Just Want to Be a Slacker

"If Class D still had hope, do you think Kamio-kun, as a student of Class D, would have sold us this information?"

Of course not. If Class D still had any hope left, Kamio Tatsuya definitely wouldn't have sold this information to Class A.

But after observing over these past few days, Kamio Tatsuya had given up. A class of forty people, and less than ten actually paid attention in class.

Moreover, Kamio Tatsuya also felt that even if he announced the matter of the Behavioral Ethics Exam, he'd most likely be dismissed as a lunatic.

And when this news came out in May, they'd definitely blame him for not trying harder to convince them back then.

To avoid that disgusting situation, Kamio Tatsuya decided from the start to say nothing at all.

Anyway, since you didn't notice, isn't it perfectly normal that I didn't notice either?

"One more question. How do you know the Behavioral Ethics Exam he mentioned is real?"

Hearing this, Sakayanagi Arisu's lips curled into a faint smile. "Of course I know it's real."

The day after the transaction was completed, Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kouhei called a meeting for all Class A students, announced this information, and took the opportunity to collect 3 Million Private Points.

"Everyone, please do what a student should do over this next month. If you lose points knowing full well that such an exam exists, that would be truly inexcusable."

Even with this information in hand, Sakayanagi Arisu and Katsuragi Kouhei had no intention of using it to trick students from other classes into making mistakes.

Because doing so actually carried risks.

One careless move could expose their true intentions, leaking the information and ending up with nothing but losses.

With the appearance of Kamio Tatsuya, this anomaly from Class D, Katsuragi Kouhei also worried that other classes might produce someone like Kamio Tatsuya who could see through the rules.

They had a good grasp of the situations in Class B and Class C. At this rate, even Class B, which ranked second only to Class A in overall ability, would likely lose over 200 Class Points.

So Class A didn't need to do anything extra. They just had to mind their own business and quietly wait for next month to arrive.

Chapter 17: Transaction Complete

As soon as lunch break started at noon, Kamio Tatsuya received 3 Million Private Points from Katsuragi Kouhei.

They'd said before Friday's dismissal, but it was only Thursday noon. Class A's efficiency was indeed impressive, and Kamio Tatsuya was very satisfied.

Then he glanced at the bunch in Class D, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

Looking at the seven-digit balance starting with a 3 on his account, Kamio Tatsuya's mood instantly brightened again.

At this rate, as long as nothing unexpected happened, he had his living expenses for three years secured.

Yeah, thanks for the gift, Nagumo Miyabi.

He didn't like the atmosphere that guy carried, but maybe he was unexpectedly a decent person... Had he misjudged this time?

But he quickly dismissed that thought.

From the school's first-month Behavioral Ethics Exam alone, it was clear this wasn't any ordinary school.

Well, to be precise, its exam methods were definitely unconventional.

So an honest person definitely couldn't handle the exams perfectly. And the fact that Nagumo had led Class B up to Class A already proved he wasn't a simple character.

Judging someone solely based on a few of their actions would be far too hasty.

So Kamio Tatsuya decided to reserve his evaluation of that person for now.

Just as he was thinking this, the most popular guy in Class D, Hirata Yosuke, stood up from his seat and said this to the remaining students.

"Uh—I'm thinking of heading to the Student Cafeteria. Anyone want to come along?"

Immediately, a group of girls swarmed around him. Quite a few signed up.

"Me, me, me!"

"I want to come too!"

In the end, Hirata Yosuke, the popularity king, was dragged out of the classroom by the crowd, leaving behind a bunch of guys staring with envious eyes.

After Hirata Yosuke left, Kamio Tatsuya finally stood up to head to the cafeteria for food.

He now had over 3.1 Million Private Points in hand. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the wealthiest student among the First Years.

The confidence those 3 Million brought made Kamio Tatsuya feel like he was brimming with power even just standing up from his seat.

But as he was about to leave the classroom, he noticed Horikita Suzune to his left pulling a small bundle out of her desk drawer.

She untied it, revealing what was inside.

A Homemade Bento!

Though the dishes looked simple, the arrangement was exquisite—clearly made with care.

Horikita Suzune, about to eat her lunch, seemed to notice Kamio Tatsuya's gaze. She turned her head and met his eyes.

"What are you looking at?"

"At your bento. Didn't expect you could cook."

"Are you mocking me?"

Kamio Tatsuya's surprised tone made Horikita Suzune's voice drop low, and her look toward him turned hostile.

No, I was just thinking of treating you like a Japanese person.

"Come to think of it, you're Japanese after all."

"Heh." Kamio Tatsuya chuckled, then glanced toward Horikita Suzune's side at Ayanokoji Kiyonaka. "Ayanokoji, want to grab a meal together?"

Kamio Tatsuya had only tossed out a casual invitation, but Ayanokoji Kiyonaka agreed immediately.

"How wonderful. Someone's invited you to eat—maybe you'll even make a friend out of it."

As Ayanokoji Kiyonaka passed by Horikita Suzune, he caught that remark, which left him somewhat awkward.

