Classroom of the Elite, I Can Add Points Infinitely Chapter 10

To be fair, for a high schooler of this age, accepting a friend's invitation to work at their family's business would be far too embarrassing, wouldn't it?

By comparison, the idea of the entire Class B walking hand-in-hand, overcoming numerous hardships, defeating other covetous enemies, and ultimately realizing their respective dreams together felt much more meaningful to them.

Aragaki Shun put himself in their shoes, and after roughly understanding the thought process of these guys, he couldn't help but chuckle in silence.

Looking back at the members of Class B, he couldn't help but feel a sense of approval.

Regardless of how naive or ridiculous this willpower might be, he still accepted their simple goodwill.

Having experienced it once before, he understood that once they entered society, it would be difficult to build such pure relationships ever again.

"Alright, everyone, let's stop here. That's enough excitement for now."

Aragaki Shun clapped his hands, signaling that after a round of cheering, it was time for Class B to settle down.

They shouldn't keep making noise, or the classrooms next door would start complaining.

"I understand and acknowledge everyone's thoughts," Aragaki Shun said, a softer curve appearing on his face. "Like you, I don't believe Class B will fail in the future competition!"

Although he didn't possess the youthful spirit of his peers, Aragaki Shun had his own pride; he couldn't possibly believe that even with his cheats, he couldn't outperform a group of normal people.

If such an absurd situation were to actually occur, he could only assume that some mysterious power in the shadows was interfering.

When that time came, he would let the culprit know why he always made sure to keep at least 10 points of Source Power in reserve just in case.

"But a promise once made is set in stone; I will not take back this commitment!"

Seeing the students below wanting to say something more, Aragaki Shun raised a hand to signal them to wait a moment.

"You only need to treat it as a safety net that won't be used. If you want to prove your ability and determination, then work hard to fight alongside me to defeat the other classes and seize the victory we deserve together!"

"After all, a safety net is just a safety net; in essence, it still cannot compare to the school's promise of choosing any prestigious university or company you desire."

Even from Aragaki Shun's perspective, the school's promise was indeed quite powerful for these ordinary students.

It wasn't a question of how much it was worth, but rather that the range of choices was extremely broad.

Aragaki Shun could easily provide forty decent jobs with high salaries, but helping forty people achieve their dreams and arranging for them to enter their desired prestigious companies or universities... the Aragaki Family could do it, but it wasn't cost-effective.

Because this involved connections that needed to span every company and school across Sarujima, the ability to place personnel in government agencies, and even the need to consider issues like studying abroad.

Any single conglomerate, enterprise, or family wanting to achieve this would have to use various connections and money to pave the way, and even then, they would have to pray that none of the students' goals were with their own rivals.

Four or five a year would be fine, but forty a year was just too much trouble!

It was much simpler and more direct to just arrange for them to work in his own company; a single word would suffice.

It was only because Kodo Ikusei Senior High School was under direct government administration, with the upper echelons of Sarujima leading the interest exchanges, that various factions were willing to give face and pay attention; otherwise, fulfilling such a promise every year would be very troublesome.

Therefore, Aragaki Shun referred to his and Kanzaki's promise as a safety net—a safety net that could get them a well-paying job after graduation, but one that might not necessarily align with their dreams.

"Alright, the homeroom period is about over."

"For the next month, I require everyone to listen carefully in class, complete your assignments on time, and neither be late nor leave early. Let's complete this Behavioral Standards Exam perfectly together."

"Of course, if students from other first-year classes or even second and third-year students provoke you on purpose, don't feel wronged. Retaliate based on the situation, and if you get bullied, come back to the classroom and call for help. Our whole class is a single unit; we don't go looking for trouble, but we don't fear it either!"

After delivering this final summary, Aragaki Shun nodded toward Chie Hoshinomiya, who had been silently observing from the door, and returned the podium to the teacher.

It is worth mentioning that after Aragaki Shun sat back down in his seat, a message suddenly refreshed on the personal panel that only he could see—

[Achievement Completed: Establish the position of leader of first-year Class B, Source Power +2.]

[Source Power: 12→14 (Current efficiency: 3 points acquired per month)]

A flicker of surprise crossed Aragaki Shun's eyes. He had expected that consolidating Class B would yield Source Power, but he was still surprised that it increased by two points all at once.

However, this was a good thing after all; this way, he could perfect those two abilities he had been wanting to condense as soon as possible.

"It seems you all gained a lot yesterday."

Chie Hoshinomiya walked slowly toward the podium with an undisguised, joyful smile on her face.

"Youth is truly wonderful. Teacher now believes you are the best!"

The homeroom teacher of first-year Class B exclaimed, "March toward your goals. Teacher's future salary and bonuses will depend on your performance."

Aragaki Shun, sitting below, raised an eyebrow. Did this mean that even among teachers, it was a meritocracy, and if they promoted to Class A, Chie Hoshinomiya would also receive higher pay and bonuses?

