Now, while everyone around me is busy with self-introductions, I want you to listen to my theory. I want to share a lesson I've learned from my unnecessarily long life. It's the art of living as a kept man. That's not to say I'm going to say anything too profound. There's only one thing I want to say: "You should carefully choose who you hang out with."
You probably don't know what I mean just from that, so let me give you a concrete example: drug addiction.
Most people who actually try drugs are introduced to them by a friend or acquaintance. When they're feeling weak, they're tempted with phrases like "everyone's doing it," and not many people can firmly refuse. This is especially true for Japanese people, who consider it a virtue to go along with the group.
This might be an extreme example, but you should also avoid getting too involved with people who fall into this category: the classmate who wants to hang out and not study during exam season, or the person who makes fun of their friend for putting in effort to be popular with the opposite sex.
And there's another type of person you should avoid getting involved with: "the person you can't figure out."
Of course, I'm not saying you should avoid people who are just a bit quirky, whose words and actions are a little off, or whose sensibilities are a bit different from others. What I'm talking about is someone whose true nature you can't fathom.
Why am I going on about this, you ask? It's because...
"This might be a strange thing to ask, but why did you talk to me, Saito?"
"Tsugumi is fine. There are a lot of Saitos, so it's probably hard to remember, right? Why I talked to you? It's because we're sitting close to each other, of course. The first person you become friends with in situations like this is always the person sitting closest to you."
...Yes. Because this Kiyotaka Ayanokoji fits my description of "a person whose true nature you can't fathom."
I made sure to keep up my friendly smile and a slightly higher tone of voice while we talked.
"Is that so..."
At first glance, he seems like a perfectly ordinary high school student. But I feel a sense of unease. The closest image I have of him is a child who was raised through neglect, but...
I asked Ayanokoji-kun a few probing questions, disguised as small talk. What I was doing was creepy, but the alarm bells in my head wouldn't stop ringing. I couldn't just ignore them.
"You said you don't really have any hobbies, but did you play any sports, Ayanokoji-kun?"
"Ah. My lessons were piano and calligraphy. My athletic ability is neither good nor bad."
"Piano and calligraphy, huh? Those are worlds I'm not at all familiar with, so I'm a little envious."
"Neither good nor bad," huh... I see. When I replied, Ayanokoji-kun brought up a new topic. I thought he was the reserved type, but it seems he's unexpectedly proactive.
"You said your hobby is board games. Are you good at things like chess?"
"Yeah! I can't say I'm at a professional level, but I'm pretty good since I had a friend I played with since I was little. Are you good at chess, Ayanokoji-kun?"
This is completely because of Arisu-chan. I became a fan of it after she suddenly invited me to start playing in second grade. As for Ayanokoji-kun, he must have played chess since he brought it up here.
"Just a little. I'm not that good."
"I see. Then, want to play a game later? We can even do it on a smartphone app now."
"Sure. Let's do it."
An immediate answer... He seemed a bit more excited. I thought he was the type who wasn't very interested in friends, but it seems I was wrong.
Hmm... I don't know. For now, it seems like he genuinely wants to be friends with me, so as long as he doesn't dig his own grave, we can probably be good friends.
It would be a joke if I was just worrying about nothing, but if nothing happens, then that's fine. I don't like trouble.
"Oh my. There are some strange people who are willing to talk to you."
"...You're in the same class as me."
As we continued this exchange, a female student sat down in the seat next to Ayanokoji-kun, diagonally in front of me. She was a beautiful girl who would leave an impression if you passed her on the street, but judging by the exchange I just saw with Ayanokoji-kun, it's going to take a while to become friends with her.
"Are you Ayanokoji-kun's friend? My name is Tsugumi Saito. Nice to meet you."
"A friend? Don't joke around. And I don't intend to get along with you. Unfortunately, I'm not the type to be so eager to make friends like him."
"You shouldn't say that... Besides, don't you think it would be inconvenient to be sitting so close to each other for a whole year without even knowing each other's names?"
"I don't think so."
Ayanokoji-kun's nice assist flew in. I think he was trying to help me, but since I had expected that response, he didn't have to worry so much.
However, her tough emotional wall didn't seem to budge with just that.
