Classroom of the elite: The Four elites

L's POV:

The bell had barely rung when I found my seat in class for the second day of school, settling in with my legs pulled close to my chest. The air was thick with I can only assume is anticipation as the lesson began. The teacher's voice went over and on about the academic objectives for the year, but I could hardly focus. Instead, my gaze swept across the classroom, noticing the subtle but evident tension what seemed to be slowly growing.

It wasn't hard to see that my assumptions from yesterday were right or definitely close to be right. The class had split as predicted. There were two factions, and the hostility was more than evident. I could almost feel it as the teacher continued to go over the essential details of our year, oblivious to the silent war brewing around us from the two sides.

Time drifted by. The teacher rambled on, and before I knew it, the bell rang for lunch. A collective sigh of relief swept through the room as students began to shift, eager to gather with their groups of friends.

"Hey, Ryuzaki," a voice called from my right.

I glanced over, breaking my current gaze from the ceiling. "What is it?"

"Wanna join me for lunch?"

I shook my head, offering a polite smile but I'm sure it looked weird. "No, there's something I need to do. Maybe another time however."

His expression faltered, disappointment on his face. "Oh, okay. Bye then, Ryuzaki."

I stood up, feeling the familiar weight of unwanted attention. As I walked out of the classroom, the thought of food did take over. I was hungry, for sweets after all, and the cafeteria was calling.

But then, a soft voice halted me from behind.

"Hi, Ryuzaki. Could I have a moment of your time?"

Light's pov:

The end of class brought a flood of voices, each person around my desk vying for my attention, inviting me to join them for lunch. It wasn't unusual. This normally happened even before I came to this school so I grown accustomed to this. But today, I decided for now to deflect them all. I had made plans with Hiyori already, and I wasn't one to break my word.

The crowd around my desk dispersed, and I made my way out of the classroom. That's when I spotted her. Hiyori was standing just outside, alone, engrossed in a book, a soft smile playing on her lips as she read. For the first time since I arrived, I really took a moment to actually assess her. She was quite the adorable character, more so than I had realized, and yet it struck me as odd that the boys in class hadn't flocked to her. She was, without a doubt, attractive, perhaps it was the recent events, Ryuen's dominance still casting a shadow over everyone.

"Could she be useful?" I murmured to myself, as my mind wandered. Her physical appeal was undeniable, but her lack of popularity was definitely a negative. It could still work in my favor, I suppose.

I approached her, my thoughts circling unsure on a couple things but I still spoke. "Shall we go then, Hiyori?"

Her eyes lifted from her book, her smile more than genuine. "Yes, of course. But are you still up for the library after school?"

I returned her smile, already feeling the pang of hunger. "Absolutely. But for now, let's grab some food."

We made our way to the cafeteria, which was predictably packed. Thankfully, a few tables remained. We ordered our meals and found a quiet spot for two.

As we ate, I leaned in slightly, curious about her thoughts on the dynamics of class C. "So, Hiyori, what do you honestly think about Ryuen?"

Her response was calm, almost indifferent. "Ryuen's dangerous, sure, but he doesn't intimidate me."

I raised an eyebrow. As if to come across shocked by her reaction. "Really? So you're not afraid of him, then?"

She met my gaze, unflinching. "Why should I be? Are you perhaps afraid of him?"

I paused as I closed my eyes. "I wouldn't say afraid, exactly. But I do respect the unpredictability he brings. His determination... it's concerning to go against."

She seemed unbothered by the conversation, her expression more curious than anything. "You never really answered, are you scared of him?"

I chuckled, but there was an edge to my smile. "Not scared, no. But cautious. He's unpredictable, and that kind of drive can be dangerous."

Inside, though, I was calculating. If I could control Ryuen, manipulate his ambition, this year could be a breeze. The thought lingered as we finished our meal. The chatter around us slowed, and soon, the cafeteria began to empty.

I stood, cutting off our conversation. "I think it's time we head back."

Hiyori nodded, following me out of the cafeteria as we continued our casual chat. The hallways felt quieter as we approached the classroom, and when we entered, my gaze immediately found Ryuen. He stood by the podium, surveying the room with a sense of ownership that made everyone else freeze in their seats, everyone except Albert, of course.

"It took you ladies long enough," Ryuen scoffed, his voice dripping with arrogance.

Hiyori ignored him, walking past without a second glance. I followed her lead, taking my seat with deliberate calmness.

The room fell silent as Ryuen spoke again. "Now that everyone's here, it's time to officially crown me as the leader of class C. If anyone disagrees, feel free to speak up."

