At six in the morning, Hanyu Xiuyi stood on the balcony of the Building D dormitory, watching the pale light of dawn spread across the horizon. On the screen of the Student ID in his hand, the number 5,000,000 glowed blue in the morning light.
Five million points.
In a single night, he had changed the rules of the game at one level of this school. And just as Ayanokoji Kiyonaga had said last night, the rules would soon strike back.
At eight in the morning, in the Class D classroom.
When Chabashira Sae opened the door and walked into the classroom, something subtle had shifted in the air. Her gaze swept across the room, paused on Hanyu Xiuyi for half a second, then moved on.
"Good morning." Her voice was as cool as ever. "Before we begin today's lessons, there are a few things I need to announce."
The whole class fell silent.
"First, an addition to the rules governing Personal Points." Chabashira Sae adjusted her glasses. "Starting today, the school is introducing the 'Large Transfer Review System.' Any transfer of more than 500,000 points in a single transaction must be reported to the homeroom teacher twenty-four hours in advance, with an explanation of the reason."
Low murmurs rose around the classroom. Five hundred thousand points—that figure was far too convenient.
"Second, the Club Activity Point Wager Regulations." She continued, "Any point wagers involved in a Club Entry Test may not exceed 30% of the student's Current Points per wager, and the total amount wagered each week may not exceed one million points."
Thirty percent. Based on Hanyu Xiuyi's current five million points, he could wager no more than 1.5 million at a time. The restriction was clearly aimed at him.
"Third, an addition to the rules regarding Class Ranking." Chabashira Sae's gaze swept over Hanyu Xiuyi once more. "If an individual's actions negatively affect the class as a whole, the homeroom teacher has the authority to deduct an appropriate amount of Personal Points as punishment. The school will determine the specific criteria."
Three new rules: two directly restricted the use of points, and one concerned Class Ranking. Hanyu Xiuyi listened calmly, his expression unchanged.
At the back of the classroom, Ayanokoji Kiyonaga sat quietly, his emotionless eyes fixed on the blackboard, as if none of this had anything to do with him.
"Any questions?" Chabashira Sae asked.
"Teacher!" Ken Sudō raised his hand. "Why are the rules changing all of a sudden? We've only just started school!"
"The school adjusts its rules according to circumstances," Chabashira Sae replied with practiced formality. "This is to maintain fairness and order."
"But—"
"Any other questions?" she interrupted.
No one else raised a hand. But the mood in the classroom had already changed. Everyone realized that the new rules were connected to last night's "Wager Carnival," which had swept through the Clubs across the school.
And the person who had set it all in motion sat quietly in the middle of the classroom.
The bell rang. As soon as Chabashira Sae left, the classroom erupted.
"Hey, Hanyu!" Ken Sudō strode over to Hanyu Xiuyi's desk. "I heard you made five million points last night. Is that true?"
Everyone's attention immediately turned toward them.
"It's true," Hanyu Xiuyi replied calmly.
"Five million?!" Karuizawa Kei's voice went up an octave. "That's five million yen!"
"So those new rules are aimed at you?" Hirata Yousuke asked gently, though worry showed in his eyes. "Chabashira-sensei said it could affect our Class Ranking..."
"If one person's actions cost the entire class points, that's completely unfair." A sharp voice cut in. It was Kaneda, a bespectacled boy who looked rather shrewd.
"Hey, Kaneda, what are you getting at?" Ken Sudō glared at him.
"It's simple." Kaneda adjusted his glasses. "Hanyu's taken a high-risk approach to earning points. There's nothing wrong with that in itself. But if his actions cost the class points, then we all suffer. He should take responsibility."
"But he earned a lot of points, too!" a girl said quietly. "If he could share some with everyone..."
She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.
Hanyu Xiuyi looked up at the complicated expressions around the room—envy, jealousy, concern, calculation. Slowly, he stood.
