"Justice is subject to dispute; might is easily recognized and is not disputed. So we cannot give might to justice, because might has gainsaid justice, and has declared that she is just. And thus being unable to make what is just strong, we have made what is strong just." - Blaise Pascal, "Pensées"
________________________________________________________________________________
「April 15th︱Mourning︱Class 1D's Classroom
The last class of the morning was Japanese. Only about six students in the class were still "trying" to pay attention. Even the ice-cold girl was among them.
Meanwhile, the "idiot trio," the blonde gyaru, and about two-thirds of the class were openly sleeping, playing on their phones, gaming, or reading magazines and comics.
The rest of the students wavered in between. They weren't as blatant as Yamauchi or Sudou, but they had the "safety in numbers" mentality.
If a bunch of people slacked off, the teacher wouldn't punish them all. So they started small, zoning out a little, then gradually pushing the limits.
This is exactly like how one rotten apple spoils the bunch.
Or worse— a whole basket of rotten apples.
When placed in a group setting with vague expectations, people tend to look outward to determine how to behave. They mirror. Not because they agree but because non-conformity carries risk.
Even suspicion requires initiative. And initiative requires conviction most don't have.
It's not that they're all ignorant. Some students are aware. A few even look uneasy, like Hirata and Horikita.
However...
Awareness without action is no different from ignorance.
If everyone else slacks off, then slacking off becomes the standard. To do otherwise is to break rhythm. The average person is more terrified of being at the centre of attention than they fear failure.
Contrary to popular belief, an average person does not fear failure.
They fear success.
Or rather, they are terrified of taking responsibility for themselves, which comes through success.
In an environment like this, productive learning is nearly impossible. Most students have already lost interest, openly slacking off, while the teachers rush through the syllabus without much real engagement. They're more focused on covering the material than actually teaching in response to the students' attitude.
This atmosphere creates a barrier for the few students who genuinely want to focus. Instead of supporting them, the environment actively works against their efforts.
Once the majority adopts this careless attitude, it becomes very difficult to change.
Group behaviour sets the tone, and the mood of indifference spreads quickly. When everyone gives up, it becomes the norm, and few will resist.
If this pattern persists, the classroom will become toxic for both students and teachers. Motivation will fade, and eventually, giving up will feel like the only option.
That being said...
"This school is seriously messed up."
Yamasaki wasn't annoyed by the students who were ruining the classroom environment.
He was more concerned about the teachers who did nothing. Or rather, the school itself.
This was evil.
Sometimes, having responsibility but doing nothing is its own kind of evil.
After learning the truth about this school, Yamasaki had expected something like this to happen.
The way the teacher acted today was a perfect reflection of how the school worked as a whole.
They had no intention of stepping in.
And the consequences of that policy were already clear. With no supervision or guidance, the students of Class D were falling apart in just one morning. No side was innocent in this.
But the most important part was...
"You don't mean to tell me that 39 people haven't noticed a single camera in the past few weeks..."
The red light on the camera was blinking, recording everything happening in the room. Most students probably hadn't even realized the danger they were in yet.
Yamasaki had noticed something. The students who stayed in the classroom at noon, aside from those who gathered in groups to eat together, were mostly the loners. He could already tell from their self-introductions yesterday.
Among the boys, there was the "idiot trio"—Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudou.
Then there were the quiet, rule-following students like Yukimura.
The rest were scattered loners.
The girls' side was even more interesting.
There was Karuizawa's "queen bee" group, Kushida's circle of friends, and Shinohara's arrogant clique.
And of course, there is a recently formed Hasebe group.
The only one left out is Horikita.
Horikita is the sole member of the "loner girls" clique. Now that Sakura and Hasebe are friends and are members of the Hasebe group, including Yamasaki and Miyake.
She was the genuine outsider.
No. That's not entirely correct either.
Contrary to popular belief, Horikita is not a "loner" in a conventional sense.
To Yamasaki, she simply ended like this due to a series of bad decisions.
That stubbornness...treating rejection as a way to prove their independence.
For example, guys like the dumb duo and Sudou weren't exactly popular, but they at least knew how to stick together. The ones left behind had two choices: join in or be excluded, dropping even lower on the social ladder.
Yamasaki didn't particularly dislike any particular person, nor did he hate the existence of such social structures. Most people, consciously or subconsciously, make choices to protect their own interests and blend into the group.
That was human nature. It wasn't necessarily wrong.
But what Yamasaki frowned upon was using that as a means to "assimilate" or "exclude" others.
How does one avoid becoming the lowest of the low in the class?
Work hard to change yourself and gain acceptance?
That's the right answer... but it doesn't really work.
So the real answer... is to create someone even lower than yourself to step on.
Yamasaki remembers clearly.
Even during the first day, rumours about outliers of the class already started spreading in class.
Yamasaki knew exactly what they were doing and why. By making fun of them and labeling them as outcasts through enforcing the "us vs them" dynamic, they could secure their own place in a group.
To help the class?
Such a thought never crossed his mind.
Why would he?
In most cases, people in power don't actually want advice from anyone, especially when it disrupts their convenient lifestyle, whether it is from those below or above them.
Those in positions of power only want obedience, so they can maintain their authority and status.
Even if Yamasaki shared with Hirata everything he had learned, he wouldn't accept it. If anything, he would just interpret Yamasaki's words as someone trying to stir up trouble and ruin the class "harmony".
This was the ugly side of group dynamics— the voice of an individual was weak, and the power to shape the group was always in the hands of a few.
He had to admit.
The "Girls' Boobs Ranking" that Ike and Sotomura made was undeniably attention-grabbing for guys.
Yamasaki didn't consider himself that noble. But a real man appreciates beauty without being perverted. He knew where the line was and had enough self-control to behave himself.
Aside from feeling disgusted by the likes of the Idiot trio and other boys in the class, Yamasaki also felt a sense of sadness.
