Little Uesugi~

In the evening, just after Uesugi Hara finished washing up, a message from Kushida Kikyo popped up on his terminal: "I don't know what Horikita did, but she got the teacher to cancel Sudo Ken's expulsion. Do you know what she did?"

Class D even has access to past exam papers, and someone still managed to fail? Uesugi Hara first complained to himself before recalling who Sudo Ken was—oh, that red-haired guy with the buzz cut who always looked like he wanted to pick a fight.

He replied: "Tell me the specific situation first."

Soon, Kushida Kikyo's message came through: "It's just that he was one point short of the passing grade in English, and Chabashira-sensei immediately notified him that he was being expelled. But in the end, I don't know what Horikita did, and he wasn't expelled after all."

So an expulsion can be revoked... If someone else fails a test later, could they use this method too? But what kind of price would that require? Uesugi Hara rubbed his chin, pondered for a few seconds, and typed a reply: "She probably paid some private points."

"Private points?" Kushida Kikyo sent a confused emoji.

"That's right. When school started, they said, 'As long as it's something within the school, you can buy anything,'" Uesugi Hara explained. "She might have spent points to buy that one point, or directly offset the expulsion penalty. However, I'm more inclined to believe the former; after all, given the points Class D currently has, it's unlikely they could directly offset an 'expulsion'."

"Then do you know how many points she spent?" Kushida Kikyo's message followed immediately.

"I'm not a mind reader, how would I know."

"Eww~ so gross." Kushida first expressed her disgust, then added, "But I thought you knew everything."

"...If I read your palm, I could tell how long you'll live. Do you believe me?"

"Really?" Kushida replied instantly, very curious.

"Really, I never lie."

"Then calculate it for me!"

"You'll live until you die, so you can jump around as much as you want before then. |･ω･｀)"

"Get lost! (￣ε(#￣)" The Kushida on the other end of the terminal was clearly amused to the point of anger.

"Heh, women."

After finishing his chat with Kushida Kikyo, Uesugi Hara put down his terminal and leaned back in his chair to think—he hadn't expected the utility of private points to manifest so quickly. Even an expulsion could be solved with them; the "rules" of this school were truly straightforward.

I wonder what my few points can do. If only more people would sponsor me...

The next day, the teachers' office.

Uesugi Hara knocked on the door, and Mashima Tomoya's voice came from inside: "Please come in."

"It's Uesugi? Is something the matter?" Seeing it was him, Mashima Tomoya put down his pen and asked.

Uesugi Hara first scanned the office: Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, was holding a cigarette with a cold expression; Class B's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya Chie, was slumped over her desk, face flushed, mumbling "Little Sae" and clearly drunk; Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, looked like he was high. His mouth twitched—it turned out their own teacher, Mashima-sensei, was already the most normal person here.

"Mashima-sensei, I'm here to ask for advice on some things."

"Oh? You have questions you need to ask?" Mashima Tomoya was a bit surprised. He had read Uesugi Hara's personal file; this was a very talented individual. Although he always stayed on the periphery of the class, often daydreaming in class and appearing listless, based on his observations, Uesugi Hara had long since mastered the knowledge taught by the school.

"I'd like to ask about the school's rules."

Mashima Tomoya immediately became interested, and Sakagami Kazuma and Chabashira Sae also slowed down their work; they also wanted to hear what this student had on his mind. Only Hoshinomiya Chie was still mumbling in a daze.

"Then what would you like to ask? I can consider answering you at my discretion."

Hearing Mashima Tomoya say this, Uesugi Hara didn't beat around the bush and asked his first question directly: "I heard that a student in Class D failed the midterm exam, but the other party wasn't expelled. I'd like to ask how that was achieved."

Mashima Tomoya first glanced at Chabashira Sae, who showed no reaction, before saying: "It's like this. For the first midterm exam, those who fail can spend 100,000 private points to buy one point to reach the passing grade."

"What about in the future? There will be expulsion situations later, right? What kind of price will have to be paid then?" Uesugi Hara continued to press.

"There will certainly be exams involving expulsion, but I cannot tell you the specific price for now. However, you only need to remember one thing—'As long as it's something within the school, you can buy anything'—that is enough." Mashima Tomoya said with a smile, surprised that someone in his class had already started thinking about solutions.