His smirk was venomous as he locked eyes with the kid he beat up from yesterday who seemed to be injured before they glanced at me, it seemed he did sense that I was a potential obstacle to his newfound power.

I met his gaze evenly, my poker face impenetrable. "I have no objections to you being the leader."

The class seemed to breathe in unison. The tension hung thick in the air, but I knew what I was doing. Despite his arrogance, Ryuen was a tool, one that could be used to my advantage. Most of the class was terrified of him, and they needed someone to follow, someone they could rely on. In the shadows, I would be the one pulling the strings, guiding him from behind the scenes if he wanted it or not.

I could already feel the gears turning in my mind. Ryuen would lead, but I would dominate. His ambition would be my instrument, and everyone, including him, would learn to depend on me.

I watched him closely, the smirk I hid within my thoughts growing. "We'll see just how useful you can be, Ryuen," I whispered making no sure no one could hear, my resolve solidifying.

"Fine," Ryuen sneered, leaning back in his chair. "If no one disagrees, I'll be the new leader. I'll take this class to the top, to Class A." He took his seat as if it were already decided.

The bell rang, punctuating his declaration. Almost like clockwork, the teacher entered the already quiet classroom.

Lelouch's POV:

The day passed in a blur, calm and uneventful for the most part. By the time lunch rolled around, I had already decided to head to the convenience store. I needed something quick, so I grabbed a cheap sandwich and made my way back to class.

As I walked, I found my mind drifting to yesterday's events. The whole day still lingered in my thoughts. Though as I continued walking I felt cold shiver ran down my spine, a sensation that made me pause. I quickly scanned my surroundings but saw nothing out of the ordinary. It was probably just a lack of sleep, I reasoned, brushing it off as a product of my tiredness.

Time passed, and lunch neared its end. I had a few things I still needed to address, one of which was a conversation I wanted to have with Ichinose. It was clear that she was surrounded by people, and getting her alone would be no easy feat. I watched her for a moment, considering how best to approach the situation, when once again, that cold feeling returned.

I scanned the room for the source, my eyes wandered to the window, where I saw a pair of eyes staring back at me, cold, piercing eyes, fixed directly on mine. The gaze sent a shiver down my spine, an intense scrutiny that felt almost too personal. Whoever it was, their focus was unmistakably on me.

I stared back, narrowing my eyes, trying to get a sense of who this person was. From what I could gather, he was tall, pale, and thin, a young man with dark eyes and black hair. His posture was unnatural from what I could see, it seemed from his appearance that he hadn't slept in days, and the dark circles under his eyes only emphasized the oddness of his presence. He wore our school uniform, so he had to be a student, but something about him felt... off. Was he a second- or third-year? Or was he a first-year, like me? I couldn't be sure, but my instincts told me he was most likely a first year.

The questions ran through my mind: Was he here to observe? To follow someone? Or was he simply stalking one of the girls? I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that he was more than just a passing figure.

The cold feeling intensified as if he was aware that I was studying him. I tried to stay calm, to ignore the unsettling sensation, but it was difficult. My irritation began to grow. He wasn't doing anything but staring, yet it got on my nerves. Every passing moment of this silent confrontation only made me more agitated. I wanted to stand up and confront him, but I knew better than to act impulsively for now anyway.

It felt like some game, a simple staring contest. Just as I was about to break the tension, a student tapped me on the shoulder.

"Are you alright? You're sweating quite a bit," he asked with concern.

"Yeah, just feeling under the weather," I replied, masking the discomfort I felt.

He nodded, clearly satisfied with my answer, and left me alone. I turned back to the window, but the strange figure was gone.

Could I have imagined it? I wondered briefly. But no. He was real. And whatever his purpose was, I would have to keep an eye on him. If he stood in my way of reaching Class A, he would have to be dealt with, one way or another.

Just then, an announcement echoed through the school, cutting into my thoughts.

"At five PM Japan Standard Time today, we will be holding a student club fair in Gymnasium No. 1. Students interested in joining a club, please gather in Gymnasium No. 1. I repeat, at—"

As the announcement concluded, the students around me murmured excitedly, and I was left to consider whether or not I should attend the club fair.

Ayanokoji's POV:

"There are more people here than I expected."

The gymnasium was packed. Nearly all the students in attendance were freshmen, just like Horikita and me. Around a hundred people had gathered, all standing idly as they waited for the club fair to begin. We stood toward the back, flipping through the pamphlets handed out at the entrance. The pages were filled with information about the clubs and their activities.

