As the final bell of the afternoon rang, a relaxed atmosphere spread through the classroom, signaling the end of the day's lessons.
However, the students in Class B didn't start packing their bags to head back to the dorms as usual. A message from Honami Ichinose had appeared in the class group chat during lunch.
"After school today, we need to discuss something important as a class. Please stay behind."
At that moment, Honami Ichinose took a deep breath and rose from her seat, walking with determined steps toward the podium.
She turned to face the class, her pink-gold ponytail sweeping through the air in a neat arc.
Her gaze swept over every familiar face below. Some looked curious, some expectant, and others uneasy and confused.
"Everyone—"
Her voice rang clearly through the classroom. "I'm sure you've all seen the message in the class group chat. Let me explain the situation again in person, and then we'll vote together on whether to pay one million points to buy information about the school's hidden rules from Mazumi Mami, the Class A representative."
A low murmur rose from the class.
Ryuji Kanzaki stood up right after her, phone in hand. After a few taps, he said, "I've posted the voting link in the class group chat. The vote is anonymous, so just vote according to what you think. Don't feel pressured. Whether you vote for or against is entirely up to you."
With the two key figures having made their positions clear, even the students who had still been hesitating or waiting to see what others would do took out their phones, opened the voting link in the class group chat, and read the details and options.
A boy sitting by the window was the first to speak.
"One million points is no small amount... Are we really going to buy it? And if we are, couldn't we buy it from some other Class A student? Why does it have to be their class representative? Maybe someone else would sell it for less."
"That won't work."
The girl sitting beside him shook her head, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"Those people in Class A are tight-lipped. After Honami posted in the group chat this afternoon, I secretly asked a friend of mine in Class A to see if I could get any information out of him."
"Guess what happened? As soon as I asked how points could be gained or lost, his expression changed. Then he stammered, 'I can't talk about that,' and hurriedly hung up."
Another boy frowned, sounding confused and doubtful. "But that doesn't make sense... Are the students in Class A really just going to let their class representative pocket the whole million points? Doesn't anyone want a cut? Are they really that united? Not one of them wants to make a little extra money on the side?"
"You guessed right—they really don't have a problem with it."
A boy wearing glasses, who seemed to be well-informed, pushed up his frames and lowered his voice. "From what I've heard, after enrolling, Class A representative Mazumi Mami not only secured the position by getting the top score on the entrance exam, but also quickly brought the class together and organized it."
"Now the students in Class A generally believe they have a brighter future if they follow her. So as long as they're still in Class A, they don't care how many points their class representative makes from selling information. It's not coming out of their pockets, after all."
Low murmurs spread through the classroom.
"Well, then, there's nothing we can do..."
"If there's no way to get anything out of Class A, I guess we can only make a deal with their class representative..."
"One million... I only have a hundred thousand in total. This'll take twenty-five thousand right out of my pocket..."
"But if we don't buy it, we might not get a single point next month... That'd be even worse."
The students whispered among themselves, each wearing a complicated expression: hesitant, worried, and helpless.
What the students in Class B didn't know was that there had been some disagreement within Class A over this deal.
Katsuragi Kohei had once privately approached Mazumi Mami and asked her not to sell the information to other classes, so Class A could maintain its first-mover advantage.
But Mazumi Mami had calmly explained the pros and cons to him. Information was a time-sensitive secret. Rather than cling to it, they should trade it for a tangible benefit while it could still fetch a good price.
More importantly, if Class B spent one million points on the information, the shortage of points would leave them badly weakened for a long time, and they wouldn't be able to challenge Class A.
Instead, they'd have to keep an eye out for the interest of Classes C and D. For Class A, this was an arrangement with nothing but benefits.
After Mazumi Mami patiently explained her reasoning, Katsuragi Kohei eventually agreed to the plan.
After all, the information had been painstakingly gathered by Mazumi Mami and her maids. Katsuragi Kohei hadn't contributed anything, so he had no reason to ask her to give up the profits she was entitled to.
Besides, Mazumi Mami had a point. Rather than hold on to a secret that would eventually become outdated, it was better to trade it for a real strategic advantage.
Of course, the students in Class B knew nothing about the maneuvering within Class A.
"All right—"
Honami Ichinose clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention back to her.
"Let's discuss it now. I'll give you thirty minutes to share your opinions, and then you can cast your final votes using the link in the group chat. Whether you agree or disagree is entirely up to you."
Honami Ichinose continued, "However, whether or not we decide to buy the information, we need to start collecting and pooling the class's Personal Points. The Class A representative's actions reminded me that we should also collect some Personal Points in advance as a public fund, in case of emergencies."
"So—"
Ryuji Kanzaki picked up where she left off, his tone serious and leaving no room for argument. "Don't think, 'If I vote against it, I'll get to keep all my points.' Whether we're buying information or building an emergency fund for the class, we're going to collect those points."
"Kanzaki..."
Honami Ichinose glanced at him, her tone carrying a hint of gentle reproach. "You don't have to put it so bluntly. It sounds a little harsh."
"I'm just telling it like it is."
Ryuji Kanzaki's expression was calm and frank. "This measure is necessary for Class B and everyone's long-term interests. Some things may be unpleasant to hear, but that's better than keeping them under wraps and regretting it after something goes wrong."
At his words, Honami Ichinose moved her lips slightly, as if she wanted to say something more. In the end, though, she only sighed softly and didn't argue further.
The thirty-minute discussion passed quickly.
The voting link in the class group chat closed, and the result appeared on everyone's screens in real time—
Yes: 26 votes. No: 14 votes.
With more than half the votes in favor, the motion to pay one million points to buy the information from Mazumi Mami passed.
The moment the result appeared, the classroom filled with all kinds of reactions. Some looked relieved, some worried, while others patted their chests and wore expressions that seemed to say, "Well, if it's decided, then so be it."
Standing at the podium, Honami Ichinose stared silently at the voting result on her phone for a moment. Then she raised her head, looked over every student below her, and bowed deeply.
"Thank you... Thank you for trusting me and making this decision."
She straightened up, her gaze firm and earnest. "I promise I'll make good use of the information we buy with this one million points and secure the greatest possible benefit for Class B. That's my promise as your class representative, and my promise as Honami Ichinose."
The class immediately responded with a wave of cheers:
"Keep it up, Honami! I knew you could do it!"
"Hehe, to be honest, I voted yes because I trust Honami! I'll support any decision she makes!"
"Honami! I like you! Go out with me!"
"Hey! How are you using this as an excuse to confess? Honami belongs to all of us! Shut up!"
The boy who'd confessed in front of everyone hadn't even finished speaking before his classmates laughingly pinned his head down. The group burst into a playful scuffle, and the classroom filled with laughter.
Looking at the smiling faces below, Honami Ichinose couldn't help smiling warmly.
At the same time, though, a weight began to settle deep in her heart.
Every word, every gaze, every ounce of trust and expectation was as precious as gold, yet each also felt like an invisible cord winding gently around her heart.
Those expectations were so pure and so sincere that she didn't dare slack off for even a moment, much less let them fall and shatter.
It'll be all right...
She silently told herself, I'll lead everyone to a wonderful high school life. What happened in the past is over... I can do better. I won't make the same mistake again.
She clenched the hand hanging at her side, her fingertips digging into her palm and bringing a faint sting.
The pain seemed to remind her that some mistakes must never be made a second time.
Honami Ichinose lifted her head and looked out the window.
The setting sun had dyed the sky a warm orange-red. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell across her face, lighting the glow in her amethyst eyes.
There was resolve, and responsibility, and—deep within them—a trace of unease.