Chapter 74: The Triangular World of Education
The Principal sat in his office.
His face was etched with worry as he looked at the document in his hand.
Three-School League Academic Competition.
Below the title were the signed agreements from Shuchiin Academy and Hyakkaou Private Academy.
This was proposed by a certain Director from Shuchiin and sent over after being approved by their Board of Directors.
Shuchiin, Sobu High, and Hyakkaou.
On the surface, it was stated to be a competition held to improve academic standards and to allow students to meet more talented individuals.
In reality... Heh.
It was just Shuchiin wanting to flex its muscles.
As the first Principal of Sobu High after its merger, his ability to secure this position proved his competence. He had carefully studied and monitored all the schools that were on par with or slightly below his own, yet still ranked among the top.
Shuchiin Academy—a prestigious school for the elite. The children of major businessmen, aristocrats, conglomerate owners, yakuza bosses, politicians, and the like attended it. It could be said that the students there represented at least one-tenth of the country's future elite.
It was the most powerful high school in the nation.
As for Hyakkaou, it was a rather special school established by a family with immense financial power. Strictly speaking, this school actually represented the influence of the Kansai region.
The country's main regional factions were divided into two: Kansai and Kanto. For nearly a century, the Kanto faction had held the upper hand. Most of the Kansai faction had been relegated to being major landowners, biding their time in the local regions. But one shouldn't underestimate them; they still possessed massive local influence, and the traditionalist locals trusted them implicitly.
The massive Momobami family, suspected of being mentally ill and operating behind Hyakkaou, had united the Kansai factions to establish Hyakkaou Academy.
As for his Sobu High, strictly speaking, it belonged to the "Commoner" faction. Of course, this "commoner" label wasn't exactly accurate—it basically consisted of small to medium families, shopkeepers, mid to low level officials, and the like, bolstered by state support for public education.
These were the three strongest high schools.
It was complicated, but manageable. Once students reached the university level, things like conglomerates, academic cliques, political factions, and departmental conflicts would make it even more complex.
The Principal was doing quite well to hold onto his turf. At the very least, it was an important position.
However, the Principal wasn't without his worries. For example, Sobu High's position as one of the "Big Three" was actually quite shaky.
Especially in terms of foundation and legacy.
Ranking by strength, Shuchiin was the undisputed first. Hyakkaou was slightly inferior but still the undeniable second. As for Sobu High...
If not for the state's intention to support public education, the third spot could easily be contested by at least four other high schools.
But this was the triangular structure of education in this country.
Under these circumstances, there was also a significant gap in student quality.
Leaving aside the lunatics at Hyakkaou—who were godlike in gambling but just a bunch of brilliant psychopaths who didn't care about academics—Shuchiin was a different story. He heard they had specially recruited several students this year, all of whom excelled in academics or had special talents.
Come to think of it, what was the name of that academic recruit?
Miyuki Shirogane? Nariyuki Yuiga? Those were from the Mixed Course. The Pure Course seemed to have academic geniuses too, like Kaguya Shinomiya...
It was over.
The top three in the national mock exams were all over there.
What about his side?
Apart from Yukino Yukinoshita, it seemed no one else had even cracked the top ten in the national mock exams, right?
So what was the point of a joint competition?
To get crushed and humiliated, and then dissatisfy the big shots backing him?
He hadn't thought about it much before, but calculating it now gave him a fright.
The Principal's eye twitched. He felt like he should reject this document.
However, if he did, some of the implicit resources for this year might be cut. Damn it!
That was all his money!
But what could he do?
The Principal leaned back in his chair, ready to give up and let it rot!
Ring, ring.
The phone rang.
He glanced at it casually. It was his private line. He had to answer this. Those who knew his private number were basically people with some influence in their families, or people he had a good relationship with and valued. Although he didn't recognize the number, the fact that the caller had obtained it said something in itself.
"Moshi moshi..."
***
For Haruka, studying was something he had a deep obsession with.
When he first awakened and understood the deformed class structure of this world, he dove headfirst into his studies.
And then… he was crushed (died actually).
Facts proved that elite education and ordinary education were two completely different things.
His talent was truly average.
If the Simulator hadn't appeared out of nowhere, he probably would have given up and looked for other ways.
This was the tragedy of insufficient talent...
But things were different now.
The new him was a God of Learning, walking among mortals!
Looking at the Principal, Haruka wore a smile on his face, but his arms were crossed, and his gaze was arrogant.
In front of the Principal, Haruka revealed his keen mind completely.
He showed none of the humility and gentleness he displayed in front of Shoko and Yukino.
Different masks for different people.
This wasn't deception; it was a form of protection.
He needed to give the Principal an epic study shock!
Only then could he secure better conditions.
"Principal, what do you think?"
The Principal was still staring at the three mock exam papers in his hand. These were materials he had pulled from the database, prepared for the next national mock exam.
Unexpectedly, someone had answered them in advance. And without a single error or omission.
This made his heart race with excitement.
That phone call... perhaps it wasn't a waste of time after all.
If... if this student named Haruka Kasugano could truly surpass Yukino Yukinoshita, then maybe... just maybe... they stood a fighting chance in the competition?
!!!
My money has hope again!
The Principal didn't say a word. With lightning speed, he pulled a stack of papers from the bottom drawer and thrust them in front of Haruka.
"Do them. As long as you ace all of these, any request you have isn't a request. Do whatever you want. Be bold! Whether you want to skip class to play, or flirt with female teachers in school, it's no problem. I keep my word." With a dramatic sweep of his hand, the Principal spoke with the carefree, fearless boldness of a hero.
"..."
'Excuse me?'
'What are you talking about?'
'I just want to skip class legally. Since when did I want to flirt with female teachers?'
'You've got serious issues, dude!'
Seeing no reaction from Haruka.
The Principal frowned. "Not enough? Makes sense."
"How about triple the scholarship?"
"By the way, there will be a school-wide monthly exam soon. If you take first place, you can go anywhere in the school. Attend class whenever you want, leave halfway if you feel like it. I won't even care if you built yourself a harem. I'll talk to the teachers too. As long as you don't commit arson or murder, or burn down the school, I won't interfere with you."
"Furthermore, if you can meet my standards and win in a certain competition that might happen soon... I'll even fight to get you a recommendation letter for the University of Tokyo."
A recommendation letter was different from passing the entrance exam yourself. At the very least, recommended students would receive some implicit care after entering. After all, which recommended student didn't have connections behind them? And even if they didn't, shouldn't the university show some respect to the recommending school?
This was the unspoken rule.
Human relationships and worldly wisdom were everywhere.
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A/n: Kakegurui is officially part of the universe now.