Chabashira entered the classroom with the bell, ready to begin the morning homeroom.
"Good morning, everyone. You all seem more excited than usual today."
When Ike saw that Chabashira had finally entered the classroom, he eagerly raised his hand and asked, "Kosae-sensei! Why weren't we given any points this month? We're already into a new month, aren't we?"
Konoe took out his phone and checked. He'd just received 30000 Points this month as his salary for doing clerical work for the Student Council, bringing his balance back up to 240,000. However, the students' points for the month still hadn't been deposited.
"Could it be... our points were deducted down to zero?" Yamauchi imagined a terrifying possibility. It seemed he hadn't checked the school bulletin board in time, since the school had already posted the new Class Points for this month.
According to the Class Points the school had announced this month, each student in Class D would still receive 20,000 points.
Ike clutched his head in anguish. "You're kidding, right? We worked ourselves to the bone this month, and our Midterm Exam results weren't bad, were they? Plus, we haven't broken any rules, so it'd be way too harsh if our points were zero..."
"Don't jump to conclusions. Listen to me first. Ike, you're right. Even I was impressed by your efforts this month, and the School Administration understands that, too." After calming the students who were questioning the situation and starting to panic, Chabashira continued, "I'll announce this month's Class Points now."
Then Chabashira spread the sheet of paper in her hands across the blackboard, revealing the results one by one, starting with Class A.
Since the Midterm Exam, the First Year classes' current points for this month were:
Class A Points: 1004,
Class B Points: 865,
Class C Points: 592,
Class D Points: 200.
"Huh? Our points are actually this high? Two hundred points means we gained points? That's great!" Seeing Class D's points, Ike jumped up in delight.
"It's too early to celebrate. The gap between Class D and the other classes is still enormous. But as you said, the points we gained did come from the Midterm Exam."
Ike continued pressing Chabashira-sensei. "But... why haven't the points been deposited?"
"There was a problem this time, so the First Year students will receive their points a little later. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait a bit longer."
"Seriously? This was the School Administration's mistake. Aren't they going to give us any extra compensation?" The other students began voicing their dissatisfaction, and the classroom grew noisy.
"Quiet. This was the School Administration's decision, and there's nothing I can do about it. Once the problem's resolved, you'll receive the points you're entitled to at that time." Chabashira's words left room for interpretation.
During lunch, Konoe stood up from his seat and was about to head to the cafeteria when Kushida came over.
In her usual sweet, cute tone, Kushida invited him, "Konoe, want to go eat at the cafeteria together?"
"No, thanks."
"Huh?" Kushida hadn't expected Konoe to reject her so bluntly and decisively, and she stood frozen in place for a moment.
Ignoring her, Konoe walked over to Ayanokoji, who was sitting by the window in the last row. "Want to go eat together?"
"...So you're here too, Konoe," Ayanokoji said, for some reason.
"What are you talking about?" After speaking, Konoe glanced at Horikita, who was sitting beside Ayanokoji.
She was bent over her desk, eating a packed lunch. Curious, Konoe asked, "Horikita, did you make that lunch yourself?"
Horikita swallowed her food before slowly replying, "...You've added another offense to your list, Konoe. You were watching someone eat."
"I'd like to know how anyone's supposed to avoid 'watching' you when you eat in class. I'm curious why you went out of your way to make your own lunch. If you want to save points, wouldn't it be better to eat the free meals at school?"
"You didn't know? The supermarket also offers free ingredients."
At that, Konoe took two steps closer and carefully examined Horikita's lunch. There wasn't much meat in it, but it looked delicious.
The thought suddenly appealed to Konoe. If he cooked for himself, he could choose what nutrients he wanted to get each day. Besides, the Student Cafeteria was noisy, and if he made his own food, he could eat in peace by himself.
But after thinking it over for a dozen seconds, he gave up. He couldn't cook, and learning from scratch would be a hassle—not to mention having to wash the dishes himself. With that thought, he gazed at Horikita's lunch wistfully.
"Even if you stare at my lunch like that, I'm not giving you a single bite." Horikita went back to eating as if no one else were there.
"W-Who wants any? Let's go, Ayanokoji." Konoe turned away and left with Ayanokoji.
The two lined up at the Student Cafeteria to get their meals. As usual, Ayanokoji chose the same dish as him and stood behind him.
"Is it okay that you turned down Kushida's invitation to eat with me?" Ayanokoji's calm voice came from behind Konoe.
"So you saw that. I don't think it matters, though. More importantly..." Konoe pointed at the menu. "They gave us points today, so let me treat you."
"Okay."
"...You really don't hold back."
Konoe chose the more expensive Seafood Set.
The chefs carefully prepared the various kinds of seafood and simmered them in a pressure cooker. The result was so tender and savory that every bite went down easily. Paired with a carefully prepared dipping sauce, the flavor was worthy of its steep price.
The two sat down to eat in a corner of the cafeteria, where there were fewer students and it was quieter.
After taking a bite of seafood, Ayanokoji paused. "You chose a really expensive set, but it is delicious. Do you eat this kind of thing every day?"
Konoe thought for a few seconds, then swallowed his food before replying, "No. Come to think of it, I guess I usually eat the free meals."
"Is that so... Do you have something you want me to do, too?" It seemed Ayanokoji had remembered what happened last time.
As Konoe used his chopsticks to coat a shrimp with dipping sauce, he said, "No. Do you think I'm Horikita? The Student Council Points were distributed this month, so I'm just celebrating."
"Being on the Student Council isn't easy, is it? How many points do they give you?" Ayanokoji tasted the dipping sauce with his chopsticks.
"I thought they'd have me do clerical work, but instead they assigned me all kinds of strange tasks. They only gave me 30000 Points a month, but I don't have much work normally."
"I see. But are you sure you have enough points, Konoe? I appreciate getting to eat delicious seafood, but you're not exactly flush with points this month, are you?"
"I've actually got plenty. More than 200,000, and they're giving out points again this month."
"...Did you rob someone?" After saying that, Ayanokoji began eating the fish in large bites.
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