After waiting a few minutes, Aragaki Shun saw that everyone below had finished reading the five rules and started discussing them with the classmates around them. Only then did he ask what they thought of the regulations.
The room fell silent. The students looked at one another, and after about half a minute, Kanzaki Ryuji was the first to stand and ask a question:
"I think these five class rules are quite reasonable. It's just that the content seems a little too brief. Are there no more specific guidelines?"
"For example, under what circumstances the class funds can be used, how to determine everyone's contributions to our Class Points, how to tell whether a student deliberately disrupts order in the class, and what it would take to apply to the school for an expulsion appeal... I think details like these should be decided in advance, too."
Aragaki Shun nodded slightly at the podium, showing that he agreed with Kanzaki's point. He explained, "These five rules are the general framework for our class regulations. Unless every member of Class B signs a new agreement someday, no one can change them."
"I plan to put the more detailed additions in a separate document to supplement the general framework. These guidelines should be revised as needed, depending on how class competition develops. Otherwise, who knows what kind of Special Exam the school might spring on us in the future?"
45. Determining Class B's Management Team
After saying that, Aragaki Shun asked Ichinose Honami, his deskmate, to take a stack of papers from his desk and hand them out to everyone.
Kanzaki Ryuji took his copy with interest and looked it over carefully. Sure enough, it was filled with guidelines supplementing the five class rules.
For example, the first page gave a detailed description of how Class B's funds would be managed and what they could be used for.
First, Aragaki Shun stated that the class funds should be deposited into a class account opened jointly by the entire class, and managed by an administrator who had signed the contract. Everyone else, even the class leader, would have to submit an application, and the administrator would decide whether to approve reimbursement.
If the applicant and the administrator disagreed, the whole class would vote to decide whether the proposed use of the funds was reasonable.
Next, it stated that at the beginning of each month, the administrator had to summarize the income and expenses and make the report public to the class. If there were any accounting errors, the administrator would be responsible and required to pay back twice the amount.
The document also specified what the class funds could be used for—
Including, but not limited to, Special Exams; rewards or compensation for students who had made sacrifices or contributions; assistance for students at risk of expulsion; and recruiting students from other classes.
Finally, Aragaki Shun proposed several regular payments on the class-funds page. He requested that 100,000 Private Points be paid each month to the class leader, with 50,000 each going to the deputy leader and the class-funds administrator.
That came to a total of 200,000 Private Points in monthly class-fund expenses. But once they saw who would fill those three positions, everyone in class already had a good idea who Class B's core members would be.
Thinking about what the three of them had contributed recently, the arrangement seemed reasonable enough.
"I'll clarify one thing: these three management positions in Class B can change hands in the future if circumstances call for it. For now, I propose that Ichinose Honami be the deputy leader, responsible for organizing class activities, communicating with other classes, and looking after the girls. Kanzaki Ryuji will be the class-funds administrator, responsible for managing the funds, helping our classmates grow, and looking after the boys' day-to-day needs."
"They'll both have significant responsibilities, so I don't think there should be any objection to paying them 50,000 Private Points a month from the class funds, right?"
"As for the 100,000 Private Points I'm taking each month, I don't think anyone could question it, considering my contributions to this Behavioral Standards Exam, could they?"
Aragaki Shun scanned the students below, wanting to see if anyone dared to stand up and object.
A hundred thousand Private Points a month wasn't much to him. But he was the one who had made the rules: reward merit and punish misconduct. Naturally, he couldn't break his own rules.
"No problem! Of course there's no problem!"
"We've all seen what Ichinose and Kanzaki can do. They're the perfect choices for these two positions."
"According to Hoshinomiya-sensei, in previous years, Class B usually had only five or six hundred Class Points left after the Behavioral Standards Exam. This time, thanks to Aragaki, we might keep more than nine hundred. Aragaki only taking 100,000 Private Points a month is already very little."
"Exactly! Under the reward clause in the third class rule, Aragaki Shun could take 400,000 Private Points a month and it still wouldn't be too much."
"I think so too..."
Excellent. There wasn't a single person in class who objected. In fact, they thought Aragaki Shun's contributions were worth far more than 100,000 Private Points a month.
Going by how things had worked in previous years, Aragaki Shun had revealed the exam information to everyone on the first day of school. That alone would earn Class B at least 200 Class Points, or 800,000 Private Points a month for the class. Under the reward system, Aragaki would be entitled to half of that—400,000 a month. That would have been perfectly reasonable.
But that was the maximum reward. Aragaki Shun didn't need to quibble over the details. Besides, he would have the final say over how the class funds were used in the future. It was all just moving money from one hand to the other.
"All right, I understand everyone's opinion!"
He raised a hand to quiet everyone and spoke plainly. "As for the contribution required by the school's hidden rules, I've already fulfilled it. That contribution is the trust of every member of Class B. You entrusted me with the responsibility of becoming the class leader."
"Consider these 100,000 Private Points a monthly stipend for taking charge of Class B and leading everyone through the exams to come."