This was just a small reflection of a bigger problem in today's entertainment-obsessed society.
In Japan, there were even crazier, more twisted ranking lists out there. People consume these rankings as entertainment, but how many realize the malice behind them? How many people get hurt or bullied because of them? And in the end, everything is brushed off with a simple, "It's just for fun, why take it so seriously?"
How convenient.
Just like saying "sorry" or "it's just a joke. Why take it so seriously?" and expecting to be forgiven.
What a bunch of simple-minded people.
In society, judgment doesn't just exist. It dominates, shaping every move. It's the thread that holds everything together.
And so, the cycle continues.
To be fair, Yamasaki couldn't really claim the moral high ground here.
Because... the girls did it too.
The girls in Class D, led by Karuizawa Kei, had already made their own secret ranking lists about the boys. Things like "The Gloomiest Boy Ranking", "Biggest Pervert Ranking," and even "The most likely to die alone."
Compared to the guys, the girls were just as bad —if not worse. And if one thought these rankings only targeted the opposite gender, you'd be dead wrong.
In reality, the worst ones were aimed at people of the same gender.
The core of all this was simple: people used these rankings to step on others and boost their own social status.
Over time, this created an invisible hierarchy— a school caste system, planting seeds of exclusion that would eventually lead to ostracism at best or bullying at worst.
This was one of the things Yamasaki hated the most.
To Yamasaki, no one, including himself, was innocent.
There was no such thing as someone being more pure or deserving of sympathy.
The only difference was who was more despicable.
There's a cruel comfort people find in someone else's failure or mockery of their appearance. especially someone they've labeled as "beneath" them.
It reinforces their place in the social order. It confirms that their judgments were right.
But the second someone like that who doesn't fit into the hierarchy starts trying to improve, it makes people threatened.
People can sympathize with weakness. But they hate success that makes them feel insignificant. Especially when it comes from someone they thought was beneath them.
That's how social hierarchy works.
"Something the matter, Isao-kun? You look distracted," a soft voice whispered from the side.
It was Sakura.
No.
It's Airi now.
"It's nothing. I just want to get through the lessons to have lunch." - Yamasaki glanced towards Sakura and answered her question without giving away his true thoughts and feelings.
Airi chuckled. - "I always thought you were a serious person since you are one of the few people who still pay attention to the classes, but even you can be unexpectedly childish, Isao-kun." Airi was not bothered by Yamasaki in the slightest. If anything, she finds the contrast between his usual easy-going and calm attitude and his quirky response endearing.
"Sao-kun is right, Airi-chan! I just want to breeze through these classes and sleep in my comfy bed." - Hasebe interjected in the conversation with a playful expression on her face, with her head placed on her right hand on the table.
"What exactly are you supposed to be sleep deprived of? Just at today's first class, you were sleeping like a koala." - Yamasaki playfully took a jab at Haruka.
Haruka pouted. "It can't be helped! These lessons are boring, and watching teachers explaining all that jabbering in such a monotone tone makes me sleepy."
Airi observed the interactions between her new friends with a happy expression, and responded with a soft smile on her expression as she looked towards Haruka, "Just hang in there, Haruka-chan. One more class and everyone can go to the cafeteria to eat lunch together with Miyake-kun."
"Of course! I will bring Miyachi along with us. Without us, he would become a gloomy loner, " Hasebe dramatically sighed as if she were managing a problem child, and shaking her head, "I swear, that guy is so clueless without me. He should be grateful that he has someone like me by his side." - Haruka playfully smirked towards Yamasaki.
"I don't know why, but I have a feeling that Haruka is making fun of me." - Out of nowhere, Miyake, who was quietly sitting, trying to enjoy his peace, his mood has suddenly became a bit annoyed, but he quickly returned to normal.
"Oh well. It's probably just another one of those Haruka's antics." - Ultimately, Miyake decided that to understand Haruka's actions is a waste of time.
From experience, Miyake knew that whatever Haruka was about to do would make him shake his head or just deadpan at her.
On the other hand, Yamasaki simply quietly listened as Airi and Haruka were having a conversation, as they were having a great time together.
[A Notification]
Out of nowhere, Yamasaki's phone has sent a notification.
Yamasaki glanced at his phone.
[Karuizawa] Can we meet today in the evening in your room? It is important.
[Yamasaki] Alright.
Yamasaki closed the chat.
Yamasaki glanced at Karuizawa for a moment.
Karuizawa glanced towards Yamasaki for a moment, showcasing a mutual agreement between the two counterparts.
A bell rang.
Everyone returned to their seats.
As the next lesson is about to begin, most students' thoughts can be summarised like this:
"When will these lessons end? We just want to have fun."
ΨΨΨ🅄🄽🄵🄰🅃🄷🄾🄼🄰🄱🄻🄴🄿🄾🅆🄴🅁ΨΨΨ
「April 15th︱Evening︱Student Dormitory
-"Good evening, Yamasaki-kun." - Karuizawa said as she politely introduced herself.
-"Come in. Make yourself comfortable. You can sit at the center table or on the bed, as you like."
Karuizawa sits at the table quietly. Quite a contrast to her usual attitude.
-"Would you like something to drink?" - Yamasaki asked Karuizawa if she wanted any particular beverage.
-"Coffee, please." - Karuizawa asked for a common drink among adolescents.
Yamasaki placed the two cups on the table. One for Karuizawa, and one for himself.
- "So what brings you here today, Karuizawa?" - Not wasting any time, Yamasaki got straight to the point.
-"You see... Yamasaki-kun, ehhh, how can I explain it..." - Karuizawa mumbled.
-"..."
-"Would you be my boyfriend?!"- Karuizawa proclaimed with determination and desperation.
"Wait! Before you think of anything else, I don't mean that literally..!" Karuizawa added.
