Chapter 001 Today's Intelligence: Kushida Kikyo is a Two-Faced Person
"This is a priority seat..."
"I have absolutely no interest in social contribution..."
Hearing the two individuals begin to argue over the matter of giving up a seat, Shimizu Akira, who was sitting in a seat near the exit, could not help but stand up. He stepped aside to create space: "Old lady, please take this seat."
"Thank you, young man."
Shimizu Akira nodded slightly, placing a hand near the elderly woman's elbow to steady her, before retreating to stand by a nearby pillar.
A fresh, elegant scent of gardenia suddenly drifted closer.
When Shimizu Akira looked up, he met a pair of smiling eyes—a girl with light brown hair tilted her head slightly in the swaying train, her hair brushing against her shoulders.
Seeing that he had noticed her, the girl nodded very slightly, a dimple flashing briefly near her lips.
"Classmate, thank you for your help just now."
Shimizu Akira shook his head slightly. "It was just a small effort, don't worry about it."
"Thank you for contributing to society; you really did me a great favor."
The girl with light brown short hair had eyes curved into crescents.
"My name is Kushida Kikyo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"I am Shimizu Akira." The boy nodded slightly. "Hello, Kushida-san."
After the brief exchange of pleasantries, silence returned to the carriage.
Shimizu Akira's gaze reflexively lingered on the tips of the girl's hair.
'—It really is light brown hair!'
On his second day in this world, he was still surprised by the colorful hair of those around him.
Even though everyone had Japanese features, the pedestrians' hair colors were as brilliant as an overturned palette; it was almost impossible to find two people with the exact same shade.
It was perfectly in line with an "anime" style.
But aside from this small anomaly, everything here was so real it made his heart race.
The rising and falling of his chest as he breathed, the temperature of the sunlight on his skin, even the breeze brushing past his ears carried the breath of life.
After finishing overtime one day, the next time he opened his eyes, he had returned to his 16-year-old self and arrived in this unfamiliar world.
At that time, a mechanical voice echoed in his mind: [Unique Main Quest: Complete your studies at Advanced Nurturing High School].
'I have to... graduate successfully... from Advanced Nurturing High School...?'
Accompanying this was an ability called the "Daily Intelligence System"—every morning at 8:00 AM, the system would punctually refresh three new pieces of intelligence.
In his past life, Shimizu Akira was something of a light novel enthusiast, so he quickly understood that this was likely a "Cheat" meant to help him graduate smoothly.
"But why an intelligence system... and not a learning cheat? Or a 'IQ Cheat?" he couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
"Is the difficulty of graduating from this high school not the exams, but something else? How hard can it be to graduate?"
Still, having it was better than nothing.
Following the system's instructions, he flicked his pinky finger three times. These were the three pieces of intelligence the system had issued after he crossed over yesterday.
In the next second, three lines of text flashing with a faint blue light appeared on his retina:
[Intelligence 1: On the opening day of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, on bus number XXX, Kushida Kikyo and Koenji Rokusuke will have a conflict over the issue of giving up a seat for the elderly.]
[Intelligence 2: Kushida Kikyo is a two-faced person.]
[Intelligence 3: Koenji Rokusuke's ability assessment has a serious deviation—his idiosyncratic behavior enraged the interviewers, causing his originally excellent intelligence and judgment to be intentionally lowered to C-grade.]
Shimizu Akira's gaze lingered on the first piece of intelligence.
—It was because of this information that he had deliberately left home half an hour early today, boarded the bus from the starting station, chose a window seat, and waited quietly to verify the system's authenticity.
And now, everything was exactly as the intelligence described.
A girl named Kushida Kikyo had indeed entered into a dispute with the classmate next to her named Koenji Rokusuke over the seating issue.
It seemed there would be no need to doubt the system's veracity in the future.
However, the second piece of information left him somewhat puzzled.
'Kushida Kikyo is two-faced? Does that mean everything she does is an act?'
His gaze instinctively landed on Kushida Kikyo.
Her light brown hair draped softly over her shoulders, her delicate features were perfectly arranged, and her body proportions were flawless—especially her impressive bust line.
Adding to that her proactive behavior in asking someone to give up their seat, such a beautiful girl seemed like an angelic existence.
However, the system told him...
Could it be that all this gentle and kind behavior was merely a meticulously crafted facade?
As Shimizu Akira thought about it carefully, he felt more and more that the behavior of both individuals was strange.
It was true that Koenji Rokusuke was openly hogging the priority seats, while Kushida Kikyo had been insistently demanding he give them up.
As she spoke, she skillfully incited the emotions of the people around her, turning public opinion into her own weapon.
'—Would a truly kind person use this kind of semi-coercive method to force a male classmate to give up a seat?'
Shimizu Akira suddenly understood—if all of this was within her calculations, then all the anomalies made sense.
But what exactly was she after?
He suddenly noticed the occasional glances from the surrounding students and the fleeting curve at the corner of the girl's mouth.
'I see... she is deliberately creating a persona to garner attention?'
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The bus slowly pulled up to the platform, and the electronic announcement sounded at the right moment:
"Next stop, Advanced Nurturing High School. Advanced Nurturing High School."
"Ah, we're here already!" Kushida Kikyo was about to say something when her gaze suddenly caught a figure behind her. Her brow furrowed imperceptibly—but it vanished instantly, so fast one might think it was an illusion.
"Um..." She put on her signature bright smile again. "See you later, Shimizu-kun. I hope we can be in the same class."
Before her voice had even faded, the girl had already leaped lightly out of the door, blending into the bustling crowd on the platform.
Shimizu Akira looked back thoughtfully—
A beautiful, literary-type girl, whose aura closely resembled Yukinoshita Yukino, was closing the hardcover book in her hands and standing up gracefully.
She passed by Shimizu Akira without a glance, her long black hair drawing a cold arc in the air. Carrying a faint, elegant scent of books, she walked straight off the bus.
Immediately after, a boy with light brown hair followed silently. At the moment his eyes met Shimizu Akira's, he remained expressionless and subsequently disappeared through the bus door as well.
Shimizu Akira followed the crowd off the bus slowly, his mind repeatedly weighing the deeper meaning of the third piece of intelligence.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a blonde silhouette in front of him stretching his long limbs—that man's "acting as if no one else exists" attitude certainly invited resentment.
'That was Koenji Rokusuke, I assume.'
But what was more concerning was the inside story regarding the ratings mentioned in the intelligence.
'"Interviewers were unhappy"... "Intentionally lowered the rating"...'
These words linked together in his mind.
'Hmm? Does this school secretly categorize students by ability levels?'
Chapter 002 Horikita-san is Quite Simple / And There's a Special Service?
Advanced Nurturing High School—a national, secluded high school located in the heart of Tokyo. Equipped with the most advanced smart teaching facilities. Boasting the single-occupancy student dormitories that students dream of. Maintaining a 100% higher education and employment rate since its founding.
However, since transmigrating into this world, Shimizu Akira had always harbored a faint suspicion toward this school.
A 100% higher education and employment rate since its founding?
In Japan, truly top-tier high schools usually took pride in their "Number of University of Tokyo successful applicants" or "Waseda-Keio advancement rate,"( college rivalry between two universities located in Tokyo) rather than a vague "employment rate"—that sounded more like a promotional slogan for a vocational training school.
"I have a feeling... that graduating won't be that easy."
Shimizu Akira stood before the steps of the school gate, looking up at the two figures currently in a confrontation. The tense atmosphere made him stop in his tracks.
That literary beauty with the extraordinary aura was standing at the top of the steps, the hem of her skirt fluttering slightly in the wind. She looked down at the light-brown-haired boy below her, her delicate chin tilted up slightly.
"You looked at me on the bus. What was the meaning of that?"
"Sorry, it's just that... I felt you probably had no intention of giving up your seat, just like me.."
"I have a certain conviction for which I absolutely do not give up my seat! I am completely different from someone like you who simply hates trouble."
Standing to the side, Shimizu Akira pretended not to hear and silently began to climb the steps.
