Classroom of the elite: The Four elites

Light pov:

The month of May finally came around. As I made my way into the classroom and made my way over to my seat, I noticed Hiyori was already here with her nose in a novel series she had previously told me about.

"Hey, Hiyori," I said as I slid into my seat, my voice breaking through the gentle stillness.

Her head tilted slightly toward me, her soft eyes meeting mine as she placed the book down on her desk. "Oh, hey, Light," she replied, her tone as easy and natural.

"Say," I began, leaning forward just a fraction, "how many private points were sent to you today?"

She blinked, her expression thoughtful for a moment before she answered. "Um, if I remember right... it was 66,000 private points."

"The same as mine, then," I muttered as now questions lingered in my mind.

Both of us had been promised 100,000 points. Yet here we were, receiving the same, incorrect, amount. It couldn't be a coincidence. It was too deliberate, too precise. Something about it was off and I had a suspicion that my suspicion was most likely correct.

My eyes flickered toward one of the cameras perched discreetly in the corner of the classroom. Since my first day here, I'd managed to spot all of the cameras, some were deliberately visible, others tucked away as though meant not to be discovered by most. Together, they left no blind spots, to what I could identify.

A school like this wouldn't make such an obvious error, I reasoned. No, this wasn't carelessness. It was deliberate, an obvious yet calculated move by them. I'd have to press the teacher for answers, though I doubted I'd get anything to concrete.

"What are you thinking about, Light?" Hiyori's voice interrupted my thoughts. She looked at me curiously, her head tilted slightly as if trying to decipher my thoughts.

"Hm? I don't know what you mean," I replied, feigning ignorance.

"There's no need to play dumb," she said with a knowing smile. "You always look like you're deep in thought, even when you're speaking. I was just curious."

I let out a soft sigh, leaning back in my chair. "I didn't realize I was so easy to read," I admitted before deciding to indulge her curiosity, just a little.

"Don't you think it's strange?" I asked. "We were promised 100,000 points, but we only received 66,000."

She paused, her brows raising slight as she thought it over. "Yeah," she said finally, nodding. "I did think it was suspicious... though it could've been a mistake."

"Do you really think a school like this would make such a careless mistake?"

"Not really," she admitted, though her tone was hesitant. "But you never know."

Before I could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of homeroom. Our teacher, Kazuma Sakagami, strode in with his usual stern air, positioning himself at the front of the room.

"All right," he began, his voice cutting through the low hum of conversation. "Your morning homeroom is about to begin. Before we start, does anyone have any questions? Now's the time to ask."

It wasn't often he opened the floor like this, but the tension in the room had already been building. I could feel it.

"Yo, teach!" Ryuen's voice rang out first. He waved his phone in the air, a cocky grin plastered across his face. "Why'd I only get 66,000 private points?"

"Yeah, same here!" another student chimed in, a girl with short blue hair, her tone just as demanding.

Various amounts of voices followed, rising in pitch and urgency as more students called out, demanding an explanation. Sakagami waited, letting the chaos play itself out. Finally, he cleared his throat, before looking back at us all.

"There were a total of 16 absences and late arrivals," he began, his tone calm but firm. "And 48 incidents of students talking or using their phones during class hours. After factoring in these incidents, your class wasted 34,000 points. The remaining 66,000 is what's left after those deductions."

The room fell into a heavy silence as his words sank in.

"Im sure some of you would have expected this explained to you during the entrance ceremony," he continued, his gaze sweeping over the room. "But this school measures your true abilities, not just your academic skills, but your discipline and cooperation as a group. Did you really think you'd get 100,000 points every month without any strings attached? This is a school established by the Japanese government to train gifted individuals, not a free handout system. Use some common sense."

I leaned back in my chair once more, his explanation confirming what I'd already suspected. My predictions hadn't been perfect, but they'd been close enough. I'd done what I could with the limited information I had, and now the class was beginning to realize the truth.

Some students groaned, the weight of the reality settling over them. Others remained silent, their expressions a mixture of frustration and grudging acceptance.

Sakagami's gaze lingered on them for a moment before he added, "This is your first year here. If you're not ready to put in the effort, you'll only fall further behind. Consider this a warning."

His words hung in the air like a challenge, one that I was more than ready to meet.

The faint murmurs of disbelief and scattered frustration quieted as I raised my hand. I needed some clarity, answers that wouldn't come unless questioned.

"I think I understand the general framework," I began, steadying my voice. "But could you explain in detail how points are added or subtracted? I'm sure the class would appreciate knowing how to better manage this moving forward."

