Heaven's Academy starting with 100,000 points?!

Following the electronic bulletin board's directions, Akiyama Shin found the Class D classroom on the first floor of the school building.

Pushing open the door, what met his eyes was a noisy, vibrant scene.

Most of the students had already arrived, naturally forming several small groups and chatting among themselves.

His appearance was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly drawing the attention of many in the classroom.

The reason was simple: Akiyama Shin's appearance was far too striking. At 183 centimeters, his tall frame stood out among the generally shorter Japanese boys. The well-fitted wine-red school uniform accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs. Beneath his slightly messy black hair, his handsome yet cold face, along with the occasional glint of dark red pupils from between his strands, held an indescribable allure for adolescent girls.

On the other side of the classroom.

The girls' clique led by Karuizawa Kei, including Sato Maya and Shinohara Satsuki, immediately noticed him.

Karuizawa Kei gave Akiyama Shin a brief glance and was also shocked by his looks, but she didn't act overly infatuated.

Sato Maya and Shinohara Satsuki, however, couldn't help stealing a few more glances, whispering their opinions to each other.

"Wow, that guy... he's so tall and handsome..."

"Is he half? His vibe feels so unique..."

"I wonder which class he's in... Huh? He's coming in...? Is he in our class?"

Meanwhile, one of the class's central figures.

Kushida Kikyo was effortlessly mingling among several boys and girls, a sweet smile fixed on her face.

When she saw Akiyama Shin, her eyes lit up slightly, but she quickly returned to her usual demeanor.

She continued chatting and laughing with those around her, though her peripheral vision seemed to casually sweep over him.

On the other side, the male focal point, Hirata Yosuke, also noticed Akiyama Shin.

He offered a friendly smile and gave a slight nod, displaying good manners and approachability.

However, not everyone in the class held an appreciative or neutral attitude.

At the back of the classroom, the loudest clique—Yamauchi Haruki, Ike Kanji, and Sudo Ken—were openly discussing girls' figures and looks in loud voices.

Akiyama Shin's appearance, especially his eye-catching face, immediately drew undisguised hostility from Yamauchi Haruki.

"Tch, I really don't get what these shallow girls in our class are making such a fuss about..."

Yamauchi Haruki curled his lip, his voice pitched just loud enough for those nearby to hear.

"So what if he's handsome? He looks like one of those frail pretty boys..."

"Someone as outstanding as me focuses more on substance, not just looks. I mean, I have plenty of strengths, like... like being good at games!"

Ike Kanji patted his shoulder and chuckled.

"Come on, Yamauchi, maybe he's just living off his face. Why be so harsh~"

Sudo Ken crossed his arms, glaring at Akiyama Shin with clear displeasure. He simply disliked people who only had good looks to offer—though, more accurately, he had already prejudged Akiyama Shin as having nothing else.

Akiyama Shin paid no attention to these childish provocations, not even shifting his gaze.

His eyes swept across the classroom, landing on Koenji Rokusuke, who sat alone in the very center, still unabashedly admiring his own golden hair.

Koenji seemed to sense his gaze, turned his head, and flashed Akiyama Shin a somewhat amused smile, as if appraising an interesting object. Akiyama Shin expressionlessly looked away.

He originally planned to head straight to his seat, which, according to the label on the desk corner, was the second-to-last seat in the fourth row.

But at that moment, a slightly nervous and uncertain female voice stopped him.

"U-um... excuse me... are you... Akiyama-kun?"

Akiyama Shin stopped and turned around.

The one who had called out to him was a petite girl with deep blue shoulder-length hair tied into two playful short pigtails. Her face was round, her eyes large, and she looked very cute. She was fidgeting nervously, twisting the hem of her skirt with her fingers.

Akiyama Shin looked at her, quickly searching his memory.

At first glance, he had no impression of her. He was always vague about irrelevant past memories.

But looking into her eyes, which held a hint of expectation and familiarity, some dusty fragments gradually surfaced.

Wang Meiyu?

The Chinese exchange student from the same middle school?

He remembered.

Back in first year of middle school, this girl, often ostracized by her clique due to her poor Japanese.

He had once helped her on a whim. Back then, Akiyama Shin might still have had some youthful spirit. Though he muttered about it being a hassle, he stepped in to stop the excessive behavior. To him, it was just a small favor, perhaps even tinged with impatience. But to the helpless Wang Meiyu at the time, it was a lifeline.

"Wang Meiyu?"