"You there, wait a moment! You also looked at me on the bus. What was the meaning of that?"
The literary beauty suddenly shifted the target of her conversation, her gaze darting straight toward Shimizu Akira. This caused Shimizu Akira to freeze in place for a moment. He had indeed reflexively glanced at her when getting off the bus. Then again, isn't it perfectly normal for eye contact to happen occasionally on a bus?!
"Back on the bus, were you condemning me with your eyes for not giving up my seat?" Horikita Suzune crossed her arms over her chest.
"Listen, my choice not to give up my seat was a decision made after careful consideration."
"Understood." Shimizu Akira's gaze reflected her figure like the surface of a calm lake.
"I respect your choice. That look just now was not intended as an offense; it's just that your aura reminded me of a certain 'literary girl.'"
Those stubborn brows and that cold demeanor were exactly like the Yukinoshita Yukino in his memory. In truth, Shimizu Akira had no intention of condemning her for refusing to give up her seat. Giving up a seat was not a mandatory act, after all; it could only be described as a good deed within one's capacity.
That said, this classmate was remarkably direct. Who asks someone "What are you looking at?" so bluntly? Was she an INTJ personality type?!
He spoke, weighing his words carefully: "If you are not used to contact with others, I can promise to try my best to avoid eye contact and pointless conversation with you in the future. What do you think of this arrangement?"
Horikita Suzune's eyelashes flickered slightly. This boy... not only was he not preaching morality at her, but he was actually seriously considering her feelings and even proposed a specific solution?!
"There's no need to be that deliberate." She relaxed her crossed arms slightly.
"I only wanted to confirm your intentions. There is no harm in speaking plainly."
Hearing this, Shimizu Akira stopped. "I am Shimizu Akira. May I ask who you are...?"
"Horikita Suzune." She gave her name almost as a reflex, then frowned slightly at her own frankness.
"Horikita-san, then. I'll remember it. Goodbye." Shimizu Akira smiled at those words, turned around, and stepped up the stairs.
Horikita stood in place. It wasn't until his figure disappeared up the steps that she suddenly froze as if realizing something. Wait... she had just revealed her name to a stranger that naturally?
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Shimizu Akira stepped on the falling cherry blossom petals.
"This Horikita-san is actually quite simple..." The surprise and wavering she showed just because of a simple greeting were clearly raw reactions from someone unpracticed in daily social interaction.
Such an innocent and pure reaction was like night and day compared to the calculating Kushida Kikyo from earlier. Come to think of it, if a girl like that fell in love, she would probably devote herself entirely to her partner.
But in the next instant, he put that thought aside for the time being.
Firstly, his class assignment hadn't been determined yet, and secondly, he had only just arrived. Before understanding the true nature of this school, it was better to keep his head down for a while.
Right then, a crisp notification sound rang in his mind.
[Ding~ Today's Intelligence has been updated]
[Intelligence 1: Today at exactly 10:30 AM (after the entrance ceremony), Kamuro Masumi from Class 1-A will "shoplift" a can of beer from the campus convenience store.]
[Intelligence 2: Horikita Suzune's three measurements are 79/54/79.]
[Intelligence 3: If you need to resolve physiological needs, knock on Hoshinomiya Chie's door three times at exactly 2:00 AM tomorrow.]
Shimizu Akira raised an eyebrow; today's intelligence was quite unexpected.
Especially the third one... does this school actually have someone providing that kind of special service?
Chapter 003 The Students of Class 1-D
Shimizu Akira considered himself an honest man.
He wasn't opposed to pursuing deep relationships with girls, but he couldn't accept associating with the "public bus" types—the mere thought of the risk of contracting a disease made him uncomfortable.
Not that he was sexually repressed to such an extreme. And it wasn't as if he couldn't get a girlfriend.
As for this "Hoshinomiya Chie" person, Shimizu was momentarily at a loss.
Which class was this beautiful girl in? Was she really that open? He didn't associate the name with the faculty at all.
After all, in Japan, no matter how unscrupulous a teacher might be, they wouldn't dare lay a hand on a student, right? That bottom line should at least exist.
That was the basic professional ethics of being a teacher.
As for the second piece of intelligence—on the surface, it seemed useless, but to certain "old perverts," it would actually be a priceless piece of exclusive information. Shimizu Akira's understanding of Horikita Suzune deepened a bit more because of it. It seemed that this system occasionally pushed information that appeared useless but was actually quite subtle.
Taken together, the only piece of intelligence currently of real practical use was likely the first one.
It should be added here that he wasn't entirely unprepared for this translocation. Just the day before, a mysterious email had suddenly appeared in his inbox, the sender displayed as "System."
The content of the email briefly and concisely informed him that he had been selected as a freshman at Advanced Nurturing High School and required him to set his own post-translocation background and special abilities.
At the time, Shimizu Akira treated it as a prank and filled it out randomly.
In the identity column, he casually scribbled the simple setting of "orphan from an orphanage."
Regarding abilities, he completely referenced the template from One Punch Man—the exaggerated training plan of "completing 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, plus a 10km run every day for eight years."
Now, looking back carefully, he found that there were indeed gaps in his memory.
Aside from fragments of his persistent training over the years and the scenes from the entrance exam, his other memories were blurred. Fortunately, however, his identification documents were all in order; at least he wasn't a total "illegal resident" in this world.
Shimizu Akira now felt terrifyingly strong.
But then he thought: in a high school setting, how much of an advantage could this robust physique really provide?
At most, it would ensure his physical education report card stayed at a perfect score forever. This wasn't Suzuran High School from next door, where the jungle law of "fists are truth" prevailed. (Suzuran High School : fictional all-boys delinquent school in the Japanese manga/anime/film universe of Crows and Worst)
Looking at the polite students in front of the teaching building, Shimizu Akira shook his head at his own ridiculous association.
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According to the admission notice, Shimizu Akira was assigned to Class 1-D. When he arrived at the classroom, a nameplate engraved with a student's name was neatly placed on every desk. Following the guidance of the nameplates, Shimizu Akira quickly found his seat in the back of the classroom—the center position of the last row.
The window seat had already been taken by that inconspicuous boy with brown hair. To his left, Horikita Suzune was placing her shoulder bag on the desk, efficiently organizing her stationery. Shimizu Akira lightly hung his shoulder bag on the hook at the side of the desk.
"160 freshmen, four classes..." he muttered to himself, his fingertips lightly tapping the desktop.
"With a configuration of 40 people per class, this number is neither too many nor too few."
"The classroom uses a layout of 5 columns and 8 rows," Horikita Suzune responded without looking up. "Since we are assigned to Class D, there must be Classes A, B, and C ahead of us. Based on these two pieces of information, there are indeed at least 160 students."
"Horikita-san's thinking is truly sharp," Shimizu Akira praised.
"You already thought of it, didn't you?" Horikita Suzune gave him a cold glance.
"Otherwise, you wouldn't have proposed the deduction of 'four classes, 40 students.'"
"You've misunderstood; that's not it." Shimizu Akira was momentarily stunned, then took the student handbook out of his bag and handed it to her.
On the handbook, it was clearly written in black and white: the number of students per class is 40, divided into four classes: A, B, C, and D.
Horikita Suzune's expression froze instantly. However, she quickly regained her composure and handed the handbook back as if nothing had happened.
"It seems the school provided clear numbers from the start." Her voice remained cold, but her speaking speed was slightly faster than usual. "In terms of the result, my reasoning was not wrong."
Immediately following that, Horikita Suzune pulled a copy of Crime and Punishment from her bag. She lowered her head slightly, her whole being radiating a cold "do not disturb" aura.
"Horikita-san." Shimizu Akira looked at her again. "I remember you were already reading that book on the bus, weren't you? Why have you flipped back to the first page now?"
Horikita Suzune's finger paused slightly. She responded coldly, "My reading habit is to read through at least three times."
Her tone was still calm, but the force she used to flip the page was a bit heavier than usual, and the paper made a crisp sound.
