The Strange School

The bus slowly came to a stop at the designated drop-off platform, and the crisp mechanical sound of the doors opening cut through the soft whisper of the sea breeze.

The new students rose one after another and disembarked in an orderly manner. The noise of conversation gradually replaced the gentle quiet that had filled the bus. Bai Mu followed the crowd out at an unhurried pace, his feet stepping onto the smooth, clean stone pavement. A faintly cool sea breeze washed over him, carrying the fresh scent unique to an island and dispersing some of the fatigue from the journey.

He did not immediately follow the stream of students ahead. Instead, he turned slightly and fixed his gaze on the public route map posted on the side of the bus.

The entire route map was overly simple. It contained only a single round-trip line, beginning at the new student assembly point on the outskirts of the city and ending at Advanced Nurturing High School on this isolated island. There were no branch routes, no additional stops, and certainly no transit connections leading to the city beyond.

Bai Mu narrowed his eyes slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching almost imperceptibly.

So there really was something wrong. He had not thought too deeply about it on the bus, but once he got off, the situation began to feel off.

This route was a dedicated shuttle for new Advanced Nurturing students. It crossed the sea directly, with the island campus as its sole destination. There were no residential districts along the way, no markets, no parks, no hospitals, and none of the places an elderly person would normally visit in daily life.

The only people this entire route served were incoming students. Ordinary citizens would never ride it on a normal day, much less an elderly grandmother with limited mobility.

An old woman with no reason to use this route had appeared precisely on a bus reserved for new students, staging a seat-giving scene in a carriage full of first-year high school students. No matter how he looked at it, it was far too deliberate to be a coincidence.

On the bus, he had merely watched coldly out of instinct, too lazy to investigate such trivial matters. Now that he had left that atmosphere behind and calmly reviewed it, he realized that the seemingly heartwarming act of kindness was most likely a hidden test deliberately arranged by the school.

A test of the students' public-mindedness, compassion, and empathy—or an observation of their spontaneous behavior and true nature when there were no rules restraining them and no teachers watching.

Bai Mu's gaze darkened slightly, and the vigilance in his heart quietly rose.

The tests had begun before they had even officially enrolled. This school's calculations had started earlier, gone deeper, and reached farther than he had imagined.

Setting aside his tangled thoughts, Bai Mu raised his eyes and looked ahead, truly taking in this elite institution renowned throughout Japan for the first time.

Drawing back his gaze, Bai Mu raised his eyes and looked ahead, truly taking in this elite institution renowned throughout Japan for the first time.

As far as the eye could see, the entire campus stood on an independent island surrounded by blue seas. The view was exceptionally open, unobstructed by tall buildings and undisturbed by the clamor of city life. Modern teaching buildings, orderly yet grand, were scattered throughout the grounds. Their gray-white exteriors paired with transparent floor-to-ceiling windows gleamed with a clean, sharp brilliance beneath the early autumn sun. Every building was maintained without a speck of dust, displaying the refinement and orderliness of a top-tier school.

The campus roads were broad and level, with lush greenery on either side trimmed neatly and methodically. Verdant plants blended with ornamental flowering trees scattered along the paths, creating a strong sense of atmosphere. Signs beside the roads clearly pointed toward the teaching buildings, multipurpose activity rooms, cafeteria, convenience store, swimming pool, gym, and dormitory area. The layout was orderly and clear, enough to reveal the school's exceptionally meticulous management system.

Brand-new public facilities could be seen everywhere along the way—rest benches, drinking fountains, and even forest trails specifically for students to rest and take walks on. The amenities were more complete than anyone could have imagined. In the distance, the mountainous woodland behind the campus rose and fell in continuous stretches, densely covered in vegetation and occupying more than half the island. It was presumably the outdoor grounds the school used for special examinations.

Luxury, completeness, cleanliness, and prestige—those were the first immediate impressions the school left on everyone.

Quite a few new students could not help stopping in amazement, pulling out their phones to take pictures. Their eyes brimmed with anticipation and delight as they remarked that being admitted to such a top-tier, privileged institution was a rare opportunity in a lifetime.

