Classroom of the elite: The Four elites

Lelouch's POV:

Far into the depths of the island we had entered, we were basically on the opposite side of the island from where the ship was. The current spot we are at had been chosen by the Class, largely driven by Ichinose's initiative. After hours of deliberation and exploration, I had settled into the idea.

Ichinose's voice soon pierced through the small chatter, resolute and commanding, as her gaze landed firmly on me. It wasn't a casual glance, she was searching for agreement, as if it seemed not everyone was convinced with the current spot.

"Don't you agree this is the ideal place to set up camp? Surely you think so, Lelouch?" she asked. Around us, most of the others nodded in approval, their faces reflecting consensus. In my opinion it was a favorable location, offering natural resources and protection against possible dangers.

She continued, her tone shifting to practicality. "Now, we need to claim this spot. And to do that, we'll need to decide who will hold the card. Who should it be?"

The class murmured, some discussing names. Shiranami was the first to speak up.

"I think it should be Ichinose," she suggested, her voice steady. Others seemed to agree, nodding tentatively.

Kanzaki, however, wasn't swayed. "I think that's a bad idea. Ichinose is too obvious a choice. It should be someone less conspicuous," he argued, his sharp insight going against the growing agreement.

The question of who should hold the card was trivial to me. at least in theory. Making someone obvious the leader could work as reverse psychology, possibly confusing our rivals. But if the other classes guessed randomly, they'd likely target either Ichinose or me. Making it so Neither of us could afford to bear that risk.

"How about Kanzaki?" I proposed, my voice measured. The suggestion drew curious glances, though Kanzaki himself looked less than thrilled.

"I'm not entirely a fan of this idea," he admitted, hesitation in his tone.

"Let's think logically for a moment," I began, turning to face the group. "If I were another class, I wouldn't make a guess unless I was more than certain. And if they did guess, it would most likely be between Ichinose or myself. Kanzaki, however, is intelligent and physically capable. He's the best choice to keep the card safe in case of an attack."

Slowly a ripple of agreement spread through the group, swaying opinions in Kanzaki's favor. Ichinose sought final confirmation, and with no voices going against it, the decision was made. Kanzaki would be the one with the card, a conclusion I was more than satisfied with.

Shortly after, Kanzaki approached me. "Do you want to come with me to retrieve the card?" he asked. I nodded, falling into step beside him as we headed into the woods.

The walk was grueling as the walk felt longer this time. My thoughts wondered as we moved, as i thought over the other classes. Class A would undoubtedly suffer the greatest losses in this scenario, yet Katsuragi's resourcefulness could potentially turn the tide in their favor. However, my primary concern lay with Class C, particularly with Ryuen, whose unpredictability posed quite a problem if unchecked.

Kanzaki's voice jolted me from my little pondering session. "Why did you choose me?" he asked, his gaze sharp. "I don't fully buy the reasoning you gave earlier."

"Believe me or don't," I replied evenly with a shrug of my shoulders. "I just think you're the perfect candidate. Let me ask you this: if Ryuen managed to corner Ichinose, what do you think would happen?"

"If it came down to a one-on-one, she'd lose," Kanzaki admitted reluctantly. "But the school wouldn't allow that kind of violence."

"How would they know?" I countered, gesturing to our surroundings. "No cameras. No witnesses. The school couldn't act on hearsay, as we heard with the incident between Sudo and Class C."

Realization dawned on Kanzaki's face as my words sank in. "So, if Ryuen targeted our card, I'd have the best chance of protecting the card. And you think I'm the most capable of dealing with him if it came to that?"

"Exactly," I confirmed. "Though that's not the only reason."

Kanzaki raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What else?"

"If you asked a thousand people to pick a number between one and forty, what do you think the least chosen number would be?" I asked, glancing at him.

He hesitated. "Twenty-three? I don't know."

"The answer is three," I said. "Symbolically, that's where you stand in this class, third place. If Ichinose and I weren't here, you'd be the vice leader at the very least. That makes you the least obvious, but the most effective."

Kanzaki mulled this over, nodding slowly. He couldn't dispute my logic, and that was enough for me even though it was a lie i had just come up with.

We eventually reached the beach, where Hoshinomiya greeted us with her usual cheerfulness.

