The first morning back in the student dorms after the special exam.
From August 1, the students had spent two full weeks making the most of the luxury cruise ship.
Once a month, points are distributed based on class performance—those are private points.
Life aboard the cruise ship had required none of them, but that dreamlike existence was finally over.
From now on, every student would have to plan their days with care.
Points weren't just for fun; they covered everything essential to daily life.
Utilities and rent were provided free of charge, but food and clothing came out of one's own pocket.
That's where personalities reveal themselves.
Whether to cook at home or eat out, for instance. Saving points favors the first option, but if someone wants more free time, the second has its appeal.
Private points are simply indispensable.
And so the healthier, more mindful lifestyle was returning.
"Now, what to do."
Seated in the chair in my room, I check my private points on my phone.
[0 points.]
The number on the screen refuses to change.
It's mid-August now. Points arrive at the start of each month, so no matter how I calculate it, I'll be flat broke for the rest of it.
I wet my throat with free drinking water and walk to the refrigerator.
Inside the refrigerator is nothing... but chilled bottles of the same free water. A two-week trip meant no reason to stock food.
No frozen meals. I'd used up rice and bread with perfect efficiency.
All that remained were the absurd collection of seasonings—tools for exercising my Ultimate Chef talent.
"No help for it. Time to borrow from someone."
No time like the present. With a convenient excuse ready, I act immediately.
The thought of last night's lavish shipboard dinner being my final meal isn't funny.
I open my contacts and scroll through the names.
Ryuuen-kun, Albert, Ishizaki-kun... three Class C boys.
Ibuki-san, Shiina-san... two Class C girls.
Kouenji-kun... one boy from another class.
Sakayanagi-san, Ichinose-san... two girls from other classes.
And finally, Student Council President Horikita Manabu.
Those are all the personal contacts I have. I pick my first and second choices and start calling.
First is Albert and Ishizaki-kun.
But neither answers.
It's eight in the morning. They're apparently still asleep.
I'd assumed Ishizaki-kun would be out cold, but Albert too is surprising.
The unfamiliar environment must have worn everyone out, I conclude, and wish Albert pleasant dreams.
That leaves the next candidates.
Ryuuen-kun already refused. Asking Ibuki-san feels awkward. Kouenji-kun would be a hassle.
As I consider the rest, I realize that dragging anyone out of bed the morning after a special exam is simply rude.
With that in mind, Horikita Manabu and Sakayanagi-san remain viable.
"Well, I'll decide on a whim."
No need to panic. Luck is on my side; I won't starve.
To kill time, I decide on a walk, tidy myself up, and head outside.
My currenlty outfit is plain white T-shirt and black tapered pants with black leather shoes which I purchased on sale at a clothing store in Keyaki Mall.
I leave the dorm and walk along the tree-lined path.
This is also the junction leading to the dorms for each year, so a fair number of people pass through.
Yes—including upperclassmen.
As expected, my luck is boring.
A candidate appears far sooner than planned.
A man and woman approaching. Despite the heat, they're in full uniform and head straight toward me once they notice.
"It's been a while."
"Long time no see, President Horikita. Breakfast secured."
"…What are you talking about?"
I ignore Horikita Manabu's baffled reaction.
I've decided—this is the person I'll mooch from.
…
Keyaki Mall—the name of the multipurpose complex available to students.
It offers everything from entertainment like karaoke and bowling to eateries perfect for grabbing a bite or stopping by after school, plus stores selling daily necessities, including furniture.
Events are plentiful, and outside vendors sometimes set up shop as well.
Right now, I'm using one of the mall's cafés.
"Satisfied?"
"I'd like dessert too."
"Pretty bold. Just remember—these are someone else's points."
"Food paid for by others tastes better. Ryuuen-kun said so."
With his legs crossed while sipping his coffee, I face the student council president across the square table as he sighs.
No one else is nearby; no one can overhear us.
Incidentally, Tachibana-san, who'd been with him, headed to school at his instruction.
He apparently wanted to speak with me and preferred a private setting.