Compared to her usual fiery and tsundere demeanor, it was endearing to see Karuizawa in a state like this. "Uh... what I mean is... will you be fine if you... p-pretend to be my boyfriend for a while?"
Yamasaki took a moment to absorb her words and let them register in his mind.
"You want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?" he asked, confirming the nature of her words.
The girl nodded weakly, feeling the heat in her cheeks continue to rise as she tried her best to keep her gaze towards him.
This wasn't a confession.
If she's not confessing, then what is she trying to accomplish? To have him as a fake boyfriend? For what, though? What does she need a fake boyfriend for? To show off to the girls that she had a boyfriend, albeit a fake one?
"Why?" Yamasaki asked Karuizawa for more details.
"L-Look, just give me an answer, okay? Will you or won't you?" she pleaded, looking more and more terrified than embarrassed by the moment.
"You invited me for a talk in my own room, and you're not going to say anything? How am I supposed to help you when I have no idea what's going on?" Yamasaki brought up a valid argument, patiently wanting the girl to be honest with what she wanted from him and why.
"I...l'd rather not say..." Instead of embarrassment, she now looked gloomy. The same expression she had for a moment when the group had a conversation during the first day at school.
"I won't force you to tell me anything. But if you want me to even hear you out, I need to know the reason why you're asking me to do such a thing for you." - Yamasaki reminded Karuizawa that if she wanted him to consider his request, she would at least tell him something.
Karuizawa became quiet after that, and Yamasaki only stared at her. The girl seemed like she was contemplating the next course of action, evaluating the pros and cons of each decision, assessing the time they spent together to determine Yamasaki's trustworthiness.
Yamasaki simply waited for what she would say. If she tells him the truth regarding this whole thing, then good. If not, then that would be a shame, even though he already knew why she was doing this and what her final decision would be.
"You're my friend, right? You're someone I can trust... right, Yamasaki-kun?" she asked, her voice going from flustered to nervous in an instant.
"Didn't you make this request exactly because you trust me more than anyone else? After all, you chose to request me over Hirata for help." Yamasaki responded to Karuizawa's biggest fear with another question.
It was a simple question, yet it brought some relief to Karuizawa.
Yes.
To Karuizawa, Yamasaki Isao was the most trustworthy person in the entire class, even more than Hirata.
Otherwise, she wouldn't even entertain the idea of requesting help, much less tell about her past.
The girl let out a massive sigh of relief at his reassuring words. "All right, I'll tell you...but... You have to promise not to tell anyone. Please," she pleaded.
For Karuizawa, this is not just a request for protection from a capable individual.
This was her last, fleeting, clinging hope to humanity, everything that is good about people and the world itself.
A fragile hope that even in a dog-eat-dog world, a survival of the fittest environment, there are decent people.
-"It's a promise." Yamasaki recognised Karuizawa's unspoken hopes and fears, and responded sincerely.
Karuizawa told him everything.
As Karuizawa finished sharing her story, Yamasaki drifted into his own thoughts.
"Most people who were bullied didn't resist."
"They feared the spotlight."
They feared being noticed more than the actual violence."
"It's not that Karuizawa doesn't dare speak. It's that she doesn't dare to let others know she was bullied. That's the difference. That's why she's terrified to fall from grace."
"Karuizawa's fears."
"Her instinctive flinching."
"Her tendency to fabricate control through superficial friendships and appearances."
"She was really hurt, and no one knew."
"Her behavior wasn't strange in the slightest."
"Her anxiety."
"Her calculated social moves."
"Her occasional emotional outbursts."
"It wasn't immaturity. It was survival."
"Many former victims of bullying eventually became bullies themselves. It was something that happened all the time in society."
It was human nature—a subconscious need for revenge.
And that was exactly why bullying was so disgusting.
There is a saying: "The poor harm each other."
In internet slang, it means "You can't stand seeing your friend suffer, but you're also afraid of him driving a luxury car."
It reflects a certain psychological struggle.
Most victims of bullying are like Airi, quiet and timid. But there are also those like Karuizawa, who were once bullied but later started doing the same thing to others.
At the beginning of the school year, "monkey duo" and the girls in the class, especially in Shinohara's and Karuizawa's cliques, often mocked and belittled outcasts like Horikita, Hasebe, and Sakura, and others. Their goal was to push them to the bottom of the class hierarchy so that they could take their place as the bullied outcast.
Karuizawa was once a victim, too. But after escaping that environment, she didn't want to end up at the bottom again. So, she started pushing others down, pushing them towards the bottom of the social ladder instead. That way, she would be safe.
This is the complexity of human nature.
People often say, "ignore the bullies," or "just don't give them power." But in reality, appeasement never worked. It just gave the aggressor more space. It emboldened them.
Sometimes, retaliation was the only answer.
Yamasaki has witnessed people like Karuizawa many times before.
People who would rather suffer in silence than break the illusion of normalcy.
They would smile, laugh, join in with gossip or rumors, just to maintain their place in the hierarchy.
All for vanity.
All to avoid isolation.
It was never about being liked.
They were just afraid of being alone.
"You are not afraid of the bullies or their violence. You are afraid of the invisible thing called atmosphere. The unwritten social rule that says, 'Don't rock the boat.'" - Yamasaki revealed the true reason behind Karuizawa's facade.
Karuizawa looked up, her tear-filled eyes staring at Yamasaki with genuine confusion.
What was he talking about?
How could he know so much about her?
How could he understand what even she couldn't explain?
"H-How? How can I break free?"- Karuizawa's meek voice was filled with anticipation and fear that she would be abandoned or exploited.
"You just have to stop thinking of yourself as weak." - Yamasaki's response was brief but firm.
That sounded cliché even to him, but it was true.
He knew people like her—people who waited for a saviour to pull them from their chains.
