The Beginning of Borrowing Money

This statement was packed with an enormous amount of information, and the attitude behind it was outrageously arrogant.

As the only person present who was not well-versed in the school's rules, Kohei Katsuragi was the one most impacted by this revelation, falling into a state of chaotic contemplation.

Even Manabu Horikita, the Student Council President, did not immediately refute or question him, choosing instead to remain silent... This suggested that what he said was highly likely to be true!

Had this seemingly lazy boy from Class D really managed to quietly accumulate twenty million private points in less than two months?!

How did he do it? Divination? Are you kidding me!

What a joke, cut it out.

The way he looked at Lin Mu had shifted from initial vigilance and shock to deep wariness and disbelief.

Just what kind of monster was hidden in this Class D?

Manabu Horikita remained silent for a moment.

His gaze, fixed behind his lenses, locked onto Lin Mu as if he were trying to dissect him from the inside out.

That sharp scrutiny lasted for several seconds, and finally, the ripples in his eyes returned to their usual calm.

However, the indifference typical of a Student Council President toward an ordinary student had quietly faded from his eyes when he looked at Lin Mu.

It was replaced by a formal sense of gravity, the kind reserved for someone who "needs to be watched"—after all, his own sister, Suzune Horikita, was in Class D.

Manabu Horikita gave a slight nod, and in a tone more formal than before, said calmly:

"The school does indeed have such a regulation. Since student Lin Mu is aware of it and has already met the conditions, then... so be it."

His words were directed at Lin Mu, but they also served as confirmation for Arisu Sakayanagi and Kohei Katsuragi, letting them know that the school rule was genuine.

Afterward, as if he had truly relegated Lin Mu to the status of a "harmless bystander," he turned his attention back to Arisu Sakayanagi, attempting to resume the conversation about the "S System" that had been interrupted earlier.

However, his phrasing was noticeably more cautious and subtle than before, with many key terms replaced by vague substitutes.

Lin Mu, meanwhile, did not care at all about their "encrypted conversation."

Happy to be idle, he leaned back into the comfortable sofa, refocusing his attention on his hot tea and the lollipop that was nearly finished in his mouth, even closing his eyes slightly to rest.

The hushed discussion that resumed in the office was like white noise to him, making him feel a bit sleepy.

It wasn't until the crisp bell signaling the end of the swimming class pierced through the walls that Lin Mu opened his eyes and stood up, as if he had been pressed by a start button.

He stretched, his bones making a faint sound, and then waved casually at the people in the office.

Taking that as his farewell, he walked straight to the door without looking back, pulled it open, and stepped out.

As for what kind of discussion Manabu Horikita, Arisu Sakayanagi, and Kohei Katsuragi had about him—this "unexpected variable"—after he left... he didn't care in the slightest.

It was nothing more than an insignificant little interlude.

In the days that followed, Lin Mu began to appear in the Class D classroom on time every day for lessons, never missing a single attendance, which surprised some of his classmates.

At this moment, the Class D classroom had long since lost the carefree, even reckless, atmosphere it had when they first enrolled in April.

The air was filled with a sense of anxiety, embarrassment, and even despair.

No private points left, losers eat dust.

Those who had squandered their hundred thousand points in April, or even overspent, were now trapped in a desperate situation with no points left to use.

The free basic meals were tasteless, and the free daily necessities were crude and rough, making it impossible for those who had just grown accustomed to high-quality consumption to adapt.

Consequently, figures begging for money in low voices could be seen everywhere in the classroom.

"Hey, classmate... could you lend me a thousand points? I'll pay you back as soon as next month's points are issued!"

"Please, I'm just five hundred points short of buying a reference book!"

"The points I borrowed the other day... can you give me a few more days? I promise!"

Those with thick skin would approach classmates they knew well or barely knew; those with thinner skin could only seek help from close friends.

The interpersonal relationships of the entire class had become subtle and tense due to this sudden "economic crisis."

A few boys who had observed Lin Mu in the past—noticing that although he was a loner, he never seemed to be short of money, and the snacks and items he used were of good quality—seized the opportunity to approach him.

"Lin Mu," one boy said, rubbing his hands together with a fawning smile on his face, "could you... lend me some points for an emergency?

It doesn't have to be much, three thousand will do! After the midterm exams this month, once the class receives our points, I promise to pay you back immediately!"

Lin Mu was staring out the window with a lollipop in his mouth. Hearing this, he turned his head, looked at the boy's entitled expression, and without a second thought, spat out two words:

"Not lending."

Don't lend money to others casually; otherwise, when it's time to collect, the borrower might not pay you back.

He muttered to himself: Please, you spent all your money, why didn't you think about the consequences then?

We haven't even spoken more than a few words to each other; where did this friendship come from that makes you think I'd lend you money?

Even if I did lend it, given the state of Class D, it's questionable whether they'll even get points after the midterm exams, let alone when they'd be able to pay me back.

The thickness of this classmate's skin was truly something else.

The rejected boy's face stiffened, seemingly not expecting Lin Mu to refuse so directly, and he tried to argue:

"We're all classmates, we should help each other, I'll pay you back soon..."

Lin Mu had already turned his head back with a cold expression, not even bothering to spare another glance, simply tossing out an even colder: "No money, not lending."

The boy was rebuffed, his face flushing red and turning pale by turns, but he ultimately dared not pester him further and could only leave sheepishly to continue searching for the next potential "sugar daddy."

Scenes like this were playing out between boys and girls all across the classroom.

And Kikyo Kushida was undoubtedly the person among the girls who was "begged" the most.

(Two-faced Prison Sister, failed man)

She had always aimed to be on good terms with everyone, and with her gentle and kind personality, she didn't know how to refuse.

(It's not that she doesn't know how; that's not the case at all)

Facing the requests of "friends" who used to go shopping and chat with her, but were now gazing at her with eager eyes, she simply couldn't harden her heart to say no.

(She curses people quite filthily behind their backs)

She could only bite the bullet, nodding and agreeing time after time, lending out the points she didn't have much of to begin with. (Because she had already spent quite a lot on socializing)

This was the price of her "becoming friends with everyone"—when you are "everyone's friend."

It also meant that everyone might feel they had a reason and the right to make demands of you.

Lin Mu sat in the back row, watching Kikyo Kushida surrounded by three or four girls, a forced smile on her face.

While dealing with A's request, she still had to respond to B's grievances, and he felt the sight was too painful to look at.

(I can't bear to watch you suffer, so I turn away to avoid seeing you suffer)

He simply laid his head on the desk, choosing to see no evil.

After the bell rang for the end of class, the crowd in the classroom began to stir.

Lin Mu took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, then opened the chat window with Kikyo Kushida and tapped his fingers against the screen to send a message:

"Do you still have enough personal points?"

The message was replied to almost instantly.