"If it isn't my two favorite boys from Class B!" she exclaimed, her laughter a little to loud for my liking. "So, have you decided on a leader?"

The exchange was brief. Once the card was in our possession, we returned to camp, the journey quicker but no less annoying.

Back at the campsite, Ichinose pulled me aside, her excitement evident. "I have good news!" she announced.

"And what would that be?" I asked, slightly intrigued.

"I know who Class C's leader is," she revealed. "It's Ryuen."

I narrowed my eyes. "How do you know that?"

"Someone from another class told me," she said with a sly smile.

"And who was this informant?"

"It's a secret," she replied.

"Do you have proof, or are you taking their word for it?"

"I trust them. They sounded convincing," she said confidently.

Before I could press further, Kanzaki signaled that it was time to leave. With a sigh, I let the matter rest, for now.

After a brief interlude, we hastily assembled into various different teams of two and embarked on our rreconnaissance mission. Despite the current state of our task, my thoughts persisted in wandering towards the reason for the student's willingness to expose Class C's leader. The implication of their allegiance to Class C gnawed at me, as it was more than possible that the student doesn't agree with Ryuen or his methods and was most likely a student from class C. Also, to another point, did they choose their moment to make a deal with class B knowing my absence? Such timing does seem improbable, yet the coincidence did slightly trouble me. Ichinose's casual demeanor only deepened my suspicions, hinting at a calculated motive behind the person's actions, as Ichinose seemed to be able to just trust his word.

We eventually reached a secluded spot that Kanzaki had noted earlier. A cave loomed ahead, its shadowy entrance promising shelter.

"I spotted this during the boat ride," Kanzaki explained. "It could be useful if something happens to our camp."

Before we could investigate further, a figure emerged from the cave.

"Ryu Ryuzaki," I murmured, noting the tension in Kanzaki's posture.

"He's from Class A," Kanzaki said grimly. "This raises questions."

Hidden in the undergrowth, we watched as Ryuzaki lingered near the entrance. His movements were deliberate, almost as if he knew we were there but chose not to acknowledge us.

"It appears either this is where Class A resides, or perhaps it's a potential spot where they can gain points. If the latter is the case, Ryuzaki is likely the leader of Class A," Kanzaki observed, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant figure.

Still Hidden within the trees, we observed as Ryuzaki finally left the area, striding in the opposite direction. His peculiar behaviour did make me wonder, but I refrained from commenting. Kanzaki and I waited until he was well out of earshot before taking any action.

Without hesitation, Kanzaki made his way toward the cave entrance, motioning for me to remain on watch. He returned moments later, "There are definitely others in that cave. This means it's most likely Class A's base."

"The real question, then," I remarked, "is what Ryuzaki's intentions are for leaving the area alone. Tailing him could provide valuable information, but it's already growing late. The effort may yield diminishing returns. Let's head back to camp for now."

Kanzaki nodded in agreement, and we began our trek back. After a while, his thoughts seemed to wander toward Ichinose. Breaking the silence, he spoke, "I've been pondering something. What's your honest opinion of Ichinose?"

I paused briefly, considering my answer. "There are no glaring negatives to her leadership. Without her, this exam would undoubtedly be far more challenging. Her optimism holds the class together. However-"

Before I could finish my thought, Kanzaki pulled me behind a tree, silencing me with a glance. Following his gaze, I spotted something unusual. A girl was crouched at the base of a tree, her hands working quickly to bury something in the dirt. She seemed cautious, glancing over her shoulder constantly. Her disheveled appearance caught my eye, her cheek was bruised, and her uniform was torn in places.

"That's Ibuki from Class C," Kanzaki whispered. "The question is, what is she doing here, beaten up like that?"

We observed quietly as she finished burying the object and rested against the tree. Before we could act, voices carried through the forest. Two figures approached, a girl with striking pink hair and a male student I recognized from the Sudo incident. They were from Class D. After a brief exchange with Ibuki, the three of them walked off together, likely back to Class D's camp.

"Hmm, reckless," I muttered. "If they're truly letting her stay with them, that's an unnecessary risk. It's exactly what we need to avoid in Class B. I'm thankful our class isn't that stupid to do something like this."

Kanzaki nodded. "I wonder, let's see what she left behind."

We approached the tree and unearthed the plastic bag she had hidden. Inside was a walkie-talkie.