So I accepted—on the condition he treat me to breakfast.
"I heard the results of the uninhabited island test and the shipboard exam. You caused quite a commotion."
"The student council has impressive authority. A regular student knowing details of an exam that ended only yesterday."
"Call it privilege. Join the student council and you'll have access to considerable information."
"I declined the invitation before."
Dangling benefits to recruit me again.
A sly tactic, but with arms folded and eyes analyzing me, he's completely serious.
"A promising newcomer doesn't get just one invitation. How about it? With your ability, I could even create a vice president position for you."
"I'm not joining the student council."
"…I see. A shame."
When I show firm refusal, the president gives a small snort.
Something personal—that's my read. To earn points, I decide to hear out his troubles.
"You seem to have a personal stake here."
"Well, yes. I wanted your cooperation, but I won't force—"
"—If you accept my terms, I might consider it."
I cut in eagerly.
His eyes widen for a fraction of a second. Then he offers a thin smile and responds politely.
"And those terms?"
"Give me points. I'm completely broke."
"Heh. That's the most believable reason I've heard."
Money. Among desires, it carries high credibility.
Not more valuable than life, perhaps, but it can certainly be weighed against it.
"So—what exactly is this personal matter?"
To close the deal quickly, I move straight to the point.
"Do you remember Nagumo Miyabi?"
"Yes. This school's vice president."
"Correct. My problem is simple—I want you to stop Nagumo."
No trace of deception in the president's sharp gaze; my ultimate analysis detects none.
A request from the president himself to hinder the vice president. A thorn in his side—or perhaps below it. This sounds troublesome.
"Is this for after your graduation? Your presence seems to be acting as a deterrent right now."
"For now. But once I'm gone, he intends to change this school's very philosophy.
I can't accept that. That's why I'm looking for someone in the next generation capable of standing against him."
Change the philosophy—of this thorough meritocracy.
I don't know the details, but the fact he's stating it outright suggests he's already exhausted every other option.
Rumors say nearly the entire second-year class is under his control. The president's tone suggests those rumors are accurate.
Impressive, frankly. Unifying an entire year with only half a year left until graduation is no small feat.
If anyone in a single year could match it, it would be me or Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Nagumo plans to turn this school into an even more extreme meritocracy. I want you to prevent that."
With those words, he takes out his phone and begins operating it.
"Get your phone out. I'll transfer the points now."
"I haven't agreed to accept yet."
"No—you'll draw his attention sooner or later regardless. A peaceful school life may become impossible.
Consider this an investment to ensure you don't renege on my request when that time comes."
"You never intended to let me refuse from the beginning."
Pushy, but effective.
I'm desperate, so he pays upfront and frames it as an investment—forcing a half-binding commitment.
He saw through my lack of information and struck with details I couldn't possibly know.
It feels less like accepting a request and more like being outmaneuvered.
"Because you truly were broke. I figured this approach would be the fastest."
A faint smile breaks through his cool expression.
This man possesses real talent too.
Ultimate Student Council President wouldn't be an overstatement—overwhelming ability, charisma, and an eye for people.
I could almost sympathize with the third-years who have to contend with Horikita Manabu. It's easy to understand why Horikita Suzune harbors near-fanatical devotion toward him.
Truly a pity. Had he been in my year, the future might have been far more interesting.
"Appropriate handling. As expected from Horikita Suzune's older brother."
At that, his brow furrows.
"My ability has nothing to do with Suzune."
"I was merely praising the fact that both of you possess remarkable talent.
By the way, President—she grew tremendously through this exam. If you praised her as her brother, she'd be overjoyed."
"I refuse."
More stubborn than even Katsuragi-kun.
Yet he's clearly pleased by Horikita-san's growth. Their sibling affection simply passes like ships in the night.
"…Let's get back to it. Phone out. You need points, don't you?"
I cross my legs again and think it over.
He wants my cooperation to stop Nagumo Miyabi. If I keep this promise, I get points right now.
For someone in my dire situation, that's welcome news.
