Classroom of the Elite: I Can Add Points Without Limit

For high schoolers their age, accepting a friend's invitation to go work for his family's company was just too embarrassing, wasn't it?

By comparison, they felt much more inspired by the idea of Class B joining hands, overcoming countless hardships, defeating their watchful enemies, and finally achieving their individual dreams together.

Aragaki Shun tried to put himself in their shoes. Once he had a rough understanding of how these people thought, he could only laugh in disbelief.

But when he looked at everyone in Class B again, he couldn't help feeling a little more kinship with them.

No matter how laughably naive this determination was, he appreciated their pure goodwill.

Having been through this once before, he knew that once they entered society, it would be much harder to build such genuine relationships.

17. So this is the kind of person you are, Classmate Aragaki?

"All right, everyone, settle down. That's enough excitement for now."

Aragaki Shun clapped his hands, signaling that the people in Class B should stop cheering after a while.

They couldn't keep making a racket, or the neighboring classrooms would complain.

"I understand how you all feel," Aragaki Shun said, his expression softening. "Just like you, I don't believe Class B will lose in the competitions ahead!"

He might not have the same youthful fire as his peers, but Aragaki Shun had pride of his own. There was no way he'd think that even with his cheat-like advantage, he couldn't outperform a bunch of ordinary people.

If something that absurd really happened, then he could only assume some mysterious force was interfering behind the scenes.

When that happened, he'd make the culprit understand why he always kept at least ten units of Source Power in reserve, just in case.

"But once a promise is made, it can't be taken back. I won't go back on mine!"

Seeing that the students below still wanted to say something, Aragaki Shun raised a hand to ask them to wait.

"You only need to think of it as a fallback you'll never have to use. If you want to prove your abilities and determination, then work hard alongside me to defeat the other classes and claim the victory we deserve!"

"After all, a fallback is still only a fallback. It can't really compare to the school's promise to let you choose any prestigious school or company."

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

It wasn't a question of how much it was worth; the range of choices was simply so broad.

Aragaki Shun could easily offer forty respectable jobs with decent salaries. But helping forty people achieve their dreams by getting them into the prestigious companies or schools they each wanted... the Aragaki Family could do it, but it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

That would require connections across every company and school in Sakurajima, the ability to place people in government offices, and even consideration of students who wanted to study abroad.

Any individual zaibatsu, company, or family would have to bring all kinds of connections and money to bear to accomplish this. Even then, they'd have to hope none of the students wanted to join a rival company.

Four or five people a year would be manageable, but forty every year would be a huge hassle!

It was much simpler to arrange for them to work at the family company. One word would take care of it.

It was only because Kodo Ikusei Senior High School was directly administered by the government, with the upper echelons of Sakurajima leading exchanges of favors and all the various powers willing to show it some regard, that such a promise could be fulfilled year after year. Otherwise, even that would be a headache.

That was why Aragaki Shun described his and Kanzaki's promise as a fallback. It could get them a well-paying job after graduation, but that job might not match their dreams.

"All right, that's about enough for our class meeting."

"For the next month, I expect everyone to pay attention in class, finish your assignments on time, and avoid being late or leaving early. Let's all do our best to pass this Behavioral Standards Exam."

"Of course, if students from other first-year classes—or even the second and Third Years—deliberately provoke you, don't just put up with it. Fight back as the situation calls for. If someone picks on you, come back to class and call for help. Our class is a team. We won't deliberately cause trouble, but we won't be afraid of it either!"

After wrapping things up with that final speech, Aragaki Shun nodded to Chie Hoshinomiya, who had been quietly observing from beside the door, and returned the podium to the teacher.

As it happened, after Aragaki Shun sat back down, a new message suddenly appeared on the Personal Panel that only he could see—

[Achievement completed: Established yourself as the leader of Class 1-B. Source Power +2.]

[Source Power: 12 → 14 (current rate: 3 units gained per month)]

A flicker of surprise crossed Aragaki Shun's eyes. He'd expected uniting Class B to earn him Source Power, but he hadn't expected to gain two units all at once.

Still, it was good news. At this rate, he could finish developing the two abilities he'd been working on sooner.

"Looks like you all got a lot out of yesterday."

Chie Hoshinomiya walked leisurely toward the podium, her pleased smile plain to see.

"It's great to be young. Your teacher believes you're the best now!"

The homeroom teacher of Class 1-B exclaimed, "Go after your goals! I'll be counting on you to earn me a higher salary and bonus in the future."

Aragaki Shun, sitting below, raised an eyebrow. Did that mean teachers were also judged purely by ability? If they moved up to Class A, would Chie Hoshinomiya get a higher salary and bonus too?

