"Ten thousand points per person. If you plan on defaulting, you'd better consider whether you can even afford to pay half of the total debt next month. After all, it looks like Class D will be stuck with zero class points for a while. And if you get expelled, those points won't be of any use anyway."
Kitagawa Ryo spoke casually as he tightened his grip. The pressure on Sudou's right fist twisted his expression in pain, yet he lacked the courage to strike back. Just seeing Ryo's smiling face reminded him of the first day of school, when Ryo goaded him into a serious mistake. Now, having attacked first and been restrained in front of everyone, if this continued, expulsion was certain.
With that in mind, Sudou could only grit his teeth and endure the humiliation, struggling to free himself from Ryo's grasp. Just as he was about to succeed, Ryo suddenly let go, and the force of his own effort sent him tumbling to the ground. But no one in Class D had the mind to laugh—Ryo's words hung heavy in the air.
"First-year Class D will pay 400,000 personal points to Class C each month. So, how about everyone chip in?"
Ryo added lightly, "It's still early. We can wait."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka instantly caught the malicious twist in Ryo's phrasing. When Class D had signed the contract, everyone had implicitly agreed to a flat rate of 10,000 points per person. The total of 400,000 made that clear. But now, Ryo conveniently omitted the per-person detail and simply demanded the full amount.
[That means those with leftover points will be forced to cover for those who spent everything.]
[It'll fracture the bonds we've built this past month.]
Kiyotaka glanced at Ryo, who met his gaze with a malicious smile.
As expected, Yukimura was the first to lash out again, pointing at Sudou.
"You made the mistake, so you pay for it! I'm not covering for you."
"...If I still had points, I would! But I don't!"
Sudou had blown through his 100,000 points repaying the upperclassmen and Ryo. He'd even borrowed some from Hirata. Living off the free meal plan, he'd scraped by all month. Now, to be accused and unable to retaliate—his frustration boiled over.
"Then drop out!"
Yukimura shot back coldly.
"But even if Sudou drops out, the contract stands. If we lose a payer, everyone's share increases."
Hirata Yosuke, ever calm, ignored how Sudou had shoved him earlier and tried to console him.
"I have some points left. I can pay for myself, Kouenji, and 5,000 of yours."
Then he addressed the class:
"I know everyone's frustrated, and it's easy to pin all the blame on Sudou. But splitting the cost is safer. Otherwise, someone might get expelled for debt."
Hirata's logic was sound, and while some students remained resentful, they stayed silent out of respect.
"There is another way."
Horikita Suzune stepped out from behind Ryo. Her position, squarely among Class C's members, made it seem like she was one of them.
"We could pile all the debt onto a few individuals. Sacrifice one student a month and buy time."
"Instead of being crushed for a year, why not cut our losses cleanly?"
Her words stirred the already hopeless students. Yukimura immediately agreed:
"Make Sudou take the fall this month. It's what he deserves."
As debate flared again, Hirata stepped forward with uncharacteristic sharpness.
"No. I won't allow it."
Gone was the sunny, kind honor student. Hirata's weakness revealed itself—when forced to choose between individuals and the group, he froze.
If Horikita pushed further, he might crack.
"Enough. That won't work. The contract is between Class D and Class C, not individuals."
Ryo watched Hirata, an old acquaintance, restrain the urge to flip a desk. In this timeline, no student council president Kitagawa existed to save Hirata's friend from suicide. Hirata had witnessed it all.
"Like Hirata said. 10,000 points each. Come pay up. If you delay, next month you might not be able to."
Cutting Horikita short, Ryo threw one last look at Hirata and turned away.
Hirata collapsed into his seat, exhausted.
Horikita, about to pay her own 10,000 points, was stopped when Ryo smiled at her.
"Don't worry, Suzune. I covered yours."
He even winked playfully.
The class erupted. Even Class C students stared in confusion. Ishizaki pondered Horikita's looks and nodded thoughtfully, earning a head-smack from Ryuuen. Ibuki just scoffed.
"I saw Horikita talking with that guy alone during the club briefing last month!"
Satou Maya, who disliked Horikita, seized the moment.
"Is Horikita a spy from Class C? A traitor? Shameless!"
Insults flew. Hirata, who had just argued with Horikita, stood to defend her.
"Back when school started, no one knew about class competition. Having friends in other classes is normal. Kushida and I have close friends outside too."
