"How can I get a lot of points?"
"I want to change classes."
After hearing Horikita Suzune's serious words, An Xiao paused, then replied with some amusement.
"Since you've put it that way, I assume you've found out the specific rules."
"Mm... I bought them from an upperclassman." Horikita Suzune nodded.
After all, following what had happened last time, Horikita Suzune had been clearly told how to find out the school's rules. As long as you weren't stupid, it wasn't difficult to get them.
"Since you know that, you should also know that the twenty million points required to change classes don't seem like something you can get easily."
"Can you tell me why you suddenly want to change classes?"
Even if the people in Class D spent money like water, didn't pay attention in class, read notebooks during lessons, and ran wild...
Well, if An Xiao were in her shoes, he'd want to leave as soon as possible, too.
It hardly seemed like a place where anyone could live.
An Xiao's expression had suddenly turned a little strange, but Horikita Suzune didn't know why. She still told him why she wanted to change classes.
To sum it up, there were only two reasons.
First, to get promoted to Class A this way. (Though An Xiao thought the main reason she wanted to reach Class A was probably to prove herself to her brother.)
Second... to get away from the bunch of idiots in Class D.
In Horikita Suzune's words, most of Class D's students were like underdeveloped paramecia, with nothing but the instinct to survive.
And while it might have been fine if she hadn't known, now that she had learned the school's rules in advance, the more she looked at Class D, the more uncomfortable and irritated she felt.
Especially after noticing how the others behaved during class, Horikita Suzune was certain that their class would have very few points left next month.
That seriously undermined her plans.
If she hadn't been unable to think of any better approach, Horikita Suzune wouldn't have come to An Xiao for help. She preferred to accomplish things on her own.
"Wait, wait, wait..." An Xiao couldn't help interrupting when he heard that.
"If you know their behavior will cost the class points, why don't you warn them?"
"At least they'd lose fewer points that way."
"...It helps, but not much."
For once, Horikita Suzune's usually cool expression faltered. She sighed and said, "Even after I explained the rules to them, a great many still said they didn't believe me."
As she spoke, Horikita Suzune gave a cold laugh. "They're just a bunch of people who refuse to face reality."
That was true. They'd been doing whatever they pleased for half a month. Now, if you told them their past behavior might cause the class to lose a huge number of points next month, and that they couldn't blame anyone else, then even if they believed you, they'd still insist it couldn't be true to make excuses for themselves.
That was rough.
Luckily, he hadn't been placed in Class D.
After privately congratulating himself, An Xiao remembered Horikita Suzune's original question.
How to get a lot of points.
Honestly, he didn't know how to answer right away. After thinking back over what had happened during the past half-month, he finally spoke.
"I can think of a few ways, but they might not meet your expectations."
"What do you mean?" Horikita Suzune asked with a frown.
Seeing that she didn't understand, An Xiao explained, "Half the month's already gone, and everyone's probably spent a lot of the points they had left. So it'll be hard to get points through ordinary means, though it isn't impossible."
"For example, you could challenge someone to a match." An Xiao pulled up the post Sakayanagi Arisu had made on the forum and showed it to Horikita Suzune.
"Or you could get a part-time job at the school mall. It might not earn you many points, but it'd still be something."
"Or..." An Xiao paused, then spread his hands and said to Horikita Suzune, "You could go to Class C and sell them the rules you've learned. You might get a decent amount of points."
"Though I wouldn't recommend it," An Xiao added with a shrug.
"Why?" Horikita Suzune asked, puzzled. After all, as far as she was concerned, this was the fastest way for her to earn points.
"You probably haven't spent much time in Class C." An Xiao rolled his eyes. "If that class's ringleader finds out you have this information, there's a good chance he won't buy it. He'll 'take' it instead."
Otherwise, An Xiao would've already had Honami Ichinose and the others sell the rules to students in Class C.
As for Class D... An Xiao had promised Hoshinomiya-sensei, so he hadn't planned to sell the rules to them.
Whether or not she'd taken his words to heart, she just sat there without moving.
Seeing this, An Xiao couldn't help saying, "I think you should keep an eye on your class's points. At the very least, try to work with a few relatively normal people."
"Some of the exams here aren't individual, and they can cost you class points, too."
"Wouldn't want your class points to end up in the negatives after a few exams."
An Xiao didn't know whether class points could go negative, but if they could keep deducting them after they reached zero, there'd surely be other penalties.
With the people in Class D... it wasn't impossible.
"Fine, I understand. Sorry for taking up your time today." Horikita Suzune nodded, though only she knew what she'd do next.
"It's fine. I did take points from your brother, after all." An Xiao waved a hand. "But I'm curious—how much did you spend on the rules?"
If An Xiao hadn't already obtained them, he probably would've bought them himself, so he was curious.
"Eighty thousand."
"...Are you always this frugal?"
Hearing the number of points, An Xiao couldn't help twitching the corner of his mouth.
"Do you still have money for food?"
"Isn't there a free Mountain Vegetable Set Meal?"
"Are you serious?"
Horikita Suzune didn't answer his last question, but her expression told An Xiao everything he needed to know.
"I give up." An Xiao took a deep breath, then let it out.
"This month, come have dinner at my place."
"What?"
"What do you mean, 'what'? I said I'll cover your dinners this month." An Xiao stood up from his chair. "Otherwise, if your arrogant brother finds out I taught you so badly that all you can eat is vegetables, it'll make me look incompetent."
"It's just one extra place at the table. Besides, you haven't had dinner tonight, have you? You might as well eat with me."
Horikita Suzune wanted to refuse, but An Xiao had already darted into the kitchen.
The aroma drifting out from the kitchen made Horikita Suzune, who'd been eating the free Mountain Vegetable Set Meal for several days, swallow involuntarily.
Let's just say... it'll make it easier to talk to him in the future.
"Then... thank you," Horikita Suzune said quietly.
If An Xiao had been there, he might have noticed that the tips of her ears had turned a little red.
And he might even have remarked...
You're a tsundere, too!
Before you continue