Classroom of the Elite: Crimson Usurper (V5-V11.5)

(V6) Chapter 6.2

"YOU'RE late, Kikyou. What, couldn't slip past your classmates?" asked Ryuen.

"What the fuck are you doing!? Tell me!" Kushida demanded. She drew closer to Ryuen on the isolated rooftop.

"Huh?" said Ryuen.

"The questions and answers you gave me were completely different than the ones on the exam."

"Oh, yeah. I switched 'em out before the deadline. What about it?" Ryuen snorted derisively, then took a sip of bottled water.

"I told you, didn't I? I will get Horikita expelled, no matter what. I betrayed my classmates and switched out our questions on the condition that you gave me the math test answers. If you kept your promise, Horikita somehow fucking saw through it and my plan got fucking foiled, but no it's okay! I had the backup that you would give me the test answers. And look what the fuck you did with your rat-like minuscule brain! Fucking traitor!"

"I guess I did betray you. Just like your style."

"You want to win against Class C and give us nothing in return?

"You're mistaken, Kikyou. Your questions weren't used on the exam," replied Ryuen.

"Huh? What are you even talking about? I turned them in right away. I even confirmed everything with Chabashira-sensei."

"You really haven't noticed? Suzune acted ahead of time to stop the school from formally accepting your questions. My class won, but we also just barely avoided catastrophe." said Ryuen. Of course, he was only deceiving her.

"She... no... This was quite literally, a benefit for only you."

"Go ahead and wait for the results if you doubt me. In all likelihood, my class won against your class. However, the mastermind in your class had a play in it."

"A play?"

"I'll just tell you this. The reason this happen was all because of the mastermind. That's why I betrayed you, Kikyou."

Grabbing Kushida's bag, he tried digging inside before Kushida slapped his hand away.

"Hey, what are you doing?!" shouted Kushida, backing away to put some distance between herself and Ryuen. Ryuen smiled.

"Look inside your bag."

Still on her guard, Kushida slowly reached into her bag. She felt paper, which she didn't expect.

"What is this?"

"You think just because you anticipated that somebody might plant something inside your blazer that they won't do it to your belongings?"

"Why were these in my bag? I don't...I don't understand"

"Someone in Class D was prepared to go in for the kill. What if I had still given you the right questions? Come on. Say you scored really high on the exam and then someone accused you of cheating, and they found those papers inside your bag? What do you think would happen then?"

"Wait, you mean I'd be expelled?! Even though I didn't cheat!? That's stupid!" Kushida balked. "I put my bag away-"

"Sure, that was required, but it could be argued that you remembered those questions, no? I wouldn't say that's impossible."

"If you were innocent, it would be stupid. But you got your hands on the questions beforehand by working with me. There'd be nothing you could do about it." continued Ryuen.

Of course, Kushida could have claimed she was framed. Even if she pulled through, however, it would've tainted her reputation. It wasn't against the rules for someone to offer their class's questions to another class, but it was considered disgraceful.