So he crumpled it into a ball and tossed it into the trash can.
The act caught the attention of the students around him and Chabashira Sae.
Once everyone had received a copy,
Chabashira Sae began to speak.
"This school has a three-year program, and you won't be changing classes every year. That means I'll be your homeroom teacher for all three years. The documents I just handed out contain information the school wants you to know. Of course, if you paid close attention, you should have noticed that your middle schools gave you similar materials when you were recommended for admission."
"This is a fully enclosed school. While you're here, you'll be restricted from going out and from contacting the outside world. You'll also stay at school during winter and summer break."
"But don't worry about your daily needs. The campus has a full range of facilities for everyday life and entertainment, such as a library, café, convenience store, karaoke rooms, pastry shop, and so on. Basically, anything you might need in your daily life or for entertainment outside school is available here."
"You'll use the student ID terminals you were given earlier—that is, what you think of as your phones—to make purchases. Of course, instead of money, you'll use points at school. One point is equivalent to one yen."
"At this school, you can buy anything with points, as long as you have enough."
"Now, open the personal page on your student ID terminal. You'll see a new personal account, which should already have been credited with 100,000 points for this month. After that, you'll receive a deposit on the first of every month."
The students had taken the earlier information in stride.
But the moment they learned that one point was worth one yen, the room erupted.
A typical Japanese high school student got between five and twenty thousand yen in allowance each month. That was the usual range for an average household. Families that were better or worse off were another matter.
So what did it mean that they already had 100,000 yen, with another deposit scheduled for the first of every month? Paradise!!!
Koenji Rokusuke scoffed at the idea.
As expected, these ordinary people, whose futures had been ruined by happy education, were foolish.
They couldn't see anything. They couldn't understand anything.
How could they believe that money would fall from the sky in a country like Japan?
Chabashira Sae surveyed the classroom, taking in everyone's reactions.
Most of the students were so excited they could barely contain themselves. Even the few who didn't show it were beaming.
Was there no hope for this year's class, either?
Not a single promising student?
Remembering what she had just seen, she quietly focused her attention on Tanaka Yukishin.
He hadn't joined in with the other students, nor had he reacted excessively or shown any delight.
But that eager look in his eyes—was he already thinking about how to spend the points on entertainment?
Was he another defective one? She'd keep an eye on him.
Chabashira Sae coughed softly twice. The students reined in their excitement, and the classroom quickly fell quiet.
"I understand that you're all very excited right now. After all, I've taught many classes of students."
"You don't need to be surprised that the school is giving you so many points. This school evaluates students based on their abilities. Since you were admitted, you naturally have the corresponding worth and potential. These points represent the school's assessment of you. Feel free to use them. Of course, if anyone thinks they won't need theirs, they can transfer them to someone else. Points can be transferred. Any points left unused when you graduate will be taken back by the school, so there's no benefit to saving them. Lastly, don't threaten anyone. The school takes bullying very seriously."
After speaking, Chabashira Sae waited a moment, but no one had any questions.
"Since no one seems to have any questions, you're free to do as you like for the rest of the day. Just remember not to stay out too late, since classes begin tomorrow. I hope you have a wonderful school life."
Then she left the classroom without looking back.
Once Chabashira Sae was gone, the students could no longer hold back the excitement they had suppressed while the teacher was there.
They started chatting in little groups about where they would go and what they would buy.
Hirata Yosuke had been planning to organize everyone and resume the self-introductions that had been interrupted, but seeing this, he gave up on the idea.
They had already gotten off to a good start. They would surely get to know one another naturally as time went on.
Everyone was caught up in the moment. It was better not to spoil the mood.
Koenji Rokusuke rose from his seat and walked over to Tanaka Yukishin.
He still looked so self-assured it came across as narcissism.
"Tanaka-kun, we finally have some free time. How about we borrow a room from one of the clubs and have a chat?"
"Sorry, but I'll have to turn you down again. I have a lot to do today. How about we talk after school tomorrow?"
"Of course. I'm not unreasonable. See you tomorrow, then."
Having successfully arranged to meet, Koenji Rokusuke left the classroom.
When it came to pursuing "beauty," aside from Tanaka Yukishin's physical beauty, the only other beauty in the classroom was the girls' looks.
In the cliquish stage at the start of a new school year, there was no way a boy like him could fit in.
He might as well go somewhere else and admire other kinds of "beauty."
Having dealt with the nuisance, Tanaka Yukishin got up and headed toward his prey.
He walked over to a group of girls near the front of the classroom and greeted them.
"Hey there, I'm Tanaka Yukishin. Kei-chan and I go way back. So, would you mind letting me borrow her for a while?"
The girls who had been talking turned to look at Tanaka Yukishin.
His black hair fell just over his eyebrows, and his jewel-like eyes gleamed like fireflies on a summer night. He had a high-bridged nose, the corners of his mouth slightly curved upward, and a laid-back air about him. He gazed at Karuizawa Kei with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
He seemed like a cat.
No, a prince.
Wait, to be precise, he was just a handsome guy. A very, very handsome one.