Akiyama Shin confirmed, his tone still flat, revealing no joy at their reunion.

"Yes! It's me!"

Seeing that he recognized her, Wang Meiyu's face instantly lit up with a surprised smile, and she nodded vigorously.

"I can't believe Akiyama-kun still remembers me!"

"We went to the same middle school. I was really grateful to you back then!"

Just then.

Kushida Kikyo, who had been watching the situation from nearby, immediately seized this opportunity to integrate herself. With a warm smile that seemed capable of melting ice and snow, she walked over lightly.

"Meiyu, do you know this classmate?"

Kushida Kikyo naturally linked arms with Wang Meiyu, then looked at Akiyama Shin, introducing herself with a sweet smile.

"Hello, I'm Kushida Kikyo, a friend Meiyu just made. And you are...?"

"Akiyama Shin."

He answered succinctly.

The smile on Kushida Kikyo's face grew even brighter. She tilted her head slightly, a perfectly timed blush appearing on her cheeks, and softened her voice with a hint of shyness.

"Akiyama-kun? That's a nice name~"

"Um... I really want to be friends with everyone in the class... so..."

"Can I be friends with you too?"

Kushida Kikyo's performance at this moment was flawless!

The shy blush...

The gentle tone...

And the straightforward request to become friends...

For the vast majority of adolescent boys, this was almost an irresistible weapon.

It was hard not to develop the illusion that she might have feelings for him.

This wasn't the boys being overly sentimental, but rather the atmosphere Kushida Kikyo deliberately created.

She knew exactly how to properly use her appearance and personality to quickly close the distance with the opposite sex, thereby accumulating social capital.

However, Akiyama Shin just looked at her calmly. Those dark red pupils seemed capable of piercing through the perfect facade to see the essence beneath.

He could sense the deliberate performance beneath the perfection, but it didn't matter to him.

He didn't care about her true intentions, as long as she didn't actively get in his way.

"Sure."

He spat out two words expressionlessly, neither flattered nor showing any interest.

Kushida Kikyo's smile froze for a split second. Though she quickly recovered, her mind was already in turmoil.

Sure?! Just 'sure'?!

What kind of reaction is that?!

What the hell is wrong with this guy?!

Am I really that unattractive?

Or does he not like women?

What a pretentious act! What a fucking poser!

Although she had no particular feelings for Akiyama Shin at this stage, his complete disregard for her charm gave her a strong sense of frustration and dissatisfaction.

This feeling didn't stem from liking him, but from her confidence in her own charm and the intense displeasure after being thwarted.

Akiyama Shin paid no more attention to Kushida Kikyo, who was having a rich internal monologue. He simply gave Wang Meiyu a slight nod and walked straight to his seat.

The classroom seating arrangement was five columns and eight rows.

His seat was in the fourth column, second to last row.

When he reached his seat.

He realized that the person sitting directly behind him was none other than Horikita Suzune, whom he had briefly seen at the school gate earlier.

And beside her, in the last seat by the window, sat Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, expressionless.

Horikita Suzune didn't even lift her eyelids when he walked over, as if he were air.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, as usual, glanced at him with those unfocused eyes, a sort of greeting.

Akiyama Shin sat down silently, with no intention of conversing with the two behind him.

The seat in front of him belonged to Wang Meiyu.

Seeing him sit down, she quickly returned to her own seat, turned around, and with undisguised delight, tried to chat with Akiyama Shin.

Kushida Kikyo and her close friends also gathered around, seemingly wanting to learn more about this unique and handsome boy.

Wang Meiyu was simple-minded, but her social awareness was clearly not high. After a few pleasantries, she directly broached a potentially sensitive topic.

"Um... Akiyama-kun... why did you suddenly take a leave of absence in the second semester of your third year of middle school...?"

"Everyone was really surprised at the time..."

"I... I was worried about you too."

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of those gathered around, especially Kushida Kikyo, lit up almost imperceptibly.

Kushida Kikyo laughed inwardly.

Idiot! Good question! A bit direct... but this is the perfect chance to hear about this guy's past!

Look at him... his leave of absence can't be for anything good, right? Serves him right! Who told him to treat me like that earlier!

Though she was secretly pleased, her face immediately showed a perfectly appropriate expression of concern.

Hearing this, Akiyama Shin showed no sign of being offended on his face, not even a ripple.

He looked directly into Wang Meiyu's eyes, which held sincerity and worry, and gave his answer calmly and directly.

