Elective Courses Open?

"...That's about it."

Chabashira Sae casually mentioned that points could be used like money, then got up and left without another word.

You En felt like she was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she'd burst out laughing—laughing at how stupid they were.

Still, the people in Class D either had bad habits or carried major baggage in personality or past experience. In short, their innate obedience was terrible. You En could understand why she acted that way, but it didn't make her any more competent.

The bus earlier had been filled entirely with Class D students. The school had clearly set up an obedience test. Whether they realized it or not, in that moral dilemma, doing nothing meant disobedience. And those who did act—whether they were truly obedient or not was also easy to see. Take Kushida Kikyo, for example.

"One hundred thousand points? That's like a hundred thousand yen a month, right?"

Yamauchi Haruki's eyes went wide.

Sudo Ken clicked his tongue. "The school's way too generous."

Ike Kanji pounded the table in excitement. "No wonder this is the most well-connected high school out there. I love it."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka glanced over and chimed in with a line of his own.

"I've never seen that much money before."

"Well, now you have."

You En couldn't be bothered to mock him. The poor kid had just crawled out of the White Room, that super-cram-school hellhole. That line was probably the truth.

Horikita Suzune spoke up. "That shouldn't mean much to you, should it?"

It was phrased like a question, but her tone was certain.

"Master-level writing skills don't come from locking yourself in a room. What works have you written?"

You En glanced at the copy of Crime and Punishment in her hand.

"The novels I write are just for passing the time. I only want readers to enjoy themselves while reading. They're nothing too deep. Don't get your hopes up."

"I wasn't expecting much. If you don't want to say, then don't."

Horikita Suzune closed her eyes, clearly saying the opposite of what she meant.

"Sigh."

Right then, You En started hating himself. Why did he have to give his novels those eye-catching titles? "Harem," "Little Sister," "Girlfriend," "Wife"... He thought it over and realized he had nothing he could actually say out loud.

If only he'd known, he would've written a novel with a normal title.

"Can't say it."

Horikita Suzune didn't press further.

"Then at least tell me your royalties."

You En nodded.

"Last year's royalties were sixty million yen."

"?"

Horikita Suzune and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who was beside her, froze on the spot.

"How... much?!"

"Oh, that's not from one book. It's from several combined. I'm not at the level where one book alone makes that much."

"That's not the issue."

Horikita Suzune was starting to find it hard to believe. On the first day of high school, she'd met a classmate who was an author making tens of millions a year.

"Are you sure that's true? You're not joking?"

You En replied seriously. "I never lie."

Horikita Suzune fell silent, as if digesting the fact.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face was expressionless, but his mind was racing, calculating the current net worth range of the person in front of him.

No wonder he wasn't interested in this school.

Because Advanced Nurturing High School, in the end, only offered an almost 100% employment and advancement rate.

And You En simply didn't need that.

"So that's it. This is what a Level 3 skill is like. A qualitative gap from Level 2."

Horikita Suzune let out a soft breath. "If that's the case, then this panel is fine. My current abilities really can't reach true master level in any field, not even in any single branch."

You En didn't want to dwell on this topic.

"It's getting late. Let's head to the gym together."

"Right. Let's go together."

You En stood up. Horikita Suzune packed up her books, ready to go with him.

Ayanokoji glanced at the three idiots, then finally said, "I'll pass."

Still clinging to that damn persona of yours.

You En patted his shoulder. "Just keep putting on your act, Koji."

"Okay, we'll head off now."

"Mm."

"Why are you so focused on him?"

After Horikita Suzune reached the hallway, she took two or three quick steps to catch up and walk alongside him.

"Not that focused, really. I just find him interesting."

You En said, "More to the point, why are you so guarded against him but not against me?"

"Guarded against him? Against you?"

Horikita Suzune repeated, shot You En a glare, opened her mouth to say something, then suddenly frowned as she sensed something off.

"I don't know why, but I just don't feel like talking to him."

You En found Horikita Suzune endearingly naive. He could only think that this was how a girl who'd spent all her time studying and never made any friends would be.

