Chapter Summaries

Oreki took Horikita Suzune to look for students whose Points he could collect, explaining that students were the best source. When he pointed out Kakeru Ryuuen, Horikita compared Class C’s unity with Class D’s disorder and felt she could not lead her class or defeat Oreki.

• Oreki wondered whether his vivid dreams of Horikita reflected a future he had foreseen or feelings he had hidden from himself.
• Oreki told Horikita that students were the best long-term source of Points because staff members regularly exchanged theirs for cash.
• Oreki said he had kept a student as a reserve source of Points and led Horikita toward the stairs to find him.
• Oreki identified Kakeru Ryuuen as Class C’s leader and explained that Ryuuen had stopped their shop-opening plan after unifying the class.
• Horikita reflected on Class D’s lack of discipline and cohesion, compared herself with Ryuuen, and admitted that she felt depressed.

Oreki confronted Ryuuen and learned that he had 800,000 Points, then explained to Horikita how he intended to force Ryuuen to give them up. The chapter ended with Horikita realizing Oreki had provoked Ryuuen into targeting Class D students and feeling she needed a psychologist.

• Ryuuen confronted Oreki and threatened him, but Oreki warned that a fight could cost Class C Points and invite retaliation from Class A.
• Oreki coaxed Ryuuen into admitting he had 800,000 Points, then left with Horikita.
• Oreki told Horikita that Ryuuen’s Points were the reserve he planned to obtain for their project.
• Oreki explained that he had provoked Ryuuen to make him attack Class D students somewhere without cameras, forcing him to hand over Points.
• Horikita realized Oreki had manipulated the confrontation and said she should see a psychologist.

Oreki put a plan involving Kushida and two capable Class D fighters into action, while Ryuuen investigated Oreki and turned his frustration on Sudou. Kōenji intervened and defeated Albert, and Ryuuen realized someone had photographed the staged confrontation.

• Oreki consulted Kushida, recruited two capable Class D fighters, and secured the agreement of someone interested in the twenty-million-point solo graduation plan.
• Ryuuen obtained a list of places without surveillance cameras and decided against rashly targeting Oreki because Class C had little to lose.
• Ryuuen had Ishizaki and Komiyama restrain Sudou and taunted him, but Kōenji arrived and challenged Ryuuen.
• Kōenji defeated Albert in one exchange, prompting Ryuuen to send Ishizaki and Komiyama after him.
• Ichinose stepped in to stop the fight and threatened to report Ryuuen, while Kōenji pretended to fall.
• Ryuuen heard a camera click and saw a long-haired girl taking a photograph of the confrontation.

Houtarou Oreki used photographs and Ichinose Honami’s testimony to expose Ryuuen’s staged attack on Rokosuke Kōenji, costing Ryuuen 800,000 points and temporarily restricting his use of violence. Afterward, Ichinose confronted Oreki for using her, while the narration noted that fifteen Class B students had joined his loan-funded store-opening plan.

• Oreki arranged for Horikita Suzune’s photographs and Ichinose Honami’s testimony to reach the Student Council, exposing Ryuuen’s attack on Kōenji.
• Ryuuen paid 800,000 points to avoid a Class Evaluation Points deduction, with 500,000 going to Oreki, and was recorded for fighting.
• Ryuuen realized Oreki had maneuvered him into surrendering the points and swore to remember the grudge.
• Class C students grew wary of Oreki, with some claiming they had no points when they saw him.
• Ichinose confronted Oreki after realizing he had used her to help expose the fight.

Oreki analyzed the class rankings and used the settlement of the Class C–Class D fight to show Honami Ichinose how Points could be used strategically. Ichinose recognized the lesson and Ryuuen’s growing threat to Class B, then asked Oreki to exchange phone numbers.

• Oreki noted that Class B’s students had paid him 30,000 Points, leaving their class evaluation score at 570, far behind Class A’s 1230.
• Ryuuen used Points to settle the fight involving Class C and Class D, paying the Student Council, Sudou, Kōenji’s group, and Oreki.
• Ichinose realized Oreki had arranged the situation as a lesson about using Points and challenged him over having made her a witness.
• Oreki warned Ichinose that Ryuuen had taken control of Class C and posed a serious threat to Class B.
• Ichinose accepted the lesson, thanked Oreki, and asked to exchange phone numbers.

