Classroom of the elite: The Four elites

Lelouch's POV:

When I entered the classroom, the change from the usual atmosphere hit me immediately. It wasn't the usual hum of eager students, but rather the heavy weight of some exhaustion. Most people seemed to have stayed up too late, their faces tired and distant, as if they hadn't har much sleep. I made my way to my seat, my eyes briefly sweeping across the room before settling on the window. Finally taking my seat and looking out the window, where that guy was yesterday.

After a few moments I shook my head and turned my attention back to the room, glancing over the faces of my classmates. A sense of something settled over me. A week had passed since the start of school, and in that time, I hadn't managed to form any actual real connections. Sure, I hadn't put in the effort, but still... it felt like something I should have tried to change by now.

Lost in my thoughts, a sudden burst of excitement from the two boys sitting next to me snapped me back to reality.

"It's that day," one of them smirked.

"We get to see the girls, especially Ichinose in swimsuits," his friend added, his voice thick with lust.

The room's energy shifted almost instantly. The tired expressions melted away, replaced by eager, almost hungry looks. The prospect of seeing the girls, forced into revealing swimsuits, was clearly a source of excitement for many. I couldn't help but think it would be the same for the girls as I'm sure some crushes have most likely started to develop between them. Still, I felt an uncomfortable sensation in my chest. I hadn't even considered the fact that I, too, would have to take part in this swim class. Physical activity had never been my strong suit, and as much as I knew I wasn't unattractive by any metric, I wasn't exactly thrilled about exposing myself to everyone.

Time seemed to pass in a blur, and soon enough, it was time for swim class. I changed into my swimsuit with a growing sense of dread, noticing a few of the more athletic looking boys getting hyped up, their muscles flexing as they joked and laughed. But my eyes were drawn to one student in particular, Ryūji Kanzaki. I couldn't mistake him. His purple eyes were fixed on the others with a gaze that was... hard to read. There was a hint of disdain, perhaps, but it was masked by an unreadable calmness.

Kanzaki was serious, almost too serious, but from what I had seen of him, he was also helpful when needed. If things had been different, if I had became leader he definitely would have been my vice leader, but I suppose for now I had no intention of becoming a figurehead like Ichinose.

Reluctantly, I joined the others outside the locker room. I made sure not to be the last one to leave, so I made my way to the poolside, where the buzz of excitement was already clear. Students were gathered around, some whispering, others gawking. Most of the boys were watching the girls changing room, obviously waiting for them to make their entrance. I overheard one student asking about them, clearly disappointed that they weren't already in the pool.

"They'll take a little longer to change," I said, offering an explanation to one the frustrated boys as I decided i should actually try to make connections.

Just as I spoke however, a few girls began to trickle into the pool area, and the attention in the room immediately shifted. My own eyes wandered to Yuki, and I had to admit, her figure was definitely impressive. Her body, encased in the school's swim uniform, drew a fair amount of attention, and I couldn't help but notice the stares directed her way. It felt almost as though she was untouched by the rest of us as more girls came out eyes started to dart between them all.

I had realized, something maybe a little too late, that I had been staring. When I looked up, I was relieved to see that Yuki hadn't caught me. But then, I heard the familiar sound of hushed voices around me, and I knew exactly what they were reacting to. Ichinose had entered. Her presence commanded attention, and even I found myself momentarily distracted by her confident stride. It was impossible to ignore the way the others responded to her, eyes widening, whispers spreading like wildfire.

"She's definitely bigger than I expected," I overheard one boy murmur under his breath, before quickly turning his attention back to the pool.

Just as I was about to return to my own thoughts, I heard my name being called. I turned to find Ichinose approaching, a small smile on her lips. As she came closer, I could feel the weight of the glares from the others in the room, some doubts about me clear and unsettling. It was no secret that Ichinose had chosen me as her vice leader, but that didn't mean the rest of the class had fully accepted me. If anything, they seemed more skeptical than ever.

She stopped just a few feet away, looking up at me with that smile of hers.

"I couldn't help but admire how good you look from afar," she said with a gentle laugh, though I couldn't tell if she was teasing me or being sincere. Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "I wanted to know if you'd like to meet up after class today."

I didn't have a reason to decline. "Sure, I suppose it has something to do with our roles in the class," I said, my voice calm as I glanced back at the pool.