"Is this what they call a woman's intuition?"

Horikita Suzune shot back, "Intuition has nothing to do with gender."

You En looked a little surprised. "If you don't mind me asking, what's your take on ladies first?"

Horikita Suzune found it odd. "I can do things myself, and I'm not worse than anyone else. Why should I let others give way to me?"

You En looked up. "Marry me after graduation."

"Huh?! What are you saying."

Horikita Suzune felt he was just messing with her.

"Nothing. If you haven't changed by graduation, I'll say it again."

You En quickened his pace.

Horikita Suzune kept up. "Hey, what did you mean by that just now? Is there some hidden meaning?"

"If we keep walking this slowly, we'll be late for the opening ceremony."

You En changed the subject, pointing toward the gymnasium entrance.

"...Forget it."

Horikita Suzune had no idea how to handle this guy.

What a weirdo.

Inside the gymnasium.

"New students, if this were an ordinary school, I would welcome you in. But cruelly enough, this school does not welcome any of you."

Horikita Manabu looked down at the new students. He knew a great deal, but due to school regulations, he couldn't say it.

His gaze swept toward Class D's area, lingering on Horikita Suzune's face for a moment before shifting away before her eyes could notice.

Horikita Manabu made a decision and spoke:

"Now, as Student Council President, I am activating the authority for new students to withdraw. You can use your 100,000 points to drop out immediately. This is your last chance. It's still the start of the term—if you withdraw now, you can still catch up elsewhere."

"What the hell?"

"What is he talking about?"

"He wants us to drop out?"

Most people understood the literal meaning of the Student Council President's words, but that only made them more confused.

"Is this Student Council President crazy?"

Sudo Ken cursed outright.

Yukimura Teruhiko adjusted his glasses. "What's up with this school? The homeroom teacher was weird enough, and now the Student Council President at the opening ceremony is just as strange. Is this really a place for learning?"

Horikita Suzune bit her lip. She vaguely guessed that her brother's words might have been directed at her.

Of all the students present, she knew Horikita Manabu best. She knew he wasn't joking—he was probably genuinely looking out for the new students by making this suggestion.

This school was probably not as simple as she'd thought.

But precisely because of that, she couldn't leave.

"Actually, listening to him wouldn't be a bad idea."

You En suddenly said, "What do you think, Suzune?"

Horikita Suzune didn't mind him calling her by her first name. It was better than some weird nickname like "Little Suzune" or "Suzune-chan."

To You En's question, she simply asked in return, "Are you going to drop out?"

You En's lips curled.

"I'm only afraid of boredom. Boredom is more terrifying to me than death. I'm not afraid of how terrifying this school might be—only afraid that it won't live up to my expectations."

"My reason is different from yours,"

Horikita Suzune said, calming down. To make her brother see her in a new light, she would stay and prove it to him.

"But I'll stay too."

Horikita Manabu heard someone's answer and was deeply disappointed. He swept his gaze over everyone. "It seems most of you here don't have a clear understanding of yourselves. So be it."

He lost interest, wrapped up his speech hastily, and stepped down, leaving the rest of the new student arrangements to his secretary, Tachibana.

"...By the way, some elective courses have been added this year. You can take a look and sign up if you're interested."

After finishing the event, Tachibana-senpai smiled and said her last words, then left the venue, which was as noisy as a market.

You En had listened attentively from start to finish, so naturally he caught that last sentence.

There were even elective courses.

Another thing not mentioned in his memories.

"I'm planning to check it out. What about you?"

You En looked at Horikita Suzune. She nodded.

"I was thinking the same."

The two went to the academic affairs office and learned from the staff that

elective course registration required the homeroom teacher's involvement.

It took some more time to find Chabashira Sae, who was smoking in the teachers' office.

"You want to sign up for electives?"

Chabashira Sae looked at the students who had come to see her, stubbed out the cigarette in her hand, and tossed it into the ashtray.

She glanced at Horikita Suzune, then sized up You En from head to toe. A smirk tugged at her lips as she pulled a form from her drawer.

