S System, Hirata's Bitter Smile

Time flies.

Soon, a month had passed since the start of the school year.

The vegetation lining the paths of Advanced Nurturing grew increasingly lush, as if suggesting that the fresh blood welcomed in April had already adapted to this fully enclosed lifestyle.

Today was the day designated by the school for the distribution of points.

Classes A, B, C, and D all received their respective points, though their moods were vastly different.

A few words from Chabashira Sae sent the bewildered students of Class D into the depths of despair.

This month, they had received only a quarter of the personal points they got last month, the lowest among all four classes.

Meanwhile, Classes A, B, and C had received 100,000, 100,000, and 100,000 personal points respectively.

As expected of Class D!

Additionally, Chabashira announced the S System, which formed the foundation of the school's education, along with two pieces of important information.

Each class starts with 1,000 class points, and each individual's personal points are calculated by multiplying the class points by 100.

Following the behavioral assessment during the first month, Class D had 750 points deducted, leaving them with only 250, which is why each student only received 25,000 personal points.

Class points will be gained or lost based on the results of future assessments; in other words, if one wants a substantial living allowance every month, they must strive for good results in assessments and avoid the penalties that come with falling to the bottom.

Important Information 1: Only Class A enjoys a 100% guarantee of employment and further education choices.

The sole standard for measuring Class A is class points; in other words, whoever has the highest points is Class A.

Whoever surpasses someone else's points replaces them—it is fair yet cruel.

Important Information 2: Assessments do not only affect the increase or decrease of class points; some exams also carry specific penalties and rewards.

Penalties include expulsion, while rewards include immunity from expulsion (one-time use).

Keyaki Mall.

Ayanokoji sat on a bench beside a vending machine, his head resting against the backrest as he gazed up at the sky.

He had long anticipated the personal points he would receive this month; what surprised him was that it was slightly more than he had estimated.

What was the amount in the original plot again?

He couldn't quite remember.

Regardless, he hadn't spent lavishly last month, so he had no worries about his living expenses.

Including the 25,000 from this month, he still had over 110,000 personal points.

Moreover, it was said that personal points would be converted into cash after graduation, so he had even less reason to be extravagant.

While he was lost in thought, Hirata, who had been buying drinks nearby, returned and handed a cold beverage to him.

Ayanokoji glanced sideways, reached out, and took the drink.

"How is it? Is it to your liking?"

Watching Ayanokoji take a sip, Hirata asked.

"Surprisingly good." Ayanokoji's tone was as calm as water, though he felt a slight stir within.

His eyes flickered as he picked up the bottle to examine it.

"Haha, that's good." Receiving Ayanokoji's approval, Hirata flashed a warm, gentle smile.

"If you want another, I'll buy you one."

"No, that's alright." Ayanokoji frowned slightly.

It wasn't that he wanted to be polite to Hirata, but rather that he still had a high balance of 110,000; there was no reason for Hirata, who only had 30,000 left, to treat him.

As for why Hirata only had 30,000 left after just receiving 25,000, Ayanokoji had his own deductions.

Aside from lending it to others, he didn't think Hirata, who lived just as frugally as he did, would have spent that many points.

Ayanokoji glanced at the silent Hirata and asked with some concern: "Are you sure you're okay, Hirata?"

"You only have 30,000 left right after the points were issued..."

"It's fine, I don't have many expenses, I can barely get by this month..." He paused for two seconds, then squeezed out a smile and said, "Let's work hard this month and aim for good grades on the midterm exams; we'll be much better off next month."

Damn, that's touching.

But Hirata, you shouldn't be saying that to me.

The most I can do is help you out when you have nothing to eat.

Ayanokoji murmured to himself.

Hirata offered a wry smile; he knew full well that the class had many problems—a lack of discipline, a lack of unity, and everyone only thinking of themselves...

Yet, he was still very grateful that Ayanokoji had stepped up to help the class during the first month. If not for the information Ayanokoji provided, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say Class D would have received nothing at all this month.

Although he was the only one who knew about that.

That was why he had invited Ayanokoji out today to thank him, even if, at this stage, he could only afford to treat him to a drink.

Hirata looked up at the distant blue sky and let out an involuntary sigh.

The road to becoming a top-tier class is long and arduous indeed.

After parting ways with Hirata, Ayanokoji decided to wander around aimlessly.

After all, it was the weekend, and there was nothing to do if he went back to the dorms too early. The only person he could call a friend had already been met, and he couldn't exactly go for a second round.

He walked through the shopping mall without a destination, his gaze drifting between the various storefronts, where he spotted quite a few familiar faces.

The pink-haired girl surrounded by a crowd of girls in the cafe, Karuizawa and Sato in the clothing store, and Ike and Yamauchi sitting in the rest area in front of the convenience store, looking utterly dejected due to a lack of living expenses...

By chance, Ayanokoji's wandering gaze landed on a girl dressed in a strange outfit in front of an electronics store.

She wore a hat and a mask, sported low pink twin-tails, and her attire looked slightly old-fashioned compared to the other girls on the street.

But the magnificent, protruding hemispheres on her chest betrayed the fact that she was anything but ordinary!

Based on this alone, she was enough to look down on 99% of the girls in the school.

He thought to himself.

As a curious soul, Ayanokoji still wanted to figure out the reason for the girl's getup, and as it happened, he had walked right up to the front of the electronics store.

In this prestigious Advanced Nurturing High School, heavily funded by the government, one basically didn't need to worry too much about personal safety, yet this girl had wrapped herself up so tightly, as if afraid of exposing even an inch of skin to the sunlight...

Ayanokoji rested his chin on his hand and pondered for two and a half seconds.

Could she be from the Darkin race?

Obviously not.

The girl in front of the store was fidgeting, her voice as soft as a mosquito's, as she talked to the shopkeeper about something.

He saw the girl constantly hesitating, and as the line behind her grew longer, the expression on the shopkeeper's face became increasingly impatient, even showing signs of trying to force a sale.

Ayanokoji finally couldn't watch anymore and walked over silently. Only then did he learn that the girl wanted to repair a damaged camera but was afraid to fill in her personal information for fear of exposing her privacy.

Cautious, overly cautious.

?, could it be that you're some kind of popular idol streamer or something?

But immediately after seeing the shopkeeper's gaze, which was almost entirely fixed on a single line, Ayanokoji changed his mind.

What a sleazy old geezer! Even I wouldn't be that blatant.

Ayanokoji said nothing, took the receipt directly, wrote down his own phone number and address after getting the pink-haired girl's consent, and then pulled the girl away from the queue.

In front of a vending machine, Ayanokoji handed the girl a drink, took one for himself, and downed a large gulp after opening it.

Ah~ Hirata really knows his stuff.

After taking a refreshing drink, Ayanokoji glanced at the other beverage in the girl's hand that hadn't been opened yet and said indifferently:

"Go ahead and drink it, it's fine, my treat."

Hearing this, the girl raised her watery eyes, took only a single look at Ayanokoji, and then hurriedly averted her gaze to the ground, looking around as if she had done something guilty.

Seeing this, Ayanokoji fell into deep thought.

Uh... I've seen shy people, but never anyone this shy.