One Hundred Thousand Points

Sitting at his desk, Watanabe Hayabara listened to the conversation between the two behind him.

"...I really didn't expect to be in the same class as you."

"My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, nice to meet you."

"Introducing yourself so suddenly?"

"It is sudden, but we've already spoken twice, so it shouldn't matter, right?"

"It wouldn't matter if I refused, would it?"

"I just think it would be uncomfortable to sit next to someone for a whole year without knowing their name."

"I don't feel that way."

[Looks like this isn't going anywhere.]

Watanabe Hayabara turned his head and said, "If you're always alone, you'll eventually come to understand loneliness, classmate."

"A do-gooder like you has no right to judge. Besides, isn't being alone fine? I've been this way since kindergarten."

[Estimated C-cup, cold beauty, a pity she's a loner.]

"But making friends helps improve your own abilities. Just consider making friends with us for your own sake. I'm Watanabe Hayabara, nice to meet you."

"I'm Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, nice to meet you," Ayanokoji added, seizing the opportunity.

"I'm Horikita Suzune."

"Do you two have any hobbies?"

"I don't have any particular hobbies, but I hold some interest in everything. I don't need many friends, but I'd like to maintain a certain number. In short, that's the kind of person I am," Ayanokoji said.

"What about you, Horikita?"

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking others?"

Watanabe Hayabara offered a smile. "My hobbies are quite broad; I dabble in a bit of everything, but I always give up easily and rarely see things through to the end. Can you tell me now, Horikita?"

"I read some literature." With that, Horikita Suzune pulled a copy of Crime and Punishment from her bag.

Ayanokoji and Watanabe nodded in unison.

The next moment, Ayanokoji's gaze shifted toward the door. Watanabe Hayabara noticed this and followed his line of sight to a familiar blonde figure: Kouenji Rokusuke.

[Looks like there's something to gain here. Kouenji, and I thought I was supposed to be the last one to arrive.]

Watanabe Hayabara adjusted his glasses.

"What are you looking at?" Horikita Suzune asked.

"See for yourself," Ayanokoji said, raising his hand to point at the door.

Horikita looked in the direction Ayanokoji was pointing, and what she saw left her stunned.

"Why is that problem child in Class D?"

[A problem child, huh? That's a fitting title. Kouenji, that's a compliment from Suzune.]

Kouenji didn't seem to notice the three of them watching him. He walked straight to the desk with his nameplate, sat down, propped his legs up on the table, took a nail file out of his bag, and began filing his nails while humming a tune, completely indifferent to the surrounding noise or the gazes of others.

Watanabe Hayabara was more interested in the reactions of Ayanokoji and Horikita than in Kouenji. Ayanokoji remained his usual indifferent self, while Horikita Suzune merely glanced over once before returning to the copy of Crime and Punishment she had taken out earlier.

Watanabe Hayabara shook his head. Since she was already reading, it wasn't the right time to continue the conversation, so he turned back around and began organizing his things.

Watanabe Hayabara finished tidying his desk and bag just as the school bell rang.

Everyone looked toward the speaker in unison, and the entire class fell silent.

At the same time, a woman in a professional suit and black stockings, wearing her hair in a ponytail, entered the classroom carrying a thick stack of papers.

Watanabe Hayabara looked her up and down...

[Estimated E-cup, that figure... though she looks about 27, what a pity.]

The woman placed the papers on the podium and announced, "Ahem. Hello, freshmen. I am the homeroom teacher for Class D, Chabashira Sae. I usually teach Japanese History. This school does not change classes every year. Therefore, I will be your homeroom teacher for the next three years until you graduate. Nice to meet you. The entrance ceremony will be held in the gymnasium in one hour."

She then began distributing the papers.

"Now, open your student communicators, also known as student IDs. The points inside are equivalent to one yen each. Points can be used to purchase anything; whether you are using school facilities or buying goods at shops, you need points. Monthly points are distributed on the first of the month. 100,000 points have already been deposited for this month. You can check your balances now."

As soon as Chabashira Sae finished speaking, students began pulling out their IDs to check, and soon the classroom was filled with excited voices.

"Wow, there really are 100,000 points!"

"Hahaha, I can buy a new game console!"

The classroom was filled with noise.

"Are you surprised that the school issued so many points? This school measures students by their ability. Those of you who were able to enroll possess corresponding value and potential. In this regard, points represent the school's evaluation of you. Don't be shy, use them as you please. However, the school will reclaim these points after you graduate. Since points cannot be converted into cash, there is no benefit to saving them. Once the points are transferred, how you use them is your freedom. Use them according to your own preferences. If anyone feels there is no need to use the points, you may transfer them to others. However, please do not engage in intimidation; the school is quite sensitive to bullying."

Chabashira Sae scanned the classroom. "Are there any questions you would like to ask now?"

The only response was the noisy chatter. Chabashira Sae merely looked on with cold eyes; she naturally looked down on these Class D students.

"It seems no one has any questions. Then, I wish you a wonderful school life."

Chabashira Sae's well-wishes sounded rather unpleasant, bordering on condescending.

[This bunch hasn't realized a thing. A pack of idiots. Even with government support, they wouldn't pay a hundred thousand a month to keep a group of losers like you.]

After finishing her sentence, Chabashira Sae rolled her eyes at the class and turned to walk toward the door.

At this moment, Watanabe Hayabara stood up. "Chabashira-sensei, wait a moment!"

"Oh?" Chabashira Sae turned back, looking at the handsome, short-haired boy with glasses standing there. "If I recall correctly, you are Watanabe-kun, right? Is there something you need?" Her tone was extremely stern.

"Sensei, I have some questions. May I come to you for answers later?"

"Of course. If you have questions, come find me in the faculty office. I will be there until the opening ceremony begins."

With that, Chabashira Sae turned and exited the classroom, though Watanabe Hayabara caught a glimpse of the corners of her mouth curling slightly upward.

It seems this year's Class D still has a clever student, Chabashira Sae thought to herself.

[Oh? It seems she was quite hoping a student would notice the problem.]