Fanfic / Classroom of the Elite: The Eroge

Congratulations, you have become 'the Protagonist'! Raise flags, form relationships, and build your very own harem of beautiful heroines to love! Enjoy!

What If [COTE: The Eroge] is actually a Visual Novel?

Classroom of the Elite: The Eroge is a Classroom of the Elite Wattpad Fanfic written by RainSennin.

When Ayanokouji Kiyotaka wished for something that can interest him in his new school, he never expected that it would be something like this. After waking up with some weird texts appearing around him and finding out that he is some kind of 'Protagonist' with the power of raising 'Flags', will he be able to survive what's about to come his way?

(COTE: The Eroge is the shortened title)

Inspired by SAO: The Eroge by SaintInfernalNeos.

It can also be read here.

In October 2023, a Visual Novel adaptation has been announced on Reddit by Pyguel and is currently in the making. On March 21, 2024, the first teaser trailer can be viewed on Youtube.

All spoilers regarding the canon light novel will be unmarked. Proceed with caution.

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Classroom of the Elite: The Eroge provides examples of:

• Adaptation Relationship Overhaul:
  • Due to his Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface Kiyotaka's romantic relationships expand further than just Kei compared to the canon light novels, with many other female characters gaining a romantic interest in him.
  • The two changes in Kiyotaka's relationships before gaining his powers however his acquaintance with Matsuo Eiichirō and Nanase Tsubasa as he never met the former (especially when he was dead at some point after the events of Volume 7) nor the latter until Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 respectively.
  • Kei never had the chance to have Yōsuke as part of her Boyfriend Bluff from canon due to the Co-Ed living arrangement committed by Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers.
• Adaptational Angst Downgrade:
  • Unlike the canon series, Matsuo and his son Eiichirō won't be Driven to Suicide by Atsuomi because Tsubasa is one of Kiyotaka's heroines.
  • Tsubasa herself also doesn't become revenge-driven once she goes to the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, given that her Childhood Friend won't die in tragedy.
  • Unlike the canon series, Satou Maya won't have her Love Confession for Kiyotaka be turned down as she's slated to be one of his heroines.
• Adaptational Dumbass:
  • Subverted with Kiyotaka. He's still brilliant and deductive from the canon light novels but his current situation regarding his Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers distracts him from figuring out the S-system of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School before it gets officially revealed.
  • In regards to the other characters, especially the antagonists, it's justified given the reality-warping features of Kiyotaka's Sudden Game Interface (something that Kiyotaka correctly theorizes In-Universe).
    • During the special event where he "conveniently" walked in on Kikyo venting, the latter gains a lapse in judgment regarding where she could vent her frustrations without anyone seeing or hearing her; in broad daylight and in a place where any student would usually walk through after class. Kiyotaka theorizes that the system either placed a Perception Filter on Kikyo to make her invisible to everyone besides him or influenced others to keep away from the place she was in.
    • Despite Professor Ayanokouji's being a man of relentless ambition unfettered by morals with the willingness to do anything to achieve his goals, he rarely takes an active role in getting Kiyotaka back to the White Room, simply sending Amasawa Ichika to "keep an eye" on him instead of ordering her to explicitly get him expelled from the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School (despite knowing that this would've only tip his son off).
    • Class 1-C's attempt to sabotage Class 1-D by scapegoating Miyake Akito instead of Sudo Ken in a Wounded Gazelle Gambit during the fic's version of Volume 2 proves to be this in hindsight. Whereas Ken would be a more appropriate scapegoat due to his Hot-Blooded personality, athleticism, and the rivalry he had with the perpetrators like in canon, it's not so effective with Akito due to him being The Stoic, not a very good fighter in general, and having no prior connection before the assault. As a rightful consequence, Komiya Kyōgo and Kondō Reo are expelled instead of suspended in the fic.
