Class 1-A

April had already arrived in Tokyo, and gentle breezes brushed against people's faces, carrying the sweet scent of cherry blossoms.

A bus traveled steadily along the Bayshore Expressway, with Tokyo Bay stretching beyond its windows. Soon, it drove onto a bridge across the sea, heading toward Advanced Nurturing High School.

The low hum of the engine traveled through the seats, accompanied by a slight vibration.

An abrupt voice shattered the peace, and the handsome, dazed Hoshinomiya Rinyu snapped his eyes open.

"Don't you think you should give up your seat?"

A woman dressed like an office worker demanded sharply.

"Can't you see that elderly lady is having trouble?"

A burly blond man sat in the priority seat-well, a high school student, to be precise. He wore a burgundy Western-style uniform, the uniform of Advanced Nurturing High School.

The office worker's voice carried through the quiet bus, naturally drawing everyone's attention.

"What a crazy question, lady."

"Why must I give up my seat to this old woman? There's absolutely no reason, is there?" The blond boy smiled faintly and crossed his legs again.

"You're sitting in a priority seat. You should give it to an elderly person."

"I don't understand. Even if this is a priority seat, no law requires me to do that. Being young means I have to give up my seat? Hahaha! What a nonsensical idea."

That distinctive way of speaking left no doubt: it was Koenji.

Now fully awake, Hoshinomiya Rinyu recognized the thoroughly "carefree" Koenji sitting in the priority seat.

"Standing wouldn't inconvenience me either, but it would clearly take more effort than sitting. I have absolutely no intention of doing something so meaningless."

The office worker seemed ready to argue further, but the elderly woman waved her hand first.

"It's all right... I'm fine."

"It seems this old woman is more reasonable than you."

"Um... I think this lady has a point, too."

While the two remained at an impasse, a student wearing the same burgundy uniform stepped forward. She had short, golden-brown hair, and her figure hardly looked like that of an ordinary high school girl.

"A pretty girl this time? It seems I'm unexpectedly popular with the ladies today."

Holy crap, did I transmigrate into the world of Classroom of the Elite? That short-haired girl up there must be Kushida Kikyo. Then the person sitting in front of me must be...

At that thought, Hoshinomiya Yurin's heart trembled.

He lifted his gaze, glancing at the two figures directly ahead of him and diagonally in front.

The brown-haired boy directly ahead was Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, the protagonist of the Classroom of the Elite novels; the girl with long, straight black hair diagonally ahead was Horikita Suzune.

One was a sharp-edged leader determined to take Class D all the way up to Class A. The other hid his abilities, controlled the entire board, and manipulated everyone from behind the scenes.

I actually get to see Ayanokoji in the flesh. Hoshinomiya Rinyu suppressed the emotions surging inside him, his gaze sweeping discreetly over the indifferent Horikita Suzune diagonally ahead.

Though his mind was already in turmoil, only the faintest trace of surprise showed on Hoshinomiya Rinyu's face. He slowly shifted his gaze, quietly studying the faces on the bus that were at once familiar and unfamiliar.

Just then, Horikita suddenly lowered her booklet and cast a cold glance at Hoshinomiya Rinyu as he looked around.

"Everyone, could you please listen for a moment? Would anyone be willing to give up their seat for this elderly lady? Please."

Hoshinomiya Yurin awkwardly withdrew his gaze and hurriedly stood to offer the elderly woman his seat.

"Come sit here."

Everyone on the bus looked toward him.

The short-haired girl froze for a moment, seemingly stunned by Hoshinomiya Yurin's good looks, but quickly recovered and said happily, "Thank you."

Supported by Kushida, the elderly woman also thanked him repeatedly.

Koenji cast an amused, appraising look his way and sneered, "So not everyone here is a hypocrite. However..."

He drew out the last word before continuing teasingly, "Cool boy, making a choice based on social morality to avoid trouble isn't much different from what these people ignoring the old woman are doing."

"Thanks for the compliment, Koenji." Hoshinomiya Yurin offered no rebuttal, replying with only those words.

"Oh? Does this cool boy know who I am?"

For once, Koenji displayed a different expression: curiosity and surprise.

Hoshinomiya nodded, but showed no intention of answering.

"Interesting."

Koenji seemed quite intrigued, yet closed his eyes again and returned to his own world.

"Um, thank you for earlier. What's your name?"

Kushida Kikyo walked over to my side with a smile.

"Hoshinomiya Rinyu. And you?"

Hoshinomiya Rinyu asked in return, pretending not to know.

"Thank you so much, Hoshinomiya. I'm Kushida Kikyo."

In an unnoticed corner, a pair of golden-brown eyes had taken in everything happening up front.

After a short while of idle conversation, the bus finally arrived at Advanced Nurturing High School.

Hoshinomiya and Kushida got off the bus and said their goodbyes, then followed the crowd toward the school.

