The Plan Begins

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

Hoshino looked back; it seemed that the guy named Yamauchi was trying to sell the game console he had just bought at the start of the term to one of his friends!

It looks like the second-hand trading plan can finally be set in motion!

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

This month, many people in the class were in a state of desperate need for points. You could often hear people asking for loans, and quite a few were trying to sell things they had bought on impulse just to recoup some funds.

Hearing and seeing such news from time to time, Hoshino felt his opportunity had arrived.

There were just a few problems; Hoshino wasn't exactly the social type. How exactly should he go about this second-hand business?

Buying up these products on a large scale would surely expose the fact that he was holding a significant amount of points, and Hoshino had no desire to interact too much with the people in his class: most of them would probably sell him out at the slightest sign of trouble.

It seems some special methods are required!

The items he bought would also need a sales channel. Given the current situation, Class D was basically incapable of purchasing such things anymore. He would only be able to sell to the upper classes ahead or to the upperclassmen.

But that would also require certain channels, and he would still need some people to help.

Right, why not find someone proficient in computer technology? Making a website? That might be even more effective and efficient. Hoshino had a sudden flash of inspiration.

But who to look for? A candidate like that wasn't easy to pin down; it would have to be left to fate.

Fortunately, the first product had been secured.

Since Yamauchi wanted to sell that game console, he could start with him. Maybe he could even ask about other people who needed to sell things?

Action speaks louder than words. Ignoring the strange looks from others, Hoshino stood up and walked straight toward Yamauchi.

"Yamauchi-kun, could I borrow a moment of your time to talk?"

Yamauchi was a bit surprised. He didn't even know the name of the person in front of him, but since they were in the same class, Yamauchi didn't have too many suspicions.

"Uh... sure!" Although Yamauchi's first instinct was to refuse, the suddenness of the situation made him agree.

"Is now a good time?"

"Yeah..." Before Yamauchi could answer, Hoshino led the way out of the classroom. Yamauchi was stunned for a moment, but followed after a short while.

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

"My name is Hoshino. Are you selling your game console? Could you sell it to me?"

"Huh?" After taking the drink, before he could even open it, Hoshino's words left Yamauchi dazed.

"It's like this! I quite like games, but the prices in the store are a bit... expensive. So, I wanted to buy one that someone else didn't want anymore..." Hoshino had no intention of telling Yamauchi the truth.

"Is that so? Hahaha..." Yamauchi's expression changed drastically, and he suddenly became talkative.

"Let me tell you, I wouldn't sell this to just anyone! When I bought this console, it cost a lot more points, but I'm a bit short on points now, which is why I want to sell it! ...I'm telling you, kid, you're getting a huge bargain! One price, 50,000 points! How about it? A great deal, right?"

Hoshino was speechless. It wasn't as if he hadn't heard what he just said to "Professor"! The price jumped by 30,000 points in an instant? Was he treating him like an ATM?

However, if this console really did cost that many points originally, it would indeed be quite a steal!

"Yamauchi-kun, that's not the price you told your friend earlier, is it? Besides, do you think I have that many points?" Hoshino shrugged, looking helpless.

Yamauchi thought for a moment. That was true; as they were both in Class D, after the initial 100,000 points for the first month and buying a few other things, there wouldn't be much left. Plus, there might not be any points coming in for the next few months!

Realizing that selling it for 50,000 points was indeed unlikely, Yamauchi changed his tune: "Then 20,000 points! That's the number I just told Professor, so it definitely won't be wrong."

Afraid that Hoshino might back out, Yamauchi emphasized it again.

"Hmm... alright! 20,000 points it is. Thank you, Yamauchi-kun!"

Hoshino thought for a moment, pretended to grit his teeth and force himself to agree, and steeled his heart to accept.

"Should I transfer the points to you now?"

"Yes, yes!" Yamauchi's expression brightened up instantly. He had no points left; his phone only showed a single-digit balance.

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

"By the way! Yamauchi-kun, I have something else I'd like to ask you."

Yamauchi was looking at the points on his phone with a face full of smiles. Hearing Hoshino's words, he turned his head in surprise and even tucked his phone closer to his chest.

"It's nothing major. I just wanted to ask if you know anyone who is good with computers? I want to learn some programming, so I was wondering if you knew anyone familiar with computers." Hoshino saw through Yamauchi's thoughts and slowly explained the situation—though, naturally, it was mostly a lie.

"Oh! You've asked the right person!" Yamauchi put his hands on his hips, looking quite arrogant.

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

"Is that so? Alright, thank you."

"No problem! Oh, right, Hoshino. We guys have some secret activities, you know?"

"Huh? What?" Hoshino was a bit confused.

"We're running a betting pool! Betting on which girl in the class has the biggest chest! Do you want to join?" Yamauchi acted like they were old friends, putting his arm around Hoshino's shoulder, leaning close to his ear to whisper, while his eyes darted around the surroundings.

Hearing this, Hoshino felt completely speechless: You're doing this without any fear of offending the girls?

Confirmed, this guy has lost his right to find a partner for the next three years!

"Hmm... I'll pass. I'm not really interested in that sort of thing." Hoshino distanced himself from Yamauchi and declined.

"What? How boring!..." Yamauchi's expression turned cold, and he walked away while muttering to himself.

These people turn their backs way too fast! Hoshino was simply speechless.

However, he had at least managed to get the information he wanted.

So, the next step should be to make contact with that person called Professor. Come to think of it, that must be a nickname, right? It's unlikely anyone would actually be named that, right?