'I see..' Shimizu Akira silently concluded.
'Isn't she just using reading to mask her embarrassment from a moment ago?'
He inconspicuously observed the girl beside him. Horikita Suzune's long eyelashes flickered slightly with the rhythm of her reading. Even in an awkward moment, she still maintained that innate elegance.
'...She's actually quite cute.'
What surprised him even more was that this was the first time she had initiated a conversation with him. Perhaps this seemingly cold honor student wasn't as resistant to socializing as she appeared on the surface?
However, he withdrew his gaze at the appropriate time. If he kept looking, he might actually provoke his proud seatmate. Anyway, there was plenty of time; as neighbors, there would be many more opportunities to interact in the future.
Shimizu Akira's gaze naturally turned to his neighbor on the right. A red-haired girl wearing round-framed glasses was lowering her head awkwardly. Her fiery long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, almost completely hiding her small face. Her slender fingers were uneasily twisting the hem of her skirt, and the glances she occasionally stole at the surrounding students betrayed obvious nervousness.
'Hmm? This one is also a beauty...'
Shimizu Akira couldn't help but take another look. The girl's fair skin looked exceptionally bright against the red hair, and she would occasionally bite her lip gently. Although her entire
being radiated a "please don't notice me" field, her outstanding appearance made it very hard to ignore.
'Let's see if there are any other familiar classmates.'
Shimizu Akira leaned back in the center seat of the last row. This advantageous position allowed him to take in the dynamics of the entire classroom at a glance.
His gaze was first drawn to Kushida Kikyo in the center of the classroom; the energetic girl was standing by her seat, her hands lightly resting on the neighbor's desk, her body leaning forward slightly as she talked with the surrounding students. She had clearly already become the central figure of this small circle.
Moving his gaze to the right, Koenji Rokusuke, whom he had seen on the bus, was lounging with his legs up on the desk, playing with a nail file. His explosive, powerful physique was particularly striking in the classroom.
Shimizu Akira felt that the other man's physical fitness was likely not inferior to his own.
Chapter 004 I Am Here to Report Something
The classroom door was pushed open gently, and a female teacher with a professional ponytail walked in with steady steps.
"My name is Chabashira Sae. I am the homeroom teacher for Class D, and I am responsible for teaching Japanese History."
Standing at the podium, Ms. Chabashira scanned the room with a sharp gaze.
"The entrance ceremony will be held in one hour," she said succinctly, her voice as crisp as her tied-back hair. "Additionally, this school implements a fixed-class system. You people will spend the next three years together."
Chabashira Sae casually flipped open a student handbook, her fingertip tapping lightly on a key clause: "Boarding school management; leaving campus without permission is strictly prohibited. Furthermore..." Her gaze suddenly became meaningful.
"From today onward, you will use the brand-new 'S-System Point System'."
At her gesture, the students one after another pulled out the student IDs they had just received.
After downloading the dedicated app and scanning the code, a balance of 100,000 points was clearly displayed on their screens.
"Points are automatically deposited on the 1st of every month. 1 point is equivalent to 1 Yen," Ms. Chabashira said flatly.
"Within this school, there is nothing that cannot be bought with points. As long as it is something owned within the school grounds, you can buy anything regardless of what it is."
Exclamations of surprise immediately broke out throughout the classroom.
Classmates whispered to one another, their faces filled with disbelief—after all, for an ordinary high school student, receiving 100,000 Yen out of thin air every month was like a fairy tale.
Shimizu Akira raised an eyebrow slightly.
This school was certainly unique; this was the first time he had encountered a school that paid its students a "salary."
What truly caught his attention was Ms. Chabashira's loaded phrase: "can buy anything."
'That kind of phrasing... it's as suspicious as the setting of certain 18+ games.'
Chabashira Sae's finger rapped heavily on the podium, letting out a dull thud.
The classroom fell silent instantly, all eyes focused on her.
"Listen clearly," her voice suddenly rose an octave, her sharp eyes sweeping over the students who were still excitedly discussing points. "Everything in this school—is decided by merit."
She paused deliberately, observing the various expressions below: some looked confused, others dismissive.
"These points," Ms. Chabashira held up her own teacher terminal, figures flashing on the screen, "are the school's evaluation of you. Remember, it is strictly forbidden to obtain others' points through any fraudulent or coercive means."
When she reached the last few words, her tone turned abruptly cold.
Chabashira turned and briskly wrote a string of numbers on the blackboard, the chalk making a crisp sound as it scraped against the surface.
At the end, she added a social media account, her pen stroke swirling stylishly: "This is my contact information. Remember to note your names."
She paused, tapping her fingertip against the blackboard.
"For daily trivial matters, just send a message. You can also come to my office to find me. If it's an absolute emergency, you can call directly."
The sound of keys clicking echoed through the room as students lowered their heads to operate their phones.
Shimizu Akira also swiped his screen and saved the number into his contacts.
His fingertip paused for a moment on the LINE icon—in Japan, this was indeed the more common way to communicate.
He tapped the screen, and with a "ding" notification, the friend request was successfully sent.
Shimizu Akira subconsciously looked up at the podium—Ms. Chabashira was leaning against the desk with her arms crossed. Her wrists beneath her uniform sleeves were bare; her phone was clearly still sitting quietly in a pocket.
His gaze grew pensive as Ms. Chabashira's words echoed in his mind: 'Meritocracy, points are evaluations, anything on campus can be bought...
'Is the evaluation standard based on exam scores? Physical athletics? Club activities?'
More importantly, the cruel logic behind this point system began to surface: since points equal evaluation, they must be subject to fluctuation—they could increase, or more likely, be stripped away. In extreme cases, did reaching zero mean expulsion?
This campus consumption system that replaced cash with points achieved a certain level of fairness in some respects—students from poor families would no longer be distressed by financial hardship, while those wealthy heiresses born with silver spoons could not rely on family wealth for special treatment here.
It seemed this school was going to be much more interesting than he had imagined.
"Well then, I wish you all a wonderful school life."
The moment Chabashira Sae finished speaking, her high heels clicked a rhythmic, receding trail against the floor.
Before the whispering in the classroom had fully dissipated, Shimizu Akira had already stood up and chased after her.
In the hallway, his footsteps quickly caught up to the slender figure.
Just as the distance closed to within three paces, Chabashira Sae suddenly stopped. Without turning her head, she spoke: "Question time is already over."
Shimizu Akira braked sharply.
'Question time?'
He carefully recalled the scene in the classroom just now—after the homeroom teacher finished explaining everything, she had merely observed the students on her own before dryly announcing dismissal.
There was no such thing as a "question time."
—Was it intentional, or an oversight?
It seemed she had no intention of proactively providing intelligence.
"Sensei" he narrowed his eyes slightly, "I didn't come to ask a question, but to report something."
Only then did Chabashira Sae slowly turn around, a flash of surprise crossing her face.
"What is it?"
"Actually..." Shimizu Akira said seriously,
"After the interview last time, I happened to overhear a conversation between two interviewers in the restroom. Because of Koenji Rokusuke-kun's arrogant attitude, they intentionally lowered his intelligence and judgment scores, giving him a C-grade."
He paused. "One of them even said: 'An arrogant student like this belongs in Class D.'"
"...Why are you only mentioning this now?" Chabashira Sae paused, her sharp gaze scrutinizing him.
"Because I only realized today that he is a classmate." Shimizu Akira's answer was watertight.
When he first heard it, it was just the idle chatter of strangers, so there was naturally no need to meddle. But since it involved a classmate, the situation was different—this reason perfectly matched the behavioral logic of an average student.
"...Understood. I will report this to the school authorities." Chabashira Sae nodded slightly.
Shimizu Akira smoothly shifted the topic: "Speaking of which, does this school have a Student Council?"
"It does." Chabashira Sae regained her composure.
"However, joining as a first-year is not an easy task. It requires the approval of the Student Council President."
"Then, what is the Student Council President's name? And which class are they in?" Shimizu Akira asked, sounding casual.
