Spring sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows, illuminating the clean corridor. Ichinose Honami, holding several novels she had just borrowed upon the recommendation of a classmate, walked briskly toward the dormitories. Her lips curled naturally into a warm, satisfied smile.
Three days had passed since the start of the semester, and life at Advanced Nurturing High School, for her, could almost be described as "dreamlike."
The school buildings were brand new, the classrooms had advanced facilities, and there was even an outdoor cafe where she rarely went normally. The dormitory room was spacious and bright, comparable to a luxury apartment, providing her with rare private space.
Moreover, the students in Class B were all easy to get along with. Relying on her innate charisma and sense of responsibility, she quickly became the core of the class. Everyone could move forward together toward a single goal, they would enjoy delicious lunches together in the cafeteria, most could attend group activities like singing karaoke together, and they could also study quietly together in the Library.
Not only that, but the school also provided entertainment and relaxation facilities while giving every student pocket money each month. When Ichinose returned to her dorm and actually counted the 100,000 points issued this month, she remained silent for a long time.
Friendly classmates who could progress together, a dream environment, and privileged school life—all of this felt like a meticulously woven dream of youth, too beautiful to be real.
However, beneath this brilliant landscape, there were always a few small, jarring "noises," like fine thorns, occasionally pricking her joyful heart.
Today was Thursday. After school, her female classmates invited Ichinose to have afternoon tea at a café in the Keyaki Shopping Center. She sat under the cafe's parasol, sipping her drink, and her gaze inadvertently swept across the campus. It was too free—abnormally free. The teachers seemed to turn a blind eye to occasional whispers and distractions in class. This excessive leniency subtly contradicted the image she held of a strictly managed, top-tier school.
Furthermore, the speech given by Class teacher Teacher Hoshinomiya during the homeroom session before the entrance ceremony also raised some doubts: 'This is a school that adheres to the principle of meritocracy,' 'This school will measure every individual equally,' and the teacher's hint that points were very important—none of these could be ignored.
"Meritocracy." She repeatedly chewed on the word. If the core of the school was "ability," then why, since the start of the semester, had there been no exams or evaluations—besides ordinary quizzes—that could clearly measure "ability"? What criteria were used to distribute these generous points? Was it simply because they had "passed the entrance exam" into this school?
What concerned her most was that when she tried to share this vague unease with close classmates, the responses she received were mostly:
"Ichinose-san, you're thinking too much! Isn't this great?"
"Anyway, that's what the rulebook says, so just enjoy it!"
Ichinose's upbringing taught her that nothing good comes from only enjoying without giving back. Similarly, every gift of fate is marked with a hidden price. This lesson was permanently etched in her heart the time her mother discovered she had stolen a hairpin and personally escorted her back to apologize. Fortunately, the store clerk was kind and did not press charges for Ichinose's mistake; otherwise, whether she could enjoy her current dreamlike life was unknown.
That night, Ichinose said goodbye to her classmates and returned to the dorm. After washing up, she sat at her desk, looking out at the brightly lit campus. It was so beautiful, yet it resembled a massive maze with unclear rules.
Only at times like this could she drop the easygoing, sunny facade she wore in front of her classmates. She sighed softly and murmured in a voice only she could hear:
"Everyone... seems completely immersed in happiness."
"But does a 'paradise' truly exist in the world... where one can receive such generous treatment without any effort?"
"Is there truly no cost behind this 'kindness'...?
She drew the curtains, quietly lay back on her bed, and closed her eyes, wanting to sink into that wonderful haven of comfort. But the sense of responsibility and intuition deeply embedded in her character prevented her from completely indulging in this gentle illusion like everyone else. That suspicion was not fear, but an urgent desire to protect the current peace—in her view, only by understanding the rules could she truly protect everyone.
This small suspicion and vigilance, hidden beneath the tranquility and peace, coupled with a single question, truly shattered the illusion that Ichinose had always been unwilling to break in her heart.
It was the start of a new week, and Ichinose, as usual, walked with her female classmates to the cafeteria for lunch. While looking for suitable seats, she happened to spot Natsukawa Sosuke, a new friend she had met on the day of the entrance ceremony. His complexion looked much better than it had a week ago. He was currently chatting with a girl sitting across from him. Although the girl often kept her head down, she would occasionally make an effort to look Natsukawa in the eye.
Ichinose noticed there were seats around Natsukawa suitable for the Class B group, so she walked toward Natsukawa intending to greet him.
But just as she reached Natsukawa's back, she overheard Natsukawa's speculation about the true nature of the school. This felt like the final straw, allowing the doubts she had accumulated over the past few days to finally pierce her illusion of reality.
"Is the school running a charity? Recruiting people like Yamauchi just to enjoy life, right? The Chairman isn't his dad."
"Even if they could coast like this until graduation, would they understand anything after entering Tokyo University? If they choose their desired Fortune Global 500 company to work at, could they survive the internship? On the one hand, they wouldn't be kept on, and on the other hand, letting those kinds of people casually intern at a company—do you think the executives of those companies would be happy to see this?"
"...Yeah, if they're only here to sing the praises of youth, how can the school ensure that 100% college acceptance rate? What exactly is..."
Ichinose had forgotten her original purpose of coming over to greet him. Internally, she was conflicted, yet she also felt a sense of relief that her suspicions had come true. Seeing the heavy stone in her heart finally drop, she involuntarily spoke the question:
"Natsukawa-kun, is what you just said true?"
Natsukawa and the girl across from him simultaneously turned their attention toward her. Natsukawa looked surprised upon seeing Ichinose. The girl, seeing someone suddenly approach them, instantly drew her neck in and began shoveling the rice from her tray, bite by bite.
"Ichinose-san?" Natsukawa was a little surprised.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Ichinose offered an apologetic smile. "I just came to eat with my Class B classmates, and I originally wanted to come over and say hello, but I accidentally overheard your conversation."
She placed her tray on the table and sat down in the seat next to Natsukawa. Her blue eyes looked earnestly at Natsukawa. "Natsukawa-kun, could you tell me more about your speculation regarding the true nature of this school?"
"I'm very curious!"