"I knew it! There was no way the school would be that generous. So this was what they were waiting for!"
After a brief silence, the classroom erupted like cold water hitting hot oil.
A boy couldn't help slapping his desk and shouting in frustration.
"Crap! The latest game console I ordered yesterday! Good thing it was so popular that I only paid a deposit and they haven't charged me yet... I need to cancel it as soon as class is over!"
Another boy with glasses went pale and hurriedly checked his order history on his phone.
"Ah... that limited-edition dress I had my eye on yesterday..."
A girl sighed regretfully, her face full of reluctance. "Good thing I managed to stop myself from buying it..."
"What if we really don't get one hundred thousand points next month? We have to figure something out!"
More and more students wore expressions of anxiety and urgency.
Their shock quickly gave way to practical concerns.
The students in Class A might have different personalities, but none of them were foolish.
The evidence Mazumi Mami had presented was clear, his logic sound. The images, data, and reasoning all fit together, making his argument difficult to refute.
They soon realized that this seemingly heavenly school might conceal very real pressures of survival.
"All right, everyone, quiet down for a moment!"
Mazumi Mami raised his voice and lightly tapped the teacher's desk twice with his palm. His voice wasn't loud, yet it had a strange ability to soothe and command.
The commotion gradually died down, and everyone's eyes turned to him again, now with a trace of dependence. He was the one who had revealed the truth. Perhaps he had a solution, too?
"I know everyone's anxious, but worrying won't solve anything."
Mazumi Mami's tone was steady as he looked around the class. "What we need most right now are clear answers and practical solutions. So let's hear what the teacher has to say first."
He turned to the homeroom teacher, Majima Tomoya, who had been standing silently off to one side, and addressed him respectfully but in a way that left no room for evasion.
"Then, sir, could you please answer our questions directly? How many Class Points does Class A currently have? And will we still receive the monthly allocation of one hundred thousand Personal Points next month?"
Majima Tomoya scrutinized Mazumi Mami before slowly replying, "You're very perceptive, Mazumi. Your powers of observation and analysis are both excellent."
"Thank you for the compliment, sir."
Mazumi Mami gave a slight nod, but pressed on without letting the matter drop. "Then, about our questions..."
"As for the questions you've raised," Majima Tomoya said, his tone returning to its usual stern formality, though now with a hint of official detachment, "I can only say that I already conveyed all the information I was supposed to during yesterday's orientation. The school's Rule Explanation was clear and complete."
He didn't directly answer a single specific question.
"Eh? What does that mean, sir?"
"Sir! We want to know how many Class Points we have and whether we'll get the points next month!"
"Please give us a clear answer, sir!"
The students were clearly dissatisfied with his vague response. Since their own interests were at stake, they desperately needed a clear answer.
Mazumi Mami looked Majima Tomoya in the eye and pressed him again. "Is that all you have to say, sir?"
"Yes."
Majima Tomoya's tone didn't soften in the slightest.
"I've already said what needed to be said. If you insist that I add something... I can only remind you all that, at this school, it's always best to strive to be a 'good student' who meets the requirements in every respect."
After delivering this meaningful yet airtight remark, Majima Tomoya picked up the textbook and notebook from the teacher's desk, gave the class a slight nod, then turned and walked out of the classroom with steady steps. He gave the students no time to question or discuss the matter further.
"Ah! Why did the teacher just leave like that?!"
"Seriously... Does that reaction mean Mazumi was right? Are we really not getting any points next month?"
"We're doomed. I need to redo my budget for the month right away..."
The homeroom teacher's departure seemed to confirm the possibility of something dreadful, and anxiety once again spread through the classroom as voices rose all around.
"All right, everyone! Quiet down and listen to me!"
Mazumi Mami clapped again, his clear voice drawing everyone's attention back to him.
Without realizing it, he had become the center of a class suddenly gripped by panic over the information they'd received.
Once everyone had quieted down and turned their eyes back to him, Mazumi Mami continued, his voice calm and methodical.
"The teacher can't or won't give us a clear answer for his own reasons and under his own constraints. But that doesn't mean we have to sit around helplessly and wait."
"I've already explained the basic pattern behind how points are distributed. If we work backward from that pattern, Class A should currently have one thousand Class Points. That's also the basis for our receiving one hundred thousand Personal Points this month."
He shifted his focus to the key problem.
"But the problem is that we have no idea how those one thousand Class Points are evaluated, how to increase them, or even what kinds of actions might cause them to be deducted."
"Since we currently have no way to 'increase our income,' the first thing we can do is 'cut expenses' and prepare for any difficulties that might arise."
He paused to let the idea sink in, then put forward a specific proposal.
"So, I propose that, while we still have plenty of Personal Points, each student voluntarily contribute half of theirs—that is, fifty thousand points—to establish a Class Common Fund."
He raised a finger and clearly explained how the fund would be used.
"First, it would cover any public expenses the class might incur, such as maintaining shared classroom equipment or buying basic supplies for group activities. That way, a lack of funds won't disrupt the class as a whole or lead to unnecessary point deductions."
"Second, and more importantly, the fund would serve as an emergency assistance pool for our class. School life is long, and anyone could encounter an unexpected situation or temporary hardship that leaves them short on Personal Points."
