Rules

Following the path all the way to the office, I found only Chabashira inside.

It seems the other teachers are not as irresponsible as she is.

Suzuki Tsubame looked around the staff office; it was a small space divided into four working areas, and there appeared to be a pantry in the very back.

"Do you have a question, following me all the way here, Suzuki Tsubame?"

Chabashira Sae skillfully reached into her drawer, pulled out a cigarette, and began to smoke it without a care.

I didn't expect Chabashira Sae to actually know my name. I suppose she must have already reviewed the enrollment reports for the entire class; after all, she is obsessed with rising to Class A to the point of madness.

However, is it really appropriate to smoke in front of one's own student?

"Chabashira-sensei, the points aren't fixed at one hundred thousand every month, are they?"

"Heh, how did you figure that out?"

"For a newly enrolled student to receive 100,000 points in their first month without having done anything, it's impossible to believe."

"Unless, of course, the school and the government intend to raise a bunch of social dregs who reap without sowing."

Suzuki Tsubame's phrasing was sharp, but the facts were exactly as stated; the school would never raise a group of parasites who only know how to eat, drink, and play for no reason.

"You are very clever, Suzuki Tsubame. What else have you deduced?"

Chabashira Sae looked quite gratified. In previous years, students in Class D might have realized bits and pieces, but certainly not this quickly.

"Classes are divided based on ability, right? Whether it was during the entrance ceremony or just passing by the other classrooms. The students in Class A have a proper attitude and are orderly. Class B is harmonious and acts in an organized manner. As for Classes C and D, things look a bit ominous. The class division must be ranked from strongest to weakest, starting from Class A down to Class D, correct?"

As Suzuki Tsubame's voice fell, Chabashira Sae finally turned serious, even lowering the hand holding her cigarette.

"Also, some kind of special exam is currently underway, isn't it? When I stated the rules, you looked quite excited, Teacher... but in the classroom, you didn't give many hints. It must be an assessment of student conduct, and perhaps you have your own assessment criteria as well, one that is closely tied to the class evaluation?"

Suzuki Tsubame laid out all the information he had gathered.

Admittedly, the Chabashira from the original story might be treacherous, but that is a case of using strong medicine for a severe illness. As long as she sees hope, she might just become a decent ally.

Clap, clap, clap...

"Not bad. Your observation and judgment are excellent."

Chabashira Sae clapped lightly. Suzuki Tsubame couldn't help but suspect that if she kept clapping, her buttons might pop off.

"Then, how do you think we should handle this special exam?" She could no longer suppress her excitement; she wanted to advance far too much.

"I do not currently suggest revealing the rules to the class."

Amidst Chabashira Sae's confused gaze, Suzuki Tsubame continued: "You can see it too, Teacher, there are some fools in that class."

"Even if I truly wanted to lead the class, I would prioritize weeding them out first."

Suzuki Tsubame was not worried about his ideas being rejected. Chabashira Sae had only one dream: to graduate from Class A. For the sake of that dream, she wouldn't care about the life or death of the other students in the class.

Chabashira Sae nodded in agreement: "I will provide you with support as conditions allow. I hope you will not disappoint me."

After exchanging contact information, Suzuki Tsubame took his leave.

Once outside, he turned off the recording on his phone.

That's right, he wouldn't blindly trust Chabashira. This person is no saint; with this recording, Chabashira would have to think twice before trying to pull the ladder away after crossing the bridge.

After leaving the office, Suzuki Tsubame had no intention of returning to the classroom.

He arrived at the dormitory building.

The Advanced Nurturing dorms use a co-ed model, with boys living on floors one through four and girls on floors five through eight.

After handing over his identification, the dorm manager helped Suzuki Tsubame complete the check-in process and reminded him of the dormitory rules.

The school prohibits all improper relations between genders, and boys are forbidden from lingering in the girls' dormitory after 10:00 PM.

With the room card provided by the manager, Suzuki Tsubame opened the door to dormitory 403.