Sakagami regarded me with an expression that bordered on amusement. "I'm sure you would," he said evenly, "but that's not something we disclose to students. If you're curious, you're welcome to figure it out on your own. Think of it as part of the challenge."

I nodded my head as I kept my expression neutral. Just as I opened my mouth to press further, the bell rang, marking the end of homeroom.

"Well, that's enough on that topic," Sakagami announced, brushing past my question he moved on. "Let's move on."

From a tube on his desk, he removed a white, rolled-up poster and pinned it to the board with magnets. As the paper was now visible, the scores for each class were revealed.

"Are these the results for each class?" I asked, already piecing together what the numbers meant.

The chart was straightforward, if not a little damning. At the bottom, Class D sat at an amazing score of 0 points, a perfect failure. Class C had 660, Class B stood at 780, and, unsurprisingly, Class A dominated with 940 points. Every class had lost points from the initial 1,000, but the disparity was stark.

"Your actions," Sakagami began, "such as being late or talking during class, directly affect the points you receive. The same goes for how you choose to spend those points. There are no restrictions on usage; how you manage them is entirely up to you."

The way he phrased it felt deliberate, as though encouraging us to make mistakes. It was a temptation made before us, designed to test our discipline, or lack thereof.

"As you can see," he continued, "every class had earned points this month except for Class D. Realistically, the amount you were given should be enough to sustain you for the first couple months."

He paused, letting his words settle. "This school operates on a hierarchy. The superior students are placed in Class A, while the least capable are relegated to Class D. It's the same system used in major cram schools. In other words, Class D is a haven for failures."

I clenched my fists under the desk, my nails digging into my palms. His words weren't directed at me personally, but they might as well have been. There was no way anyone in this school was inherently better than me.

"On a positive note," Sakagami added, "this is the highest score Class C has achieved this early on. Typically, they'd be in the 400-500 range. So, I am more than impressed."

I studied the chart again, my attention drawn to Class A's score. Despite rumors of a civil war in the class, they had only lost 60 points. Impressive, but definitely odd.

I raised my hand again. "What happens if a class hits zero points, like Class D? My understanding is that they would receive no points moving forward and could potentially run out of funds. What happens then?"

Sakagami's lips curved into a faint smile. "An interesting question. If that scenario occurs, students would still be provided with free meals and the sorts. However, all other privileges would be revoked. No private purchases."

"And," I pressed, "what if we surpass another class? Say we scored higher than Class B?"

"If your score exceeds theirs," he replied, "your class would move up the ranks, becoming the new Class B whilst they would drop the class C. The same applies to any other class rankings."

Satisfied, I nodded.

Before ending homeroom, he pinned another sheet to the board. It listed the names of everyone in Class C, accompanied by their scores from the recent short-term test.

"As you can see," Sakagami said, "these are the results of your test. If this had been a midterm or final, more than half of you would be expelled. Thankfully, it wasn't. However, keep in mind that failing future tests will result in immediate expulsion."

The scores were abysmal, averaging just 26 points. It wasn't a surprise, considering Ryuen had initially planned for everyone to fail. I'd managed to convince the class otherwise to at least get some points, but it was still a poor showing.

With a final warning about midterms in three weeks, Sakagami left the room.

As the class murmured about the test and upcoming exams, I turned to Hiyori. "How many points do you have now, including the 66,000 we were given?"

She thought for a moment. "112,840," she said. "Most of it goes toward books when the library is closed."

Her answer wasn't surprising. Hiyori's love for novels was obvious, I guess I know what I can get her for her birthday.

Just as I was about to comment, Ryuen strode to the front of the room, slamming his hands on the teacher's desk.

"Listen up!" he barked, silencing the class. "If you don't pass the midterms, I'll personally celebrate your expulsion. If you can't score the bare minimum, that's on you."

Snickers rippled through the room, though no one dared to openly challenge him.

"However," he added with a sly grin, pointing at me, "our dear Light Yagami will be tutoring anyone who needs help. Isn't that right?"

His words cornered me. Refusing would damage my reputation, but It didn't bother me. This had been my plan, to form a study group, but Ryuen was making it seem like his idea.

I nodded, keeping my expression neutral.

Before Ryuen could say more, the classroom door creaked open. A man with messy, black hair and piercing black eyes stepped inside, his gaze sweeping across the room.

"And who the hell are you?" Ryuen demanded, his voice dripping with hostility.

The man ignored him, his eyes now locking onto mine.

Ryuen's temper flared. He rushed over and grabbed the man's collar, yanking him close. "Answer me, or I'll make you."

Still, the man said nothing, his gaze unwavering as he was only interested in me.

Ryuen let go before swinging his fist, but before it could connect Albert intercepted him, gripping his arm firmly.

