So, although it was called class competition, each class started with different baseline conditions.
The higher a class ranked, the better the fundamental quality of its students.
Thus, by the time they graduated in their third year, most of the school's graduates representing it came from the original Class A.
Cases of lower classes overthrowing higher ones were rare.
And Class D was considered a dumping ground. It was full of defective products and hopeless students.
That was the true nature of the school.
And that was what she had intended to tell him if Hachiman asked, after paying the required price herself.
But.
Chabashira no longer felt the need to tell him.
Whether it was his insight in noticing her enormous number of points, his failure to be dazzled by the school's generous treatment, or his rational understanding that there was no such thing as a free lunch—
All of it made her feel that, given enough time, he might soon discover the school's true nature himself.
It seemed Hiratsuka had sent her quite a treasure.
"Your question involves a rather high point cost, so I cannot disclose that information," Sae Chabashira said.
"Oh."
"Don't look so disappointed." Chabashira-sensei continued, "Make a deal with me. I can help you obtain the right to convert the points you want into cash in advance."
Hm?
Hachiman raised his head and looked at the female teacher.
Although Sae Chabashira appeared careless in class, there was now... light in her eyes.
But... Hachiman somehow felt like he had been targeted.
"What does Chabashira-sensei want me to do?"
The private account section of Hachiman's student ID contained only 100,000 points.
Within the school, one point was equivalent to one yen in purchasing power.
But he also felt that he might not receive so much money next month.
After all...
There were forty students in a class, and four classes made one hundred sixty students. That was sixteen million yen spent every month.
And there were not only first-years, but upperclassmen as well.
No matter how he looked at it, that was an enormous sum. The school, which had to bear those financial expenses, would not be so generous.
And Chabashira-sensei's repeated inability to disclose things made that clear.
The school would not be so kind.
Nor would it do charity for nothing.
"As the homeroom teacher, I don't know your personal information very well. Help me investigate some students and compile files on them. For each student, I can pay you 200,000."
Chabashira said, "Don't refuse. You won't encounter anyone else as willing to pay as I am."
A file on one student was worth 200,000. For forty students, that would be eight million.
And now each student had received 100,000 upon enrollment.
The treatment looked quite good.
Yet Chabashira-sensei said no one else would be as willing to pay, or pay so much...
Did that mean life after this really would be terrible?
After accepting Chabashira-sensei's task, Hachiman returned to the classroom.
After all, he was still only a student.
But when he returned, he discovered... the students in the classroom had already vanished, leaving only two or three behind.
Uh.
In other words, had the students already formed their own little circles?
"Hachiman."
At that moment, the delicate-looking boy with greenish-gold hair sitting near the teacher's desk suddenly turned around.
"Everyone went to collect their books, then took them back to the dorms."
"Some others went to the Shopping Street to see whether they could use the points on their student IDs for shopping."
Oh.
I see.
That made sense.
When he had chased after Chabashira, she had taken him to the rooftop of the school building.
By the time he actually came back down, half an hour had already passed.
That was indeed enough time for the students to collect and distribute their books, then leave.
And with free housing along with living expenses worth 100,000 yen, everyone had to be excited. Naturally, they would go verify whether they could spend it directly.
But...
Wasn't this rather bad?
Because it meant the students had formed their own little groups... and he was the one left behind.
And he was still carrying out Komachi's mission of finding friends of his own.
Had the difficulty already increased before he had even started?
Hachiman thought so.
"I saved all your books for you. It's great that you came back now."
Hirata said as he stood up.
"I asked someone else to take my books back to the dorm. Would you like me to help carry yours back too?"
"Also, we made a class group chat. Can I add you?"
"I'll invite you in."
"It's convenient, whether for announcements or helping each other."
"Um, of course, it's not that I'm worried about you... It's just that your self-introduction was interrupted, Hachiman. It gave me the feeling that I couldn't just leave you alone."
Hirata said that.
But.
Huh?
What kind of angel was this?
Hachiman was stunned.
Right after entering this class, it had been this delicate-looking boy who organized the self-introductions.
At the time, Hachiman had thought that the other guy was definitely one of those socially fulfilled people, skilled at social occasions like this, and surely destined to become popular.
But now.
It seemed he was not merely kind-looking, but... actually a male angel.
"Then, let's add each other as friends first." Hirata took out his phone, preparing to contact him.
But his phone received a message.
It seemed several classmates had messaged him at the same time.
"Um, wait a moment..." Hirata hurriedly said.
Then he rapidly replied to his classmates.
The messages were mostly asking what had happened and what they should do.
Hirata was trusted by the others.
He was very busy.
Mm.
And that slightly changed Hachiman's opinion of him.
Because.
It seemed the guy was not merely a male angel. He was probably a male mom.
Kushida the Little Angel Joins the Battle!
"Beep!"
After receiving his room keycard from the dorm manager, Hachiman swiped open the dorm room assigned to him.
Room 304.
The room was not large, roughly four by five meters.
However, it was quite well-equipped. There was a single bed, covered with white bedding that proved it was brand-new and completely clean, allowing someone to move in without worry.
There was a computer desk, a swivel chair, an intercom phone on the desk, a storage cabinet beside it, and an air conditioner above the desk.
The bed was directly opposite the entrance, while the shower room and toilet were to the right after entering.
The wall outside the bathroom was the wardrobe.
And between the entrance and the bed was a simple kitchen.
That was everything in the room.
Very simple, but very complete.
For students, it was unquestionably an excellent environment.
For Hachiman, who had no experience sharing accommodations with others, it was truly a relief.
"Then I'll put the books down."
Hirata said.
"What are you planning to do next, Hachiman?" Hirata Yosuke asked.
Did he intend to keep acting together with Hachiman?
"I'll probably go to the Shopping Street to stock up on daily necessities, then take a small look around the school," Hachiman said. "After all, I just enrolled. I haven't even explored the campus yet."
"I see..." Hirata seemed about to follow him, but then shook his head. "I've got something I need to deal with, so I can't go with you."
As he said that, he was looking down at his phone.
It seemed students from their class had gotten into an argument with students from another class.
As the male mom, Hirata decided to go take a look.
In other words, he had already begun acting as the glue holding the class together. Whenever conflict or problems arose, he rushed over like a firefighter to put them out and help.
Having a classmate like that was reassuring.
But... there were also a great many people in the class Hirata needed to worry about... Overall, it still did not feel very reliable.
Just as Chabashira-sensei had not stated outright.
Would they be unable to receive living expenses as generous as these next month?
Thus, after Hirata left, Hachiman put the books on the desk and looked around the dorm room, familiarizing himself with the surroundings.
Then he leaned back in the chair.
"Click—"
Before you continue