Enrollment

Not long after the bus departed, it arrived at the final destination of this trip.

The first thing to come into view was the main gate of the academy, carved from massive natural boulders.

Government-funded projects really are imposing; after all, this is a school that dares to boast a one-hundred-percent rate of advancement to higher education and employment. What incredible power!

"Tell me, that look you gave me on the bus earlier, what was that supposed to mean?"

The girl stood with one hand on her hip, looking down at me as she demanded an answer.

Is this how she interacts with everyone? If one didn't know martial arts, it would be quite hard to handle.

After some thought, Suzuki Tsubame said earnestly:

"I was just wondering... there were so many people on the bus, why was no one willing to give up their seat? Isn't it right to help those in need?"

This answer completely exceeded Horikita's expectations.

The issue Suzuki Tsubame was focusing on wasn't whether or not people were giving up their seats, but rather, he was asking her: what exactly is the reason everyone is so indifferent?

From a macro perspective, this is a social conflict stemming from the long-term influence of class differentiation, passive egoism, and economic stagnation within the island nation.

From a micro perspective, perhaps everyone was just tired? Everyone needed a seat to rest? Hmm... there is another possibility: perhaps everyone is an escapist, not wanting to do something that draws attention to themselves.

Or perhaps... they have their own personal creeds? In short, there are many answers to this.

Horikita couldn't think of a perfect answer for a moment, but what she could be certain of now was that he definitely didn't choose to give up his seat because of the busty girl.

Someone capable of asking such a profound question shouldn't be that shallow.

"And what about you? The reason you chose to stand by and watch."

Suzuki Tsubame continued to press. Horikita's task lay in making her understand the difference between being lonely and being solitary.

Changing one's philosophy by shutting oneself away to work in isolation is impossible to succeed. After all, she has long been accustomed to this lifestyle.

Suzuki Tsubame's goal is to teach her the meaning of being solitary.

Horikita Suzune was silent for a moment, then said slowly:

"I am upholding my own convictions, which is why I did not give up my seat."

Silence...

Horikita Manabu, what on earth have you been teaching your sister!

Suzuki Tsubame seriously suspected that Horikita was likely just embarrassed to speak, which is why she had been silent for a short while.

After all, it is hard to imagine such chuunibyou-esque phrasing coming from the mouth of a beautiful tsundere girl.

"If there's nothing else, then never mind."

Horikita's face flushed slightly as she turned and walked toward the school gate; it looked like she was about to lose her composure herself.

Suzuki Tsubame hurried to follow; the lesson was only halfway through, so she couldn't be allowed to run off.

The two entered the school one after the other.

First, they handed over their personal items to the guards for inspection, the purpose being simple: to prevent school intelligence from leaking out.

"By the way, you didn't say it earlier, but what kind of conviction are you holding onto that makes you insist on acting this way?"

Suzuki Tsubame opened the conversation first, trying to guide her to open her heart to him.

Silence...

"That doesn't seem to have anything to do with you, does it?"

Horikita's expression was calm as she headed toward the gymnasium on her own.

She had just heard the announcement over the broadcast: the entrance ceremony for the new students would be held in the gymnasium.

Although I don't want to be met with a cold shoulder, for the sake of the reward, I'll endure it!

"Actually, even if you don't want to say it, I can guess." Suzuki Tsubame followed closely behind her, using a volume that she could just barely hear.

Horikita pretended not to hear, offering no response, her footsteps not slowing in the slightest.

However, sometimes the most normal behavior is the most abnormal.

"Confronting me after getting off the bus shows you aren't an escapist, and you aren't afraid of being noticed by others."

"You sat perfectly straight while reading on the bus, and your complexion was healthy, which shows your body is in good condition."

"Since it's not for physical reasons, and you aren't afraid of being noticed by others, then there is only one possibility..."

Suzuki Tsubame paused, and Horikita's footsteps slowed by a beat.

Say it already! In fact, Horikita herself often felt lost; the conviction she followed was perhaps a bit too difficult.

It was like a wandering ascetic, walking the path of pilgrimage alone. But ascetics are usually middle-aged people in their forties or fifties; how can an eighteen-year-old girl in the prime of her youth be an ascetic!

"Like that blond guy, you are an absolute egoist."

An absolute egoist? Is this the same thing as the conviction I'm holding onto? Why does it feel a bit wrong?

Horikita was confused; at the very least, she certainly wouldn't have sat in the priority seat herself.

"Wrong!"

Suzuki Tsubame let out a loud shout, startling Horikita, who had been immersed in her own inner world.

Enduring her murderous glare, Suzuki Tsubame continued:

"When I asked you your reason for choosing to remain a bystander, you answered with a baseless term like 'conviction'."

"If you were a simple, absolute egoist, you would have answered decisively, not with such a vague and generalized response."

"This means that deep down, you don't actually identify with that answer. In other words, you are currently conflicted."

These words caused Horikita's brow to furrow deeply; even she did not know why.

Seeing that his words were effective, Suzuki Tsubame decided to strike while the iron was hot.

"Your conviction likely doesn't originate from yourself; perhaps it comes from the person you admire most?"

If the previous remarks had left Horikita in a state of contemplation, this sentence was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue!

Horikita looked shocked. Is this guy even human? With such terrifying insight, could he be reading minds? But... I wasn't even thinking about my brother!!

"By the way, have you ever considered that the goal you are pursuing might be wrong? I don't mean that the other person isn't excellent, but that you have misunderstood their conviction."