"Are you defending him now?" Ryuen hissed, his frustration boiling over.

The stranger smirked, his expression taunting. Then, as if bored, he turned and walked away.

Ayanokoji's POV:

"About how many points did you spend last month, Ayanokoji?" Horikita asked.

"Hm? My points? Around 20,000, give or take," I replied.

Her expression didn't change, though her silence was telling. This situation was dire for students who'd squandered their points, like Yamauchi, who was now loudly complaining about his misfortune. Ike wasn't much better, he'd nearly drained his balance too.

"While unfortunate, they've simply reaped what they've sown," Horikita commented dispassionately.

It was hard to argue with her logic. Blowing through all 100,000 points in a single month without a second thought was an obvious mistake.

"They baited us into spending recklessly, and some it not most fell for it," she continued.

One hundred thousand points per month, seemingly too good to be true. But in the euphoria of receiving such an amount, nobody cared to question it.

"Attention, everyone. Before class begins, I need you to listen seriously. Especially you, Sudou-kun," Hirata's voice cut through the chatter as he took his place at the podium.

He went on to explain potential study group plans, though my attention drifted. I couldn't help but wonder how the other classes were faring. My thoughts didn't get far before they were interrupted when a stranger suddenly walked into the room.

The atmosphere shifted instantly as some attention was on him.

He wasn't one of us, this wasn't a Class D student. I recognized him immediately. He was the same guy I'd seen on my way to the entrance ceremony on the first day. What was he doing here?

It took a few moments for the rest of the class to realize we had an intruder.

"Um, are you lost?" Hirata asked in a polite yet puzzled tone.

The man didn't respond. His soulless eyes scanned the room, pausing briefly on certain individuals like Koenji, Kushida, and Horikita.

Koenji, unfazed as usual, addressed the stranger while polishing his nails. "Do you need something from me?"

It seemed like the man was about to speak, but he turned away, continuing to observe the room. Most of the students were visibly uncomfortable, especially the girls.

When his piercing gaze locked with mine, it felt as though time slowed. His presence was unlike anyone else in this school, there was a sense of coldness. Then, without warning, he began walking toward my desk.

Before he could reach me, Horikita stood up, either assuming his attention was directed at her or planning to interrogate him. She opened her mouth to speak, but before a word even left her mouth the man shook his heard and turned on his heel, he left without a word uttered.

There was complete silence in the room. Horikita sat back down, visibly annoyed that she hadn't been able to engage him. She turned to me with a faint smirk.

"That's the second time now, how do you know that guy? I wouldn't be surprised if you was secretly friends, you're both massive weirdos," she said in a teasing way.

I shook my head, my thoughts still on the stranger. What did he want? Why had he made himself so conspicuous? Hirata, clearly unsettled, brought the class back to focus.

"We didn't get any points this month. This is a serious problem and will have a significant impact on our daily lives. It's impossible to graduate with zero points, right?"

He was trying to shift everyone's attention back to the issue at hand, though the tension from the intruder's presence lingered.

Later, during break

As I spoke with Kushida about points, the loudspeaker came to life with a soothing tone. A robotic voice echoed through the room:

"Ayanokoji-kun, from first-year Class D. Please come see Chiyabashira-sensei in the faculty office."

"It looks like the teacher wants to see you," Kushida said.

"Yeah... Sorry, Kushida. Gotta go," I replied, heading toward the office.

I couldn't think of a reason why I'd been summoned. As I exited the classroom, I could feel my classmates' curious stares boring into my back. Once at the faculty office, I stepped inside and scanned the room for Chiyabashira-sensei. She was nowhere to be found.

"Excuse me, is Chiyabashira-sensei here?" here?" I asked a teacher nearby. She was inspecting her reflection in a mirror.

"Hmm? Sae-chan? Oh, she was just here a moment ago."

The teacher had wavy, shoulder-length hair, which made her look mature. The way she said Chiyabashira-sensei's name made them sound close. They were close in age and probably friends.

"She must have stepped away for a minute. Do you want to wait here?"

"No, thank you. I'll wait in the hall."

I didn't like being in the faculty office. I hated attention, so the hall would do just as well. However, the young teacher unexpectedly followed me.

"I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, in charge of Class B. Sae and I have been best friends since high school. That's why we call each other Sae-chan and Chie-chan."

That information seemed kind of superfluous.

"Hey, why did Sae-chan call you? Huh? Huh? Why?" she asked.

"No idea."

"I don't understand. You were called to the office without a reason. Hmm? What's your name?" An onslaught of questions. She scanned me from top to bottom, as if sizing me up.

"My name's Ayanokouji," I said.

