The World Is One Giant Amateur Production / Which of Kitagawa's Girlfriends Are You Talking About?

"The school's move has disrupted the plans and schedules of all classes. Putting aside everything else, Ryuen from your class is bound to be restless again. He's holding onto the five million Private Points he got from Ayanokoji Kiyotaka."

"Let's all have a meeting in my room tonight, it's really a bit of a hassle."

Chapter 276: The World is a Giant Makeshift Team (5k)

Today was probably the most lively and crowded Kitagawa Ryo's room in the past two months. The girls from Class B and Class C almost filled the not-so-large single room to the brim. Because there weren't enough sofas and chairs, Ichinose Honami and Amasawa Ichika, who arrived a little later, simply sat on the edge of Kitagawa Ryo's bed, which barely gave everyone a place to stand.

It's fortunate that Karuizawa Kei from Class A couldn't openly appear at this event because of their opposing camps; otherwise, Kitagawa Ryo would have really been planning to rent a private room at a karaoke bar in the Keyaki Mall.

"Regarding the new facility that the school opened, everyone should have seen it, including the detailed explanation posted by the school itself on its official website."

Since there was nowhere to sit, Kitagawa Ryo simply moved Hotaru's little house to the shelf next to him for the time being. After moving a chair there, he smoothly picked up the kitten in his arms and cleared his throat as he spoke.

Since Kitagawa Ryo had already called them here for a discussion, everyone present was naturally prepared. The first to speak was Horikita Suzune, who served in the Student Council:

"The school's actions this time almost completely bypassed the Student Council, and we had not received any relevant notification beforehand."

"After all, he's just a newly appointed Acting Chairman, Tsukishiro doesn't really intend to stay here for long. Not to mention the Student Council, even the faculty is in a state of chaos and doubt. I've inquired with Mashima's homeroom teacher, and the school did have Special Exam plan before, but the proposal always stated that it would be released cautiously after multiple tests. In short, it's absolutely impossible for it to be released so early, let alone at the same time as the Sports Festival."

Kitagawa Ryo picked up where Horikita Suzune left off, then turned to look at Shiina Hiyori sitting on the sofa:

"Actually, when Hiyori and I were on a cruise vacation before, we received an invitation from the school to participate in a test for a certain project. The reason given in the text message from the school was 'to strengthen students' money and consumption concepts.' The test content was also similar to betting in a casino."

Then, Kitagawa Ryo spoke again to explain:

"Because there were only one spot available for the project test at the time, namely Megumi from Class A, myself from Class B, Hiyori from Class C, and Katsuragi from Class D, and the school required us to keep the test a secret, that's why we haven't told anyone about it."

As soon as Kitagawa Ryo finished speaking, Shiina Hiyori, who was also a witness to the incident, immediately nodded, indicating that what he said was true.

"Summer vacation has only lasted about a month... If that's the case, then it's indeed too rushed. I wonder what this new Acting Chairman is thinking."

Ichinose Honami wasn't clear about Tsukishiro's stance and intentions; she simply felt an instinctive aversion to what the school had done this time, as a student.

"Having a casino-like facility where you bet on the outcome of a match on campus is strange, even though ANHS is definitely different from other high schools. It makes this Sports Festival seem weird too."

As the one leading the girls in her class in their daily training, Ichinose Honami was well aware of the impact this explosive news would have on the class's hard-won atmosphere of preparing for the Sports Festival. It directly made many girls restless, and instead they began to eagerly discuss which bet to place once the store officially opened.

"Actually, it's not as exaggerated or serious as Honami. In my opinion, the school has simply brought many things out into the open this time. After all, even without this facility, wouldn't there be fewer contracts between students that the school acts as guarantor for their private rivalries?"

The Ichinose Honami was Sakayanagi Arisu. She was probably the one most interested in the changes to this Sports Festival among those present. After all, she was in charge of Class B's operations for this Sports Festival. The lukewarm and boring competition format of the past was nothing compared to how interesting it was now. Her purple eyes sparkled, clearly showing that she was intrigued.

