Ichinose Honami followed the voice and saw a tall, handsome boy. Since she didn't usually interact with him, all she knew was that his name was Kanzaki Ryuji.
Still, it was the first time they'd heard anything like this, so it was only natural that some of the class couldn't accept it right away.
"That's way too unfair! Only Class A gets the right to choose where to go to college or work. Does that mean we get nothing?"
Some people had been drawn by the prospect of a free education, while others had come for the chance to choose their own path after graduation.
Learning all of a sudden that they might not get what they wanted was bound to leave them anxious and discouraged.
Just as Ichinose Honami was about to offer a few words of comfort, someone beat her to it.
"Hahaha! Sure, they say it's all about ability, but we're not bad either. We started out in Class B, after all."
The speaker was Shibata Sou. He was very popular in class and also had plenty of athletic talent. He'd already joined the soccer club.
"If we work a little harder, maybe we'll move up to Class A in no time." Shibata Sou kept the mood lively, a broad smile on his face.
And he wasn't far off the mark. After all, Class B was only one step away from Class A.
"I think so too. The school can't put every outstanding student in Class A; that would defeat the purpose of competition. So we still have a chance."
Ichinose Honami picked up where Shibata Sou had left off. Seeing that everyone had indeed relaxed and stopped looking so tense, she felt relieved.
"I believe in you, Honami. With you in our class, I'm sure we'll be fine." Shiranami Chihiro had been worried, but as soon as she looked at Ichinose Honami, she put those worries out of her mind.
She didn't notice that Ichinose Honami's expression stiffened for a moment when she said that.
"What do you plan to do, Ichinose?" Kanzaki Ryuji asked in a low voice.
Ichinose Honami was silent for a moment before answering. "We don't know how Class Points will go up or down yet, so I think everyone should hold on to some of their Private Points."
"Huh? Are Private Points that important?" Shiranami Chihiro asked.
"I think they might be just as important as Class Points. Private Points could become a weapon for us later on." Ichinose Honami had keenly sensed how useful Private Points could be. After all, Suzuki Toru had left a deep impression on her.
"For example, to buy more information?" Kanzaki Ryuji suddenly asked.
Ichinose Honami looked at him in surprise. He didn't say much in class and wasn't especially noticeable, so she hadn't expected him to catch on so quickly.
"Not just information. There may be plenty of other uses we don't know about yet." She paused. "I hope everyone will work together and strive toward our goal of reaching Class A. What do you think?"
"I'm in!" Shiranami Chihiro raised her hand first.
"Hahaha! Of course!"
Shibata Sou was next, followed by one student after another.
"Why don't we let you keep track of everyone's points, Ichinose?" Kanzaki Ryuji suggested.
"Yeah, yeah! Let Honami look after everyone's points!"
At that moment, all the goodwill Ichinose Honami had built up came back to her.
No one even suggested another candidate. She was the obvious choice. On the first day of school, everyone had recommended her as class leader, and now they were doing it again.
But in that moment, Ichinose Honami faltered.
"Ahaha, I don't think you have to put them in my hands. Why not leave them with Kanzaki or Shibata?"
She put on a carefree smile, but an inexplicable fear pierced her heart as everyone looked at her, leaving a dull ache.
Ichinose Honami had begun to fear the burden of carrying so much trust.
In truth, it had already taken a lot of courage for her to say what she had.
After all, she'd had a nightmare the night before. In it, Suzuki Toru had expressionlessly pinned her against a desk and told everyone, "Look. This is proof that Ichinose Honami committed a crime."
Kanzaki Ryuji furrowed his brow. Ichinose Honami seemed a little strange today, not as lively as usual.
And who had told her all this information?
Chapter Twenty-Five: Take a Look Below
By his count, Suzuki Toru had already earned five reward draws.
Once he got back to his dorm, he planned to do a ten-pull.
[Drawing the corresponding rewards...] [Congratulations! You have received the reward—"Lucky Dice"!] ["Lucky Dice": Once you roll the dice, the number rolled grants you a corresponding luck boost, up to six times. The effect lasts for only 12 hours.] [Congratulations! You have received the reward—"Arbitrary Use Voucher"!] ["Arbitrary Use Voucher": You may use any one item without restriction and without incurring anyone's blame or criticism. Until its use is complete, everything will be taken for granted.] [Congratulations! You have received the reward—"Military Ration Pill"!] [Congratulations! You have received the reward—"Going Merry Melee Videotape"!] [Congratulations! You have received the reward—"Succubus Customs Appreciation Manual"!] [All rewards have been issued. Please check that you have received them!]
