An hour after Shiina and I had started shopping, I sat in a corner of the food court, drinking water.
There was a water dispenser, so buying a drink would've been a waste.
Shiina was drinking the free water too, probably because we'd just been talking about free products.
We'd bought quite a few things, but the trip had still been worthwhile.
Every now and then, the free products included some surprisingly appealing little items.
But when Shiina suddenly asked to exchange contact information, I was caught completely off guard.
I had no clear reason to refuse, and a few classmates were looking our way, so I reluctantly agreed.
Anyway—
"So, why do you think our points will go up or down on the very first day? I just thought it was suspicious that we'd get a hundred thousand points for free every month."
Shiina asked as she drank her water.
Back at the convenience store, people had kept coming and going, so I'd decided to wait until we were done shopping before discussing it.
"I don't mind explaining, but it's just a guess. Don't take it too seriously."
Shiina nodded, and I continued. "Our school has over four hundred students, right? Let's say there are four hundred. If every student gets a hundred thousand points a month, how much would the school have to pay?"
"400 times... forty million yen. In a year..."
"Four hundred and eighty million. Even with government subsidies, nearly half a billion a year is ridiculous."
Besides, it was possible that some students would be judged "not worth a hundred thousand points a month." That made the idea seem even more plausible.
"I see. So you think there's a system that increases and decreases our points?"
"Exactly. If I were the chairman, I'd give more points to talented students with good grades, and less to students with bad conduct. Something like, 'You behaved terribly in class this month, so you only get thirty thousand,' or, 'You got full marks on every quiz, so you get a hundred and fifty thousand this month.'"
"Also, like we were saying earlier, there might be students who hardly get any points at all."
Given how popular the free products were, it wouldn't be surprising if some students had no income.
"That makes sense... But there's only so much we can do right now, isn't there?"
Shiina had a point.
As a first-year student, all I could do was "pay attention in class" and "avoid buying things recklessly."
That was the best strategy for now.
"True. We should just do what we can. Anyway, that's my theory about the points going up and down. If you think it's nonsense, just forget I said anything."
Just then—
"No, that was a very insightful explanation. It was certainly no nonsense."
A voice suddenly came from behind us.
I turned around and found a silver-haired girl sitting at the next table, her back to us.
"Pardon me. I wasn't deliberately eavesdropping, but your conversation was too interesting to ignore."
She turned around gracefully, leaning on her cane, and my internal alarms started blaring.
Like Shiina, she had silver hair, but hers was short.
Perhaps she used a cane because a congenital condition made it difficult for her to walk.
But that wasn't the issue. She was like a bottomless pool; words like "smart" or "beautiful" couldn't begin to describe her.
She was petite, yet her presence was overwhelming.
"Allow me to introduce myself, belatedly. I'm Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A. I use a cane because of a congenital condition, and my hobby is drinking coffee in cafés."
"I'm Shiina Hiyori from Class C."
"Hayama Hayato from Class D."
I gave a false name on the spur of the moment.
My instincts told me I'd be in serious trouble if this woman learned my real name.
When Shiina glanced at me in confusion, Sakayanagi nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Shiina and Hikigaya."
My heart skipped a beat.
As I wondered how she knew, she pointed at my right hand. The envelope holding my brochure clearly had my real name on it.
She'd seen through me in an instant...
"I should be going. By the way, would you two mind exchanging contact information with me?"
"Of course. This is Hikigaya's contact information."
Shiina, you sold me out?!
"Thank you. Hikigaya, I've sent you my contact information."
Sakayanagi smiled like a cat playing with a mouse.
As she spoke, my phone rang.
Reluctantly, I saved her contact information.
Ah, I could feel my peaceful life crumbling away.
I was partly to blame, but if I'd known this would happen, I should've waited until I got back to my dorm and contacted Shiina by phone.
"Thank you for letting me hear such an interesting theory. Well, I'll see you again."
