An Argument

"Huh?"

Hoshino Kanade had expected this, but the answer came a little suddenly. She really was "Big Bro Ayanokoji"—or rather, "Little Sis Kiyona."

Should I introduce myself too, at a time like this?

The conversation had shifted so quickly that the little speech Hoshino Kanade had prepared next was now useless.

"It might be a little sudden, but this is already our second time meeting. It's not a problem, right?"

My "hesitation" seemed to make Ayanokoji Kiyona a little "nervous."

If I react badly, could I make Ayanokoji introverted for the rest of her life?

"My name is Hoshino Kanade. It's nice to meet you."

With all sorts of irrelevant thoughts running through his mind, Hoshino Kanade still introduced himself.

"Then we're friends from now on, right? That's wonderful. I was actually a little nervous just now."

As Ayanokoji spoke, she lightly patted her small chest, looking as though she had "let out a sigh of relief."

So cute. She's got a bit of a Kushida vibe, but... she's smaller than Kushida.

"I get the feeling Hoshino-kun is thinking something rude."

There was something unsettling about Ayanokoji Kiyona saying this without a hint of emotion, though her voice had never shown much emotion to begin with.

"I was just wondering whether you felt awkward when you saw me get spotted on the train."

Hoshino Kanade could only come up with some random topic.

"I felt really awkward at the time. I didn't know what to do."

Although Hoshino Kanade found that about as believable as Ayanokoji's "coincidence."

"Class 1-D, huh?"

"I'm in Class D too. I'm so lucky to be in the same class as you, Hoshino-kun."

Ayanokoji Kiyona felt a trace of joy. My first friend is a classmate. If this friendship doesn't fall apart, I should be able to get through all three years of school with just one friend.

Hoshino Kanade had expected to be placed in Class D. Although he had studied hard for the scholarship, he had spent all his free time in middle school working part-time and had no social life whatsoever. The interviewers had probably rated him about the same as Horikita Suzune.

Although he had memories of his past life, unless something unexpected happened, the exams ahead were practically open-book tests for him. Getting the class promoted to Class A would be easy, but keeping it there would be difficult. After all, the original story hadn't even finished when he transmigrated, and his fighting ability wasn't much to write home about in this world either.

It would be better to rack up personal points by passing the exams ahead. Later, when he wanted to graduate, he could transfer to Class A and graduate with them, or exchange the points for money. Either way, he could go to a good university after graduation.

Still, he hadn't expected the Ayanokoji of this world to have an X chromosome that had beaten out the Y chromosome. Maybe he could consider clinging to Kiyona's pale leg.

As expected, most of the students had arrived by the time Hoshino Kanade and Ayanokoji Kiyona reached the classroom, and they were absorbed in getting to know their new classmates.

A handsome boy and a beautiful girl, both with an "approach me and die" look on their faces, briefly drew the attention of a few people.

Back row, window seat—the king's territory. Hoshino Kanade's seat was in front of the king's, quite close to the "protagonist's seat."

"Hoshino-kun, what a coincidence."

Even Ayanokoji Kiyona, who seemed aloof on the surface, looked a little surprised.

From now on, I'll just answer "coincidence" or "chance" whenever I don't know how to explain something.

"Do you believe in fate?"

Hoshino Kanade didn't believe in fate, but all he had to do was get Ayanokoji Kiyona to believe in it.

"Why are you suddenly asking something like that, Hoshino-kun?"

"I was just musing. It's such a coincidence. Our meeting today feels like it was destined."

That sounded a little flirtatious, but it should be fine to say to Ayanokoji Kiyona.

Ayanokoji Kiyona nodded with affected solemnity, her tone faintly playful.

"Maybe it really was fate."

Ayanokoji Kiyona believed in science more, but since Hoshino-kun was her only friend at the moment, and possibly the only friend she'd ever have, she could humor him.

"You think so too, Ayanokoji-san? I hope we can be good friends for our whole lives."

Ayanokoji Kiyona thought she saw a light flicker in Hoshino-kun's eyes, but it vanished when she blinked. She must have imagined it.

"Mm. Issho ni."

Ayanokoji had thought long and hard before giving Hoshino Kanade the answer he was hoping for.

Hoshino Kanade's looks were to her taste, and he gave off the same sort of vibe she did. The two of them could huddle together for warmth and shut out the whole class. It couldn't be better.

