She also thought Classmate Shirogane's idea of holding the selection by class might be more reliable.
At the same time,
she realized that although she'd initially thought Classmate Shirogane was easy to get along with, they actually got along very well.
They were both highly intelligent and quick to understand things, so their conversations flowed without a hitch.
And Classmate Shirogane seemed even more meticulous in his thinking than she'd expected.
For example,
she thought that since her classmates included people like Classmate Ryuen, who liked using violence, and delinquent girls, there was no hope for them. But Classmate Shirogane was clearly more open-minded. Even if everyone's basic qualities were poor, he still thought the school had expectations for them.
So she was more convinced by Classmate Shirogane's theory that the selection was based on classes.
And if the school really did operate on a class basis, then things got rather subtle.
The school could simply adjust their living allowances, increasing or decreasing them as it pleased. But if everything was based on classes and the students still didn't rebel, then perhaps... their living allowance depended on their own performance.
They'd earn it through their abilities. Those with more ability would get more, while those with less would get less.
And that seemed very likely.
Because just now, while she and Classmate Shirogane had been browsing the supermarket, they'd come across some free products.
If everyone was already getting such a large living allowance, why would the school need to provide free things?
Clearly,
if someone performed too poorly, perhaps... they wouldn't get much of a living allowance.
"So what we need to do now is—" Shiina asked.
"Follow Classmate Ryuen," Shirogane replied. "Classmate Ryuen believes in using violence, and he's just confirmed that points can be spent like money. Naturally, he's realized that this school is unusual. A normal school wouldn't treat its students so generously."
"So he's a clever person, too."
"He'll very likely investigate what makes this school different."
"Most people would investigate on their own, but Classmate Ryuen might be different."
"He's probably going to pick a fight with some upperclassmen," Shirogane said. "And he might use intimidation, violence, or something similar to get information from them."
"So we should stop him..." Classmate Shiina said, but quickly shook her head. "No, we follow him and then... listen from the side as he threatens the upperclassmen and gets information?"
In other words, they'd freeload off Classmate Ryuen?
"This is complicated," Classmate Shirogane said. "Still, it's good to learn about the school in advance. And Classmate Ryuen's behavior is completely out of line. He's bullying upperclassmen right after enrolling. If we report him, I wonder if he'll get expelled."
Oh.
Hiyori nodded gently.
So they were going to freeload off Classmate Ryuen, then get him expelled.
Mm.
Wait!?
New cover art!
Classmate Shirogane wasn't simply trying to freeload off Classmate Ryuen.
Normally, Classmate Ryuen was a fellow student who'd taken the initiative to learn more about the school. That made him a clever person.
But if he used methods like intimidation and violence, they might work, but they could also bring disaster upon the whole class. On the other hand, simply getting Classmate Ryuen expelled wasn't exactly a wise move, either.
So Shirogane and Classmate Shiina followed behind Classmate Ryuen.
As expected, after leaving the supermarket, Classmate Ryuen immediately took action. He first crouched by the roadside for a while, then spotted two upperclassmen and went after them.
The two upperclassmen had just come out of a convenience store when they felt a hand land on their shoulders.
They turned around and saw Ryuen's face looming close.
Ryuen wore a smile, but his delinquent aura put them under immense pressure.
He dragged them into an alley.
"W-What are you doing? I'm telling you, there are security cameras everywhere at this school!" one of the upperclassmen immediately said. "They must've recorded you dragging us here!"
"Oh. So what?" Ryuen's expression didn't seem to change. "It's just a fight. What can they do to me? You two, though, might have a rough time."
"Hm? You're a first-year!"
The upperclassman immediately realized.
At the new student entrance ceremony that morning, the Student Council President and secretary, who were third-years, had worn the same uniforms as everyone else.
From the outside, they all looked the same.
That meant the uniforms didn't change across the school's three years, and with so many students, it was difficult to tell who was new, who was an upperclassman, or what year anyone was in.
But now, these two upperclassmen had recognized Ryuen as a first-year at a glance.
Clearly, the upperclassmen had information that the new students didn't.
But how had Ryuen given himself away?
Ryuen had said that a fight wouldn't get him into trouble.
Normally, the school would deal with fighting, but as long as nothing serious happened, the punishment wouldn't be too severe.
But the two upperclassmen clearly didn't see it that way.
That meant the school actually prohibited fighting—or at least punished it quite severely.
"Now that you know I'm a first-year, hand over the news and information," Ryuen said. "This school is unusual, right? You already know that. And you poor things..."
Ryuen's gaze fell on the shopping bags the two upperclassmen were carrying.
Ryuen had a decent eye for detail.
There wasn't much in the upperclassmen's shopping bags, just daily necessities. But none of the items had price tags, and they looked cheap.
They were the free products the store provided.
