"Alright, everyone, eyes up here~. I'm going to give you all a proper commendation this time!"
As she spoke, Hoshinomiya-sensei took a thick sheet of white paper from the poster tube in her hand, unfolded it, and pinned it to the blackboard.
It listed the names of Classes A through D, with numbers of up to three digits beside them.
Class 1-A: 960 Class 1-B: 900 Class 1-C: 650 Class 1-D: 10
"Everyone in Class B really are good students, just as I expected. Over the past month, not a single person has been late or absent, and only a handful of you have failed to pay attention in class. So now we're only sixty points behind Class A~. That's an incredible result by the standards of previous years. But the best result of all time belongs to this year's Class D." As she said this, Hoshinomiya glanced over at Ying.
Ying: I didn't actually do anything.
"I'm sure everyone in class already knows this, but I'll go over it again anyway. Class Points aren't just linked to the amount of money deposited each month. They directly determine the order of the classes. So if our Class Points surpass Class A's next month, then we'll be Class A next month. Oh, right, right. At this school, you can only achieve higher education and a 100% employment rate by reaching Class A. But I believe in you all. I know you can do it, so keep working hard and make it to Class A. One last thing: there are only three weeks until midterms. At this school, you'll be expelled if you fail an official exam. But everyone in Class B will be just fine, so there's no need to get too nervous. Just study hard. Let's all keep up the good work!"
With that, Hoshinomiya-sensei waved to the class and left the classroom.
"I never would've thought Class Points could change so drastically so easily. Fortunately, everyone in Class B has been doing their part as students, so we haven't been reduced to struggling just to get by." Kanzaki sighed.
"Yeah, but there's one class that can't say the same." Hamaguchi said, his gaze shifting to the blackboard:
Class 1-D: 10
"Ayanokoji~~~" Yamauchi poked his head out from under his desk, looking like he was on his last legs.
"W-what's wrong?"
"Please buy this off me for 50,000 points—no, 20,000~. I'm out of points~."
The game console sitting on the desk was the one Ying had lent him.
"Isn't this Baiye's game console? It's not even yours. And even if it were, who would I play it with?"
"Ayanokoji~~~! You're the only one I can count on~!"
"I'm afraid I can't help you."
"Doctor! As my most important partner, I have a favor to ask. Please buy this game console for 50,000 points."
When Yamauchi realized Ayanokoji wasn't interested, he immediately turned to someone else.
But this was Baiye's game console. Sorry, Baiye. You can only blame yourself for lending it to Yamauchi. Ayanokoji thought to himself.
Meanwhile, everyone in Class B was discussing what to do next.
"So, everyone. With midterms coming up, and with all of us wanting to get good grades, I propose that we start a study group to help students who aren't confident in their studies improve their academic ability." Ichinose stood at the front of the classroom and explained her idea.
Once the whole class had agreed, Ichinose began dividing the study groups according to their monthly exam scores.
"Um, Baiye-kun, what rank do you think you got on the monthly exam?" Since our Ying had forgotten to attach his barcode during the exam, he'd gotten zero points in every subject. Ichinose didn't know how he'd done, so she asked him.
"Ichinose, that's a very interesting question. All I can say is this: 100 points is the limit of the test, not my limit." Ying said, standing tall.
"Is that so? Then I'll assume Baiye-kun is good at studying." With that, Ichinose went back to sorting the students into groups.
"Everyone, let's call it a day. I'll announce the group assignments tomorrow. From now on, we'll study together in the library." Ichinose announced the end of the meeting, and the Class B students jostled their way out.
Ying had just left the classroom when someone called out to him.
"Ying-kun, come chat with me in the guidance room~." Hoshinomiya-sensei seemed to have been waiting for Ying by the door.
"Okay..."
In the guidance room, Hoshinomiya-sensei smiled and patted Ying on the shoulder. "I don't know how you did it, but I'm very pleased. You got Sae's class all the way up to a whopping ten points. Just thinking about Sae's face has me laughing so hard I can't stop, hahaha!"
Ying put on a fawning smile. "Oh, it was nothing. It's all thanks to your teaching."
"I never taught you any of that... Anyway, Ying-kun, tell me what you want. I'm in a great mood right now, so I'll agree to anything~."
At that, Ying's eyes seemed to turn into dollar signs. He wiped away his drool and said, "Then... how about a million?"
"Deal!"
Ying: Holy crap, she agreed so easily! I should've asked for more.
After transferring the points, Hoshinomiya-sensei continued, "Ying-kun, you really are amazing. Would you be interested in helping me out again? If you keep Sae's class stuck in Class D, I'll give you points every month."
Ying: ! "A million a month? Wouldn't that be a bit much for a teacher..."
"A million would be too much, but I can give you 300,000 personal points every month. Though I'll have to drink a little less... I might as well let myself go one last time today, for old times' sake!"
"My lord, from this day forward, I, Baiye Ying, shall follow your every command!"
"The study group assignments are out. I'm in Group One. Which group are you in, Baiye?" Kanzaki asked, looking at the group assignments Ichinose had posted in the class chat.
Ying checked his terminal and said, "I'm in the Byakuya Group."
Kanzaki: ...
In the library, Ying was the leader of a group and responsible for tutoring four classmates.
Ichinose had divided the class into eight groups of five. The top eight students in the class were assigned as the leaders of those groups. Someone might ask: Wasn't Ying's score zero? Did he even get the eighth-place student's consent? But the student in eighth place was Kanzaki...
"Alright, let's take attendance first. Amikura Mako, Chihiro Shiranami, Beppu Ryota, Shibata Sou, Baiye..."
"Ying, there's no need to waste time. We're all in the same class. Do you really not recognize us?" Shibata interrupted Ying's roll call, exasperated.
Ying: ...I mean, you're not wrong...
"Ahem... So, Amikura Mako, are you not very good at math?" Ying's gaze shifted between the two girls.
"Y-yes."
So Amikura Mako was the petite, cute girl with purple hair. That meant the girl beside her with short brown hair was Chihiro Shiranami. Ying thought to himself.
"Then let's start with some math. Take a look at this problem..." Ying began explaining the most difficult math problem from the monthly exam to the four of them.
When they got to English, Shiranami asked, "Baiye-kun, how do you usually study English?"
Ying took out an MP3 player, selected a recording of an English listening exercise, and played it. "Whenever I have a spare moment, I listen to this."
After handing out their assignments, Ying said, "Go ahead and work on your problems. I'm going to do an English listening exercise."
Then he took out his headphones, plugged them into the MP3 player, and pressed play.
"Chu! I'm sorry for being so cute (Kiss! I'm sorry I'm this cute). I'm sorry for living in this era (I'm sorry for living in this era). Chu! I'm sorry for standing out (Kiss! I'm sorry I stand out). You can't help noticing me, right? Sorry~ (Did you notice me? Sorry~)..."
Everyone: The headphones aren't plugged in! Somebody, remind him!
Before you continue