At the cafe, Tennoji Kaede, Shiina Hiyori, Ibuki Mio, and the three students from Class D were facing off in conversation.
Since the other side had added Ayanokoji at the last minute, making their group one boy and two girls, Kaede naturally couldn't let himself be outdone. So he'd called over two of his close friends as well.
"Hidden Rules?"
Horikita was naturally the one who asked. Without pausing, she continued, "Before we get started... please let me apologize to you."
"Oh? I honestly can't remember Horikita ever doing anything bad to me."
Horikita Suzune said, "Since we're having a conversation, we should introduce ourselves. You already know my name... I was at fault the last few times. I hope you'll tell me your name, too."
"..." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was already at a loss for words.
This interesting tool named Horikita was really something else.
She hadn't even found out the other person's name before coming over to make a deal?
What if he signed a fake name on the contract later? Would she just obediently go along with it?
Ayanokoji had first met Tennoji Kaede when he got off the bus after enrolling.
Later, at the Classroom Assignment Billboard, it had only taken him a little while to memorize the names of all the First Year students.
But he hadn't gone out of his way to meet many people over the past half month, so he still hadn't learned the names of his classmates outside Class D.
"That doesn't really matter. The two classmates beside Horikita have known me for ages, anyway. Come to think of it, the four of us are pretty connected. We were all on the same bus..."
Kushida was trying hard to stifle her laughter, while Horikita looked grim. She had only just remembered that all four of them had shared a bus.
"Anyway, my name's Tennoji Kaede. I look forward to getting along with you."
That was probably enough to give Horikita a little lesson about her personality flaws for now.
"Back to the point. I'm sure everyone's had questions or concerns about the unreasonable aspects of this school, right?"
Kushida Kikyo said, "Yes. I think getting 100,000 points every month sounds a little too good to be true."
Kaede nodded and turned his gaze to Horikita. After thinking for a while, she said:
"This school spoils its students too much. The teachers never discipline us in class, and the school even provides supplies for free. It's as if they already knew students might run out of points. There's also the free wild-vegetable set in the cafeteria. I tried ordering one, and honestly, it was pretty mediocre."
"Anyway, you've observed things more carefully than most people would." Kaede nodded in approval.
Horikita was a little annoyed. Tennoji's condescending tone was really unpleasant.
"I can tell you this much right now, Horikita: after careful thought, you were assigned to the weakest class, Class D. That's an indisputable fact."
Tennoji Kaede folded his hands beneath his chin and quietly watched Horikita and Kushida's expressions change.
Horikita seemed about to speak, but Kaede tapped the table with his index finger and took out a contract, handing it to her first.
"This is a contract I had Teacher Majima Tomoya, the Class A homeroom teacher, guarantee for me two days ago."
"If you want to learn the school's hidden truths, as well as why you were assigned to Class D, then sign it. Otherwise, you can get ready to have a friendly chat with Kushida. I'm in a hurry, so I'll have to excuse myself."
Horikita took the contract and read it, then summarized its terms:
1. Horikita Suzune guaranteed that she would transfer 30,000 points to Tennoji Kaede each month until the end of First Year;
2. Tennoji Kaede would tell her Three Hidden Rules about the school;
3. Guaranteed by Teacher Majima Tomoya, the information provided by Tennoji's side was accurate and worth at least as much as the payment, and Horikita's side could not break the agreement after receiving it.
"All right, you've read the contract. Actually, Horikita, you're already getting a good deal, because I've plainly told you that you really are a Class D student."
"If you believe me, there's no need to sign the contract. If you don't believe me and want to know why, one of the three rules explains why you were assigned to Class D. I'll also throw in two bonus rules that'll definitely help you in your future life in Class D."
Tennoji Kaede sighed. This deal really was a loss for him. He was getting something for nothing, and all he'd managed to get from Horikita was a little value. He was taking a serious loss, even if it was fun.
"Honestly, you're only spending a mere 360,000 Private Points to buy three Hidden Rules from the School Administration that I painstakingly worked out..."
"Horikita, do you dare buy them?"
Horikita Suzune stared at the contract, lost in thought.
"Um..." Kushida Kikyo suddenly said timidly, "Could I buy the other two rules, aside from the one meant specifically for Horikita?"
"Of course. But don't rush, Kikyo. This deal was prepared specifically for Horikita. We can talk about it another time."
Tennoji Kaede wasn't worried that Kushida would suspect he knew her secret. He'd already made it clear that everyone in Class D had some kind of flaw, so it was understandable that Kushida would be concerned.
But everything had already been arranged. All that remained was to see whether Horikita would take the bait.
As for Horikita right now, she was still far too green.
"Horikita, what's your answer? To be honest, I priced the rules based on the 600,000-point reward I mentioned to you last time. At 120,000 each, they're really cheap."
Horikita said, "In that case, just sell me the one about me."
"Horikita always has good ideas, but they're all as fleeting as reflections in a mirror. Naturally, my answer is no."
Bundling them together was unbeatable.
Tennoji Kaede fell silent and waited for Horikita to give her real answer.
"...I'll buy them." Horikita gritted her teeth, like a gambler who'd lost everything.
Beside her, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka lowered his gaze. He considered the contract legitimate.
He still didn't know how much Class D's points would be reduced at the beginning of next month.
But given that everyone currently had 100,000 points, even if that later fell to 10,000, trading 360,000 points from the future for information that could limit their losses would only cost the class a month's worth of living expenses.
Depending on what the information contained, Horikita definitely wouldn't lose out.
But he himself definitely would.
So Ayanokoji also hoped Horikita would sign the personal contract, then use the information to gain influence in the class, making it easier for him to control her later.
"I've confirmed the contract. Now let's exchange contact information. I'll send you the three rules, and you can check them here. I hope you won't do anything rash."
"..." After signing the contract, Horikita actually felt much more relieved. Now she only wanted to know the real reason she'd been assigned to Class D.
"Please check them, Horikita."
Horikita Suzune quickly checked her device:
1. Future exams would test abilities beyond knowledge and physical fitness—teamwork, for example. Therefore, Horikita Suzune, who had no ability in this area, was assigned to Class D;
2. After enrolling at Advanced Nurturing High School, any student who failed even one subject in a midterm or final exam would be expelled;
3. Each month after enrollment at Advanced Nurturing High School, any class that failed to meet the required standards for its students' overall conduct would have part of its monthly point reward deducted.
Before you continue