Standing on the podium, Chie Hoshinomiya looked around. Seeing that no one had any questions about the rules, she sighed inwardly, then focused her gaze on a boy who was hunching over and doing his best to make himself inconspicuous.
"An Xiao, you just raised your hand, didn't you? Did you have a question?"
Caught off guard when his name was suddenly called, An Xiao shuddered all over, then forced a smile and said to Chie Hoshinomiya, "Teacher, you've got sharp eyes."
I only hesitated for a few seconds. How did you notice?
"Of course. I pay special attention to all of you," Chie Hoshinomiya said with a smile, her eyes narrowing.
Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, An Xiao sighed and finally stood up, though for a moment he had no idea what to ask.
He couldn't just ask outright if this school was a scam, could he? Or whether there was something wrong with those 100,000 points?
Come on. If there really was a problem, would asking about it make them tell you?
Wait, points!?
Looking at the words "Personal Points" on his phone screen, An Xiao seemed to remember something. He raised his head, carefully considered his wording, and asked a question she could answer.
"Um, teacher, what are Class Points? What are they used for?"
An Xiao's question left the other students in the class a little confused. Honami Ichinose, who was sitting in front of him, turned around with a puzzled look as well.
But unlike the confusion among the students, Chie Hoshinomiya seemed not only puzzled but also curious and delighted.
"An Xiao, how did you find out about Class Points?"
"Huh? Well, I saw them on a bulletin board about upperclassmen's activities when I was wandering around the school earlier."
"And I also saw that the classes were ranked according to their Class Points. They went from A to D in descending order. Is it the same for us?"
An Xiao answered honestly, then waited for her reply.
"You certainly pay close attention, An Xiao," Chie Hoshinomiya said with a smile. But on closer inspection, the smile at the corners of her mouth had grown even more eager.
At the same time, the school's evaluation of An Xiao flashed through her mind.
[Name: An Xiao
Class: First-Year Class B
Academic Ability: B+
Intelligence: A+
Judgment: B
Physical Ability: C-
Teamwork: C
Admissions Officer's Evaluation: This student has an IQ well above that of his peers and an excellent memory. However, an investigation into his past revealed that when it comes to competitive matters, he does not make much effort unless they have a significant impact on him. We suspect he will have little interest in moving up a class after enrolling.
Based on our analysis of his personality, this student is relatively "passive." He will complete assigned tasks well, but will still proactively offer help when a friendly acquaintance asks for it or when he sees a friend in trouble.
Overall assessment: Assign this student to Class B.]
"Tea-teacher?"
"Ahem. An Xiao, that's a very good question," Chie Hoshinomiya said, coughing strategically a few times when she heard him call out to her. Her expression held both delight and conflicted feelings.
After all, she couldn't simply explain the rules outright. The school placed restrictions on all its teachers in that regard.
At the very least, they couldn't reveal them themselves.
After thinking it over, Chie Hoshinomiya smiled again and said, "The answer I can give you is..."
"This is a school where ability reigns supreme!"
"Are you satisfied with my answer, An Xiao?"
?????
An Xiao was confused. An Xiao was deeply shocked.
No, did you just casually skip over my question about Class Points?
And now you're asking if I'm satisfied?
But seeing that Hoshinomiya-sensei clearly had no intention of explaining any further, An Xiao grumbled inwardly but dutifully said he understood, then sat down.
Seeing that no one else on the podium had any further questions, Chie Hoshinomiya had everyone briefly introduce themselves. Then, after explaining the arrangements for the dormitories and classes the next day, she left the classroom and let them do as they pleased.
As Hoshinomiya-sensei disappeared from the classroom, the room gradually grew noisy. But every so often, one or two students would glance at An Xiao.
After all, everyone was curious about both An Xiao's question and Hoshinomiya-sensei's cryptic answer.
"Hey, An Xiao..." Shibata couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer. He scooted his chair closer to An Xiao and asked, "What was that cryptic back-and-forth with the teacher about? Why were you two being so mysterious?"
"An Xiao, did you figure something out?" Honami Ichinose, sitting in front of him, turned around and asked, equally curious.
She wasn't stupid. Though she had initially been stunned by the huge sum of 100,000 points, the exchange between An Xiao and the teacher had given her an odd feeling too.
Maybe it was just his imagination, but An Xiao felt that as their questions came up, the other conversations in the classroom had suddenly quieted down too.
Looking at the two figures—a pink-haired one and an orange-haired one—who had both leaned in front of him, An Xiao scratched his cheek awkwardly, especially with a beautiful girl staring so intently at him.
He rubbed his earlobe to calm his fluttering heart a little, then said, "After hearing what the teacher and I said, did you get a strange feeling about the school too?"
"Did you?"
"I did."
An Xiao looked helplessly at Soh Shibata, who was still resting his chin on his hand and trying to work out what felt strange. In the end, he turned his gaze to Honami Ichinose.
As expected, a sports idiot really wasn't cut out for thinking.
Before you continue