Class 1-A.
Simple metal letters on the classroom door marked the place as a symbol of both "beginnings" and "the top."
Mazumi Mami's gaze lingered on them for a moment, his mind calm and undisturbed.
As an imperial crown prince who had weathered genuine storms, the designation of a school class was hardly enough to stir his emotions.
The cane in his hand kept pace with his steps, tapping out a measured rhythm.
They passed the first-year Class B, Class C, and Class D rooms along the corridor.
Through open doors and narrow gaps in windows came the sounds of new students—chatter, conversation, and the scraping of desks and chairs—all mixed with the excitement, anxiety, and curiosity unique to the start of school.
The other classrooms seemed full of life, even a little noisy.
But when the door to Class A opened, what reached their ears was an entirely different atmosphere.
Quite a few students were already seated, and the room was unexpectedly quiet.
Most sat upright. Some leafed through the materials they had just received or their brand-new textbooks, while others quietly took in the classroom and their future classmates.
Even when they spoke in low voices, they kept their conversations to a minimum, seeming restrained and polite.
When their eyes met, they usually exchanged reserved nods. A subtle, unspoken understanding—one shared by "honor students" and "self-disciplined students"—seemed to flow through the air.
The arrival of Mazumi Mami and his companions—Chisato Nishikigi, Takina Inoue, and Walnut, who followed close behind him—didn't cause much of a stir.
The students of Class A seemed used to maintaining their quiet and orderly atmosphere.
Still, it was inevitable that eyes would turn their way.
A handsome black-haired boy with a hint of aloofness, accompanied by three beautiful girls, each with her own striking appearance and bearing—that was enough to draw attention anywhere.
Curious, appraising, and slightly surprised gazes lingered on them before politely shifting away, as if their owners had simply confirmed the new students' arrival and returned to their own worlds.
The four took their assigned seats. Mazumi Mami's was near the window toward the back, with a good view. Chisato, Takina, and Walnut sat in a semicircle behind and to one side of him, positioned to keep an eye on him while also monitoring activity around the classroom.
Their movements were light and well-practiced, as if they had rehearsed them countless times.
A few minutes later, the bell announcing the official start of school rang out, right on time and as precise as a signal.
The instant its echo had nearly faded, the classroom's front door opened, and a man in a sharply tailored dark suit strode inside.
He was tall, with straight shoulders and neatly groomed gray-green hair. His green eyes, sharp as a hawk's, swept quickly across the classroom.
His features were rugged and his manner brisk. He looked like the sort of person who disliked wasting words and preferred to get straight to the point.
He seemed somewhere between a young man and middle-aged, with the subtle air of someone both seasoned and full of energy.
"New students, I'm Majima Tomoya, the homeroom teacher for Class A."
His voice was steady and strong, with no unnecessary opening remarks.
"I usually teach history. There's one thing you should understand: as a rule, this school doesn't reshuffle its classes each year. That means I'll be your homeroom teacher for the next three years, and we'll learn together. I look forward to working with you."
After his brief introduction, he got straight to business.
"The entrance ceremony will be held in the gymnasium an hour from now. Before then, I need to hand out and emphasize some of this school's unusual rules once more."
He gestured to the stack of documents in his hand.
"Some of this has already been covered in your enrollment guide, but it still needs to be formally explained."
The documents were distributed in order, starting with the front row.
When one reached Mazumi Mami, he quickly leafed through it.
The contents were much the same as the version Walnut had gathered in advance and made them memorize, though this one was more official and rigidly formatted.
Chisato Nishikigi, Takina Inoue, and Walnut each took a copy as well. Their expressions remained calm; they clearly already knew what it said.
"Some of you may have read this more than once."
Majima Tomoya's voice rang out again, more serious than before.
"But I must emphasize the following points: all students are required to live on campus. While at school, you may not contact the outside world in any way unless the school recognizes special circumstances. You may not leave the campus without permission."
"All purchases on campus must be made with the 'Personal Points' provided by the school. Cash is prohibited. You may not possess or use electronic devices from outside the school. The school-issued, monitored smartphone is the only permitted means of communication."
He enunciated each word clearly, ensuring that every student could hear these strictly binding rules.
"The student ID you've received contains a chip and also serves as your points card."
Majima Tomoya held up a sample card.
"With it, you can use all campus facilities and make purchases at any affiliated shop. It's similar to a credit card, but it uses 'Personal Points,' so pay attention to your balance."
Then, in an almost formulaic tone, he continued.
"Within the school, in theory, there's nothing you can't buy with points. Any goods or services provided or permitted on campus can be obtained through point transactions."
However, Mazumi Mami noticed something.