"When that happens, they could apply to borrow points from the fund to get through the difficult period, then repay them once their circumstances improve."
"I don't want to see our class fall into conflict over points, or have anyone left behind because of a temporary hardship. A united and supportive group will be better able to face challenges from the outside."
His gaze swept across the class, his voice carrying a sincerity that inspired trust.
"It's better to prepare in advance than to scramble when trouble comes. This isn't just about points. It's about whether Class A can unite into a group capable of standing together. So, does everyone agree with this proposal?"
The students fell into thought, exchanging glances and quietly discussing the pros and cons.
Fifty thousand points was no small amount, but the future Mazumi Mami had described—and the dangers that might lie ahead—made it seem like a necessary safeguard.
With so much still unknown and the future uncertain, his proposal to join forces and build a safety net was highly appealing.
"To make sure everyone's wishes are fully respected, we'll hold an Anonymous Vote."
Mazumi Mami took out his phone and promptly posted a poll in the class group chat.
"I'll send a summary of the proposal to the group. You don't need to worry about what anyone else thinks. Just cast your honest vote."
Before long, the results appeared on everyone's phones: the proposal had passed unanimously.
"Excellent!"
A slight smile appeared on Mazumi Mami's face, one of satisfaction at how smoothly the plan was going.
"Thank you all for your trust and support. Next, we need to decide who will manage the common fund. Managing it requires the utmost rigor, fairness, and care."
He looked toward Runa Inoue, who was sitting at her desk.
"I propose that Runa Inoue manage the Class Common Fund. I can personally vouch for her: she's exceptionally good with numbers, meticulous, and highly responsible. She's the best candidate for the job."
"Of course, if anyone else would like to volunteer for this responsibility, you're welcome to do so. We can decide by vote in that case, too."
Hearing this, Runa Inoue stood up and walked steadily to the podium.
Her violet eyes were calm as she faced the class, her voice clear and solemn.
"If you trust me, I'll take on this responsibility. I promise to keep detailed records of every deposit and withdrawal and post regular statements in the class group chat, so that everything is completely transparent. I won't show favoritism under any circumstances."
"I'll do my utmost to safeguard this 'insurance' that belongs to every member of Class A."
She already gave the impression of being calm and dependable, and with Mazumi Mami's endorsement, her case was very convincing.
"Then we'll also use an Anonymous Vote to appoint the fund manager."
Mazumi Mami started another poll.
Building on the unanimous support for the Class Common Fund, Runa Inoue's evident reliability, and the fact that some students probably didn't want to take on such a tedious and weighty responsibility, the results soon came in: Runa Inoue had won by an overwhelming margin.
"Congratulations, Inoue, and thank you all for your trust."
Mazumi Mami nodded to Takina, then turned to face the class again.
"Rest assured, my companions and I will continue investigating and try to find the exact rules governing increases and deductions in Class Points as soon as possible. Our goal isn't just to preserve our existing one thousand points—we'll work hard to earn more!"
He ended with one final reminder.
"Until then, please try to maintain your usual study and daily routines, but be careful about what you say and do. Avoid anything that might violate school rules or damage the class's reputation."
"Remember, the higher Class A's score, the more secure everyone's future Personal Points will be. Unity and stability within the class are the foundation we need to face any challenge from the outside."
The students nodded one after another. The anxiety on their faces gave way to the calm that came from finding someone they could rely on.
By stepping forward in a moment of crisis, analyzing the situation clearly, putting forward a practical proposal, and quickly organizing everyone, Mazumi Mami had begun to establish authority and earn the trust of most of his classmates.
His leadership had quietly taken root after the first lesson on the first day of school.
In a corner of the classroom, Sakayanagi Arisu quietly watched everything unfold.
Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the desk without her realizing it, and light flickered deep in her violet eyes.
Mazumi Mami's series of moves—from revealing the information to guiding the panic, then proposing a solution and assigning a key role—had flowed seamlessly. He had almost entirely taken control of the class's momentum.
She had both the ability and the desire to challenge him, propose an alternative, or even compete for this newly emerging leadership.
But... her gaze unconsciously shifted toward the direction of her handbag. Inside lay the bottle of Milky Nutrient Solution, with six-sevenths of it still remaining.
She planned to find her father after class and have the solution tested.
The unmistakable improvement in her health when she'd woken that morning, along with her longing to finally escape the constraints of her frail condition, was like an invisible thread holding back the hand she was about to raise in objection.
"Standing up against him now wouldn't be wise..."
She judged the situation calmly.
"Besides, for now, what he's doing does seem to benefit the class, and it hasn't harmed my interests. For the time being... I'll just watch. There will always be other opportunities."
She persuaded herself to set aside her competitive instincts for the time being.
Yet she might not have fully realized just how powerful a "first impression" and an "early advantage" could be within a group.
Mazumi Mami had already left a deep impression on the students of Class A as the one who "revealed the crisis," "provided the solution," and "became the temporary leader."
Sakayanagi Arisu's restraint and watchful waiting might leave her, without her realizing it, a crucial step behind in the class's future power structure.
The bell rang again, but the shock and changes brought by this lesson were far from over.
The new chapter of Class A had been completely redirected during what seemed like an ordinary first lesson of the school year, though currents of unrest ran beneath the surface.