Outside the dormitory.
Oreki trudged toward the elevator.
Just then, a girl with her hair in a ponytail came toward him.
He barely paid her any attention.
After all, she was rather ordinary-looking.
Especially compared to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"What do you mean, you changed your mind at the last minute?"
The girl angrily questioned the person on the other end of the phone.
She frowned.
"Forget it. I can get by just fine without you!"
She hung up in a huff.
The girl glanced at Oreki, then quietly walked away.
Maybe I should go find Hirata...
Oreki closed his eyes.
He didn't want to get involved in something like this, much less get dragged into it.
All he wanted was a few hours of rest.
But just as he was about to step into the elevator...
"..."
He picked up the teddy bear charm lying on the ground.
There was no doubt about it.
It belonged to the girl from just now.
Oreki looked back.
But the girl was already nowhere to be seen.
"Never mind."
He put the teddy bear charm in his pocket.
He'd return it when he saw her again.
That was what Oreki thought.
The elevator soon reached the sixth floor.
When he got to his door, Oreki inserted his key card.
"Ding—"
"Welcome home."
...That's pretty considerate.
He mused for a moment, then walked in.
The room was quite spacious.
And it was a single room.
Oreki liked that.
It gave him plenty of freedom.
And no one else would disturb his sleep.
He picked up his phone and checked the time... 7:15.
The entrance ceremony wouldn't start until 8:35.
That meant Oreki could sleep for another hour.
So, without a second thought, he lay down and fell asleep.
Time ticked by, second by second.
...8:15
"Ring—"
"Ring—"
"...This is so annoying. Who is it?"
Oreki opened one eye.
He picked up his phone and answered.
"Student Oreki, it's already past eight."
"What time is it?"
"Hmm?"
"Never mind."
Oreki hung up.
He had no idea when Sakayanagi had learned his number.
Maybe she'd taken his phone while he wasn't paying attention.
Or maybe she'd gotten it from somewhere else.
To be safe, Oreki checked his messages.
Sure enough, there was a new contact.
Sakayanagi Arisu.
The phone only had three functions.
Calls, text messages, and payments.
Sakayanagi Arisu had already taken up two of them.
Maybe she'd take over the payment function next...
"Factional struggles and all that. What a pain."
Oreki quickly left.
Fortunately, there were bicycles on campus.
He scanned one at random and rode straight to the gymnasium.
It was packed with people.
But he soon found Class A's spot.
"Over here, Oreki."
Sakayanagi waved at him from a short distance away.
"..."
Oreki ignored her and headed toward the back.
But as soon as he stopped there—
"Ahaha... Um, Oreki, why don't you stand a little farther up? My stomach suddenly feels a bit off."
"M-me too!"
"Honestly, I'm about to burst as well!"
A bunch of boys headed for the restroom.
They kept going until the spot beside Sakayanagi was empty.
Oreki sighed.
Reluctantly, he walked forward.
When he reached Sakayanagi's side—
"We're together again, Oreki."
"Don't say things that could easily give people the wrong idea."
"Hehe..."
"..."
Nearby.
When the boys who had left saw Oreki standing beside Sakayanagi, they all came back.
It certainly didn't look like they'd actually needed the restroom.
A dozen people couldn't have returned so soon... unless they'd been sharing one stall three to a person.
—Let's text. Too many eyes and ears around.
—Sure. Tell me what you've found out.
—Most students are using something like a phone to shop, and the supermarket even has free daily necessities.
—I see.
—Now tell me what you found.
—I only took a quick look at the cafeteria. Some people had wild vegetable soup, while others had lavish meals.
—So the school is using a points-based system.
Oreki turned off his phone.
Everything was pretty much as he'd expected.
The homeroom teacher would probably pull a fast one on them once the entrance ceremony was over.
For example...
They might get 100,000 points every month.
But in reality, they'd only get 100,000 points in the first month.
After that, the points they received would depend on their daily conduct.
How boring.
Oreki closed his eyes, feeling listless.
But then...
—Has the gymnasium hosted a tennis match recently?
Sakayanagi glanced at Oreki, puzzled.
She quickly replied.
—Yes.
—Then this entrance ceremony will last until noon.
—Why?
—Because of the tennis ball.
—Huh?
Oreki didn't explain further.
He looked up at the steel framework.
A white tennis ball was wedged in a gap in the frame.
Not far below it was an electrical distribution box.
Soon, a powerful east wind swept in through the windows.
The girls' skirts fluttered in every direction.
Quite a few boys sneaked glances.
Except Oreki.
His eyes stayed fixed on the white tennis ball.
"It moved, just as I thought..."
Before long, the strong wind dislodged the white tennis ball, and it dropped free.
It landed right in the electrical distribution box.
In an instant, all the lights went out.
Even the principal, who had been speaking enthusiastically, was dumbfounded.
The previously quiet crowd began to stir.
—Did you know this would happen?
—I don't have psychic powers.
Looking at the message Sakayanagi had sent, Oreki casually typed a reply.
He'd only figured it out moments ago himself.
There was a strong wind today, and the humidity was high.
It was only a matter of time before the white tennis ball got blown down.
But if it landed in the electrical distribution box, the damp ball would cause a short circuit.
"Please remain calm."
The student council president beside them quickly brought the situation under control.
He took the microphone.
"I'm the student council president, Horikita Manabu. Although something unexpected has happened, it won't affect us. As you're no doubt aware, this school values both academic and physical excellence, and boasts high rates of advancement to higher education and employment..."
Meanwhile, the Japanese principal strode off the stage.
He immediately summoned a group of people.
"How can you let something go wrong at a time like this? What are you even paid for?"
"I don't care what the reason is. Fix this within ten minutes!"
"Either you solve the problem, or I'll solve you!"
Watching from a distance, Oreki sent Sakayanagi a message.
—Is your father the school's chairman of the board?
"Mm."
"Tell him the problem is with the electrical distribution box by the window."
Sakayanagi quickly did as he was told.
After receiving the message, Sakayanagi's father came over to the principal.
After he whispered a few words, the principal's expression visibly softened.
In the end, the lights in the gymnasium came back on.
"You owe me a favor, Sakayanagi."
"Should I repay you with myself?"
"No. Just don't bother me in the future."
"I can't promise that."
"Then at least don't bring me so much trouble."
"Okay."
Sakayanagi rested both hands on her cane.
Her original target had been someone else.
A girl named Ayanokoji Kiyoko.
But now...
You're making me more and more curious, little Oreki.
Before you continue