Chabashira Sae Stock Goes Live

"Classmate Ichinose, if you have any thoughts, feel free to say them."

Hashiba Hikaru gave her an encouraging smile. If Ichinose Honami could become Class B's leader openly, that would be ideal. He would have more freedom that way.

After all, he couldn't put all his hopes in this great angel. Developing new stocks was the sensible thing to do.

"When we go to Class A to sell them the rules, we can start by presenting the contract prohibiting resale," Ichinose Honami suggested, glancing at Chie Hoshinomiya, who stood nearby watching the show. "The contract represents the school's official approval, and it'll make it clearer that we really do know the rules."

"That way, the students in Class A should understand our position."

"Hmm, that's true."

Hashiba Hikaru nodded at Ichinose Honami and continued.

"As I mentioned earlier, Class A is the best class selected by the school. Today is the first day of school. Maybe someone in their class has already noticed something strange about the school, but we don't know yet whether anyone has suggested buying the rules."

"So today is the best time to sell them. I suggest we go straight to Class A after we pick up the textbooks and seize this opportunity to collect Private Points."

"Right. This really is the best time."

"I trust Classmate Hashiba's judgment. I'll leave this to you."

"Yes, I think Classmate Hashiba can make the best decision for us."

The students of Class B quickly reached a consensus. Now that someone had stepped forward, all they needed to do was support him from behind.

"No, I can only do so much by myself. So when we go to sell the rules, I'd like Classmate Ichinose to come with me."

Hashiba Hikaru laid out his plan. After all, acting together would be best for raising the girl's stock price.

"Sure. I want to do my part for the class, too."

Ichinose Honami naturally had no reason to refuse.

"Good. That's all for now about the plan for Class A." Hashiba Hikaru turned his gaze to the letter C on the blackboard. "Our next target is Class C."

"Class C is ranked below us, so its students' overall evaluation is lower than our class's. That means we can adjust our plan for selling them the rules."

"I wonder... Would everyone be willing to take a gamble with me?"

"A gamble?"

The students of Class B looked puzzled by the word. Even Ichinose Honami's lovely face showed her confusion.

"Imagine that none of the classes know the school's Deep Rules. What do you think will happen in a month?"

"Every class will probably break the school rules to some extent and lose a certain number of Class Evaluation Points. Judging by the school's class ranking system, the likelihood of that happening will increase in order from A to B, C, and D."

"In other words, Class C will lose more Class Evaluation Points than we do, so there's no need to sell them the rules right away."

"My idea is to wait about seven or eight days. Once they've unknowingly lost some Class Evaluation Points, we can sell them the rules." A sly smile appeared on Hashiba Hikaru's face. "That's the only way to maximize our profits."

"Not only will we collect Private Points from Class C, but we'll also get a chance to widen the gap between our classes."

"What do you all think of this plan?"

By the time he finished explaining, the students of Class B were utterly stunned. They hadn't realized such a move was possible.

If it worked, they could not only collect some Private Points, but also lower Class C's Class Evaluation Points and widen the gap between them and Class B.

"Should we use the same approach for Class D?"

The purple-haired boy who had spoken earlier had caught on, and offered his opinion.

"Yes. As for Class D, we can wait about two weeks before selling them the rules. As long as we sign contracts with Classes A and C, we can ensure the rules don't get leaked."

"What if the students in those classes notice something strange and warn their classmates not to break the rules?"

Ichinose Honami took Hashiba Hikaru's plan very seriously. As he explained, she kept taking notes, determined to fill in the gaps and raise every possible concern.

"Yes. That's why I said it was a gamble."

"Another issue is that we can't predict how many points the other classes will spend. After a while, when we go to collect, they might not be able to afford it." Hashiba Hikaru paused and swept his gaze over his classmates, his voice turning grave. "But our advantage is that we know something they don't, so we can get the whole class involved."

"If we check on their classes every day, we can find out not only how many points they have, but also whether they've noticed the school's Deep Rules. Then we can adjust our timing and improve our chances of success."

"That's my Phased Harvesting Plan. I hope you'll all trust me."

After writing out all his ideas on the blackboard, Hashiba Hikaru summed up in a passionate voice.

"Classmates, the competition between classes has begun. I hope we can all stand together. Only then can we graduate from Class A together someday!"

"Well said! I support Classmate Hashiba!"

"So do I!"

"Let's give Classmate Hashiba a round of applause!"

Thunderous applause filled Class B's classroom. Hashiba Hikaru glanced at Ichinose Honami again. She was clapping along, a faint, lovely smile on her face.

But why wasn't there a prompt?

Hashiba Hikaru looked at his System Panel. After explaining the whole plan, he had deliberately added that he wanted to graduate from Class A together with his classmates.

That should have matched Ichinose Honami's stock analysis. But unlike before, there was no message saying her stock price had risen.

Had making promises alone stopped working?

Hashiba Hikaru thought to himself, It'll probably take putting all this into practice before her stock price goes up.

Just then, Chie Hoshinomiya, who had been quiet for a long time, suddenly spoke.

"Classmate Hashiba, you're amazing. You came up with such a thorough plan in such a short time."

"It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea. You're too kind, sensei."

"Now, can you help me move the textbooks?"

"Yes..."

"Classmate Ichinose, you're coming too."

"Of course."

Chapter 6: Chabashira Sae Stock Goes Live

Although Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School's school rules were quite different from those of an ordinary high school, its general layout was much the same. For instance, the homeroom teachers' offices were located at the end of the first-year corridor, separate from those of the regular subject teachers.