"First, I earned those points through a Legitimate Wager, in accordance with the school's rules." His voice was calm but clear. "Second, the new rules were announced today, so they can't be applied retroactively. Third—"
He paused, his gaze passing over Kaneda and the few girls whose eyes were darting about.
"I never said those points belonged to me alone."
The classroom fell silent for a moment.
"You mean..." Hirata Yousuke ventured.
"If our Class Activities need funding, I'm willing to support them," Hanyu Xiuyi said. "But the money has to go toward something that genuinely benefits the class, not someone's selfish desires."
As he spoke, his eyes seemed to pass over Kaneda. Kaneda's expression shifted, and he looked away.
"All right, all right. We're classmates, so let's not argue," Hirata Yousuke said, quickly smoothing things over. "It's a good thing that Hanyu's willing to support the class. We can discuss the details later."
The tension eased slightly, but undercurrents still ran beneath the surface.
During lunch break, Hanyu Xiuyi ran into Horikita Suzune on the rooftop of the Teaching Building.
The long-haired girl was eating her lunch alone. When she saw him come up, she glanced at him and went back to eating.
"Mind if I sit here?" Hanyu Xiuyi asked.
"Go ahead." Horikita Suzune's voice was cool.
He sat down a few meters away and took out his own lunch. The two of them ate in silence for five minutes.
"I heard about last night," Horikita Suzune said abruptly. "Impressive."
"Thanks."
"But stupid, too," she continued. "You revealed your abilities too soon and attracted the school's attention. Now that the new rules are in place, you can't accumulate points quickly the way you did last night."
"Maybe." Hanyu Xiuyi gave no indication either way.
"Chabashira-sensei said an individual's actions could affect the class's Class Ranking." Horikita Suzune looked at him. "If you really do cost the class points, I'll be the first to demand that you take responsibility."
"That's understandable."
Horikita Suzune furrowed her brow, apparently dissatisfied with his calm response. "Don't you have anything to say? About the new rules, or the people in the class eyeing your points?"
Hanyu Xiuyi set down his chopsticks and looked toward the school buildings in the distance.
"The rules have changed, but the game goes on," he said. "As for the people in the class... they'll soon understand that real strength doesn't come from taking someone else's points."
Horikita Suzune stared at him for a few seconds, then gave a soft snort and went back to her lunch.
In the hallway before his afternoon math class, Hanyu Xiuyi ran into Katsuragi Kohei, one of Class A's leaders. The encounter seemed "accidental."
"Hanyu, I'm Katsuragi from Class A." The tall, stern-looking boy held out his hand. "I heard you put on quite a show last night."
"You flatter me." Hanyu Xiuyi shook his hand.
"Five million points is an incredible amount, even in Class A," Katsuragi Kohei said. "But now that the new rules are in place, it'll probably be difficult to repeat that success."
"Maybe."
"Class A welcomes people with genuine ability." Katsuragi Kohei's words carried an implication. "If you're unhappy in Class D, you could consider transferring. Of course, that would require a certain amount of paperwork and... a price."
It was a blatant attempt to poach him.
"Thanks for the offer," Hanyu Xiuyi replied politely. "But I think Class D is fine."
Katsuragi Kohei gave him a long look. "Then good luck. But let me remind you—at this school, no matter how strong an individual is, they can't fight the entire system."
"I'll remember that."
After they parted, Hanyu Xiuyi spotted someone else around the corner: Sakayanagi Arisu, another leader in Class A. The silver-haired girl always wore a gentle smile, though she sat in a wheelchair.
"Hello, Hanyu." Sakayanagi Arisu's voice was soft. "I'm sure Classmate Katsuragi said something terribly dull. He's always so direct."
"Classmate Sakayanagi." Hanyu Xiuyi nodded in greeting.
"I was impressed by your performance last night," Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile. "Using the rules themselves to disrupt the balance—that was an interesting approach. But right now, you're like a pawn that's crossed the river and suddenly appeared on the board. You're full of momentum, but you've also exposed yourself to everyone's fire."
