The Curtain Rises

On the way back to the classroom, both Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji seemed to have something they wanted to say. In the end, Ichinose Honami spoke first.

"Shiraishi, how did you figure all this out?" Ichinose Honami asked curiously. They had both only just arrived at the school and spent their time on the same campus, so why had Shiraishi Makoto discovered so much hidden information and deduced so many rules?

"Because Ichinose spent more of her energy on her classmates, so you simply didn't notice," Shiraishi Makoto said, avoiding the question. "But precisely because of that, I need the help of Ichinose and Kanzaki. Once this morning's classes are over, let's gather everyone for a short class meeting and tell them what we found out today."

"No problem, but why not tell everyone after the first period? Hasn't the exam already started?" Ichinose asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Two reasons." Shiraishi Makoto paused. "First, some of the teachers teaching us are homeroom teachers from other classes. If they come into the classroom while we're explaining the rules, it could have an impact."

Ichinose Honami and Kanzaki Ryuji thought it over and understood what Shiraishi Makoto meant.

If the homeroom teachers from other classes were alerted and deliberately or casually gave hints while skirting the edges of certain rules, students in those classes might notice the signs as well. Class B's head start would then be greatly weakened.

"The second reason is that I suddenly remembered something I haven't asked Hoshinomiya-sensei about yet." By the time Shiraishi Makoto finished speaking, the three of them had reached the classroom door. "Let's discuss the details during lunch break."

After returning to his seat, Shiraishi Makoto held his forehead and steadied himself. His heart rate had probably reached 150 just now, because he had forgotten something extremely important.

Since he had no intention of pursuing the individual promotion route, he had completely forgotten to ask Hoshinomiya-sensei about Private Points. If he hadn't been rehearsing his lunch-break speech in his head on the way back, he might not have realized it at all.

But class was about to begin, so he would ask during the break instead.

Since it was the first day of school, the teachers of each subject merely explained their teaching policies and did not truly begin lessons. Perhaps because it was the first day, the students were full of enthusiasm. They listened attentively and maintained proper classroom discipline.

However, Shiraishi Makoto did not care much about the first day's situation, or even the results of the first exam.

If they could overtake the others, that would naturally be best. It would give everyone enough confidence to compete against Class A, whose overall quality was better. Even if they failed to surpass them, it did not matter. The class competition would last for three full years, and there would be plenty of opportunities ahead. Until Class A stopped its internal conflict, its weaknesses would remain obvious.

During one break, he sent Hoshinomiya-sensei a message asking about Private Points. After receiving confirmation that they really could buy anything and that 20 million Private Points could buy an individual promotion, Shiraishi Makoto began waiting for lunch break.

When the morning classes ended and the teacher left the classroom, the Class B students began packing up to go eat lunch. However, the students seated near the doors shut them as soon as the teacher left, clearly following instructions from either Ichinose or Kanzaki.

Ichinose Honami stepped onto the podium, lightly tapped the desk, and spoke. "Everyone, sorry to take up your time for a short class meeting. There are a few things we need to explain."

A wave of hushed discussion immediately spread through the classroom, but everyone quickly returned to their seats. Though only a day had passed, Ichinose Honami had already displayed astonishing social skills and friendliness, becoming the class's unspoken core.

Watching everyone settle down, Ichinose Honami smiled and nodded, then looked toward the back of the classroom. "Shiraishi, please explain the situation to everyone."

Shiraishi Makoto took a deep breath and walked to the podium. With over thirty pairs of eyes fixed on him at once, he was nowhere near as calm and composed as Ichinose. Fortunately, he had rehearsed the contents over and over in his mind, so he would not panic on the spot.

"Kanzaki, just in case, help keep watch." Shiraishi Makoto pointed toward the door.

Kanzaki Ryuji understood at once. He exchanged a glance with Ichinose Honami, then one of them went to the front door and the other to the back door, watching through the windows for students from other classes approaching.

"Everyone, have you ever considered this..." Bracing both hands against the desk, Shiraishi Makoto began explaining the school's hidden rules.

Only Class A could enjoy the benefits of graduation, the rules for promotion between classes, Class Points and Private Points, the first exam that had already begun... To finish as quickly as possible, Shiraishi Makoto did not explain how he had arrived at these conclusions. Instead, he directly told everyone the final results.

"You don't need to doubt this. Everything I just said has been confirmed by our homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya-sensei. Ichinose and Kanzaki can testify for me." Looking at the dozens of faces below him, some shocked and others serious, Shiraishi Makoto spoke.

"That's right. Some of you may remember that before class this morning, Shiraishi invited Kanzaki and me outside to discuss something. He wanted us to serve as witnesses." Faced with the questioning looks from everyone, Ichinose Honami nodded lightly.

"These are things we should be doing as students anyway. And since they're related to the exam, everyone should be able to manage them, right?" The voice came from below the podium. Shiraishi Makoto looked over and saw Hamaguchi Tetsuya.

"Of course. These are all pretty simple things," another student replied.

"So the other classes still don't know the exam rules. Does that mean we have a chance to overtake them and become Class A in the first month?" some students whispered.

"Probably?" Others looked visibly excited.

Seeing that his classmates had quickly understood and accepted the situation, Shiraishi Makoto lightly tapped the desk to draw their attention back. He continued, "Besides Class Points, Private Points are also extremely important. Do you remember what Hoshinomiya-sensei said yesterday? As long as the school possesses something, you can buy it, no matter what it is."

Yesterday, everyone had merely understood that as meaning Private Points could be treated like yen. Now that Shiraishi Makoto had pointed it out, their thoughts began to expand.

"Does that mean grades can be bought too?"

"What about spots? Can graduation spots be bought as well?"

"With 20 million Private Points, you can transfer classes freely. If you use it at the right time, it's equivalent to buying graduation privileges." Amid his classmates' eager discussion, Shiraishi Makoto revealed the rule. "As for exam grades and exam questions, those can also be bought, though the prices will vary depending on the circumstances."

"So I hope everyone will start saving their points from now on. Starting next month, I suggest we collect a portion of everyone's points as Class Funds." Shiraishi Makoto made his proposal and explained, "I don't know if you've noticed, but every first-year class has forty students, while some upper-year classes only have a little over thirty desks. That means that under certain circumstances, students may face the risk of expulsion."

"If that happens, having enough Class Funds could allow us to save that student. What do you all think?" Shiraishi Makoto asked instinctively, but after speaking, he felt that the question had been unnecessary. For Class B, this was not something that needed discussion.

"No problem. I think we can start paying into the Class Funds right now."

"How much should we contribute? Thirty thousand? Fifty thousand?"

"I think we should keep at least thirty thousand points every month, no matter what. Just looking at that free mountain vegetable set meal makes me not want to eat it."

"Shiraishi, who should we give it to?"

Indeed, who would be entrusted with safeguarding such a large sum of points was a problem. Even if they collected only fifty thousand each month, in ten months they could gather the 20 million points needed for one person to transfer classes. They needed someone everyone trusted, someone who would not cause any problems.

Just as Shiraishi Makoto was about to nominate Ichinose Honami, she spoke from where she stood guard at the front door.

"Give it to Shiraishi." Ichinose Honami looked at Shiraishi Makoto with a smile. "Shiraishi shared such important information with everyone. You all trust him too, don't you?"

"I have no objections," Kanzaki Ryuji said from the back door.

"I support Shiraishi." A girl with short light beige hair raised her hand from below the podium.

More and more students voiced their agreement, leaving Shiraishi Makoto briefly unable to react.

Shiraishi Makoto froze for a moment. When he came back to himself, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

"Then leave it to me."