The day after the bet with Manabu Horikita was settled.
Kohei Katsuragi sat in the classroom reviewing his studies, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
"Ah, good morning, Little Fist Stone—Classmate Katsuragi."
Star Color arrived at the last possible moment, nearly late.
"Good morning, Otonashi."
"You look really happy. Did something good happen?"
Seeing how pleased Kohei Katsuragi looked, Star Color chuckled.
"I was selected in the second round of the Student Council recruitment!"
"Really? That's great."
It really was a pretty good outcome, wasn't it? Star Color simply went on her way, leaving no trace of her good deed.
Star Color quietly returned to her seat. The thought of having to sit through class again gave her a slight headache.
Seeing Sakayanagi Arisu's seat empty made her a little worried.
The bell had already rung. But the person who pushed open the front door and entered the classroom wasn't the teacher. It was Sakayanagi Arisu.
What an entrance. Next time, she wanted to pull off something like that too. It had to be cool! Light glimmered in Star Color's eyes, clear as those of a playful child.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sakayanagi Arisu, and I'm the leader who will one day rule over all of you."
No one in the classroom spoke. Everyone was watching Sakayanagi Arisu's performance.
Of course, that excluded Classmate Totsuka, who was loved by everyone. Why had Star Color given Yahiko Totsuka that nickname? Because Yahiko Totsuka didn't seem to be very popular with his classmates. He was always hanging around Kohei Katsuragi, and nine out of every ten things he said were about Little Fist Stone... If the guy weren't such a fanatical preacher for the faction, maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way.
So Star Color simply prayed inwardly, using that nickname, that he might become "loved by everyone." With such a loving thought, did she possess the virtues necessary to become an angel? The answer had to be yes. As for her position, she'd be an [Archangel]!
[?You?want?to?become?an?angel??Angels?don't?rot?and?stink?like?corpses.?]
"Our class has only one leader, Classmate Katsuragi!"
He clicked his tongue in displeasure, then retorted.
"I don't like people interrupting me while I'm speaking, Classmate Totsuka. Or have you already figured out the secret behind the rules?"
Classmate Sakayanagi really knew how to keep people guessing. She'd even figured out the wordplay hidden in the rules. And when Star Color thought of what Hashimoto had said—that the school chairman was her father—was this a case of nepotism? Probably not. Whatever, she might as well check the answers...
(According to the original setting, Sakayanagi shouldn't know the school's rules. But with the chairman as her dad... Ahem. All I can say is, wow.)
"First of all, the number of points we receive each month isn't fixed."
Some people in Class A had already guessed this. Everyone was smart.
"Also, our individual points are tied to our class. Has everyone heard of corporate evaluations? The capable get to move forward, while the incompetent are left behind—and may even be eliminated. Observance of rules, personality, and ability are what make up this special school, the [School of Meritocracy]."
At this point, a plain-looking, black-haired student named Mori Shige Takuro asked:
"What evidence do you have to support this theory?"
"Remember what Teacher Majima said: our points represent how we're evaluated. The word 'we' in that statement is quite a thought-provoking riddle."
Everyone whispered and pondered. Their minds quickly digested Sakayanagi Arisu's words.
"Also, don't you think the teachers are far too friendly?"
"Take Seishiki Otonashi, for example. He has this bad habit of dozing off in class. I wonder if anyone has noticed the teachers' attitude: they don't remind him, but instead ignore this disrespectful, rule-breaking behavior. They really are spoiling the bad kids too much..."
Star Color went, "?" What a guy. Was she being called out here?
Most of the class turned to look at Star Color, making her blush and lower her head as she murmured:
"I-I won't do it again."
"Once you enter society, no one will manage your conduct or make sure you follow the rules and maintain good habits. In other words, you'll all be [free]. The school is simulating a small-scale society, observing students' self-control. If students have more money than people their age usually do, then how they conduct themselves when faced with [freedom] also becomes part of their personal conduct. Personal discipline is one of the things companies evaluate, too."
"For example, a company might dock pay for the time an employee is late. Thinking about it that way makes things easier to understand. The same principle applies to the school's rules..."
"This month, the school evaluated every class. And as you already know, the number of points isn't fixed each month. So the answer is clear."
At this point, Nishikawa Ryoko raised her hand.
"Go ahead, Nishikawa Ryoko."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, completely at ease.
"So if we follow the rules and work hard on our exams this month, the school will get a better first impression of Class A. That's what you mean, Classmate Sakayanagi, right?"
"Mm, that's right."
Sakayanagi Arisu nodded in reply.
Everyone in the class suddenly understood. Only Tamiya Emi turned to look at Star Color, who was propping her chin on her hand, twirling a pen, and yawning.