Chabashira Sae paused for half a second before answering:
"Horikita Manabu... Class 3-A."
Chapter 005 Was Shimizu-kun Deliberately Lying to Test Me? / Encountering the Silver-Haired Girl
Chabashira Sae slowly lowered the phone in her hand, her fingertips tapping lightly on her office desk.
The resolution had come even faster than she had anticipated—from the moment Koenji Rokusuke's scores were maliciously suppressed to the school providing a solution, less than half an hour had passed.
The personnel involved were immediately dismissed, the whistleblower received 50,000 points as "hush money," and Koenji's class placement remained unchanged.
"Just as I thought." She let out a soft snort and tossed her phone onto the desk.
Having taught at Advanced Nurturing for eight years, she understood the school's operating rules all too well.
All students were labeled during their entrance interviews: Class A consisted of carefully screened geniuses, while Class D was the discarded "defective products."
160 positions, 160 chess pieces; their respective fates were sealed from the moment the classes were assigned.
In this school, the 100% higher education and employment rate was a promise kept only for the chosen elites of Class A.
Chabashira suddenly looked at the Class D roster, focusing specifically on Shimizu Akira's enrollment data.
[Academic Ability: E-] [Judgment: B] [Intelligence: E-] [Athletic Ability: A] [Cooperativeness: E-]
Chabashira Sae's fingertip paused briefly.
The evaluation data for Shimizu Akira on the records was unremarkable—aside from athletic ability and judgment being slightly above average, every other category bore the glaring "E-" label. With such scores, being assigned to Class D should have been a matter of course.
However, the organized and logical manner in which that boy spoke earlier formed a sharp contrast with this evaluation report.
She quickly swiped her phone, precisely located the name "Shimizu Akira" among the list of friend requests, and sent an acceptance without hesitation.
"Interesting." A cold smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
The school administration had just emphasized over the phone that the class assignment rules were a secret known only to a few high-ranking officials.
Therefore, it was impossible for an interviewer to have said—"An arrogant student like this belongs in Class D."
"So, was this Shimizu-kun deliberately lying to test me?"
Chabashira Sae's gaze fell once more upon that "too perfect" low-score evaluation.
Perhaps that report wasn't born out of a sense of justice at all, but was a meticulously designed probe—that boy had likely already seen through the reality of Class D as a "containment center for defective goods."
Chabashira Sae's fingertips tapped the desk.
"I see..." she muttered to herself, a playful curve appearing on her lips.
Shimizu Akira's specific inquiry about the Student Council afterward was probably not out of mere curiosity—he was looking for evidence to verify his hypothesis about the school's twisted rules.
After all, in this academy that practiced "meritocracy," the position of Student Council President was always reserved for the most outstanding individual.
Horikita Manabu, the most brilliant Student Council President in history, hailed from Class 3-A, without suspense.
The two pieces of information he tested were sufficient to prove his point—Class A represents the elite, while Class D is the gathering place the school defaults to as "defective."
Had he analyzed the situation and come to test her less than a minute after her speech?
"Could it be... this year's Class D... actually has a chance..." Her voice carried a rare trace of wavering.
In her eight years of teaching, she had seen many classes of students, but she had never encountered someone who could see through the class assignment rules on the very first day. Even in Class A, such students were few and far between.
"Ha! This year's Class A is really interesting!" A deep male voice suddenly cut in.
Mashima Tomonari—her long-time colleague and the homeroom teacher for Class A—was leaning against the office doorway, his sturdy frame blocking out most of the light.
Chabashira Sae looked up to see an unusual look of amazement on Mashima's face. "That Sakayanagi Arisu in my class," he rubbed the stubble on his chin, "I had just finished explaining the school rules when she caught up to me and deduced the truth about the merit-based class assignments and the point system rules without missing a beat."
He shook his head.
"In previous years, there were students who knew these things, but it was always through analysis revealed by upperclassmen. To piece together the complete truth based solely on my few brief words... she is the first.
She even said just now that she was going to the convenience store to 'confirm a few things'!" Mashima scratched his head, his tone laced with confusion.
"She's probably looking for those free supplies, right?"
Chabashira Sae was all too familiar with those "special benefits" hidden in the corners of the convenience store—relief goods prepared by the school specifically for students in financial distress.
When she first enrolled, she had personally witnessed many Class D students struggling to survive on these supplies.
But... to deduce this arrangement before even stepping into the convenience store?
Chabashira Sae quickly flipped through Sakayanagi Arisu's file, which showed near-perfect scores—aside from Athletics and Cooperativeness, every category was marked with a striking "A" evaluation.
For a monster-class student like this, it was almost certain that she would become the undisputed leader of Class A in the future.
"Will he win?" She suddenly thought of Shimizu Akira again.
To graduate perfectly, one must ascend to the throne of Class A.
In other words, Shimizu Akira would have to defeat Sakayanagi Arisu in this cruel competition.
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When Shimizu Akira stepped into the convenience store, it was already crowded with freshmen excited to shop.
Figures darting between the aisles held shopping baskets overflowing with snacks and daily necessities—it seemed the initial grant of 100,000 points had indeed caused many to spend freely.
However, his gaze scouted the shelves for a long time until he finally discovered a corner designated as the "Free Items" section.
Various daily necessities were neatly arranged on the shelves—band-aids, notebooks, shampoo, and even simple toiletry sets.
A sign next to them displayed a prominent rule: Limit of three items per person per month.
He observed quietly for a moment as several upperclassmen walked over.
Their expressions betrayed exhaustion as they skillfully took a few essentials from the shelf and left in a hurry.
'It seems cases of points dropping to zero do exist... otherwise, these seniors wouldn't be in such dire straits on the very first day of school.'
Shimizu Akira narrowed his eyes slightly, a conclusion already forming in his heart.
"Classmate, you have been observing since the moment you stepped into the store, yet your gaze has remained fixed on the free supplies area... You must have noticed those seniors from Class D as well. It seems you, like me, have seen through the truth behind the point distribution?"
A voice tinged with a probing tone suddenly drifted from the side.
Shimizu Akira looked toward the sound—
A silver-haired girl was leaning against a cane by the shelves.
Her pure white ribbon contrasted with her nearly translucent skin; her entire presence was like a meticulously carved piece of ice-crystal art.
At this moment, those playful eyes were watching him with great interest.
Chapter 006 Sakayanagi Arisu: Rigidly Cute
Sakayanagi Arisu never doubted whether true geniuses existed in this world.
The answer was "yes"—because she was one herself.
The gazes of undisguised amazement from the interviewers a few weeks ago had long since confirmed this fact. Aside from her slightly regrettable, frail physique, her resume was breathtakingly perfect.
No blemishes, no flaws—like a perfect crystal manifested through precise calculation.
From A to D, from genius to trash.
According to this school's rules, the class points would be reshuffled next month based on student performance. Especially that Class D—it would most likely drop close to zero. This information didn't come from her father, who served as the Chairman.
In fact, had she prodded even slightly, her father, who was obedient to her every whim, would have told her everything. But a true genius never deigns to take shortcuts.
Half an hour ago, she had perceived everything based solely on her homeroom teacher's brief remarks. At this moment, the free item section in the convenience store was the perfect confirmation of her deduction.
'I wonder if anyone else has noticed this hidden hint like I have?) (If it's only me, then this school will be far too boring.'
Sakayanagi Arisu stood in place, her gaze slowly scanning every figure in the convenience store. The vast majority of students were completely oblivious to that free column, focused only on selecting the goods they wanted.
Until— A beautiful girl with purple hair and purple eyes entered her field of vision. It wasn't just her identity as a fellow Class A student, Kamuro Masumi, that caught her attention.
More interestingly, the girl was scrutinizing the positions of the surveillance cameras with a professional eye, her steps instinctively shifting toward the alcohol shelves in the adult section.
'Interesting... is she going to steal? Looking at that practiced manner, she's likely a habitual offender.
I'll play with her a bit later! It just so happens I'm lacking a clever subordinate.'
