Class Reunion Unfolds

Cherry blossom petals drifted down with the wind onto the ground.

Star Color didn't find it beautiful at all; instead, he felt sorry for the workers who had to sweep them up. Petals falling into the soil could at least become nutrients, but falling where people had to walk was just a hassle. Star Color's brain worked differently from normal people, his thought process not quite like a regular person's.

"Hey, wait up!"

Star Color immediately conjured up that kind of youthful romantic comedy movie scene—a girl falling in love at first sight confessing to him. Learn from this, dating sims! Who needs planned dates, grinding affection, or picking dialogue options? This kind of unexpected surprise is what youthful romance comedy is all about! When Star Color turned around, it was that big-chested girl from the bus... His surging hormones plummeted straight down.

The girl's uniform in front of him was stained with large red splotches, and Star Color specifically aimed his gaze at the area sprayed across her white inner layer.

"Are you really okay now?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

What a vicious way to check on someone, Star Color complained. And next she'll ask for my name~ You wouldn't use such a cliché pickup line, would you?

"Then, could I ask your name? I'll come find you later with an apology gift."

Way too cliché! Hey! Star Color felt like this girl was stuck somewhere in the zone between stupid and sick...

"Otonashi... Star Color."

"Star Color? That's a strange name, but it's pretty... I'll remember it. My name is Kikyou Kushida. See you later!"

"Bye."

Star Color put on his signature business smile and waved his hand in a perfunctory manner. Kikyou Kushida, huh? What a weak little arthropod.

After passing through both the X-ray machine and metal detector checks, even having to open his shoulder bag for the staff to search, luckily no pat-down. Way too strict~.

He successfully entered the campus.

Star Color held the school's admission letter and a map guide for new students in his hand.

"I'm in Class A, huh? Wonder if it's like in Baka to Test?"

He voiced his doubt. After all, it was a very special school—the kind with a core setting of [class competition]. Western countries had tried running this type of special education school in the early years, but they got abolished for lack of results.

"So grand~."

Right now, Star Color felt like a country piglet stumbling into the city, carrying a mindset completely out of sync with his surroundings.

Taking a deep breath, he slid open the 'sliding door' object.

Everyone looked at Star Color.

Star Color lowered his head. He knew well that he was too flashy... His pre-modified uniform was way too distinctive. Even though they could freely DIY their clothes, he had come in with the pride of a character designed with carefully chosen outfits in a game. But it turned out these people were all a bunch of boring traditionalists.

Like a thief, Star Color scanned the room and spotted the desk with his nameplate on it.

Both seats next to it were already taken... On one side was a bald guy by the window, on the other a silver-haired girl slightly shorter than him.

Star Color's old habit of observing humans kicked in again. The bald guy was studying the school's admission guide, so he shifted his gaze to the silver-haired girl. Their eyes met...

"Uh, hello."

Star Color stiffly sat down in his seat and greeted the silver-haired girl with a smile.

Pure, untainted silver hair, not very tall, and a very slender build... Star Color thought he was about the same as her, and he was a guy. His stamina and physique were so deformed—he had self-awareness about his own positioning, after all.

"Mm, Star Color-kun, good day."

Wow, good day? Where did this formulaic drama ojou-sama setting come from? Star Color complained.

A cane was resting by the desk. What was this? A hidden weapon? Usually in dramas, ojou-samas look like proper ladies but are actually highly skilled in martial arts—that kind of refined in both letters and martial arts setting. Doesn't seem right; it looks like a normal cane. Her complexion was pale. Poor physical development, too frail, and there was an inconspicuous blue vein on her earlobe and neck.

Star Color's obscure trivia: The blue vein on the neck is essentially the superficial jugular vein. Normally, the superficial veins on a person's neck aren't very visible, only faintly seen, and they become prominent like blue veins only under heavy lifting or breath-holding. If the veins are clearly visible under normal conditions, it indicates poor venous return from the head and face.