"Furthermore, everyone's growth trajectory is different. The other person's philosophy may not necessarily be a hundred percent suitable for you."

Suzuki Tsubame had said all he could; if she still couldn't find enlightenment after this, he was out of options.

Assemblies like the freshman entrance ceremony and speeches by school leaders were indeed annoying, and that was the same no matter where one went.

First, Chairman Sakayanagi took the stage and spoke a bunch of empty, meaningless words.

Immediately after, it was the Student Council president's turn. Standing on the high platform, Horikita Manabu introduced the school to the new students.

"Greetings, freshmen. I am Student Council President Horikita Manabu... We uphold a meritocracy... Those who wish to join the Student Council may go over there to fill out an application form." (Skipped)

Class D classroom.

After the entrance ceremony ended, Suzuki Tsubame went to the Class D classroom alone.

The students were gathered in small groups, chatting with one another.

The desks had student names on them, and following the guidance of the names, Suzuki Tsubame sat down at the window seat in the back row.

Not bad, not bad at all. The birthplace of the "Rear Window King."

The person in front of him should be Ayanokoji, with his familiar light brown, parted hair.

For some reason, he hadn't boarded the bus, yet he had still arrived here.

Next to him was Horikita Suzune. He wondered how she would react in a moment.

"Hello, I'm Suzuki Tsubame."

After a brief thought, he decided to strike up a conversation with Ayanokoji. After all, Ayanokoji's goal was merely to be an ordinary student and enjoy school life.

"Ah... hello, my name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Please treat me well." Ayanokoji replied with an expressionless face.

Finally, someone greeted me. I hope I can make a good friend.

Ayanokoji thought to himself.

"Heh, Ayanokoji, is it? What do you usually like to do?" Suzuki Tsubame asked with a smile.

"Hmm... what do I like to do? I don't think I have anything I particularly like to do."

Ayanokoji thought for a moment; he truly didn't know what ordinary students usually liked to do.

"Don't you play games? Or read novels?" Suzuki Tsubame tried to open up the topic.

"Er... because my family kept me on a tight leash, so..."

The two chatted aimlessly.

Not long after, the girl carrying a shoulder bag arrived at the classroom as well.

"Yo, we meet again, Miss Suzune."

Suzuki Tsubame greeted her enthusiastically.

"Mm..."

She shoved her bag into her desk without taking out the book titled Crime and Punishment that she usually carried.

The girl looked dazed, not even reacting when Suzuki Tsubame addressed her by name; she just sat there quietly.

[Ding! Long-term mission: Solitary Maiden, Progress: 10%, Reward: Chess Mastery (includes international chess, shogi, go, gomoku, checkers, ludo...)]

Boom! That feels great!

Suzuki Tsubame felt as if a magical force had brushed through his cerebral cortex, and an extremely refreshing sensation blossomed in the back of his head.

Before long, various chess records and strategies were imprinted into his mind.

It seems Horikita had figured something out just now—though only a little bit.

Ring, ring...

The bell for class rang.

Almost simultaneously, a mature woman dressed in a suit walked into the classroom with long, confident strides.

She appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, her long hair tied into a sharp, professional high ponytail, giving her a very composed look.

But Suzuki Tsubame knew that this person, Chabashira Sae, was just a grown-up version of Horikita—an absolute menace.

"Students, I am the homeroom teacher for Class D, Chabashira Sae. I teach Japanese History. At this school, teachers do not change every year. Therefore, for the next three years until you graduate, I will be your homeroom teacher. Before we begin, I am going to distribute materials regarding the special rules of this school."

The documents passed down from the front were the same ones distributed before the start of the term, but Suzuki Tsubame examined them carefully nonetheless.

First and foremost, leaving the school grounds without permission is prohibited, as is contacting anyone from the outside world, even family members.

At the same time, to ensure students are not bored, numerous entertainment facilities have been set up on campus. Large shopping malls, karaoke bars, movie theaters, bubble tea shops, clothing stores, and everything else one could imagine are available.

"Your mobile phones have already been equipped with the school's system. You can use it to access all facilities on campus and purchase goods at stores and similar locations. Since this consumes points, you must use them with care. Within this school, there is nothing that cannot be bought with points. Anything available on school grounds can be purchased."

Everyone's phones had been collected by the gatekeepers upon entering the school, and after the S-System was installed, they were returned to the students by the teachers.

"Points are automatically deposited on the first of every month. Right now, everyone should have been fairly issued 100,000 points. Furthermore, every single private point is worth one Japanese Yen."

"Huh? Doesn't that mean I can buy that limited-edition game console?"

"Awesome! Let's go shopping together later."

The classroom instantly erupted into noise.

100,000 points per month was a massive sum for a student.

Chabashira Sae had no intention of warning them further and continued:

"This school measures students by their ability. Your admission here is proof of your own value. Besides, since points are issued every month, there is no need to be reserved—use them to your heart's content."

As soon as these words were spoken, the classroom became even more boisterous. No one saw the problem, and even if some did, they had no intention of pointing it out.

"Since there are no questions, I shall take my leave. I wish you all a pleasant school life."

Having said that, Chabashira Sae left without the slightest hesitation.

Suzuki Tsubame also slipped out through the back door, heading in the direction Chabashira Sae had gone.

Watching the back of Suzuki Tsubame, Ayanokoji looked thoughtful.