Karuizawa didn't reply immediately. But the faintest hint of a smile touched her lips.
For the first time, she felt like someone actually understood her—not in a shallow, sympathetic way, but in a raw, mutual-battle-scars kind of way.
Many students in this school class are from the lower rungs of society.
They had to look out for each other in ways others never understood.
It wasn't nobility. It was survival.
People from the lower strata keep each other warm.
There was no honor in weakness, but there was still dignity in endurance.
And that was enough for now.
"There is an alternative solution. With this, you can gain protection, yet still be able to form a potential romantic relationship with someone."
"W-What is it?" - Karuizawa inquired, as she couldn't imagine any other way to protect others than acquiring the protection under someone with high status, who is not afraid to take a side, and more importantly, who would share Karuizawa with special care, not with universal kindness like Hirata.
Perhaps to most girls in the class, this aspect of Hirata's personality is one of the things that attracts the opposite sex.
But for Karuizawa?
It makes her feel invisible.
She wanted to matter.
She wanted to be seen.
As a girl?
As a person?
It didn't matter.
All she knew was that Yamasaki Isao was the only man she could see herself being together.
"You and Hirata become a fake couple. You only need to keep like that until summer vacation. You two can 'break up' by then. How you do it is up to you. In exchange, if ever comes a time when I want to do you a favour, or ask for specific questions, you will answer to the best of your ability, alright?"
"Really? Will that really work?" - Karuizawa was confused, and a little conflicted about the plan Yamasaki had offered.
Contrary to her expression, her doubts were not so much about whether or not this plan would work.
Rather, she was confused why she would enter a relationship that would dissolve later on anyway.
Naturally, she assessed Hirata as a potential protector.
Hirata was by no means inferior to Yamasaki.
In fact, in some aspects, he is even a better choice than Yamasaki.
His status within Class D is just high, if not even better than Yamasaki's. In addition, Yamasaki's popularity extends mostly within Class D.
Hirata's popularity, on the other hand, reached new heights, especially after joining a soccer club.
Hirata was more outgoing, charismatic, and more popular than Yamasaki.
So why would Karuizawa choose Yamasaki over Hirata?
However...
Such a thought never crossed Karuizawa's mind.
"Well..." - Karuizawa blushed as she shyly brushed her right cheek as she struggled to find the right words to express herself, or perhaps she was just embarrassed to express her honest feelings. - "I considered Hirata-kun for a moment, but I didn't ask him. It's not like I am friendly with the boys in the class. I just thought you would be more reliable than Hirata-kun." - Karuizawa finally found the appropriate words to unveil her true thoughts and emotions.
"I help you, and you help me. That arrangement works the best for you, no? Otherwise, won't you always harbour doubt towards me?
'What if one day he abandons me?'
'What if I am no longer useful to him?'
"Such thoughts will cross your mind, no?" - Yamasaki concluded his thoughts to Karuizawa, effortlessly piercing through Karuizawa's deepest worries. This was evident as her expression was filled with shock, awe, and a little bit of fear of being caught off guard.
In Yamasaki's eyes, Karuizawa's actions are, at their core, a form of revenge.
She is venting the pain she had suffered by doing the same thing to others.
At the same time, it was her way of establishing authority over others in class.
Right now, Karuizawa is no different from a drowning person who has suddenly grabbed onto a lifeline.
She is lost, confused.
After escaping from that hell, she thought everything would go back to normal. But she realized there was no going back. She couldn't even see the road behind her, and the path ahead was covered in fog.
That fog felt like a monster, waiting to swallow her whole. She had been too scared to take a step forward.
But now, in the middle of that fog, a faint light had appeared-like a lighthouse in the distance, showing her the way.
"You are no longer alone." - Yamasaki's voice was soft yet encouraging, with eyes filled with sincerity and quite strength.
This was the breaking point.
Karuizawa broke down in tears, as she finally allowed herself to grieve.
Finally, she allowed herself to be vulnerable, to be seen, and not be left behind or taken advantage of.
After a few minutes, she calmed down.
"W-Well, now you know," Kei brought her legs up to her chest and hugged them together, as she rested her head on top of her knees. A few more tears escaped her eyes, which she wiped away. "Now you know why l'm asking you for help. Because I don't want to get bullied again. I don't want it to happen again. I just want... I just want to have a normal life here... is it too much to ask for?"
Before she knew it, something unexpected happened.
He hugged her.
-"W-W-hat? W-What did you j-just?" - Karuizawa was flabbergasted.
She couldn't understand what was happening.
Everything was happening too fast.
Her mind was a mess.
Karuizawa's eyes widened slightly at Yamasaki's actions. She didn't dislike it, though. As a matter of fact, she was compelled to do the same, and after she did, the young girl felt a sense of comfort filling her entire body, as though it was telling her that everything's going to be alright.
After about 10 seconds, Yamasaki released the hug and looked directly into Karuizawa's teary eyes.
Yamasaki's soft expression never left his face.
"Until you truly leave your past behind, and live your life to the fullest, I have the privilege to hug you once a day. You don't get to say no." - Yamasaki's expression was filled with cheekiness and sincerity.
"B-But why? Why are you so kind to me? The teddy bear you gave me, the dinner we had that day, the promise we made to each other that night, the banter we share each day, I haven't done anything to be worthy." - Karuizawa couldn't understand any of it. Why would someone be like someone like her? Why would anyone consider a bratty, pretentious, weak girl as worthy of attention, a "parasite"?
"Because I want to. That's my choice. Is that not a good reason enough?" - Yamasaki answered as if it were the most obvious thing.
-"Thank you...Thank you so much, Yamasaki-kun." - Karuizawa's expression was filled with the most sincere smile Yamasaki had ever seen since he met her.
This time, however, it was Karuizawa who made a move on Yamasaki.
This was her first hug.