Without his strong performance so far, how could he have so easily secured the role of Class B's leader?
There was still Ichinose Honami, after all, a walking cheat code with incredible people skills.
If she hadn't lacked a strong competitive streak, Aragaki Shun would have found it hard to deal with someone who could win the entire class's approval in just three days.
"Ichinose, Kanzaki," Aragaki Shun said, turning to the two of them as they sat lost in thought. "What do you say? Are you confident you can take on these responsibilities?"
"I..."
Ichinose Honami hesitated. She was willing to be the deputy leader, but she didn't want the 50,000 Private Points a month.
After all, organizing class activities, communicating with other classes, and looking after the girls were all things she did every day. She didn't feel she had made any special effort.
It felt so awkward to take Private Points from her classmates for doing those things.
"If you're going to refuse the monthly pay, then don't say anything!"
"I suggest you look into the story of Zigong Redeems a Man. Accepting a reasonable reward for helping someone doesn't diminish your virtue. But if you refuse it, does that mean no one else in class should accept a reward for contributing to the class?"
"No!" Ichinose Honami's expression changed. After a moment's thought, she pressed both hands to her chest in an apologetic gesture, her expression somewhat heavy. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. I'll do my best as deputy leader, and I hope I can spend an even more wonderful three years with everyone."
"What about you, Kanzaki?"
Aragaki Shun turned to Kanzaki Ryuji. The main reason he had chosen Kanzaki as the class-funds administrator was that, as the heir to Kanzaki Heavy Industries, he was unlikely to covet these points.
Ichinose Honami was trustworthy, too, but she was too kind and soft-hearted. She might use the class funds to help someone without permission, then try to bear the consequences herself.
Kanzaki was more levelheaded. Even if someone in the class came to him for help, he could bring himself to refuse.
In short, there was no problem with letting Kanzaki handle the money.
Even if something did go wrong, his family could easily afford to pay it back.
The same couldn't be said for Ichinose Honami. From her words and actions, it was clear that her family wasn't particularly well-off.
If the funds got into trouble under her management, Aragaki Shun honestly had no idea how she could make up for it—short of paying with her body.
46. Applying for Tutoring for Class B
"Be the class-funds administrator?"
Kanzaki Ryuji looked serious, but in the end, he nodded. "Understood. I'll do my best."
"But I have a question. I understand managing the class funds and looking after the boys' day-to-day needs, but what does it mean to help our classmates grow? What would that involve, specifically?"
"This has to do with our internal strategy for Class B."
Aragaki Shun explained, "I don't want everyone in Class B to spend these three years focused entirely on reaching Class A. Instead, I want everyone to make the most of this school to improve themselves. Ideally, by graduation, you'll have grown capable enough to achieve your goals through your own abilities, without relying on the benefits of Class A."
"So, going forward, I'll try to secure all kinds of development opportunities for everyone in class. You'll need to help them make the most of those opportunities and grow."
After thinking it over, Aragaki Shun added a suggestion: "You could start by recording everyone's plans for employment or further education, then evaluate the gaps between their current abilities and what they'll need to reach those goals. After that, help them gradually bridge those gaps."
"Yikes..."
Kanzaki Ryuji felt like his scalp was crawling.
Aragaki, you've got to be kidding. Could he really handle this kind of job?
Even teachers at prestigious schools couldn't tailor their instruction to every student's wishes. And Aragaki expected him to do it?
"I'm only asking you to work toward that goal. I'm not demanding you succeed."
Aragaki Shun gave him an encouraging smile, then ignored the bitter look on Kanzaki's face and addressed the whole class:
"You heard me. Think about your future over the next few days. Whether you want to continue your education or find a job, you need to have a goal. Once you've decided, register it with Kanzaki."
"Let me make one thing clear. From now on, I'll ask the school to arrange tutors for you. Anyone with weak academic or physical abilities is going to work themselves to the bone. Don't get expelled for failing the midterms or finals. I couldn't bear the embarrassment!"
Those words left not only Kanzaki but quite a few other students looking miserable.
They had come to Kodo Ikusei Senior High School, a boarding school, and now they still had to attend tutoring sessions!
But it was customary in Sakurajima for most students to attend cram school from elementary school onward. They had only just started high school, so the memories of all those extra lessons hadn't faded yet.
So, although the idea felt awkward, they knew it was normal enough. No one stood up to say they didn't want tutoring.
Seeing the students in Class B looking aggrieved but resigned, Aragaki Shun felt a peculiar sense of amusement.
In his eyes, the daily life of students in Sakurajima—getting out of school at three in the afternoon and going off to have fun—was far too easygoing.
To stop these young people from wasting away in such a relaxed environment, he naturally had to bring in the kind of tutoring that high school students outside the school generally experienced. He couldn't let them graduate from Class A only to find themselves less capable academically than some random student from an ordinary high school, could he?
Kodo Ikusei Senior High School had the best educational resources and club resources around.
