The opening ceremony had come to an end, but Student Council President Horikita Manabu's cold, realistic speech still echoed in every student's mind. Advanced Nurturing High School was no longer an unknown place shrouded in mystery. The rule that "ability determines everything" had become an unavoidable reality for them all.
In just a few days, the balance of power among the first-year classes had taken shape at an astonishing speed.
Yet amid the chaos and suspicion spreading across campus, Class B maintained its own unique stability and harmony, like a haven gently sheltered from the storm.
That stability came from the near-perfect cooperation between Honami Ichinose and Kanzaki Ryuji.
At the forefront, Honami Ichinose had become the undisputed heart of the class through her natural warmth and sense of responsibility. She never forced anyone to do anything, yet everyone willingly followed her. She never flaunted her abilities, yet at crucial moments, she always made the decisions that best served the group. Her greatest strengths were her gentleness, sincerity, and willingness to listen to everyone.
Behind her stood Kanzaki Ryuji, the silent pillar of Class B.
He was level-headed, perceptive, and efficient, with the judgment and perspective of any leader, yet he was content to remain behind the scenes and let Ichinose have the spotlight. He rarely voiced his opinion, but every word hit the mark. He wasn't sociable, yet whenever the class needed him, he solved problems as efficiently as possible.
During lunch after the opening ceremony, the two returned to a secluded corner on the school building's rooftop.
The wind swept past the railing, bringing a hint of freshness.
"Have you had any luck asking the upperclassmen about the rules?" Ichinose asked softly, a trace of quiet unease in her voice. The colder Horikita Manabu's speech had been, the more she worried that their class might run into trouble without even realizing it.
"It's not that we haven't made any progress. The school itself prohibits the rules from being leaked." Kanzaki leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed calmly on the distance. "Any upperclassman who reveals them will lose Class Points, so no one's willing to take the risk."
"So we have no choice but to figure everything out on our own?"
"More or less." Kanzaki paused briefly, then laid out his deductions in a clear, orderly manner. "But we can be certain of two things. First, Personal Points and Class Points are completely separate systems. The hundred thousand points are just a living allowance; the class rankings really depend on Class Points. Second, the evaluation criteria must revolve around discipline, the group's overall condition, internal conflicts, and attitudes toward studying."
Ichinose drew a soft breath, a glimmer lighting her eyes. "So... the direction Class B is taking is right?"
"Absolutely." Kanzaki affirmed it without hesitation. "You're doing a great job. Sensible spending, no one squandering their points, no conflicts, and everyone exercising self-discipline. In the initial evaluations, that kind of environment will put us far ahead of the chaotic Class C and disorganized Class D."
"But I still can't help worrying..."
"It's only natural to worry, but you don't have to carry the burden alone." Kanzaki's voice was calm, yet reassuring. "I'll support you from behind the scenes. Shibata, Kurata, Kobashi, and the others will all do their part too. All you have to do is keep being the way you are now."
Ichinose looked up at the boy who had quietly watched over their class all along and gave him a gentle, determined smile.
"Thank you, Kanzaki."
"I'm just choosing the most efficient approach," Kanzaki replied coolly.
He wasn't a sentimentalist. He simply understood better than anyone that a leader like Honami Ichinose was Class B's most precious and irreplaceable asset.
Back in the classroom, every member of Class B was doing their part to keep the group steady.
Shibata Sou was athletic and easygoing, and immensely popular among the boys. He could always lighten the mood naturally and boost the class's energy and unity;
Kobashi Aoi was level-headed and dependable, quietly keeping track of the class log and attendance with meticulous care;
Ryuji Kurata was gentle, unassuming, and averse to conflict. He quietly went along with the class's arrangements, never causing trouble or trying to steal the spotlight—steady and reliable.
No infighting, no suspicion, no cliques shutting others out.
It was the class closest to an ideal state among all the first-years.
Yoshikage Kira still sat in the last row by the window, taking it all in.
He didn't join the discussions, take part in the plans, or voice his opinions. He was the complete outsider. But Ichinose's kindness, Kanzaki's composure, Shibata's easygoing nature, Kobashi's meticulousness... He quietly absorbed, sorted, and filed away every detail.
Class B's strength had never come from one outstanding individual. It came from a stable, complementary, and harmonious structure.
He saw that more clearly than anyone.
And all he had to do was keep to his own rhythm amid this peaceful atmosphere.
Still, a faint stirring rose in his heart once again.
He had only wanted to shut himself off from the outside world completely, yet he was growing more and more accustomed to the tranquility that Honami Ichinose gently safeguarded.
What a hassle.
He murmured to himself, without a trace of dislike—only a subtle sense of security he didn't want to admit he felt.
At the same time, the Class A lounge was quiet and tidy.
Sakayanagi Arisu sat in a chair, her hand resting on her cane. Her breathing was light, and her complexion still held the pallor of ill health, but she seemed anything but frail. She sat quietly, her gentle bearing accompanied by a presence no one could ignore.