Her first sincere hug.
It was a completely foreign feeling to her, and yet she didn't mind it.
In fact, she wanted more of it and let herself surrender to the sensation.
"This feels nice." She commented while letting her head rest on his shoulder. A sigh of contentment escaped the girl's mouth as she leaned her head against him. Karuizawa smiled to herself as a few more tears escaped her eyes, but this time, she didn't feel like wiping them away. "It's funny, I wanted to talk to you because I wanted you to pretend to be my boyfriend ... but maybe a hug from a friend is all I needed."
Yamasaki nodded.
Karuizawa is not completely free from her chains.
Not yet.
The future is still brimming with uncertainties and obstacles.
However...
This is the first time she saw the light in the dark alley.
For the first time in her life, she dares to take a step towards the future.
For the first time, she had the courage not just to survive, but to live.
And that is enough for now.
Both remained in each other's embrace for a few minutes, finding peace and happiness in each other's presence.
ΨΨΨ🅄🄽🄵🄰🅃🄷🄾🄼🄰🄱🄻🄴🄿🄾🅆🄴🅁ΨΨΨ
「April 16th︱Afternoon︱Keyaki Mall
[Third Party POW]
It was Tuesday afternoon.
As Hasebe group members conversed with each other, Yamasaki was scrolling through his phone.
[Idio Trio chat]
#spongebobnopants: Kushida-chan is my target, so don't you dare get in my way!
#YamaGod: No, no, Kushida-chan is mine. You stay out of the way!
#spongebobnopants: Huh?! You say you're after Kushida-chan, too?! What are you trying to pick a fight?!
#BaskforLife: Do you guys have nothing better to do?
#YamaGod: Shut up, Ken! You wouldn't understand!!
#Yamasaki: So, when is the meeting?
#spongebobnopants: Oh, yeah. It will be 16:30 at the entrance to the Keyaki Mall.
#YamaGod: Even if it is you, Yamasaki, don't get any funny ideas around Kushida-chan! She and I are destined to be together.
#Yamasaki: You have my blessing. What about you, Sudou?
#BaskforLife: Can't. I have basketball practice today.
#spongebobnopants: Don't worry, Ken. No one would notice you even if you didn't come with us.
#BaskforLife: What did you say?!!!
#Yamasaki: Good luck with your practice, Sudou. Give it your best.
#BaskforLife: Thanks, dude.
#YamaGod: Kushida-chan said she will girls with us. Even if they are not at Kushida-chan's caliber, we can't waste this chance!
#spongebobnopants: That's the plan!
#Yamasaki: Alright. See you guys later.
Yamasaki closed the chat.
Right after that, he looked at another group chat.
[Hasebe Group chat]
#Sapphire: I still can't believe you guys named the group after me?!! You guys are so mean!!! (╥﹏╥)
#ArcheryMan: Come on, Haruka. Don't be such a crybaby. ╮(' _ゝ')╭
#StrawberryGirl: Akito-kun is right, Haruka-chan. I think it is a wonderful name (* ^‿^*)
#Saphire: If Airi-chan says so... Hey, Sao-kun! I know you are here! (✿•̀︿•́)
#Yamasaki: Yeah, yeah. I am here. (¬_¬)
#Sapphire: Sao-kun, we are planning to hang out at Keyaki Mall after classes. Wanna join us? We are planning to visit the new Chinese restaurant that opened just recently!
ヾ(>Ω< )╯
#Yamasaki: Thanks, I will pass. I have a meeting with the Hirata and the others. Sorry.
#StrawberryGirl: It's alright, Isao-kun. It's not your fault. We understand. (＼(^ U ^)／)
ArcheryMan: It looks like Isao is already advancing from all fronts. He is not wasting any time going on the offense. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
#Yamasaki: It's not like that. I was just invited to hang out with them. (- _-)
#Sapphire: Even though you already have Matsushita-san and the other girls from Hirata-kun group, now that you laid your fangs on us, you are aiming for Kikyo-chan. How feisty Sao-kun. Scandalous!
#StrawberryGirl: Haruka-chan, Isao-kun is not like. He is a wonderful person. He would never do something like that.
ArcheryMan: Don't mind her, Isao. Haruka is just salty because you don't have your eyes on her (￣▽￣)
#Sapphire: Miyachi!!! (・ω´・)
#StrawberryGirl: Calm down, Haruka-chan. The boys are just messing with you. (⌒‿⌒)
#Sapphire: Okay, Okay. Airi-chan seems to be much more assertive in the text compared to before. ( ˘･З･˘)ゞ
#ArcheryMan: Hah. You asked for it, Haruka. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
After a few minutes of discussion, Yamasaki closed the group.
A few seconds later, he was already mingling with another group.
It's hard being popular, huh?
Eventually, it was decided that there would be a collective among Class D students.
One might wonder, why would a group of seemingly incompatible individuals from Class D end up together like this?
It all began after school when Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, desperate to impress Kushida Kikyo, started competing for her attention by inviting her out.
Kushida, caught between their shameless persistence, found herself unable to refuse and instead suggested a "group date" as a compromise.
The idea was simple:
Kushida would bring along a few girls, while Yamauchi and Ike would gather some boys, and they'd all go shopping in the district after school. What was meant to be a casual outing quickly turned into a larger gathering than initially planned.
Kushida not only brought a couple of girls from Class D, Satou Maya, Chiaki Matsushita, and Kei Karuizawa.
Surprisingly, they invited Yamasaki and Sudou with no hesitation.
Either the idiot duo thinks Yamasaki is on the same level as them, or they simply did not want to make a bad impression in front of Kushida, or maybe this is their way of trying to bridge the distance between them and Yamasaki, whom they consider as nothing but a token pretty boy, a target of their jealousy and resentment.
To Yamasaki, the only logical explanation for his company is that they didn't want Kushida to think badly of them.