Uesugi Hara naturally caught the obvious hint from Mashima Tomoya and asked again: "Since anything can be bought, can the benefits promised by the school also be purchased with points? Or perhaps spend points to transfer classes?"

Mashima Tomoya's smile froze on his face before he could even be happy for a few seconds.

If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

Mashima Tomoya: Student Uesugi, shouldn't you be thinking of ways to increase class points and accumulate private points? What are you trying to do by asking this question!

Although he had some doubts in his heart, he still explained: "20 million private points. Transferring classes or buying benefits promised by the school both cost this much. You all will know sooner or later, so it doesn't hurt to tell you."

Uesugi Hara nodded to show he understood.

"Knock, knock, knock—" A knock on the door suddenly rang out.

"Excuse me." The door was pushed open, and Ichinose Honami walked in. She froze when she saw Uesugi Hara: "Student Uesugi is here too?"

Uesugi Hara raised a hand to greet her.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei, it's time for class!" Ichinose didn't make small talk and walked straight toward Hoshinomiya Chie, who was still "playing dead."

"Uesugi, it's getting late, you should go back to the classroom to prepare for class too," Mashima Tomoya urged.

"That is true, but before that, I have one more question.

Is the class of Horikita President in Class A of the third year still 40 people?" Uesugi Hara stared into Mashima Tomoya's eyes and said calmly.

It should have been a question, but he used a declarative tone.

Mashima Tomoya did not answer him; perhaps he couldn't, or perhaps he felt it was unnecessary—Uesugi Hara already knew, or would know just by taking a look at the upperclassmen.

"I understand."

Just as Uesugi Hara walked out of the office, Ichinose Honami followed, supporting the unsteady Hoshinomiya Chie.

"Um, Student Uesugi..." Ichinose had just wanted to ask why he was inquiring about the number of people in Class A of the third year, but her words were interrupted by Hoshinomiya Chie.

"Little Uesugi? Little Chie can call you that, right?" Hoshinomiya Chie squinted her drunken eyes and leaned in close, her tone thick and slurred.

Uesugi Hara turned to look at the seemingly muddled Hoshinomiya, then glanced at Ichinose. The latter nodded helplessly, her eyes signaling, "She's drunk, don't mind her."

"Sure, is there something you need, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"

"Wrong, it's Little Chie, Lit-tle~ Chi-e~" Hoshinomiya Chie wagged her finger to correct him, her tone as childish as if she were pouting.

Uesugi Hara: It's one thing for this teacher to look childish, but why does she have to talk like that too?

He used his eyes to ask Ichinose "how should I respond," and she returned a look that said "just humor her."

"Hi, hi, Little Chie~ what is it?"

"Hehe, does Little Uesugi have a girlfriend? Have you considered our class's Little Honami?" Hoshinomiya suddenly leaned into his ear and loudly "leaked" the news.

"Hoshinomiya-sensei! You're talking nonsense again!" Ichinose's ears turned bright red instantly; she hurriedly covered Hoshinomiya's mouth and apologized to Uesugi Hara repeatedly, "Uesugi-kun, Hoshinomiya-sensei is drunk, don't take it seriously! We're leaving now!" With that, she dragged the struggling Hoshinomiya away at a brisk pace.

"Little Chie isn't drunk, hic~ Little Uesugi, hic~, Little Chie isn't joking! Little Honami, stop interfering!" Hoshinomiya's voice drifted back.

"Sensei! Class is about to start, let's go!"

"Little Uesugi, see you next time, hic~"

"N-next time..." Uesugi Hara stood where he was, the corner of his mouth twitching.

What a bizarre teacher.

In the office, after Uesugi Hara left, the atmosphere felt a bit off.

Class C homeroom teacher Sakagami Kazuma spoke first: "It seems this year's Class A is no simple matter. I didn't expect that besides Sakayanagi-san and Katsuragi-san, there would also be a student like Uesugi-kun. Mashima-sensei, you are quite fortunate!"

Mashima Tomoya: "Haha, I've heard that Ryuen-kun in your class is also quite capable, and I heard your class did very well on the midterm exams this time. It seems your class points will be rising quite a bit in a few days."

Chabashira Sae did not participate in their discussion. She finished her cigarette in a few puffs, grabbed her teaching materials, and walked quickly out of the office.

She felt indignant—why was her class filled with nothing but trash?