The classroom door was gently pushed open, and a female teacher with a neat ponytail walked in with steady steps.
"My name is Chabashira Sae, and I'm the homeroom teacher for Class D. I'm also responsible for teaching Japanese history."
Chabashira stood at the podium, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room.
"The opening ceremony will be held in one hour," she said concisely, her voice as crisp as her tied-back ponytail. "This school operates on a fixed class system. You'll all spend the next three years together."
Chabashira casually flipped open the admission handbook, her fingertip lightly tapping on a key clause. "This is a boarding school with strict management. Unauthorized departure from campus is strictly prohibited. Furthermore..." Her gaze suddenly became meaningful. "Starting today, you'll be using the new S-System for points."
At her signal, students eagerly pulled out their newly issued student IDs.
After downloading the dedicated app and scanning the code, their screens prominently displayed a balance of 100,000 points.
"Points are automatically deposited on the first of every month, and one point equals one yen," Chabashira stated calmly. "Within the school, there's nothing that can't be bought with points. Anything within the school grounds can be purchased, no matter what it is."
The classroom immediately erupted with gasps of surprise. Students whispered to each other, their faces filled with disbelief. After all, for ordinary high school students, receiving 100,000 yen out of nowhere every month was simply unheard of.
Shimizu Akira raised an eyebrow slightly.
This school was indeed unique. It was the first time he'd encountered a school that actually paid its students.
What truly concerned him was Chabashira's meaningful phrase: "can purchase anything."
'This phrasing... it's suspiciously like the settings in some adult games.'
Chabashira's finger heavily rapped on the podium, producing a dull thud.
The classroom instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on her.
"Listen carefully," her voice suddenly rose an octave, her sharp gaze sweeping over the students who'd been excitedly discussing the points. "Everything in this school is based on merit."
She deliberately paused, observing the varied expressions of the students below. Some looked confused, others dismissive.
"These points," Chabashira raised her teacher's terminal, numbers flashing on the screen, "represent the school's evaluation of you. Remember, it's strictly forbidden to obtain other students' points through fraudulent or coercive means."
As she spoke those last few words, her tone suddenly turned cold.
Chabashira turned and neatly wrote a string of numbers on the blackboard, the chalk making a crisp sound as it scraped against the surface.
Finally, she added a social media account, her handwriting elegant as she turned back. "This is my contact information. Remember to include your names when you add me."
She paused, tapping the blackboard with her fingertip. "For everyday matters, just send a message, or you can come to my office. For urgent matters, you can call directly."
The classroom immediately filled with the sound of typing as students lowered their heads to operate their phones.
Shimizu Akira also swiped open his screen and saved the number to his contacts.
His fingertip lingered on the LINE icon. In Japan, this was the most commonly used contact method.
He tapped lightly on the screen, and a friend request was successfully sent with a soft ding.
Shimizu Akira subconsciously looked up at the podium. Chabashira was leaning against the desk with her arms crossed, her wrist beneath her uniform cuff empty. Her phone was clearly still tucked away in a pocket somewhere.
His gaze gradually deepened, and Chabashira's words echoed repeatedly in his mind.
Meritocracy. Points as evaluation. Able to buy anything in the school.
'Is the evaluation standard just test scores? What about sports? Club activities?'
More importantly, the cruel logic behind this point system was beginning to emerge. Since points represent evaluation, they must fluctuate—they can increase, but more likely decrease. In extreme cases, does reaching zero mean expulsion?
This campus consumption system that replaces cash with points achieved a certain degree of fairness. Students from poor families wouldn't feel embarrassed due to financial hardship, and wealthy students born with silver spoons couldn't rely on family money to gain special treatment.
It seems this school is far more interesting than he'd imagined.
"Well then, I wish you all a wonderful school life."
As soon as Chabashira finished speaking, her high heels tapped out a series of clear, receding sounds on the floor.
The whispers in the classroom hadn't completely died down when Shimizu Akira stood up and went after her.
In the corridor, his footsteps quickly caught up with the tall figure.
Just as the distance closed to three steps, Chabashira suddenly stopped without turning her head. "Question time is over."
Shimizu Akira came to an abrupt halt.
Question time? He carefully recalled what had just happened in the classroom. After the homeroom teacher explained everything, she'd simply observed the students for a while before decisively announcing dismissal.
There had been no question time at all.
Was it intentional, or unintentional?
It seemed she had no intention of proactively providing additional information.
"Chabashira-sensei," he said, narrowing his eyes slightly, "I didn't come to ask a question. I came to report something."
Chabashira slowly turned around, a hint of surprise flashing across her face. "What is it?"
"Actually..." Shimizu Akira said seriously, "After the entrance interview, I unintentionally overheard a conversation between two interviewers in the restroom. Because of Koenji Rokusuke-kun's arrogant attitude, they deliberately lowered his intelligence and judgment scores, giving him a C rating." He paused. "One of them even said, 'Such an arrogant student should go to Class D.'"
"...Why are you only bringing this up now?" Chabashira asked after a pause, her sharp gaze scrutinizing him.
"Because I only found out today that he's my classmate." Shimizu Akira's answer was airtight.
When he first heard it, it was just idle talk between strangers, so there was no need to get involved. But now that it concerned a classmate, the situation was different. This reason perfectly fit the behavioral logic of an ordinary student.
"...I understand. I'll report it to the school authorities." Chabashira nodded slightly.
Shimizu Akira subtly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, does this school have a Student Council?"
"Yes," Chabashira replied calmly. "However, it's not easy for a first-year to join. You need the Student Council President's approval."
"What's the Student Council President's name? And what class is he in?" Shimizu Akira asked, feigning casual interest.
Chabashira paused for half a second before answering.
"Horikita Manabu... Third-year Class A."