However, Sakayanagi quickly withdrew her gaze. Judging by the other girl's cautious movements, she was still in the scouting phase—confirming blind spots and learning the staff's movement patterns. She wouldn't act in the short term. Her gaze returned to the free shelves.
9:06:46 AM. This time surfaced automatically in her mind. Since elementary school, she had been able to calculate time precisely through her heartbeat and light changes, with no need to rely on a clock. There were about twenty minutes left until the entrance ceremony.
'Will someone come?
Aside from me, is there another genius who can see through the truth of this school?'
On the surface, she was merely a frail, gentle, and beautiful girl. But only those who truly knew her understood— Sakayanagi Arisu was never a kind girl.
She was exceptionally petty, and those who offended her would end up suffering a miserable fate.
Moreover, she craved challenges; she craved an opponent who could make her go all out.
Like playing chess, true pleasure can only be felt when playing against an equal.
'Too simple...
If they can't even see through the school's truth before the entrance ceremony—Then they aren't worthy of being my opponent.'
Though this standard might be overly harsh. But since she could do it herself, an opponent worthy of her expectations should naturally reach this level as well. —Right then, fate provided an answer.
'Finally... a decent one has arrived.'
The moment the black-haired boy stepped into the convenience store, Sakayanagi Arisu's pupils contracted slightly. Because the boy's movement of heading straight for the free shelves was too deliberate—just like a mirror image of her own actions earlier.
When several upperclassmen appeared, his imperceptible nod exposed everything.
'I see...Does he need senpais from Class D to corroborate his own deduction?
Unexpectedly rigorous, and somewhat rigidly cute.'
A pleasant curve rose at the corners of Sakayanagi's mouth. In her eyes, this excessive caution was like unnecessary intermediate steps on a math exam— Precise, but lacking in aesthetic.
Sakayanagi Arisu's fingertips lightly tapped her cane, yet her gaze never drifted from the boy for a second.
He had clean, short hair, and the red school uniform made his stature look even more upright—this physical height difference forced her to tilt her face up slightly. The cane met the floor, making a crisp sound. With a faint, lingering smile, her amethyst-like eyes shimmered with a dangerous interest.
"Classmate..."
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Shimizu Akira was slightly startled.
'Caught?'
The girl's words were like a delicate key, precisely unlocking their shared discovery. He instinctively looked at the cane she was leaning on—it turned out she had noticed earlier than he had, but was limited by her mobility.
'If I hadn't gone to the restroom...'
That thought was extinguished as soon as it surfaced. His gaze swept over the girl's slender ankles, and a certain emotion akin to a competitive spirit quietly dissipated. In the face of an absolute physical disadvantage, any comparison seemed ungentlemanly.
"Yeah, you're right," Shimizu Akira responded briefly.
The silver-haired girl maintained her faint smile, standing still like a meticulously designed mime actor. This deliberate silence made the air feel subtle—was she waiting for his next sentence? But Shimizu Akira's attention had already turned to the first piece of intelligence refreshed today:
[Intelligence 1: Today at exactly 10:30 AM (after the entrance ceremony), Kamuro Masumi from Class 1-A will "shoplift" a can of beer from the campus convenience store.]
'Scouting in advance... very professional.'
He moved his gaze inconspicuously toward the alcohol section.
In his peripheral vision, he caught a purple-haired figure—the girl's gaze was precisely passing over the blind spots of the surveillance cameras; she was the only one lingering in the alcohol shelf area.
The silver-haired girl's cane suddenly tapped three times on the floor, the crisp sound pulling Shimizu Akira's attention back.
"Classmate?" A playful smile curved her lips.
"It seems our objects of observation are quite consistent. It appears that geniuses are mutually attracted to one another."
The tip of her cane pointed precisely in the direction of Kamuro Masumi.
"That is the sixth time Kamuro Masumi has confirmed a blind spot, the fourth time she has scanned the clerk with her peripheral vision, and the second..." The cane drew an elegant arc in the air, "...gaze fixed upon a specific beer can."
Shimizu Akira followed the guidance and indeed saw the purple-haired girl unconsciously biting her lower lip, her fingertips trembling nervously above a beer can.
"But..." The silver-haired girl suddenly lowered her voice, the cane lightly touching Shimizu Akira's wrist. "This should be the worst possible timing, right?"
"It's currently the peak shopping hour right after the distribution of class points... if she gets caught, it will surely be a 'social death'."
Her gaze began to lock onto Shimizu Akira's eyes.
"Classmate, is your view the same as mine?"
Chapter 007 Can You Calculate 15 * 24 * 16 Within One Minute?
In this instant, Shimizu Akira almost thought the other party possessed a special intelligence system just like himself.
But after hearing the girl's meticulous analysis, he suddenly realized—this was all concluded entirely through observation. For a high school student to possess such keen insight was truly rare.
'Hmm? She knows Kamuro Masumi? In that case, is she also a student from Class A?'
The thought flashed through his mind. After a moment of deliberation, Shimizu Akira offered a different opinion: "Precisely because it's peak shopping hours, the heavy foot traffic actually makes it easier to fish in troubled waters. Choosing to act now makes it harder to be detected."
"...Correct." The silver-haired girl's lips curved slightly, her moonlight-colored hair swaying gently with her nod.
"Judging by that person's movements and demeanor, she is clearly a habitual thief. She is currently enjoying the thrill of the crime. Your observation is very accurate."
"Were you testing me just now?" Shimizu Akira suddenly realized.
The girl did not answer directly, only offering a meaningful, soft laugh.
"Why don't you listen to my judgment—" She paused, her voice carrying an unquestionable certainty, "I believe she will choose to act after the entrance ceremony is over."
This conclusion caught Shimizu Akira by surprise. Because what she said was exactly the same as the intelligence he possessed.
"So, classmate, can you guess the basis for my reasoning again?" The silver-haired girl leaned in slightly.
Shimizu Akira did not respond directly, but turned his gaze toward the thinning crowd in the convenience store. "Because the entrance ceremony is about to start."
"Completely correct!" The girl snapped her fingers with delight. "To be precise, there are 32 seconds left."
As if to confirm her prophecy, the campus broadcast rang out punctually 32 seconds later: "All students, please gather at the gymnasium immediately. The entrance ceremony is about to begin."
Not far away, Kamuro Masumi turned somewhat stiffly and blended into the stream of students leaving the store—her back looked less like she was giving up and more like a hunter temporarily retracting her claws.
"Mental calculation ability?" Shimizu Akira pressed further.
"Just a small pastime to kill time."
"Then can you calculate what 15 times 24 times 16 equals within one minute?"
Sakayanagi Arisu's expression froze instantly. The question was so simple she felt insulted. "...5760," she answered icily, her voice carrying obvious displeasure.
"An elementary question like this can be calculated mentally even by a middle schooler. If you truly want to test mental math, you should at least give a four-digit problem."
"Is that so?" Shimizu Akira smiled dismissively. "But for an average high school student, arriving at the answer within a minute isn't easy."
He suddenly changed the subject. "Do you feel insulted, classmate? Then regarding the two probing questions you threw at me consecutively—why didn't I feel insulted?"
'Using a condescending attitude to test me from the very start, yet now making a face as if she's been shamed over a simple arithmetic question...
This arrogance feels almost like an innate sense of privilege; she truly is a student of Class A.'
He took one last look at this silver-haired girl—she was indeed strikingly beautiful, but that ingrained sense of superiority was even more impressive.
'Hmm? Is this young lady a 'Mesugaki' (bratty girl)?'
Shimizu Akira turned to leave, but after only three or five steps, a voice as clear as a silver bell rang out behind him.
"Classmate, please wait."
Before the words had fully landed, a sharp clack was heard. The cane actually flew through the air, landing one meter in front of Shimizu Akira's feet.
He stopped abruptly, first looking down at the cane lying across his path, then slowly looking back. He saw the silver-haired girl lowering her head slightly, making it impossible to see her expression.