Earlier, when Teacher Majima had explained the school rules, Kohei Katsuragi had taken notes and circled the parts he found confusing. Looking at them the way Sakayanagi Arisu had, everything that had puzzled him now made sense.
"That's all I have to say. Thank you, everyone. Whether you believe me is up to you. Teacher Majima, I'm sorry for taking up class time."
"No, it's fine."
Tomoya Majima admired Sakayanagi Arisu's ability to think and analyze. Kohei Katsuragi was impressive too, but the gap between him and Sakayanagi Arisu was enormous.
Tomoya Majima wouldn't interfere in the class's struggles. He would only observe and make the most rational judgment he could. As long as they didn't break the rules. He wasn't exactly happy to see the students in his class fighting among themselves; what he really wanted was to see a united, harmonious Class A.
Now there would undoubtedly be two factions in Class A. The faction that supported [Kohei Katsuragi] and the one that backed [Sakayanagi Arisu] would begin fighting for power...
Since he wouldn't interfere in the class's internal affairs, he'd let things run their course.
Tomoya Majima stepped up to the podium, opened his textbook, and began teaching.
When class finally ended, Star Color eagerly held up the sign she'd made the night before.
[Board Game Club recruiting! Please join QWQ]
Star Color felt like a member of an unpopular [underground idol group], sent out onto the streets of Shibuya with a sign around her neck, begging passersby for what little attention she could get, all for the sake of selling a single ticket.
"Don't think about such a cruel thing!"
Star Color patted her cheeks and psyched herself up.
She stepped up to the podium and sweetened her voice.
"Would anyone like to join the Board Game Club?"
A complete failure. Not one person in the class was interested.
"These bookworms who never play games can only look forward to a relatively miserable life."
She muttered under her breath about her classmates, who had no recreational interests. Maybe they were all popular and living the high life. Aah! Whatever, may all those popular people explode!
Star Color even got mocked by that weirdo, Morishita Miya.
[Huh? Is it one of those clubs that plays Monopoly?]
Star Color nearly turned red with rage. She had to pinch the philtrum above her lip before she could calm down.
When she reached Class B's territory, Star Color put on a bright smile and slowly changed the pitch of her voice.
"One, two, three, three, two, one, aaaah!" Her voice rose in pitch.
Just then, the door opened, and a blue-haired girl with gentle features watched Star Color practicing her voice at the entrance.
"Ah... eh... ah..."
Don't come out at a time like this, damn it! Star Color ranted inwardly.
Long, slender, pale fingers peeked out from her sleeves. Star Color gestured frantically, but couldn't think of what to say. Her face flushed bright red, and her pupils turned into a jumble of white lines.
"Who are you looking for?"
"Um, I'm here to promote a club I started."
"Hmm? What kind of club?"
The blue-haired girl noticed the sign hanging from Star Color's chest.
"The Board Game Club?"
She thought for a moment, then looked at the people in her class.
"I'm Kobashi Yume. What's your name?"
"Class 1-A, Seishiki Otonashi... I'm a boy."
"Eh?? Eh!! You're a boy?"
Kobashi Yume covered her mouth and stared at Star Color with wide blue eyes.
"A cross-dresser?"
"Something like that..."
Star Color had gotten used to people commenting on her looks. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
Just then, a girl with white-and-brown hair poked her head out from behind the door.
"Whoa, what a cute kid! What's your name? Which class are you in?!"
The girl had the expression of a predator, startling Star Color into stepping back.
"Don't scare them, Xiao Qianxun."
Pink hair, big boobs—wow... Star Color had absolutely no idea how to deal with someone like that. She looked gentle and kind, but was unexpectedly the predatory type. Better not.
"I just want to know this kid's name."
The white-and-brown-haired girl naturally moved closer to Star Color. Star Color let out a helpless sigh.
"Um... I'm a boy."
"No way. You're so cute. How could you possibly be a stinky boy?"
"No... I'm wearing pants underneath. I really am a boy."
"Eh... a boy..."
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Seishiki Otonashi from Class 1-A. I'm a boy, okay..."
Then Star Color gave the white-haired girl, who was still hugging her, a slightly aggrieved look.
"Ah... s-sorry, sorry... I'm Chihiro Shiramami."
Chihiro Shiramami blushed as she looked at Star Color. Star Color could tell at a glance that this girl was [a lesbian]!! The moment she'd seen her, she'd marked her as prey! How scary.
"Hahaha, sorry about that, Otonashi-kun. Xiao Qianxun can't resist cute things... Um, was there something you wanted?"
"I'm here to recommend the club I started."
Before you continue