"I'll tell you my name first, just in case. My name is Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. I came here alone from my previous middle school, so I don't know anyone. So I admit I was eager to make friends."
"Huh. It must have been tough being alone, right? What about you? Do you know anyone in other classes?"
However, neither I nor Ayanokoji-kun had any intention of backing down. I was weaving words to get closer to a cute girl, and Ayanokoji-kun was doing the same to a potential friend.
"...You two are strange. Nothing interesting will happen even if you talk to me."
"If we're being a bother, we'll stop."
Ayanokoji-kun seemed to know when to back down. At this rate, I think he can make as many friends as he wants if he just takes one step forward. He's good-looking, too.
I thought the conversation with her was over, but after letting out a sigh of exasperation, she looked at us with a serious gaze.
"My name is Suzune Horikita."
Suzune, a good name. As the proverb says, "A name shows a person's character," and it suits her firm personality perfectly.
By the way, my name, Tsugumi, has a great meaning: that I'll weave good relationships with many people and grow up strong. My mother. I'm a kept man, though.
"I told Tsugumi, but I'll tell you what kind of person I am too, just in case. I don't have any particular hobbies, but I'm interested in everything. I don't need a lot of friends, but it would be nice to have some. Well, that's about it."
"A passive answer, it seems. It's a way of thinking that I don't think I can ever like."
"Huh, Ayanokoji-kun is a passive person. Well, I can kind of understand Horikita-san's opinion, but I don't think it's a bad thing."
To have reached that point at this age, he's quite talented. I feel like putting my arm around his shoulder, but it doesn't fit my character, so I'll stop... I have to say, though, being passive isn't going to make you popular, Ayanokoji-kun.
"...You're good at following up, Tsugumi."
"If you sigh, your happiness will fly away."
"You're right. I wish my misfortune wouldn't pile up any more."
Oh, she took it that way. In contrast to Ayanokoji-kun's sigh, Horikita-san said with a cold glare. Is she calling Ayanokoji-kun a misfortune? What a terrible person. He's surprisingly fun to talk to.
"I can sympathize, but it seems your wish won't come true."
As we were having that exchange, Ayanokoji-kun suddenly pointed at the classroom door. Standing there was a boy with long blonde hair.
"...I see. You are indeed unlucky."
"Do you know him?"
I asked, but it was unlikely that these two knew him. Rather, what caught my attention was his physique. Of course, not in a creepy way. I'm not into that. I can't say for sure since I only saw his posture while standing and walking, but he's a very skilled fighter.
I feel like someone's going to make a comment about me sounding like a character from a martial arts manga, but I can't do something superhuman like predicting an opponent's fighting style just by looking at them once. It's just that he was so out of the ordinary that I understood it right away. He's at a level where he could leave his name in some kind of sport.
"No. We were on the bus coming here, and he... did something."
"Whoa, that's amazing."
Ayanokoji-kun told me what happened, but I was so taken aback that I could only say what I was thinking. He's even polishing his nails with his feet on the desk right now... I'm a little envious of how he can be so true to himself.
People put up a front because they're afraid of being ostracized by the group if they show their true nature. Because they're afraid of that, everyone creates a character. I don't have any complaints about this since it's just how society is. It's one of my specialties, along with people-watching.
While I was thinking about that, Horikita-san had started reading a book. Normally, I would stop talking to her here. But don't underestimate someone who has lived their life solely on communication skills.
"I wouldn't want to be like that guy... Oh! Is that Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment? You have good taste, Horikita-san."
Crime and Punishment is a long novel and one of Fyodor Dostoevsky's masterpieces. It's interesting to think about the background of when Dostoevsky wrote this novel.
By the way, the reason I'm reading a book that sounds so smart is also completely because of Arisu-chan. She always proudly talks about the books she's reading, but when I have a confused look on my face, she says something like, "You can't be a person who stands next to me with that," and forces me to read it. Well, I don't want to stand next to her; I just want to hang on as a kept man...
"...That's unexpected. You can't judge a book by its cover, can you?"
I feel like my score went up a little bit in her mind. My actions definitely make me seem like a stupid extrovert. The fact that she thinks that is proof that my character is working.
"Shut up."
