After leaving the connecting corridor where he had briefly clashed with Horikita Suzune, Fūki Ran followed the signs to the auditorium, where the freshman ceremony was about to begin. The vast hall was solemn and stately, with its lofty dome, gentle lighting, and neatly arranged seats—all testaments to the school's wealth and status. The freshmen took their places by class, and an excited, nervous buzz filled the air.
Fūki chose an aisle seat in Class D's section. From there, he could see the stage clearly and easily observe his classmates' reactions.
His gaze swept over those around him. Slightly ahead and to the side, Horikita Suzune sat upright, her back straight and her black hair cascading down. Her profile was stern, and she seemed to radiate an invisible field that shut out the surrounding noise, making her seem at odds with the restless mood in the auditorium. She appeared completely unaffected by their little exchange earlier—or perhaps she had already categorized Fūki's pointed remarks as "irrelevant information" and shut them out entirely.
Not far away, Kushida Kikyo wore her flawless, radiant smile as she chatted quietly with a few girls beside her, seeming to fit into their little group in no time. Her social skills were truly exceptional. Ken Sudō slouched against his seatback with an impatient look, his fingers tapping the armrest without thinking. He seemed entirely uninterested in the ceremony about to begin. Yukimura Teruhiko pushed up his glasses, his gaze wandering uneasily, as if worried about the unknown life awaiting him at school.
"Attention, freshmen. Please be quiet."
A warm yet authoritative voice rang through the auditorium's high-quality sound system, instantly silencing all the whispers. A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit stepped up to the podium. His bearing was calm and refined, and an elegant badge representing the School Administration was pinned to his chest.
"I am the chairman of Kōtō Ikusei High School." His steady voice carried a persuasive weight. "On behalf of the entire school, I welcome all of you outstanding freshmen to our family."
His opening remarks were standard formalities. He spoke of the school's illustrious history, its top-tier faculty, its comprehensive facilities, and its promise of guaranteed higher education and employment for every student. Many in the audience, especially the students from Class D, wore hopeful, relieved expressions.
Yet Fūki's keen eye picked up on something unusual. When the chairman spoke of the school's resources and the students' future prospects, his gaze seemed to drift repeatedly over the Class D section. It was not simply encouraging; it seemed more like... scrutiny and appraisal. His choice of words was also worth noting. He repeatedly used terms like "competition," "ability," "proving your worth," and "winning your future"—a stark contrast to the usual high school emphasis on "well-rounded development" and "growing up happily."
"Lastly, I'd like to emphasize one point in particular." The chairman's tone grew slightly heavier and more serious. "Kōtō Ikusei High School is a school that truly operates on the principle of meritocracy. Everything you receive here—whether resources, respect, or future opportunities—must be won and protected through your own abilities. I hope you will take this to heart and show us the unique value each of you possesses."
"Meritocracy..."
A low murmur rippled through the audience. The word was like a stone thrown into a still lake, stirring wave after wave. Most students from Classes A and B looked understanding or confident, while those from Classes C and D seemed more confused and bewildered, with a hint of unease.
Fūki noticed that when Horikita Suzune heard the word, a sharp light suddenly flashed in her purple eyes—a fighting spirit that mingled fierce conviction with frustration. Her hands, resting on her knees, tightened slightly. "Meritocracy" clearly resonated deeply with her own beliefs, but the fact that she had been placed in Class D seemed to leave those beliefs tinged with humiliation.
Kushida Kikyo's smile remained perfect, but she subtly shifted in her seat, her eyes quickly sweeping over the faces of the students around her, as if assessing how the speech had affected the class's mood.
The chairman offered no further explanation, and his address ended amid an oddly charged atmosphere. The rest of the freshman ceremony proceeded as scheduled, and soon it was over.
The students filed out in class order. Outside the auditorium, the sunlight was a little harsh, and the chatter grew louder.
"Meritocracy? What does that mean? Didn't they say we were guaranteed higher education and jobs?"
"Anyway, we've got Ten Thousand Points. We won't have to worry about anything, right?"
"I've got a bad feeling about this... The students in Class A all look so impressive..."
Fūki listened to the chatter, so full of naivety and worry, without changing his expression. His gaze settled once more on the black-haired figure walking alone ahead, seemingly out of step with everyone around her.
Horikita Suzune walked quickly, heading somewhere with purpose, apparently straight for the Library or a study room. She embodied the idea of "relying on one's own abilities" through her actions.
Fūki didn't follow her right away. He knew that approaching too eagerly would only provoke a stronger reaction. Some seeds needed time to sprout.
He slowed his pace and blended into the loosely clustered crowd, but his thoughts were already racing. The chairman's speech had practically spelled out the school's core rules. "Ability" surely meant more than academic performance; it had to encompass a far broader range. The true significance of the Ten Thousand Points, and the reason Class D was labeled the "defective" class, were both hidden within this framework of meritocracy.
Now all that remained was to wait. Wait for the rules to become clear, for conflicts to surface on their own, and for the "targets" he had set his sights on to reach a bottleneck along their respective paths.
He looked up at the deep blue sky, the faintest curve touching his lips. This game was getting more and more interesting.
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