"You cut out the page from the school yearbook because I was in the photo~"
"The snow-white sky was waiting for a rainbow to appear~"
After the entrance ceremony, Makoto Nishikado hummed softly as he walked into the convenience store.
Thanks to Honami Ichinose's concession, he had become the leader of Class B without a doubt.
Although he was grateful that Honami Ichinose had been so understanding, Makoto Nishikado had already decided that he would keep the pressure on her in future exams.
"Baby, don't blame me. Blame the system for giving me so much."
After finishing his song, Makoto Nishikado started browsing the shelves.
Advanced Nurturing didn't allow students to bring too many things in from outside, so all kinds of daily necessities had to be bought on campus.
Advanced Nurturing was wealthy enough, though, to provide every student with a single-occupancy dorm room.
Without even having to look, Makoto Nishikado found a whole pile of free daily necessities.
Everyday items like toothbrushes and bandages filled shopping carts marked "Free," with a notice attached: "Up to three items per month."
"From the surface, you really could conclude that the school is just loaded."
Makoto Nishikado picked up a toothbrush, knowing it was actually a warning from the school.
The free daily necessities were a hint that students might end up in a position where they had no choice but to use free items.
Any student who thought things through would have to feel suspicious seeing all this.
But Advanced Nurturing was never short on students who didn't think straight.
Just as Makoto Nishikado put down the toothbrush, he saw someone vaguely familiar pick up a handheld game console, pay for it with points, and eagerly tear open the packaging.
Makoto Nishikado couldn't remember the guy's name, but unless something unexpected had happened, he was probably a first-year student in Class D.
Following the guy's direction, Makoto Nishikado spotted the price of the console.
"Eighty thousand? They practically spelled out the warning. At least be a little cautious."
Makoto Nishikado was at a loss.
He was certain that if he were in the same position, he'd act cautiously after noticing all the school's strange rules, even if he didn't know the plot.
All he could say was that some of the students in Class D really didn't deserve to win.
In the original story, when Horikita Suzune led these people in their third year, could they really hold on to their place in Class A?
If they could, the plot would make no sense!
After casually picking up some daily necessities, Makoto Nishikado spent a little over four thousand points.
If Sakurajima didn't have such high standards for personal cleanliness, he could have saved half of that.
After checking his purchases, Makoto Nishikado realized he'd forgotten something.
"Oh, right. I forgot to buy a drink." He turned toward the drinks section, but when he saw the shelves lined with Pepsi, he frowned.
"Why is it Pepsi? That stuff's only good for cleaning toilets."
Makoto Nishikado scowled and searched the drinks section.
He couldn't find any Coca-Cola, but he did spot a pretty girl he recognized.
She had purple hair and purple eyes, with her hair tied in a side ponytail.
Makoto Nishikado couldn't help admiring her.
Purple really had a certain charm!
She was in the drinks section, too, warily observing her surroundings.
As soon as Makoto Nishikado recognized her as Kamuro Masumi, he immediately hid.
Unless something unexpected had happened, she was there to steal beer.
For a high school student, stealing was already a serious offense. Stealing beer made it even worse.
Under Sakurajima's strict rules against student drinking, the consequences would be unthinkable if she got caught!
But Makoto Nishikado didn't go over to warn her. Instead, he looked away and searched for a nearby place to hide.
Soon, he spotted another pretty girl who looked very familiar.
She was a petite girl with silvery-white hair.
Although she leaned on a cane and was clearly in poor health, she had an air of royalty about her.
Her name was Sakayanagi Arisu, and she was secretly filming Kamuro Masumi's theft from a hidden spot.
Sakayanagi Arisu wasn't the least bit surprised to see Makoto Nishikado. She greeted him with an elegant bow.
"This really is a fateful encounter, isn't it?"
Sakayanagi Arisu looked up at Makoto Nishikado with interest.
She had been observing all the different people in the convenience store.
Makoto Nishikado and Kamuro Masumi were both among the people she was keeping a close eye on.
She had seen Makoto Nishikado's interest in the free items, his attention to the Class D student's behavior, and his interest in Kamuro Masumi's theft.
And in the end, he had even discovered her hiding place.
What an interesting man.
Looking at Sakayanagi Arisu, Makoto Nishikado silently sighed, A beautiful girl in white stockings is truly a goddess!
Then he put on the smile of a kindly big brother and crouched down so that he was eye to eye with Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Little one, where are your mommy and daddy? Did you get lost while you were looking around?"
Makoto Nishikado asked with concern, his voice gentle, too.
He seemed just like a kind big brother who had come to help a little girl who'd gotten lost.
[Stirred Sakayanagi Arisu's emotions, gaining 2,546 emotion points.]
The smile on Sakayanagi Arisu's face stiffened.
She looked down at her school uniform, then up at Makoto Nishikado, bewildered.
She was clearly wearing the Advanced Nurturing uniform, and school had already started today. How could he mistake her for an elementary schooler who was just visiting?
No!
Judging by how Makoto Nishikado had acted earlier, she didn't believe he'd make such a basic mistake.
There was only one explanation: he was doing it on purpose!
"Little one, do you want your big brother to help you find your mommy and daddy?"
Makoto Nishikado's voice was still gentle, and his smile grew even brighter, as if he were afraid of frightening the adorable little girl in front of him.
Unfortunately, Sakayanagi Arisu caught the brief, failed attempt to suppress his laughter.
"Classmate, I'm a new student at this school, too. We're in the same year."
Faced with a provocation, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't get angry.
She would just quietly make a note of it.
"The same year? Really?"
Makoto Nishikado straightened up in surprise, then put his hand on Sakayanagi Arisu's head to compare their heights.
Sakayanagi Arisu: "!!!"
At 150 centimeters tall, Sakayanagi Arisu only came up to Makoto Nishikado's armpit.
Even if she stood on tiptoe, she could only reach the chin of someone who was 180 centimeters tall.
Even if she jumped, she could only hit Makoto Nishikado's knee.
Sakayanagi Arisu understood the look in Makoto Nishikado's eyes: With a height like that, aren't you just a child?
"Little one, I'm not a bad guy. I'll take you to find your mommy and daddy."
Sakayanagi Arisu, you're a petite little darling, too!
Makoto Nishikado had discovered that Advanced Nurturing really was a place full of extraordinary people.
Everyone here was talented, and they all spoke so pleasantly. He absolutely loved it here!
"...Phew."
For one brief moment, Sakayanagi Arisu had truly imagined herself losing her temper and flying into a rage.
She had wanted nothing more than to snap the cane in her hand and smash it hard into Makoto Nishikado's face.
The instant she realized it, though, Sakayanagi Arisu's anger was put on pause.
If she lost control over something like this, then she really would be acting like a child.
Besides, when Sakayanagi Arisu thought back over what had happened, she realized that the boy in front of her hadn't done anything especially out of line.
He was just teasing her.
Hmph!
Sakayanagi Arisu stepped back to avoid Makoto Nishikado's grasping hand, then gave him another graceful bow.
"Classmate, thank you very much for your guidance."
Before you continue