Since they had the chance to attend this school, they shouldn't waste it. They could handle each Special Exam as it came. What mattered most for Class B was improving their academic ability, physical fitness, and other basic skills in their daily lives.
"All right, stop getting upset about tutoring. First, let's finalize our class regulations. If no one has any objections, we'll all sign them and have the school certify them."
Aragaki Shun clapped his hands firmly, rousing everyone from their thoughts. He urged Class B to hurry up again—he had other things to do afterward.
"Aragaki," Ichinose Honami said, standing up.
"I have a question about the guidelines on expulsion. It says, 'If a student is expelled due to a Special Exam, the whole class must vote on whether to use the class funds to save them or to compensate the student with cash so that an unsuitable student can leave the school as normal.' How do you define an unsuitable student?"
"Everyone should know that saving an expelled student costs Twenty Million Personal Points. I don't know if the class will have enough funds saved up by then. If something unexpected happens and we can't afford it, then all we can do is convert some of the class funds into cash to compensate the expelled student."
Hoshinomiya had said that the Private Points issued by the school would be taken back after graduation, but that didn't include students' own personal belongings.
To turn their Private Points into cash and take it outside the school, all they had to do was buy valuable items that held their value, then sell them outside.
That was why Aragaki Shun had included the clause about compensation for expelled students.
Seeing the students below grow tense at this, the boy was quite satisfied.
Ever since they'd learned about the school's hidden rules on the first day, the students in Class B had developed a bit of pride, even if they didn't show it. It wouldn't hurt to use this clause to rein in their arrogance.
"Of course, I hope no one ever has to use this rule. If you don't want to watch a classmate leave one day, start working to improve yourselves now!"
After giving everyone a pep talk, they soon all signed the regulations.
According to the school's rules, a contract signed by everyone in the class was already enforceable.
But it only applied to those who had signed it. Whether future students transferring into the class would have to follow it was still unclear, so Aragaki Shun needed to have the school certify the agreement.
Fortunately, not long after the class meeting ended, Chie Hoshinomiya returned. He had asked her to submit the application for certification to the school.
The homeroom teacher, who loved acting cute, clicked her tongue in amazement as she scanned the Class B regulations in her hands, then couldn't help praising him.
"Little Aragaki, how did your brain come up with this? You're playing games like this in high school already?"
"After I submitted your application to the school, they had a heated discussion for quite a while. In the end, they finally settled on how many Private Points it would cost to certify the agreement."
"So how much does it cost? Can you just get it done first?"
Aragaki Shun rolled his eyes. He was at a loss when it came to his homeroom teacher, who never did anything useful.
"This month's class funds have just been collected. Just have Kanzaki make the payment."
At a thousand Class Points this month, the amount Class B had contributed to the fund came to two million Private Points. After deducting the management team's salaries of 200,000, there was still 1.8 million left.
Hmm, why did that seem like so little?
They couldn't even afford a Transfer Ticket!
47. Class B Welcomes All Outstanding Talent
"Little Aragaki is as decisive as ever."
Chie Hoshinomiya had lost count of how many times she'd lamented the boy's lack of romantic sensibility. "You've got such a handsome face. Why can't you be a little gentler with girls and show a bit more patience?"
"I heard you're already at the top of the girls' handsome-guy rankings. But no one's confessed to you yet. It must be because you're too serious in your everyday life, right? Smile a little more! If you show people just a bit of warmth, countless girls will fall for you."
Being given advice by a teacher on how to win girls over while still in high school was certainly an unusual experience for Aragaki Shun, who had lived two lives.
But he wasn't the kind of person who let others push him around. So, in response to Chie Hoshinomiya's teasing, he hit her with a devastating counterattack.
"Thanks. I think a middle-aged unmarried woman like you should be more worried about this. At your age, you still haven't found someone to spend the rest of your life with?"
"Are you dating? Getting married? How many kids do you plan to have after you get married? Have you saved up for their formula? What about their schooling..."
"Stop, stop, stop!!!"
Chie Hoshinomiya reached out with a contorted expression, trying to grab Aragaki Shun, but he dodged her easily. In the end, she could only wave her hands around to interrupt his barrage.
"Don't say another word! Please, don't! I know I was wrong. Stop casting these curses on me. I can't take it!"
Chie Hoshinomiya was kicking herself. Why had she provoked the little brat? She hadn't even managed to tease the boy, and he'd ended up getting under her skin instead.
Damn it! For a moment, it felt as if her family had somehow broken through Kodo Ikusei Senior High School's defenses and come all the way here to pressure her into getting married!
Aragaki Shun watched Chie Hoshinomiya's meltdown without changing his expression, as if none of it had anything to do with him. Then, calmly, he brought the conversation back to business.
"So, can you finish getting the agreement certified now?"
"Heh. Have Kanzaki send over 80,000 Private Points, and then give me a complete copy of the regulations so the school can file it."
Chie Hoshinomiya waved her hand listlessly and told him the price the school had settled on after their debate.
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