Masumi Kamuro stood beside her. She seemed far more serious than usual, less languid and more restrained and attentive.
"I've organized all the information I could gather." She handed over the tablet, her tone a little awkward but unusually earnest. "It's limited to information each class has made public, and the personalities and actions of its main members. The school doesn't release anything more detailed, so I couldn't find it."
Sakayanagi extended her slender fingers and lightly scrolled across the screen, calmly scanning the lines of information.
"Class C... Ryuen Kakeru. He rules the class through violence and intimidation. A typical dictator with narrow horizons."
"Class D... Suzune Horikita. Proud, capable, but poor at working with others. Yosuke Hirata. A classic people-pleaser, able to maintain only superficial peace. Kiyotaka Ayanokoji..."
Sakayanagi's finger paused slightly.
"No outstanding achievements, no social activities, no distinguishing qualities. A blank slate to this extent is all the more interesting."
But she didn't linger on Class D for long.
The next moment, her gaze fell on the Class B roster.
"Honami Ichinose. She has a rare ability to unite the class and prioritizes the group as a whole. An ideal leader."
Sakayanagi paused briefly, then calmly revealed information only she could have known:
"Kanzaki Ryuji... He comes from a zaibatsu family, and his judgment and insight are exceptional, yet he's willing to remain behind the scenes."
This wasn't information she'd gathered. It was inside knowledge she could access by virtue of her family's connections to the school.
Masumi Kamuro listened quietly without asking questions.
Before long, Sakayanagi's gaze came to rest on a name that seemed utterly unremarkable.
Yoshikage Kira.
"What's your impression of him?" Sakayanagi asked softly.
Masumi Kamuro's expression turned noticeably uncertain for a moment. "...He's unusually calm. At the opening ceremony, and at the convenience store that day—no matter what happens, he acts as if he's completely detached from it all. He isn't surprised, doesn't get involved, and isn't affected."
"It's not that he doesn't care." Sakayanagi gently shook her head, a faint trace of amusement in her eyes. "He isn't swayed by emotion, constrained by rules, or swept up in the storm. He's harder to understand than Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who deliberately hides himself."
She looked at Masumi Kamuro, her tone gentle but firm.
"Keep an eye on him, and on Honami Ichinose. Class B will be the most important variable this year."
"Understood." Masumi Kamuro nodded at once, then added awkwardly but earnestly, "I'll keep a low profile. I won't cause any trouble, and I won't let these things wear you out."
She wasn't good at saying what she meant, but she was always concerned about Sakayanagi's health. She didn't want her to waste her energy on unnecessary intelligence gathering.
She wasn't anyone's subordinate.
She was simply a proud, awkward, obedient companion who worried about others and was willing to carry out her tasks with care.
As the classes' structures settled into place, the shape of the entire first-year cohort grew clear.
Ryuen Kakeru held absolute control over Class C. Its atmosphere was oppressive, and anyone who resisted was mercilessly pushed aside. The class was like his personal property.
Class D, meanwhile, was caught in a fragile and delicate balance.
Suzune Horikita sat aloof in a corner, fixated on reaching her brother's level and unwilling to get close to anyone else;
Yosuke Hirata moved among his classmates, trying to maintain a façade of peace;
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji always stayed on the very edge of the crowd, like a transparent sheet—watching, but never getting involved.
The most eye-catching person in the group was Kikyo Kushida.
Her smile was flawless, her manner gentle, and she was friendly to everyone. She struck up conversations, offered help, and smoothed over conflicts, like a beam of light deliberately shining on everyone. She wasn't a monster with a dark heart. She was simply so afraid of being hated, so afraid of being abandoned, and so afraid of loneliness that she hid all her genuine emotions behind a perfect mask.
Kira once met her gaze for an instant as they passed in the hallway.
Kikyo Kushida immediately gave him a sweet, gentle smile and a small nod.
Kira nodded slightly in return, then calmly looked away.
There was no conversation and no emotion.
But a faint trace of interest lingered in his mind.
He saw it clearly.
Beneath that perfect smile lay no evil, but pain. A flaw born of tension, exhaustion, and an inability to accept her true self. It wasn't darkness that needed to be destroyed.
It was a wound that needed gentle correction, steady support, and a tender hand to set it right.
Kira closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his expression was as calm and unreadable as ever.
He still didn't want to get involved in conflicts.
He still wanted nothing but a peaceful life.
But he had a vague feeling.
Someday, perhaps, he would reach out to the girl with the perfect smile.
Not out of pity.
Only to quiet the unnecessary clamor and restore a sense of calm.
The sun slowly sank, bathing the entire campus in warm orange light.
The classes had settled into place, but undercurrents surged beneath the surface.
Sakayanagi's observations, Ryuen's ambition, Horikita's pursuit, Ayanokoji's silence, Kushida's mask, Ichinose's kindness, Kanzaki's support... All the threads were quietly intertwining.
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