Oreki met with Ichinose, then heard Kōenji’s offer to exchange 20 million points for 20 million in cash. He went to the library to transfer Horikita’s share, where Kushida’s arrival offered him a quick way to find her.

• Oreki gave Ichinose his number and noticed Kōenji listening nearby.
• Kōenji questioned why Oreki cared about Ryuuen’s points, then offered to provide 20 million in cash for 20 million points.
• Oreki checked his account, confirmed Horikita was in the library, and headed there to transfer her share.
• Kushida entered the library, and Oreki realized she could help him locate Horikita.

Oreki found Horikita studying older physics textbooks and warned her to score fifty-one points on the exam to lower Class D’s passing threshold. Horikita accepted the logic but doubted she could save the class’s weakest students, while she and Oreki discussed Kushida’s increasingly hostile behavior toward her.

• Oreki overheard Kushida asking Horikita for help, and Horikita suggested she ask Kōenji or Oreki instead.
• Kushida dismissed Oreki’s academic ability and said she had checked that he had not borrowed any library books.
• Oreki found Horikita studying physics textbooks from several past editions and advised her to score fifty-one points in every subject.
• Horikita understood that a low score from her could lower Class D’s passing line, but said it would not help if she alone did it.
• Horikita told Oreki that Kushida had lately been venting her frustration at Horikita when they were alone.

After learning more about Kushida from Horikita, Oreki studied old editions of the first-year textbooks to prepare for the school’s open-book examinations. The three-day exams began on May 24, leaving Oreki in the middle of the English examination on May 26.

• Horikita told Oreki that Kushida had kept waiting outside her dorm and had been helping classmates and upperclassmen, and Oreki concluded she was using Horikita to vent her emotions.
• Oreki paid Horikita 50,000 points for the information, then borrowed old editions of the five compulsory subject textbooks and studied them after school.
• On May 24, Oreki told Sakayanagi and Kamuro that he had been reading the textbooks instead of memorizing test papers.
• Oreki discussed the mysterious patron who had transferred him two million points and said he imagined her as a tall, gentle woman who was not clingy.
• Teacher Majima announced the school-wide three-day open-book examinations and began the English exam.

After finishing the exams, Oreki slept through the afternoon and used Teleportation to return to school for food. He arrived at the lakeside just as Chihiro confessed to Honami Ichinose, and watched from hiding as Ichinose struggled with how to respond.

• After the exams ended, Sakayanagi Arisu asked Masumi Kamuro to borrow the same textbooks Oreki had been studying.
• Oreki returned to his dormitory, used Teleportation to get there, and slept until evening.
• Oreki teleported back to school and then to a secluded railing by the lake.
• Oreki overheard Chihiro confessing her feelings to Honami Ichinose.
• Oreki hid behind a tree and concluded that Ichinose had brought Chihiro there because she already knew about Chihiro's feelings.

Chihiro confessed to Ichinose, who rejected her gently and explained that she would reject anyone who confessed to her. After Chihiro left, Ichinose found Oreki using the school phone’s GPS and asked him for advice, leaving him to reassure her that Chihiro’s misunderstanding was not her fault.

• Chihiro told Ichinose she liked her, and Ichinose said she could not return her feelings.
• Ichinose explained that she would reject anyone who confessed to her, regardless of their gender, and Chihiro worried that they could no longer be friends.
• Chihiro held back her tears and ran off, while Oreki reflected on Ichinose’s self-deprecating words.
• Ichinose used the GPS on her phone to locate Oreki and asked him for psychological advice about rejecting Chihiro.
• Oreki promised to keep Chihiro’s confession secret and told Ichinose that Chihiro had likely misunderstood on her own.
• Ichinose teased Oreki about liking Chihiro Shiroha, and Oreki promptly denied it.

