Akiyama Shin returned to Dormitory 501. Outside, the rain was still pattering steadily.
He took off his slightly damp coat, then slowly walked into the bathroom. The warm water washed away the dust and fatigue he'd accumulated over the day, along with the chill he'd brought back in from the rain.
After his shower, Akiyama Shin changed into dry clothes. Weariness soon crept over him.
He had never been one for pointless socializing or noisy crowds, and the events of the day, both inside and outside, combined with the gloom of the rainy weather, had drained him.
So he lay down on the bed, slowly closed his eyes, and let his consciousness sink into a brief darkness.
It was both a chance to rest and a chance to sort through his thoughts.
He didn't know how long had passed when the persistent, clear ring of his Terminal woke him from a light sleep.
Akiyama Shin sat up and rubbed his bleary eyes. The room had grown dark,
and only the glow of distant streetlights outside filtered through a gap in the curtains, casting a few faint patches of light across the floor.
He reached over to the Terminal beside his bed. Its bright screen was a little harsh in the darkness.
The time was clearly displayed: seven in the evening.
Caller: Honami Ichinose.
He swiped to answer and held the Terminal to his ear.
"Moshi moshi? Akiyama?"
Honami Ichinose's clear, gentle voice came through, accompanied by a bit of background noise.
He could hear dishes clinking, students chatting, and faint music. They were clearly in a lively restaurant.
"Yeah."
Akiyama Shin replied quietly, his voice still a little hoarse from just waking up.
"Ah! Thank goodness! I thought you might sleep through it, Akiyama... I kept calling, but you wouldn't answer~"
Ichinose sounded cheerful.
"We're already at the restaurant! We've booked a table, and we're just waiting for you!"
Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki's serious, earnest voice came from beside her.
"Akiyama, everyone's waiting for you."
Akiyama Shin pressed his fingers to his brow and gently rubbed it. The last traces of sleepiness and fatigue began to fade.
"Got it. I'll be there soon."
He answered curtly, then hung up.
After unlocking the screen, he saw that Ichinose had already sent him a location. It was a Japanese restaurant inside Keyaki Mall.
He didn't waste any time. He got up, straightened his clothes and his slightly messy black hair, then left his dormitory.
The night after the rain was especially fresh and damp, carrying the scent of soil and grass.
Keyaki Mall was brightly lit and bustling with people.
Akiyama Shin quickly found the elegantly decorated Japanese restaurant. As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Ryuji Kanzaki standing there alone, his posture straight and his expression as stern as ever.
"You're here."
Kanzaki nodded when he saw him.
"Ichinose is inside keeping things in order and getting everyone seated, so I came out to greet you."
His explanation was direct and efficient.
"Sorry for the trouble."
Akiyama Shin gave a slight nod.
"No problem. Come with me."
Ryuji Kanzaki turned and led the way. Akiyama Shin followed him into the restaurant.
The interior had a classic Japanese design: warm yellow lighting and wooden tables and chairs created a cozy atmosphere.
A large area near the back had clearly been reserved for Class B. It was packed with students, and the mood was lively and cheerful. When Akiyama Shin entered the Class B section with Ryuji Kanzaki, the already noisy crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into an even louder welcome.
"Oh! Akiyama's here!"
"Welcome, welcome!"
"Over here! We saved you a seat!"
To Akiyama Shin's surprise, Class B's students showed no sign of awkwardness or resentment toward him, even though he was an outsider who had once swindled a huge amount of Class Points from them.
Their welcome was sincere and warm, their faces filled with friendly smiles, as if he had always been one of them.
What a strange class...
Akiyama Shin calmly observed the scene.
They'd only recently lost a huge amount of Class Points to Akiyama Shin, who'd exploited the information gap, yet they accepted him without any resentment. Was this pure kindness and unity the result of Honami Ichinose's personal charm, or simply the culture of Class B as a whole?
And... Hoshinomiya-sensei was here too...?
Akiyama Shin's gaze swept over Hoshinomiya Chie, who was sitting near the seat of honor and waving at him with a big grin.
The Class B homeroom teacher was once again wearing a cute dress that didn't suit her position as a teacher.
She looked less like she was there to supervise a class gathering and more like an older sister who'd come to join in the fun.
When Honami Ichinose saw Akiyama Shin, her face immediately lit up with a radiant smile, and she hurried over.
"Akiyama! You're finally here!"
"Was the trip over okay?"
Chihiro Shiranami stood beside her, still looking timid. She sneaked a glance at Akiyama Shin, quickly lowered her head, and murmured,
"G-good evening..."
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
Hoshinomiya Chie sprang up and ran over to Akiyama Shin, examining him with curiosity.