Only Bai Mu remained calm, his steps unhurried. What others saw was free room and board, top-tier resources, and an elite cradle that promised a worry-free future. Yet through that dazzling exterior, he saw immeasurable operating costs and an educational philosophy that felt abnormal in every respect.

Near Japan's Tokyo metropolitan area, where every inch of land was worth a fortune, the school had spent enormous sums to monopolize an entire island, build a fully equipped top-class campus, and cover every student's expenses for all three years. Such a massive investment with no apparent concern for returns could not possibly be intended merely to cultivate ordinary elites.

Following the crowd, he arrived at the bulletin board in the center of campus. Lists assigning every first-year student to their respective classes had been neatly posted on its polished surface, the lettering clear and orderly.

Bai Mu's gaze swept quickly over the dense names and class information. Before long, he precisely located his own name in the Class B section for first-years—Bai Mu.

There were no surprises and no discrepancies. He nodded faintly, and after confirming his class assignment, turned toward the Class B classroom.

Following the signs, he passed through a tree-lined path, and a brand-new teaching building came into view. The corridors were clean and tidy, sunlight spilling through the windows and illuminating the spotless hallways. The placards for each classroom were clear and conspicuous. Bai Mu quickly found the first-year Class B classroom and pushed open the door.

More than half the classroom was already occupied. The atmosphere was relaxed and lively, with most of the new students gathered in pairs, quietly chatting about their curiosity and expectations for the new school. Bits of discussion rose and fell without becoming noisy. Every face carried the youthful energy of adolescence and hope for the future, creating an overall atmosphere that was harmonious and peaceful.

Bai Mu stood tall, his features exceptionally handsome and striking. His brows and eyes were clean-cut, his features sharply defined, and his temperament cool and restrained, giving him a naturally detached, pristine air. Yet his expression was usually calm and unreadable. When he neither smiled nor spoke, he seemed somewhat indifferent and aloof, carrying an innate sense of distance.

He made no effort to strike up conversations and did not deliberately choose a prime seat in the middle. Instead, he walked straight to an empty seat in the corner of the last row and sat down quietly.

After setting down his simple backpack, Bai Mu took out his phone. Rather than joining the lively conversations around him, he opened an e-book and lowered his eyes to read in silence, shutting out all the surrounding noise.

The boy seated in front of him had a sunny disposition and cheerful eyes. His short hair was neatly cut, and his whole body seemed to radiate lively youthful energy. He looked especially outgoing. Sensing someone sit down behind him, the boy immediately turned around with an enthusiastic smile and greeted him like they were already old friends.

"Hey, nice to meet you! I'm Shibata Hayate. I like playing soccer, and we'll be classmates from now on, so I hope we get along!"

Shibata Hayate's tone was sincere and enthusiastic, his eyes full of anticipation for his new life. Without waiting for Bai Mu to respond, he eagerly sighed, "Seriously, isn't this school incredible? I'd heard about Advanced Nurturing long ago—one hundred percent advancement, one hundred percent employment, and you don't have to spend a single yen while attending. Room and board are completely free, and the facilities are this luxurious. It's basically the ideal high school!"

His words were full of undisguised relief and joy. Clearly, he firmly believed the school's promotional claims.

Bai Mu raised his eyes and gave him a faint look. His reply was calm and brief. "Bai Mu."

There was no extra small talk or enthusiastic agreement. He merely gave his name.

Though his response appeared calm, Bai Mu was silently analyzing and calculating within.

The perfect advancement and employment rate so extravagantly touted by the outside world could never possibly apply to every student in the school. There had never been such a thing as a free lunch, much less charity education regardless of cost. The school had invested billions to build a top-tier campus and support hundreds of students for three years free of charge; there had to be some unknown sorting mechanism behind it.

Most likely, just as he had suspected, only a very small number of top students would enjoy the school's promised privileges of guaranteed admission to prestigious universities and direct recommendations to leading companies. As for the majority of ordinary students, they would either have to rely on their own efforts to take entrance examinations, desperately preparing for university just like regular high school students, or be sorted out in advance by the school and receive targeted vocational training before ultimately being sent to the school's partner companies as ordinary entry-level employees.

The elite education that appeared fair and universally beneficial had, in truth, long concealed a hierarchy of social divisions.

