Can Points Really Buy Anything?

That morning, after Class D students had listened to Chabashira-sensei introduce the school, they were dismissed.

Most of the students went straight back to the dorms. The rest gradually formed small groups and headed off together to the various recreational facilities to socialize and have fun for the first time.

As soon as they were dismissed, Konoe followed Chabashira-sensei until she reached her office.

"I remember you're Konoe, right? Is there something else you need?" Chabashira asked, turning around.

"I have a few questions for you about points, Chabashira-sensei."

"Come in first." Chabashira led Konoe into a meeting room in the office, then gestured for him to sit down.

"Do you have any questions about the School Rules? I think I explained them clearly enough in class." Chabashira casually tossed a folder onto the table. She started to reach into her bag for something, then stopped.

"Can points really buy anything? There's something I want to buy." Konoe asked bluntly.

"Let's hear it."

Only then did Chabashira take an interest in the black-haired boy before her, lifting her face to look at him properly as she recalled the information she had on him. If she remembered correctly, the interviewer's evaluation had been... liked to give up halfway through, indecisive.

"How many points would it take to get out of the next exam?"

If Chabashira had been merely interested before, she was now astonished.

"Why are you asking that?" Rather than answering directly, Chabashira asked curiously what had prompted him to ask.

"You mentioned twice in class that points could buy anything. I wanted to know if there was any meaning behind that."

Konoe thought that Chabashira's answer would determine what he thought of her as a homeroom teacher. If she had only been speaking offhand, he wouldn't take her words seriously from then on.

"You can use points to get out of the next test, but you can't afford it right now." Chabashira got up, quickly returned with two glasses of water, and handed one to Konoe.

Her answer put Konoe at ease. At least her words hadn't been empty.

"Thank you. How many points, exactly?"

"Given your ability and your current situation... I'll make a special exception and excuse you from the next exam for just 100000 Points." Chabashira took a sip of water.

From this, Konoe learned two things. First, points could indeed buy as much as he had suspected. Second, the information Chabashira had shared in class all had a purpose.

Now it was time to get to the point.

"Let's change the subject, Chabashira-sensei. I remember you said in class that points represent the school's evaluation of us. Does that mean changes in an individual's points are related to exams and things like that?"

If the previous question had merely surprised Chabashira—and even earned him a glass of water from her—this one left her unable to stay composed.

She froze for a moment, her thoughts drifting as if she were recalling something from long ago. Then she quickly gathered herself, but the surprise in her eyes had already turned into an unmistakable delight.

"I can't answer that question."

That answer left Konoe confused. What was so hard to answer about it? From his perspective, unlike the previous question, this was simply a follow-up to confirm what Chabashira had said in class. Yet he had received an unexpected answer.

Konoe fell silent and closed his eyes to think. He went over everything from the moment he had seen the school's official website on the bus to his conversation with Chabashira-sensei.

He remembered every detail without the slightest error: how many lines the school introduction had, that there had been two colors of seats on the bus, and what each of the passengers had been wearing.

Ordinarily, it was difficult for people to remember an experience in every last detail. But for Konoe, it was commonplace. People had another name for this ability:

Mind Palace.

After about five minutes of silence, Chabashira noticed that the Konoe before her was gradually breaking out in a cold sweat. But she didn't want to interrupt the boy in front of her, because she was eagerly looking forward to his answer.

"I understand, Chabashira-sensei. The exam has already begun, hasn't it?" Konoe finally opened his eyes. Once again, his answer exceeded Chabashira's expectations, raising her opinion of him to another level.

"I can't answer that question." Chabashira replied quickly. When she went to take a drink, she discovered that her glass was empty.

Looks like I've found a real treasure this time.

Chabashira understood now that from the start, Konoe's questions had been attempts to confirm his suspicions—to find out whether her words were worth listening to.

And her inability to answer had given Konoe information he hadn't expected.

"I want to buy all the information about this exam." Konoe picked up his glass. It was the first time he had taken a sip.

"Konoe Hirakawa, if you can pay 800000 Points within ten days, I can answer some of the questions you may want to ask right now. You'll have to agree to that condition on the spot."

"No, thank you. I can more or less guess. Thank you for answering my questions, sensei. I'll be going now." Konoe drained his glass and got up to leave.

A regretful look appeared in Chabashira's eyes. If he had accepted her offer, Konoe—who had only 100000 Points in total—would have had to find another 700000 Points. With his abilities, he might have been able to unite Class D outright.

This is already pretty good, Chabashira reassured herself. He was a Class D student, after all.