Not that a social butterfly, like Kushida, would not be able to see through their true intentions...
This unexpected expansion of the group added a new layer to what was now a full-fledged group date. With four boys and four girls, the numbers were perfectly balanced.
However, despite the even numbers, Ike and Yamauchi remained fixated on Kushida, wasting the opportunity for a proper group interaction.
In their eyes, only Kushida, who took the initiative to engage with them, was worthy of their attention — a true goddess. The others: Karuizawa, Matsushita, Satou, though more than attractive by any standard, were dismissed by Ike and Yamauchi as mere afterthoughts, undeserving of their interest.
From Yamasaki's perspective, Ike and Yamauachi considered those girls to be nothing more than secondhand goods, tainted by previous relationships.
Not that they would be able to bring themselves to admit it.
"We couldn't leave with Kushida even though we're in the same class, huh?" I said. "She said she had to talk to a friend from another class. Kushida-chan is quite popular."Do you think maybe she's talking to a boy?" Ike mumbled.
-"Relax, Ike. I've already confirmed it. She's talking to a girl," Yamauchi said.
-"All right, all right." Are you guys seriously going after Kushida?" I asked.
-"Of course. She's my dream girl." Yamauchi must have shared this opinion, because he kept nodding in agreement."
Sorry to keep you guys
[A Notification]
Yamasaki took out his phone from his right pocket and opened the phone.
"The school has approved your request. Twelve surveillance devices across four classes. Rental period: three weeks. May 2-May 23."
One might wonder what this is about...
Everything has started since the start of the first semester.
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「April 2nd︱Afternoon︱The Chairman's Office
[Third Party POW]
"Is there anything else you wish to discuss, Yamasaki-kun"? Chairman Sakayanagi inquired, as he was intrigued and a little anxious, if this young man would bring any more surprises.
"I request the school authority guarantee for inter-class transactions." Shimizu met the Chairman's gaze unflinched.
Chairman Sakayanagi blinked. "Guarantee..?"
For a while, the chairman couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Yamasaki sat across from Chairman Sakayanagi in a chairman's room.
Silence.
Only the clock's ticking filled the air with tension and emotion.
"Why the Board of Directors instead of the Student Council?" Chairman Sakayanagi inquired about Yamasaki's actions in an attempt to learn more about this young man's hidden agenda.
"I need a binding guarantor. As an epitome of ANHS authority, I might as well discuss this matter with you, chairman."
"You plan to deal with the other classes? Are you considering that the other leaders might resort to violence?" Chairman Sakayanagi's tone was matter-of-fact.
"Only a payment. Violence doesn't concern me." Yamasaki paused. "After all, points can buy anything here, no?"
"Yes. Your request is within the school rules." Chairman Sakanayagi tapped the desk. "The board of directors and I will conceal your identity and enforce compliance. In exchange, 5% of your earnings will be taxed to the school."
Shimizu nodded, "Deal."
The Chairman's 5% fee, all donated to the school, felt like special treatment.
In the outside world, in Japan specifically, it is normal to expect at least 20% of cuts above. Even though this high school emphasized self-sufficiency, compared to society's 20%+ cuts.
Chairman Sakayanagi set his cup down. "Having learned these secrets, what's your assessment of the class system?"
"It delivers on their promises." Yamasaki was brief but concise.
He didn't want to divulge any more details to the chairman.
"The criteria are too vague. Class D has several A-tier talents yet was dumped at the bottom."
"Does the school overweight 'dark histories'? By that logic, Class C is the weakest. Hirata's potential leadership as a reliable pillar. Kushida's social adaptability, Koenji's all-around raw ability"
"If anything, Class C should panic, not Class D."
"Class D wasn't weak—just lopsided: exceptional in niches, but glaring flaws."
"Class C? Mediocre across the board."
"If I were in Class C..."
"The thought alone made my head throb."
"In this meritocracy, effective methods often trump morality." Chairman Sakayanagi continued their conversation. "That said..." - Chairman Sakayanagi paused to make his message more impactful.
"Class D is the weakest overall—but the most likely to overthrow the hierarchy. No matter how capable one is, a series of meaningless victories is the result of an outcome is defeat. The outcome is all that matters at this school."
"What is this, an underdog speech?" - Yamasaki sneered in his mind. He found Chairman Sakayanagi's attempt at encouraging him to participate in class competition amusing.
Specialists could outshine even Class A in their domains—but such students were unruly wildcards, like Köenji, Horikita, and Kushida.
Though the chairman's words sounded inspirational, Yamasaki remained unmoved.
"Feels like he's subtly hyping me up. This is his subtle way to encourage me to participate in class competition. Feeding me breadcrumbs. Just enough to engage my curiosity and a desire to learn more about the school system, while not giving away anything too compromising. This person has experience." - Yamasaki instantly saw through Chairman Sakayanagi's true motives.
"Chairman, no need for that look. Class D is an appropriate place for me."
"Biding your time? Prudent." Chairman Sakayangi mused.
Yamasaki chuckled but didn't respond.
"Overthinking again. I suppose this is the bad habit of smart people. Smart people have a bad habit of thinking that everything has to be clever." - Yamasaki concluded that it is about time he left. After all, he already completed everything he set out to do.
"Speaking of which..." Chairman Sakayanagi adjusted his glasses. "Has Class D learned the hidden rules?"
"What do you think?" Yamasaki returned the question to the Chairman.
"You don't have to worry about it, Yamasaki-kun. Our conversation won't leak. A chairman's basic integrity."
"I plan to buy the eight surveillance cameras monitoring the first-year classes— ownership rights included."
Chairman Sakayangi was speechless.
He couldn't help but falter at Yamasaki's words.
"Surveillance cameras..." Chairman Sakaynagi's eyes flickered with realization.