The regular subject teachers weren't involved in the competition between classes, so their offices were on the other side of the school building. This was to prevent class information from being leaked.

Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami walked side by side behind Chie Hoshinomiya. They were going to the office to move the textbooks.

More importantly, they needed to print the contract prohibiting the resale of school rules in the homeroom teachers' office. The contract template was saved on the teachers' computers, and it was essential to their plan to sell the rules.

"Didi-dah, didah-dah!"

As the three of them walked down the corridor, Hoshinomiya-sensei, at the front, seemed especially cheerful. She was humming a tune the boy had never heard before.

Chie Hoshinomiya looked no older than a high school student, and her voice was as bright and clear as a child's. Hashiba found it quite amusing.

"Is something making you happy, sensei?"

Ichinose was good at lightening the mood, so she spoke to the teacher in a relaxed tone.

"Something is!" Chie Hoshinomiya lightly tapped the floor with each step, her voice still lilting. "Today I met two wonderful students, and even better, they're in my class. Of course I'm happy!"

"...Is that so? That really is something to be happy about."

Ichinose Honami was still getting used to Chie Hoshinomiya's way of speaking, so she sounded a little awkward.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, what time are the classes dismissed this morning?"

Hashiba Hikaru had no interest in their pointless conversation. He was more concerned with something important.

"Eleven thirty. We have about another hour."

As they neared the office, Chie Hoshinomiya stopped and answered.

"Since today is the first day of school, there isn't much planned for the morning after the Opening Ceremony. Besides handing out textbooks and dormitory Key Cards, the only thing left is electing the class representative."

"Once that's done, everyone can leave and take some time to rest before tomorrow's classes."

"But aren't you going to Class A later? So after you move the textbooks, you'll need to hurry and choose your class representative as soon as possible."

"Okay."

"By the way, our school's class representative election is a little different from other schools'." Chie Hoshinomiya smiled, a hint of inexplicable amusement in her voice. "There's only one position."

"..."

Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami exchanged a glance. After the Deep Rules had been revealed, they'd gained a much deeper understanding of this school.

If there was only one class representative position, the meaning behind it went without saying.

Seeing their expressions, Chie Hoshinomiya said casually, "Class representative is just a label. You could call them the class leader, class representative, or person in charge."

"And this person's job is to lead the class forward."

"I see."

After glancing at Hashiba Hikaru a few times, Chie Hoshinomiya turned her attention to Ichinose Honami beside him.

"But I'd prefer Classmate Ichinose to be the class representative."

"Huh? Why? I think Classmate Hashiba would be more suitable."

Ichinose was surprised by the teacher's recommendation and hurriedly said she wasn't up to the task.

"No, I agree with sensei," Hashiba Hikaru said calmly. He looked at Ichinose's lovely face as he continued, "I think you have a quality I don't."

"What is it?"

"Approachability."

Hashiba Hikaru didn't skimp on the praise. It cost nothing to say something nice, and perhaps it might even raise her stock price.

"You have a quality that makes people trust you. Even people meeting you for the first time can open up to you quickly. It's a talent you were born with."

"And you can use it to unite our classmates. If anyone has a falling-out with someone else, I'm sure you could resolve it quickly if I asked you to help."

"Oh, come on. I'm not as great as you make me sound, Classmate Hashiba..."

Faced with such heartfelt praise from the boy, Ichinose Honami's cheeks flushed pink. Embarrassment spilled from her delicate eyes and brows.

At the front, Chie Hoshinomiya was thoroughly enjoying the show. Unable to resist, she chimed in.

"My, this is so youthful."

After her exclamation, she took a closer look at the two of them. She had to admit, the boy on the left was tall and handsome, while the girl on the right was beautiful and statuesque. Even in matching school uniforms, they looked like a couple of models from a magazine.

"Classmate Hashiba, Classmate Ichinose, be sure to get along from now on. Who knows, maybe you'll..."

"Um, how about we let our classmates vote on who should be class leader? We should take care of the business at hand first."

Hashiba Hikaru cut Chie Hoshinomiya off.

"All right, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens between you two. Hahaha!"

After the three of them entered the homeroom teachers' office, Hashiba Hikaru noticed the slender figure of a woman standing inside.

"Oh, Sae, are you here to pick up textbooks too?"

Chie Hoshinomiya seemed to know her very well. She even used her nickname.

"Yes."

It wasn't until he got closer that Hashiba Hikaru noticed she was a teacher. Unlike Chie Hoshinomiya, who dressed fashionably, she wore a standard office-lady outfit: a black suit over a white shirt. Black pantyhose hugged her long, shapely legs.

Her beautiful face radiated an unwelcoming air. Paired with her mature, elegant aura, it only made her more alluring.

"I'm here to move textbooks too, but I brought two new students along. They're both prodigies I discovered today."

Chie Hoshinomiya introduced them to the cool beauty with a hint of bragging. "This is Classmate Hashiba, and this is Classmate Ichinose."

Then she introduced the woman to Hashiba and the others. "This is Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher for Class 1-D. Just call her Chabashira-sensei."

"Good morning, Chabashira-sensei."

Hashiba Hikaru and Ichinose Honami greeted her politely, but all they got in return was a brief nod.

Then the icy teacher, whom Chie Hoshinomiya affectionately called Sae, quickly left without saying another word to her.

"Sae's always been like that. She doesn't talk much, so don't take it personally."

Chie Hoshinomiya said this with a smile, but Hashiba Hikaru spotted a trace of malice in her eyes.

"Hmph."