"Ayanokouji-kun, huh? Oh, wow, that's a cool name. You're pretty popular, aren't you?"

She acted more like a student. If this were an all-boy school, she would have immediately captured every student's heart.

"Hey, do you already have a girlfriend?" she asked.

"No... I'm, uh, not especially popular."

I tried to seem reluctant, but Hoshinomiya-sensei kept pushing herself onto me. She grabbed my arms with slender, delicate hands.

"Hmm? How unexpected. If we were in the same class, I'd never leave you alone. Perhaps because you're so innocent? Or do you like playing hard to get?"

She caressed my cheeks. I had no idea what to do. She'd probably stop if I licked her fingers, but I had a feeling that'd get me expelled.

"What are you doing, Hoshinomiya?"

Chiyabashira-sensei appeared out of nowhere. With a loud thud, she smacked Hoshinomiya-sensei on the head with her clipboard. Hoshinomiya-sensei crouched and gripped her skull in apparent pain.

"Ouch! What was that for?" she cried.

"For getting involved with one of my students."

"I was only keeping him company while he waited for you, Sae-chan."

"It would have been better if you just left him alone. Thanks for waiting, Ayanokouji. Let's go into the office."

As I followed her, I noticed two students approaching Hoshinomiya-sensei, Ichinose, the leader of Class B, and a young man with black hair and violet eyes. From my knowledge, that had to be Lelouch Lamperouge, her vice-leader.

Curious as I was about their presence, my focus shifted back to Chiyabashira-sensei as I entered the office, wondering why I'd been called.

**a day has passed**

"I need your help," I heard Horikita say as class had just ended, her sharp gaze fixed on me from her desk.

"I'll humor you. What do you want?" I replied, resting my cheek on my hand, my voice calm.

"You owe me after that little stunt you pulled," she said, glancing briefly at Kushida before looking back at me. "Considering how close you are with the three idiots of this class, I think it'd be best if—"

Before she could finish, her attention shifted to the front of the classroom. A new but familiar presence had entered.

A student walked in with an air of confidence, as if he owned the room. It seemed our classroom was quickly becoming a hotspot for uninvited and unwanted visitors.

"Light? What's he doing here?" Horikita murmured, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

As I scanned the room, it became clear he'd captured everyone's attention. He strode toward the podium at the front, his movements let out a sense of ease.

"Oh, Light," Kushida said with her usual cheerfulness. "What brings you here?"

He glanced at her briefly before reaching into his bag. "I'd rather not get into all the details, but I've prepared a study guide for all the classes."

"And why would you offer it to us? You do realize our classes are competing, right?" Horikita spoke up, her tone sharp and distrustful.

Light chuckled softly, brushing off her suspicion and held up a guide. "I understand your reservations. But I've come across some important information that would benefit every class. You're welcome to review it yourself."

Without hesitation, Horikita stood and approached him. She took one of the study guides and began skimming through its contents. Her eyes narrowed slightly before she spoke. "Impressive. All these answers seem plausible, but how can I be sure this isn't some kind of ploy or trap? It's pretty well know that Ryuen runs your class, and I doubt he'd approve of you helping other classes if it didn't benefit him."

Light met her gaze and gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "So that's what people believe? I assure you, this isn't a ploy. And even if Ryuen had a problem with it, I'd deal with him myself. There's nothing to worry about."

Horikita flipped through the pages once more, her suspicion giving way to begrudging acknowledgment. Before she could say anything further, Hirata spoke up.

"From my encounters with Light, I'd say he seems trustworthy. I don't see the harm in at least looking this over."

His words seemed to ease the tension in the room. A few students let out quiet sighs of relief. If Hirata trusted Light, it seemed most of the class would follow his lead without question. Light handed Hirata a copy of the guide, and after scanning through it, Hirata addressed the class.

"It looks legitimate to me," he said confidently, taking a few more copies to pass around.

Though everything seemed fine on the surface, something about this situation felt off. Light had mentioned accessing 'important information,' but he hadn't elaborated. My thoughts were interrupted as Hirata placed a guide on my desk. Light and Hirata were distributing the materials to the entire class. Light to the students at the front and Hirata to the ones at the back.

Curious, I began to review the guide myself. The answers seemed accurate, too accurate. Horikita, now seated beside me, quickly leaned over and grabbed my copy. She skimmed through my copy before handing it back.

"For now, that's all," Light said from the front of the room. "If you have any questions, you know where to find me."

He gave a slight bow, exuding calm confidence, before excusing himself. The classroom door closed behind him, as sighs of relief washed over the classroom. It seemed as if most of the class would now rely on this instead of studying.

***

Who's POV, do you find the most interesting?