"What did you mean by looking over at me earlier?"

It was Horikita Suzune.

"Nothing. I just instinctively admire beautiful things."

"With that glib tongue of yours, who knows what's going on in your head?"

"I'm really, truly sorry."

Seeing the handsome boy before her bow a full ninety degrees, a barely perceptible blush crossed Horikita Suzune's cheeks. Her manner did not soften in the slightest, however, and she ignored him, walking straight around him.

"Huh? Where'd she go?" Hoshinomiya Yurin asked in confusion.

Without looking around further, he entered the campus.

Finding his name on the Class 1-A list, Hoshinomiya Rinyu briefly listened to a few check-in instructions, then turned and headed toward the classroom building.

When he pushed open the classroom door, he did not find the conversations he had expected. The scene in Class A was highly unusual.

The classroom was roughly divided into two factions.

The first person who caught his eye near the front was a petite, stunningly beautiful girl wearing a black beret, her silvery-white hair tinged with pale purple. A cane about as tall as the desks leaned against the side of hers. (The current main body.)

It was Sakayanagi Arisu.

Nearly every seat around her was occupied, and quite a few students had gathered beside her, quietly forming a small circle with her at its center. Only one seat by the window on her left remained empty.

His gaze shifted toward the back of the classroom, where a bald boy with a stern expression headed another gathering of students.

Katsuragi Kohei.

Hoshinomiya Yurin did not linger at the classroom entrance, instead heading straight toward the seat on the left near the front.

My seat is next to Sakayanagi Arisu, just as expected.

Only then did he notice the name at the corner of the desk.

"Hello. Could you tell me your name?"

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself before asking someone else's name?"

A sly smile curled the white-haired girl's lips, and her eyes curved as she regarded him with an amused look.

Hoshinomiya Rinyu paused, then smiled openly. "You're right. I'm Hoshinomiya Rinyu. Can you tell me now?"

"My, my. Since you want to know so badly, I'll generously tell you. My name is Sakayanagi Arisu."

"Nice to meet you, Classmate Sakayanagi." Hoshinomiya Rinyu offered his hand.

"How nice...?"

They had barely had time to chat before the classroom door creaked open again.

The newcomer was a sturdy man with a stern face: Mashima Tomoya, Class 1-A's homeroom teacher.

He exuded an imposing air that brooked no argument.

He set the documents in his hand lightly on the lectern with a slap, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"Hello, new students. I'm Mashima Tomoya, the homeroom teacher for Class A-your class. I teach English. Your admission to this school proves that each of you has certain strengths or special talents, and that is indeed something you can be proud of."

Unlike the others, Hoshinomiya Rinyu felt no particular pride. His mind was still dwelling on his conversation with Sakayanagi Arisu. (What an idiot.)

"However, this school differs from the vast majority of schools elsewhere. At Advanced Nurturing High School, points represent everything. Your food, clothing, housing, and transportation all require points. Here, points function as yen, with one point equaling one yen. Cash and credit cards cannot be used. Points can buy anything."

"The Student Terminals on your desks contain the one hundred thousand points that were just distributed..."

Before he could continue, an uproar broke out below.

"What? A hundred thousand points? That's more than I make at my part-time job!"

"A... a hundred thousand points? Every month?"

"Doesn't that mean we can buy whatever we want?"

Hoshinomiya Rinyu lowered his eyes, lightly tapping his fingertips against the desk. Although the amount was a fortune for an ordinary student, it was understandable. After all, not everyone attending this school came from a prestigious, wealthy family.

"Quiet. I haven't finished."

"The entrance ceremony will take place in the gymnasium in one hour. I'll first distribute information on this school's special rules, although you already learned about them when enrolling. If there's nothing else, I'll see you later..."

"One moment, Teacher Mashima."

Hoshinomiya Rinyu stood without hesitation.

"Is there something you need, Hoshinomiya?"

Mashima Tomoya looked at the standing student with some surprise.

Hoshinomiya Rinyu's voice was steady as he calmly met the teacher's gaze. "I'd like to confirm something. Can the one hundred thousand points distributed each month be spent entirely at our discretion, without any restrictions on their use?"

Mashima Tomoya's expression tightened slightly, and he replied seriously, "Points can be used at the vast majority of facilities and shops on campus. The specific rules will be listed in the handbook."

"Then can the amount of one hundred thousand points distributed each month change?"

Mashima Tomoya flinched at the question, then composed himself slightly and said, "I'm afraid I cannot answer that. Everyone, get your things together and prepare to attend the entrance ceremony." He promptly turned and left the classroom at a brisk pace.

Hoshinomiya Rinyu watched him leave without the slightest change in expression, then calmly withdrew his gaze. The students around him remained absorbed in their excitement over the points, and most paid little attention to whether the amount might change.

"My, Hoshinomiya, you're surprisingly perceptive."