If so, once they set up the rules for class funds, could they get Chie Hoshinomiya to contribute some points as well?

Unaware that the pillar of Class B was already thinking about how to get her to cough up her points, Chie Hoshinomiya checked the time. It was almost time to start class, so she reminded everyone to take out their books.

The rest of the day was just ordinary lessons.

Just as expected, Aragaki Shun and the others could all sense that every teacher's lessons were unusually relaxed and friendly.

They had six classes that day, taught by four different teachers.

Without exception, every teacher introduced themselves at the start of class, then immersed themselves completely in the lesson. As for classroom discipline, they didn't care about it at all.

If they hadn't known about the Behavioral Standards Exam, quite a few people in Class B might have questioned their own understanding of the world. How could this kind of teaching produce excellent students?

Only after the day's lessons had ended did everyone finally get to go home, after spending the day in that relaxed yet tense atmosphere.

"Whew, I feel like the teachers were deliberately letting us get away with things. A few times, I almost couldn't resist messing around. I'm glad I held back."

Shiranami Chihiro, the timid girl sitting in front of him, patted her chest and let out a deep breath. It was as if the day's lessons had left her weighed down with too much pent-up stress, and only now did she finally dare to relax.

"Don't be too nervous. As long as you don't deliberately fall asleep in class, shout, play on your phone, eat snacks... just avoid things that are obviously bad, and you'll be fine. The school isn't crazy enough to deduct points over every little thing."

They were high schoolers, not special forces soldiers or robots. If the school really expected the entire class to sit completely still, even a thousand times the class points wouldn't be enough to cover all the deductions.

"Even so, wouldn't it be awful if I got points deducted for something I did?"

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

Seeing the confusion on Shiranami Chihiro's face, Aragaki Shun didn't explain. Instead, he teased her, "Still nervous? Want me to pat you on the head? That's how I used to comfort my little sister at home."

"Huh? Huhhh? So this is the kind of person you are, Classmate Aragaki?"

18. The Different Factions Stir at the Club Introduction Assembly

"Aragaki-kun, don't tease Chihiro just because she's cute. You'll make girls dislike you."

Shiranami Chihiro's startled voice carried to the next desk. Her deskmate, Ichinose Honami, leaned over with a strange expression and gave Aragaki Shun a reproachful look.

"Then I'm sorry. I guess I really am not very good at getting along with girls, but I don't think any girls have gone out of their way to dislike me because of it."

Watching the handsome boy say this with a straight face, Ichinose Honami fell silent.

"...Anyway, you shouldn't say such flippant things to girls."

"I'll try. I know I can be a little too casual sometimes. If you think I'm acting inappropriately, just tell me... though I can't promise I'll change."

At first, the two girls had thought Aragaki Shun was very understanding. But after hearing the rest, they didn't know what to make of him.

Still, maybe that was just Classmate Aragaki's style. If he didn't have such a headstrong side beneath his gentle exterior, how could he have challenged the upperclassmen's clubs on the first day of school? And how could he have made such a bold promise to everyone in Class B?

While the girls' thoughts ran wild, music played over the school's loudspeakers.

"Once again, the Club Introduction Assembly will be held in the First Gymnasium at five o'clock this afternoon. Students interested in joining a club, please gather in the First Gymnasium. I repeat, today..."

A cute female voice came through the speakers. The announcement about the Club Introduction Assembly had already been broadcast several times during lunch, and it was now about two hours before five.

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

Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Sou walked over. They'd gone with Aragaki Shun to challenge a few clubs yesterday, so they figured he wouldn't miss the chance to learn more about all the clubs.

"Of course. I want to see what other interesting clubs this school has. I'll make a note of them and look into them one by one when I get the chance."

Clubs were taken very seriously in Sakurajima. At ordinary high schools, classes ended around three in the afternoon so students would have more time for club activities.

That was why students who were confident in their abilities usually joined clubs that interested them. If Aragaki Shun wanted to test the mettle of the upperclassmen, all he had to do was challenge every club.

"Then everyone in class who's interested in clubs should go together," Ichinose Honami suggested enthusiastically, looking straight at Aragaki Shun. "Most people in the other classes are probably interested too. It'd be good for our whole class to stick together."

It wasn't as if they were going to start a fight. Was it really necessary to make such a big production of it?

He thought about saying so, but everyone else in class seemed to agree, so Aragaki Shun didn't rain on their parade. He simply walked ahead and gestured for the others to follow.

"So he just left... I, I never said you couldn't pat me on the head..."

Watching the boy leave so casually, Shiranami Chihiro was left with no chance to finish what Ichinose Honami had interrupted. She mumbled under her breath, sounding a little dejected, and her voice soon faded into the breeze.