"I wonder if this school has a prestigious club... something like Kar-..." I trailed off, but before I could finish my thought, Horikita unexpectedly bumped into a boy with brown hair.

"Watch where you're going," she snapped, glaring at him as if she were ready to throw him down right then and there.

"I'm sorry, I was just distracted," the boy apologized quickly, his face a little flustered.

I smiled faintly to try and be friendly I suppose, as I recognised him. He was the guy I had seen on the bus, a student who had given up his seat for an elderly woman. I hadn't seen him much since that day, but now that I looked more closely, I noticed he wasn't alone. He was surrounded by a group of people, all from the same class. From the looks of it, he was part of Class C, but I wasn't entirely sure. They could just as easily have been friends he had made along the way.

Horikita, however, seemed to be staring at me. Was she waiting for me to do something? Before I could respond, one of the boy's friends called to him.

"Come on, Yagami," the friend said, dragging him away from us.

"Thanks for nothing," Horikita muttered, rolling her eyes before walking off. I followed her.

"Who knew you needed someone to protect you?" I joked, though the humor was lost on her.

Horikita didn't respond immediately, but then spoke up, her tone thoughtful. "I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I know him. Well, kind of."

"How so?" I asked, intrigued.

"I don't actually know him, but his name should be 'Light Yagami.' If I remember correctly, he was the top-ranked student in the nation-wide mock exams."

"The top-ranked student, huh?" I mused, my curiosity piqued ever so slightly. "Sounds impressive" though another thought did hit me, is it possible he could be smarter than me?"

"His last name's unique, so it's definitely possible," Horikita added sharply before dismissing the topic altogether.

Before I could reply, the atmosphere in the gym shifted. A man stepped onto the stage at the front of the room.

"Thank you all for waiting, first-year students," he began, his voice booming across the room. "We will now begin the club fair. Representatives from each club will explain their activities. My name is Tachibana, the student council secretary and organizer of the club fair. It's nice to meet you all."

The representatives lined up on the stage, ranging from burly athletes in judo uniforms to students in beautiful kimonos. It was a diverse group, and I couldn't help but wonder which of these clubs would offer the most advantage.

Light's POV:

After chatting with my classmates, I excused myself once again, this time to use the restroom. As I walked back, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

Though before I could really look around It seemed someone important had taken the stage. I glanced at the stage, trying to locate the source of the sudden silence, but my expectations were immediately dashed. The figure on stage said nothing. Was he blanking out? Or was he simply too nervous to speak?

The atmosphere grew thick as the first-year students began to mock him. Laughter filled the room, but the student on stage remained eerily calm, unaffected I dare say. He didn't flinch, didn't even acknowledge the noise. The room slowly quieted, it seemed as if the students were starting to pick up on the gravity on who they were laughing at.

Then the room went quiet, after what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, his voice cutting through the silence.

"I'm the student council president. My name is Horikita Manabu," he announced, his voice calm but full of authority.

His words were deliberate and filled with weight. "The student council is recruiting candidates among the first-year students to replace the graduating third-year students. No special qualifications are required for application, but we ask that candidates not be involved in other clubs. We generally don't accept students already committed elsewhere."

The air in the gymnasium was thick with silence. His presence alone commanded respect. It wasn't just his position as student council president, it was the sheer force of his character. Horikita Manabu had a power that silenced even the most boisterous of students.

"I also want to make it clear," he continued, his eyes scanning the room, "that we do not seek naive individuals. Those who lack a realistic outlook have no place in the student council. We are entrusted with more than just enforcing rules. We uphold the integrity of this institution."

He finished speaking without pause, and just as abruptly, he left the stage. No one spoke. The room remained still, everyone caught in the tension he had created.

The club fair was officially over. The representatives began taking applications, but the weight of Horikita Manabu's presence lingered in the air, leaving us all to wonder just how far his influence might extend to.

I couldn't help but smile. Becoming a member of the student council, and eventually its leader, could be the perfect move. Whether I overtook Manabu or waited for him to leave, the position would provide strategic advantages. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

But, as always, there were doubts. Taking on the responsibility of the council could be distracting.

"Decisions, decisions," I muttered to myself, just loud enough for me to hear.

I pulled out my phone and sent a message to the group chat.

"I'm sorry, but I'm feeling really ill today. I'm heading home early," I typed, then turned off my phone.

It was time to rest. Tomorrow would bring more decisions, and I needed a good night's sleep to think clearly.

***

A little question to the reader: Do you think I should make any of them try and become a student council member? Because I've been thinking about it, and I think it's better if they stay away from it. Not entirely, but maybe not join it.