• Adaptational Early Appearance:
  • Matsuo and his son Eiichirō made a physical appearance in the first chapter of the fic whereas they're never mentioned until Volume 7 of the canon light novels.
  • Nanase Tsubasa also made her first appearance in the first chapter of the fic, unlike the canon light novels where she debuted in the first volume of Year 2.
  • Like Tsubasa, Amasawa Ichika made her debut in the first volume Year 2 of the canon light novels. Here, she transferred to the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School during the events of Volume 2 as part of the system influencing Atsuomi's decisions.
• Adaptational Karma:
  • It's heavily implied that Kei's childhood bullies are going to be getting their long-due karma due to Kiyotaka's Sudden Game Interface.
  • In addition to being arrested for his Attempted Rape of Airi, Kusuda Yukitsu gets his ass beat by Kiyotaka and then his nuts smashed for good measure by Airi after being sick of his delusional crush.
• Adaptational Nice Guy:
  • Although it might be the result of the wacky hijinks caused by Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface, he slowly becomes kinder in his interactions with the heroines, whether it be providing a supportive ear or doing things in their defense. A good example is where he explicitly shows disgust of Kei's bullies and the heinous things they've committed towards her in elementary and middle school during their heart-to-heart conversation in chapter 14 (even entertaining the thought of socially assassinating them once he graduates), whereas Kiyotaka's canon counterpart acts nearly the exact opposite regarding Kei's trauma instead and took advantage of it to conditioned her to his side.
  • Thanks to Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers, any girl who is registered as a heroine will slowly become much nicer than they started in canon.
• Adaptational Sexuality: Played for Laughs. In the canon series, it's never explicit what Chihiro's sexuality is aside from her deep affection for Honami, who is attractive enough that Even the Girls Want Her, even after her Love Confession was turned down. Here, Word of God and the system have Chihiro's sexuality listed as homosexual before changing to heterosexual upon being chosen to be one of Kiyotaka's heroines.
• Adapted Out: Because the fic was published before Volume 0, Yuki and Shiro doesn't exist, or more charitably from Yuki's Early-Bird Cameo in the anime, never choose to interact with Kiyotaka at all and played no further importance in his life.
• Age-Gap Romance: Much to Kiyotaka's shock, his Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers recognize Chabashira Sae as a heroine despite the latter being a fully grown woman. Although they have yet to date due to circumstances, Kiyotaka plans to develop a Teacher/Student Romance with Sae by taking advantage of the "blackmail" she tried to perform on him from the canon light novels. Word of God also reveals that Hoshinomiya Chie will be added to Kiyotaka's harem.
• All Girls Want Bad Boys: Played for Laughs. Although Arisu was attracted to Kiyotaka for his accomplishments as a "fake genuis" in the White Room, she felt more attracted to him after he deliberately cornered her against her room door and was real close to her face. Her Not So Stoic reaction after the ordeal can only be described as 'Superior into Inferior'.
• Armor-Piercing Question: Kikyo gives this sort of question when Suzune continues to refuse her offer of friendship, pointing out her friendship with Kiyotaka and what makes him someone worthy of her trust. This causes Suzune to freeze momentarily and remember Kiyotaka comforting her when she saw her brother again, and realize that it wasn't fair of her to put up resistance to Kikyo's earnest attempts at friendship.
• Big "SHUT UP!": Airi yells this towards Kusuda Yukitsu after having enough of his creepy behavior right before stomping on his crotch hard.
• Birds of a Feather: Like in the canon series, Kiyotaka and Kei get along with each other the most given their similar traumatic pasts and putting on a "face" to protect themselves.
• Boyfriend Bluff: Subverted. Instead of Yōsuke, Kei approaches Kiyotaka with this proposition only for their conversation to confide in each other's deepest traumas of their past (though not all of it on Kiyotaka's side given the governmental-level conspiracy of the White Room).
• The Bus Came Back: Tsubasa gets a scene in chapter 12 after her previous appearance in the first chapter, where Kiyotaka earns affection points after realizing his growing bond with her before the start of the fic.