As the epitome of ANHS authority, who governed this institution for over 17 years, he grasped Yamasaki's scheme instantly:
1. Point Deductions:
Monthly, the school deducted class points based on camera footage.
Tardiness. Absences. Phone usage. Speaking during class.
If a class's footage "mysteriously" vanished, they could score 1000 class points.
2. Intel Goldmine:
Monitoring rival classes = strategic dominance.
3. Psychological Warfare:
Constant surveillance erodes morale.
No one likes feeling like a criminal.
In short: Whoever controlled the cameras held the power.
Yamasaki had monopolized intel warfare by the second day.
Chairman's gaze sharpened with an unprecedented disbelief and genuine admiration.
"...A genius idea." A pause. "How did you conceive it?"
Yamasaki shrugged, "It just came to me. I guess I just got lucky."
The classroom was filled with cameras in every corner, no blind spots.
Control the cameras = control the intel source.
"Brilliant," Chairman Sakaynagi conceded, "However, no student has ever traded with the school like this. You're exploiting their resources."
Yamasaki met his gaze unshaken. "If 'points buy everything,' the school can't refuse."
"Ha." Chairman Sakaynagi couldn't help but chuckle, as his glasses glinted. "So this is your real goal-using my influence to pressure them?"
"This school's motto is to nurture potential. To deny my proposal is to deny the very purpose this institution was designed for." - Yamasaki countered the chairman's argument by using the very school ideology against him.
As Chairman of this prestigious institution and the head of the board of directors.
"Impressive. Flawless execution." Chairman Sakayanagi's praise was unprecedented.
This freshman was always ten steps ahead—every word is calculated, every move ensures maximum benefit.
This young man knows when it is the right time to advance and when to retreat.
With such IQ, EQ, and strategy...
He would be at the top even in an S-class.
This man is worthy of a class of his own.
"Even without me, the school would most likely accept your proposal, Yamasaki-kun. Just like you said, this school's purpose is to produce superior people capable of leading Japan into the future."
"However... But buying outright? Impossible. Even 100 million private points wouldn't sway them. It'd break the balance. Leasing? Recurring income?" He shook his head. "Your class would be untouchable. The school won't allow for a monolith."
"The school is pretty considerate towards Nagumos's year. The vice-president already has full control over his year. Competition has stopped, and by extension, students have lost any incentive to participate, and to induce growth." - Yamasaki, once more, countered chairman Sakayanagi's word using a second-year grade as an example.
The chairman couldn't help but sigh.
"This boy really is something else..."
"This and that are different topics, Yamasaki-kun." - Chairman Sakayanagi changed the subject, as he was unable to come up with reasonable arguments. - "That being said, I believe the board of directors will agree to your proposal." Chairman Sakayangi conceded, "They'll pay a lump sum as a 'creative reward,' then ban camera deals altogether."
"Alternatively..." He leaned in. "They would probably allow a short-term lease. A final concession before the ban hammer."
Yamasaki nodded.
Chairman's Sakayanagi thoughts matched his own.
"Therefore..." Yamasaki said smoothly, "Your mediation is crucial. A lease is a far more profitable alternative than the school's paltry reward."
"Greedy. But I don't dislike it." Chairman Sakayanagi couldn't help but smirk as he was amused by this situation. "I'll try. Three weeks max, no strings attached."
"Thank you for your understanding." - Yamasaki nodded, expressing his gratitude for being able to go through with both proposals.
"Coupled with the deal I have made to retain S-System as a secret for 20-30 million points, it is safe to assume I will be able to assemble at least 5 million points." - Yamasaki was satisfied to learn that everything is proceeding smoothly.
However, he did not let his guard down.
He never takes his position for granted.
He always evaluates the best course of action.
Yamasaki knows that with the right circumstances, even the most capable individuals can be defeated.
In this world, an absolute superiority does not exist.
Even rules have rules.
Even strength has pride.
After all, a true ability is the acknowledgement of one's strengths and weaknesses, and making an effort to compensate for one's limitations through other ways.
...
Returning to the present moment...
Yamasaki continued to read the message from the Chairman.
"However, the school imposed two conditions."
"First, no cross-class transfers. The school reserves the right to reclaim the privileges. The buyback price is 400,000 points per device.
Second, you must pay a 1.2 million-point rental fee. Are these terms acceptable?"
Yamasaki typed "Agreed."
The cost was far lighter than he'd anticipated.
Everything went exactly as planned.
Instead of giving 1-2 weeks or even a full month's lease, the school had granted three weeks.
The school's reasoning made sense.
If surveillance covered an entire month, the point gaps between classes could shrink drastically, rendering the competition meaningless.
If students used cameras to eliminate rule-breaking, the school might have to pay out a staggering 100,000 points each to 160 freshmen.
That would be financially unsustainable.
Just the first week's deductions were enough to determine which classes were A-rank and which had fallen to D-rank.
"Class D is in last place in this race." Yamasaki thought to himself.
Considering Class D's multiple late arrivals, phone usage, speaking during classes, tardiness, and unauthorised absences in Week 1, their points were likely halved at best—but not zeroed out.
As for the second condition, the school's intent was clear:
They wanted students to earn points, moderately treat peers as surveillance targets, or disrupt normal school life.
The underlying meaning? "Know your limits."
That said, the 500,000-point buyback per device (there are 4 cameras in a class, hence 16 cameras in 4 classes combined) still guaranteed Yamasaki a fortune.
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting!" a female voice echoed throughout the space filled with adolescents talking about girls.
The people are the following:
Hirata Yousuke
Karuizawa Kei
Satou Maya
Matsushita Chiaki
Mori Nene
Kushida Kikyo.
Surprisingly enough, Sudou came in the end.
Apparently, the captain was concerned that Sudou's intense dedication to basketball might have adverse effects on his body and mind.
