You Didn't Insult the Teacher, Did You?

Mornings in Class C (Ju Ji) were always lively. After all, the class had plenty of students who were far from serious. There was the hot-tempered Sudo, the frivolous Ike, and the arrogant Koenji.

But today, everyone was surely more restless and nervous than usual. The reason was obvious: today was the day the points were handed out. Although they already knew they wouldn't be getting fewer points, everyone was still on edge.

The school Ju Ji attended, Advanced Nurturing High School, used a system called S Points.

First, every student in the school was issued a special phone with a special app already installed. They only had to open the app and enter their student ID and password to log in. From there, they could do all sorts of things under "Check Balance."

For example, they could check their current points. Ju Ji had his original balance of over forty thousand, plus the sixty thousand points issued last month, bringing him back up to one hundred thousand. They could also check how many points their class had. Class C (Ju Ji) currently had six hundred Class Points. This month's points hadn't been calculated yet, so they couldn't check them.

The app also let students transfer points from their balance to other people. That was why Ichinose had so many points.

There were two kinds of points. One kind ended with "[CL]." These were Class Points. They weren't assigned to individuals; they were held by the class as a whole. The other kind was marked "[PR]," meaning Private Points. The system was designed to multiply a class's points by one hundred on the first of every month, then deposit the result into the students' accounts as Private Points.

Under the contract between the school and the students, in principle, there was nothing at this school that couldn't be bought with points. So, by saving up Private Points, students could turn a situation to their advantage when necessary. For example, they could transfer to the class they wanted, or bring a student who had been expelled back to school. But that would probably take a huge number of points. So building up Private Points was essential.

"Good morning, everyone. You seem more excited than usual today."

Teacher Chabashira entered the classroom as the bell rang to signal the start of homeroom.

"Teacher Sae! What's going on with this month's points? They haven't been transferred to us!"

"So that's why you're all so excited. There's been a dispute, so the first-years' points will be distributed a little later than usual. I'm sorry about that, but please wait a little longer."

Hearing Teacher Chabashira say this, Ju Ji turned his gaze toward Sudo. Sure enough, his face was a little swollen. It looked like he'd been beaten. As expected, Ryuen from Class D wasn't going to let it go. Had he set his sights on Sudo because he was easy to provoke? Since Sudo had been fighting since middle school, he didn't have the best reputation. Ryuen must have seized on that.

"Seriously? This was the school's mistake. Aren't we getting any compensation?"

The students voiced their complaints and dissatisfaction one after another. They were supposed to have received a large number of points, but they hadn't. Of course they were upset.

"Don't make unreasonable demands. This is the school's decision, and there's nothing I can do. Once the dispute is resolved, the school should distribute the points. For now, I'll announce each class's points."

The teacher spread the paper in her hand across the blackboard. The results were announced in order, starting with Class A. Basically, every class had risen by nearly a hundred points since last month: Class D had five hundred and seventy, Class C (Ju Ji) had six hundred and ninety, Class B had seven hundred and thirty-five, and Class A had reached a terrifying one thousand and thirty.

"This isn't a very encouraging development. Have the other classes figured out how to increase their points too?"

"Of course they have. If we could think of it, the other classes could too. Don't underestimate our opponents, Suzune. They're not that simple. After all, they're all 'high-quality products.'"

For Suzune, who was aiming for Class A, this was hardly good news. The gap in points between them hadn't narrowed.

"Sudo, I need to talk to you. Come to the staff room."

After school, Teacher Chabashira called out to Sudo, who was hurrying out of the classroom. It seemed the thing they'd been worried about had happened after all.

"Huh? Why me? I have basketball practice."

"I've already spoken to the coach. It's your choice whether to come or not. But I won't be responsible for what happens afterward."

Even Sudo, with his tough attitude, couldn't help getting nervous at Teacher Chabashira's warning. In the end, he clicked his tongue conspicuously and reluctantly left with her.

"Suzune, come with me. Something may have happened with Sudo."

"What?"

"The delay in our points may not be the school's fault. Sudo may have gotten into a dispute with someone. I need to go back and get a few things. Suzune, keep an eye on Sudo and don't let him wander off. Wait for me to come back."

The events that had unfolded had already given Ju Ji an idea of what was about to happen. He needed to check whether the cameras installed in the Special Building had captured anything useful. Sakura had already started changing her appearance, after all. It was hard to say whether she could still be a witness.

"All right, but you'll have to explain everything to me later."

"Of course. That was what I planned to do anyway."

This showed just how much Horikita Suzune trusted Ju Ji now. She didn't doubt a word he said. Of course, it was also possible that she had noticed something herself.

A little while later, Horikita Suzune waited outside the staff room, her face stern and cold. She seemed to have a special aura about her; none of the students nearby dared speak to her. They simply went around her in silence.

A few minutes later, the staff room door finally opened...

"Horikita, what are you doing here?"

"Ju Ji was worried about you, so he asked me to come and keep an eye on you first. To stop you from wandering off."

"Where's Shinomiya?"

"He went back to get a few things. He'll be here soon. So, Sudo, what exactly happened? You don't look too good."

Sudo did indeed look awful as he came out, as if the sky had fallen in. Suzune couldn't help worrying, and she completely believed what Ju Ji had told her.

"Let's wait until Shinomiya gets here and tell him together. I think he's the only one who can help with this."

Sudo's attitude made it clear that he didn't really trust Suzune. He obviously had no intention of telling her what he'd been through.

"You didn't happen to insult the teacher or something, did you?"

Earlier, when Teacher Chabashira had stopped him from going to his club, he'd been very unhappy about it. Given his personality, it wouldn't have been impossible for him to lash out at her. No wonder Suzune suspected that...