The Killer in The Clasrroom Of The Elite

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Shadows of Manipulation

The air around Advanced Nurturing High School had shifted drastically since Alex's confrontation with Kakeru. The corridors were thick with tension, and students avoided eye contact as if fearful of inadvertently provoking the ever-escalating rivalry between Class A and Class C. Kakeru's followers had grown quiet and withdrawn—a clear sign that his attention had turned inward, no doubt plotting something ambitious and reckless.

Alex remained on high alert. His mind kept replaying Arisu's words: Let him think he's winning. Give him enough rope, and he'll hang himself. The plan was brilliant, but each day felt like a drawn-out test of his patience. Arisu's wisdom calmed his need for violence, yet the predator in him longed to pounce, to end the conflict before Kakeru could even strike.

As the sun set on another school day, Alex and Arisu met on the rooftop, away from prying eyes. Arisu leaned against the railing, her gaze fixed on the horizon as she outlined her latest strategy.

"Kakeru's pride will be his downfall," she said calmly, her voice barely above a whisper. "He'll go too far, miscalculating our tolerance."

Alex folded his arms, his expression hardening. "And when that happens?"

Arisu met his eyes, a slight smile on her lips. "When that happens, he'll be finished."

Though her smile was soft, there was an intensity in her gaze that told Alex she was fully committed to seeing their plan through. Arisu's calm, calculating approach contrasted sharply with his own urge to strike now, but he respected her insight too much to go against it.

"Trust me, Alex," she continued, almost reading his mind. "Your patience will be rewarded."

The following week, a school-wide notice was posted: a special event that would test each class's teamwork and strategy skills. The event would pit classes against one another, and success would depend not only on individual talent but on coordination and careful planning.

Kakeru's eyes lit up when the announcement was made. Alex noticed the gleam in them, a hunger that promised trouble. Kakeru was relishing the opportunity to make a public show of his power, to dominate Class A and Arisu in front of the entire school. Alex's hands tightened at his sides as he observed Kakeru from across the assembly hall.

"Perfect," Kakeru whispered to one of his followers, unaware that Alex was watching him closely. "This is our chance to humiliate her."

Alex clenched his jaw, his thoughts racing as he took in Kakeru's smug grin. He wanted to wipe that smile off Kakeru's face for good. But he remembered Arisu's words and held himself back, forcing his breathing to steady.

After the announcement, Alex returned to the empty classroom where he knew Arisu would be waiting. She sat by the window, her gaze distant as if lost in thought.

"Ryuuen sees this event as his chance to humiliate you," Alex said without preamble.

Arisu turned her head, meeting his gaze. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted."

Her calm confidence was unwavering, and Alex couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of faith in her plan.

The day of the event arrived, and the atmosphere was electric. Students buzzed with excitement, anticipation filling the air as they took their places. Each class would face off in a complex set of trials, a combination of physical challenges and psychological games that would test their mental acuity and trust in each other.

As the event began, Alex shadowed Arisu closely, his senses heightened. Kakeru and his group watched them from across the field, the malice in Kakeru's eyes palpable. He moved with the confidence of someone who believed he had already won, smugly directing his classmates as they advanced through the challenges.

Class A, under Arisu's leadership, tackled each task methodically, with precision and composure. Arisu's careful planning was evident; her class moved like a well-oiled machine, each member fully aware of their role. Even Alex found himself impressed by her foresight—she had predicted each step of the event and prepared accordingly, guiding their team through the challenges with ease.

Halfway through the event, Kakeru made his first move. He orchestrated a disruption during one of Class A's challenges, deliberately positioning his teammates to block and sabotage Arisu's group under the guise of competition. His intent was clear: to throw them off balance and force a mistake.

Alex's blood boiled as he watched Kakeru's smug smirk, but he kept his cool, recalling Arisu's earlier warning.

"Let him think he's winning," she had said.

Arisu, meanwhile, remained unfazed. Her calm presence reassured her classmates, preventing panic from setting in as they worked around Kakeru's interference with remarkable poise.

When the challenge concluded, Kakeru's grin was wider than ever. He strutted across the field, his confidence radiating as he made a beeline for Arisu.

"You're slipping, Sakayanagi," he sneered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Looks like you're not as untouchable as you thought."

Alex tensed, ready to intervene, but Arisu met Kakeru's gaze with a serene smile.

"We'll see," she replied smoothly. Her voice was calm, almost amused, and it threw Kakeru off balance, if only for a moment.

As he walked away, his arrogance unwavering, Alex leaned toward Arisu, keeping his voice low. "He's getting bolder."

"Let him," she replied, her gaze never leaving Kakeru. "Soon, he'll overreach."

The event continued, with Class A and Class C neck and neck in points. Each victory by Arisu seemed to fuel Kakeru's rage, his temper flaring as he attempted more overt acts of sabotage. But each time he tried to disrupt Class A, Arisu was ready, countering his moves with minimal effort and foiling his plans without breaking stride.

Finally, they reached the final challenge: a game of psychological warfare. Each team would select a representative who would face off in a test of negotiation and manipulation, a game designed to reveal their true nature.

Predictably, Kakeru chose himself as the representative for Class C, while Class A unanimously selected Arisu.

The two met in the center of the field, facing each other across a table. The rules were simple: they each had a set of cards with points, and they had to trade them, either cooperating for mutual gain or trying to deceive the other into losing points.

From the moment the game began, it was clear that Arisu was in full control. Kakeru's arrogance blinded him to her strategy; he attempted to bluff and manipulate her, but she saw through each of his moves with ease. With each turn, Arisu's smile grew, her calm confidence an unsettling contrast to Kakeru's increasingly erratic behavior.

Finally, it became too much. Realizing he was losing, Kakeru's temper exploded, and he slammed his fist on the table. "You're just toying with me!"

Arisu raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Did you expect anything less?"

Kakeru's face turned red, his hands clenched at his sides. His classmates shifted uncomfortably behind him, watching in disbelief as their leader struggled to maintain his composure.

Arisu leaned forward, her voice dropping to a cold whisper. "You wanted a war, Kakeru. Now you've got one. But remember this: you're playing my game."

With that, she played her final card, sealing her victory and securing the win for Class A.

The field erupted in applause as the judge announced Class A as the winner of the event. Kakeru stormed off, his face dark with anger and humiliation, while his followers exchanged nervous glances, uncertain of what his wrath would mean for them.

Alex watched Kakeru retreat, his eyes narrowed. The war was far from over, but today's victory had dealt a blow to Kakeru's pride that he wouldn't soon forget.

Beside him, Arisu met his gaze, a satisfied smile on her face. "This is only the beginning," she said quietly. "He'll come back stronger, but so will we."

Alex nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Then let him. I'll be ready."