Classroom of the Elite: Standing Firm in Class A — Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Confrontation

Kaedehara Tetsu bypassed the perimeter of Class D’s campsite, slipping silently into the depths of the dense, rain-swept forest. Heavy droplets plummeted through the thick canopy, tracing freezing paths down his cheeks. His objective remained absolute. During his previous reconnaissance of the other classes’ territories, careful observation had already revealed the exact location where Ibuki Mio had concealed her belongings.

Tetsu handled the treacherous, slick terrain with ease. The physical prowess he had acquired from Kyougoku Makoto allowed him to maintain perfect agility even in this hostile environment. Every step found purchase on the firmest patches of earth. Neither the torrential downpour nor the clinging mud could slow his advance.

When he finally reached the designated coordinates, the scene unfolding before him matched his expectations perfectly. Horikita Suzune lay crumpled in the damp mud, her slender frame curled tightly into a ball. She had completely lost consciousness.

Everything was proceeding exactly according to the original plot.

Tetsu swept his gaze across the gloomy surroundings. While it appeared that Suzune was the only one present, his heightened senses detected another breathing rhythm nearby. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka crouched motionless behind a thick cluster of bushes just a short distance away. His subtle movements were nearly swallowed by the relentless drumming of the rain, but the superhuman perception granted by Makoto’s martial arts mastery made the boy’s presence glaringly obvious.

Rather than approaching rashly, Tetsu secured a concealed vantage point further back, leaning his shoulder against the rough bark of a massive tree trunk. Time crawled forward to the steady, monotonous rhythm of the storm.

Eventually, Ryuuen Kakeru finished verifying the data on the leader’s key card. Satisfied with the confirmation, he turned and departed the area with Mio trailing close behind. Their silhouettes dissolved into the pitch-black curtain of the rainy night, leaving the unconscious Suzune abandoned on the forest floor.

A few moments later, Kiyotaka emerged from his hiding spot. He approached the fallen girl, briefly assessing her physical condition before gathering her into his arms. Carrying Suzune, Kiyotaka took a route that deviated slightly from the direct path back to the Class D camp, swiftly vanishing into the deepest shadows of the woods.

Tranquility reclaimed the clearing, leaving only the dense, oppressive sound of rain echoing beneath the night sky.

Stepping out from behind the tree, Tetsu finally began his pursuit, tracking the direction Kakeru and Mio had taken. Since the pair had opted to walk rather than run through the storm, Tetsu closed the distance with terrifying speed. Within five minutes, the muffled sounds of conversation drifted through the downpour ahead of him.

He dialed back his pace, stalking his targets with measured steps. Through the narrow gaps between the swaying branches, he spotted Kakeru and Mio handling a relatively open clearing. They appeared to be searching for a suitable shelter to wait out the storm.

Tetsu took a wide, calculated detour. He used the uneven terrain to bypass them entirely, arriving at a critical intersection further up the trail. This specific junction connected several major paths. Regardless of which route Kakeru decided to take, he would be forced to pass through this exact spot.

Before long, the approaching figures of Kakeru and Mio materialized in his line of sight. Their progress was sluggish as they constantly scanned their surroundings, desperate for a dry refuge. Just as their features sharpened through the heavy curtain of rain, Tetsu stepped casually out from behind a towering oak.

His sudden materialization caused both students to freeze in their tracks, raw shock painting their faces. The mathematical probability of encountering a student from a rival class in this remote sector during such a violent storm was practically zero.

As Kakeru recognized the face of the boy blocking their path, genuine surprise flashed in his eyes.

“Why are you here?” Mio asked, her voice tight with disbelief at his sudden appearance.

“It is actually you?” Kakeru narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the figure standing calmly before him. The driving rain blurred his vision, but he would never mistake that composed, infuriating face. “When did you find out that I was still on the island?”

His tone dripped with heavy suspicion. On the surface, every single student from Class C was supposed to have withdrawn from the special exam. Why would Tetsu know he was still lurking in the shadows? Had his entire grand strategy been under this guy’s surveillance from the very beginning?

“The fact that you left someone behind already says it all.” Tetsu’s voice cut through the howling wind and rain with crystal clarity. “Class C’s points have hit zero. Logically, everyone should have packed up and withdrawn from the exam. But the fact that someone is still operating here without retiring is, in itself, a fatal flaw.”

Hearing this cold, precise analysis, the expression on Kakeru’s face darkened into something far more complex. Under normal circumstances, there was absolutely no reason for any student to remain on the island and endure the physical torture of this storm once their class points were completely exhausted.

“Why did you specifically wait for me here?” Kakeru demanded. His hands subconsciously curled into tight fists, the muscles in his forearms coiling with tension. He knew a physical altercation in this miserable environment served no strategic benefit, but if Tetsu intended to sabotage his master plan, he would not show a shred of mercy.

“I do have a proposal in mind. However, I know you probably will not follow my suggestion willingly, so…” Tetsu paused, his dark eyes locking onto Kakeru’s face for a few heavy seconds. “I can only use some alternative means to force you to accept it.”

“Hahaha… interesting.” Kakeru let out a low, dangerous laugh, the sound grating and gloomy against the backdrop of the storm. “Do you honestly think you can force me to do anything? If this were about academic grades, sure, you might have the edge. But when it comes to violence, I will not lose to anyone.”

He rolled his shoulders, the joints popping with sharp, cracking sounds. The strict regulations of the academy usually prevented him from unleashing his true violent nature, but out here on this lawless island, he could finally let loose.

Mio instantly sensed the lethal shift in the atmosphere. She quietly retreated several steps, putting a safe distance between herself and the two boys. Her body shifted into a defensive stance, fully prepared to react to the impending bloodshed.

Tetsu watched Kakeru’s eager, bloodthirsty display with mild amusement. “It seems you still do not understand the reality of your situation.”

“Ryuuen…” Tetsu murmured, his tone devoid of any tension. “You should take a nap first.”

This seemingly gentle, almost bored dismissal triggered an unmatched alarm in Kakeru’s instincts.

Refusing to hesitate a second longer, Kakeru launched himself directly at Tetsu. His fist tore through the rain-heavy air, aiming a brutal strike straight at Tetsu’s face. This single punch carried the condensed weight of countless brutal street fights, boasting terrifying speed and bone-shattering power.

Just as his knuckles were inches away from caving in Tetsu’s face, a fierce surge of triumph erupted in Kakeru’s chest. The angle was flawless. The timing was absolute. The arrogant bastard standing before him had zero room to dodge.

Then, reality fractured.

Tetsu’s right hand snapped upward like a striking viper, accurately snatching Kakeru’s incoming fist out of the air. The impact felt as though Kakeru had slammed his hand into a solid vice forged of titanium. His momentum died instantly. The strike could not advance a single millimeter further, trapped in an inescapable clamp.

‘How is this possible? This grip strength…’

Kakeru’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. Panic flared, and he immediately wrenched his arm backward, straining every muscle in his body in a desperate bid to break free.

It was entirely useless.

Tetsu’s fingers locked around his fist like steel rebar. No matter how violently Kakeru thrashed and pulled, he could not sever the connection. Worse still, the crushing pressure around his knuckles was escalating rapidly, sending agonizing spikes of pain up his arm as if his bones were on the verge of turning to dust.

Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, Kakeru whipped his left hand around in a vicious hook aimed directly at Tetsu’s temple.

But Tetsu’s reaction was faster.