• Comically Invincible Hero: Thanks to the reality-warping features of the Sudden Game Interface, Kiyotaka's goal of pursuing freedom is ensured while being able to romance his designated heroines as a bonus with all of the hilarity that would ensue.
• Cosmic Plaything: Kiyotaka soon finds himself thinking of being a cosmic plaything in regards to his dating sim powers.
• Clingy Jealous Girl: Nearly all of Kiyotaka's heroines display a jealous streak towards each other as they subconsciously vile for his attention and affection.
• Cuddle Bug: Thanks to Kiyotaka's powers developing an ability to give addicting hugs (after Kei gives him a hug after a heart-to-heart), said girl becomes this to him.
• Cure Your Gays: A very rare comedic example than anything negative with Shiranami Chihiro. Like in canon, she was deeply infatuated with Honami and was heartbroken after the latter turned down her confession. Afterward, Chihiro's previous crush on Honami is transferred to Kiyotaka after being comforted by him immediately after Honami's rejection, with the system changing Chihiro's sexuality from homosexual to heterosexual according to Word of God.
• Cute and Psycho:
  • Like the canon light novels, Kikyo has good looks and a friendly personality made her popular with her classmates. But with her dark side shown, she's two-faced, selfish, self-righteous, possessive, manipulative, and can have insane reactions. Her In-Universe relationship status labels her as "Lovely-Dovey Psycho" at Level 2.
  • Ichika is similar to Kikyo regarding their good looks and "hidden sides", but is far more dangerous given her status as a 5th generation student in the White Room and her quasi-religious view of Kiyotaka.
• Denser and Wackier: Downplayed. While the fic still emulates the original canon light novels' Psychological Thriller and philosophical theme, Kiyotaka's newfound Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers create many more comedic moments in the narrative.
• Empowered Badass Normal: Due to his Doc Savage-esque upbringing in the White Room Kiyotaka is physically, intellectually, and mentally at the peak of the human condition for his age with the implication that his conditioning is comparable to trained adults. But with the added Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface into the mix, he's capable of affecting reality so long as it pertains to his love interests' happiness.
• Everyone Has Standards: Despite being apathetic to very many things because of his upbringing as the 'Masterpiece', even Kiyotaka is disgusted by Kusuda.
• Groin Attack: Airi gives her stalker a hard one after he gets lost in his delusions again when she stops Kiyotaka from committing murder.
• Harem Genre: Kiyotaka's newfound Dating Sim powers involve him gaining more than one female Love Interest.
• History Repeats: Kiyotaka spells out to Kikyo that her Irrational Hatred and paranoia of Suzune would lead to a repeat of what happened in their previous school since the girl hasn't really done anything horrible to her nor does it look like she cared for the past event. It thankfully lessens the importance of Kikyo's Revenge to Suzune for the former.
• Insufferable Imbecile: Like the canon series, Yamauchi Haruki is one of the biggest idiots of Class-D, but even compared to Sudo and Ike, he's obnoxious, rude, a chronic liar, and an Entitled Bastard who believes that he's a "hotshot" Chick Magnet worthy of any girls affections despite being "plain-looking" at best and unwilling to put any effort in gaining their affections, even without interference from Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers. Also, likely, his eventual expulsion like his canon counterpart won't be a matter of "if", but when.
• Invincible Hero: With a Sudden Game Interface at his disposal (although it's sometimes not very reliable), it's not a matter of if Kiyotaka would win, but when he'll win and how awesome he'll look.
• It Began with a Twist of Fate: The story starts with Kiyotaka waking up for his first day at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, only for the "alarm" to be a notification of his Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers congratulating his first journey as a "Harem Protagonist".
  • Inverted with the heroines towards Kiyotaka as his newfound Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers slowly make them feel "attracted" to him.
• Jerkass to One: Inverted with the more unfriendly heroines to Kiyotaka as he gains Affection Points from them.
