Chapter 5

"Please try your best to perform well this month. This test shouldn't last too long; after all, once the points are distributed next month, these things will be common knowledge." "If you feel there are any aspects I haven't made clear, feel free to ask me again." After saying this, Yuan Yuyuan walked straight back to his seat.

"Everyone, please don't be nervous. Could you listen to me for a moment?" Ichinose Honami interrupted the whispering of the others. Only after all eyes were on her did she continue: "As long as we don't violate school rules, we won't be punished. I believe that as long as we all work together, we can definitely make it through!" "That's right, although it sounds scary, as long as Ichinose is here, everyone will surely be able to overcome the difficulties!" "Exactly, if it's Ichinose-san, it will definitely work out!"

Isn't this just nonsense? Yuan Yuyuan watched as the tense atmosphere he had deliberately cultivated for the group was instantly brushed aside by Ichinose's few words. And this crowd—did they have no thoughts of their own? Is a class like this even worth saving? It's urgent! Yuan Yuyuan suddenly found it hard to be happy about being in the same class as Ichinose. Although she had integrated the class well on the first day, if she were to have an accident—no, even if she just caught a fever and took a leave of absence—the entire class would likely fall into a state of paralysis.

Yuan Yuyuan felt somewhat helpless, but there was nothing he could do. With the mindset of "out of sight, out of mind," he headed to the convenience store closest to the school building. "There are actually free items here. It seems even losers can survive in this school. By the way, why did Uncle Sakayanagi drop gold coins?" "What do free items have to do with losers?" Yuan Yuyuan turned his head to see a girl with fox-like eyes who, while looking quite attractive, clearly possessed an unpleasant personality. "How rude, Miss. When asking a question, even if you don't say 'please,' you should at least introduce yourself first." "I am Horikita Suzune from Class 1-D." "Class 1-B, Yuan Yuyuan."

Seeing Yuan Yuyuan offer no further information after his introduction, Horikita Suzune had no choice but to press on. "Regarding what you just said about free items and losers..." "That's a secret. However, I have rather high expenses, so if you give me 700,000 points every month, I wouldn't mind telling you." Horikita Suzune frowned, staring at Yuan Yuyuan with dissatisfaction. "700,000 a month? Not to mention that the school only gives out 100,000 per month, I can't see any sincerity in this price at all."

Yuan Yuyuan watched Horikita Suzune, who was still standing there despite her words, and couldn't help but want to laugh. "Don't play these games. Since you're still standing here, it means you don't think I'm an idiot, nor do you think I take you for one. I dare to name this price because I have the confidence. This is information that will benefit the entire class. As long as you propose that everyone in the class pool their resources, it will only cost each person a little over 10,000 points when split up."

Horikita Suzune saw that Yuan Yuyuan's words didn't seem fake, but she was still a bit uneasy. "That may be so, but how can you prove this information is really worth that much? Even if it's not much when split, you at least need to make others believe it." "That is true. However, even in the outside world, there are contracts. A closed-off school like this certainly wouldn't want to cultivate female instructors who are experts in human nature. Fraud is illegal; as long as we ask the school to notarize it, there won't be any problems." "That makes sense. Then I'll wait until you have the so-called contract before we talk."

"Fine, then leave your number so I can notify you. However, if you want to raise the money, I don't think you're the type who has friends in class to help build momentum, Suzune." Horikita Suzune didn't pursue Yuan Yuyuan's presumptuous use of her first name, but instead retorted righteously. "Why would I need friends? I don't think one cannot survive in this world alone." "That is an irrefutable, logical argument. But if you insist on this philosophy, it's best to consult with a popular classmate first. After all, compared to a lone wolf like you, suggestions from popular classmates are easier for people to accept. And as long as enough people agree, even those who don't want to pay will compromise because they don't want to be seen as outcasts." "...So that's how it is. I have been taught." "You're welcome. That's a perk for a big client."

After all, with Class A guarding against them from above and Class C eyeing them from below, Class D was the only potential buyer, so Yuan Yuyuan didn't mind building some goodwill with Horikita Suzune first. "Then that's that, I'll take my leave." Yuan Yuyuan gave a greeting and, ignoring Horikita Suzune, who was standing there in deep thought, walked straight toward the teachers' office.

There were only two female teachers in the office, and Yuan Yuyuan saw his homeroom teacher pestering a woman in black silk stockings. "Hoshinomiya-sensei, could you come out for a moment?" "Oh, it's Yuyuan. Is something the matter? Dating during class hours is a no-no, you know." "No... I just wanted to ask a few questions." Upon hearing this, Hoshinomiya lowered her proud head, looking listless. "What is it? So that's it. Then please follow me."

"We're here. No one can disturb us on the rooftop." Yuan Yuyuan didn't pay attention to Hoshinomiya's suggestive words. "I want to know if this school has anything like a contract or agreement where the school acts as an intermediary." "Bingo! Yuyuan is truly smart. There is indeed such a contract; you just need to spend a few thousand points and have a homeroom teacher present. But keep in mind that if the contract is violated, the punishment will be forcibly executed by the school." "That's fine, get one ready for me."

Since the contract required the homeroom teacher to print it, Yuan Yuyuan's deal with Class D was seen clearly by Hoshinomiya. "Little Yuyuan is really capable. To have so many points coming in every month, it's truly enviable." "It's nothing special. By the way, does Hoshinomiya-sensei want to rise to Class A?" "Eh? Little Yuyuan is such a scary child, knowing such things on the very first day." "It's nothing much. After all, violating rules lowers evaluations. If the school didn't rank classes based on evaluations, it would be meaningless, wouldn't it? And since that's the case, I'm afraid even the homeroom teachers' salaries are tied to this, right?" "That's why I said Yuyuan is a scary child! What kind of freshman says things like that on their first day of school!"

Yuan Yuyuan was a bit puzzled. Hoshinomiya kept avoiding his questions, as if she had no interest in Class A. If so, what was she aiming for by being a teacher here? Yuan Yuyuan suddenly remembered that when he went to find Hoshinomiya, she was pestering the woman in black silk who should have been a teacher for another class. "Tell me, Hoshinomiya-sensei, do you have any designs on that woman in black silk from earlier?" "H-how could there be such a thing! Why are you saying such strange things, Yuyuan? Besides, her name is Chabashira Sae. We've been best friends since high school; we call each other Sae-chan and Chie-chan. Your way of addressing her is truly rude."

That's not it at all. It was clearly Chabashira-sensei who was giving you the cold shoulder while you were throwing yourself at her. Yuan Yuyuan felt certain in his heart. Sure enough, the Obsession of Hoshinomiya was indeed that Chabashira-sensei. In that case...