He dragged in the class angel Kushida Kikyou to calm the storm.
"No need. I have points."
Horikita glared at Ryo. She still had over 80,000 points. Paying 10,000 was nothing, so she transferred the points herself.
"Lunch together later?"
Ryo whispered as she approached. Horikita replied with a confused look.
Next second, Ryo exclaimed loudly:
"Wow, Suzune has that many points left!"
"Let me count... over 70,000!"
Yamauchi and Ike shouted:
"Horikita still has 70,000?!"
"Pay mine too! I'll let you borrow my new console!"
Satou quickly added:
"If Horikita helps us, no one will call her a spy."
When personal interests were involved, students shouted loudest. The message was clear: if Horikita didn't pay more, she wasn't truly Class D.
[You really want to bring this class to Class A?]
Ryo gave her a mischievous glance, savoring her reluctant, disgusted, yet determined expression.
"I'll pay half. From my observations, points are important. I need to keep some."
Horikita relented.
"Oh, half? Still keeping 30,000+ for comfort next month, huh?"
Ryo baited again. The class glared at Horikita for being "cold."
[Class D is too easy to manipulate...]
Ryo sighed internally. Kouenji wasn't a threat; Hirata paid his share. Ayanokoji was still playing the lazy student.
Because he had already lost.
Ayanokoji watched the farce blankly. Unless the school introduced drastic changes, Class D would be crushed by Class C. Not that he cared—his goal was to avoid the White Room's pursuit.
He just needed to remain an average student.
Horikita ignored the jeers, paid another 30,000 points, and left. Class C students let her through. Kouenji packed up and followed, casting a curious glance at Ryo.
The 38 remaining students wove a tense web of stares, waiting for someone to move first.
Ryo tapped the desk patiently.
Karuizawa Kei and her group stepped forward to pay, having been discreetly warned by Ryo the day before. She even offered to help friends cover the difference.
Girls' cliques were naturally exclusive. Since Kei offered help in secret, Satou and others stayed quiet. Despite helping, Horikita and Kei were treated very differently.
[All part of the plan.]
Ryo winked at Kei, unnoticed by others. She blushed and hurried out.
With Kei breaking the ice, others begrudgingly handed over their meager remaining points. Nearly half had none left, incurring debts of 7,000 to 8,000 points.
"Didn't Horikita pay 30,000? Then Ike and I don't owe anything, right?"
Yamauchi strode up casually.
"Yep. Yamauchi Haruki, Sudou Ken, and who else? Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Your points are covered by Suzune."
Kiyotaka, at the end of the line, blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"Don't act surprised."
Ike grumbled, and Yamauchi bragged beside him.
"...Okay."
Kiyotaka left the classroom.
Outside, Satou's group argued with Class C.
"Class D is trash. Out of points, huh?"
"Just got 59,000! Want to buy the new cosmetics?"
"Sure! Let's spend what those Class D morons gave us!"
Manabe Shiho and her clique blocked Satou's group, throwing insults. With Class D under Class C's boot, the girls couldn't fight back.
Kei had just left for the restroom when Class C girls swarmed in. Satou and the others were cornered.
"What do you want?"
Kei returned just in time, standing firmly before Satou's group.
"Yes, we signed a contract. But there's no clause saying we're beneath you."
Manabe tried to grab Kei's collar, but Kei smacked her hand away.
"Want to start a fight? This is Class D's door. There are cameras."
"You'll end up like Sudou if you try anything."
"Tch."
Manabe clicked her tongue but backed off after a whisper from her friend.
"Kei, you were so cool!"
"Amazing! You came just in time!"
Kei's timely arrival and her point-sharing had secured her status as the undisputed leader of the clique.
"Though... it all felt too calculated."
Kiyotaka glanced at Ryo, who looked back only once before lowering his eyes.
[Was this your plan?]
As Kiyotaka pondered, a girl walked up to him.
"Hello! Are you from Class D?"
"Uh, yeah."
The girl before him had shimmering pink-blonde hair and bright blue eyes, her smile radiant and welcoming.
"I'm Ichinose Honami from Class B. What's going on here? There's a huge crowd. Is something wrong?"
"Well..."
Kiyotaka knew the contract forbade disclosure to third parties.
"You should ask that person directly."
Following his gaze, Ichinose peeked into Class D.
Among the few remaining students, her eyes instantly landed on Kitagawa Ryo.
Reunions are both farewells and new beginnings.
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