"Hey, could you two keep it down?"

Horikita Suzune, who had been reading nearby, couldn't take it anymore. The other students in the class were much louder, but somehow the conversation between the two of us annoyed Horikita Suzune more.

Only then did Hoshino Kanade notice Horikita Suzune beside him. She was a stunning beauty with long, straight black hair, but she was a weirdo. Somehow... she didn't measure up to Kiyona.

"Who are you?"

If Horikita Suzune hadn't been there, Hoshino Kanade felt like he and Kiyona would already be holding each other's hands and pouring their hearts out.

Damn you, little Horikita. Today, I'll...

"Shouldn't you tell someone your own name before asking for theirs?"

As expected of Horikita Suzune.

"There are thirteen groups talking in this classroom right now, and the fan is running at fifty-two decibels. Why are you only asking us to be quiet?"

Of course, Hoshino Kanade had just made those numbers up based on how things felt.

Many of the students in the class turned to look, and the noise in the classroom died down considerably.

Hoshino Kanade and Horikita Suzune had probably already been labeled by quite a few classmates.

"I can decide for myself whether the others are bothering me. But your voices are the loudest to my ears."

Hoshino Kanade felt that Horikita Suzune always had this baffling self-confidence. No matter what happened, she was always completely convinced she was right.

"Your subjective perception is flawed. We shouldn't have to pay for it. You can still drop out and go to the hospital."

Horikita Suzune glared at Hoshino Kanade. Her eyes could probably have killed him.

"You..."

"The teacher's here! The teacher's here! Everyone, hurry and take your seats!"

Her attempt at casting a spell interrupted, Horikita Suzune felt as if something was stuck in her throat, neither going up nor down. It was unbearable, so she could only vent her frustration by stabbing her eraser with a compass.

Click, click, click. The sound of high heels drew nearer. As the bell rang, a woman in a suit walked into the classroom.

She looked dependable. She seemed to be somewhere around thirty, neither older nor younger. Her neat, high ponytail was tied behind her head.

"Good morning, new students. I'm Chabashira Sae, the homeroom teacher for Class D. I'll be teaching Japanese history. The teachers at this school don't change every year, so I'll be your homeroom teacher and study alongside you for the next three years. I look forward to working with you."

"The opening ceremony will be held in the gymnasium in an hour. Before then, I'm going to hand out some information about this school's special rules."

Seeing how well-behaved the class was, Chabashira Sae thought that perhaps this year's Class D students would retain more Class Points during their first month than previous classes had.

Unfortunately, that was just an illusion.

The handout introduced the school, much of it already covered in the school brochure they had seen earlier. It included some requirements, such as living on campus for three years and not contacting the outside world.

They could use the student cards they had been given to make purchases at the school.

"Points will be deposited automatically on the first of every month. Each of you should already have been given an equal amount of 100,000 points. Also, each point is worth one yen."

Before Chabashira Sae had finished speaking, Class D had already grown noisy. The students were expressing their astonishment to the classmates they had just met.

If he hadn't known about it in advance, Hoshino Kanade might have lost his composure too.

One hundred thousand yen had the purchasing power of about five thousand yuan back home. For someone as poor as Hoshino Kanade, it was hard to imagine how he could spend that many points in a month.

But the class would have zero Class Points next month, and Hoshino Kanade had no intention of changing that outcome.

Class D was hopeless from the start. Even if someone told them the rules in advance, they probably wouldn't have many points left.

He would also become a target, forced by Class D's awful homeroom teacher and pressure freaks like Horikita Suzune to lead the class upward.

Rather than spend his time trying to whip Class D into shape, he might as well trade information with the other classes and earn personal points.

He felt a little bad for Class D, but Hoshino Kanade had never planned on fitting in with them anyway.

"Are you surprised? This school measures students according to their abilities. You were admitted because you have the corresponding worth and potential. The points represent the school's assessment of you. Don't be shy—use them as you please. However, the school will take those points back after you graduate. Once the points have been transferred to you, it's up to you how you use them."

Everything Chabashira Sae said was true, but she had deliberately phrased it in a way that misled the students.

Students only had to enjoy school life, while the homeroom teachers had a lot more to consider.

Will they only change after they've fallen into the abyss?

For Hoshino Kanade, not having pocket money each month didn't exactly feel like falling into an abyss.