It Feels Great to Have Connections

Horikita Etsuka sat down in the back row by the window.

Beside him sat a pretty girl with black twin-tails and a world-weary expression.

She wore earrings in both earlobes, and her slender, toned calves were wrapped in long black stockings; if one ignored her school uniform, she looked a bit like the ringleader of a delinquent clique.

In front of Horikita Etsuka sat a blue-haired boy; he wore glasses and looked thin and frail, with somewhat androgynous features.

At this moment, the whispering in the classroom gradually died down, and everyone looked at Hoshinomiya attentively.

"Alrighty~ then let me introduce things to you all!" Hoshinomiya clapped her hands and took out her student terminal: "First, I have some special good news to tell you!"

Hoshinomiya blinked, and seeing that no one interrupted, she puffed out her cheeks and said: "My, such exciting news, why won't you play along with me~"

"Then, Hoshinomiya-sensei, what exactly is this good news?" Ichinose asked, raising her hand.

Hoshinomiya seemed very pleased, and she nodded as she said:

"Hehe, open your student terminals!"

Hearing this, everyone took out their student terminals and opened them to check.

Horikita Etsuka raised an eyebrow at the 100,000 figure on the student terminal.

Points? Or something else?

After thinking for a moment, Etsuka raised his phone terminal and asked directly:

"Beautiful and generous Hoshinomiya-sensei, please don't keep us in suspense; we are very curious."

Hoshinomiya seemed quite taken with Etsuka's flattery, and the smile on her face grew even sweeter: "Heehee, then I shall explain it properly to my students."

"On the 1st of every month, you will be issued points. These 100,000 points are equivalent to 100,000 yen, meaning you have 100,000 yen to spend as you please this month! You can buy anything! And don't worry, the school has many facilities, including entertainment venues!"

"100,000 yen!"

"Is, is this for real!"

"Looks like that game console I've been dreaming of is within reach..."

Many people looked extremely excited; after all, being able to spend so much money while attending school felt great just thinking about it.

Horikita Etsuka, meanwhile, rested his chin on one hand and pondered.

100,000 yen has the purchasing power of nearly 5,000 yuan. There must be a purpose for the school giving out so much, right?

Everything has a purpose, and Horikita Etsuka had always seen this clearly.

To train the students' financial management skills?

Horikita Etsuka immediately dismissed this thought that had just popped up; after all, they were all young adults, and 90%, if not 100%, of people already possessed basic financial management skills.

But there's no way they'd just give away money for nothing.

Horikita Etsuka observed the expressions of everyone in the classroom and found that not everyone was blindly rejoicing; instead, a few people were looking down, deep in thought.

Among them, Ichinose asked directly: "Hoshinomiya-sensei, do we get 100,000 points every month?"

Ichinose's question was exactly what Horikita Etsuka wanted to ask.

"..." Hoshinomiya thought for a moment before saying: "Well, I'll let you discover that for yourselves. After all, this school is based on merit."

Although Hoshinomiya didn't give a definitive answer, those with quick minds would immediately understand what such words implied.

Horikita Etsuka tapped his long index finger lightly against the desk.

So, it's not 100,000 points every month...

Inside the school's main assembly hall.

All personnel from classes A, B, C, and D were present.

A handsome young man with black hair and glasses walked onto the podium.

"Wow, who is that? So handsome!"

"Yeah, yeah, though he looks quite serious."

Horikita Etsuka stood in the back row, his gaze focused on the person on the podium.

"Big brother?"

Horikita Manabu adjusted his collar, and his deep voice resonated throughout the hall as he spoke into the microphone:

"I am the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu. I welcome all the new students here..."

In Class D, Horikita Suzune stood among the crowd, her fingers curling as she watched Horikita Manabu on the stage.

"Hmm, Horikita Manabu, your names sound quite similar." A flat voice came from the center-parted boy beside her.

"Ayanokoji-kun, we aren't that close yet." Horikita Suzune kept her eyes on the figure on stage, her tone cold and indifferent.

"Hmm, alright. Since you don't want to talk about it, I won't ask." Ayanokoji nodded and said nothing more.

After the speech concluded, they were finally dismissed, and Horikita Etsuka waited right below the podium.

