The Interview

(Due to the overwhelming amount of feedback received, I will provide a unified response here: First, I did not find any explicit statement in the original text forbidding part-time jobs. Second, I mentioned in the first chapter that I would modify some settings to make the story more logical; even the prices I used are based on Japanese market rates. Finally, this is fan fiction.)

(I hope everyone will stop saying that Classroom of the Elite forbids part-time jobs, because without these patches, some of the point-related plot points in the later stages simply don't add up.)

Knock, knock, knock~

Dongfang Yi placed his phone, which was currently recording, into his pocket and took a step forward to knock gently on the door.

"Please, come in."

A somewhat deep, masculine voice drifted from behind the door labeled Manager's Office.

Pushing the door open, the first thing Dongfang Yi saw was a middle-aged man in a suit, whose shiny, bald pate led him to believe his assessment of the man's age was accurate.

It wasn't as if characters with the Katsuragi aesthetic were everywhere, after all.

"Hello."

Dongfang Yi gave a slight nod before sitting down face-to-face with the man at the meeting table.

"Could you please introduce yourself?"

The middle-aged man put on a show of pulling out a blank notebook and placing it on his lap, then took out a ballpoint pen as if he were about to start scribbling away.

"Dongfang Yi, male, eighteen years old, first-year student in Class A. I am skilled in cooking and pastry making, and I am applying for a position as a waiter."

Dongfang Yi's introduction was concise and to the point.

"Mhm, alright." The middle-aged man nodded perfunctorily, and just as he was about to continue his questioning, he suddenly reacted: "Wait? A freshman? Class A?"

No, you're a Class A student who just enrolled, and you're coming here to do this kind of work?

He widened his eyes instinctively, feeling a sense of disbelief, but as if he had realized something, he immediately masked his expression.

The middle-aged man swallowed hard: "My name is Fujimoto Itsuki, and I am the current manager of this cafe. May I ask why you, student Dongfang, want to take on a part-time job?"

"This is my personal exploration of campus life. Can you understand it that way, Manager Fujimoto?"

Dongfang Yi deflected the question without changing his expression; such a situation was already within his predictions.

Besides, he didn't need to adopt a humble or subservient posture; after all, this was just a school simulation, not a real-world job application.

How could a school that claims to simulate a social environment not have a quintessential Japanese scenario like part-time work?

Otherwise, what would happen when the class points hit zero?

If they really had to rely on eating dirt, they'd starve to death.

"Student Dongfang, I can roughly understand what you mean, but I just don't quite get it." Manager Fujimoto's curiosity was piqued by the person before him: "You just enrolled, didn't you? Have you really exhausted your 100,000 points so quickly?"

"Not yet. I haven't found an opportunity to spend a large amount of points yet, and my personal daily expenses don't require that much."

"Then is the purpose of your application... interest?"

"That is only half the reason. As for the other half, why don't you take a guess, Manager Fujimoto?"

"Dongfang-kun, during an interview, one should be open and honest; that is the duty of an applicant."

"Is that so? Unfortunately, I don't see it that way, Manager Fujimoto." Dongfang Yi remained unmoved, stating calmly: "To me, Palette is indeed a preferred choice, but not the only one. However, for you, I am the only one who can satisfy your curiosity right now, aren't I?"

"..." Manager Fujimoto fell silent.

"To take something, one must give something. Manager Fujimoto, if you agree to the part-time job, I will answer your questions. This is a fair trade. Furthermore, reporting on student conditions to the higher-ups is within your job description, isn't it? The rewards shouldn't be low, right?"

"Fine, I can make the call. I can let you start working now." Manager Fujimoto laid out his terms.

"What about the hourly wage?"

"300 points."

"That is a bit too low, Manager Fujimoto. As far as I know, the current hourly wage for part-time jobs in the Tokyo area is around 1,200 yen."

"But this school provides free housing, free utilities, and monthly point distributions. Besides, part-time positions are limited."

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"I see, but I am still not satisfied with this wage. How about this: Monday through Friday, 4 hours of work after school each day, at 1,000 points per hour." Dongfang Yi set his price.

"I admit that Dongfang-kun has a distinct advantage in appearance, and the other conditions are fine, but the hourly wage you're asking for is simply too high. 400 points."

"900 points. I can take a step back."

"500 points, that's as high as I can go."

"850 points. Trust me, your investment will be worth it."

"600 points, no more than that. That is my limit."

"800 points. I can also work in the kitchen when necessary."

Manager Fujimoto's expression shifted, his heart conflicted as if he were calculating something, but in the end, he agreed.

"Can you satisfy my curiosity now?"

"Because the cafeteria provides free food. Moreover, if my observations are correct, there is a significant difference in the complexions of students from different groups dining in the restaurant."

"Complexion?"

"Yes. Some students seem to suffer from a long-term lack of sufficient meat and protein intake, leading to dull, listless faces; these people are the ones most fond of purchasing the free meal known as the Vegetable Set. Meanwhile, other students are ruddy-faced and glowing, clearly well-nourished, and they wouldn't even spare that set a single glance."

Dongfang Yi spoke with ease, though in reality, he had only taken a cursory look during lunch to confirm there was no meat in the Vegetable Set before walking away. He hadn't observed anything as carefully as he claimed.

"Your observations are truly meticulous. But based on just that..." Manager Fujimoto abruptly changed his tone: "Based on just that, you want to work part-time?"

"That is already enough, isn't it? Why must Manager Fujimoto pretend not to know the answer?"

"Know what?"

"The fact that the points issued by the school are not fixed." Dongfang Yi spread his hands, as if he were only mentioning a trivial matter.

Fujimoto Itsuki could not help but reveal a look of shock.

Although he was a school employee and was well aware of these hidden rules, hearing such things from a freshman who had been enrolled for less than a day still left him shaken.

Could a human really be this sharp?

Dongfang Yi was unaware of his thoughts; if he had known, he wouldn't have minded clearing up his confusion.

He didn't know how ordinary people would fare, but such a small matter couldn't hide from a cheater holding the script.

However, the kind-hearted Dongfang Yi cooperated with his expression at just the right moment, nodding as he said: "As I thought. There must be some kind of assessment the school uses to determine the points issued for the following month."

Manager Fujimoto realized he had slipped up: "I... I didn't say anything."

"That's right, your meaning was written all over your face; you didn't say it out loud. However, judging by how cautious you are, the school must have issued some kind of gag order. But since a general prohibition clearly isn't enough to keep people tight-lipped, does that mean there are penalties like expulsion or being forced to drop out?"

When you know the answer, solving the problem is fast.

Dongfang Yi only needed a seemingly reasonable explanation to make people believe it was all based on deduction, thereby convincing them of his capability.

"..." Manager Fujimoto covered his face with both hands, struggling to compose his expression.

Correct, absolutely correct.

The student before him, aside from some minor deviations, was almost entirely accurate in his reasoning.

He had perfectly seen through the initial malice this school held toward its incoming freshmen.

Manager Fujimoto smiled, shook his head, stood up, and extended his hand.

He no longer underestimated the person before him: "Student Dongfang, congratulations. You have passed my interview."

Dongfang Yi naturally reached out and shook his hand in a formal, polite manner: "Thank you for your appreciation, Manager Fujimoto."

"I wouldn't call it appreciation; this is a fair trade. Your excellence has truly caught my eye."

"Thank you again for your trust. Please look after me for the coming month."

"A month? Indeed, a student as excellent as you, Dongfang-kun, naturally wouldn't spend too much time on such trivial matters."