"Clearly one of Ryuen's schemes," Kanzaki remarked, examining the device.

I took the walkie-talkie, turning it over in my hands. "It's peculiar. If Ibuki is gathering intel, why not return directly to Ryuen? Why the need for this?" I muttered. "It suggests there's most likely a plan. For now, we should re-bury it and proceed carefully."

Kanzaki agreed, and after hiding the evidence once again, we resumed our journey. As we approached our camp, raised voices greeted us. A commotion had erupted.

At the center of it all was Ichinose, flanked by Shibata and another unfamiliar figure. The boy's face was unfamiliar, but his hunched posture and hesitant expression made him appear out of place.

"Just look at him! We can't risk him going back to Class C and getting hurt again," Ichinose argued passionately.

"He's a spy, Ichinose," Shibata countered firmly. "Sending him away is the only logical move."

The debate grew heated, with others chiming in, splitting opinions down the middle. Kanzaki and I stepped forward to break up the argument.

"What's going on here?" Kanzaki demanded.

Ichinose quickly explained. The boy, Kaneda, had sought refuge in Class B's camp, claiming he feared Ryuen's wrath. She proposed letting him stay for safety, While most agreed, I felt a sense of unease. I feel obligated to retract my previous assessment of Class B's caution.

Ichinose turned to me for support. "Lelouch, what do you think we should do?"

I paused, considering the situation carefully. Allowing Kaneda to stay seemed risky, but this could be an opportunity to gain insight into Class C. "For tonight, we should let him stay. Sending him out now would be dangerous. Tomorrow, we'll visit Class C to investigate and decide his fate."

Ichinose smiled in relief. "That's a reasonable compromise."

As the others reluctantly agreed, Kanzaki pulled me aside. "Why allow a potential spy to stay?"

"Trust me," I replied quietly. "This is an opportunity to learn more. Besides, keeping him close ensures we can watch him."

Kanzaki still seemed skeptical but conceded.

That night, I noticed Kanzaki keeping a vigilant eye on Kaneda while others slept.

The following morning, our group who consisted of Ichinose, Kanzaki, Kaneda, and myself set off toward Class C's presumed location. As we reached the mountain overlooking their camp, we observed an almost festive atmosphere below.

"It's like they're treating this as a vacation," Ichinose remarked.

Barbecues, tarps, sports equipment, it seemed they had spared no expense.

"They've sacrificed points for comfort. Either they've given up on the exam or are planning something," Kanzaki reasoned.

"Enough talking," I said, stepping forward. "Let's get this over and done with."

Light's POV:

Since our arrival, everything up to this point has felt like a vacation. Most of the students in Class C was enjoying themselves, their laughter coming from different points on the beach, as they played volleyball and similar games to keep themselves entertained.

I sat up from where I'd been resting, noticing Hiyori approaching. She quietly took a seat beside me.

"How're you holding up?" I asked, my eyes drifting toward the sea before glancing at her face. Her expression told a story of its own, she seemed upset, even if she tried to hide it.

Hiyori averted her gaze for a moment before meeting mine again, her demeanor returning to its usual calm self. "I'm fine," she said softly, though her tone lacked conviction. "I do miss my books, though." She hesitated, then added, "I know Ryuen said we shouldn't talk about it, but you're aware of what happened yesterday, right?"

I nodded, my gaze still fixed on the horizon. "I know what you're referring to. And I'm confident enough to know you've already pieced together his plan."

Hiyori gave a small nod, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of disinterest. "I have. But honestly, I'm not interested in the competition."

"I see," I replied, leaning back slightly. "Well, that's more than fine."

Her head turned slightly, and I noticed her eyes shift toward something, or someone, behind me. Curious, I followed her gaze.

I couldn't help but sigh when I saw who it was. "Ryuzaki," I muttered under my breath as he stood at a distance, scanning the area. His eyes locked onto mine before he raised a hand and waved, as if we were old friends.

Reluctantly, I stood and made my way over towards him. "What brings you here?"

"Nothing much," he said with a shrug. "Just decided to scout the island and ended up here." His gaze shifted to Hiyori, and a sly smile crept onto his face. "You've got good taste, Light."

My eyes followed his before I glanced back at him, unamused. Before I could respond, another voice made its way over.