"As for betting on whether to win or lose, doesn't the [Free Ride] card from the Uninhabited Island Special Exam we just experienced during summer vacation count as a bet on whether to win or lose?"

"If you're talking about how this kind of thing is easy to manipulate at the Sports Festival, then the rules are what they are. Last time, Class C was tricked by Ayanokoji into betting all their Free Ride cards on him on the Uninhabited Island, and ended up with nothing. Wasn't that a classic case of getting something for nothing?"

Sakayanagi Arisu's meaning is quite clear: stupid people are likely to be fooled no matter what kind of exam they take, especially those that seem to have a large element of luck, making them even more prone to getting carried away and giving away their hard-earned money.

"Well, if Honami feels uncomfortable, why not treat it like a Special Exam set up by the school, just like Arisu did? This game is just a formality, and I guess it won't be a long-term project. It might even be a special feature of this Sports Festival, otherwise they wouldn't have rushed to bring it up."

After comforting Ichinose Honami, Kitagawa Ryo turned his head to Sakura Airi, who was sitting next to him and teasing a cat with her finger.

"Although it hasn't been officially confirmed yet, if Class B wants to take a chance this time, they'll still need the Private Points that Airi has."

"Yes, if Liang has an idea, just come to me to get it."

Knowing full well that she couldn't offer any effective advice in this situation, Sakura Airi simply became a quiet listener. If Kitagawa Ryo hadn't suddenly called on her, she probably could have played with Hotaru for a while longer.

"It has to be said that after the school pulled this stunt, the competition schedules for each class have become even more crucial."

Thinking about this, Kitagawa Ryo was also a little numb. He was prepared to be a hands-off manager during this Sports Festival, but he didn't expect the school to suddenly give him such a big task.

"Entry forms can be submitted to the school no later than the day before the Sports Festival, but the exchange only opens a week before the Sports Festival and officially closes the day before the Sports Festival begins."

"If we could get the exact competition schedules from the other classes, there would be so many things we could manipulate and change just by taking advantage of that time difference."

"Actually, all the scheming and calculations are pointless. It's better to just make a few bets based on your class's entry list that you're sure you can win. But once greed and a gambler's mentality take hold, it's impossible to be rational. Wasn't that what happened during the Treasure Hunt Game on the last cruise vacation? Arisu even managed to make some pocket money."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo paused slightly.

"Moreover, similar to that Treasure Hunt Game, or rather, different from real gambling, the students are only investing virtual Private Points represented by numbers. Theoretically, this is something the school can easily add or subtract with a tap of its finger without worrying about inflation."

Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School has never really had any real luxury goods to offer; the most expensive item is just a transfer opportunity that costs Twenty Million Personal Points.

However, based on the fact that no one in the school's more than ten years of history had ever accumulated 20 million points to transfer to another class, and considering Kitagawa Ryo's experience this semester, he keenly noticed that the school had actually been deliberately controlling the amount and scope of Private Points circulating among students.

Just as the various supplies in the Uninhabited Island Special Exam was packaged as a battle royale game, actually needed to be supplied by the school itself, which is why the school was particularly wary of Kitagawa Ryo's Discount Card reaching the maximum level and opening up free purchases, monopolizing essential daily necessities and directly ending the exam, and adding a lot of hidden restrictions to him in the middle of the exam, there is always a huge gap between theory and practice.

In fact, after learning that the White Room, which had been shrouded in mystery in the past simulations and resembled a behind-the-scenes organization, was originally a training institution established by Ayanokoji Atsuomi used his reputation and connections to solicit sponsorships like a salesman, and whose daily management and research expenses were mostly covered by helping various company presidents and chairmen deal with their illegitimate children, Kitagawa Ryo's horizons broadened considerably.

The Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School was essentially the same; it was an educational project managed by the Sakayanagi Family and funded by the Onigashima Faction.

No matter how much the school promotes itself to the outside world with its 100% college admission and employment rate, its campus being built on a huge artificial island, its tuition being completely free, etc., all of these things actually require a lot of money to achieve.