But the crucial part—Nagumo Miyabi himself—doesn't interest me.
His ability is undeniably impressive. For a high school student, he possesses almost excessive power.
That's all, though. As an enemy, he's undoubtedly a formidable wall; neither the current Ryuuen-kun nor Horikita-san would have high odds of beating him in most contests.
The only one who might outmaneuver him is Sakayanagi-san.
Yet as a playmate for me, it's another story. He could be an opponent, but for now I have enough.
"Fine. I'll keep it in the back of my mind."
"Good. Deal struck."
"You're okay with a verbal promise?"
"I am. There are other candidates."
Only those who meet his standards get lured with points like this.
I don't know who'll be approached next, but I hope it doesn't become a hassle.
I take out my phone and wait for the transfer.
"I don't have unlimited time. I can't keep leaving everything to Tachibana either."
"…This amount of points—"
"It's a cheap investment if it makes you conscious of the promise."
The president stands and leaves briskly.
Still in uniform—student council work must continue even during summer break.
But that's beside the point.
I check my points again, which had been single digits moments ago.
[500,000 points.]
From one digit to six.
More income than expected. This makes ignoring the promise that much harder.
The president's wallet must be correspondingly deep to hand over this sum so casually.
"Well, I might play along if the mood strikes."
Honestly, plenty of retorts come to mind, but the life-or-death issue is resolved.
For now, I decide to order another drink.
…
It's past nine, and stores in Keyaki Mall begin opening.
Cafés and cinemas start earlier, but most open at nine.
With nothing particular to do and time to kill, I decide to spend some of the points I just received.
I'll shop for groceries last; for now, I start walking while considering where to begin.
Coffee shops, bookstores, general stores, electronics shops—the more I walk, the more variety I see.
Continuing straight, I spot a crowd.
Curious, I approach and see a neatly set-up sign.
Fortune-telling. Followed by prices, courses, and times.
"Surprisingly popular."
I remark while eyeing the line of mostly pairs—couples or two girls, with the occasional two boys.
A certain number of people believe in the unscientific, but I hadn't expected this much demand for mere fortune-telling.
Either the fortune-teller here is exceptionally skilled, or this school has an unusually high number of enthusiasts.
Whichever it is, it doesn't matter to me.
I possess something like the Ultimate Fortune-Teller talent anyway, and besides, I'm alone. I can't even register.
"Oh? You came for a fortune-telling too, but you're by yourself?"
As I turn to leave, a pleasant female voice stops me.
I look toward the unfamiliar voice and see a female student walking over from the crowd.
Well over 170 cm tall, pure white hair with no other colors mixed in, a mesh headband, ruby-like red eyes.
No first-year matches these traits.
"A face I don't recognize, but that long hair and red eyes… Could you be the first-year who was the talk of the school at enrollment?"
"Who are you?"
Private clothes that suit her cool aura perfectly. Yet her face is so perfectly proportioned that it steals attention from her outfit.
"My apologies. I'm Kiryuin Fuuka. Your upperclassman—one year above you."
Second-year.
Same year as Nagumo Miyabi. The earlier promise triggers a touch of wariness.
From the situation, she's an ordinary student who tried to get a fortune-telling alone and couldn't register.
Spotting me was pure coincidence. Approaching me means she likely wants to use me as a partner to sign up.
That seems the most probable.
"And your name?"
"Kamukura Izuru."
"I see. So it really is you."
She smiles faintly in understanding.
I neither know nor care what rumors circulated.
But one thing isn't irrelevant... she's shown interest in me.
"Interested in fortune-telling?"
"Not at all."
"Same here."
Then why are you here?
The answer comes immediately.
"No interest means you probably just came to see what the crowd was about, right? Same as me."
"Your guess is correct. And you plan to drag me along so you can get your fortune told?"
"Spot on, kōhai. You catch on quick—saves time."
She was probably wandering Keyaki Mall, spotted the crowd, and checked the sign like I did.
With time to kill, she decided to try fortune-telling, only to learn it requires pairs.
Then she noticed a lone person about to leave and called out.
