Classroom Of The Elite: Project EDEN

Prologue

The White Room learned how to die politely.

No sirens. No screaming. No dramatic explosion in the middle of a midnight experiment.

Just silence.

Calls that stopped coming.

Payments that arrived late.

Sponsors who once drank wine beside observation windows and praised "the future of humanity" suddenly became difficult to reach.

Politicians who had smiled at Atsuomi Ayanokōji across private tables began speaking through secretaries.

Investors who once wanted results, no matter how cruel, now wanted distance, deniability, and clean hands.

Cowards, Atsuomi thought.

Not because they were leaving.

Because they were pretending they had never enjoyed watching the cage.

Behind the glass wall of the final training chamber, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka stood alone beneath the cold white lights.

One year ago, he still looked too much like the White Room's masterpiece.

Perfect, yes.

But visibly wrong.

Too still. Too empty. Too obviously carved out of a place where childhood went to be buried.

Project EDEN had been created to fix that.

Not his intelligence. That had never needed fixing.

Not his strength. That had already humiliated every standard placed before him.

No.

Project EDEN fixed the things society noticed before it noticed danger.

The way his face moved.

The way his gaze lingered.

The way his voice lowered when he stopped pretending to be harmless.

The way he walked, breathed, stood, listened, smiled.

Even the way he wore a uniform had been redesigned until it became its own quiet threat.

His blazer sat properly, but not obediently.

His tie was loose, not messy. The top button of his shirt was open, casual enough to irritate a teacher and controlled enough to make the irritation die halfway up their throat.

His brown hair fell naturally across his forehead, though everyone in the facility knew "natural" had taken months to perfect.

Kiyotaka no longer looked like an experiment.

He looked like the mistake people made when they thought danger would announce itself.

An instructor entered the chamber carrying two folders.

One black.

One red.

The black folder was thin.

The red folder was thick enough to look guilty.

The instructor placed both on the steel table, then stepped back as though the folders might bite him.

Kiyotaka looked at them.

Then at the instructor.

The man's throat moved.

"Your final assignment, Ayanokōji."

Atsuomi watched from behind the glass with his coffee untouched.

For once, nobody in the room spoke carelessly.

They had all seen the final EDEN evaluation.

They had watched Kiyotaka stand in front of trained interviewers, models, heirs, negotiators, actors, and social specialists, then dismantle them with nothing but timing, silence, and a smile that never reached warmth.

Not fake.

That was what made it worse.

Kiyotaka did not feel like a liar anymore.

He felt honest in the way a blade was honest.

The instructor opened the red folder first.

"Before the targets, you need to understand the existing power structure inside Advanced Nurturing High School."

A screen lit up behind him.

A group photo appeared.

Thirteen boys stood beneath the sunlight of ANHS, polished and confident, surrounded by a crowd that had clearly not been accidental.

Girls in the background held phones. Some watched from the windows.

A few boys stood farther away, wearing the bitter expressions of people watching the rich get richer.

At the center stood Hiro Hayashi.

Smiling.

Naturally, beautifully, disgustingly used to being adored.

The title appeared above the photo.

"The Crown Hearts are not an official club," the instructor said. "Officially, they are only a social circle made of high-performing male students from the high school and university divisions."

Another image replaced the first.

Confession letters stacked in lockers.

Fanclub boards.

Event posters.

School magazine features.

Ranking charts.

Private party photos inside ANHS's university facilities.

"Unofficially, they are the male royalty of ANHS."

Kiyotaka's eyes stayed on the screen.

"They dominate popularity rankings, cross-class events, student gossip, and elite-family networking.

Their members are admired as future husbands, celebrity figures, political assets, and romantic ideals.

Yagami Takuya's field reports suggest they use that admiration to gather information, soften rival classes, and influence girls connected to important families. "

At the mention of Yagami, Kiyotaka's gaze shifted to the folder.

Yagami had been sent ahead while Project EDEN was still sharpening him.

First-year Class A on paper.

Scout in reality.

A loyal dog with a genius brain and too much worship in his bones.

While Kiyotaka remained in training, Yagami had mapped ANHS like a battlefield wearing a school blazer.

Who ate with whom. Who trusted whom. Which girls smiled because they meant it, and which ones smiled because society had trained them well.

Which boys were threats, which were useful, and which were simply loud furniture.

