The Intelligence Kōenji Had

"So you knew I'd come all along?"

Looking at the Brunch Cake pushed in front of him and the other man's smug grin, Shinjo finally understood.

"Well, it's one of the best ways to get to you. You love sweets more than life itself, so there's no way you'd pass up a monthly limited-edition treat like this, right?"

Even with Shinjo sitting across from him, Kōenji carried on as he pleased, combing and styling his hair.

"Anyway, thanks. If it weren't for you, I might've had to wait another month."

"Heh heh heh. Enjoy the favor I've bestowed upon you."

"So, what do you want?"

Kōenji was the very definition of someone who never lifted a finger without expecting a reward. Even Shinjo had to admit he couldn't compete with him in that regard.

"How direct. Still, that works for me. I want you to owe me a favor."

The smile on Shintō Katsuya's face stiffened. A favor from Kōenji was no joke.

"Hey... You haven't developed some kind of delusion, have you? You think one little cake is enough to make me work for you?"

Kōenji held up a finger and wagged it.

"No, no, no. Of course I'm not that naïve. Think of the cake as a gift. In exchange, I'll tell you something useful about the school. How does that sound?"

"Depends on how valuable your information is."

Kōenji laughed twice, evidently pleased. Shinjo valued profit just as much as he did, so he wouldn't go back on his word over information he'd find out sooner or later anyway. Kōenji slowly began to speak.

"About private points—you've probably noticed something already, haven't you?"

"Oh, my, oh, my. Weren't you supposed to tell me something useful? Why are you asking me questions instead? Don't tell me the great Kōenji is trying to get something for nothing."

"Heh heh. You're as suspicious as ever. Fine. Just know that if things carry on like this, most of the class will be broke next month. And private points are far more useful than you think."

Shintō Katsuya nodded, betraying nothing. He'd already been prepared for that possibility.

Kōenji didn't comment. Whether the other man knew this information or not, he wasn't likely to show it on his face.

But since Shinjo hadn't said anything, it meant he wasn't satisfied with the value of the information.

Kōenji picked up a mirror and checked his appearance before continuing.

"The school's four classes—A, B, C, and D—seem to be arranged according to some kind of rule. And our class was placed in Class D."

Kōenji, of course, knew all the details.

As the saying went, money could make the devil turn millstones. As the only son of the Kōenji family, he could promise upperclassmen future rewards and jobs in exchange for information or rare resources like private points.

But he had no intention of telling Shintō Katsuya everything at once.

Shinjo's expression didn't change, but he couldn't help wondering. If Kōenji hadn't brought it up, he really would never have thought of it.

A, B, C, and D usually corresponded to excellent, good, passing, and failing results in games or exams.

Considering that Chabashira Sae had mentioned "meritocracy," and that quite a few students in their class had one problem or another, it was hard not to assume the worst.

"Well, one last hint. Anything unreasonable about this school can be explained by some kind of reason. The school is willing to take in so many unpleasant people—that's unreasonable in itself. So how could that be made reasonable?"

Kōenji spoke in riddles, but had no intention of explaining them to Shintō Katsuya.

"That's all I have to say. It's certainly worth a favor. I have a date to get to. See you, Yorozuya."

With that, Kōenji got up and left the private room.

Shintō Katsuya ignored the teasing and focused on sorting through the information Kōenji had left him.

What he knew so far was that private points were closely tied to students' everyday behavior. His class was at the very bottom of the entire year.

The "unpleasant people" Kōenji mentioned were obviously those who had little value and only dragged others down.

Graduates of Advanced Nurturing could freely choose their careers or continue their studies. Did that mean even these deadweights would have those opportunities?

No. That was absolutely impossible.

The school's funding came from society—from the state. The government wouldn't spend money supporting a bunch of good-for-nothings.

In other words... the enormous privileges granted to graduates upon enrollment might be something these students would never get to enjoy. Or perhaps they wouldn't even be allowed to graduate...

Taking the gap between Classes A, B, C, and D into account...

That meant students in Class D weren't worthy... Was that it?

Shintō Katsuya sucked in a breath as the pieces fell into place, then quickly let it out.

"What does that have to do with me? I don't care about being free to choose a career. After graduation, I'll still have to take over that complicated, burdensome mess..."

He still didn't quite understand what Kōenji meant when he said private points were far more useful than he thought. What else could points do besides serve as currency?

It wasn't as though they could buy something intangible, could they?

Wait...

"Anything available within the school can be bought with points. That's what Chabashira-sensei said, right?"

The words "anything can be bought" carried a lot of weight.

Of course, most people wouldn't focus on that. Who read an instruction manual with such a fine-toothed comb?

But this school seemed to love playing word games. Sometimes it only told you half the story; other times, it hid the most important conditions.

The seemingly limitless possibilities of points set Shinjo's mind racing. He'd come to this school hoping to spend a few peaceful years here. He didn't want to work, take risks, or get caught up in schemes.

But the good times would end sooner or later. Once he graduated from high school, he still wouldn't be able to escape the fate awaiting him.

And now a golden opportunity lay before him. If it really was possible to buy the right to stay on for a fourth or fifth year with points, then as long as he earned enough, couldn't he live at the school for the rest of his life?!

The rest of his life might be a bit much. Still, who would complain about having too many good years?

"Better safe than sorry. Whatever points can do, I should get my hands on as many as possible... But where am I supposed to earn them?"

(But what if, Shinjo, the whole reason you came to school was so you wouldn't have to earn money?)