"So, how about it? Care to help kill some time with me?"
"I'll pass, senpai."
Surprised by the refusal, she tilts her head.
After a moment's thought, she continues.
"…Kōhai, have you ever had your fortune told?"
"No."
"Then why not try it? Experience is valuable. You came here too, so you must have time to spare?"
"I do, but getting a fortune read by someone else is a waste of time and points. Doing it myself is faster."
"Doing it yourself is faster? Does that mean you can tell fortunes?"
Her gaze sharpens with interest.
I feel the shift—from casual observation to active analysis.
"Yes. It'd be boring for someone who can tell fortunes to go get one told, wouldn't it?"
"True enough. No reason to go. But now I'm a little more interested in you, kōhai. If you've got time, stick with me a while."
"I'll decline."
It's not that I have no interest in her.
On the contrary, the aura of strength evident just from her posture is worth analyzing.
Yet she reminds me of Kouenji-kun.
The kind who does whatever she wants without regard for others and drags people along—arrogant and overbearing.
The special exam only just ended. An unknown like her is better left for later, when things have ripened.
"A invitation from a beauty like me? Turning it down might use up a lifetime's worth of luck."
"If it would exhaust all my luck, that's all the more reason not to go. In fact, I'm grateful to decline."
She laughs with genuine amusement.
The talent for luck is boring—it can handle anything depending on the situation.
If that talent disappeared, it would actually make things easier for me to hold back.
"I've seen plenty who don't believe in luck, but you're the first who says he doesn't want it.
That makes me even more interested. Standing around talking is getting old—let's move to a café."
"I already went to one this morning, so I'm good."
"Then that rest area over there."
She points to a nearby seating area and speaks as if it's decided.
Troublesome.
As predicted—same type as Kouenji-kun. She might actually be worth some expectations.
"Persistent women aren't popular, you know."
"Oh? Is that so? I'm persistent and unpopular. Listen to this, kouhai—at my age, I've never even had a boyfriend."
"Take that complaint to a friend."
"Unfortunately, I don't have anyone I'd call a friend. I'm always lonely. Don't you feel sorry for me?"
That's just laziness—I nearly say it aloud but hold back.
Someone truly friendless and lonely wouldn't approach strangers this boldly anyway.
"Doesn't concern me."
"Harsh. Kōhai, you must not be popular either."
"I have no interest in affection from strangers I don't even know."
"Agreed. Scores from others mean nothing. But we know each other's names now. You can't brush off affection from someone you know, can you?"
"We met today."
This woman never stops.
As long as it kills time, it's tolerable.
Still, she's clearly enjoying the conversation itself and trying to analyze me.
She shows no sign of backing down; if this drags on indefinitely, it'll become genuinely annoying.
Unless I get a schedule, I won't shake her.
No choice. Last resort.
Run away.
"Whoa, hold it. I'm not letting you escape."
As I start to turn, she grabs my hand.
There was preparatory movement, yet I'd moved at decent speed. She has considerable physical ability.
"Give in, kōhai. Lately there's been no one interesting, so I'm bored too."
She smiles triumphantly.
She knows I'm not seriously trying to break free, so her grip is light.
I could escape anytime, but she'd probably chase a bit.
Playing tag in a shopping mall. Not something high schoolers—let alone Ultimate Talents—should do.
Looks like I have no choice but to surrender.
"What are you doing there Izuru-kun?"
A third voice calls my name.
A familiar tone... I quickly turn toward her.
She's around 150 cm tall with pure white hair and a white bucket hat to shield from the sun with sapphire-like blue eyes.
And a cane supporting her slender frame. Only one student matches these traits.
"Long time no see, Sakayanagi-san."
When I say her name, she swaps her mask for a gentle smile.
***
Hi everyone, I hope you're all doing well. I just wanted to let you know that right now I'm working on a really good and promising fate fanfic. If you're interested in reading it, feel free to give it a try:
[Fate/Max Level Returner]
Synopsis:
What if you took your max-level account and replayed the entire story from the beginning?
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