After that, Mashima Tomoya gave some advice about signing up for clubs. Registration would remain open until the next day, when the school would make the necessary arrangements. Finally, they held the class representative elections.
The elections weren't complicated. Katsuragi Kohei had been student council president at his elementary and middle schools, so it went without saying that no one would get more votes than him.
Katsuragi then smoothly recommended two of his friends, and both of them were elected without a hitch.
Sakayanagi Arisu also became a class representative. Her good grades helped, as did her status as the chairman's daughter.
When the bell rang, before the students could rush out to splurge on a shopping spree, Sakayanagi Arisu stood up. "Everyone! Before you leave the classroom, please listen to a few words."
The students who had been about to hurry outside all stopped and looked at Sakayanagi Arisu.
She continued, "I'm sure you all know that our school is one of the finest in Japan.
"The teacher just told us that we each have 100,000 private points. But to keep receiving them next month, we'll need to prove ourselves."
As she spoke, Sakayanagi Arisu raised the phone the school had given her. "I hope you understand one thing: there's no such thing as a free lunch. Private points don't come from nowhere, so I hope you won't spend them carelessly before we learn more."
Naturally, no one in Class A was a fool. Sakayanagi Arisu didn't need to reveal the truth right away. It was enough to make them suspicious.
Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn't spend all their private points on the first day at this school.
Having achieved her aim, Sakayanagi Arisu nodded and continued. "I've already learned some preliminary information about this school. The idea that we'll receive 100,000 private points every month is false—but that's not the whole story, either.
"To put it simply, the number of private points you receive depends on your individual efforts and your class's performance. You'd better read the student handbook carefully. What it says will affect how many points you get next month."
No one challenged her.
Sakayanagi Arisu's father was the chairman of the school.
If anyone could get to know the school quickly, it was undoubtedly Sakayanagi Arisu.
Katsuragi Kohei stood up at that moment. "I agree with Sakayanagi Arisu. I also don't think private points are as simple as they seem. If they're precious, spending them all at once would be a disaster. Until we know what's going on, we should save as much as we can."
After a pause, Katsuragi Kohei added, "But don't worry. I've decided to join the Student Council. Once I'm in, I'll be able to learn about this school quickly."
After hearing Katsuragi Kohei, the students began to calm down and think things through.
The rules of this school weren't that difficult to guess.
The reason Class D hadn't learned the truth right away was simply that no one had taken the lead.
Some students had already figured out the rules, but chose to stay quiet. They had the same attitude as people on a bus: if it didn't concern them, it wasn't their problem.
"Katsuragi," Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile, "I don't like taking orders from other people. This school isn't like the little games you used to play. This class needs a more capable leader."
"What do you mean?" Katsuragi Kohei asked, confused.
"I mean you're not capable enough to manage this class."
Normally, Katsuragi Kohei wouldn't have cared about a position like class representative, but Sakayanagi Arisu spoke as if it were important.
Wasn't being class representative a position that hardly mattered either way?
Anyone could manage the class. Or no one could manage it at all.
The Student Council was what really held sway over the school.
"How about we make a bet?" Sakayanagi Arisu didn't want to waste time talking to him. "Let's see who can learn the rules of this school first.
"If you can't even gather information, you won't be able to survive here, let alone lead the class."
"Is that really necessary?" Katsuragi Kohei still hadn't grasped how important the class leader's position was.
Quite a few students shared Katsuragi Kohei's attitude. They knew the private points wouldn't increase for no reason, but they still didn't take the matter too seriously.
Sakayanagi Arisu didn't bother to say anything more. Leaning on her cane, she limped out.
Katsuragi Kohei neither accepted nor refused the challenge. He could only do his best to find out more about the school. Before leaving, he added, "We don't have classes this afternoon, but I hope everyone can meet here and exchange information. Let's say around two o'clock."
The student handbook already listed most of the school's rules. It just didn't specify the penalties for breaking them or explain what earned rewards.
Many of the rules were hidden. You might lose points for dyeing your hair or painting your nails.
Or for neglecting your personal hygiene, littering, failing to tidy your room, or leaving a button undone on your uniform...
You might even lose points for not brushing your teeth morning and night, or for going several days without washing your hair or taking a bath...
All of these could potentially cost you points.
Being late, leaving early, skipping class, disrespecting teachers, and fighting were the most obvious ways to lose points.
That was because all of those things were monitored.
Anything outside the cameras' view was handled by the Student Council, such as keeping things clean.
The Student Council had access to more information about the school than anyone else. That alone made earning points much easier.
After Yagami Shizuka had a quick bite in the cafeteria, he went to the convenience store to buy a few things, then returned to his dorm.
The dorm rooms at this school were spacious, each with its own kitchen and bathroom. Every student had a room to themselves. It was practically paradise.
There were plenty of rules in the dorms, too. Some were hidden: using too much water or electricity could cost points, as could bothering other people.
Perhaps Yagami Shizuka's self-introduction had put a lot of people off. No one had come to talk to him yet.
Quite a few people watched him from a distance, looking as if they wanted to say something. In the end, none of them did.
There was one girl named Morishita Ai who gave him a strange look whenever she saw him, as though she wanted to strike up a conversation. He figured she must have something to say.
He thought that was fine, too.
For now, his top priority was figuring out what the system could do and learning more about the school.
From his brief investigation, he'd discovered there was no system interface, no storage space, and no rewards of any kind.
At certain times, it would give him hints related to himself. It could also appear when he was hesitating over what to do.
For example: Which lottery ticket should he buy to win?
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a hint appeared.
[No one can resist the temptation of money. Everyone has their own fortune. If you want to get rich overnight, you may use the following hints.]
[1. Use the expulsion rules to leave school and buy a Loto 7 ticket with these numbers (7 numbers): 02, 03, 11, 12, 22, 35, 36
? Bonus numbers (2 numbers): 30, 34. Get rich overnight.
Without you in Class A, fate remains unchanged.]
[2. Get rich overnight in three years. Gain wealth, beauty, and power.]
That was more or less how it worked. The system offered no rewards, but its hints were the best cheat imaginable.
Before you continue