By then, Kamio Tatsuya had already reached the doorway, so he naturally didn't hear what Horikita Suzune said. Otherwise, he'd definitely have come back to throw a few more jabs at her.

But now there was a new problem.

He'd invited Ayanokoji Kiyonaka to eat on a whim earlier, but now the two of them were walking to the cafeteria in complete silence.

The atmosphere was painfully awkward.

"Speaking of which, Ayanokoji, why did you choose to apply to this school? Was it also because of that one-hundred-percent graduation and employment rate?"

Since there was no topic, he had to settle for small talk.

"Yeah, something like that. What about you, Kamio?"

"I just had my eye on the free room and board. Didn't expect much else."

The two of them chatted in fits and starts, and soon they arrived at the cafeteria.

At the free meal counter on the first floor, Kamio Tatsuya spotted the third-year senior he'd pumped for information earlier.

Looks like he was really short on points, or else he wouldn't keep eating that poorly-reviewed free set meal.

But as for how it actually tasted...

Kamio Tatsuya thought it was passable. There was no meat, but the chef hadn't botched the cooking—the seasoning was just a bit light, which let the natural flavor of the mountain vegetables stand out more.

Once you got used to it, it was fine.

"You seem pretty interested in the free set meal. Or is there someone you know?"

Ayanokoji Kiyonaka noticed where Kamio Tatsuya's gaze was fixed and asked out of curiosity.

"Yeah, you could say that. It's free, after all—kinda makes you want to give it a try."

Kamio Tatsuya's answer wasn't exactly a lie, since he had tried it out of curiosity before.

"Want to give it a shot?"

Ayanokoji asked.

Kamio Tatsuya thought for a moment, then started egging him on. "How about you go first? Scout it out for me?"

Ayanokoji Kiyonaka was speechless, momentarily unsure how to respond.

In truth, Kamio Tatsuya was doing this for Ayanokoji's own good. Given the financial situation of most Class D students, they'd all end up eating the relief meal sooner or later.

Getting him used to it early was for the best.

Kamio Tatsuya tried hard to convince himself.

After thinking it over for a while, Ayanokoji Kiyonaka actually nodded seriously and walked toward the free meal counter.

Well, damn. He actually went.

A few minutes later, the two met in a quiet corner of the cafeteria.

Kamio Tatsuya had picked the fried chicken cutlet set, which cost 350 points, while Ayanokoji Kiyonaka had the Mountain Vegetable Set—free of charge.

"How is it?"

As soon as Ayanokoji Kiyonaka took his first bite, Kamio Tatsuya eagerly asked.

He expected a harsh complaint, but Ayanokoji Kiyonaka just furrowed his brow slightly before swallowing.

"It's really not that good."

Damn, your reaction is way too flat.

No fun.

Kamio Tatsuya shook his head inwardly, then picked up his chopsticks and dug into his fried chicken cutlet.

Mm, delicious!

Meanwhile, Ayanokoji Kiyonaka's heart skipped a beat. Had his reaction been wrong?

Everyone eating the Mountain Vegetable Set had the same expression as him.

Ayanokoji Kiyonaka couldn't figure out where he'd gone wrong.

If Kamio Tatsuya could hear his thoughts, he'd tell him: They're all used to it. You're eating it for the first time—you should've looked a lot more disgusted, buddy.

Chapter 18: Duel Me, You Bastard!

A week had passed, and Kamio Tatsuya figured Class D's Class Points were about due to be deducted.

Over the past week, the Class D students still didn't seem to have noticed the Behavioral Ethics Exam. Most of them kept doing whatever they wanted, letting loose without restraint.

Right now, for example, Kamio Tatsuya had just reached the back door of the classroom when he overheard a particularly explosive topic.

Led by Ike Kanji, several boys were discussing which girl in their class was the cutest.

To be honest, Kamio Tatsuya was also very interested in this topic.

He was a teenage boy, after all—it was perfectly normal to be curious about this, nothing shameful about it.

But couldn't they at least be a little more aware of their surroundings? The girls were looking over at them now.

They seemed completely immersed in their own world, however, utterly oblivious.

A boy nicknamed "The Professor," whose real name was Sotomura Hideo, took out the laptop he'd bought with fifty thousand Points and set it on his desk.

Then he opened a spreadsheet listing the names of all the girls in the class.

At that moment, Ike noticed Kamio Tatsuya and called out to him: "Hey, Kamio."

I really wish you wouldn't call me out right now. That's just asking for people to hold a grudge.

"What's up?"

"Actually, we were just about to bet on the girls' chest sizes."

Low-class. Way too low-class.

It's not that the act itself is low-class.

A teenage boy being interested in this sort of thing is unavoidable—after all, reproduction is one of humanity's basic survival instincts. I'm not going to blame you for discussing it.

But doing it so openly in the classroom? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?

What makes humans human is that we have rules, manners, and a sense of shame.

Say whatever you want behind closed doors—that's your freedom, and the people involved won't know anyway. But to announce it so brazenly in class, right in front of the girls? Are you out of your mind?

Aren't you trying to find a girlfriend in this class?