The Private Points, which is almost an independent small financial system, must also be built on this larger framework. After all, it is the school that brings in goods and services from outside, which gives it the value of a general equivalent.

Of course, to put it simply...

That's what's known as budgeting and balancing income and expenditure.

Capitalists and politicians don't do business that only loses money. Kitagawa Ryo could even recall the example he used in Karuizawa Kei's simulation when he went to Class C to remind his classmates that the school was not simple. He used the example of calculating the total amount of Private Points that the school had to pay to all students in a month.

If we follow this logic, then everything that Miyabi Nagumo, a second-year student, did would probably be seen by the school as a greedy creature that only takes in but never gives out.

"... I have a feeling that this prediction contest isn't really targeting us First Year, but rather aimed at the upper grades, or even the second-year students."

After hearing Kitagawa Ryo's words after a long silence, Horikita Suzune, still somewhat confused, subconsciously asked:

"Huh? Why? Didn't the second-year students say that someone named Nagumo was in control? Doesn't that mean he can manipulate the results of all the betting?"

"It's precisely because everyone knows he controls the entire grade and can freely manipulate the results that no one participates in the second-year students' prediction contest."

The one who answered Horikita Suzune was Amasawa Ichika. Having finally escaped the cruise White Room romance, she seemed to have regained her excellent graduate status, leisurely sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs back and forth, and casually replied:

"Knowing beforehand that the outcome of this match would be manipulated, even the most hysterical gambler wouldn't think of throwing their Private Points away, right? After all, for second-year students, it's like transferring money from one pocket to another. If you bet your Private Points and get tricked into losing, then you really lose."

"Ichika is right. The school has never acted as the house in this contest. The prize pool is made up of the Private Points bet by other students. For the students, it's not even a zero-sum game. After all, the school takes a 5% commission after each contest draw."

As Kitagawa Ryo spoke, he reached out and lifted Hotaru up, feeling that the cat's body did indeed seem to have grown a little longer.

"Nagumo has set a limit on the Private Points each second-year student can hold. This means that almost all of the Private Points in the second year are essentially held by him alone. It's impossible for one person to make bets on their own. Regardless of the outcome, if there are no bets from students of other grades, it's just sending a commission to the school."

Kitagawa Ryo didn't just randomly bring up Miyabi Nagumo; after a brief explanation, he gave his own conclusion.

"Therefore, if Nagumo still wants to profit from this betting event, he can only target First Year and third-year students, as well as betting events involving all grades."

"Alright, now that we've finished talking about Nagumo, let's talk about the First Year."

As he spoke, Kitagawa Ryo also turned his gaze to Shiina Hiyori had already begun to glance at the various books on his bookshelf:

"How's the situation in Class C now? Especially Ryuen. He definitely won't stay still after something like this. If you ask me, he's probably the most addicted gambler in our First Year, not to mention he still has enough money on him."

"... In Class C, it seems quite a few students want to play this. I've even heard that some students who don't have enough Private Points are planning to borrow money to place bets."

Shiina Hiyori tilted her head back and tried hard to recall the recent situation of her class, then answered the question about Ryuen Kakeru:

"As for Ryuen, the good news is that the students in Class C are unaware that he has the five million yen he got from Ayanokoji. Otherwise, I'd probably have to go to him to ask for that five million yen to contribute to the class."

"That really sounds like something your Class C would do."

Kitagawa Ryo sighed helplessly upon hearing this, but although he said it, he knew in his heart that the situation in Class B was probably not much better.

Unlike the Treasure Hunt Game on the cruise ship, each student could participate in the guessing game an unlimited number of times, and the reward was real Private Points, not some kind of prepaid card.

Kitagawa Ryo couldn't carefully check each student's Private Points balance, so he was completely powerless to stop anyone from secretly betting on a betting game that they thought was safe with two other people.