"I am Sakayanagi Arisu of Class A." Her voice was like freshly melted snow, completely devoid of her previous sharp edge.
"As you can see, the heart in this body is truly useless. I can't even manage a quick pursuit, so I had to resort to this."
She pointed to the cane and looked at Shimizu Akira with an expression full of apology.
"I was rude just now. Can you forgive me? If you are still upset, why not use it to hit me a couple of times?"
Shimizu Akira's brow twitched, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. This superior young lady could actually lower her head and admit her mistake so naturally—she was more interesting than expected.
However, in the next second, he froze. Why did this speech sound so familiar? Horikita Suzune's figure flashed through his mind.
Isn't this the exact "retreat to advance" move of feigning weakness that he had just used?
Shimizu Akira's gaze lingered on Sakayanagi Arisu for a moment. The girl's posture with her head slightly bowed made her look even more fragile, as if a gust of wind could blow her over.
'—Would a normal person actually hit her?'
Especially since the other party was a frail girl with a weak heart.
His gaze moved up inconspicuously and caught the blinking surveillance camera in the corner. The cold lens was silently recording this scene.
'I see.'
To hit her would be to hand over leverage personally.
To not hit her was equivalent to silently accepting her apology.
The silver-haired girl maintained her humble posture, but Shimizu Akira clearly saw the fleeting curve of her lips. —What a brilliant 'Open Scheme' that leaves one with no good choice.
"Sakayanagi-san, you certainly have a lot of schemes."
Shimizu Akira suddenly closed the distance. Under Sakayanagi Arisu's startled gaze, he flicked his finger.
'Thump—'
A crisp flick landed on her smooth forehead. The force wasn't heavy, but it was enough to make her wince slightly.
"You—!" Sakayanagi Arisu covered her reddening forehead, a rare flicker of emotion crossing her eyes. "You actually laid a hand on a lady with mobility issues."
"Mobility issues?" Shimizu Akira laughed softly, leaning over to pick up the cane that had been thrown out. He tapped his knuckle against the shaft.
"When you threw this out like a hidden weapon just now, I didn't see a hint of hesitation. Besides! Didn't you say I should do it to vent my anger?"
He handed the cane back to her, his fingertips accidentally brushing against her cool palm before pulling away.
"This forehead flick makes us even." Shimizu Akira took half a step back, his gaze passing over the blinking camera in the corner.
"No evidence was left, and I've accepted your apology—it's a fair deal, isn't it?" He paused. "Also, let me give you a piece of advice: don't always put yourself in such a condescending position."
Sakayanagi Arisu's slender fingers slowly tightened around her cane. She suddenly looked up, a sharp curve rising on her lips: "The gap between people is sometimes determined by talent—just like birds and pond fish, destined to live in entirely different worlds. How can you expect me to treat those mediocre people as equals?"
Shimizu Akira couldn't help but laugh out loud: "With how much conviction did you say such an embarrassing line? Are you a 'Chuunibyou'?"
Chapter 008 Horikita Suzune: Shimizu-kun is a Substitute for My Brother; I Can't Hate Him.
Shimizu Akira had also gone through a chuunibyou phase when he was younger.
Back then, he was always inexplicably confident, stubbornly believing he was special and smarter than everyone else. It wasn't until he entered university and later joined society after graduation that that naive sense of superiority gradually faded away.
Looking at the silver-haired girl before him, he suddenly felt a subtle sense of déjà vu.
'As I thought... she's a young lady who hasn't been educated by reality yet.'
He made a silent judgment in his heart.
This condescending, arrogant posture mostly likely stemmed from a smooth upbringing—she had neither experienced true setbacks nor encountered an opponent capable of thoroughly defeating her.
His assessment was: let her suffer a major defeat to teach her a lesson; that should, to some extent, correct her haughty attitude.
"Right, right, everything you say is correct," Shimizu Akira waved his hand dismissively.
"The entrance ceremony is about to start. I'm heading out."
His silhouette as he turned to leave was clean and decisive, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.
'This person!' Sakayanagi Arisu's slender fingers instinctively tightened around her cane.
She understood the meaning of "chuunibyou," of course—but could the naive delusions of adolescent boys be compared to her self-awareness, which was based on rigorous evidence?
'Classmates? They are merely a crowd of mediocre people.'
In her eyes, these people were like rigid pawns on a chessboard, not even worthy of her serious attention. But that boy who just walked away...
'He's certainly the one acting high and mighty...'
What bothered her most was the almost pitying expression he had when he left, as if he were looking at a child throwing a tantrum.
This feeling of being treated from a "superior" position was absolutely unprecedented for her. If it were anyone else, she could simply take note of it and settle the score later. But it had to be this person—this opponent she had grudgingly acknowledged—who acted as if he didn't care about her at all.
ìThe thought of defeating him fairly in a battle of wits...
...only makes this frustration grow stronger.'
"What, you don't believe my judgment? Do you think Kamuro Masumi won't commit the theft after the ceremony?"
Sakayanagi Arisu sped up her pace slightly to catch up. Seeing the boy ahead slow down, she breathed a private sigh of relief—if he really started running, her physical condition would make it impossible to give chase.
Her voice carried the composure of someone holding the winning hand.
"Why don't we bet on which time slot Kamuro Masumi will act? This is quite a test of observation and reasoning skills..."
However, Shimizu Akira simply took a deep breath, his eyes suddenly becoming resolute. Before she could finish her sentence, the boy clenched his fists and dashed out with a sudden burst of speed. Ten seconds later, he had vanished completely.
"He... actually ran away? He won't even tell me his name in the end?!"
Sakayanagi Arisu froze in place, her cane hitting the floor with a sharp clack. A rare look of shock appeared on her exquisite face, which then turned into a flush of indignation.
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When Shimizu Akira pushed open the gymnasium doors and walked briskly toward the Class 1-D formation, he could clearly feel the probing gazes of his peers. His 39 classmates were already lined up, eyeing him with various expressions—curiosity, mockery, and even a bit of schadenfreude.
'I guess I really did become the center of attention...'
Shimizu Akira muttered to himself. Arriving late under the watchful eyes of everyone was bound to draw focus. However, having been tempered by society, he had long ago stopped caring about the opinions of others.
The homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, gave him a cold glance, casually tapping her attendance book against her palm.
"Late on the first day of school? Shimizu-kun? Get in line quickly."
"Haha—"
Snickers broke out across the class.
Chabashira Sae's gaze swept over Shimizu Akira again: "Wait! Go stand at the very front of the first row." She paused, then added meaningfully: "The very front of the Class D queue."
Shimizu Akira walked to the designated spot with a composed expression. He silently observed his homeroom teacher—she had not only called him by name accurately but also specifically emphasized the "Class D" queue.
'Was I seen through?' Shimizu Akira pondered.
Earlier, when he deliberately lied to Chabashira Sae and used the probing line about "arrogant students belonging in Class D," her natural reaction had explained everything—Class D was indeed the bottom-tier existence of this school.
'So, is this a retaliatory assignment?'
Just as this thought arose, the gymnasium doors opened again. Sakayanagi Arisu entered slowly with her cane. After a brief conversation with the Class A homeroom teacher, she also stood at the very front of her queue.
Their eyes met briefly in the air.
Sakayanagi Arisu's mouth opened slightly, flashing a look of genuine surprise—she clearly hadn't expected him to be a student of Class 1-D.
However, Shimizu Akira himself wasn't surprised—after all, his written exam scores were atrocious. In his memories, he couldn't even solve basic equations; with that level of academic ability, being placed in Class D was the only outcome.
Next, the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, took the stage and began his speech. The content was mostly clichés, but one piece of information stood out: the school followed the educational philosophy of "Pen and Sword in Accord" (Bunbu Ryodo: the double path of letters (culture/study) and weapons (martial arts/physical fitness).
In this era, aside from specialized sports academies, few ordinary high schools would openly boast such a retro educational concept.
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As the long entrance ceremony concluded, the classes remained in their neat formations. Several homeroom teachers stepped forward for brief class briefings. Chabashira Sae paced slowly in front of Class D, scanning the group of freshmen.