"I read these kinds of books often, but there was no one like you in my school library."
So we have the same taste in books. If I work hard, I might be able to get closer to her. She's cute, and with that vibe, she's probably not stupid. Things are looking good.
A few minutes passed, and the bell for the start of class rang. At the same time, a woman in a suit entered the classroom.
Ugh, she might be my least favorite type. Just from her appearance, she gives off a strong vibe of being a strict woman who values discipline.
While I was thinking such rude things, she stood at the lectern and called out to us.
"Hello, new students. I'm Sae Chabashira, the homeroom teacher for Class D. I usually teach Japanese history. There are no class changes by grade at this school. For the next three years until you graduate, I will be your homeroom teacher and we will learn together. Nice to meet you. The entrance ceremony will be held in the gym in one hour, but before that, I will hand out materials about the special rules of this school. I already handed them out with the school application, but here they are again."
A familiar document was passed around from the front seat. It was the one I received after the passing announcement. I guess she wants us to reconfirm it before the entrance ceremony.
This school has a unique aspect that sets it apart from the many high schools across the country. It requires all students to live in the dorms on campus and prohibits all contact with the outside world during their enrollment, with few exceptions. Even with family, contact is not permitted without the school's permission. It's amazing, right? My mom cried the first time I explained it to her.
On the other hand, there are many facilities so that students don't have to struggle. It's safe to say that a small town has been formed, with karaoke rooms, a movie theater, cafes, boutiques, and more. It's many times more student-friendly than the prefectural capital in the countryside. I'm really grateful for this. There are a lot of places to go on dates with girls.
And there's one more big feature. That's the introduction of the S System.
"I'm now going to hand out your student ID cards. You can use them to use all the facilities on campus and buy goods at the shops. They're like credit cards. However, you need to be careful because you'll be using points. There's nothing on campus that you can't buy with these points. As long as it's on school grounds, you can buy anything."
Hmm? What's this? She's being vague. "There's nothing on campus that you can't buy with these points." If she means you can buy anything in the facilities, that overlaps with what she said later. If that's the case...
"You can use it by either passing your student ID card through a machine or showing it at a facility. The usage is simple, so you won't get lost. Also, points are automatically transferred on the first of every month. All of you should have already been given 100,000 points. Also, one point is worth one yen. No further explanation should be necessary."
Wait a minute. 100,000? ...This is bad. Everything I was thinking went out the window. If there are 40 students per class, 160 per grade, and 480 total students, that's a budget of 48 million yen per month. That's a budget of 576 million yen per year. Are they really spending that much every year? For just the pocket money of a student, no matter how excellent they are?
"Are you surprised by the large amount of points? This school measures students based on their abilities. You who have passed the entrance exam have that much worth and potential. This is a kind of evaluation for that. Don't hesitate to use them. However, all these points will be collected by the school after you graduate. You can't convert them to cash, so there's no benefit in saving them. After they're transferred, it's up to you how you use them. Feel free to use them as you wish. If you think you don't need to use them, you can even give them to someone else. However, don't try to extort them from people, okay? The school is very sensitive about bullying."
Ah... I knew it. Chabashira-sensei's words just now confirmed something for me. This is something I absolutely want to confirm, so I have to ask the right question.
"Are there any questions? It would be easier to ask now, wouldn't it?"
Oh, here it comes. It's good that she said that; it makes it easier to raise my hand. I raised my hand clearly and spoke up, ignoring the murmuring classmates.
"Excuse me! I have two questions, if that's okay?"
"Saito, is it? It's fine. I'll answer anything within my ability to answer."
"Within my ability to answer," huh. With Chabashira-sensei's permission, I spoke with a friendly smile and a slightly higher tone, conscious of the stares from the whole class.
"You just said that 'there's nothing on campus that you can't buy with these points,' but for example, would it be possible to buy test scores?"
"What the hell, man! Are you that worried about your grades?"
A male student who turned around made the whole class laugh. Having one of these cheerful jokers makes a huge difference. I like you, dude.
However, contrary to the atmosphere of the class, Chabashira-sensei was showing a combative smile. I know this look. It's the "Heh... you're an interesting guy" vibe you see in shojo manga.
"What's your other question? I'll answer them together."
