"What is this, Hoshinomiya-sensei?" someone asked, looking at the large letters ABCD on the blackboard in confusion.
Hoshinomiya leaned drunkenly against the blackboard. "This is the S System. It shows each class's Class Points."
Everyone's attention returned to the Class Points listed for the different classes.
Class A: 940 cp
Class B: 700 cp
Class C: 470 cp
Class D: 0 cp
"Huh? How does a class have zero Class Points?"
The first thing everyone focused on wasn't their own class's score, but Class D's zero. It wasn't that they didn't care about their own points; the huge zero beside Class D was simply too conspicuous.
"Um, excuse me..." Ichinose raised her right hand. "What are these Class Points used for? And how are they calculated?"
Horikita Etsuka also looked toward Hoshinomiya. He wanted to ask the same thing.
"Class Points affect the Private Points on your Student Terminals. Each Class Point is worth 100 Private Points. As for how they're calculated, it's like performance reviews at work. I can't tell you any more than that."
"I see." Ichinose nodded thoughtfully.
"One more thing: if our Class Points surpass Class A's, we'll be promoted to Class A. On the other hand, if another class surpasses ours, we'll drop to a lower class."
Those words shocked everyone in the class.
Horikita Etsuka now understood the school's most important objective.
So it's a promotion-and-elimination system. There's only one goal for the entire year: reaching Class A?
"And there's something else..." Hoshinomiya seemed to be trying to say more, but she swayed unsteadily on her feet, as if she might fall over at any moment.
"Sensei, please sit in my chair." One student couldn't bear to watch any longer and placed his chair on the podium.
"Oh, thank you so much." Hoshinomiya sat down and finally steadied herself. She continued:
"There are only a few weeks until the next midterm exams. Make sure you study hard and maintain your current level, because next time, you can earn up to 100 Class Points based on your scores."
"100 Class Points?"
"Whoa! Doesn't that mean everyone could get 10,000 Private Points?"
"Well... it isn't much for one person, but it adds up to quite a lot for the whole class."
"Yosh! Let's all study hard together!"
Everyone was fired up. Hamaguchi Tetsuya pushed up his glasses, turned around, and smiled at Horikita Etsuka. "Everyone's really enthusiastic."
"Yeah. The overall atmosphere in our class is pretty good," Horikita Etsuka replied.
"And..." Hoshinomiya shook her foggy head on the podium, seemingly wanting to say more.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei, can't you just say everything at once? These sudden announcements are scary!"
"Sensei, please don't drink so much before class next time!"
"Oh, I know, I know." Hoshinomiya puffed out her cheeks. "I won't drink so much next time."
"But, Sensei, what were you going to say?" Amikura Mai asked curiously.
Hoshinomiya's expression gradually turned serious. She enunciated each word:
"For the next midterm exams, I don't want any of you to fail a subject. Anyone who does will be expelled by the school."
"What?!"
"Expelled?"
The whole class erupted.
They had never encountered anything like this before. The idea that they could be expelled just for failing a subject left most of them bewildered.
Himeno Yuki looked at Horikita Etsuka, whose expression hadn't changed. "Horikita, you don't look surprised."
Horikita Etsuka propped his chin on his hand and turned to answer.
"That's right. This school is all about merit. Haven't you noticed, Himeno? Everything the school does is meant to cultivate a single class."
"W-well..."
Horikita Etsuka continued:
"The huge difference in the quality of the uniforms for Class A and Class D, the advantages of their locations, the teachers' varying attitudes, and the way upper classes humiliate lower ones—all of it shows that this school is built on the principle of merit."
Himeno Yuki stared at him, stunned. Looking into Horikita Etsuka's eyes, she felt as if she were seeing him for the first time.
The night air was cool beneath the bright streetlights.
Horikita Etsuka walked alone along the path back to the dorms, a bag slung over one shoulder and a lollipop from Himeno Yuki between his lips.
Ding.
A notification chimed on his Student Terminal.
He had just taken out the terminal to check the message when a call came in.
The contact name was only a few words: "Big Sis About to Demand Answers."
Horikita Etsuka answered, and Suzune's voice immediately came through. "Etsuka, why haven't you replied to my message?"
It's only been a few seconds. I haven't even checked it yet...
But Horikita Etsuka said, "Sis, I was just about to reply. How about I hang up now and send you a message instead?"
"Go ahead and try."
"Ahem. No, no, I wouldn't dare. Just kidding. What can I do for you, Sis?"
"I wanted to ask..." Suzune paused for a moment. "Never mind. I don't feel like talking about it now."
"Sis... so what now?"
"Come to my room." Horikita Suzune spoke in a commanding tone.
"Ahem, Sis, surely that's not necessary?" Horikita Etsuka immediately remembered how she used to tug his ears and pinch him when they were little. He couldn't help shivering.
"Five minutes." Suzune hung up immediately.
Beep, beep, beep...
Listening to the busy signal, Horikita Etsuka wore a helpless expression. His big sister had always had him under her thumb. He'd tried to fight back before, but somehow always ended up giving in.
She's probably asking about Sudo...
There was nothing for it. Horikita Etsuka quickened his pace toward the 24-hour supermarket.
A short while later, someone knocked on Horikita Suzune's door. When she opened it, she saw Horikita Etsuka standing there with two bottles of drinks and some snacks.
Horikita Etsuka poked his head inside and lifted the plastic bag. "Sis, these are all for you."
Horikita Suzune nodded, then opened the door fully to let him in.
Horikita Etsuka let out a long breath.
As expected. Good thing I brought strawberry juice to protect me.
Horikita Etsuka had no doubt that if he hadn't brought something his big sister liked to drink, she would have grabbed him by the ear and dragged him into the room without hesitation.
Horikita Suzune might have seemed serious, stern, and proper, but as her younger brother, Horikita Etsuka knew she had a girlish side too.
She didn't just love strawberry-flavored drinks; she also liked wearing childish pajamas. For example, she was wearing Pikachu pajamas now. She usually didn't wear them, but knowing Etsuka was coming had let her completely relax.
"Big Sis, the ears on your Pikachu hood are still drooping."
Horikita Etsuka amusedly patted the cartoon ears on Suzune's pajama hood, trying to change the subject.
Horikita Suzune folded her arms across her chest and looked at Etsuka sternly. "Etsuka, don't change the subject."
Before you continue