If that were the case, when they formulated the details regarding class funds later, could he get Chie Hoshinomiya to contribute some points as well?

Having never imagined that the "big thigh" of Class B in his eyes was actually thinking about how to "farm" her for gold, Chie Hoshinomiya checked the time and decided it was time to start the lesson, so she reminded everyone to take out their books.

The time that followed was just standard teaching.

And as expected, Aragaki Shun and the others could all feel it: the teaching of all the teachers in the class seemed overly relaxed and friendly.

They saw teachers for four different subjects during the six periods today.

Without exception, all the teachers only introduced themselves at the beginning of the class and then became completely immersed in the teaching content. As for class discipline and the like, they didn't care at all.

If it weren't for everyone knowing this was because of the Behavioral Standards Exam, many in Class B would have doubted reality—how could such a teaching attitude produce excellent talent?

It wasn't until the entire day's classes ended that everyone finally welcomed the end of the school day in this relaxed yet tense atmosphere.

"Phew, I keep feeling like the teachers are intentionally letting us off easy. I've wanted to pull some stunts a few times, but thankfully, I held back."

The timid girl in the front row, Shiranami Chihiro, patted her chest and let out a long breath, as if the pressure of the entire day's classes had built up too much to release, and only now could she finally relax.

"Don't be so nervous. As long as you don't intentionally sleep in class, shout, play on your phone, or eat snacks—things that are obviously bad—the school isn't crazy enough to deduct points for every little move."

They were just high school students, not special forces soldiers or robots. If the school really forced an entire class to not make a single movement during lessons, then forget about one thousand class points; even a thousand times that wouldn't be enough for the school to deduct.

"That may be true, but wouldn't it be terrible if I were the one who got points deducted?"

"It's fine. The deduction standards are the same for all four classes. If they weren't, I'd have to consider kicking down the door myself."

Seeing Shiranami Chihiro looking confused, Aragaki Shun didn't explain, instead teasing, "If you're still nervous, do you want me to pat your head? That's how I used to comfort my little sister back home."

"Eh? E-eh? Aragaki-kun, is that the kind of person you are?"

18. The Stirring of Various Factions at the Club Orientation

"Aragaki-kun, don't tease Chihiro just because she's cute. You'll get hated by girls if you act like that."

Shiranami Chihiro's surprised voice reached the next row, and her desk mate, Ichinose Honami, leaned over with a strange expression, giving Aragaki Shun a reproachful eye-roll.

"My apologies then. I don't seem to be very good at getting along with girls, though I don't recall any girl ever specifically hating me for it before."

Watching the boy say this with that handsome face of his, Ichinose Honami fell silent.

"...In any case, it's better not to say such frivolous things to girls so casually."

"I'll try my best. I'm aware that I can come across as a bit too casual at times. If you think there's something wrong with my behavior, just tell me directly... though I can't guarantee I'll change."

Listening to the first part, the two girls had thought Aragaki Shun was quite reasonable, but after hearing the second part, neither knew how to respond.

But this was probably just Aragaki-kun's style. If he didn't hide such a self-willed side beneath his gentle exterior, how could he have gone to challenge the upperclassmen's clubs on the very first day of school? And it would be even less likely for him to make a promise to the entire Class B.

Just as the few were lost in thought, music began to play over the school's PA system.

"A reminder: the club orientation will be held in the First Gymnasium starting at 5:00 PM today. Students interested in clubs, please gather at the First Gymnasium. Repeating, today..."

A cute female voice came over the broadcast. In fact, the announcement regarding the club orientation had already been broadcast several times during the lunch break, and there were about two hours left until 5:00 PM.

"Aragaki, want to go check out the clubs together?"

Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Sou walked over. They had gone with Aragaki Shun to challenge clubs a few times yesterday, and in their eyes, Aragaki Shun shouldn't be the type to miss this opportunity to gather information on the various clubs.

"Naturally. I want to see what other interesting clubs this school has. I'll take note of them and find time to scout them out one by one."

Sakurajima places quite a bit of importance on club activities. In a regular high school, students are dismissed around 3:00 PM every day, and this schedule is specifically arranged to give students more time to participate in clubs.

Therefore, students confident in their talents generally join clubs that interest them. If one wants to test the mettle of the upperclassmen, all one has to do is challenge every club once.

"Then let's all go together, everyone in the class who is interested in clubs," Ichinose Honami suggested enthusiastically, her eyes fixed on Aragaki Shun. "Most people from other classes should be interested in clubs too, so it's better for us to stick together as a class for support."

It's not like we're going to a street fight; is there a need to make such a big fuss?

Although he wanted to say that, seeing that everyone else in the class seemed to agree, Aragaki Shun didn't pour cold water on the idea, simply walking to the front and signaling for the others to follow.

"Just like that... I, I didn't say you couldn't pat it..."

Seeing the boy leave so casually, the topic that had been interrupted by Ichinose Honami lost its momentum. Shiranami Chihiro muttered, her slightly dejected voice drifting away with the wind.