Since she urged me for my other question, I took a breath and spoke up again. I didn't want to miss a single one of her movements.
"Understood. Then my next question is... Is it possible that the points we receive every month will fluctuate?"
Horikita-san, who had been looking straight ahead as if she wasn't interested, turned around as if she had been startled.
Yes, what I was convinced of. It's that the points we receive every month will fluctuate.
The keywords from the earlier conversation are "This school measures students based on their abilities" and "You who have passed the entrance exam have that much worth and potential." At first glance, it sounds like we'll receive 100,000 points forever, but this is probably a misdirection.
Think about it. She said the evaluation at the time of admission is worth 100,000 points, but that evaluation was based on interviews and exams. It's common for grades to plummet or behavior to get worse after that, as students get comfortable. In fact, that's what's likely to happen more often.
Of course, there will be students who study diligently and fulfill their duties as students. But would a school that claims to measure students based on their abilities treat the former and the latter the same? No, that's impossible. Because if they did, everyone would just slack off.
For a moment, silence hung in the air. I felt a sense of unease from Chabashira-sensei's attitude, as if she hadn't expected this question... No, she did it on purpose.
From her demeanor earlier, she seemed to be a high-level teacher. Combined with the vague statements she made earlier, my guess is that she wants to tell us that the points will fluctuate.
"Why do you think the points will fluctuate?"
"Huh...? Is it really going to change?"
The male student's question followed Chabashira-sensei's. The atmosphere in the class was also calming down a bit.
"My parents taught me strictly to be careful with my pocket money, so... I got a little scared... I'm sorry for asking such a weird question."
I gave a wry smile and answered in a way that would seem normal for an average person. In reality, I wasn't lying 100%. No matter how money-hungry I am, if a girl I just met suddenly gives me 100,000 yen, I'd run away. I'd be afraid of being stabbed in my sleep.
Getting back to the point, I'm going to predict Chabashira-sensei's answer to my question. What's she going to do?
"Heh, I see. Your parents sound like good people, don't they? And as for the answer... I'm sorry. I cannot answer that question. Both of them."
Bingo. This is a perfect score. I'll go back and exchange information with Arisu-chan.
"What! So they're not going to be taken away! I was worried for nothing!"
...Wait, how did he come to that conclusion from her answer?
Oh well. I got the information I needed, so I'll back down for now.
"I see... I understand! Thank you very much!"
"Yes, that was a good question. Does anyone else have a question?"
Chabashira-sensei called out to the class that was murmuring again. As soon as she determined there were no answers, she left the classroom.
"...I'm surprised. You're unexpectedly sharp, aren't you?"
"That 'unexpectedly' is unnecessary, 'unexpectedly'. But what do you think? Have I gone up in your estimation?"
I had expected a harsh comeback, but her answer was surprising.
"Yes. Just a little. You went from a stupid guy to a money-grubbing stupid guy."
"...Didn't that just make it worse?"
The sharpness of her insults isn't at a high school freshman level... I feel like I'm talking to a woman in her late twenties.
"Give up, Tsugumi. Horikita's like that."
"Oh, Ayanokoji-kun, I'm surprised that you understood the intention behind his words..."
"Judging by that statement, I'm below Tsugumi... I guess you're not wrong."
I don't know... we get along well. The three of us. The conversation flows well, so it's fun. I want to be friends with them, regardless of my goal of being a kept man.
"Everyone, can I get your attention for a moment?"
While we were talking, a male student suddenly raised his hand.
"We're going to be in the same class from today. So I was thinking we should introduce ourselves voluntarily so we can all become friends as soon as possible. We have time until the entrance ceremony, so what do you think?"
Oh, thank you so much. If he hadn't said it, I would have, but being a goody-two-shoes like that will hurt my chances of getting girls later.
However, if I agree in a situation like this, I'll be seen as a fun guy, so I'll actively participate. I'm a person who can easily hang on to guys too.
"Sounds good! I'm all for self-introductions!"
"I agree too! We don't know everyone's names yet!"
Following me, many voices of agreement were raised. This is a good flow. Let's form a group, exchange LINE IDs, and invite everyone to hang out.
