Distribution of Points

Chabashira-sensei entered the classroom as the bell rang, ready to start the morning assembly.

"Good morning, everyone. You all seem more excited than usual today."

Seeing Chabashira-sensei finally enter, Ike eagerly raised his hand and asked, "Chabashira-sensei! Why didn't we receive our points this month? It's already a new month."

Konoe took out his mobile phone to check. This month, he had just received 30,000 points as salary from the student council's clerical work, bringing his total back up to 240,000. However, the student points for this month indeed hadn't been deposited yet.

"Could it be... our points have been deducted to zero?" Yamauchi imagined a terrible outcome. It seemed he hadn't checked the school's announcement board in time, as the school had already published the new points for this month.

If they went by the class points announced by the school this month, then each student in Class D would still receive 20,000 points.

Ike clutched his head and lamented, "No way, we worked desperately this month, and our midterm exam results were pretty good, right? Plus, we haven't had any disciplinary issues. It's too much if our points are zero..."

"Don't jump to conclusions, listen to me first. Ike, it's true, as you said, your efforts this month were impressive even to me, and the school administration certainly understands." Chabashira first calmed the students who were questioning and panicking before continuing, "I will now announce this month's class points."

Then, Chabashira spread the paper he was holding on the blackboard, and the results of the points were announced one by one, starting with Class A.

After the midterm exams, the current class points for the first-year students this month were as follows:

Class A Points: 1004 Class B Points: 865 Class C Points: 592 Class D Points: 200

"Huh? Our points are this high, two hundred points, does that mean we got bonus points? That's great!" Ike jumped for joy upon seeing Class D's points.

"It's too early to be happy. The gap between Class D and the other classes is still very large. However, as you said, the bonus points do come from the midterm exams."

Ike continued to press Chabashira-sensei, "But... why haven't the points been transferred?"

"There was a slight issue this time, so the first-year students' points will be issued a little later. I apologize, but please wait a bit longer."

"Really? Is this an oversight by the school administration? Aren't we getting any additional compensation?" Other students also voiced their dissatisfaction, and the classroom became noisy.

"Quiet down. This is the school administration's decision, and there's nothing I can do. Once the problem is resolved, the points will be distributed according to the corresponding amounts at that time." Chabashira said something that made people ponder.

During lunch break, Konoe got up from his seat and was about to head to the student cafeteria when Kushida walked over.

Kushida invited him in her usual cute tone, "Konoe, want to go to the cafeteria together?"

"No."

"Eh?" Kushida hadn't expected Konoe to refuse her so bluntly and decisively, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Konoe ignored her and walked over to Ayanokoji, who was sitting by the window in the last row, "Want to go eat together?"

"...Oh, it's you, Konoe." Ayanokoji uttered something inexplicable.

"What are you talking about?" Konoe replied, then glanced at Horikita, who was sitting in the seat next to Ayanokoji.

She was hunched over her seat, eating her bento. Seeing this, Konoe curiously asked, "Horikita, did you make this bento yourself?"

After swallowing the food in her mouth, Horikita slowly replied, "...Peeking at someone eating again, Konoe. That's another mark against you."

"I'd like to ask how one can avoid 'peeking' when you eat in class. I'm curious why you specifically made your own bento? Wouldn't it be better to eat the free set meal at the school cafeteria to save points?"

"You don't know? The supermarket also provides free ingredients."

Upon hearing this, Konoe took two steps forward and looked closely at Horikita's bento. Although it didn't have much meat, it looked very delicious.

This suddenly made Konoe a little tempted. If he cooked himself, he could choose the nutrients he wanted to consume daily. Moreover, the student cafeteria was noisy, and cooking himself would allow him to eat alone quietly.

However, Konoe thought for more than ten seconds before finally giving up. He didn't know how to cook, and learning from scratch seemed troublesome, not to mention having to wash the dishes afterward. Thinking of this, he looked at Horikita's bento with a reluctant gaze.

"Even if you stare at my bento like that, I won't give you any of it." With that, Horikita continued to eat as if no one else was there.

"Who... Who wants it. Let's go, Ayanokoji." Konoe turned his head and left with Ayanokoji.

The two stood in line at the student cafeteria to get their meals. Ayanokoji, as usual, chose the same dishes as him and was behind him in line.

"Is it okay? Refusing Kushida's invitation to ask me." Ayanokoji's calm voice came from behind Konoe.

"You saw that, huh? But I don't think it matters. More importantly," Konoe pointed at the menu, "we got our points today, so I'll treat you."

"Okay."

"...You're really not being polite."

Konoe chose the more expensive Seafood Set.

Various seafoods were meticulously prepared by the chefs and then stewed in a pressure cooker. What was served was a delicious taste that could be swallowed with every bite. Paired with the carefully prepared dipping sauce, its deliciousness was worthy of its price.

The two sat down in a corner of the cafeteria to eat. There were fewer students here, making it quieter.

Ayanokoji took a bite of the seafood and paused, "The set you chose is quite expensive, but it's indeed delicious. Do you eat this every day?"

Konoe thought for a few seconds, then swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "No. Actually, I mostly eat the free meals."

"Is that so... Do you also have something you want me to do?" Ayanokoji seemed to recall the previous incident.

Konoe dipped the shrimp meat in the sauce with his chopsticks and said, "No, what do you think I am, Horikita? It's just that the student council points were issued this month, so I'm celebrating."

"The student council isn't easy work, is it? How many points can they issue?" Ayanokoji directly tasted the dipping sauce with his chopsticks.

"I thought they'd have me do some clerical work, but they've assigned me all sorts of strange tasks. They only issue 30,000 points per month, but there's usually not much work."

"I see. But are your points really okay, Konoe? While I appreciate being able to eat delicious seafood, your points aren't exactly abundant this month, are they?"

"My points are actually quite abundant, over two hundred thousand. And points are going to be issued again this month."

"...Did you rob someone?" Ayanokoji said, then started eating the fish meat in large bites.