"What are you still saying, Chihiro? We're going to the First Gymnasium together now."

Ichinose Honami called over her friends Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, and Ando Sayo. Seeing that Shiranami Chihiro was still sitting in her seat for some reason, she hurriedly reached out a hand to pull her up.

"Wait a moment, Honami-chan, I'm coming."

Woo~ I feel like Honami-chan is still the gentler one.

But Aragaki-kun is so handsome and gives such a sense of security. What should I do?

Although it was said that those interested could go check out the club orientation.

But given the nature of Class B, when the majority chose to gather in one place, the rest would inevitably follow along just to fit in.

Thus, this full group of forty people, surrounding core members like Aragaki Shun, Ichinose Honami, and Kanzaki Ryuji, looked quite large and conspicuous as they walked along.

It even triggered an interesting event.

As they passed the area for the first-year Class A, the students there didn't know how to interpret it—perhaps they thought there was some deep meaning behind Class B heading to the First Gymnasium in a group, or perhaps it was just out of a sense of rivalry—but the result was that all of Class A followed suit, gathering together and heading toward the club orientation with an aggressive air.

However, because the core team of Class A had to take care of a girl with limited mobility, they couldn't even overtake Class B to get in front. The group could only follow the low-pressure atmosphere of Sakayanagi, silently trailing behind the Class B team.

Finally, driven by the herd mentality, some students from Class C and Class D, feeling that it might be bad if they didn't go since Class A and Class B were both going in groups, followed suit.

Although they didn't know why they were doing this, and not everyone came, most of them arrived at the First Gymnasium in twos and threes, imitating Class A and Class B by finding an area to gather as a whole class.

The upperclassmen in the First Gymnasium, who were preparing their recruitment tactics, looked at this scene in surprise. If it hadn't been stated on the broadcast that the club orientation was not mandatory, they would have thought this was the opening ceremony.

But after the surprise came a sense of gravity.

The second and third-year students who had already spent one or two years at Advanced Nurturing were well-versed in the school's rules. They knew that the first month of school was still the Behavioral Standards Exam period, and theoretically, all freshmen shouldn't have been told the truth about the exam yet?

Not to mention the chaotic rabble of Class C and Class D, what was going on with the neatly lined-up Class A and Class B?

It was only the second day of school, and these two classes had already been unified?

Could this be any more absurd!

In the center of the First Gymnasium stage, a bespectacled man directing club members and arranging their entry positions caught sight of this scene. A flash of inscrutable color crossed his eyes before he instinctively glanced toward a certain direction where Class D was seated.

It was as if he had seen the person he wanted to see, or perhaps as if he had seen a reality he wished to avoid; regardless, the expression on the man's face was exceptionally strange, likely impossible for anyone but himself to decipher.

Gently pushing up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, this man with a slender build and clean-cut black hair returned to his work as if he had seen nothing at all, showing no intention of responding to that long-awaited, fervent, yet timid gaze.

"Suzune, why did you follow me here?"

19. Sakayanagi Arisu's Declaration of War

"We meet again, Classmate Aragaki."

The Club Introduction Assembly had not yet officially begun. The areas occupied by Class A and Class B were not far apart, and since the core members of both classes were standing in the front row, they could easily observe one another.

Thus, Aragaki Shun caught sight of the white-haired girl leaning on her cane at a single glance.

A bad premonition had just risen in his heart, and sure enough, Sakayanagi Arisu walked directly over to him with her entourage.

Clearly, this girl had disregarded her frail health to rush to the First Gymnasium, and her purpose was certainly not the so-called Club Introduction Assembly.

"After being exhausted to the point of dizziness on the chessboard yesterday, why is Classmate Sakayanagi here at the gymnasium instead of recovering your strength in the dormitory?"

From the very first moment their eyes met, he could feel the deep malice lurking beneath the girl's petite frame.

Since the visitor was clearly ill-intentioned, Aragaki Shun naturally had no intention of showing mercy to the Board Chairman's daughter, choosing instead to strike directly at her vulnerability without hesitation.

The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face faltered for a brief moment.

Following that hour-and-a-half-long chess match yesterday, she had been immediately taken for an examination by the medical staff arranged by her father, followed by the Board Chairman rushing over to express his concern for his daughter's physical and mental well-being.

Although it was the first time she had appeared so disheveled in front of her father, and she had even been admonished that chess was merely a daily pastime and she shouldn't take it too seriously... it was simply infuriating.

However, it was not as if nothing good had come of it.

At the very least, she had learned from her father that the person before her was a young talent capable of being entrusted with the family name by the Aragaki Family—an ancient clan even more massive than the Sakayanagi Family.

He was not like her, who stood above the vulgar masses as a matter of course due to a noble birth and innate superiority.

Rather, it was because he possessed transcendent aptitude that he had been valued by a behemoth of an organization, earning the right to inherit that prestigious family name.