Ultimately, it's because under the school's deliberate control, there are very few ways for ordinary students to obtain a large number of Private Points, especially in lower-ranked classes. The Private Points they get from the Class Points each month are pitifully small. However, when various situations arise in the class, everyone is used to pooling their resources, and before long, they may not even be able to maintain their daily standard of living.

Think about it carefully: as a First Year student, you worked yourself to the bone for two weeks on Uninhabited Island, and together with your group, you defeated half of the opponents in the entire grade, ranking in the top 50%, and in the end, you could only get 50,000 Private Points.

But it's a different story when it comes to guessing.

Whether you're looking to rely on welfare or hoping for a surprise win, and you don't even need to put in any effort—your Private Points could potentially double or triple in value—it's hard to resist such temptation.

"However, there's still a month until the Sports Festival, and three weeks before the predictions open, so there's no need to rush."

Seemingly sensing Kitagawa Ryo's hesitation, Ichinose Honami spoke again in a gentle tone:

"I will also communicate more with the other students in the class during this period. After all, only by knowing everyone's thoughts can Class B make the best decisions for us in this Sports Festival."

"Just like Liang said, if the school's sudden prediction contest wasn't aimed at us First Year from the beginning, then there's absolutely no need to panic. We can just train and prepare diligently as before."

Finally, she winked playfully at Kitagawa Ryo:

"After all, having a healthy body is something that no amount of Private Points can buy."

Sakayanagi Arisu had just disagreed with Ichinose Honami, twitched her lips upon hearing this, indicating that she felt subtly insulted.

"Indeed, and it seems that everyone is actually a bit unsure about this prediction contest. In the end, we'll probably have to analyze the specific circumstances. What I just said was just speculation."

Kitagawa Ryo rubbed his temples, and his brows gradually relaxed.

"But what Hiyori said just now reminded me that many First Year students don't actually have many Private Points, but if they want to gamble on a prediction, it seems like the only option left is to borrow from someone else."

"If we can see this market, then Nagumo definitely can too, especially since he currently has the most Private Points in the entire school... Hiyori, Hiyori should keep an eye on things; I have a feeling that the second-year students might come to your Class C to try and get close to you tomorrow."

"I see."

Shiina Hiyori nodded seriously in agreement, but felt that she was indeed not very suitable for this type of role. Whether it was the Private Points or Class Points that appeared very frequently, or the various speculations and competitions between different grades and the Student Council, none of them aroused her much interest.

If it weren't for the fact that Class B and Class C were allies of the White Team, and she was thinking of spending more time with Kitagawa Ryo, given her lazy nature, she definitely wouldn't have stood by and watched Ryuen Kakeru be forced out of the class to go solo.

"That's all for today. If anyone notices or gathers any new information, please feel free to contact me."

The group discussed the topic for a while longer before Kitagawa Ryo finally broke the silence and ended the discussion.

Thus, regarding the Sports Festival, which had suddenly become unpredictable due to the school's surprise attack, a few people who were initially uninterested began to work together in perfect unison.

Chapter 277: Which of Beichuan's girlfriends are you referring to? (8k)

After school again, Kitagawa Ryo approached Ken Sudō, who was heading to the playground, and waved to him.

"Aren't there any club activities today?"

"Yes, there is. But yesterday Akito told me that their group's Cavalry Battle posture seemed to be off. The weight distribution among each person was too different, which made their coordination strange. So we agreed to go to the training ground to see what was going on."

In response to Kitagawa Ryo's question, Ken Sudō smiled broadly, revealing his teeth.

As the assigned training instructor for the boys' group, he has been extremely diligent during this period. Coupled with his excellent performance on the Uninhabited Island, apart from his studies being somewhat lax due to catching up on the basics, he has become an indispensable member of the class. Even the girls' opinions of him have improved, completely forgetting the series of incidents that occurred at the beginning of the semester.

"These past few days have certainly been tough, it's just a pity there aren't any basketball-related events in this Sports Festival."

At this point, Kitagawa Ryo's tone carried a hint of regret.

"Well, it's only a month, so I can just get through it quickly. Besides, I feel quite fulfilled."