I have to say, the facilities at Advanced Nurturing are truly top-tier.

It's less of a dormitory and more of a fully functional apartment.

In the roughly thirty-square-meter space, there was a 1.8-meter double bed against the wall near the entrance, complete with pillows and a duvet.

Opposite the bed was a bathroom and shower with a wet-dry separation. The room was well-planned, featuring a kitchen, dining table, desk, wardrobe, refrigerator, washing machine, and more.

After resting for a while, Suzuki Tsubame decided to head to the supermarket to buy some daily necessities.

As for lunch, a quick bite would suffice.

There was a large supermarket between the school building and the dorms; the owner clearly understood the consumption habits of young people very well.

Inside the supermarket, it was no surprise to run into Horikita Suzune. She was holding a bottle of free body wash, looking as if she were deep in thought. Ayanokoji stood beside her.

"We meet again, Miss Suzune. It seems we are quite fated." Suzuki Tsubame teased.

"I don't recall giving you permission to call me Suzune."

Horikita put down the body wash and said coldly.

It seems she has recovered; Suzuki Tsubame had been afraid his words might have left her stunned.

Suzuki Tsubame didn't dwell on the address and tried to change the subject:

"Miss Horikita, you seem quite frugal."

Sometimes, when the other party forbids you from doing something, you just need to change the subject.

Horikita turned her gaze toward the other complimentary items: "I, for one, do not have the habit of being extravagant or wasteful."

Aside from the body wash just now, the free area also offered shampoo, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

Each time you claimed an item, you had to register, and there were limits on how many times you could collect them.

"As expected of a defective from Class D. I can't even be bothered to argue with you; it's beneath me!"

"What did you just say, you bastard!"

Seeing Sudo Ken about to throw hands, Ayanokoji hurried over to break up the fight.

In the time it took for Ayanokoji to rush over, Horikita Suzune asked Suzuki Tsubame: "After the homeroom meeting ended, what exactly did you discuss with Chabashira-sensei in private?"

The other party's insight was something Horikita Suzune had experienced firsthand; he must have noticed something as well.

"Hmm... I went to the restroom," Suzuki Tsubame replied with a casual excuse, though it was unclear whether Ayanokoji had guided her or if she had wanted to ask on her own.

"Heh, what are your thoughts on seeing these free goods?"

Horikita Suzune was not about to give up and asked again.

"Uh, perhaps the school is feeling generous?"

Seeing Horikita Suzune preparing to turn and leave, Suzuki Tsubame immediately added:

"It's also possible... that it's because everyone doesn't have enough points to spend."

Suzuki Tsubame was not worried about what actions Horikita might take once she knew the rules; in the original story, she had already guessed it, yet she chose to say nothing.

In reality, she was quite the egoist herself. In the early stages, she firmly believed that class placement was determined by absolute individual ability, and that as long as a special exam occurred, she would be able to transfer to Class A smoothly.

"Oh? Is one hundred thousand points a month not enough?" Horikita's interest was, as expected, pulled back in.

Suzuki Tsubame could now be certain that Horikita Suzune had definitely noticed a clue or two, though not many.

"Normally speaking, one hundred thousand a month is certainly enough."

Suzuki Tsubame nodded and continued: "But Chabashira-sensei didn't confirm that we would receive one hundred thousand points every month. Perhaps the distribution of points is determined by some kind of special exam?"

"An exam? Just as I thought. What else have you discovered?" Horikita Suzune nodded in agreement.

Faced with her follow-up question, Suzuki Tsubame did not intend to provide the answer for free.

"Miss Horikita is a bit greedy. The previous hidden rule was already paid for by Miss Horikita's beauty. What do you intend to use to purchase this piece of information?"

He was a worldly man; getting close to the beautiful girls in school was his goal.

Horikita was not deterred by Suzuki Tsubame's teasing; in fact, she did strictly adhere to the principle of equivalent exchange.

"What do you want? Points?"