Oreki dreamed that he helped Ichinose cope with Chihiro Shiraha’s confession, then woke and blamed Kushida for making him think about holding girls’ hands. On June 1, Class A received 130,000 points per student, and Katsuragi asked Oreki about his earlier encounter with Ryuuen.

• Oreki and Ichinose parted ways after visiting the Shopping District together.
• Oreki dreamed that Chihiro Shiraha confessed to Ichinose and that he took her hand to help calm her down.
• Oreki woke, found his cat on the bed, and blamed Kushida for his thoughts about physical contact with girls.
• On June 1, Oreki arrived at school and saw that Class A students had each received 130,000 points, raising their balance to 2,835,400 points.
• Katsuragi asked Oreki about Ryuuen, and Oreki explained that he had reported Ryuuen for bullying Class D students.

Katsuragi worried about Class C’s strong results and Ryuuen’s leadership as Teacher Majima announced the classes’ evaluation scores. In Class D, Sudou failed physics and faced expulsion, leaving Hirata and Kushida to plead for him while Horikita watched silently.

• Katsuragi warned Oreki that Ryuuen and Class C deserved special attention, while Sakayanagi said she would not interfere with the coming exam.
• Teacher Majima announced that Class A had 1330 Points, Class B 670, Class C 490, and Class D 10.
• Sae Chabashira revealed that Sudou had scored 39 in physics, below the average of 40, and ordered him to sign a Withdrawal Application.
• Hirata and Kushida stood up to ask Chabashira to let Sudou stay, but she said the school would follow its rules.
• Horikita exchanged a brief look with Chabashira after Sudou was told he would be expelled.

Class D searched for a way to prevent Sudou’s expulsion after he failed the open-book exam, while Horikita’s deliberately low scores suggested she had anticipated someone failing. The chapter ended with Horikita asking how long Sudou’s scores remained valid as the class learned the expulsion waiver cost twenty million Points.

• Hirata offered to be expelled in Sudou’s place, revealing his determination to keep any classmate from being expelled.
• Koenji pointed out Horikita’s unusual scores, and Hirata concluded that she had deliberately scored 51 points because the passing mark depended on the class average.
• Kushida asked Horikita whether she had a way to save Sudou, while Chabashira explained that twenty million Points could waive expulsion.
• Horikita asked Chabashira whether she would announce the next special exam, and Chabashira said it had not been decided because of the weather.
• Horikita asked how long Sudou’s scores remained valid.

Horikita arranged to save Sudou from expulsion by buying back his missing exam point, earning the class 80 evaluation Points and a monthly reward for herself. After Horikita left a lunchtime meeting, Kikyou Kushida tried to draw Oreki’s attention by taking his hand.

• Horikita offered to save Sudou from expulsion by using 100,000 Points to buy his missing exam point, asking the class for a monthly reward of 50 evaluation Points.
• Sudou offered his 40,000 Points and asked classmates to lend him the rest, then treated the class’s future evaluation Points as his repayment source, provoking an argument.
• Hirata and Little Kushida calmed Class D, and the class agreed to give Horikita 20 evaluation Points each month for her plan.
• Kikyou Kushida told Oreki that Sudou’s point had been bought, restoring the class’s evaluation Points to 80 and adding 7,000 Points to each student’s account.
• After Horikita left, Kikyou Kushida took Oreki’s left hand and looked at him expectantly.

Oreki explained that he had advised Horikita to score fifty-one on every exam to improve her image and help her gain influence in Class D. After Kushida left, he reflected on Horikita’s progress and considered Class D a possible source of points now that Ryuuen might stop spending.

• Kushida asked Oreki whether he had suggested Horikita score fifty-one on every subject, and he explained his plan to shape her image as an honor student.
• Kushida said she had wanted to help the class too, and Oreki clarified that he had not intended to prevent anyone from being expelled.
• Kushida voiced envy that Oreki and Horikita could look through each other’s phones, then began to say something before leaving without finishing.
• Oreki reflected that Horikita had chosen on her own to spend points helping Sudou and collect class evaluation points in return, showing that she had made progress.
• Oreki noted that Horikita had received only twenty of the fifty class evaluation points she requested, while Hirata’s willingness to compromise suggested Class D might be manageable.
• Oreki considered Class D a reserve source of points if Ryuuen stopped trying to gather points that month.

