[Purchase Talent: Pain Attenuation (Slight)? Cost: 80 Simulation Points.]
Confirmed! A faint, cool current, like mint, instantly coursed through every nerve ending in his body, raising his threshold for pain in a strange, numbing way.
The searing memories of all those deaths in the Virtual Training Ground seemed to fade slightly with the cool sensation. (You had to pay a price to reap rewards; everything you gained came at a cost.)
[Simulation Points: 95 → 15.]
Investing in himself to prepare for future challenges was always the right choice. As for that little flower and its owner... Toudou Shizuka glanced at the name "Sakura Airi" in his contacts.
"What a hassle..." he murmured, then turned off his device's screen. Outside the window, the rain kept pouring. A new round began quietly in the silent dormitory, accompanied by the sound of rain and the coolness of his new talent.
Time passed quietly amid the unique blend of tension and routine at Kōdo Ikusei High School. Toudou Shizuka was like a precise watchmaker, steadily winding the gears that made up "Toudou Shizuka."
The Sanda Club's training ground provided the perfect cover for him to hone his S-Rank Fighting Style. To Kirihara Takeshi, this first-year New Student from Class B was improving at an astonishing rate (of course, Toudou Shizuka had carefully controlled just how "astonishing" it was). He had a solid foundation, worked hard, and showed remarkable grit.
His Affection with Kirihara Takeshi steadily rose to [Kirihara Takeshi Affection: 12 (Recognizes Potential)]. And whenever he "casually" let slip his curiosity about the "Special Exams" the upperclassmen had faced in previous years, he managed to pry bits of information from club members' conversations, filling in the gaps in his intelligence.
Daily life in Class B was the main battleground.
Toudou Shizuka combined [Thought Acceleration] with his newly acquired [Infectious Vitality B-Rank] to efficiently assist with class affairs. When Shiranami Chihiro was sorting through the cumbersome club funding application process, he would "happen" to pass by and bring her a cup of warm coffee (bought at the school Cafe with Private Points), then "offhandedly" suggest sorting applications by requested amount and club rating. When Kanzaki Ryuji was struggling to work out assignments for the class Study Group, Toudou Shizuka would "casually" mention the subject-by-subject strengths and weaknesses reflected in a recent classroom quiz, providing useful data. He still kept a low profile, but whenever he showed up, he solved problems at just the right moment and improved efficiency.
[Shiranami Chihiro Affection +3 (Continues to recognize the value of his assistance and improved efficiency). Current: 35 (Neutral) → Target: 40 (Close).]
[Kanzaki Ryuji Affection +2 (Continues to recognize his practicality and the value of his information). Current: 40 (Neutral) → Target: 45 (Approval).]
[Ichinose Honami Affection +1 (Satisfied with the improvement in the class's overall efficiency). Current: 36 (Friendly) → Target: 50 (Warm).]
[Simulation Points +10 (For consistently completing class collaboration tasks efficiently). Current: 25 points.]
His connection with Sakura Airi was like a quiet stream. Now and then, she would work up the courage to send him a newly taken photo late at night: dew on the library window lattice, the silhouette of a bird flying over the sports field after the rain, or even just a strangely shaped fallen leaf.
There were no words, only images. Toudou Shizuka's replies were always brief and sincere: "The light and shadows are beautiful," "The composition is unique," "It feels so alive." (I really don't know how to describe photos taken by girls. (╥╯﹏╰╥)ง)
Those simple affirmations were like a timely rain, nourishing Sakura's parched soil of self-confidence. Her Affection slowly climbed through their silent Image Exchange [Current: 48 (Deeply Grateful and Trusting) → Target: 60 (High Trust)]. He had gently fastened the photo of the little flower in the rain to the wall above his desk with a magnet. It was the only decoration in his dorm room.
The [Pain Attenuation (Slight)] talent proved highly effective in the Virtual Training Ground. When he once again simulated high-intensity combat or social situations, the lingering neural pain caused by "death" or "failure" was greatly reduced, and his mental recovery became noticeably more efficient. This let him endure longer periods of "involution." His points had run dry again, but the value of his investment was beginning to show. (Skills he had already acquired could be practiced further in simulations.)
Beneath the calm, undercurrents swirled. Every New Student was holding their breath, waiting for one day: the start of each month, when Basic Private Points were issued. It was the school's most blatant declaration of "Survival of the Fittest," and the first public verdict on each class's rank.
On the day the points were issued, even the morning air felt unusually tense. Students gathered in twos and threes in the hallways and classrooms, whispering, speculating, and fretting. Toudou Shizuka sat by the window in Class B, seemingly calm as he flipped through a book. In truth, [Thought Acceleration] was running at full power, catching every fragment of information drifting through the air.
He could hear the faint sound of Kobashi Yume nervously biting her nails in the front row. He could tell Kanzaki Ryuji was adjusting his glasses more often than usual. Even Ichinose Honami, who was always gentle, had her fingers slightly curled beneath her desk.
Hoshimiya Chie entered the classroom as the bell rang, her smile still almost excessively sweet, though a hint of seriousness lurked deep in her eyes.
"Good morning, everyone!" Her voice was as bright as ever. "I'm sure you've all been waiting for this, haven't you? That's right! Today is the first time you'll officially receive Private Points since enrolling!"
The classroom fell instantly silent; you could have heard a pin drop. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Hoshimiya.
"According to the school's rules," Teacher Hoshinomiya said, raising one finger, her smile unchanged, though her words pierced everyone's nerves like icicles, "each class's Initial Class Evaluation Rank and its overall performance over the past month—including Classroom Discipline, Assignment Submission Rate, Club Activity Participation, and Overall Class Appearance—will be converted into a score. That score will determine the amount of Basic Private Points each student in each class receives!"
She paused deliberately, building suspense until it became suffocating.
"Now, I'll announce each class's evaluation rank and Basic Private Points allocation for this month!"
The huge electronic screen behind her lit up, displaying the following:
[Class A: Evaluation Rank S]
[Class A: 940 Class Points]
[Basic Private Points: 94,000 points per person]
"Whoa—!" A wave of astonishment and envy drifted over from the direction of Class A. Gasps rang through the Class B classroom, too. Ninety-four thousand points! For a single month! For most students, that was an astronomical sum!
[Class B: Evaluation Rank A]
[Class B: 650 Class Points]
[Basic Private Points: 65,000 points per person]
"Sixty-five thousand!" Kobashi Yume couldn't help exclaiming softly, followed by relieved, excited chatter. "That's great! We got an A!" "Honami! We did it!"
(Note: The school gives students a certain number of points each month, which can be used for purchases on campus and so on. For example, each New Student receives 100,000 points upon enrollment, equivalent to 100,000 yen. Class Points are also tied to Private Points: each Class Point corresponds to 100 Private Points issued per month.)
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