As an appreciation for his talent and effort, he was permitted to take a day off.
The group went to enjoy each other's company, the group went to Keyaki Mall, hung out at a cafe, watched a movie, and ate at a small-time restaurant.
Everyone enjoyed themselves.
Even the monkey duo, Ike and Yamauchi, who came to get Kushida's attention, surprisingly, didn't bother as much as they would normally do.
I guess even perverts can have their moments of epiphany, when their attention is distorted.
Around them, the group buzzed with energy—Kushida's laughter ringing clear.
Even the ever-accommodating Hirata found himself dropping his saviour mask and enjoying himself with a few jokes.
Sudo, awkward but sincere to fit in the group, was fumbling through an exaggerated story, earning laughter from the group.
The calm, high-class girl, Matsushita, has earned teasing from the girls when she was caught watching the movie with a child-like enthusiasm. Satou got embarrassed when she accidentally bought a big popcorn instead of a small one, and ended up sharing it with Yamasaki, much to Karuizawa's annoyance and jealousy. Mori also enjoyed herself, but mostly she preoccupied herself with teasing Satou and Matsushita about being their "wing woman" to catch the "big fish".
Yamasaki's eyes flickered over to the group; his gaze was soft as he watched them enjoying the film in earnest. It was an oddly humanizing sight, seeing them like this—letting their guard down, letting go of their usual facades for even a moment.
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「April 22th︱Afternoon︱Class 1D's Classroom
[Third Party POW]
"Good Morning, Class D. It's the end of the month, so we're going to have a short test. Please pass these to the back." Chabashira-sensei said.
She handed out the papers to the students in the front row. Eventually, the single-sheet test reached my desk. It contained questions in the five main subjects. With only a few questions per subject, it really was short.
"This test is just for future reference. It won't be reflected in your report cards. There is no risk involved, so don't worry. Of course, cheating is prohibited."
As soon as the pop quiz began, I scanned the questions. There were four questions per subject, for a total of twenty. Each question was worth five points, for a total of one hundred points. Every question appeared to be easy, but the final three questions were an order of magnitude higher in terms of difficulty. The final math problem couldn't be solved without complex formulae.
Yamasaki couldn't help but ask himself.
Is this place really a high school?
Aren't high schools supposed to educate students and help them discover their own value?
The purpose of this school seemed completely inverted. After all, how could anyone's value be measured by points?
If human worth could be reduced to mere points, then the essence of being human had already been grotesquely warped into something unrecognizable.
To Yamasaki, this school was more like a dystopian, cyber-utopian reality TV show, where the value of a person had been entirely distorted. People were no longer people; they were walking points.
This school was a place where only the law of the jungle prevailed, a dark forest where individuality had been stripped away, leaving only one truth:
To survive, you must adapt to the rules.
For the past week, I have explored ways to venture outside.
I have learned that there's no way to obtain permission to leave the school through normal means. The only way is to buy the privilege from those who are already allowed to leave, such as through the student council's regular off-campus activities or clubs that make it to prefectural or even national competitions. Those are the main opportunities to leave the school.
The specific number of points depends on the buyer's willingness, but considering how rare this resource is, it's highly sought after. At least two million points would be a safe bet...
Yamasaki Isao is an anomaly.
In this meritocratic school, he is both the type of student who is least suited to the rules and, while using them to the fullest, simultaneously. Being unsuited to the rules means being an outlier, and outliers often don't receive any commendation.
On the other hand, he is an outlier who can disrupt the balance. Often, those who either adapt well to the rules or are extremely unsuitable for them can use all the rules to reach the top.
Horikita Suzune is currently detached from the class group and has no friends. This means she's not influenced by any small factions within the class and can make the most rational and objective decisions for the class.
Moreover, the most important thing is that Horikita Suzune has the potential to lead Class D to greatness. She currently lacks some of the necessary skills, but three years is enough time for her to develop.
In addition, Horikita Suzune is that she has the conviction to do so. She is the most aligned with the school's rules and, I believe, the one most suited to the concept of meritocracy.
Normally, someone like Yamasaki would be quickly eliminated by this school's meritocratic standards. He is fundamentally opposed to these rules.
He is not suited to this meritocratic world...
And yet...it's precisely in such an environment that people like them can truly shine.
Gold only shines brightly when thrown into a pile of coal, and the lotus only reveals its purity by blooming from the mud.
Yamasaki Isao is like that.
A diamond in a drain.
So, Yamasaki Isao, sooner or later, will find his own brilliance in this world ruled by strength.
Some individuals are born with a natural talent in certain areas that sets them apart. Unfortunately, some can fully harness their gifts, while others go their whole lives without ever realizing their potential.
Yamasaki's talent was clearly extraordinary — he possessed everything an outstanding individual should have. Yet he behaved as if he were the most ordinary person around. Had he not come to this school of meritocratic elitism, he might have gone his entire life unnoticed, forever pretending to be a "normal" person.
The class's biggest problem was indeed a lack of a unifying leader. Hirata Yosuke wants everyone to be heard and appreciated. Kushida wanted to be loved and adored by everyone, and she would never willingly take the position that would incite controversy. Koenji, though capable, was too inscrutable and showed no desire to assume responsibility. The rest of the class was divided into cliques, making it difficult to forge unity. It was evident that to change Class D, there was only one solution.
The ideal position would be something like this [Class D's four pillars]:
Hirata Yousuke is a representative for girls.
Kushida Kikyo rallies the boys behind her.
Karuizawa rallies the more outspoken girls from her side.
Horikita would unite under unwavering leadership with Matsushita as Horikita's advisor/second-in-command.
"The Fantastic Four of Class D"- Yamasaki couldn't help but snicker at such a child-like idea.
Still...
How long these student can enjoy their paradise before being sentenced to hell?
As the saying goes, "Trouble comes when you least expect it."
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