"Some family matters. My mother was seriously ill and needed care, so I went back."

He omitted the later details.

His mother's condition was eventually brought under control and gradually improved, but by then the family's financial burden had become severe. His parents insisted he continue his studies no matter what, even if it meant selling everything they had. Those days of being overwhelmed by medical bills were etched into his memory. He himself had little interest in following the standard path of studying and entering university. Rather than let his parents struggle so hard, it was better for him to become independent as soon as possible. For this reason, he had also clashed with his parents—or rather, his parents had heartbrokenly scolded him, begging him not to give up on his future. He understood their deep love; they only wanted him to carve out his own path through education and find happiness. But it was precisely this love that made him even more unwilling to be their burden. In the end, amid the constant deadlock, he received information from his middle school teacher about this tuition-free Advanced Nurturing High School, and that was how he ended up here.

Hearing this answer, everyone reacted differently.

Wang Meiyu immediately covered her mouth, her eyes filled with guilt and sympathy.

"S-sorry! Akiyama-kun..."

"I shouldn't have asked... Is your mother now..."

Kushida Kikyo quickly slipped into her performance mode. She let out a soft gasp, her face instantly covered in sympathy and sorrow, even her eyes slightly reddening, her voice choked with emotion.

"Akiyama-kun..."

"I never imagined you went through something like this..."

"It must have been really hard, right?"

"Please don't be sad... from now on at school... if you ever need any help, please be sure to tell me!"

But inside, she was thinking.

How pitiful...

But in a way, it's his own fault. With his family in that situation, taking a leave of absence is just irresponsible.

Still... seeing how calm he is now, maybe he's not that upset?

But what was worth noting was this.

The tears that instinctively welled up in Kushida Kikyo's eyes and the pity she felt actually proved she wasn't purely evil.

She could even be called a good person.

Because she had a strong capacity for empathy, able to sense others' pain. But a good person is not necessarily a kind person.

Her empathy was often overshadowed and exploited by her desire for attention and her utilitarian drive to build relationships.

Just then.

The classroom door slid open again.

The clear sound of high heels striking the floor rang out, instantly drowning out the noise in the room.

Everyone's gaze turned in unison toward the podium.

A tall woman stood there.

She had a sharp black high ponytail, wore a tailored black teacher's suit, with black stockings covering her long legs beneath the short skirt, and black high heels on her feet. Her features were attractive, but her expression was cold, her eyes sharp as blades, exuding a serious aura that warned others to keep their distance.

The classroom fell into dead silence, and the students instinctively sat up straight.

However, there were always some discordant voices.

Yamauchi Haruki lowered his voice, but it was still loud enough for those around him to hear, and said excitedly to Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken.

"Hey hey! Is that our homeroom teacher?!"

"No way? She's super hot!"

"With that vibe, so untouchable!"

Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken were also staring dumbfounded, nodding instinctively.

These few boys didn't seem to realize the shift in atmosphere, still whispering among themselves, even throwing in some crude jokes.

"Her figure is amazing..."

"I wonder if she has a boyfriend..."

Most of the class, especially the girls, shot them looks of disgust.

Hirata Yosuke frowned slightly but didn't say anything, while Kushida Kikyo also wore a disapproving expression.

The female teacher on the podium, Chabashira Sae, made no move. She simply fixed her icy gaze on the direction of Yamauchi Haruki and the others.

She didn't speak, but the invisible pressure spread out like a physical force.

Yamauchi Haruki wanted to say something more, but Ike Kanji and Sudo Ken finally sensed something was wrong and quickly elbowed him, whispering.

"Hey, Yamauchi, shut up..."

Only then did Yamauchi Haruki belatedly close his mouth, rubbing his nose awkwardly.

Once the classroom fell completely silent, Chabashira Sae finally spoke, her voice steady and devoid of any emotional inflection.

"My name is Chabashira Sae."

"Starting today, I will serve as your homeroom teacher for Class 1-D. According to school regulations, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I will remain your homeroom teacher for the next three years."

She paused.

Her gaze swept faintly over Yamauchi Haruki and a few others.

"In other words, we may be spending the next three years together. I hope some of you can keep your loose tongues in check and avoid causing unnecessary trouble for yourselves and the class."

Upon hearing this, Yamauchi Haruki and the others flushed bright red, lowering their heads, too afraid to meet her eyes.

Then.

Chabashira Sae bent down, opened a cabinet with a combination lock beneath the podium, and pulled out a cardboard box. She then had the students in the front row pass the contents down the line.

