Chapter 16: You Are Smart, Right?
The senior looked at the boy in front of him with some interest. To be honest, he really wanted to know what this freshman had to say.
Hikigaya smiled calmly and lowered his voice so that only the three of them could hear.
"Senior, if I'm not mistaken, the so-called 100,000 points is a trap, isn't it?"
Hearing those words, the senior's body trembled slightly, though he tried to maintain his composure.
"Those 100,000 points—while the teachers call them basic points—are actually determined by the school's S-point rating system. In other words, if you're deemed worthless, the school won't give you living expenses. That's when you end up relying on this so-called bailout."
"You said it yourself, Senior."
The boy's deduction wasn't perfectly accurate, but it was close enough to the truth. As long as he avoided letting his evaluation hit zero, he could still secure rewards.
Any normal person would think this way: as long as you don't break the rules and pass the exams, everything will be fine.
But—
"Senior, the so-called ABCD classes aren't random, are they? It looks like random assignment, but the school already knows everyone's overall abilities. Class D is probably just a gathering place for deficiencies."
Hikigaya's words made both the senior and Hirata Yosuke tremble again.
"Which class are you from?"
"Same as you, Senior. We're both Class D students. No need to make a big deal of it."
From observation alone, Hikigaya had already guessed which class this senior belonged to.
If he was stuck eating relief meals, he clearly wasn't in the top two classes. Even Class C students could manage a decent lifestyle.
The senior had no reply.
"You don't need to answer directly. Since the school's issued a gag order, just stay quiet. Now… if you nod, these 10,000 points are yours."
His words shocked the two listeners for the third time.
How? How could he deduce so much just from observation? They were both from Class D, and the senior knew exactly what kind of people filled the class. Could a junior like this really belong there?
This terrifying insight, observation, and calculation—it was as if the boy could see through everything.
"Don't resist. Just nod. The school can't punish you for something so small. Besides, it benefits both of us, right? Senior, you also want these 10,000 points, don't you?"
This time, Hikigaya didn't wait for an answer before continuing:
"All our actions—rule violations, leaving early, tardiness, skipping class—everything affects the whole class, doesn't it?"
The senior gave a small nod. Hirata Yosuke saw it clearly.
"The most important thing here isn't individual evaluation, but class evaluation. In other words, the higher your class ranking, the more points you earn."
The senior nodded again, hesitantly.
"And finally—the actions of other students affect the entire class, right?"
The senior seemed to recall something unpleasant, but he still nodded through gritted teeth.
With that, Hikigaya and Hirata had all the confirmation they needed. The 10,000 points were never the point—it was proof for Hirata. And Hirata wasn't stupid; after hearing all this, he finally understood that this school wasn't as ideal as it seemed.
If Hikigaya regretted anything, it was losing 10,000 points. But if the class stayed ignorant, they'd only suffer far worse when the next month's points were released.
After parting with the senior, Hirata turned to Hikigaya in disbelief.
"You're smart, aren't you?"
"Don't ask me the same way you did others earlier. Assimilated already? Unless you hand over some points, I won't answer."
Hirata smiled brightly. "I already know the answer. Thank you, Hikigaya. Without you, our class would've been in real danger next month. I'll tell the others about what you did. You're not as unsociable as you look."
"No, don't. I'm doing this for myself, not for the class. I'm not some great guy. I only dragged you here to make sure my own points don't hit zero next month."
"I'll leave the class management to you. At least use your influence to reduce everyone's mistakes."
After giving Hirata that final instruction, Hikigaya Hachiman turned and walked toward the library.
For now, this matter was settled. All he needed to do was make it through the next three years.
He had no interest in the so-called differences between Classes A through D. As long as he secured his basic points and survived, whatever schemes the school had next were irrelevant to him.
Finally, some free time. Since entering this school, Hikigaya couldn't even remember the last time he'd properly read a book.
The library was impressively built, its collection nearly rivaling the National Library. As expected of a public school.
The boy wandered among the shelves without hurry. He had plenty of time to choose.
Of course, there was another reason he came here: the school made no distinction between humanities and sciences. That was a problem for someone like Hikigaya, whose science grades were abysmal. But he wasn't the type to sit and wait for failure.
If he couldn't change the environment, he'd change himself. He knew no matter how much he studied, his science grades would never be excellent. Still… at least he wouldn't remain the third-worst in the class like before.
He picked up a book on basic mathematics and was about to find a corner to study when he noticed a white-haired girl with a cane, seemingly searching for something.
Her unsteady steps made it look like she might fall at any moment. With a small sigh, Hikigaya stepped forward to help.