"My name is Yosuke Hirata. In middle school, I was usually called Yosuke, so please feel free to call me by my first name. My hobby is sports in general, but I especially love soccer, and I'm planning to play soccer at this school too. Nice to meet you."
The one who proposed it gave a smooth and flawless self-introduction.
From there, the flow of self-introductions followed the seating order, and it was my turn. I'm used to this, so I didn't prepare anything special.
"I think Chabashira-sensei already said it, but my name is Tsugumi Saito! My hobbies are the same as Yosuke-kun's—sports in general—and board games. I haven't decided on a club yet, so if anyone wants to do one together, let's go check it out! Oh, and everyone, make sure you use your money carefully, okay?"
My last statement made the class laugh. It was a gag that played on the frugal character I had created. You have to have this kind of quick wit to be an extrovert. Everyone reading this should definitely take notes. Especially you, Ayanokoji-kun. You're definitely the type of person who's bad at self-introductions, right?
"Thank you for the self-introduction. Would you like to go to a soccer club tour sometime, Tsugumi-kun?"
"Totally! I was actually going to invite you myself!"
And here, I'll casually call Hirata-kun by his first name. This is a key point. See, some of the girls are squealing at two handsome guys calling each other by their first names. This class will probably be split between me and Yosuke in terms of popularity with the girls... It's kind of creepy to say that myself, though.
"Then, next is you over there, please?"
And now it was Ayanokoji-kun's turn. He was thinking about something, wasn't he? He looks spaced out.
"Uh... um, I'm Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. Um... I'm not good at anything in particular, but I'll do my best to get along with everyone, so, um, nice to meet you."
...He's done for. I guess I have to assist him.
I tapped Ayanokoji-kun's back as he stood there frozen and turned to face everyone with a laugh.
"He's a little bad at self-introductions, but he's actually a pretty funny guy, so please be friends with him. He's my first friend here."
"Oh, is he? Then let's all go to karaoke sometime! We should invite Ayanokoji-kun too!"
First, I'll remove his gloomy impression. When I do, since he has a pretty good face, things will go smoothly like this. Good for you, you got invited.
Ayanokoji-kun, who successfully finished his self-introduction, turned to me with a look as if he was about to cry.
"Thank you, Tsugumi. You're my best friend...!"
"Hmph. That was easy."
I don't know, I just want to protect this guy. Is it because he's my first friend, or is it because he's like... the old me?
Well, I guess the feeling of uneasiness I had at first was just a misunderstanding. Sorry, Ayanokoji-kun.
----------
"So, Arisu-chan, what about the points that were transferred this month?"
May 1st. After checking the points on my smartphone, I asked Arisu-chan, who was walking beside me.
I had about 75,000, which was a decent amount saved, including what I spent on new life preparations.
"I had 94,000 points. What about you, Tsugumi-kun?"
"Zero. Well, our guess was right, but... you look like you're having fun, Arisu-chan."
I lied. I didn't think the difference would be this big. What's with the zero? I can't go hang out... Why? Why? ...Why did Arisu-chan's dad put me in Class D?
In contrast to me, who had dead fish eyes, Arisu-chan had a fun-loving smile on her face.
"Yes. I'm very, very much looking forward to what this meritocratic world will bring me."
I just wanted to live an easy life... Why did it turn out like this...
----------
Advanced Nurturing High School Database, as of July 1st
Name: Tsugumi Saito
Club Activities: Unaffiliated
Birthday: April 29
Height: 180cm
Weight: 70kg
--- Evaluation ---
Academic Ability: A
Intellect: C+
Judgment: A
Physical Ability: A
Cooperativeness: B+
--- Interviewer's Comments ---
He has achieved very high grades in elementary and middle school, and although he was not a member of a club, he was a member of a local sports club and led his teams to victory in multiple team sports. Although he is not very proactive, he is highly regarded by teachers and classmates, and it is expected that he will become more proactive through interactions with his classmates. In this respect, it is certain that he is a talented individual who stands out even among graduates. However, considering his excessive number of absences and the problematic behavior described in a separate document, he will be assigned to Class D.
--- Homeroom Teacher's Memo ---
He has built a wide network of friends as a central figure in the class. However, I feel there are signs of problematic behavior, so I intend to observe him carefully.
============
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