The instructor turned the page.

"Yagami describes the Crown Hearts as a monopoly over admiration."

For the first time, Kiyotaka's mouth curved slightly.

It was small.

Playful, almost.

The instructor's fingers tightened around the file.

That expression did not make him look kinder.

It made him look interested.

And for Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, interest was never a safe thing.

The lineup appeared one by one.

Hiro Hayashi, the Golden Prince. Center figure. Warm in public, arrogant in private. Current emotional influence over Kushida Kikyo and Ichinose Honami.

Reiji Kanzaki, the Perfect President. Disciplined, composed, student-council elite. Connected to Horikita Suzune.

Ren Aikawa, the Star Athlete. Popular, energetic, media-friendly. Connected to Karuizawa Kei.

Haruto Kisaragi, the Celebrity Rookie. Actor trainee, charming, polished, image-conscious. Connected to Satō Maya.

Akira Shindō, the Silver Lens. University-division photography prodigy and social-media celebrity. Suitor to Sakura Airi.

Sōma Tsukishiro, the quiet literature specialist. Gentle, calm, respected in cultural circles. Connected to Shiina Hiyori.

Takumi Saionji, the Noble Heir. Political bloodline, old-money manners, polished to a mirror shine. Suitor to Sakayanagi Arisu.

Eito Kurose, the Genius Coder. Brilliant, blunt, socially distant. Connected to Morishita Ai.

Kyouya Inui, the Ice Swordsman. Kendo prodigy, disciplined, traditional. Connected to Shiraishi Asuka.

Leon Kurosawa, the International Playboy. Flashy, wealthy, dramatic, persistent. Suitor to Kiryuin Fūka.

Masaki Tōdō, the Gentle Mentor. Warm, mature, dependable. Connected to Asahina Nazuna.

Akihiko Senda, the justice-driven first-year student council candidate. Connected to Nanase Tsubasa.

Riku Amamiya, quiet Crown Hearts associate. Helpful, calm, low-profile. Connected to Tsubaki Sakurako.

The screen dimmed.

Thirteen boys.

A school-made constellation.

Pretty stars placed in front of locked doors.

Atsuomi's voice came through the speaker.

"They already stand near the families we need."

Kiyotaka looked at the black folder now.

"So they're obstacles."

The instructor opened his mouth.

Atsuomi answered instead.

"They are competition."

Kiyotaka's smile remained faint.

"Competition usually has a chance."

No one laughed.

Not because it was a joke.

Because they were not sure it was.

The instructor opened the black folder.

The first photograph appeared on the table screen.

A girl with sharp eyes and a posture that looked like it had never once asked permission.

"Suzune Horikita," the instructor said. "Daughter of the Horikita Strategic Systems Group.

Their influence runs through government technology, surveillance systems, defense software, and elite education programs. She was raised under extreme expectations and suppresses most emotional weakness.

Yagami reports she admires discipline, strength, and competence, but avoids dependence. "

The screen shifted to a second image: Reiji Kanzaki standing beside a student council table.

"Current attachment: Reiji Kanzaki. Respect-based. Emotionally distant."

The instructor looked down.

"Reason for acquisition: access to government-linked education policy, strategic systems, and the Horikita family's hidden network."

The next page slid forward.

Kei Karuizawa smiled from the photograph, bright and fashionable, the kind of girl people underestimated because she made survival look like attitude.

"Kei Karuizawa. Daughter of Karuizawa Luxe Media Holdings. Fashion, cosmetics, influencer agencies, teen entertainment, luxury lifestyle branding. Yagami reports high social adaptability and strong fear of abandonment concealed beneath her gyaru persona."

Ren Aikawa appeared beside her profile, grinning in an athletic uniform.

"Current attachment: Ren Aikawa. Popularity-based. Publicly admired, emotionally shallow."

"Reason for acquisition: media influence, youth culture, and trend manipulation."

Another girl appeared.

Maya Satō.

Her smile was softer, dreamier, touched by the kind of romance someone learned from dramas and idol interviews.

"Maya Satō. Daughter of Satō Starline Entertainment Group. Idols, actors, streamers, music labels, drama productions. Yagami notes she romanticizes affection due to lifelong exposure to staged entertainment."

Haruto Kisaragi's photo followed, perfect smile ready for a magazine cover.

