Classroom of the Elite 2nd year Volume 12.5
Chapter 12. A New Beginning
After attending the opening ceremony, the teachers gathered in the office for a brief meeting.
In a little while, the teachers would head to their respective classrooms, where the students were waiting.
"Let's walk together, Sae-chan," Hoshinomiya called out to Chabashira. It was their first meeting since they encountered each other in Mashima's office during spring break.
Hoshinomiya left the office ahead of the other teachers.
"Ah, sure," Chabashira quickly picked up her tablet and followed her.
"You must be curious, right? About what I'll do next."
"Of course. Will you tell me what you've decided…?"
"Of course. My stance hasn't changed—I absolutely won't let your class graduate as Class A."
Ayanokouji wasn't just any student.
There was a possibility he could come up with a solution.
Chabashira had held a faint hope for this, but it was ultimately unrealistic.
It was natural that he didn't succeed.
After all, this wasn't just a problem between students—it was a matter between teachers.
That's what she had always believed.
"So, are you really going to resort to underhanded methods?"
"Oh, right, there's that too. Let me make myself clear now."
Chabashira mentally prepared herself. If Hoshinomiya admitted to such actions, she would immediately report it to the school to prevent further damage.
"I previously said I'd resort to underhanded methods to block your class from graduating as Class A, but I take that back."
Contrary to her expectations, Hoshinomiya seemed to express repentance.
"R-Really? You're not just lying to my face, are you?"
"It's fair for you to doubt me. But I promise you, I mean it."
Hoshinomiya confidently stated, "I promise."
Hearing this, Chabashira felt more surprise and confusion than joy.
"Does that mean you won't do it? Or are you planning to impose some unreasonable conditions on me instead?"
"Relax. Sae-chan, just keep treating your students with the same sincerity as before. I'm in no position to impose any conditions right now."
"But…"
"I get it. You want to ask—why did I change my mind, right?"
It was a natural question, and Chabashira nodded deeply.
"Ayanokouji convinced me. I agreed and accepted the situation—that's all."
"Ayanokouji…? He actually managed to do it?"
"He did. He's quite an impressive student, you know. Not only can he influence a class's victory or defeat, but he can even manipulate emotions filled with resentment like mine. He really is like a 'Joker Card,' don't you think?"
Hoshinomiya had previously compared Ayanokouji to a joker card.
As the conversation continued to surprise her, flashes of insight darted through Chabashira's mind.
"You want to know how he convinced me, don't you?"
"Well… to be honest, I can hardly believe it even now."
"Understandable. But don't worry, I think you'll soon realize it's all true."
Before long, the two of them climbed the stairs and walked along the hallway near the third-year classrooms.
"Because—"
They stepped onto the final landing, rounded the corner, and the hallway unfolded before them.
At this moment, Hoshinomiya flashed a supremely mischievous smile at Chabashira.
"The joker card you needed to win is no longer in your hand, Sae-chan."
"The joker card… no longer in my hand? What do you mean…?"
She had compared Ayanokouji to a joker card, and now she said that the joker card was no longer in her hand.
This incomprehensible statement left Chabashira feeling bewildered.
"Yes, and if that joker card is now in my hand, the situation could change dramatically. This way, I might actually have a chance of winning. So for the next year, let's compete fairly."
With that, Hoshinomiya placed her hand on the door of the nearest 3rd-year Class D classroom, smiling fearlessly.
"Why don't you go check on your own classroom, Sae-chan?"
"Check…? What are you talking about, Chie…?"
Confused, Chabashira mulled over Hoshinomiya's words, and a thought she would usually never consider crossed her mind.
"Ahaha, I can't wait to see an even more despairing expression on your face."
With that, Hoshinomiya stepped into her classroom and closed the door with a loud click.
It couldn't be—it filled Chabashira's mind with less than a 1% possibility. She resisted the urge to run and slowly made her way to the door of the classroom furthest down the hall.
There, she saw the classroom sign she had only seen in her dreams, marked with 3-A.
A faculty member hurried over to the dazed Chabashira.
"Chabashira-sensei—a transfer for one of your students has just been finalized—!"
The faculty member continued explaining, but Chabashira only processed half of what was said.
1.
As the homeroom teacher was about to enter the classroom, they were stopped by the staff member.
After understanding the situation and glancing at me standing beside the staff member, they showed a deeply surprised expression.
Once we exchanged a few words of explanation, we entered the classroom together.
The opening ceremony was over; it was now time for the homeroom session to begin.
The students were already growing restless.
It was a scene unfamiliar to me—
Some students wore nervous, almost wry smiles.
Others scrutinized me with stern expressions.
Still, some smiled, showing they welcomed me.
The atmosphere in this classroom was entirely new and different.
Though they looked at me with curiosity, no one seemed shocked.
They had been informed in advance that I would appear at this time.
Only the homeroom teacher, who hadn't been told, couldn't accept this reality.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting after the opening ceremony. I am Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, and I've just transferred into this class with 20 million personal points. Though I cannot replace Sakayanagi, who voluntarily left, if everyone still has the will to fight, I believe I can help turn around the dire situation this class currently faces."
Using all my personal points.
Using the personal points Hashimoto had saved for this transfer.
And with the rest, obtained with the consent of my former classmates, who contributed evenly to make up the shortfall, I finally managed to gather the 20 million points needed to transfer.
With this, I successfully joined this class.
In this class full of high-achieving students, once I gradually took control of the board, they would likely become my allies without issue.
A three-year battle for the top between four equally matched classes—this was the scenario I had once envisioned.
It might not be an ideal form of it.
But even so, everything was now in place—
The final year of my journey was about to begin in this new class.