(So... not everyone in Class A is as sharp as Sakayanagi, huh?)
(A student with theft records gets into Class A, while honor students like Horikita end up in Class D... This school's logic is getting harder to follow.)
Could it be that the placement committee simply doesn't care about students' dark histories?!
Though, from what he'd seen so far, Kamuro Masumi's placement in Class A might not be doing her any favors.
When parting ways with Sakayanagi Arisu earlier, he had caught a glimpse of her gaze toward Kamuro.
That look—like a predator spotting ideal prey—was laced with amused detachment and chilling interest.
The silver-haired strategist had already marked Kamuro as a perfect pawn.
Had he not intervened, Kamuro would've likely been ensnared completely by Sakayanagi after the beer incident.
Which was why he'd casually handed her the beer and dropped a few warnings—
"Be careful not to get tricked by some scheming girl."
She should've understood, right?
Being in Class A, her intelligence should at least meet basic standards.
Probably.
Shimizu Akira visited the faculty office again that morning for a private discussion with Chabashira Sae.
She briefed him on the outcome of the reported incident while transferring 50,000 personal points to his account.
Though unspoken, the implication was clear—this was hush money.
Shimizu Akira accepted readily.
His goal in reporting had always been to test the school's rule enforcement boundaries through Chabashira.
With that achieved, there was no need to press further.
He transferred 15,000 points back to her:
~5,000 points for the beer (each can under 300 yen).
10,000 points as her "errand fee."
Net profit: 85,000 points.
Including the 50,000-point reward and his original 100,000 points, his current balance stood at 235,000 points.
Chabashira Sae casually inquired: "Who lost the bet against you?"
"Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A."
The instant the name left his mouth, Chabashira's expression shifted dramatically.
A peculiar light flickered in her eyes—a mix of surprise, anticipation, and something almost exhilarated.
Her lips parted slightly, as if to say something crucial, but she ultimately murmured:
"...Let's discuss this in a month."
The words seemed directed at him, yet also at herself.
As he turned to leave, Chabashira did something utterly uncharacteristic:
"Use your points... wisely."
Her tone carried genuine concern, a stark contrast to her usual aloofness.
Shimizu Akira's mental alarms blared instantly.
When someone chronically indifferent suddenly shows warmth, there's always a calculated motive beneath.
Yet for now, the nature of that motive eluded him.
Shaking his head, he decided to table his suspicions.
At the end of the day, Chabashira was D-Class's homeroom teacher.
Even with ulterior motives, she wouldn't outright harm her own students—at least superficially, their interests aligned.
The first task for new students was dormitory check-in.
When Shimizu Akira arrived at the first-year dormitory zone, the sight gave him pause—
Before him stood a modern high-rise apartment complex.
Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he could glimpse minimalist yet cozy interiors, fulfilling the handbook's promise: private single rooms for all.
In his high school memories, "dormitory" meant eight-person rooms, cramped bunk beds, and never enough storage.
This would be his first time having his own space as a student.
An odd flicker of excitement stirred in his chest.
As he joined the check-in queue, he noticed something striking—
The dormitory was co-ed.
A nearby wall displayed the "Student Dormitory Regulations" in crisp black-and-white.
Under "Interpersonal Conduct," the school neither banned nor restricted cross-gender interactions, opting instead for a deliberately vague clause:
『Relationships unbefitting of high school students are prohibited.』
(Talk about wordplay...)
What exactly constituted "unbefitting"? A teacher-student affair? Or was anything fair game as long as academics weren't affected?
His gaze drifted to a vending machine in the corner—
Stocked with condoms of various brands and sizes.
(Ah. Not banned, but "safety first"? As long as no accidents happen, it's fine?!)
When his turn came, he was assigned Room 402.
Ever meticulous, Shimizu Akira inquired about utilities and rent.
"All living expenses are covered by the school," the staff member explained kindly. "Just avoid excessive waste."
The answer made him whistle inwardly—these accommodations were absurdly generous.
Perhaps this was the school's safeguard: even if students exhausted their monthly points, basic housing would remain secure.
As he rubbed his access card thoughtfully, a question occurred to him:
"Is this the only copy? What if it's lost?"
The staff member adjusted his glasses. "Only one primary card is issued, but..." He paused meaningfully. "With proper documentation, you may apply for a secondary card for a designated individual."
Noticing Shimizu's surprise, he smiled knowingly. "Be it a close friend or romantic partner, mutual consent suffices." He added pointedly, "Naturally, this must be entirely voluntary."
"Understood. Thanks." Shimizu nodded politely.
While he had no immediate use for this service, the school's liberal approach was unexpected.
Though he wondered about the approval criteria—surely they wouldn't just hand out cards because some girl claimed to be his girlfriend...