"Current attachment: Haruto Kisaragi. Actor-trainee charm. Partly genuine, partly performance."

"Reason for acquisition: celebrity networks, entertainment channels, and mass public visibility."

The next photo looked harmless.

That was always the warning sign.

"Kikyo Kushida," the instructor said.

Kushida's smile filled the screen like sunlight poured over a knife.

"Daughter of the Kushida Public Relations Network. Political image repair, scandal cleanup, reputation warfare, social media control. Yagami reports extreme social reach, high masking ability, and intense fear of rejection."

Hiro Hayashi appeared again.

"Current attachment: Hiro Hayashi."

A pause.

"The attachment strengthens her perfect-girl image."

Kiyotaka's eyes remained calm.

"Reason for acquisition: information control and public narrative manipulation."

Then came Airi Sakura.

Her photograph was quieter than the others. Her gaze was lowered, not weak, just careful. Like she had learned long ago that attention could bruise.

"Airi Sakura. Daughter of Sakura Digital Creation Industries. Streaming platforms, AI entertainment, gaming sponsorships, online media systems, digital photography technology. Yagami reports no genuine romantic attachment."

The instructor hesitated, then continued.

"She appears unusually sensitive to artificial emotion. She rejects most romantic interest after observing inconsistencies in expression and eye movement."

Akira Shindō appeared next, elegant and beautiful enough to look edited.

"Current suitor: Akira Shindō, the Silver Lens. University-division photography prodigy, social-media celebrity, closely tied to Crown Hearts. Public compatibility is high. Personal success rate is low."

Kiyotaka tilted his head slightly.

"Why?"

The instructor glanced at the report.

"Yagami's words were... 'Sakura doesn't trust his eyes.'"

For a second, something almost amused crossed Kiyotaka's face.

"Reason for acquisition: digital infrastructure, online influence, and virtual entertainment dominance."

Honami Ichinose came next.

Even in a file photo, she looked warm enough to make the room seem cruel by comparison.

"Honami Ichinose. Daughter of the Ichinose Financial Trust Group. Private banking, investments, charities, political donations. Class B's emotional center. Yagami reports unusually high trust value among students."

Hiro appeared beside her profile too.

"Current attachment: Hiro Hayashi. Ideal prince archetype."

The instructor's expression tightened.

"Additional note from Yagami: Hiro's influence is already damaging Class B's stability. Kanzaki, Watanabe, and Shibata show early signs of concern."

Atsuomi listened without blinking.

"Reason for acquisition: financial protection, banking networks, and old-money legitimacy."

Next was Hiyori Shiina.

A book in her arms. A quiet face. Gentle eyes that looked like they belonged in a library corner instead of a national power game.

"Hiyori Shiina. Daughter of the Shiina Cultural Publishing House. Educational texts, literature archives, bookstores, manga serialization, publishing awards. Yagami reports she values sincerity and avoids loud social competitions."

Sōma Tsukishiro appeared.

"Current attachment: Sōma Tsukishiro. University-division literature student. Gentle, intellectual, comfortable."

"Reason for acquisition: cultural influence, educational materials, and literary networks."

Then the room shifted.

Not physically.

Socially.

Even the instructor straightened before reading the next name.

"Arisu Sakayanagi."

Her photograph appeared.

Small frame. Lilac hair. Violet eyes. A smile that suggested she had already found three flaws in the person looking at her.

"Daughter of the Sakayanagi Political-Education Lineage. Old-money elite. Direct ties to ANHS, national education policy, and political reform. Yagami marks her as an extreme caution target."

Kiyotaka's eyes settled on the photograph.

The instructor continued carefully.

"Her immediate circle includes Masumi Kamuro, Ai Morishita, Hashimoto, and Kito. Hashimoto and Kito act as chaperones and call her Princess. Current suitor: Takumi Saionji. Politically suitable. Emotionally ineffective."

Kiyotaka's smile deepened by a thread.

The instructor wished it had not.

"Reason for acquisition: highest-value political and educational access point."

Ai Morishita appeared next.

Her expression was difficult to describe. Not blank. Not cheerful. More like someone had accidentally joined reality from a different genre and decided to stay.

"Ai Morishita. Daughter of Morishita Advanced Intelligence Corporation. Artificial intelligence, robotics, predictive systems, military software. Yagami reports eccentric behavior, unconventional analysis patterns, and strong intellectual pride."