"If it ain't the weirdo I almost beat the shit out of," Ryuen called out, striding toward us with his trademark mocking grin.

Ryuzaki didn't acknowledge Ryuen's presence. Instead, he turned to me. "So, any—"

Before he could even fully start, Ryuen stepped directly in front of me, cutting him off.

"You think you can just ignore me yet again? Maybe I should teach you a lesson."

Ryuzaki's tone remained casual as he responded, "I should warn you, I'm a lot stronger than I look."

I quickly stepped between them, a fight would not benefit me in anyway right now. "Listen, Ryuen, fighting Ryuzaki won't solve anything. He's a friend of mine. There's no need to be so wary of him."

Ryuen narrowed his eyes at me, but Ryuzaki seemed pleased. "Friend, huh? That makes you my third friend at this school," Ryuzaki said before turning away as he motioned for me to follow.

I glanced back at Hiyori. "We'll continue our chat later."

"Stay safe, Light," she called after me as I walked away.

For a while, Ryuzaki and I walked in silence before he finally broke it.

"Your class seems to be enjoying themselves," he remarked, his tone neutral.

"Well, why not make the best of a bad situation?"

He glanced at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I find it odd."

"Odd?"

He nodded. "From what I've observed about you, this doesn't seem like something you'd do. Maybe you're just Ryuen's lackey, but I doubt that. If anything, I suspect you don't even intend to win in this exam. You've got something else planned, don't you?"

A quiet chuckle escaped me. "You've got it all wrong, Ryuzaki. Maybe I just want to enjoy my time here. Don't you think you're overthinking this a little too much?"

"Maybe," he said, though his expression remained skeptical. "But if my theories about you are correct, then I'm sure you've got something up your sleeve."

I didn't respond immediately, but his words lingered. It was clear he was referring to him believing that I am Kira.

We walked deeper into the island, the sound of a nearby stream growing louder. Ryuzaki paused briefly, bending down to pick up a stick. He idly dragged it across the dirt, drawing random shapes as he spoke.

"I'll admit, I hold you in high regard, Light. But soon enough, I'll know whether my suspicions about you are right."

His confidence was unwavering, but I met his gaze evenly. "You really have a way with theories, Ryuzaki. Care to share your latest one?"

He smirked faintly, the kind of smirk that suggested he already knew he was getting under my skin. "When I first told you I was L, I nearly convinced myself you weren't Kira. Your acting is flawless. But my intuition wouldn't let me drop it. That led me to some... interesting ideas."

I raised an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. "Interesting? Like what?"

He tapped the stick against his hand as he considered his words. "One theory involves your sister."

I blinked, genuinely taken aback. "Sayu?"

He nodded. "Think about it. What if she found one of the cameras? With her connection to your father, she could easily access certain information other couldn't. Maybe she orchestrated the whole thing and pushed the blame onto you, sending me chasing after a red herring. If that were the case, she'd be a master manipulator."

The idea was absurd, impossible even, but I couldn't deny its creativity. A quiet laugh escaped me as I shook my head, regaining my composure. "You really do have a fascinating imagination, Ryuzaki."

"Imagination or not, my goal is the same: to pinpoint Kira. Once I do, it'll be the end for them."

I leaned casually against a tree, watching him with amusement. "Let's say you're right, and I am Kira. If you caught me, then what?"

His reply was immediate. "You'd be executed."

For a moment, the weight of his words hung in the air between us. I allowed a faint smile to cross my lips as I responded, my voice calm though I gave him what he wanted to hear. "Well then, if I am Kira, I'll make sure not to get caught."

A small smirk played on his face, the first sign that he'd gotten what he wanted: an admission of sorts, even if it was veiled. "I enjoy our little chats, Light. But we should head back to your camp. Wouldn't want the girl you were with to worry now would we."

Without waiting for a response, he started walking again. I followed, and it wasn't long before he broke the silence once more.

"So, with Ryuen as your 'card holder,' what's Class C's plan?"

I let out a fake exaggerated sigh, as he'd hit mark though I had expected as much. "Is Class C really that predictable?"

Ryuzaki glanced at me, his expression sharp. "It was only a suspicion, but I suppose you've just confirmed it."

He stopped briefly, allowing me to catch up so we were walking side by side again.