He had never looked into the school's admissions details in depth before, and had instinctively assumed that the students admitted after passing layer upon layer of selection were likely all high-quality candidates with both academic ability and good character. Their overall caliber should have been outstanding.

Even without any explicit guarantee from the school, they should have been able to study their way into the schools they wanted.

"Bai Mu? That name doesn't sound local!" Shibata Hayate keenly caught the unusual nature of the name, his eyes lighting up as he grew even more eager to build rapport. "Are you an international student? Did you come from China? Why did you choose to attend high school in Japan? We're classmates now, so if you need anything, just let me know!"

One question after another came spilling out, the boy brimming with energy and taking every initiative.

Bai Mu could not be bothered to explain too much. He merely nodded slightly and gave a calm response, perfunctorily acknowledging the other boy's enthusiastic chatter. Most of his attention remained on the words on his phone screen, his attitude distant but not impolite.

Just as Shibata Hayate was about to continue the conversation, a crowd had already gathered around the side of the classroom, quietly drawing the attention of more than half the room.

At the center of the crowd was the pink-haired girl who had voluntarily given up her seat on the bus earlier—Ichinose Honami.

She possessed a natural affinity, with a gentle and kind personality, warm eyes, and sincere, polite manners. Mere moments after taking her seat, she had already quickly become friendly with the students around her. Both boys and girls had gathered around her to laugh and chat, creating an especially harmonious atmosphere. She handled everyone's attempts at conversation with ease, her smile gentle and appropriate, knowing when to advance and when to withdraw. She showed none of a new student's awkwardness or inexperience.

Noticing that the commotion around her seemed to be disturbing Bai Mu, who was quietly reading in the corner, Ichinose Honami quickly turned her head and spoke softly in an apologetic, sweet voice. "Sorry, everyone's just a little too enthusiastic. We interrupted your reading."

After speaking, she gave Bai Mu a small smile and introduced herself generously. "My name is Ichinose Honami. I look forward to getting along with you."

Bai Mu raised his eyes to meet her gentle gaze and nodded faintly, his tone calm and unruffled. "It's nothing."

Just two simple words—cool and distant, with no extra expression and no intention of taking the initiative to continue the conversation.

Seeing this, Shibata Hayate, seated at the desk in front of him, immediately laughed and tried to smooth things over. "Haha, Bai Mu, you're way too shy. You don't have to be so reserved!"

Several girls gathered around Ichinose also laughed in agreement, their tones lighthearted. "Yeah, yeah, new student, don't be so aloof. We'll all be classmates from now on, so let's get along!"

Most of the teasing was well-intentioned, without any malice.

Bai Mu opened his mouth, but ultimately chose to remain silent, at a loss for words. He was not shy, nor was he deliberately being cold. He had simply long grown accustomed to being alone, disliked meaningless social small talk, and could not be bothered to deliberately cater to others.

He also knew perfectly well that if not for his outstanding looks, clean temperament, and naturally eye-catching youthful aura, someone with his quiet, distant, and indifferent personality would most likely have been completely ignored. No one would have gone out of their way to urge him to fit in.

Good looks had always been a silent social calling card.

Just as everyone chatted and laughed softly in a relaxed atmosphere, the classroom's front door was gently pushed open.

A graceful, elegant figure slowly entered the classroom, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

The newcomer was a young and beautiful female teacher. She had a slender figure, light and tasteful makeup, and an easygoing yet gentle air. Dressed in a proper professional outfit, with lively eyes and brows, she looked especially approachable.

The moment the teacher stepped into the classroom, the previously lively room, filled with scattered chatter and laughter, fell completely silent almost instantly.

Without exception, every student immediately stopped chatting and quickly returned to their seats. Their backs were straight, their gazes proper, and the entire classroom became so silent that one could hear a pin drop.

Bai Mu quietly took it all in and nodded to himself in approval.

Without anyone reminding or restraining them, all the new students had instantly composed themselves and returned to their places, obeying instructions and falling silent as one. This was enough to show that the students admitted to Advanced Nurturing High School possessed self-discipline and discipline far beyond that of ordinary high school students. The ability to rein themselves in so quickly was not something students from ordinary schools could possess.