"Formal classes begin tomorrow," she paused. "For the rest of today, you are free to move about—I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the campus environment."
After speaking, Chabashira turned and left.
Most of the freshmen followed the crowd out of the gym. Shimizu Akira sensed a sharp gaze and turned slightly, locking eyes with Horikita Suzune's cold, pool-like eyes.
"Late on the first day of school; it seems you don't care much about your status as a student."
"It was to collect some necessary intelligence. I was held up by a troublesome person," Shimizu Akira replied smoothly.
"...People with a weak sense of time rarely achieve great things."
"You're right. Speaking of which, I'm quite interested in the Student Council. Why don't we go take a look together now?"
His tone was as casual as if they were discussing the weather.
'—Again.'
Horikita Suzune muttered internally. Every time she spoke with a sharp edge, he would catch it effortlessly and even steer the conversation toward a topic she was interested in. She had to admit his emotional intelligence was more than just a notch above hers.
And this time, he had directly mentioned the Student Council.
"You..." her voice faltered slightly, her brow furrowing instinctively.
"Do you know the Student Council President is my brother? Is that why you deliberately mentioned it? You think I'd be interested?"
Shimizu Akira tilted his head slightly. "The surnames are the same, after all. And... the look in your eyes when you watched him during the ceremony was quite complex, wasn't it?"
Horikita Suzune's breath hitched.
'—Seen through again.'
This realization made her fingertips tighten. She had always taken pride in her intellect and never believed anyone could surpass her in insight. But ever since meeting Shimizu Akira, every encounter felt as though he were reading her mind with ease. It gave her the illusion of facing her own brother.
Even her secret intention to sneak off and see her brother at the Student Council had been...
So, that's why he made the invitation. She pursed her lips, a strange restlessness rising in her chest. If she were to date him, he'd probably be the type to show up ten minutes late on purpose just to watch his girlfriend get anxious from the shadows, before appearing with a dynamic, apologetic smile, wouldn't he?
And yet, this feeling of being suppressed... inexplicably reminded her of her brother.
Same sharpness, same intelligence, same way of making her unable to argue back.
Though their personalities differed, the feeling they gave her was strangely similar.
She hated being seen through, yet she couldn't bring herself to be truly cold to him. She just... inexplicably couldn't hate him.
"...Look at me less in the future." She eventually just turned her face away, her voice lower than usual and carrying an undetectable trace of wavering.
"Let's go."
Her silhouette as she walked away looked less like a composed departure and more like a retreat in disarray.
Chapter 009 Not Being Bullied? / Is He Close with Horikita Suzune?
Shimizu Akira slowly withdrew his gaze from Horikita Suzune's receding figure, a flash of confusion crossing his eyes.
"Look at me less in the future?"
He was certain he hadn't misheard. That didn't sound like her. According to her personality, she should have thrown a freezing glare his way and scolded him thoroughly with textbook-standard venom.
"You must be Shimizu-kun!" Before Shimizu Akira could react, a boy approached him with practiced familiarity.
Shimizu Akira turned to see three boys from his class standing beside him. They introduced themselves in turn: the clever-looking Ike Kanji, the average-looking Yamauchi Haruki, and Sudo Ken, who had red hair and the aura of a delinquent.
Since Shimizu Akira had missed the class self-introduction session, Ike Kanji enthusiastically acted as an intermediary, introducing him to the rest of the class.
However, during the introduction, Yamauchi Haruki would occasionally offer "manly conclusions" regarding several female classmates.
He remarked that Hasebe Haruka's figure was incredible, and that though Sakura Airi was shy, her curves were great.
As for Karuizawa Kei, her face was flawless, but her bust size was a "regret."
Because Yamauchi didn't lower his volume at all, many female students on the scene were already casting dissatisfied looks in his direction.
Yet, he seemed completely oblivious, continuing his commentary with great interest: "Man! Kushida Kikyo is still the best! Good personality, great body, and her face perfectly matches my ideal! It's decided—I'm going to pursue her!
I'm so jealous of you, Shimizu-kun! Horikita-san only seemed willing to talk to you today. It looks like you have a real chance! She is quite a beauty, after all."
He winked and lowered his voice.
"Even though her figure is a bit thin, who knows—maybe she'll still develop later—"
Shimizu Akira looked around; many girls now had expressions of obvious disgust on their faces.
As a man, he didn't necessarily fail to understand the other's feelings... but this was the gymnasium, and a portion of their classmates were still present.
Thoughts like that should stay in one's head; why say them out loud? If this continued, he might be labeled a "creep" by association—losing all "mating rights" on the very first day of school.
"Yamauchi," Shimizu Akira interrupted him, "I suggest you pay attention to the occasion, assuming you still want to find a girlfriend."
Having said that, he nodded to Ike Kanji: "Thanks for the introduction, I'm heading out."
"Who are you calling out?!" Yamauchi, red-faced with shame and anger, reached out to grab Shimizu Akira's collar. "Are you even a man—"
Before the words had fully landed, Shimizu Akira had already clamped onto his wrist with lightning speed. Yamauchi discovered with horror that this seemingly "herbivore" type had him pinned with one hand; no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't budge an inch.
'This guy... his build is similar to mine...' Cold sweat broke out on Yamauchi's forehead.
'Why is he so strong?!'
Shimizu Akira indifferently increased the pressure. Yamauchi Haruki immediately bared his teeth in pain, his body twisting uncontrollably.
"Ah—hurts, hurts! Let go!"
This scream instantly drew the attention of surrounding students. Not only did Class D's Karuizawa Kei, Kushida Kikyo, and other female students cast surprised glances, but even students from Class B and C turned their heads.
Shimizu Akira's peripheral vision swept the area. Sensing more and more eyes focusing on them, he finally released his grip.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said coldly: "In terms of strength, you don't seem much like a man yourself." His chilled tone suddenly dropped.
"Try it again, and I'll make sure you can't hold chopsticks with this hand for three months."
Yamauchi rubbed his reddened wrist. Meeting those cold eyes, he involuntarily shuddered. Ike Kanji, finally reacting, hurriedly stepped between them with a forced smile to play peacemaker.
"Guys, fighting on the first day isn't good! It would be terrible if a disciplinary action affected graduation!"
Since they had only just met, there was no real friendship among the three. Ike's intervention was more of a polite social gesture than a genuine attempt to stand up for Yamauchi.
Sudo Ken showed a look of surprise, re-evaluating Shimizu Akira. He was more interested in the skill displayed—the swift turn and the strength required to subdue Yamauchi with one hand.
"You're right, Ike-kun, Sudo-kun. I'll be going now."
Shimizu Akira didn't pay them much mind; he had said what needed to be said. He turned and left the scene.
Not far away, Kushida Kikyo walked over with light steps, tilting her head slightly.
"What's wrong, everyone? Why did a fight start so suddenly?" She clasped her hands over her chest, looking worried.
Yamauchi Haruki, appearing to have finally found his soul again, complained indignantly: "...Tch... I just said a few things about Horikita Suzune, and that guy acted like a different person! It was totally bizarre!"
He waved his arms exaggeratedly.
"Could it be that those two are already hooked up?"
"Yamauchi! Give it a rest!" Ike Kanji frowned and interrupted him.
"They're just ordinary classmates talking. They sit next to each other, and there was nothing out of line. Stop being so binary, okay?"
"Getting physical over Horikita Suzune...?" A nearly undetectable glint flashed in Kushida Kikyo's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a gentle smile.
"Alright, alright! I'm sure Shimizu-kun didn't mean it. After all, he's a kind person who gives up his seat for elderly ladies! What our class needs most right now is unity. Yamauchi-kun, can you let this go for my sake?"
"...Fine! Since Kushida-san is the one asking..." Yamauchi Haruki rubbed his reddened palm performatively, acting magnanimous. He secretly rejoiced, thinking this was a great chance to get closer to the girl he liked.