She nodded, her expression softening. "Exactly. I'll see you later, then." She turned and walked off, leaving me with a quiet sense of confusion. I hadn't gotten her number, and for a moment, I wondered if she meant immediately after school or some other time. But I quickly dismissed the thought deciding that would be a future me problem.

The sound of a whistle cut through the air, and the coach's voice boomed across the pool area.

"All right, everyone, line up!"

The man who stood before us was the picture of athleticism, middle-aged, muscular, and exuding the kind of quiet authority that demanded respect. He wasted no time.

"Warm up, and then I want to see what you can really do. Swim for me."

As we warmed up, the atmosphere was filled with anticipation due to the way the guy spoke. Even still some boys, still eyeing the girls, began to take their positions. The coach instructed us to swim fifty meters, allowing those who struggled to touch the bottom of the pool if needed. It had been ages since I'd last swum, but I adjusted quickly to the water's temperature, finding it surprisingly comfortable.

I swam as best I could, but I knew this wasn't my strength. Soon, I began to feel the strain, and without hesitation, I faked a cramp. No one seemed to notice as I climbed out of the pool, retreating to the upper deck where I could observe the class while keeping my distance. I had a feeling the coach was up to something, and I wasn't about to get caught in the middle of something I wasn't good at.

Sure enough, I saw him setting up for a race, a challenge I knew would end poorly for me. Instead, I kept my eyes on the others. I had already begun assessing my classmates, their strengths, weaknesses, and potential. Ichinose, despite her leadership, didn't seem like she would hold up against some of the stronger students. As for Class C... they were ruled by fear, I'd gathered from the information presented. Class A, embroiled in a civil war, seemed ripe for infiltration. And then there was Class D, an anomaly in their own right.

I couldn't help but wonder about the strange guy who had been watching me yesterday, the one with the baggy eyes. My mind was working overtime, piecing things together. Could he be a spy from Class A? Perhaps one of the leaders had sent him, but why be so obvious? There were more questions than answers, but it was too soon to draw any conclusions.

As I leaned back against the side wall, lost in thought, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned to find a girl standing there, her bluish-violet eyes fixed on me.

"Could I sit with you?" she asked, her voice quiet but clear.

"Sure," I replied, scanning her face. She was familiar, Ichinose's friend, Chihiro Shiranami, if I remembered correctly.

She hesitated before sitting down, her unease visible. Then, as if summoning the courage, she asked, "Are you and Ichinose dating?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?" I asked, curiously.

She paused, then answered in a softer voice. "Well, for one, she made you her vice leader. Plus, the conversation earlier... and I've seen the way you both look at each other." She met my gaze, her eyes determined. "So, are you two dating or not?"

I considered lying, but I knew it would cause more trouble than it was worth. After a brief internal sigh, I gave her the truth.

"For better or for worse, no," I said.

As soon as I responded, her eyes lit up, and she almost shouted, "Well, that's definitely for the better!"

Her outburst caught the attention of a few nearby students, but she quickly looked away, embarrassed.

I couldn't help but smile at her reaction, though I was still surprised by how much attention Ichinose seemed to draw, she was even very popular with the girls.

Just as I was about to speak again, the coach's whistle blew,

signaling the end of the race. As the results were read out, I let my gaze wander back to the pool, reflecting on the lesson and the students. It had been a revealing day, as I was listening in, and heard the winner would win 5,000 private points what again did make me ponder.

"First place: Shibata Sou, 25.83 seconds. Second place: Kanzaki Ryūji, 26.85 seconds. Third place: Beppu Ryouta, 28.22 seconds." The coach's voice rang out as he clapped.

The lesson was dismissed soon after, and I stretched, feeling a mix of relief as I thought we all did a great job with today's swimming

Ayanokoji's POV:

The bell rang, signaling the end of another class. The usual chaos ensued as students hurried out, eager to head off to their various after-school activities. Laughter and chatter filled the hallways as they discussed their plans, some to the library, some to the gym, and others to whatever distractions they could find. Meanwhile, Kushida and I exchanged a subtle glance, a silent signal for her to proceed with the plan we'd discussed earlier.

I took a deep breath, as I spoke to the girl next to me. "Hey, Horikita. Do you have some free time after class today?"

She glanced at me briefly, then shook her head without missing a beat. "I don't have any time to waste. I need to head back to the dormitory and prepare for tomorrow."