As I bitterly regretted my choices, Sakayanagi gave me one last glance and walked away at an unhurried pace.
I'd used a false name to avoid getting involved, but there was no doubt I'd already caught her attention.
"Hikigaya, why did you use a false name?"
"...Don't ask. It's complicated."
That was all I could say.
A peaceful life was out of the question now. At the very least, I hoped I could live without being harassed...
"Heh..."
After parting ways with Hachiman and Hiyori, Sakayanagi Arisu smiled.
She thought back to Hachiman's attitude toward her, his theory about the [points], and the lie he'd told.
She understood the basics of the points system herself, but she hadn't expected a student from Class D to give such a logically sound explanation on the very first day of school.
What intrigued her most was his lie.
At the time, Arisu had happened to notice the name on the envelope Hachiman was holding after he lied. Without that envelope, she would certainly have believed he was Hayama Hayato.
Arisu had dealt with heirs of all kinds of powerful and influential figures, including people in politics, and had long since learned how to recognize a lie.
She could judge whether someone was telling the truth from their breathing, eye movements, and blinking.
Yet Hachiman had acted naturally the whole time, without a hint of hesitation. She couldn't tell he was lying at all.
The more she thought about it, the more interesting he seemed.
He looked like a man with no motivation, but certain things about him suggested he was special.
At the same time, he'd stirred up her competitive spirit.
This time, it had only been a self-introduction. If he fooled her during a negotiation, he might turn the tables on her.
For someone who hated losing, that would be a terrible humiliation.
"I never thought I'd take an interest in a student from Class D... But he's clearly avoiding me. Perhaps I should invite him to lunch tomorrow?"
Though she'd spoken with Hachiman for less than five minutes, she could easily imagine him looking annoyed when she invited him to lunch.
Finding the thought amusing, Arisu returned to the dormitory with a light chuckle.
A little after two in the afternoon, Shiina and I arrived at the dormitory.
We collected the dormitory handbook and room key cards from the front desk on the first floor. When we stepped into the elevator, I was surprised to see that the dormitory housed both boys and girls.
I'd assumed they'd be separated.
As I was thinking about that, the elevator reached the fourth floor.
When the doors opened, I said goodbye to Shiina.
"See you tomorrow."
"Okay. Thanks for keeping me company today. The library should be open tomorrow, so if you have time..."
The elevator doors closed before she could finish. I walked to Room 412 and unlocked it.
It was a single room of about eight tatami mats, more than enough for one person.
I went straight to the bed and checked the handbook. When I saw that the school covered all the water, electricity, and gas bills, I felt relieved.
I skimmed through the other rules. Most of them were just common sense.
The most unusual rule was the prohibition on high school students engaging in romances inappropriate for their status.
Still, it would be ridiculous for a school to encourage that kind of thing.
Thinking that, I tossed the handbook onto the desk and sprawled across the bed.
I gazed out at the blue sky and thought about how I'd be living here for the next three years.
Between Shiina and Sakayanagi, my hopes for a peaceful life seemed slim. But being cut off from the outside world was already enough.
Or rather, that had been my reason for applying in the first place.
Just then, my phone rang. I pulled it out and saw...
"I'm terribly sorry for eavesdropping on your conversation today. I'd like to treat you to lunch as an apology. Would you be free tomorrow?"
A message from Sakayanagi.
I replied immediately:
"I'm really not free. I'm having lunch with a classmate. No need to apologize."
As soon as I sent the rejection, a reply came in:
"That won't do. I'll come to your classroom tomorrow to get you."
What the hell! Shiina had invited me out today, and now Sakayanagi was after me tomorrow. My already slim chances of a peaceful life were completely doomed!
I quickly typed out a second message:
"If you're in poor health, don't push yourself. I accept your apology, so don't come to the classroom."
Another reply arrived soon after:
"Understood. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
Damn it... I really shouldn't have run my mouth about the points to Shiina...
On my first day of school, I let out yet another sigh.
Before you continue