Just as he was about to invite Kushida to karaoke, he saw that she had already turned and walked toward students from other classes.
Yamauchi's half-extended hand hung awkwardly in mid-air.
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A small group of four girls was gathered nearby, whispering.
"Hmph! Serves him right!" Shinohara Satsuki crossed her arms. "He should have been taught a real lesson right then and there!"
Matsushita Chiaki's eyes lit up.
"Who cares about that disgusting Yamauchi! He's just a guy with a mind full of lewd thoughts! Did you guys see that? The way Shimizu-kun moved just now—it was totally cool!"
Mori Nene coughed slightly. "Who was it that said Hirata-kun was the most handsome in school just a moment ago? You change your mind faster than a page turns."
"Oh, stop it! Hirata-kun is handsome, of course... but the way Shimizu-kun looked just now was even cooler!" Matsushita Chiaki suddenly lowered her voice and leaned in mysteriously. "If you could date someone like that, you'd definitely feel super safe! You'd never have to worry about being bullied by others again!"
Karuizawa Kei, who had remained silent, suddenly looked up upon hearing this, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
"...Not being bullied?"
Chapter 010 A Wager with Sakayanagi Arisu; The Stake is 100,000 Points
Shimizu Akira slowly retracted his fingers. When he had gripped the other's wrist just now, he had used at most thirty percent of his strength.
There is never only one way to solve a problem. If one were to divide them theoretically, it would simply be the two paths of force and strategy.
In this society that brands itself as civilized, people always praise winning through wit. However, there are times when force is indeed the most straightforward solution—especially when your opponent is incapable of listening to reason.
Shimizu Akira was never one to stick stubbornly to convention, so this time, he simply used force to settle the trouble.
"Solving problems with violence? That is truly the way of a barbarian."
A familiar voice came from behind him, accompanied by the crisp sound of a cane tapping the ground, drawing nearer. Sakayanagi Arisu stood at his side at some unknown point, a faint teasing smile hanging on her lips.
"Sakayanagi-san, are you peeking at me again?" Shimizu Akira glanced at her sideways.
"It seems you're even more 'heavy' than I imagined. If someone were to date you, you'd probably install wiretapping software on their phone, wouldn't you? Classic 'heavy girl' (Omoijo) behavior."
The term "heavy girl" caused Sakayanagi Arisu's expression to freeze for a rare moment. She had indeed been secretly observing this boy since the entrance ceremony—especially after witnessing that subtle scuffle with his male classmate.
"Tell me your name." She suddenly looked directly into his eyes, her tone brookng no refusal.
"Shimizu Akira," he replied casually. "I have things to do. Sorry, I don't have time to go back and forth with you."
Although she had silver hair, a feature he quite appreciated, he really wasn't in the mood to deal with such a troublesome person right now.
"Make a bet with me." Sakayanagi Arisu's cane tapped the ground lightly. "On which time slot Kamuro Masumi will make her move."
Shimizu Akira was about to refuse, but she suddenly held up five slender fingers.
"50,000 points as the stake." The silver-haired girl's mouth curled into a smile of certain victory.
"Interested now?"
"I see." Shimizu Akira looked at her with a half-smile. "You finally understand the reason for my refusal."
"Of course." Sakayanagi Arisu nodded slightly. "You have zero interest in matters without profit, correct?"
During the entrance ceremony just now, she had been pondering this question. It wasn't until a few minutes ago that she realized she had made a low-level mistake—the wager held no attraction for him.
Thus, she decisively put up half of her current points. 50,000 points converted to 50,000 Yen was merely pocket change to the young lady of the Sakayanagi family. Furthermore, in this special school, she was confident that with her intellect, earning back these points would be as easy as turning over her hand.
Shimizu Akira tapped his arm with his fingertip, lost in thought. Earning 50,000 points on the first day of school seemed pretty good.
"Too little?" Seeing his delay in answering, Sakayanagi Arisu stomped her cane lightly on the floor.
"What are the rules?" Shimizu Akira finally spoke.
"Simple." A sly curve rose on her lips.
"We will each predict the timing of Kamuro Masumi's theft. Whoever accurately predicts her move within a one-minute window and speaks first is the winner. The prediction must be made at least 20 seconds in advance; predicting the moment she is about to act is forbidden."
Her cane drew an elegant arc in the air.
"If a prediction fails, that person must wait for the other to speak first before they can try again."
Shimizu Akira raised an eyebrow. "You really are treating someone else's theft as an entertainment program, aren't you?"
Sakayanagi Arisu laughed softly. "Isn't this more interesting? Turning a boring daily routine into a gambling chessboard."
She tilted her head.
"Why, Shimizu-kun, is your sense of justice suddenly acting up?"
Just as Shimizu Akira was about to speak, the phone in his pocket vibrated. He pulled it out; the screen displayed the name of his homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae.
"Wait a moment." He made a "pause" gesture to Sakayanagi Arisu. "I need to reply to a message."
The silver-haired girl elegantly twirled her cane and made a "go ahead" gesture.
Chabashira Sae: Where are you right now? Come to the office if you have time.
Shimizu Akira: Something urgent? Is the reward for "that matter" finally coming through?
Chabashira Sae: You certainly are sharp. We'll discuss the specifics in person.
Shimizu Akira: I'm tied up right now. By the way, can points in this school really buy "anything"?
Chabashira Sae: As long as it doesn't violate school rules. Why, do you have something special in mind?
Shimizu Akira: I do. How about this: I'll give you 10,000 points if you'll run an errand for me, Sensei?
Chabashira Sae: Interesting. Tell me first what exactly you want to buy.
.
.
.
A few minutes later.
The two arrived at the convenience store by tacit agreement, once again hiding behind the familiar corner shelf. Before long, Kamuro Masumi's figure indeed appeared among the aisles. She first pretended to pick out a few diaries, then her steps instinctively shifted toward the adult alcohol section.
"The target is alcohol," Shimizu Akira whispered. "True, minors can't buy that."
"That's why she has to steal it," Sakayanagi Arisu whispered back. She suddenly pulled a beautifully wrapped candy from her pocket.
"Shimizu-kun, would you like a taste? I brought it from home; the flavor is quite good."
Her slender fingers skillfully unwrapped the paper and held the candy out to him.
Shimizu Akira narrowed his eyes. "Sakayanagi-san, surely you aren't trying to use candy to plug my mouth so you can speak your prediction first?"
"Oh my, you really wound me." The silver-haired girl put on a hurt expression, but the mirth in her eyes betrayed her.
"...I'll assume you're telling the truth then." Shimizu Akira eventually took the candy and put it in his mouth, but as he leaned over, he picked up the candy wrapper from the floor.
"Don't litter."
Sakayanagi Arisu twirled her cane indifferently. "What does it matter? ...Someone will eventually clean it up. Otherwise, what does the convenience store hire these clerks for?"
Shimizu Akira gave her a deep look. Sakayanagi Arisu's contempt for ordinary people was practically etched into her bones; she didn't even bother to hide it.
However, the candy in his mouth was indeed sweet; it seemed the young lady was honest about her taste in snacks.
'—I'll make her pay for that arrogance in a moment, hehehe.'
"Shimizu-kun," Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly lowered her voice, "I'll put up another 50,000 points to buy the 'priority right' to speak first this time. Only I can speak first; what do you say?"
The cane tapped lightly on the ground, a look of "must-win" determination shining in the silver-haired girl's eyes.
Shimizu Akira nearly choked on the candy.
"You can even trade for that? Spending 50,000 points... aren't you afraid of losing everything?"
She tilted her head and gave a triumphant smile.
"After all, in this school, points can buy 'anything'." She laughed softly, twirling her cane. "If I manage to lose even like this, I'll just live on the free meals for the rest of the month."
When Sakayanagi said this, it sounded like a joke. But Shimizu Akira didn't laugh at all. He merely gazed at her with a look of near-pity.
'What a poor child!' He thought to himself.
'This proud young lady probably doesn't know yet that she's about to hand over her entire net worth on the very first day of school.'