Most likely right heart failure or dysfunction, and the cane just so happens to explain the need to stabilize balance and protect the heart from extra strain.

Connecting the clues, one glance confirmed it: diagnosed with heart disease, very likely congenital.

Star Color felt his gaze was too intense, so he shifted his eyes elsewhere. Hard to tell what this girl's personality was like; staring too long would get him labeled a pervert or creep...

There was also a smartphone on the desk, a pretty new model. The screen lit up. The phone ran a self-developed system, huh? They really went all out—first thing was filling in the student ID and verification. Too formal! This is just going to school! Star Color frantically complained internally.

Star Color activated his skill, [Observe Human].

Whoa, the class was full of handsome guys and pretty girls. Uwah~ There's one with a really fierce face. Are you sure that guy isn't an escaped fugitive on the run? Toss him into a gangster movie and he'd at least be the second-in-command. And you're telling me this guy's a high schooler?

Star Color looked enviously at the blond guy over there. His conversation skills and looks were the type that could charm women. That guy probably had good luck with girls. There was even one whose face was already good enough to enter the [Most Handsome High School Boy Contest]! Forget it, the wise don't fall into love; philosophers don't get married.

Star Color steeled his conviction.

He pulled out a copy of the Liar Game manga from his bag and started flipping through it. Time quietly passed.

Suddenly, Star Color felt his desk get tapped.

The bald guy who looked like Little Fist Stone tapped my desk and quietly reminded him.

"The teacher's here. Put the manga away."

"Ah, oh~ Thanks for the heads-up."

Despite looking big and tough, he was pretty nice. Star Color felt he was the type to be a diligent class monitor.

"Good morning, all you new students in Class 1-A. My name is Tomoya Majima, and I usually teach English."

"This school does not change classes each academic year, so for the next three years until graduation, I will serve as your homeroom teacher and study alongside you. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"The entrance ceremony will be held in the gymnasium in one hour. Before that, I will distribute materials regarding this school. You've all likely already read through the admission guide, so let's get straight to the point."

"The student ID cards on your desks grant access to all facilities on campus. They can also be used for purchases at the school store."

"In short, the student card functions similarly to a bank card in society. To put it plainly, the currency used at this school is called [Points]. In this school, there is nothing that cannot be purchased with Points."

"The phones issued by the school allow you to check your personal Point balance. They can also be used for operations such as [Point Transfer] and [Point Reception]. Instructions for using the phone are in the distributed materials, so I won't go into further detail."

"Points will be automatically deposited on the first of each month, with each Point worth one yen. You should have all received 100,000 Points. Points represent the school's evaluation of you; how you use them is your own freedom."

Star Color opened his phone—there really were 100,000 Points! That was 100,000 yen.

[At the 2015 yen exchange rate, 100,000 yen is equivalent to about 7,000 yuan today.]

Murmurs spread around the room, but soon the class sorted out their thoughts and fell silent.

"Let me emphasize: the school is extremely sensitive to violence and bullying. Surveillance cameras are installed throughout the campus. Do not cause trouble that confuses or inconveniences others. Please be mindful."

"Does anyone have questions?"

Star Color had somehow produced a bag of potato chips and was already munching away.

Little Fist Stone beside him coughed to get Star Color's attention.

"Huh? You want some?"

Star Color turned his head, whispering very quietly. He tilted his head slightly, his purple hair falling to one side, shimmering strikingly in the sunlight.

"Hey... you bastard, Teacher Majima is speaking up there. Show some respect."

"Oh, so do you want some or not? Refreshing wasabi flavor, great texture."

Katsuragi slapped his own forehead, feeling like the guy sitting next to him wasn't exactly normal. How did this guy get into Class A?

"I want some."

The White-Haired Girl on the other side murmured softly.

He handed the chips over.

Teacher Majima glanced their way from the podium but didn't intervene.

"It seems no one has questions. Then I wish you all a pleasant school life."