Horikita Manabu walked down the steps slowly, and the first thing he saw was Horikita Etsuka waving at him.

"Hello, big brother!"

A slight smile tugged at the corners of Horikita Manabu's stern face as he patted Horikita Etsuka on the back and said, "Let's go, I'm treating you to a meal."

"You got it." Horikita Etsuka nodded in immediate agreement.

It felt great to have someone you knew in this school.

"President, who is this?" Just then, a purple-haired girl with twin buns walked over, clutching a folder to her chest.

Horikita Manabu placed a hand on Etsuka's arm and said:

"Tachibana, let me introduce you. This is my younger brother, Horikita Etsuka. Etsuka, this is my secretary, Tachibana Akane."

Tachibana Akane nodded. "Hello."

Etsuka responded with a smile: "Hello, Secretary Tachibana."

Secretary Tachibana was quite perceptive; she took one look at the situation and said:

"President, there are still some matters at the Student Council, so I'll head back now."

Horikita Manabu nodded. "Alright, go get something to eat soon."

"Understood." With that response, Tachibana Akane walked away.

Horikita Manabu placed his hand on Etsuka's shoulder and said:

"Let's go, Etsuka. I'm more familiar with this place, so I'll take you to eat."

"Sounds good," Horikita Etsuka replied.

Many of the students who had been dismissed were surging toward the two main gates, resulting in a massive crowd.

"Hey, Himeno-san..." Amidst the dispersing crowd, Ichinose tried to call out to her classmate, Himeno Yuki.

Himeno Yuki acted as if she hadn't heard a thing; she chewed her bubblegum, looked up, and cast a casual glance in a certain direction.

Subconsciously, Ichinose followed her gaze.

All she saw was the Student Council President walking away with his arm around Horikita Etsuka's shoulder.

By the time she snapped back to reality and turned to greet Himeno Yuki again, the other girl had already vanished into the crowd.

"Horikita Manabu... Horikita Etsuka. So, they're related?"

Inside a luxurious restaurant.

An elegant violinist was playing music.

Horikita Etsuka and Horikita Manabu sat facing each other.

Etsuka cut his steak, speared a piece with his fork, and said: "This school has such a fancy restaurant? It must be expensive for a single meal, right?"

Horikita Manabu took a sip of juice and said calmly: "As long as you have points, this place includes everything you could ever want."

After a moment of silence, Horikita Manabu asked: "Is Suzune still the same?"

"Yeah, Sis still has that same personality. Otherwise, I wouldn't be the only one coming to see you."

Horikita Manabu swirled his glass and said: "Is that so? Still hasn't changed, then."

"I'll leave Suzune to you, Etsuka. She still doesn't understand the difference between being lonely and being solitary."

Horikita Etsuka nodded: "Don't worry, Big Brother. I believe Sis will change eventually."

"Hmm." With that, he looked at Horikita Etsuka: "By the way, Etsuka, which class are you in?"

"Class 1-B," Horikita Etsuka answered honestly.

Horikita Manabu frowned slightly: "Given your overall aptitude, you should be in Class A."

"Given my overall aptitude?"

Horikita Etsuka realized what he meant immediately.

He picked up the napkin beside him to wipe his mouth: "So? The class assignments are based on overall aptitude."

Horikita Manabu didn't beat around the bush and said bluntly:

"That's right. The assignments aren't just based on theory, but on overall aptitude. Did you intentionally suppress your scores during the entrance exam, Etsuka?"

Horikita Etsuka shook his head: "I didn't suppress my scores on purpose."

"Then what happened? Etsuka, I can go ask the Chairman for you."

"No need." Horikita Etsuka shook his head in refusal: "I think I already know why I was assigned to Class B."

"And why is that?" Horikita Manabu still didn't understand why his brother had been placed in Class B.

Horikita Etsuka smiled slightly: "Ahem! Maybe it's because I'm too outgoing."

The corners of Horikita Manabu's mouth couldn't help but lift: "Haha, you brat, you're still as unserious as ever."

"Brother, let's have a toast." Horikita Etsuka raised his glass filled with juice.

"Cheers."

After they clinked glasses, just as Horikita Etsuka was about to ask for details about the school's rules, a voice suddenly cut in.

"Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but would you mind if I got to know you two?"