They were brand-new terminal devices, similar to smartphones.

"Since this school operates under a closed management system, you will all be living on campus for the next three years."

"After each of you receives a terminal, enter your student ID number to bind it to your personal account."

Chabashira Sae explained.

"Once bound, the school will issue points to serve as your currency on campus."

She swept her gaze across the students, who were already starting to stir restlessly, and dropped a bombshell.

"Your points for this month are 100,000."

"The exchange rate between points and yen is 1:1."

"Finally, remember this one thing: on campus, points can buy almost anything."

She slightly emphasized the word "anything."

"Any questions?"

In an instant.

The entire Class 1-D classroom fell into a deathly silence.

Then, like a volcanic eruption, a deafening uproar and chatter threatened to blow the roof off!

"One hundred... thousand?!"

"A hundred thousand yen a month?! You've got to be kidding?!"

"This... this is like getting a hundred thousand yen in allowance for free every month!"

"Oh my god! That game console I wanted!"

"New clothes! I'm going to buy new clothes!"

"Should we go to karaoke this afternoon to celebrate?"

"A feast! We have to have a feast!"

"This school is amazing! It's like heaven!"

Nearly all the students were swept up in ecstasy.

They excitedly discussed how to squander this sudden fortune, their faces beaming with excitement and anticipation.

Hirata Yosuke, though somewhat surprised, remained relatively restrained, trying to calm the overly excited classmates around him.

Kushida Kikyo wore a perfectly appropriate expression of surprise, chatting cheerfully with those nearby, but a flicker of doubt lurked deep in her eyes.

Only a very few kept their cool.

Akiyama Shin remained expressionless, merely fingering the terminal in his hand, his gaze deep and unreadable.

Behind him, Horikita Suzune furrowed her brow slightly, clearly sensing that this gift must have a catch.

By the window, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji still wore his poker face, but his eyes moved between the terminal and his jubilant classmates.

Koenji Rokusuke, on the other hand, showed no interest whatsoever, continuing to admire his own beauty.

Chabashira Sae watched the students, now in a frenzy, and a trace of barely perceptible disappointment flickered in her eyes.

She said nothing more, only speaking flatly.

"If you don't know how to operate it, come to the office to see me later. Also, gather at the gymnasium in half an hour for the opening ceremony."

With that, Chabashira Sae picked up her belongings and left the classroom directly.

While most students were still immersed in the excitement over the points, heatedly discussing how to spend the afternoon.

Akiyama Shin had already silently stood up, tucked the terminal into his pocket, and prepared to leave through the back door.

His movement caught the attention of two people behind him.

Horikita Suzune lifted her head almost immediately, her cold, clear eyes scrutinizing him.

She seemed to have completely forgotten the unpleasantness at the school gate earlier, or perhaps she simply didn't care about such trivial matters, asking in a tone that took it for granted.

"Where are you going?"

Akiyama Shin kept walking, not even glancing back at her. He had no intention of explaining himself, much less bringing her along to Chabashira Sae's office.

In his eyes, Horikita Suzune right now was overconfident, rigid in her thinking, and lacking in deep observational skills and cooperative value. If he let her learn the rules too easily, she likely wouldn't feel grateful—instead, she'd probably think that if she'd observed more carefully, she could have figured it out herself, failing to truly recognize her own shortcomings.

He didn't need a fool who only saw things from one angle and stubbornly clung to her own views as an ally.

What he needed was a collaborator who could think and judge independently, someone who could provide real support at critical moments.

For someone like Horikita Suzune, without the tempering of reality, it was hard to truly grow.

"Bathroom."

He tossed out a casual lie, his voice flat, and his figure quickly disappeared through the back door of the classroom.

Horikita Suzune stared at the empty doorway, a layer of frost settling over her delicate face.

She wasn't stupid, of course.

She easily saw through that flimsy lie.

His attitude wasn't so much lying as it was outright rejection and exclusion—he couldn't even be bothered to come up with a decent excuse.

She pressed her lips together, a surge of anger rising in her chest, but her pride wouldn't let her force herself on someone who clearly didn't want her around.

"Hmph, fine, don't take me then. After you're done asking, I'll go to Teacher Chabashira myself and get the full story."

She also keenly sensed that this school was far from simple on the surface, and behind those hundred thousand points, the school's true rules were surely hidden.

And she, Horikita Suzune, would never fall behind anyone!