"Well, it doesn't matter," I said casually with a slight shrug of my shoulders. "Everyone in Class C will be leaving the island soon."

"And lose all the potential points you could gain?" He tilted his head slightly, as though puzzling out the logic. Then his face shifted, he'd figured it out. "Ah, Ryuen's plan. It's simple enough. Anyone paying attention could see through it."

I didn't deny it, nor did I confirm it. Instead, I changed the subject. "What about Class A?"

"Katsuragi's been keeping his cards close to his chest," Ryuzaki admitted, his tone thoughtful. "Even I can't give you a definitive answer without venturing into pure speculation."

"And you? You could offer him assistance. With your skills, Class A should have the biggest advantage due to your reasoning."

He gave a small shrug, unfazed. "I could, but Katsuragi wants objective proof before acting. He's unlikely to listen to me without it."

I mulled over his words as we walked. Something about the situation had cleared something for me. Ryuen knew Class C would be at zero points with everyone leaving, so why had he bothered obtaining the cameras for objective proof? If Ryuzaki was telling the truth, it was possible Katsuragi and Ryuen had struck some sort of deal. Ryuen would be more than satisfied with just being told by Ibuki and kanada.

We fell into silence for a moment, but it didn't last. A loud but familiar voice called out from the direction of the camp.

As we approached, the noise died down slightly. From where I stood, it was clear that Ryuen wasn't happy. A small group from Class B had arrived, accompanied by someone Ryuen had exiled from our camp earlier.

Ichinose noticed us first, waving cheerfully. "Over here!" she called out, as though we weren't already heading that way.

When we arrived, she greeted me warmly. "Oh, Light, it's good to see you again." Then her attention shifted to Ryuzaki. "And... Ryuzaki, right?"

"Mhm," Ryuzaki responded without much enthusiasm.

Ryuen scoffed, "Let me guess, these are your friends, too."

"I'd like to think so," I replied, though my attention was quickly drawn to a sound coming from the forest.

Another group emerged, this time from Class D. Among them were Horikita and Ayanokoji, Seems as if class C was hosting a party.

Ryuen let out a low whistle. "Well, if it ain't the hot princess of Class D."

Horikita glared at him with obvious disgust but ignored him otherwise, focusing on her conversation with the members of Class B. I watched her carefully, noticing something off. Horikita wasn't behaving like herself.

Normally, she'd have to get the last word in especially with someone like Ryuen. But now, she was unusually quiet, and layered in extra clothing despite the heat. Sweat trickled down her face, and her voice carried an unfamiliar strain.

I stepped back, my suspicion growing. Ryuen noticed my movement and leaned closer.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his eyes darting between me and Horikita.

"Look at her," I said evenly. "Really look. Notice anything unusual?"

He did as I suggested. After a moment, he shook his head. "What's your point?"

I sighed, deciding to spell it out for him. "The extra clothing. The sweat. The way her voice faltered. She's sick or at least, not well. And if I had to guess, she's carrying most likely the card holder for class D. I'm sure you could guess that much."

Realization dawned on his face, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I see what you're getting at. If she's holding the card, now would be the perfect time to act."

Without waiting, I returned to the group, raising my voice just enough to draw everyone's attention. "So, what brings everyone here to Class C's camp?"

Before anyone could answer, Ryuen moved swiftly. He stepped behind Horikita, his hand darting into her back pocket.

She squealed in surprise, spinning around. "What the, did you just—" Her words faltered as her hand instinctively patted her pocket, realizing too late what had happened.

Ryuen's smirk was razor-sharp as he held up the card for everyone to see. "Well, well, looks like the leader of Class D is none other than our favourite girl, Suzune Horikita," he announced, his voice filled with a hint of pre determined victory.

The camp fell into a stunned hush. All eyes were on the card in Ryuen's hand, the proof of Class D's card holder had been exposed. The disbelief on Horikita's face as she had understood the spot her and her class were now in.

For Class D, this wasn't just a setback. It was the moment their strategy had crumbled, the precise moment the scales had fully tipped against them. Their secret had been exposed to at least one representative from each class. With so many witnesses, recovery seemed impossible.

Ryuen chuckled almost darkly, the sound dripping with satisfaction. "Game over, Class D."

***

Authors note:

Finally the start of the island exam; how do we feel about it?

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If you've got any early predictions, feel free to say them.