He'd complained about it plenty of times, but did these things really count as supernatural items?
Suzuki Toru had always suspected the Wish Machine put a bunch of junk in the same prize pool. It was like drawing a bunch of useless weapons from a character banner.
That sort of thing was usually impossible, right?
Suzuki Toru skimmed through the rewards and fell into thought. Which one should he use next?
Well, first, he needed to figure out how to earn back the Private Points he'd lost.
Whether he wanted to win his game against Sakayanagi Arisu or do anything else, Private Points were an indispensable tool.
So now Suzuki Toru had to think of a way to earn as many Private Points as possible.
After thinking for a while, Suzuki Toru turned his attention to the first-years.
Of course, he could keep extorting Miyabi Nagumo, but he couldn't play favorites. He needed to test the waters with the other classes, too.
Class B wasn't a realistic option. Ichinose Honami was bound to be wary of him, and using her now might make her break down too soon. He couldn't drain the pond to catch the fish.
That left only Class C and Class D.
He had no idea how much more he could squeeze out of those two classes. Suzuki Toru thought of the things Kushida Kikyo and the others had bought. They hadn't been cheap.
Well, it wasn't as if he only had this month. Even if there was nothing to squeeze out of them now, that didn't mean there wouldn't be later.
Suzuki Toru quickly came to terms with that and then went to bed as if nothing had happened.
Come to think of it, he had a date with someone from Class D.
The next day.
Class A's classroom.
Suzuki Toru had just taken his seat when Kamuro Masumi, sitting beside him, stared at him for no apparent reason.
"Hey, why did you provoke Sakayanagi yesterday?"
"I should be asking you why you're following Classmate Sakayanagi around. Have you made up your mind yet?"
"...It's none of your business. Don't tell me what to do." Kamuro Masumi seemed very displeased by his counterquestion. "Besides, I'm the one asking you a question, aren't I?"
"Don't you want to see Classmate Sakayanagi dressed up like a kitten?" Suzuki Toru asked.
Kamuro Masumi froze for a moment, then realized that the idea did seem a little tempting. She sneaked a glance toward Sakayanagi Arisu, who didn't seem to have heard.
"You're shameless."
Next time you say that, try hiding your excited expression a little better—and remember to look people in the eye.
"Why are you suddenly so obedient to Classmate Sakayanagi?" Suzuki Toru asked. "Did she promise you something? Or does she have something on you?"
"That doesn't matter at all. I can do whatever I want." A trace of irritation flashed in Kamuro Masumi's eyes.
"I just want to know what she has on you."
"Don't joke around. There's no way she has anything like that!"
"So Sakayanagi Arisu caught you in the act while you were shoplifting, huh?"
"I barely— Wait, what are you talking about?" Kamuro Masumi caught herself in time, and her expression changed abruptly. "Suzuki, were you there that time!?"
Her voice was a little too loud, drawing the attention of a few students.
Kamuro Masumi realized she'd lost her composure and promptly shut her mouth. Silence fell between them.
Since she wasn't saying anything, Suzuki Toru looked away and went back to writing in his notebook.
After a while, Kamuro Masumi finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey, hey. How do you know about that?"
Suzuki Toru didn't hurry to answer. She was the one who should be getting anxious now, not him.
When he didn't respond, Kamuro Masumi bit her lip. Her long legs, hidden beneath the desk, began to bounce even more impatiently.
She'd thought being caught by Sakayanagi Arisu was already bad enough. Why did Suzuki Toru know about it too?
"Did Sakayanagi tell you?" Kamuro Masumi nudged him with her calf, the warning in the gesture unmistakable. "Don't tell me you're going to threaten me too."
Suzuki Toru glanced at her. She was wearing black knee-high socks again today. They were spotless and finely textured, and her straight, slender calves made him want to hold them in his hands and play with them.
And her snow-white thighs looked soft and full beneath her slightly short skirt, as if he might catch a glimpse of something.
"The first time I saw you, I could tell you were a hopeless case." Suzuki Toru sighed theatrically. "Sure enough, you've started stealing at this school too."
Kamuro Masumi stiffened, then asked uncertainly, "Have you seen me before?"
"Don't worry. This is the first time we've met. Before this, neither of us knew the other existed." Suzuki Toru smiled faintly.
That somehow made it even scarier!
When on earth had he seen her?!
Before you continue