"Oh my, Shin! You're here! Are you all rested now? You look full of energy!"
At the nickname "Shin," Akiyama Shin's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, but he kept his expression calm.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
He said no more. Guided by Ichinose and Kanzaki, he sat in the seat they'd saved for him.
His seat happened to be between Honami Ichinose and Ryuji Kanzaki, while Chihiro Shiranami sat on Ichinose's other side.
Once he sat down, the Class B gathering grew lively again. Everyone started enjoying the food and chatting, with laughter filling the air. As the meal went on, the mood grew increasingly relaxed.
Note: Japanese high school students aren't allowed to drink alcohol! There's no alcohol here! It's just a figure of speech!
Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki, seated beside Akiyama Shin, put down his teacup and turned toward him.
His expression was serious as he asked a very direct question.
"Akiyama, I heard... you're planning to bring Class D's Class Points down to zero this month?"
At his words, the lively atmosphere suddenly quieted. Several Class B students at nearby tables paused with their chopsticks halfway to their mouths and looked over.
Akiyama Shin's chopsticks also paused for a moment. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked up, past Ryuji Kanzaki, to Hoshinomiya Chie, who was across from him, nibbling on pudding with an expression that said it had nothing to do with her.
There was no need to guess.
The only one who could have leaked his conversation with Chabashira Sae in the staff room was this homeroom teacher who couldn't keep a secret.
He understood.
Honami Ichinose, seated on his other side, gave an awkward smile and hurried to smooth things over.
"Ah, Kanzaki, isn't that a bit sudden...?"
She was certainly curious about Akiyama Shin's plans too, but she'd intended to wait until the mood was more relaxed before asking indirectly. She hadn't expected Ryuji Kanzaki to come straight out with it.
On Ryuji Kanzaki's other side sat a boy with short brown hair and a sunny, cheerful air.
Sō Shibata couldn't help nudging him lightly with an elbow and muttering,
"Hey, hey, Kanzaki, you're way too direct! You can't just open with a question like that!"
Despite his classmate's reminder, Ryuji Kanzaki's expression didn't change. He simply watched Akiyama Shin and waited for his answer, clearly convinced the topic was worth discussing.
Akiyama Shin set down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin, and wiped the corner of his mouth. He looked at everyone without dodging the question.
"Yeah, I am considering it."
He admitted it in an even tone.
"Why?"
Ryuji Kanzaki pressed him.
"To shatter their illusions."
Akiyama Shin kept his answer brief.
"Class D's biggest problem right now is that they're still dreaming about getting a hundred thousand points every month."
"They have no sense of crisis or collective pride."
"Ordinary lectures and reminders would be like scratching an itch through a boot to those who've grown used to slacking off."
He paused.
"Only when they see their points hit zero with their own eyes, and personally experience losing their comfortable lifestyle and having to rely on free provisions, will that pain truly shatter their illusions and force them to think and change."
Honami Ichinose considered his words.
"So... you want to wake them up with such an extreme approach? But... isn't that too risky?"
"What if the class completely falls apart...?"
"Risk and reward go hand in hand."
Akiyama Shin cut her off.
"Class D's already in bad shape."
"It can't get much worse."
"On the other hand, if this works, the class could be pushed to the brink and bring out astonishing potential."
He glanced at the Class B students around him and continued,
"Besides, I don't think this school will be content with simply maintaining the status quo."
"Class Point assessments won't rely only on classroom discipline and everyday behavior."
"Some kind of Special Exam should be coming soon. If the class is still a scattered mess when that happens, with no cohesion, things will only get worse."
"Rather than waiting to be hit when we're unprepared, it's better to deliberately bring the internal conflicts and instability to the surface early, then achieve an initial degree of unity and awareness before the real test arrives."
Akiyama Shin's words left several of Class B's key members deep in thought.
A glimmer of admiration appeared in Ryuji Kanzaki's eyes. He appreciated Akiyama Shin's clear and decisive strategic vision.
Honami Ichinose furrowed her brow slightly, seemingly worried that Class D's students wouldn't be able to withstand such a shock.
But she also had to admit that Akiyama Shin's analysis made sense.
Sō Shibata scratched his head.
"A Special Exam..."
"That sounds like it'll be a lot of trouble."
Chihiro Shiranami murmured softly,
"Th-that's amazing... You've thought so far ahead..."
Hoshinomiya Chie continued eating her pudding with a cheerful smile, as if the conversation had nothing to do with her. But a glint of keen interest flashed in her eyes.
"This Shin really is something... Little Sae sure struck gold this time!"
Before you continue