The girls exchanged glances, except for Karuizawa.
Karuizawa Kei thought for a moment and realized she didn't recognize the boy in front of her.
But Kei-chan?
I hadn't even introduced myself just now. Could I really have forgotten him?
Even if they did know each other, that was an awfully familiar way to address her.
Karuizawa Kei was about to refuse.
Before she could say anything, the girl beside her spoke up.
"Wow, Kei-chan! You're so close already. Karuizawa-san, is he your childhood friend or boyfriend? You've got a secret acquaintance and didn't even introduce him right away?"
"No, I..." Karuizawa Kei had barely started to explain before the others chimed in.
"All right, all right. Since you two go way back, we can't very well stop you, can we?"
"Exactly! Tanaka-kun, we'll leave Karuizawa-san to you."
"Have fun together!"
Swept along by everyone's words, Karuizawa Kei felt like crying. She really didn't want to go with Tanaka Yukishin, but the girls in the group she had just joined had all said so. She couldn't exactly refuse outright.
Tanaka Yukishin had already reached the door and was waving to her. She glanced at the other girls, who were giving her their "support."
Karuizawa Kei forced a smile, careful not to let anything seem amiss.
With an expression that said she couldn't do anything about him, she waved.
"I'll head out first, then. See you later."
Chapter 5: Things Turned Upside Down
The sound of heels tapping against the stairs rang especially clear in the empty stairwell.
Karuizawa Kei's fingers tightened another three degrees around her skirt. The corridor was terrifyingly quiet at this hour; even the sound of breathing seemed magnified several times over.
"T-Tanaka-kun... When did we meet? And... where are we going?"
"To the dorm room." Tanaka Yukishin turned back with one hand on the railing and smiled. Then he leaned close to her ear. "If you don't want to... Kei-chan, you don't want to relive those wonderful middle school days, do you?"
Her heartbeat seemed to stop for an instant.
She had been so ready to make her "debut" in high school...
Just like Mitsuhashi and Ito in Kyou kara Ore wa!!
By deliberately changing her image and lifestyle, she would create a whole new self and start a school life unlike the one she'd had in middle school.
She had tried so hard to act like a gyaru...
She had dyed her hair and put on elaborate makeup. She had forced her introverted self to change the way she dressed, even trying out super-short skirts... She had also learned to use exaggerated body language and a frivolous way of speaking to project an "I'm not someone to mess with" aura.
And her efforts had paid off...
Even her classmates hadn't noticed she was pretending.
Why had someone from her middle school days shown up now?
What should she do? What should she do?! What should she do?!
Who could come save her?
The more Karuizawa Kei thought about it, the more frightened she became, but there was nothing she could do.
After all, if she had dared to fight back—if she had dared to fight back no matter the consequences—
Then she never would have ended up like that in middle school.
And now, she wouldn't have needed to disguise herself as a gyaru to protect herself, or to follow Tanaka Yukishin.
Noticing Karuizawa Kei's emotions growing more and more intense, Tanaka Yukishin glanced back at her.
Her lovely face was deathly pale, and her eyes were unfocused and vacant.
She walked in a daze, like a soulless doll.
Her bangs and the hair at her temples were soaked with sweat, sticking to her neck and cheeks.
Droplets slid down her skin and gathered into trails on her pointed chin.
Seriously? Just one "you don't want to..." and it had that much impact?
No wonder the male leads in adult videos could get their female leads to give in so easily when they threatened them.
Tanaka Yukishin had no idea how oppressive his ever-present, versatile psychic field, combined with his verbal manipulation, could be to someone with emotional scars.
But given the situation, he needed to snap Karuizawa Kei out of her fear at once.
"Kei-chan."
His warm, familiar call was like a mother's embrace, melting the icy cage in which Karuizawa Kei had imprisoned herself out of sheer terror.
She came to her senses and looked at the boy in front of her. Seeing the concern in his eyes and feeling his sincere kindness, she suddenly wasn't afraid anymore.
It was a sad instinct. People who had been bullied were extremely sensitive and insecure.
The change in her mood restored Karuizawa Kei's full control over her body.
Feeling the faint coolness of the breeze, she lifted her head.
"Hey, Tanaka-kun, weren't we going to the dorms? Why are we just standing here?"
...Talk about turning things upside down.
Besides, with your hair clumped together from sweat, you really don't look good right now.
After walking for a while, the two arrived at the dormitory building.
They used the serial numbers on their student ID terminals to get their room keys from the administrator on the first floor, along with a copy of the dormitory rules.
Tanaka Yukishin had room 402, while Karuizawa Kei had room 605.
In the elevator, Tanaka Yukishin picked up the handbook and gave it a cursory read.
Great. Just like the school handbook, it was a piece of useless paper.
The usual explanations were fine: don't waste water or electricity, don't litter, don't make loud noises and disturb others...
They were simple and straightforward, in keeping with common sense.
But why bother spelling any of this out? The handbook's author must have thought there were a lot of idiots among the students.
It was like being told to pay attention in class and not to be late or leave early.
Before you continue