Change, change into something delicious~ Cute heart beam!

"Hachiman, have your points arrived yet?"

"Hmm?... Ah, today is July 1st, the day points are distributed. Hold on."

Early on a July morning, while I was finishing breakfast with Hiyori before heading to school as usual, she suddenly brought it up. I opened my terminal screen—

Hikigaya Hachiman

ppt

The numbers were displayed. Between the reward points from the midterm exams, the wagers from the Chess Club, and the occasional bonus questions from teachers in class, my accumulated private points had already exceeded 1.5 million.

However... they hadn't increased compared to yesterday.

"No change. I guess our class points are still zero."

Even though we scored high on the midterms and put an end to tardiness, absences, and chatting in class, our class points remained at zero. It seems the negative impact of that commotion back in April was still being deducted in ways we couldn't see.

"My terminal didn't receive any points either," Hiyori added. According to her, even though Class B had its fair share of problem students, their classroom order was normal enough that their class points shouldn't have hit zero.

Come to think of it...

"It might be a system error on the school's end, causing no one to receive them. If you need them urgently, I can lend you some."

If it were Hiyori, I wouldn't even need a promissory note. In the three months since we enrolled, she had already become an important presence in my life.

"No need! I still have over 100,000 points. I was just asking because I thought it was strange."

"We'll get a notification once we reach school anyway. Let's go."

"Mm."

After confirming Hiyori had linked her arm with mine as usual, we stepped out toward the elevator. When the doors opened, we found Sakanayanagi already inside.

"Morning, Sakanayanagi."

"Good morning, you two. I was just wondering, have your points arrived yet?"

"Neither Hiyori nor I have received any. If even you in Class A are in the same boat, does that mean the entire first year is affected?"

"Precisely. However, the school, which monitors student activity at all times, would never simply forget to distribute points. Either the school has encountered an emergency and cannot pay, or our class points are about to undergo a major change, necessitating a delay."

That makes sense. It is indeed possible, as Sakanayanagi says; perhaps the rumored special exam is about to begin.

"Either way, I can get by on private points even without class points."

"Hikigaya-kun certainly can. You're aiming for a perfect score on the final exams this month to get the reward points again, aren't you?"

"Of course."

I earned less than expected on the midterms, so I've started reviewing immediately after the last exam; I'm going for perfect scores in every subject.

"That greed is commendable. If you have any intention of rising to Class A, Hikigaya-kun, just agree to join my faction, and I can ask my friends to finance you."

The fact that she would propose this shows that the Sakanayanagi faction already trusts her implicitly.

"Very tempting, but I hate group activities."

"I figured you'd say that. But if you're ever dissatisfied with Class D, you're always welcome to come over."

"Thanks."

We walked toward the school while chatting. With only a few weeks left until summer vacation, I really just want to spend them in peace.

◇

In the classroom, I was studying a chess endgame as usual when the bell rang and Chabashira entered.

"Good morning, everyone. The atmosphere is unusually restless today."

As soon as the teacher finished speaking, Ike jumped up: "Chabashira-sensei! Don't tell me our class is at zero points again? We found out this morning that nothing arrived!"

"I see, so that's what this is about."

It seems it wasn't just our class; the others hadn't received them either. I had just emailed Ichinose from Class B, and she confirmed the same situation.

While Ike was still complaining, Chabashira reassured us: "Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions. The school is well aware of Class D's efforts." As she spoke, she unfolded a large sheet of paper she had brought and posted it on the blackboard:

"I will now announce this month's class points."

The unfolded paper showed:

Class A: 1004 points (an increase from enrollment)

Class D: 87 class points, meaning each person receives 8700 private points.

"87 points means... we made progress?! Yes!"

Starting with Yamauchi's cheer, the whole class erupted. After all, for students other than me, this was the first time they'd seen class points in two months. Naturally, they were ecstatic.

"It's too early to celebrate. Look at the points of the other classes. Their growth is comparable to yours, or even higher. This is merely a uniform reward distributed to all classes that passed the exam."

I see. That way, the gap wouldn't shrink.

"Horikita, you don't seem very happy?"