The female teacher on the podium looked at the orderly, quiet students below with a smile in her eyes. Her tone was relaxed and casual, without any stern authority.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Hoshinomiya Chie, your homeroom teacher for first-year Class B. For the next three years, I'll be responsible for accompanying and managing your school lives."

After a brief introduction, Hoshinomiya Chie began methodically explaining the school's publicly stated basic regulations, everyday conduct standards, and fundamental points to note about campus life. Most of it concerned schedules, campus discipline, rules for using facilities, and daily behavioral guidelines—simple, routine school regulations.

After briefly explaining the basic rules, Hoshinomiya Chie changed the subject and brought up the core topic that all the new students cared about most.

"Next, I'll introduce this school's most important campus system—the S-Point System."

She raised a hand, signaling everyone to look at their phones, and continued, "On the first day of every month, every student will automatically receive personal points issued by the school. One point is equivalent to one yen and can be used for purchases throughout the campus. Food, clothing, housing, transportation, and daily necessities can all be exchanged for points."

"To welcome all of you new students, the school has already deposited this month's points into your accounts in advance. One hundred thousand points per person, paid in full."

The instant her words fell, suppressed gasps and an uproar erupted throughout the classroom.

One hundred thousand points was equivalent to one hundred thousand yen.

For a group of teenagers who had just entered high school, this was undoubtedly an enormous sum. Many ordinary office workers did not even take home one hundred thousand yen after working hard for an entire month, yet the school was giving every new student that amount free of charge as a monthly benefit. Such treatment was enough to overturn everyone's understanding.

And that did not even include miscellaneous expenses such as water and electricity.

The whole room burst into cheers and excitement. Everyone wore ecstatic expressions, and the longing and gratitude in their eyes toward the school grew even stronger.

Even Bai Mu, who had remained calm and had long prepared himself mentally, slightly narrowed his eyes in surprise.

But that surprise lasted only an instant. His extreme rationality quickly caught the strangeness and weight behind it.

One person received one hundred thousand points per month. With forty students in a class, a single class would receive four million yen per month. There were four first-year classes and one hundred sixty new students, bringing the total monthly distribution directly to sixteen million yen.

For just one cohort of freshmen, over the three-year school term, the cost of the school issuing personal points alone would exceed five billion yen—nearly two hundred million yuan.

And that was only the point expenditure for first-year students. It did not include the costs of upperclassmen, campus operations, facility maintenance, teacher salaries, material supplies, and a series of other astronomical expenses.

With such terrifying financial investment and resources poured in regardless of cost, how could there truly be no conditions and no expected return?

Amid the ecstatic atmosphere, quite a few thoughtful students gradually calmed down as well. Someone immediately raised a hand and asked doubtfully, "Teacher, are these one hundred thousand points issued at a fixed amount every month? Will it remain unchanged for all three years?"

As soon as that question was asked, the room instantly fell quiet. Everyone's gaze focused on Hoshinomiya Chie, eagerly awaiting her answer.

Faced with their questioning, Hoshinomiya Chie's smile did not change, but she gently shook her head. Her tone was vague. "It wouldn't be convenient for me to say too much about that. You'll understand gradually as you experience it yourselves."

That vague evasion instantly extinguished everyone's wild joy, and the temperature in the room quietly dropped.

Everyone gradually realized that this seemingly free and massive benefit was indeed not permanent or fixed.

Gentle Ichinose Honami keenly noticed the key point. She softly raised her hand and asked in a serious tone, "Teacher, are our personal points tied to our evaluations at school and our class performance? Will the amount of points we receive later be adjusted according to those evaluations?"

Hearing this, Hoshinomiya Chie merely smiled faintly. She still did not answer directly, only gave a casual laugh and cleverly avoided every core question, unwilling to reveal even the slightest detail of the deeper rules.

"The school will let everyone learn the specific rules step by step. For now, tidy yourselves up, make sure your appearance is in order, and prepare to head to the field for the new student entrance ceremony."

With that, Hoshinomiya Chie turned and walked out of the classroom, leaving behind a room full of new students with differing thoughts, all of whom had quietly calmed down.