  • To everyone, besides her brother, Suzune ranges from being cold, formal, annoyed, or insulting towards them. Whenever she interacts with Kiyotaka, Suzune is notably polite and slightly affectionate.
  • Kikyo acts as a Nice Girl towards everyone but the number of people she's genuinely nice to can be counted on one hand while secretly disdainful towards a lot of her classmates, especially Suzune, Kanji, and Haruki. Kiyotaka is the only one whose feelings towards her are something she genuinely cares about and was willing to let him go upon him finding out about her true nature when she was venting.
  • Kei acts as a stuck-up and self-centered popular girl who relishes getting attention as a façade to hide the deep trauma and sadness of being viciously bullied in elementary and middle school. But with Kiyotaka, Kei becomes less guarded before gradually opening up to him about her troubled past.
• Laughing Mad: When Kiyotaka "conveniently" walks upon Kikyo venting her frustrations during her special event in chapter 11, the latter gives off a hysterical laugh that creeps out Kiyotaka after asking (i.e. demands) him how much he hears her.
• Like Brother and Sister: Unfortunately for Miyake, Haruka could only see him as a brother that she looks out for despite his romantic interest in her, and she hopes that he won't confess and if so, she'll have to reject him and then hope he'll move on.
• Love Confession: As of chapter 26, Airi is the first heroine to verbally declare her love for Kiyotaka.
• Loved by All: Justified. Thanks to Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers, the heroines he encounters will all develop an unexplained form of affection towards him that grows upon gaining affection points.
• Love Redeems:
  • Influenced by the system or not, Kiyotaka and his heroines slowly improve as people than what they would usually be in canon (clinginess aside).
  • Aside from them, Sudo and Ike also become better both as people and in academic intelligence because of their Love Interests Onodera and Shinohara respectively. This is also one of the things that separates Ike from the Hate Sink Yamauchi.
• Morality Pet: Enforced on the heroines who are chosen by Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface.
  • Kushida Kikyo is much more genuinely kind to him and can't bring herself to go against him nor attempt a False Rape Accusation like her canon counterpart when he finds out about her true nature in a special event, even willing to let him go despite her usual paranoia regarding the idea of anyone knowing her secret past no matter how slim it is and losing her popularity. After their bond reaches Level 2 and by the time of chapter 16, Kikyo is willing to show off her affection by giving him her first kiss in front of their entire class and nicely threatens Yamauchi Haruki of "cutting them off" if he talks harshly to Kiyotaka again.
  • According to the final draft of the list created by Word of God on Wattpad, Manabe Shiho is slated to become one of Kiyotaka's heroines in the fic's version of Volume 4.
• Mugging the Monster: Subverted and Played for Laughs. Kikyo attempted to strangle Ichika in chapter 26 after her jealousy and patience with her mischievous attitude hit a breaking point, but couldn't due to Kei unknowingly stepping in front of her. Plus, even if Kikyo tried to strangle Ichika, it would only result in a Curb-Stomp Battle due to Ichika being a 5th generation student of the White Room.
• No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: After Kusuda finally outright assaults Airi within Kiyotaka's view, he wastes little to no time and tackles the stalker off her, then beats the guy to the point that Airi had to stop him from committing murder and say the pervert's Not Worth Killing.
• Not So Above It All: Played for Laughs. Despite priding herself as a "natural genius" while showing an air of superiority towards others, the moment Kiyotaka decides to pull a Wall Pin of Love on her, Arisu quickly loses her smug smile and is reduced to a blushing schoolgirl in love with her crush.
• Not So Stoic:
  • There's not a lot that can break Kiyotaka's usual stoic persona, but experiencing the results of making the 3 choices and [A Special Event Has Been Triggered!] feature for the first time at different intervals does cause him to be surprised.
