It really was just like Class D. Even though the teacher hadn't arrived yet, the classroom was already far too noisy.
"Thump, thump..."
A woman with long black hair tied in a ponytail walked in. She wore an office suit and black stockings.
"Everyone, return to your seats. I'm your homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae."
"This school doesn't change students' classes. I'll be your homeroom teacher for all three years, until graduation."
"First, I'll hand out some information about the school. Pass it back from the front."
After I gave it a quick look, she continued.
"Our school has some unique rules. To begin with, it's a boarding school."
"While you're enrolled, leaving school grounds and contacting people outside the school are restricted."
"But there's no need to worry. The school has a full range of facilities, and you can get all the necessities of daily life. What's more, there are also facilities for entertainment."
"When you shop, you use the points on your Student Terminal."
"Here at this school, you can buy anything with points."
"Points are issued on the first of every month. One point is equivalent to one yen."
"The 100,000 points for this month have already been credited to your terminals."
"100,000 points? Seriously?"
"Wow..."
The students around me chimed in one after another.
"Surprised by such a generous amount? This school evaluates students based on their abilities. In other words, you who managed to gain admission are worth this much."
"..."
I hadn't expected every homeroom teacher to give their students a subtle hint on the first day of school. It seemed the people in Class D just hadn't caught on.
There were two others, though. They'd probably realized it, but didn't seem inclined to look into it further.
Thinking this, Kitahara Seiichi quietly glanced toward Ayanokoji, but was quickly noticed.
"Hi, we meet again, Ayanokoji."
"Yeah. We meet again, Kitahara."
I hadn't expected our conversation to end like that again.
"Um, everyone, let's introduce ourselves."
"That way, we can get to know each other faster."
The blond boy standing at the front suggested.
Kushida Kikyo replied,
"I agree with Hirata."
"Sounds good."
"That's right. We don't even know each other's names yet."
The students around us chimed in.
"Thanks. I'll start, then. My name is Yosuke Hirata. You can just call me Yosuke. I love all kinds of sports, and I want to join the school's soccer club. I look forward to getting along with all of you."
"Then I'll go next."
"I'm Kushida Kikyo. My goal is to become friends with everyone here. I want to make lots of wonderful memories..."
As the people around him began introducing themselves one after another, he was thinking about how to respond when a familiar voice rang in his mind.
[ Ding... ]
[ Temporary quest issued: Attract Chabashira Sae's attention ]
[ Quest reward: Mastery of high school subjects ]
Not bad at all. I didn't want to study anyway.
Hehe, this should leave me with plenty of energy to go to the Shura.
Thinking this, Kitahara Seiichi slipped out through the back door without a sound. What he didn't know was that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already seen him.
When Kitahara reached the door to the teachers' room, he saw a cute girl beside Chabashira-sensei.
They seem to get along well.
But it looks like all the homeroom teachers are in this office! Are they really this lax about students coming and going?
Kitahara walked toward Chabashira-sensei. Just as he was about to greet her,
the teacher standing beside her spoke first.
"Oh? Are you here to see little Chabashira?"
"Uh... yes. I'm Kitahara Seiichi from Class 1-D."
"I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, the homeroom teacher of Class 1-B. Did you come here to discuss something with little Sae?"
"Can you tell me, Kitahara-kun?" Hoshinomiya Chie asked with a smile, wrapping both arms around his.
Damn, so this is the homeroom teacher of Class B? If I didn't know what you're really like, I probably would've told you the truth.
Just as he was wondering how to respond, a voice came from beside him.
"That's enough, Hoshinomiya."
"Boo-hoo, I was just showing some concern!"
Hoshinomiya said, rubbing at her nonexistent tears.
"Enough. Kitahara, what did you come here for?" Chabashira-sensei interrupted her without mercy.
But Kitahara Seiichi didn't notice the faint trace of anticipation in Chabashira-sensei's eyes when she asked.
Just as he was about to ask Chabashira-sensei to speak with him alone, he suddenly remembered something.
Wasn't there a quest that required him to get ten people's attention during the first week of school?
Tsk, tsk, there are a few people here, too.
In that case...
"Ahem. Chabashira-sensei, I do have some questions about the points that I'd like to discuss with you."
As soon as he said this, everyone in the office turned their eyes toward him.
"Oh? What questions do you have?" Chabashira asked with a smile, folding her arms across her chest.
Looking at this scene, I realized that if I brought up the rules ahead of time, I'd definitely achieve my goal.
Thinking this, Kitahara Seiichi smiled and said,
"Chabashira-sensei, you told us that we had value because we passed the entrance exams, and that the 100,000 points the school gave us represented that value. But a student's value can't remain unchanged forever."
"In other words, the school will give us points based on the value we demonstrate."
"So when the first of next month comes, the points credited to our accounts won't be 100,000 anymore, will they?"
As soon as he finished, the office fell completely silent.
Even Hoshinomiya, who had been smiling just a moment ago, quieted down.
But unlike her, Chabashira-sensei wore a satisfied smile.
I never expected someone to figure out how the school evaluates students on the very first day. And to think he'd be in my class.
Perhaps this will be the year we make it to Class A.
"So what do you want?" Chabashira-sensei asked, her expression turning cool again.
"I don't want anything in particular. I just want to make a deal with the homeroom teachers here."
"Oh? What kind of deal?" Hoshinomiya-sensei asked.
"I'd like to ask each of you to bring over the leader or central figure of your class."
"Then I'd like to discuss a point transaction with them."
"Are you planning to sell them this information?" This time, the one to reply was Mashima Tomoya, the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A.
"But how can you be sure your analysis is right?"
"This information could probably be confirmed just by observing the upperclassmen. Besides, I think I already know what the school will be testing us on during the first month."
"What?"
"How is that possible?"
That second sentence will be the finishing blow.