"Hello everyone, let me introduce myself. I am Chabashira Sae, the Class teacher for Class D. I am responsible for the sociology course. There will be no class changes during your three years at this school; you will be classmates for three years, and I will be your Class teacher for three years. Next, I will distribute your enrollment materials and student IDs. Please pass them from front to back, one by one."
The student in front passed back a handbook and a mobile phone. It seemed this phone was the so-called student ID.
"This school has unique rules. During your time here, you are all obligated to reside in the school dormitories. Additionally, external communication will be strictly regulated. Even if family members wish to visit, contact is not permitted without the school's permission."
"Of course, the school also has numerous well-equipped facilities for your relaxation and entertainment, and all necessary living supplies are readily available. When making purchases, you only need to tap your student ID terminal to pay. Funds are deducted from the points on your terminal, with one point equaling one yen."
"On the first of every month, the school will deposit a certain amount of personal points into each student's account. And this month, your first month of enrollment, the points have already arrived." A faint, almost imperceptible curve seemed to appear at the corner of Chabashira Sae's lips. "The amount is—one hundred thousand."
"Eh, it's true. There really are 100,000 points in the account!"
"Every month?!"
"Seriously?!"
The classroom instantly erupted. Almost all the students' faces showed expressions of surprise, excitement, and even ecstasy. One hundred thousand yen! For a group of high school students, this was undoubtedly a huge sum, enough for them to live a very comfortable life at this school.
"Are you surprised by these 100,000 points? Don't worry, this school has always upheld the belief that strength reigns supreme. Since you've been admitted, it means you are worthy of these points. Everything in this school can be purchased with points, so feel free to spend them."
One hundred thousand points... Natsukawa knew clearly that there was no such thing as a free lunch. These 100,000 points were merely the first net to filter out the weak. In this school where strength was paramount, people could only possess wealth commensurate with their abilities. If they indulged in this sugar-coated illusion of prosperity, he could almost foresee the brutal awakening that awaited those who were now cheering for the 100,000 points.
After Chabashira Sae finished reading the rules, she looked at the students, most of whom were immersed in joy, remained silent for a moment, and finally asked, "...So, any questions?"
Natsukawa felt as if Chabashira had emphasized the word 'questions'.
No one raised their hand. Everyone was still almost entirely absorbed in the excitement of receiving the "huge sum." They failed to perceive the hidden dangers beneath the rules, and no one pondered the price behind this "gift."
A faint trace of disappointment flashed in Chabashira's eyes, but she said nothing, simply announcing, "If there are no questions, head to the gymnasium in an hour for the entrance ceremony." With that, she turned and left the classroom without a backward glance.
As soon as the Class teacher left, the atmosphere in the classroom became lively again. Everyone was excitedly discussing how to use the 100,000 points.
"Hey, Natsukawa, is this school really that generous? 100,000 points every month, huh?"
Wang Meiyu turned her head, excitedly sharing with Natsukawa.
"It's hard to say. The teacher didn't say there would be 100,000 points every month. Meiyu, you'd better spend sparingly."
"Really? Then why didn't you ask the teacher about it just now?"
"Because I didn't want to stick my neck out, and Ayanokoji probably thinks the same."
"Ah, probably. An average student's monthly allowance is only around 5,000 yen. 100,000 is too much, no matter how you look at it."
Horikita Suzune, sitting behind Wang Meiyu, heard this conversation. She looked up at Natsukawa, who was seated diagonally across from her, wanting to say something, but, not wanting to proactively join the conversation, she ultimately lowered her head and continued reading her book.
Just then, a handsome, popular-looking blonde guy at the front of the classroom raised his voice, successfully attracting most people's attention. "Everyone! Please quiet down! To get along better in the future, let's introduce ourselves! I'll go first. My name is Hirata Yosuke. I usually like to play soccer, and my goal is to join the school soccer club. Please treat me well."
Hirata's call received some response. Immediately after, a lively figure stood up from her seat and turned to face everyone. A sweet smile that could melt snow adorned her face, and her voice was clear and pleasant.
"Hello everyone! I'm Kushida Kikyo! My wish is—" She clasped her hands together, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the class, full of immense sincerity, "—to become good friends with everyone in this class! So, feel free to come to me for advice on anything! I'll share my email and contact information later. Please treat me well!"
Her speech was like a stone thrown into a turbulent pond, creating widespread ripples. Many boys, and even some girls, enthusiastically began to introduce themselves.
"My name is Yamauchi Haruki. I'm currently recovering from an injury I sustained in the national high school league during middle school..."
"Who the hell participates in a national high school league in middle school...?"
...Kushida Kikyo, a woman with terrifying charisma. In middle school, she dreamed of being the most prominent person in her class. With her sweet appearance and gentle words, she successfully built good relationships with everyone in the class, becoming the confidante for all her classmates. However, unable to bear the negative emotions her classmates poured out daily over a long period, she anonymously vented online.
Later, she was discovered online by a fellow student from the same school. The next day, she was cornered in the classroom by her classmates and, faced with bullying or apologizing, chose to bully the entire class. She directly exposed all the bad things her classmates had said about others behind their backs, causing the entire class to lash out at each other and descend into chaos.
Natsukawa certainly didn't want to get involved with such a self-destructing infantryman, so when Kushida was introducing herself, he deliberately turned his head away, trying not to let some strange gravitational pull draw his gaze. However, he overlooked one thing: among a crowd moving with the flow, a figure moving against it is undoubtedly conspicuous.
His unusual behavior instead attracted Kushida's attention. She smiled as she glanced at Natsukawa, then looked deeply at Horikita, who was diagonally opposite him, before smiling slightly at everyone and returning to her seat.
Just as the students were finishing their introductions one by one, and the 'front line' was about to reach Natsukawa, he looked expectantly at the red-haired boy sitting in the back right of the classroom.
"Bang~"
The hot-tempered red-haired boy violently kicked his desk, making a loud noise that instantly silenced the entire classroom.
"Shut up! Self-introductions are a game for elementary schoolers, aren't they? Don't joke around!" he roared, his face full of impatience and disdain.
The atmosphere in the classroom instantly dropped to freezing point. Hirata tried to smooth things over, but Sudo wouldn't budge. Grumbling, Sudo left the classroom. Several students who didn't want to introduce themselves also took the opportunity to leave.
"Ayanokoji, let's go too. Let's take an early look around campus and get familiar with it. Or do you want to give a unique self-introduction?"
"...Never mind that then, let's go, Natsukawa."
Although Ayanokoji had prepared several self-introductions in his mind, having already made a friend (he believed), he could now leisurely enjoy a normal high school life and didn't plan to cause any extra trouble.