  • Played for Laughs with Arisu's introduction. She presents herself as a Smug Smiler with the utmost confidence of being a "natural genuis" capable of defeating Kiyotaka, the "fake genuis" in their (technical) second meeting. But upon triggering the special event, Kiyotaka decides to have a bit of fun by putting Arisu's confidence to the test by deliberately cornering her against her room door and getting real close to her face. The result leaves her completely broken off her usual facade as she never actually dealt with someone willing to invade her personal space despite her intelligence and social status. Afterward, Arisu is left as a blushing, embarrassed schoolgirl who isn't as "superior" as she believes herself to be and has to spend three whole days shutting herself in her room and then avoiding any contact with Kiyotaka for two whole months.
• Now or Never Kiss: Downplayed. After completing the first Bonus Scene in chapter 15 and gaining a new skill called, "Cleanliness Needs Handiness", Chiaki becomes so aroused from Kiyotaka's backwashing that she throws caution into the wind, along with her towel, and give him a deep First Kiss. Afterward, Arisu took her chance by giving Kiyotaka her own first kiss as well.
• Outside-Context Problem: While the setting of Classroom of the Elite does include state-of-the-art technology that's a bit more advanced than Real Life, it's still relatively grounded in realism with the usual problems that Kiyotaka faces being quite mundane, befitting the Psychological Thriller genre. However, despite admitting to himself that there's not much that can surprise him after the "things" he saw in his childhood, Kiyotaka is unprepared to deal with a Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface that throws things out of whack due to its self-aware nature and reality-warping features.
• Plot Armor: With the system being a Sudden Game Interface capable of reality warping, though tailored for the Harem Genre, nothing will inconvenience Kiyotaka in his journey for freedom and being in a polyamorous relationship with twenty-three girls and two adult women.
• Point of Divergence: Plenty of things change in this timeline compared to the canon light novels.
  • Yuki and Shiro are not involved in Kiyotaka's childhood during his time in the White Room. It's justified due to their existence predating the fic's publication.
  • A year before the start of the canon series, Kiyotaka bonded with Matsuo Eiichirō and Nanase Tsubasa. This is in contrast to the canon series as he never met either of them; he only heard of Matsuo Eiichirō through Matsuo's stories of his son (and it doesn't help that Eiichirō killed himself out of despair sometime after Volume 7) and later meets Nanase Tsubasa at the start of Year 2 as an antagonist until the end of Volume 3.
  • Thanks to the system, Kiyotaka's relationship with his chosen heroines leads to them being kinder and fond of him as he racks up Affection Points. In turn, they would also act in ways that would change certain events from canon.
  • Due to the Co-Ed arrangements created through Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface powers, Kei never had the chance to enter a Fake Relationship with Yōsuke in a Boyfriend Bluff attempt to become popular due to her outrage and caution of the idea of living near the opposite gender.
  • Instead of Sudou, Akito is the one that made The Scapegoat for Class 1-C to target as part of the system's attempt for Kiyotaka to romance Haruka.
  • According to Word of God in this conversation, Manabe Shiho won't be bullying Kei due to the latter not doing anything to provoke Class 1-C's anger in the fic's version of Volume 4, and Kei would be too preoccupied with her newfound feelings for Kiyotaka.
• Politically Incorrect Hero: Not Kiyotaka, but his Sudden Game Interface is implied to be homophobic given the emphasis on the word "GAY" in Chihiro's summary. However, it's a rare Played for Laughs example as the system changed Chihiro's sexuality to heterosexual and only having eyes for Kiyotaka.
• Power Incontinence: Kiyotaka can't control his newfound Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface as it has a mind of its own for the most part.
• Promoted to Love Interest: Downplayed. In the canon light novels, Karuizawa Kei is the only girl to get a Relationship Upgrade with Kiyotaka whereas the other female characters only have Ship Tease, hostility, professionalism, and friendly, competitive, or neutral moments with the latter. In the fic, the other female characters become his Love Interests due to the Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface.
• Put on the Bus: Like the canon series, Tsubasa won't be joining the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School until Kiyotaka and his peers are in their second year.
