The Plan Begins

"Professor, as your best friend, I have a favor to ask. Could you buy this game console for 20,000 points?" An expected message came through.

Hoshino turned around. It seemed that the guy named Yamauchi was trying to sell a friend the game console he'd bought just after the school year started!

Looks like the secondhand trading plan could get underway!

"Sorry! I've used up too many of my points, and I'm really short on them right now. Could I borrow some points from you?"

This month, a lot of people in class were desperately short on points. They often asked to borrow some, and quite a few wanted to sell things they'd bought on impulse to recoup some of their losses.

After seeing and hearing things like that time and again, Hoshino felt his opportunity had arrived.

There was just one problem: Hoshino wasn't particularly sociable. What was the best way to go about this secondhand trading business?

If he bought up these products on a large scale, he'd definitely reveal that he had a lot of points. Hoshino didn't want to interact much with his classmates at all. Most of them would probably sell him out at the first sign of trouble.

Looks like he'd need a special approach!

He also needed a way to sell the things he bought. Given the current situation, Class D was basically in no position to buy such things anymore. He could only sell them to the higher-ranked classes or the upperclassmen.

But that would require connections, too. He'd need some people to help him.

Right, why not find someone who was good with computers? Maybe he could make a website. That might be more efficient and convenient. Hoshino suddenly had an idea.

But who should he ask? It wasn't easy to find someone like that. He'd just have to see who came along.

Fortunately, he'd found his first product.

Since Yamauchi wanted to sell his game console, he could start with him. Maybe he could even ask if he knew anyone else who wanted to sell something.

No sooner had the thought occurred to him than Hoshino acted. Ignoring the strange looks from those around him, he stood up and walked straight over to Yamauchi.

"Yamauchi, could I talk to you for a bit?"

Yamauchi looked a little surprised. He couldn't even remember this guy's name, but since they were in the same class, he didn't think much of it.

"Uh... sure!" Yamauchi had initially wanted to refuse, but the suddenness of the situation led him to go along with it.

"Can we talk now?"

"Um..." Before Yamauchi could answer, Hoshino headed out of the classroom. Yamauchi stared after him for a moment, then followed.

Near a bench outside the school building, Hoshino bought two cans of drinks from the nearby vending machine and handed one to Yamauchi, who was sitting on the bench.

"I'm Hoshino. You're selling your game console, right? Would you sell it to me?"

"Huh?" Yamauchi took the drink, but before he could open it, Hoshino's question left him dazed.

"Well, I like games, but the ones in the shops are a little... expensive. So I thought I'd buy one that someone else didn't want anymore." Hoshino had no intention of telling Yamauchi the truth.

"Really? Hahaha..." Yamauchi's expression changed completely. He suddenly became quite the smooth talker.

"Let me tell you, most people wouldn't sell this one! It cost me a lot of points when I bought it. I'm only selling it because I'm a little short on points right now... You've really hit the jackpot, kid! One price: 50,000 points! How's that? A great deal, right?"

Hoshino was speechless. He'd heard what Yamauchi had just told "Professor"! The price had jumped by 30,000 points in an instant. Did Yamauchi think he was an ATM?

Still, if the console really had cost the original number of points, then it would be a great deal!

"Yamauchi, that's not the price you just quoted your friend. And do you think I have that many points?" Hoshino shrugged, looking helpless.

Yamauchi thought it over for a moment. Hoshino had a point. They were both in Class D, and they'd only received 100,000 points during their first month. After buying a few things, they'd hardly have any left. What's more, they might not receive even a single point in the coming months!

Realizing that 50,000 points probably wasn't going to happen, Yamauchi changed his offer. "Then how about 20,000 points? That's what I just told Professor, so you know I'm not making it up."

Yamauchi emphasized this, afraid Hoshino might change his mind.

"Hmm... Okay! 20,000 points it is. Thanks, Yamauchi."

Hoshino thought it over for a moment, then pretended to grit his teeth and reluctantly agreed.

"Should I transfer the points to you now?"

"Sure, sure!" Yamauchi's face immediately lit up. He was almost out of points, and his phone showed only a single-digit balance.

Yamauchi hurriedly handed Hoshino the game console. After they added each other as friends, Hoshino transferred the points.

"Oh, right! Yamauchi, there's something else I want to ask you."

Yamauchi was smiling as he checked the points on his phone. At Hoshino's words, he turned around in surprise and pulled his phone closer to his chest.

"It's nothing major. I just wanted to ask if you know anyone who's good with computers. I want to learn some programming, so I was wondering if you knew anyone who's good with computers." Hoshino saw what Yamauchi was thinking and slowly explained. Of course, it was mostly a lie.

"Oh! You've come to the right guy!" Yamauchi planted his hands on his hips, looking unbearably smug.

"Let me tell you, my best friend, Professor, is a genius with computers! There's nothing he can't do when it comes to computers!"

"Really? Okay, thanks."

"No problem! Oh, Hoshino, do you know about the secret activities us boys have?"

"Huh? What?" Hoshino was confused.

"We've got a betting pool going! We're betting on which girl in class has the biggest chest. Want to join?" Acting as if they were old friends, Yamauchi draped an arm over Hoshino's shoulder and leaned close to whisper in his ear, furtively glancing around.

Hoshino was speechless. You're really not worried about making enemies of the girls, are you?

Confirmed: this guy had already lost all rights to date for the next three years!

"Um... I'll pass. I'm not really interested in that sort of thing." Hoshino put some distance between himself and Yamauchi and politely declined.

"What? You're no fun..." Yamauchi's expression turned cold. Muttering under his breath, he walked away.

These people changed their attitudes way too quickly! Hoshino was utterly speechless.

Still, at least he'd gotten the information he wanted.

Next, it was time to get in touch with that guy called Professor. Come to think of it, that was probably a nickname. Surely no one was actually named that?