Ryuuen rallied Class C after its perfect exam score and discussed an upcoming off-campus exam as a chance to gain points. Oreki learned that Class D’s score increase came from Horikita Suzune’s use of points to help the class pass, and Sakayanagi revealed that Horikita had also been rewarded with monthly class evaluation points.

• Ryuuen announced that Class C had scored 100 points and urged his classmates to keep striving for Class A.
• Bando reported the updated class scores, including Class D’s increase to 80 points, and Shiina suggested someone in Class D had learned to use the rules.
• Ryuuen shared upperclassmen’s information about a third-semester off-campus exam and began planning for it.
• Oreki overheard Ryuuen’s meeting and realized Class C’s failure to guard against spies could expose its plans.
• Katsuragi and Sakayanagi discussed Class D’s score increase, and Sakayanagi said Horikita Suzune had bought scores to help students pass.
• Sakayanagi told Oreki that Horikita received twenty monthly class evaluation points from Class D, revealing that Class D had shared the information with her.

Oreki and Sakayanagi discussed rumors that June’s high-value special exam would take place off campus, while Katsuragi realized other classes had learned about it before he had. Oreki also noticed that his senior had not sent him his usual Points, and the chapter ended with Sudou pledging to help Class 1-D in any sports-related event.

• Oreki told Sakayanagi that Ryuuen had heard from upperclassmen that June’s exam would take place off campus and was preparing Class C for it.
• Sakayanagi explained that she could not take part in an off-campus exam because of her health, and Katsuragi realized that other students had learned about the exam while he had not.
• Oreki checked his account and found that his senior had not sent him any Points this month after previously transferring 3 million.
• Sakayanagi suggested that Oreki’s senior might have abandoned him because he had spent time with girls from Class D.
• Sudou told Hirata and his classmates that he would participate in any sports-related event to earn Points for Class 1-D.

Horikita joined Class D’s group chat after Oreki urged her to use it to gather information, and her role in earning class points impressed her classmates. Oreki received points from Ichinose and agreed to meet her at the artificial lake, while Sakayanagi noticed their connection.

• Class D students reacted to the physical education exam, while Kōenji admired his reflection.
• Meiyu told Kushida and Inogashira that Horikita had applied to join the class group chat, and Kushida approved her request after Oreki advised Horikita to join.
• Classmates praised Horikita for earning class evaluation points and discussed her large private-point balance, leaving Kushida unsettled.
• Ichinose transferred 450,000 points to Oreki from the Class B students in his loan plan, then invited him to meet her at the artificial lake to thank him for helping Chihiro.
• Oreki agreed to meet Ichinose at 7:30, and Sakayanagi remarked that he seemed close to the Class B representative.

Oreki went to the lakeside to meet Ichinose but found Kushida secretly raging against Horikita, revealing a hateful side hidden beneath her sweet public image. Invisible, he decided to keep quiet and warn Ichinose away so Kushida could leave without discovering he had seen her.

• Oreki messaged Ichinose, who said she would be late because she was keeping an unwell friend company.
• Oreki found Kamuro waiting outside his dorm room and used Teleportation to escape to the lakeside railing.
• Oreki arrived behind a tree and saw Kushida kicking the railing and cursing Horikita for receiving praise.
• Oreki used Invisibility and decided to warn Ichinose not to come, then let Kushida finish venting and leave without confronting her.

Oreki was caught by Kushida after hearing her curse Horikita, and she tried to secure his silence. The chapter ended as Kushida held his hand and did something different, leaving her next move unrevealed.

• Oreki received a million private points from an unknown sponsor, and the notification alerted Kushida to his presence.
• Kushida checked Oreki's location, and Oreki dropped his invisibility and stepped out from behind a tree.
• Kushida confronted Oreki and demanded to know whether he had heard her outburst against Horikita.
• Oreki admitted he had seen enough for Kushida to distrust him, and Kushida considered how to keep him quiet without making him an enemy.
• Kushida tried to grab Oreki's hand, and after he dodged once, she managed to seize it.