"Take a look. Only two courses are available for now. You need points to register."

"Wilderness Survival (Elective): 20,000 points/session, 4 sessions total"

"Amateur Sailor (Elective): 10,000 points/session, 6 sessions total"

140,000 total?

Horikita Suzune frowned.

Which student could afford to sign up for all of them?

She turned to You En. "Let's go. These courses are clearly a joke—probably just a way to drain our points."

But You En stood still, staring at the four words on the form.

"Wilderness Survival"

If he wasn't mistaken, this should be related to the uninhabited island test later. But the problem was that the original uninhabited island test wasn't about survival—it was about the ability to use points.

And then there was this "Amateur Sailor" course.

It was completely different from the original story's development.

Horikita Suzune leaned in, intruding into You En's field of vision.

"You're not actually going to sign up, are you?"

"Yeah."

You En nodded and looked at Chabashira Sae.

"Chabashira-sensei, I want to sign up for all of them."

Chabashira Sae didn't respond immediately. Instead, she said, "You don't have enough points, do you?"

You En looked at Horikita Suzune, his expression serious. "Suzune, lend me 40,000 points. When the next points are distributed, I'll pay you back with 30% interest—that's 52,000."

"Wait, are you serious? This is obviously..."

Horikita Suzune stopped mid-sentence, seeing the look in You En's eyes. She understood his resolve. The fact that he brought up interest showed he'd thought it through seriously.

"Hah..."

Horikita Suzune let out a breath. She felt like she was losing her composure too. Closing her eyes, she said, "Forget the interest. I'll lend you the 40,000. The question is, what will you do about food and lodging afterward?"

You En relaxed and smiled. "It's fine. I remember the brochure said this school covers all food and lodging."

"All food and lodging covered" meant free meals—but don't expect them to taste good.

"Don't worry. The school won't let you starve. It's still merciful in that regard."

Chabashira Sae suppressed the smile at the corner of her lips.

"Transfer the points over, and I'll sign you up for it."

You En borrowed forty thousand from Horikita Suzune, then transferred the full one hundred forty thousand to Chabashira Sae.

Before long, a message arrived on his student terminal.

[New student You En, you have successfully enrolled in "Wilderness Survival 4/4 (Elective)" and "Amateur Sailor 6/6 (Elective)." These have been added to your schedule. Please confirm.]

Chabashira Sae seemed to be in a good mood as she spoke to You En.

"You look like you have quite a few doubts. If there's something you want to ask, I'll answer one question for free."

You En was in a good mood too, feeling like he was walking a tightrope.

"No thanks. I'll figure it out on my own."

"Ha, good."

Chabashira Sae pulled out a cigarette, just holding it without lighting it.

"I'll keep that free question on hold for you. You can ask another time."

You En gave a slight nod. "Alright, then we'll take our leave."

Once they were outside the faculty office, Horikita Suzune watched You En, who was cheerfully ambling ahead, and felt like she'd lost her own reason. She really should have talked him out of it.

"Regretting not asking for interest?"

You En turned around, bending down to look at her expression, teasing. "You can still add it now."

"Who wants your measly interest?"

Horikita Suzune said irritably. "I just can't stand some big idiot throwing away all his hundred thousand points in one go."

"Didn't you throw away your forty thousand too?

If I'm the big idiot,"

You En pointed at himself first, then at Horikita Suzune, "Then that makes you the little idiot."

"You bastard!"

Horikita Suzune couldn't take it anymore. She reached out, placed her hand on his waist, and gave a vicious pinch and twist.

A pained cry echoed from the hallway back into the faculty office.

Chabashira Sae lowered her head with a smile, looking at the course registration data in the system.

For the newly opened electives this term, Class D had signed up for ten slots, Class B for two, and Classes A and C for one each.

"I hope you really do study well, You En Tiandai. Maybe you can break Class D's curse."

Smoke curled upward.

Chabashira Sae closed her eyes, her bright red hair falling loose, a bitterness in her mouth, savoring the bitterness of the past.