"Chihiro, what are you still talking about? We're going to the First Gymnasium now."

Ichinose Honami called over her friends—Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, and Ando Sayo. When she saw that Shiranami Chihiro was still sitting at her desk for some reason, she quickly reached out and pulled her up.

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

Aww... Honami-chan is gentler.

But Aragaki-kun is so handsome, and he makes me feel so safe. What should I do?

The announcement had said that anyone interested could go to the Club Introduction Assembly.

But given Class B's nature, once most of them decided to gather in one place, the rest would inevitably follow along, even if only to fit in.

So all forty of them gathered around the key figures—Aragaki Shun, Ichinose Honami, Kanzaki Ryuji, and a few others. As they made their way over, they drew quite a bit of attention.

It even led to something amusing.

When they passed through the area where Class 1-A was gathered, those students must have misunderstood them. Maybe they thought there was some deeper meaning to Class B heading to the First Gymnasium in a group. Or maybe they just wanted to keep up. Either way, everyone in Class A gathered together too, then headed to the Club Introduction Assembly with an imposing air.

However, Class A's core group had to look after a girl with difficulty walking, so they couldn't get ahead of Class B. They could only follow behind them in silence, matching Sakayanagi's gloomy mood.

Then came the students from Classes C and D, who, influenced by the bandwagon effect, thought, If Classes A and B are going together, wouldn't it be weird if we didn't?

They had no idea why they were doing it, and not everyone came, but most of them still made their way to the First Gymnasium in small groups. Like Classes A and B, they found an area and gathered as a class.

The upperclassmen preparing to recruit new members at the First Gymnasium watched the scene in surprise. If the announcement hadn't already made clear that attendance at the Club Introduction Assembly wasn't mandatory, they would have thought it was the opening ceremony.

But after their surprise came unease.

Second- and third-year students who had already spent a year or two at Kodo Ikusei were familiar with the school's rules. They also knew that the first month of school was still part of the Behavioral Standards Exam. In theory, the new students shouldn't have been told about the exam yet, right?

The mess of students in Classes C and D was one thing, but what was going on with the orderly groups from Classes A and B?

It was only the second day of school, and someone had already brought these two classes together?

Wasn't that ridiculous?

In the center of the gymnasium's stage, a bespectacled man was directing club members and arranging their positions for the event. A hard-to-read glint passed through his eyes as he glanced in the direction of Class D.

It was as if he had seen someone he wanted to see—and also a reality he didn't want to face. In any case, his expression was so inscrutable that probably no one but him could understand it.

He gently pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose. The tall man with neat black hair acted as if he hadn't seen anything, then returned to his work, making no move to respond to that long-unseen gaze—one that was both fervent and timid.

"Suzune, why did you follow me here?"

19. Sakayanagi Arisu's Challenge

"We meet again, Classmate Aragaki."

The Club Introduction Assembly hadn't officially begun yet. Classes A and B had taken up spots not far from each other, and the key members of both classes were standing in the front row. They could easily observe each other.

So Aragaki Shun spotted the white-haired girl leaning on her cane at a glance.

He felt a bad premonition rise in his heart, and sure enough, Sakayanagi Arisu came straight over with a group of people.

Clearly, this girl had come all the way to the First Gymnasium despite her frail health. Her reason couldn't possibly have been to attend the Club Introduction Assembly.

"After tiring yourself out so badly over the chessboard yesterday, shouldn't you be recovering in your dorm, Classmate Sakayanagi? What are you doing here?"

From their first glance at each other, he could sense the deep malice lurking beneath the girl's petite frame.

Since she clearly meant trouble, Aragaki Shun had no intention of sparing the Board Chairman's daughter any courtesy. He went straight for her weak spot without holding back.

The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face vanished in an instant.

After yesterday's chess match, which had lasted an hour and a half, the medical staff her father had arranged had immediately taken her away for an examination. Then the Board Chairman had come over, having heard what happened, to show concern for his daughter's physical and mental health.

It was the first time she had been so humiliated in front of her father. He had even admonished her, saying that chess was merely a pastime and that she shouldn't take it so seriously... It was infuriating.

But it wasn't all bad.

At least she had learned from her father that the boy in front of her was a prodigy worthy of inheriting the name of the Aragaki Family—a venerable family even more powerful than the Sakayanagi Family.

He hadn't been born into privilege like her, naturally exceptional, and therefore entitled to lord it over the vulgar commoners.

Rather, he had been recognized by a colossal power for his extraordinary talents, and that was how he had earned the right to inherit that prestigious family name.