Classroom of the Elite: Stalemate

Vol.2 : Chapter 6.5-Loyalty

Hashimoto POV

Fourth Day of the Exam: Ten AM
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"Once is happenstance, Twice is coincidence, Three is enemy action," I thought to myself, recalling a quote which the little princess once told me.

Now looking at Katsuragi confronting other supporters of ours I recalled the reason.

The thing they were arguing about is Katsuragi suddenly refusing to cooperate with the princess.

Although at the beginning of the exam he was quite fond of the idea of cooperating with Sakayanagi through this little radio while he would actively lead. Now for whatever reason he suddenly stopped and tried to sway some critical members of ours behind my back, though it's futile.

"What the hell, Katsuragi! You had an agreement with Sakayanagi-san, what's with this recruitment thing?" a supporter of ours accused Katsuragi with other people backing him up.

The baldy himself in turn just sighed and gestured to Yahiko allowing him to answer.

"Things have changed, " Yahiko began agitatedly. We were never obligated to follow those rules in the first place, this was just a courtesy on which Katsuragi-san agreed. Wasn't it already enough ? Your faction, receiving a leader card and being left alone ? And even after all these handouts you still oppose ?!" He questioned, irritated by the words sent to his beloved leader.

'Lapdog, really, was he a dog in his previous life or what?' I chuckled.

Sighing to myself, I got up from the rock on which I was sitting and addressed the crowd in a tired tone.

"Mattaku... calm down already, guys, it's 10 in the morning." Walking closer to them, I now addressed Katsuragi, "Oi Oi, Katsuragi, I'm most certain it's common knowledge that it's considered really rude to sway other team members behind their leader's back while you still have an agreement with her."

Katsuragi, AKA the baldy, just sighed, "Listen, Hashimoto, what we're doing right now is what's really pointless. So listen, I won't stop repeating myself. Sakayanagi is incapable of leading you all even in the first exam. What reliable leader can allow this?"

"It's not like it's her fault!" Others retorted.

"Even knowing her own incapacities due to her health condition, she still widens the rift in our class for her own greed for power. What kind of leader does this, huh?" Yahiko returned, already half shouting.

"Stop, Yahiko." Katsuragi suddenly stopped him with a stern comment.

"What is it Katsuragi-san?" Yahiko asked, confused by the sudden change in the mood of his leader.

"Although Sakayanagi is my opponent right now, don't insult her. It's okay to be immature as long as you don't take responsibility for someone; she must understand this for her own good. That's it."

The last sentence unsurprisingly resulted in another uproar of disapproval from our faction, however, some students refrained from commenting and simply looked at the ground.

'Slim bastards.'

Hearing this comment, I just smiled, covering my irritation. "I don't remember this class having a dictatorship. Everyone follows whoever they like. It's not like we were forced to follow the princess. It was our own decision, and you guys," I said, pointing at Katsuragi and his followers who were standing behind. "Are trying to impose your leadership on us, though you don't even have 60% of the students in the class in your faction. I personally feel like this is tyranny, a bAld yet rude act indeed, considering that Japan is a democratic nation." I emphasized the last sentence.