• Reality Warper: Thanks to Kiyotaka's Dating Sim Sudden Game Interface, he's capable of affecting the reality of his world so long as it pertains to his heroines' happiness. The difference between his and Kirito's is that it's a lot less subtle about it and often doesn't bother making them look like Contrived Coincidences (though only he could realize that).
• Recursive Fanfiction: As stated in the official summary, the premise of the story is based on SaintInfernalNeos' SAO: The Eroge (i.e. a stoic badass Kid Hero gaining Sudden Game Interface powers involving Dating Sim mechanics).
• Refuge in Audacity: More often than Kiyotaka would like, the third, flirty choice ends up working as the best choice for him.
• Second Love: Although it'll take some time, Kiyotaka becomes Chihiro's second love after Honami gently rejects her Love Confession in chapter 21.
• Shameless Fanservice Girl: As Airi confesses her feelings to Kiyotaka in chapter 26, she also rewards him by wearing only a bikini as they lay in bed together.
• Shipper on Deck:
  • Kiyotaka's powers influenced the dorm placements of each student as that aside from Kiyotaka and his heroines, those with a high chance of becoming a couple (the canon Ike/Shinohara pairing, and Suno and Onodera) are neighbors.
  • Manabu also ships his sister with Kiyotaka after seeing how much the latter improves the former's personality.
  • The system then pairs up Miyake with Inogashira and Mori during the former's case, as Haruka was Promoted to Love Interest.
• Single-Target Sexuality: Justified with the heroines due to the system, meaning they'll only have eyes for Kiyotaka.
• Single Woman Seeks Good Man: In general, the heroines are attractive to Kiyotaka due to his growing kindness towards them and others.
• Smooch of Victory: Haruka gives Kiyotaka a kiss of appreciation on the cheek after proving Akito's innocence from Class-C's attempt to expel him.
• Spared by the Adaptation: While Manabe Shiho doesn't die in the canon series, she was expelled from the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School in place of Ryuen Kakeru due to Kiyotaka's machinations, along with the assistance of Class 1-C. Since Shiho is slated to be one of Kiyotaka's heroines in the fic by Word of God, she won't be expelled like her canon counterpart.
• Sudden Game Interface: Of the Dating Sim variety just like in SAO: The Eroge.
• Thanks for the Mammary: A non-physical contact example with Sakura Airi. After complimenting Suzune, Kikyo, and Chiaki without tact, Kiyotaka excused himself to the men's restroom to wash his face. Humorously, he also happens to see Airi just as she takes off her bra and bears witness to her exposed breasts and the system taking a photo of them.
• Time Master:
  • One feature of the special event involves time working in a Mind Screw way that would give Kiyotaka enough time to raise affection points with a heroine or meet a new one.
  • Aside from time-stopping whenever Kiyotaka has to pick a choice, he could also do so himself willingly whenever he opens up his menu.
• Violently Protective Girlfriend: Male variant. As Kiyotaka notes, his powers subtly influence him to protect his heroines. While he'll usually just plan for the fool's downfall in time, he's more than willing to get physical once they cross the line (and with him being in peak human condition, he's more than capable of backing himself up).
• Warts and All: Kiyotaka is willing to not tell anyone about Kikyo's fake mask, because he's her friend. This is ultimately the reason that drove Kikyo to later kiss him in front of everyone in Class-D, as he has more worth than "a stupid mask".
• What's He Got That I Ain't Got?!: When Kiyotaka continues to Change the Uncomfortable Subject when Kikyo "asks" him an Armor-Piercing Question regarding a choice between liking her or Suzune, Kikyo gets mad at his indecision by saying that she's way better than the latter until she quickly believes there's another girl he knows.
• When He Smiles:
  • Whenever Kiyotaka actually smiles for real, whether on his own or through his powers' assistance, his heroines find him more attractive than usual.
  • Kiyotaka also feels this towards Kikyo after she shows him a genuine smile.
• Women Prefer Strong Men: As Arisu demonstrates towards Kiyotaka, she's deeply head-over-heels about his capabilities from the White Room. It becomes more notable when Kiyotaka does a Wall Pin of Love on her in their first formal meeting, with Arisu admitting to herself that had he gone further, she would've submitted to his dominance right there.

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