Upon hearing this, Ken Sudō scratched the back of his head a little embarrassedly, but there was no hint of modesty in his words. Firstly, it was just his personality, and secondly, it was because he had indeed been juggling multiple roles during this period, almost becoming Time Management Master like Kitagawa Ryo.

After all, the sports club's regular activities would certainly not be canceled because of the Sports Festival, and as one of the main players in the Basketball Club, Ken Sudō is someone who cannot easily be absent. On top of that, he also has to take care of his studies, so it is indeed a tough job.

"By the way, do you have any ideas about that new guessing game the school came up with? Anyway, I'm not very bright, so just like last time on the Uninhabited Island, I'll do whatever you tell me to do. I'll listen to you, it can't go wrong."

The two had barely taken two steps toward the playground when Ken Sudō deliberately lowered his voice and quietly asked Kitagawa Ryo about the betting, while also stating his own position.

Before I share my opinion, I'd like to ask you a question, Sudo.

However, Kitagawa Ryo didn't answer immediately. Instead, with his hands in his pockets, he casually offered Ken Sudō a hypothetical scenario:

"If you participated in the First Year 100-meter boys' third group race, and all the students in your class know about it, those who believe in your ability, along with those who have inside information or made random bets, have placed a large number of Private Points in the column for Class B's victory. Let's set that number to one million."

"Now, Sudo, all you need to do is bet on an upset, then deliberately underperform during the match and miss out on first place, and you can easily get this huge Private Points reward. Would you choose to do that?"

As soon as Kitagawa Ryo asked the question, Ken Sudō shook his head and shouted:

"How could that be? Would Kitagawa really think I'm that kind of person?"

"But what if those Private Points become two million, three million, five million, or even ten million? Wouldn't that lead to the idea that the 100-meter race is just one event, and that deliberately making a mistake wouldn't affect my overall score while I could still earn a lot of money?"

"Even if we assume, 'I believe you, Sudo, remain unmoved as you say,' what about the others? What are the people who placed bets and the players on the field thinking?"

"Or, I also think that doing this could gain a lot of Private Points, so I could just force Sudo to throw the match?"

Kitagawa Ryo's tone was quite calm, but the Matoba he described gave Ken Sudō a chill down his spine. He was speechless for a moment, and unconsciously slowed his pace, as if he was thinking about what Kitagawa Ryo had just said.

Seeing Ken Sudō looking thoughtful, Kitagawa Ryo also lowered his eyes.

To be honest, although launching this prediction contest at this time seems rather rushed and doesn't fit the school's usual style, it has unexpectedly created a strange chemistry with this Sports Festival.

Not only does it test students' so-called views on money and consumption, but in Kitagawa Ryo's eyes, this guessing game also presents the concepts of the individual and the collective in a clear, or rather, unequal, way to the students, forcing them to make a choice.

As for the question of whether to graduate from Class A or the class as a group, Tokyo Advanced Nurturing High School has always provided students who want to graduate from Class A with two mechanisms: Private Points and Class Points. You can either help your class gain Class Points to advance to Class A and graduate successfully, or you can accumulate Twenty Million Personal Points to achieve the same goal.

The same applies to this Sports Festival. The original Sports Festival, which is related to the increase or decrease of Class Points, undoubtedly represents the collective interest, while this guessing game is entirely related to personal interests. However, there is an inevitable conflict between the two, which is difficult to achieve at the same time, just like the scenario that Kitagawa Ryo just set up for Ken Sudō.

The Sports Festival, with its already meager rewards and punishments, further stirred the nerves of every student, tantalizing their hearts and even tempting them to act solely for their own benefit.

In fact, the school did provide convenience for students, namely anonymity. According to all the rules that Kitagawa Ryo read on the official website, students were allowed to place bets online for this contest.

Anything that becomes anonymous is bound to produce bizarre phenomena. Selfishness and exclusivity, and the complex emotions usually buried in one's heart can be easily amplified in an anonymous environment, and then become rampant and reckless.