When Majima Tomoya spoke that last sentence, he gave it the faintest emphasis, as if highlighting a particular word—or perhaps hinting at something indirectly.
"Nothing you can't buy with points?"
Mazumi Mami lowered his eyes to the seemingly ordinary student ID and points card in his hand, which might contain special rules.
Combining identification with currency could indeed reduce disputes over cash. It might also allow the school to analyze students' behavior through their spending data.
But no matter what, the school held absolute control over how points were issued, priced, and circulated.
"The process is simple. Just tap or present your card at a reader. I'm sure you're all capable of figuring it out without further instructions."
Majima Tomoya continued, "Points are issued on the first of every month. To mark the beginning of your enrollment, the school has fairly deposited one hundred thousand points into every new student's account."
He paused briefly, then added in a level voice that nevertheless carried a note of warning.
"Remember, the theoretical exchange rate between campus points and Shenzhou Currency is ten points to one yuan. Therefore, the prices of goods and services here follow a system independent of the outside market. Don't judge them by outside prices. Spend wisely."
"That concludes the Rule Explanation."
As soon as he finished speaking, the quiet in the classroom gave way to an unmistakable change.
Low murmurs began to rise, and expressions of surprise, confusion, and excitement appeared on the students' faces.
"One hundred thousand points? That's the equivalent of ten thousand Shenzhou Currency! They give us that much spending money just for enrolling? No wonder this special school has such close ties to the government..."
"Is that really okay? Even if it's a special school, there's no need to give us that much right from the start, is there? Don't students usually earn scholarships through grades or activities?"
"No idea... Maybe it's some kind of school tradition or special system?"
For most high school students, this was an enormous sum of Starting Funds, more than enough to set off all kinds of speculation.
Majima Tomoya stood quietly at the front of the classroom, watching the students' reactions without immediately stopping them.
Only when the murmuring began to die down did he speak.
"Are you surprised by the number of points the school has given you?"
His gaze swept slowly over the classroom. "This school measures students by their 'ability.' Those of you sitting here are all considered to possess the corresponding 'value' and 'potential.' In a sense, points are a way for the school to quantify your current 'value.'"
"Don't hesitate. Spend them freely."
His tone sounded almost generous.
Then he changed tack. "However, you need to understand that the school will take these points back when you graduate. They can't be exchanged for cash or taken off campus, so there's no benefit to hoarding them. Once they've been credited to your account, how you use them is up to you. Spend them however you like."
"Also, anyone who doesn't need their points is free to transfer them to someone else."
His voice suddenly turned cold, and his green eyes shone with unquestionable authority. "But threats, coercion, or bullying to obtain points are strictly forbidden. The school has zero tolerance for such behavior."
An invisible pressure spread through his words, instantly choking off every whisper.
The classroom fell silent. The students straightened in their seats almost involuntarily, and some even held their breath, their eyes fixed on the imposing homeroom teacher at the front.
Majima Tomoya slowly scanned each young, slightly tense face. He paused for a few seconds, as if waiting for something—or checking for it.
In the end, he simply said, "That's all for the explanation. I hope you all have a fulfilling and wonderful school life."
"Classes begin in earnest tomorrow. You're free for the rest of today. Explore the campus, find your dormitories, greet your upperclassmen, or use some points to try things out."
With that, he briskly picked up his documents, gave the class a slight nod, and left the room.
The door closed softly, but the classroom remained silent for a little while.
Several students exchanged glances, uneasily wondering whether their earlier discussion had angered a homeroom teacher who looked quite strict.
Mazumi Mami leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers idly on the desk as he pondered.
"That silence just now..."
He recalled the way Majima Tomoya had looked over the class at the end, and the few seconds he'd paused.
"Rather than a show of authority after a warning, it felt more like... a subtle encouragement. Was he expecting someone to ask a question?"
"But he explained the rules clearly enough. The points, the system, the things to watch out for... So did he want us to ask about something outside the rules?"
"Or was he looking for us to ask what 'ability,' 'value,' and 'potential' actually mean? Or perhaps... about the unspoken rules behind his claim that 'there's nothing you can't buy with points'?"
There were too few clues to draw any firm conclusions for now.
But Mazumi Mami was certain that beneath Majima-sensei's words—and beneath the school's apparent rules—lay a far more complex and precise system.
Perhaps that was one consequence of the S System's influence, and another veil they would need to lift in time.
He turned his head slightly and exchanged a silent glance with the three maids behind him.
Chisato Nishikigi blinked, Takina Inoue nodded lightly, and Walnut adjusted her headband before rapidly tapping a few times on the mini device she carried, seemingly already recording and analyzing everything she had observed.
Beneath Class A's calm surface, the undercurrents had already begun to stir.