Prepare for tomorrow. A phrase that meant nothing more than hours of studying, as usual. It wasn't a surprise.

I couldn't help but add, "I wanted you to come somewhere with me for a little bit."

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you after?"

I raised an eyebrow at her suspicion. "Do you think that by inviting you out, that I'm possibly after something?"

"Given the sudden nature of your invitation, I naturally have my doubts. But if there is something specific you want to discuss, I'm willing to listen."

Truthfully, I had nothing of importance to discuss. But I pushed forward anyway.

"You know that café on campus? The one with a ton of girls? I'm not exactly bold enough to go there by myself. It feels like guys are banned from entering alone, doesn't it?"

Horikita's brow furrowed as she considered it. "I certainly can't argue that most of their customers seem to be women, but aren't men allowed to patronize the café?"

"Well, yeah, but no guy goes there alone. Only if they're with a girl, or if they're someone's boyfriend," I explained.

She paused for a moment, thinking. "You may be right. It's unusual for you to express such a well, reasoned opinion, Ayanokouji-kun."

"I'm just interested in it," I added, pressing on. "So, I wanted to invite you to come along."

Horikita tilted her head slightly, her tone sharp. "I suppose that's natural, since you supposedly have no one else to invite, correct?"

Her words stung, but I didn't show it. "It's not like I'm imposing, but yeah, basically."

"And if I refuse?" she asked, almost challengingly.

"Well, that would be that. I'd have no choice but to accept. I can't force you to give up your private time," I said, shrugging casually.

Horikita gave a small sigh, as if this whole situation were an annoyance. "Fine. But I can't stay there for too long. Is that all right?"

"Sure. We'll be quick," I replied, though in the back of my mind, I added the word probably. If she knew that Kushida was involved in this little scheme, Horikita would likely have a lot to say about it. Still, I thought that, with Kushida's help, I might manage to make Horikita see the value of forming connections with others.

As I walked beside her, I couldn't help but reflect on how odd it was that, even though she complained, Horikita was always there with me, whether it was for a store visit or a class event. For someone like me, who struggled to make friends, it felt like a small, quiet miracle.

We made our way to Palate, the café on the first floor of the school, which was buzzing with activity. The place was packed with girls enjoying their after school time, chatting and sipping drinks.

"There are so many people here," Horikita commented, her gaze flicking over the crowd.

"Is this your first time doing something social, Horikita? Oh, wait, I guess it is. You're always alone," I teased, trying to make light of the situation.

Horikita's face hardened, her lips pressing into a tight line. "Was that supposed to be sarcastic? How childish."

I had hoped for a little playful back and forth, but it seemed Horikita wasn't the type to appreciate that. After ordering our drinks, I also grabbed a single serving of pancakes, nothing particularly special, but I figured it would make me look like I wasn't just here for the ambiance.

"Do you like sweets?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"I just wanted to have pancakes," I replied nonchalantly. I wasn't particularly fond of sweets, but it felt like a decent enough reason to give.

Horikita's eyes flicked toward the crowded café. "There aren't any open seats."

I shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to wait a bit. Oh, never mind. There are some open seats over there."

As if on cue, two girls got up from their table. I moved quickly to secure the spot before anyone else could take it, and Horikita followed behind me. I placed my bag on the floor and sat down, glancing around the room.

"Hey, I just thought of something," I said casually. "If the people around here see us like this, they'll probably think we're a couple."

Horikita didn't respond immediately, her expression unreadable. I couldn't tell if she was uncomfortable or simply unfazed by the idea. As I sat back and relaxed, I noticed something or other, someone that caught my attention.

There, at a nearby table, was a familiar face. The guy with the brown hair, yagami was sitting with a girl. From what Horikita had told me, his name was Light Yagami. It wasn't surprising to see him with a girl; he definitely seemed like the type to be popular with the opposite sex.

I couldn't help but scrutinize them for a moment. The girl sitting across from him had mid-back-length silver hair, tied with black ribbons. They didn't exactly look like a couple, but there was a certain ease to their interaction. From what I had observed Light didn't seem like the type to let people in easily, so I wondered what the dynamic was between them.

Before I could dwell on it further, the two girls sitting next to me got up and left, and in their place, Kushida appeared.