Eito Kurose's profile appeared.

"Current attachment: Eito Kurose. Genius coder. Respected intellectually."

"Reason for acquisition: technological supremacy and future research potential."

Asuka Shiraishi followed.

Sharp posture. Controlled expression. Eyes trained to measure exits.

"Asuka Shiraishi. Daughter of the Shiraishi Security Consortium. VIP protection, corporate intelligence, tactical operations, private military contracts. Yagami reports high suspicion toward outsiders and preference for reliability."

Kyouya Inui appeared beside her.

"Current attachment: Kyouya Inui. Kendo prodigy. Practical compatibility. Low emotional warmth."

"Reason for acquisition: security infrastructure, intelligence channels, and private protection."

Then Fūka Kiryuin's photo arrived.

She looked like she knew the camera was beneath her and allowed it to live anyway.

"Fūka Kiryuin. Daughter of the Kiryuin Global Zaibatsu. Shipping, luxury development, global investments, rare assets, private resorts. Yagami reports she is difficult to impress, socially dominant, and frequently seen with Nazuna Asahina."

Leon Kurosawa appeared, stylish enough to qualify as a financial threat in human form.

"Current suitor: Leon Kurosawa. International investment heir. Persistent. Mostly treated as entertainment."

"Reason for acquisition: extreme wealth, global reach, and financial dominance."

Nazuna Asahina's photo came beside Fūka's, softer but no less composed.

"Nazuna Asahina. Daughter of the Asahina Cultural Diplomacy Foundation. Museums, elite universities, historical preservation, scholarship programs, international cultural exchange. Yagami reports high social perception and close partnership with Kiryuin Fūka."

Masaki Tōdō appeared next.

"Current attachment: Masaki Tōdō. Upperclassman mentor. Warm, mature, dependable."

"Reason for acquisition: cultural diplomacy, academic authority, and international soft power."

Then came the first-years.

"Nanase Tsubasa. Daughter of the Nanase Judicial Consortium. Prosecutors, judges, elite law firms, political investigations, national legal reform. First-year Class A."

Akihiko Senda appeared.

"Current attachment: Akihiko Senda. First-year student council candidate. Justice-driven, disciplined."

"Reason for acquisition: legal protection and judicial influence."

The last profile opened.

"Sakurako Tsubaki. Daughter of the Tsubaki International Trade Alliance. Imports, luxury goods, logistics, overseas trade routes, rare materials. First-year Class A."

Riku Amamiya appeared, quiet and forgettable in the way useful people often were.

"Current attachment: Riku Amamiya. Calm classmate connection. Low-profile Crown Hearts associate."

"Reason for acquisition: logistics, trade routes, and material supply."

The folder closed.

Fourteen girls.

Thirteen Crown Hearts.

Countless families behind them, each one too large to attack directly and too useful to ignore.

Atsuomi finally stepped closer to the glass.

"The White Room does not need applause, Kiyotaka. It needs pillars. Those girls are connected to pillars. The Crown Hearts have already positioned themselves near them."

Kiyotaka picked up the folder.

His fingers rested against the black cover.

The instructor expected questions.

Which target first?

Which class?

Which emotional route?

Which obstacle mattered most?

Instead, Kiyotaka looked at the Crown Hearts lineup still frozen on the screen.

The polished smiles.

The perfect uniforms.

The boys who ruled ANHS because everyone had agreed to look up.

Kiyotaka smiled again.

Softly.

Playfully.

Dangerously enough that one instructor actually looked away.

"So they built a kingdom," he said.

Atsuomi's reflection watched him from the glass.

Kiyotaka turned toward the exit.

His loose tie shifted against his open collar.

"Good."

The automatic doors opened.

Cold white light spilled into the hallway.

"I would rather take something worth stealing."

And with that, Project EDEN left the room.

Far away, inside Advanced Nurturing High School, the Crown Hearts continued smiling beneath their borrowed sun.

They did not know Yagami had already mapped their stage.

They did not know Ichika Amasawa was waiting in first-year Class A with devotion sharp enough to cut glass.

They did not know ordinary boys, angry dragons, silent observers, and tired classmates would one day gather around the transfer student they had never seen coming.

Most of all...

They did not know the White Room had stopped creating students.

It had started sending disasters.