"No, that's not it. One can discern a few clues from this result."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Faced with Horikita's meaningful remark, Ike couldn't help but ask.

But even under the gaze of everyone, Horikita had no intention of explaining.

At this moment, Hirata spoke up in her place: "The point deductions caused by our whispering earlier didn't actually convert into hidden negative points, did they?"

"I see! If there were hidden deductions, our points for this month should still be zero!" Hirata's accurate deduction and simple explanation made Ike suddenly realize.

"Then why haven't the points been deposited yet?" The question returned to the starting point. Although the notice board stated the class points were 87, our terminals hadn't received 8,700 private points. The terminals of other classes hadn't received them either.

"There's a system glitch, just a delay in distribution. Please wait patiently."

So it was a mistake by the school, that's a relief.

"Since it's a school error, shouldn't there be additional compensation points?"

"That is for the school to decide. Once the glitch is fixed, they will be distributed normally—provided that you still have points left in your accounts to be deducted."

Wait! What does that last sentence mean!

"That's how it is. Judging from the conversation with Chabashira, someone in Class D messed up. Although the delay in distribution is a school error, our class might not get any points at all."

"It's probably that guy Sudo, right? He got into a conflict with a second-year senior on the first day of school and loses his temper at the drop of a hat."

During lunch break, as I was gnawing on a sandwich in the cafeteria and grumbling, Hashimoto from Class A, who was sitting across from me, brought up this possibility.

Ever since that maid incident, we had gradually become close. We even went to a maid cafe together last week, only to run into Kamuro on our way out; the two of us laughed so hard we couldn't stand straight and almost got beaten up.

"Should we have pretended not to know that guy back then?"

"You mean the midterm exam thing? Indeed, if we hadn't saved him then, although class points would have been deducted, it would still be better than worrying about being expelled all day long, right?"

Although neither Hashimoto nor I said it explicitly, it was clear that everyone understood. Sudo was a ticking time bomb, hot-tempered and self-centered, and he was completely isolated in the class.

"I don't really care about class points, I just want to live a peaceful school life. This is no joke."

"Then let me make you laugh."

Hashimoto suddenly pulled out his terminal and operated it a few times, shoving the screen in front of me—

"Become, become delicious~ Moe Moe Heart Beam!"

"Pfft! Ugh... pffthahaha!"

In the video, a blushing Kamuro was making a heart shape at an omelet rice. Help, I've watched it dozens of times and I still can't stop!

"See, you're laughing quite happily."

"I was forced to laugh! But it is funny..."

"Right? Even after watching it dozens of times, I still crack up." So this guy loops it too? I can understand, it's just too addictive. I feel like Sakanayanagi also peeks at it often; once, I caught her staring at Kamuro trying to hold back her laughter.

"By the way, that maid cafe has a new item, want to go try it after school?"

"Sorry, I just went the day before yesterday. Besides, the new item is too greasy, I don't recommend it."

"Really? Then next time. By the way, Hashimoto..."

I said while pulling out my terminal—

"Become, become delicious~ Moe Moe Heart Beam!"

"Pfftha!"

I returned the move exactly as it was. I don't like being teased unilaterally.

If Kamuro saw this clip, I would definitely be silenced.

After school, as I was preparing to leave the classroom as usual, an accident occurred.

"Sudo, I have something to tell you. Come to the faculty office."

Chabashira called out to Sudo, who was in a hurry to go to his club activity. The conversation with Hashimoto during lunch break immediately surfaced in my mind.

"Huh? I'm going to Basketball Club training."

"I've already notified the advisor. Come or not, it's up to you, but bear the consequences yourself."

What kind of dangerous conversation is this? The air in the classroom instantly froze.

"What the hell? It'll be over quickly, right?"

"That depends on your level of cooperation."

After Chabashira finished speaking, she turned and left, and Sudo clicked his tongue and followed.

At the same time, the thawed classroom erupted into whispers.

"That guy really never changes. Wouldn't it have been better if he was expelled back then?"

Similar conversations rose and fell. The students were clearly worried that this incident would lead to the class points being wiped out.

Although I could understand their anxiety, I really didn't want to stay in an environment filled with malice. I quickened my pace and left the classroom.

So, how should I kill time after school today?