"A pawn that crosses the river can only advance, never retreat," Hanyu Xiuyi said.
"Exactly." A spark of interest appeared in Sakayanagi Arisu's eyes. "So, what will your next move be? I'm looking forward to seeing it."
The attendant behind her wheeled her away. Hanyu Xiuyi watched her retreating figure, his gaze growing somber.
Both of Class A's major factions had noticed him. It was an opportunity, but also a danger.
After school, Hanyu Xiuyi didn't go straight back to his dorm. Instead, he returned to the Student Activity Center.
At the Shogi Club's entrance, Ishida looked at him with a complicated expression.
"Hanyu, what are you doing here again? The new rules are out. We can't wager like we did yesterday."
"I know," Hanyu Xiuyi said. "I'm just here to formally submit my application to join."
He took the duplicate copy of the application form he'd torn off the day before from his pocket and handed it over.
Ishida froze for a moment, then took the application. "You... really want to join the Shogi Club?"
"I'm interested in shogi," Hanyu Xiuyi said calmly. "And I think this is a place where I can become stronger."
Ishida watched him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "All right. Welcome aboard. But you still have to take the Club Entry Test. No points wagered this time—just a game."
"That's fine."
The two of them entered the Club Room. This time there was no crowd of onlookers, just a few members practicing on their own.
The game began. Hanyu Xiuyi still took the first move, but his style was entirely different this time. Instead of yesterday's fierce attack, he played steadily, advancing one step at a time.
"Are you testing me?" Ishida frowned.
"No." Hanyu Xiuyi placed a piece. "I'm learning."
The game lasted an hour. In the end, Hanyu Xiuyi won by a narrow margin.
"You've improved," Ishida admitted, conceding the game. "Or maybe you weren't using your full strength yesterday."
"Yesterday was a wager. Today is practice." Hanyu Xiuyi put away the pieces. "Different goals call for different moves."
Ishida gave him a long look. "You're an interesting person, Hanyu. Welcome to the Shogi Club."
After leaving the Shogi Club, Hanyu Xiuyi visited the other Clubs in turn—the Kendo Club, the Art Club, the Debate Club, and more. He formally submitted an application to each one and passed every Club Entry Test without wagering points.
Word quickly spread: the monster who had made five million points overnight had really joined more than a dozen Clubs.
"Is he crazy? How could he have time for that many Club Activities?"
"Maybe he just signed up in name only?"
"No, I heard he took every test seriously..."
Amid the whispers, Hanyu Xiuyi returned to his dorm. He opened his notebook and began recording the day's events:
1. New rules introduced; large transfers restricted and Club Wagers capped.
2. Divisions have appeared within the class; some people are eyeing the points.
3. Both of Class A's major factions have noticed me.
4. Officially joined twelve Clubs and gained legitimate membership.
5. Horikita Suzune is cool but reasonable; I can work with her.
6. Ayanokoji Kiyonaga... is still a mystery.
After writing everything down, he closed his notebook and looked out the window.
Night fell, and the lights across the campus came on one by one. Advanced Nurturing High School was like a meticulously designed shogi board, with every student a piece and every rule a line in the game.
And he, the pawn that had suddenly crossed the river, had already begun to change the entire game.
Now it was time to make his second move.
He picked up his Student ID and looked at the five million points. He couldn't spend them recklessly like he had the day before, but they were still an important bargaining chip.
The key was how to use them.
"Knock, knock."
There was another knock at the door.
Hanyu Xiuyi raised an eyebrow. Ayanokoji again?
He opened the door, but someone else stood outside—someone he hadn't expected to come looking for him.
Horikita Suzune.
"Can I help you, Classmate Horikita?"
Horikita Suzune's expression was still cool, but there was a new seriousness in her eyes.
"I want to talk to you," she said. "About how to get Class D promoted to Class A."
Hanyu Xiuyi looked at her and stepped aside.
"Come in."
Before you continue