcasting their excitement like it's the latest viral video? Man, that takes guts.

Girls subtly scooted away, their expressions a mix of annoyance and discomfort, clearly not thrilled at becoming the unintended highlight of Ike and Yamauchi's day.

As more boys began to cluster around Ike and Yamauchi, even Ayanokoji made his way over. I found it pretty intriguing to say the least.

"Hey, Professor! Come here for a sec!" Ike called out, his voice booming across the classroom.

"Uh, you called?" A chubby boy named Sotomura answered.

I found it intriguing, almost endearing, how Ike had come to nickname Sotomura as "The Professor." Watching them from a distance, I couldn't help but wonder about the story behind such a title. Is Sotomura some sort of secret genius, or is it just Ike's way of appreciating his unique contributions to their discussions?

"Professor, can you record the girls wearing their swimsuits for us?" Ike asked.

"Leave it to me. I'll pretend to be sick so that I can skip class and observe," 'The Professor' responded.

As it dawned on me, I almost choked on my own laughter. So, 'The Professor' wasn't about smarts in the usual sense, but more about a... peculiar expertise. 'Peeping Tom Academy's valedictorian,' huh? Only in the wacky world of high school boys would such a title be a badge of honor. Despite the iffy morals, you've got to admit, their boldness has its own bizarre charm.