"Ah, Horikita-san! What a coincidence! And Ayanokouji-kun too!" she chirped, her usual bright smile on her face.

"Hey," I greeted her briefly, feeling the tension rise.

Horikita's eyes narrowed as she took in the situation, and she slowly turned to me. It was no surprise, this meeting had been planned. Kushida had arranged for her friends to leave and vacate the seats so that we could "coincidentally" end up together. I had sent them a signal as we entered, ensuring that two seats would open up just in time. Even so, I hadn't expected to see yagami here. This added an interesting layer to the situation if he was to make

Himself known to the girls.

"Did you come here together, Ayanokouji-kun? Horikita-san?" Kushida asked innocently.

"Yeah, we just happened to," I replied. "Did you come by yourself?"

"Yeah. Today, I—"

"I'm leaving," Horikita said suddenly, cutting her off.

"We just got here, though," I said, acting confused by her abruptness.

"You don't need me now that Kushida-san is here, right?" she said coolly, glaring at us both.

"Well, hold on. That's not a problem. Kushida and I are just classmates," I tried to explain, but Horikita wasn't having it.

Horikita's cold expression only deepened as she shot Kushida and me an accusing look. "I don't like this. What are you plotting?"

She's figured it out, I realized.

Before I could speak, a familiar voice interrupted us.

"I couldn't help but overhear you," said a deep, calm voice. "And I remembered you from yesterday. I truly apologize for causing you any inconvenience."

It was Light Yagami, approaching with an outstretched hand toward Horikita. She scoffed at the gesture but begrudgingly shook his hand after a long, tense moment. Her gaze was still sharp, but I could see, underneath the surface, that she seemed to respect him. From what she'd said about his academic prowess, it made sense, he was supposedly the top student in the country. But I couldn't help but wonder why he was placed in Class C. A question worth investigating, but not for now anyway.

After a moment, Horikita stood up. "Well, I forgive you. If that's all, I'll be taking my leave."

Kushida tried to stop her, but Horikita just shrugged past her, her annoyance clear as she made her exit.

"Is she... at that time of the month?" Light joked lightly, though the tension in his voice suggested he wasn't entirely sure how to handle the situation.

I shifted my gaze to him. He now offered his hand to me, a warm, friendly smile on his face. "My name is Light Yagami. I didn't catch your name yesterday. What is it?"

I shook his hand quickly but firmly, answering with the name I always gave. "Kiyotaka Ayanokoji."

"Hm. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'd love to chat more, but I don't want to leave my friend for too long. See you around."

And with that, he returned to his seat. I glanced at him and the girl again. They didn't appear to be on a date after all, but just two people spending time together.

The silence that followed felt heavy, and Kushida let out a soft sigh. "Well, that was a failure. I tried to lend a helping hand, but it was pointless. I guess she's too used to being alone."

"She's a special case," I replied, sitting down next to Kushida. "You just need to wait for a real coincidence to bring you together. It's not something you can force."

Kushida nodded, but she seemed disappointed. "I wanted to be friends with everyone, not just the people in Class D, but the students from other classes too. If I can't even become friends with one girl in my class, then... maybe I can't do it."

I shook my head. "You don't need to worry about Horikita. Just focus on the friendships you have. Real connections take time."

Kushida smiled, her usual energy returning. "Thanks, Ayanokouji-kun. I'll try again another day."

"Let's head back to the dorms," I suggested as I stood up, already moving toward the door.

As we walked, I glanced at Light and his companion one last time. He seemed to look at me and Kushida, then quickly turned away.

I shrugged off the encounter. It wasn't important. As Kushida and I left the café and made our way back to the dorms, I couldn't help but feel a bit drained. I headed to my room and collapsed onto my bed, pulling out my phone to review the day's events.

I thought about the swimming race from earlier. Koenji and Sudo had posted the fastest times. I quickly noted the scores for Class D. The average came out to 31.22 seconds. I guess if we do something like that again, then that will be my score.

I put my phone down and closed my eyes.

The coincidence of seeing Light here was too strange to ignore. Was it fate? Or had he planned it? I couldn't tell, but I didn't have the energy to dwell on it. I'd sleep on it and figure things out tomorrow.

***

Just a little filler for now, as I want to try and cover everything without just rushing into the intelligence side. feel free to ask any questions or leave any reviews.