Ten Thousand Points

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

"...I really didn't think we'd end up in the same class."

"My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. I look forward to getting along with you."

"Introducing yourself out of nowhere?"

"It might be sudden, but we've already talked twice. I don't think there's anything wrong with it."

"Would it be all right if I refused?"

"I just thought it'd be uncomfortable to sit next to each other for a whole year without knowing each other's names."

"I don't think so."

Looks like this isn't going anywhere.

Watanabe Hayabara turned around and said, "If you're always alone, you'll have to experience loneliness, you know."

"You're a bleeding heart. You're hardly qualified to judge. Besides, isn't being alone great? I've been that way ever since kindergarten."

Looks like a C cup. A cool beauty, but unfortunately, an orphan.

"Still, making a few friends can help you improve your abilities. Just think of it as making friends for your own sake. My name is Watanabe Hayabara. I look forward to getting along with you."

"My name is Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. I look forward to getting along with you, too." Ayanokoji took the opportunity to introduce himself.

"My name is Horikita Suzune."

"What are your hobbies or interests?"

"I don't have any particular hobbies, but I'm interested in a little bit of everything. I don't need many friends, but I'd still like to maintain a certain number of friendships. In short, that's the kind of person I am," Ayanokoji said.

"What about you, Horikita?"

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking other people?"

Watanabe Hayabara smiled. "My interests are pretty broad. I dabble in all sorts of things, but I give up easily and don't tend to stick with anything. Can you tell us now, Horikita?"

"Reading literature, I suppose." As she spoke, Horikita Suzune took a copy of Crime and Punishment out of her bag.

Ayanokoji and Watanabe nodded at the same time.

But in the next moment, Ayanokoji's gaze shifted to the doorway. Watanabe Hayabara noticed and followed his eyes. A familiar blond figure appeared: Kouenji Rokusuke.

Looks like I've found something. Kouenji, and here I thought I'd be the last one to arrive.

Watanabe Hayabara pushed up his glasses.

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

"See for yourself." Ayanokoji raised a hand and pointed toward the doorway.

Horikita followed the direction of Ayanokoji's finger. She hadn't noticed before, but now she was startled.

"How did that problem child end up in Class D, too?"

Problem child, huh? That's a pretty good title for you, Kouenji. A lovely compliment from Suzune.

Kouenji didn't seem to notice the three of them watching him. He walked straight to the desk with his nameplate and dropped into the seat. Then Koenji propped his legs up on the desk, took a nail file out of his bag, and began grooming his nails as he hummed a tune. He paid no attention to the commotion around him or the looks from the other students, simply doing as he pleased.

Rather than Kouenji, Watanabe Hayabara was more interested in Ayanokoji and Horikita's reactions. Ayanokoji still looked as indifferent as ever, while Horikita Suzune glanced over once and then went back to reading the copy of Crime and Punishment she'd taken out earlier.

Watanabe Hayabara shook his head. She was already reading, so it wouldn't be easy to keep the conversation going. He turned back around and began organizing his things.

Watanabe Hayabara had just finished arranging his desk, schoolbag, and belongings when the bell signaling the start of the school year rang.

Everyone turned in unison toward the speaker. The whole classroom fell quiet.

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

Watanabe Hayabara looked her up and down...

Looks like an E cup. What a figure, though she looks around twenty-seven. What a shame.

The woman placed the papers on the podium and announced, "Ahem. All you new students, I'm Chabashira Sae, Class D's homeroom teacher. I usually teach Japanese history. Students at this school don't change classes each year. That means I'll be your homeroom teacher and study alongside you for the next three years, until you graduate. I look forward to working with you. The entrance ceremony will be held in the gymnasium in an hour."

After that, she handed out the papers.

"Now, take out your student communication devices, which you can also call student IDs. Every point in your account is equivalent to one yen. You can use points to buy anything. Whether you want to use the school's facilities or buy goods at the shops, you'll need points. Points are issued on the first of every month. This month's ten thousand points have already been deposited into your accounts. You can check now to see if they've arrived."

After Chabashira Sae finished speaking, some students took out their IDs to check. Before long, the classroom was filled with excited voices.

"Whoa, we really got a hundred thousand points!"

"Haha! I can buy a new game console!"

The classroom was full of noise.

"Are you surprised that the school gave you so many points? This school measures students by ability. Since you were admitted, you have value and potential to match. The points represent the school's evaluation of you. Don't hold back—use them as you please. However, the school will take back your points after you graduate. Since points can't be converted into cash, there's no benefit to saving them. Once the points have been deposited, it's up to you how you use them. Spend them however you like. If anyone doesn't think they need to use their points, they can transfer them to someone else. But don't intimidate anyone, all right? The school takes bullying very seriously."

Chabashira Sae looked around the classroom. "Does anyone have any questions?"

The only response was more noise. Chabashira Sae merely looked on coldly. She naturally looked down on these Class D students.

"It seems no one has any questions. Well, I hope you have a wonderful school life."

There was something uncomfortable about Chabashira Sae's well-wishes. She sounded rather condescending.

These people haven't realized it at all. A bunch of idiots. Even with government support, they're not going to give a hundred thousand a month to a bunch of useless good-for-nothings like you.

After Chabashira Sae finished speaking, she rolled her eyes at the class and turned to leave.

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

"Oh?" Chabashira Sae turned around and looked at the handsome, bespectacled boy with short hair. "If I remember correctly, you're Watanabe, right? What is it?" Her voice was very stern.

"Sensei, I have a few questions. Could I come ask you about them later?"

"Of course. If you have any questions, come find me in the teachers' office. I'll be there until the entrance ceremony starts."

With that, Chabashira Sae turned and left the classroom. However, Watanabe Hayabara caught a slight upturn at the corner of her mouth.

Looks like there are some smart students in this year's Class D, Chabashira Sae thought.

Oh? Looks like she was hoping someone would spot the problem.