"Shocked by the amount of points you've been given? This school evaluates its students' talents. Everyone here has passed the entrance examination, which itself speaks to your value and potential. The amount you've received reflects the evaluation of your worth.
You can use your points without restraint. After graduation, however, all of your points return to the school.
Because it's impossible to exchange your points for cash, there's no advantage to saving them. Once points have been deposited into your account, it's up to you how to spend them. Do as you like.
In the event that you don't want to spend your points, you may transfer them to someone else. However, extorting money from your peers is not allowed. This school monitors bullying very carefully."
"Sensei, are you reading a script or something?"
I couldn't help but ask. Given that we have already established that we most likely won't be getting 100,000 points from now on, it's weird for him to say that 'shocked by the amount of points'.
"I can't answer."
That's basically admitting that he is reading from a script.
"Any questions?"
"Yes sensei. Actually, there is a psycho in class D named Kushida from my middle school. She is quite average in both studies and sports. So, how did she get into this school?
School must have known how she destroyed her entire class, otherwise, choosing her specifically when there are 2 other students in this year from the same middle school doesn't make sense.
Did the school specifically choose her, and people like her, to be our foil?
Is being a psycho her so-called merit? Then, isn't it unfair for hardworking students to be not selected in favour to her?
Or maybe some relative of her has a special situation with a higher-up?"
"I can't answer."
Mashima-sensei repeated the same answer.
For some reason, the disabled loli glared at me for suspecting the higher-ups of the school.
Maybe she is the kid of a higher-up?
"Any more questions?"
Mashima-sensei asked, and I nodded.
"Even if you say that points can't be converted into cash, no one should be stupid enough to buy Yen. What if we buy USD, gold, or something like that? Will the school confiscate it?"
"You can only buy what is available on the school campus."
"Does the school campus have any jewellery store? Which sells real gold jewellery? Can we take what we bought here in this school after we graduate?"
"What you buy is yours. School isn't going to confiscate it. As for jewellery shop, I don't know. You should find it out yourself."
"I see. Then, if someone wants to transfer class, what is the procedure?"
With the existence of Kushida in class D, I don't want Horikita to remain there. Moreover, maybe most of her classmates are psychos and problem kids like Kushida?
"We don't change classes for the students for the whole three years."
"But what if I want to buy it with points?"
"20 million points."
Hmmm... That's too much.
"Does my position and seat in this class belong to me or the school?"
"It belongs to you for as long as you are a student."
"Meaning, as long as someone agrees to sell their position in one class, they can set the price themselves. So, an effective class swap between two students is possible with 1 point?"
"...That's possible."
Hmm... So as long as I get some to agree with swapping their position with Horikita, it's possible?
I glanced at Yahiko.
"Yahiko, if I give you 100,000 points—"
Suddenly, the disabled loli interrupted me.
"Why are you suddenly not curious about why the school will leave such an obvious loophole, if transferring to other class requires 20 million points? Yahiko-kun, he is trying to trick you again."
"You bastard!"
Yahiko shouted at me.
"Aren't you too easily influenced, Yahiko? She was tricking you into spending too many points for that seat just moments ago."
"Wha-You are right, but—"
"Fufu~ Yahiko-kun, as he said, you are too easily influenced. Didn't he say that there is a psycho with average scores in class D? If she destroyed her whole class, we can assume that she is one of the worst person the school could find.
And we are in class A, the best class. It can't be that much of a coincidence.
This means that the quality of the class declines as we go from class A to D.
And since we receive points according to our worth, and we all got the same amount despite us being too unequal, it means that the students of the same class receive the same amount of points.
Naturally, class A will receive the most amount of points, and the lower classes will receive less points. So, there is no reason for someone from the upper class to move to a lower class."
I refused this statement.
"What a classist assumption. Just because Kushida is in class D doesn't mean that it is the worst class. Psychos like her can be sprinkled in all classes to act as our foil."
"Fufu~ I believe my assumption is correct. Afterall, I am in class A. It can't be just a mere coincidence."
...
"Are you still suffering from 8th grader syndrome or something?"
"Wow, you sure have a sharp tongue... Oh my. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Sakayanagi Arisu. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Ah. I am Hajime Hayato. Nice to meet you as well. Anyway, I have a friend who scored 3rd in the entrance exam in the entire country, and she is in class D.
This means that the students are more uniformly distributed, rather than following the case of classism."
"Fufu~ then how about we have a bet on whose assumption is correct?"
I looked at her with suspicion. Oh right. I remember the name Sakayanagi on the brochure. He is the chairman of this school. She must be related to him, that's why she was displeased when I said that there might be corruption in the school.
So she is a rich kid. Too prideful, and since she is rich, she most likely gambles.
"I won't participate in such morally corrupt behaviour like gambling. The fact that you are trying to make a bet moments after introducing yourself means that my assumption is the correct one.
Your argument that this is the best class because you are in it is, therefore, wrong."
"Fufu~ Hajime-kun, are you scared from making a simple bet?"
"You should be afraid, Sakayanagi. Your parents worked hard to build something, so you shouldn't waste it by gambling."
She hit her cane on the floor. But her facial expression didn't change.
"Fufu~ I was thinking of betting with points. But fine.
How about this? If your assumption is right and my assumption is wrong, I will swap my position in this class with the one who you want to bring in this class.
Since there is no money involved, it can't be called gambling, right?"
I was about to agree, but she is giving me a bad feeling.
Even if she loses, she is related to the chairman of the school. It's not worth to bet with her. I am sure that the chairman spoils her rotten, so I would face problems in the future.
...Haven't I been rude to her before already?
"Before that, Sakayanagi, how is Chairman Sakayanagi related to you?"
"He is my father. But that doesn't—"
"Then I apologise for being rude to you earlier. And sorry, I am not interested in playing your game."
"There is no need to worry about that, Hajime-kun. I promise that my father will not interfere with the school matters. If you don't believe me, I can get a contract guaranteeing it."
"Sakayanagi, I have no interest in a bet against you."
Even though I rejected her, she started looking away bashfully and playing with her hair.
"Hajime-kun, I am sorry. It was just an excuse to interact with you. Actually... I wanted to spend some time with you—"
"Quit acting. I don't want to step on a minefield and have your father coming after me."
"I am not acting. We can just start by getting to know each other first..."
She looked at me straight. Her eyes looked sincere.
What's this? Trying to flirt with me on the first day, in front of the class, when the teacher is still here?
...She is very brave. So, it will be insensitive of me to not respond to her gesture.
So, I should be sincere and honest.
"I am sorry, but I am not interested. Not because I don't want any trouble with the chairman, but I don't mesh well with your personality. Let's keep our distance from each other."