"W-What are you looking at? What class are you in? You're definitely from Class D or Class C, right? You'll soon see what hell is like, too!"
One of the upperclassmen shouted.
That alone counted as a hint.
It seemed that Classes C and D were looked down on. Shirogane and the others had only just enrolled, yet the upperclassmen already seemed to despise Classes C and D. In other words, students in those classes had always performed poorly.
But why had the students in Classes C and D always done so badly? Every year, students from all four classes enrolled together. Was there something inherently worse about Classes C and D than A and B?
Shirogane pondered this.
Up ahead, Ryuen made his next move.
"You're still barking in front of me? Looks like you don't know who's boss!"
Before long,
"W-We're sorry!"
The upperclassmen's pleas echoed through the alley.
Clearly, Classmate Ryuen had resorted to violence.
"I have mixed feelings about this."
At a distance, Classmate Shiina followed Classmate Shirogane's instructions and used her phone to record.
Normally, if someone saw a fight, they'd try to stop it. But she was recording instead.
Because,
even if they stopped Classmate Ryuen this time, what about next time?
Besides, they'd also gotten some information from the school and the upperclassmen. If the fight came to light, there might be severe consequences, and Classmate Ryuen might cause trouble for the class.
Meanwhile, Classmate Shirogane had started recording audio as well.
But he wasn't recording Ryuen's assault. He was recording the information the upperclassmen let slip.
Under the threat of violence, the upperclassmen gave in.
This school really did believe in meritocracy. It would even honor its promise to let graduates attend their chosen university for free, without entrance exams, or get their desired jobs, with doors opened wide for them.
But only students who graduated as Class 3-A would receive these benefits.
When they graduated, Classes B, C, and D would all be assigned to other schools. They would no longer belong to Ikusei High School, so their employment and further education would have nothing to do with the school.
So this was the real reason behind the 100% college acceptance rate and the exceptionally high employment rate.
It was practically a scam.
Wasn't it unfair that only Class A got a smooth path to success?
But the school did give the other classes a chance, because the rankings of Classes A, B, C, and D could change. The school would evaluate each class as a whole.
The exact criteria weren't known, but the school issued scores on the first of every month based on the previous month's evaluation.
Starting from the moment new students enrolled, each class had a base score of 1,000 class evaluation points. That score changed according to the students' performance. It could rise or fall depending on whether they were attentive or slacked off in class, as well as on how well they did in their studies.
So even Class A could let its guard down and lose to another class. And once that happened, it would be replaced the following month.
There was a precedent for this.
Two months ago, the current Student Council Vice President, Miyabi Nagumo, had been in Class B. He'd led Class B to overtake Class A and become the current Class A.
As long as their class maintained its advantage, they had a chance of graduating from the school as Class 3-A.
For the new students, the first month was crucial. Classes A, B, C, and D all started with 1,000 points, but the school would evaluate the new students' conduct and other aspects during that first month. They'd mostly lose points, so without knowing it, they could end the month with their scores drastically changed.
"But even if you become Class A, your evaluation score could still fall and send you back to Class B, C, or D. So as long as you're still at this school and still a student, your ranking can keep changing."
"Why am I even telling you this? You're from Class C or D. Even if you learn how this school really works through such underhanded methods, you'll never climb your way up," the upperclassman said.
"Has a Class C or D ever managed to climb higher?" a voice asked.
"Yes. Around the sixth or seventh graduating class, one Class D climbed all the way to Class B. I heard that a few students from that year chose to stay at the school and become teachers. It seems your Class D homeroom teacher, Teacher Chabashira, was originally in Class D, then Class B, and then—"
"Hm?"
The upperclassman, who'd been answering honestly, instinctively looked up. Ryuen, who'd been standing there listening to the rules, immediately sprang into action.
He charged straight toward Shirogane and Classmate Shiina, where the voice had come from.
"Classmate Ryuen, you don't want that video of you beating people up sent to your homeroom teacher, do you?" But Classmate Shirogane's words stopped Ryuen in his tracks.
"Classmate Ryuen, you don't want that video of you beating people up sent to your homeroom teacher, do you?"
Ryuen had been about to act, but when he heard the voice, he looked toward it.
A tall boy stood there. He had delicate features, but dark circles under his eyes, which made him look a little menacing. Was he a delinquent who'd come from some middle school, too?
As a gang leader, Ryuen had spent only half an hour or an hour in class that day, but he'd already figured out that most of the students seemed to be like him.
Delinquent girls and boys.
Ryuen had a good memory. He recalled that this person was in his class and seemed to be called Shirogane Miyuki.
The silver-haired girl with Shirogane was in his class, too.
She was the prettiest girl in the class, so even though he hadn't remembered her name, he had some impression of her.
Well.
Good. One of the two had filmed him beating people up, and the other had threatened him.
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