"I Figured out the S-System."
"...Sorry?"
"Um. That's why I called you over. I can't tell infront of everyone because that makes me uncomfortable and I may forget things I want to share. So, Ichinose-san, please don't interrupt me and listen quietly."
Kiruyin said in rapid succession leaving Ichinose staring at him in a daze but still nodded her head. Kiruyin feigned relief. Then he begun.
"Scoot closer Ichinose-san. Least someone from other class hears."
He gestured Ichinose to get closer. She tilted her head seeing the worry in him of other class members hearing what he has to say. Why is that a problem. She couldn't understand but she compiled and got closer.
"Ahm. So, first is, there are two types of points. Individual points and class points. We got 1000 class points at the start of the semester. We will get individual points next months according to the amount of class points we have. The ratio is 1:100. The school evaluates us through the whole month. Exams results, behaviour, following rules. You get the stuff. And you may have already guessed, the Class-A is the best interms of... well, discipline? Dunno. But yes. Class-D is the worst."
"The school encourages class competitions. If, at the end of the month, our class points exceeds that of Class-A's, we will be promoted to Class-A and they will be demoted. And the reason we will participate in the competition in the first place is because only Class-A gets the 100% enrollment grantee into any university. The rest, trash. The seats are limited. But I think you can buy your way up to Class-A since the sensei said we can buy anything. I don't know how much though. Hmm~~. I think that's about it. I can't seem to remember anything else. But that's the whole fiasco of this school. It's basically giving us a glimpse of the real society with how the school rules are designed. I think I have mentioned all the important stuff."
Kiruyin finished after a while with a huff. Ichinose stared at him, agape. Her eyes wide in shock.
"... That's... amazing Sakiho-kun!"
"Sshhh!!"
"Sorry~~."
Ichinose said and her voice rose a notch too high. Kiruyin immediately gestured her to quiet down.
"Well, it's nothing. I guess you guys have already figured it you most of the stuff."
"MmMm~ not at all. We only managed to go so far. We also asked some senpais but even with all the points offered, they didn't say anything. How did you managed to learn all this Sakiho-kun ~?"
She said with admiration sparkling in her wide steel blue gradient eyes. Kiruyin was slightly pressured by her intensity.
But he didn't lose his composure.
"Well, it's actually easy. If you go to the second floor, there are bulletin boards showing class points."
He said as he showed the picture he took yesterday.
"Through this, I belive you can guess the rest."
Ichinose stared at the pic before looked back at him with a frown.
"So this is why you disappeared after class... I was thinking you may not have liked us but you were out there figuring out the system for us... amazing ~.But that doesn't explain how you can tell the point ratio, or... wait. You can..."
"Right? It's so easy that its baffling."
Ichinose realised mid rant that what Kiruyin said was actually true. Then she smiled brightly.
"Your so humble Sakiho-kun. But no matter what you say, it's hard because it's that easy to find. It's precisely because it's too easy that its easy to miss. So take some credit Sakiho-kun~."
"Before you go Ichinose-san. Remember when I mentioned the reasons for deduction of class points? I want to add few more things so we don't loose too many points. I think everyone in our class wants to graduate and go to their dream jobs. Do you mind?"
Kiruyin added as he checked his phone and looked around. Few students passed by. Going to their class. They couldn't hear the conversation between Kiruyin and Ichinose.
They cast a suspicious glance in their direction. He noticed jealousy from the male students because they were wedged against the wall and leaning towards each other while facing the class. Whispering.
"Uh-uh! Please go ahead. Any insight will help immensely since you figured out everything and even willing to share with everyone. You definitely understand the school better than us!"
Kiruyin hummed in response and just when he was about to respond, he remembered the thing he had been planning from yesterday. The thing that will make everyone straight(?).
"Oh. I forgot to mention. You can exchange individual points after graduation into real money. The ratio is somewhere between 0.8 to 0.9 per point. And you don't have to worry about the authenticity of the information. I have had a senpai confirm everything by exploiting a loophole."
Kiruyin dropped a bomb with the most nonchalant voice ever. Ichinose stiffened instantly and looked at Kiruyin's face with shock written all over her face. But he paid her no mind and continued without turning to face her.
"But anyway. You see all that cameras monitoring us? They are constantly evaluating us. Any behaviour befitting of normal behavioural pattern gets flagged. I think they also keeps tab of our resourcefulness. In that regard. Right now, Class-B's biggest enemy is lack of discipline and Hoshi-Ho-Honami-"
"Hoshinomiya-sensei?"
"Yes! Yes. Her. Hoshinomiya-sensei. I've Nominal Aphasia. And yes. Not literally but because of her easy going nature. If you replay yesterday's events in the class, you can easily understand what I mean. And there are also excessive partying, not being vigilant against future variables.
And at the core, this is an academic institution, so I think the deduction happens largely inside inside classroom and through exam results? I don't know. And oh! I forgot to mention that we will obviously get chances to earn extra class points. But through special examination. And that's about it. For now, tell everyone to be vigilant and not go against the teaching they have learned up until now. Then explain everything after school. Since there are less than 15 minutes before the sensei arrives."
Kiruyin turned to the brooding Ichinose. She was thinking deeply about something. Probably taking her family financial situation into consideration after the revelation? He didn't know. Nor he wanted to.
"And finally, Ichinose-san. I want you to to say nothing about this to the class. That I was the one who gave the information."
Ichinose snapped out of her daze and looked at Kiruyin with a startled expression.
"How could that be~ Sakiho-kun? I can't possibly take all the credits for your efforts! You should get full credit for the valuable information you have provided!"
"Look, Ichinose-san. I know how you feel. I know that your kind heart will feel very wronged... but you see, I'm not very good with attention. I want to contribute to the class, but on my own terms. I will feel extremely uncomfortable with the sudden attention."
Kiruyin said as he scratched the back of his head while his eyes darted around. Giving of "I'm troubled" vibe.
"... Although it's embarrassing to say. But I'm very socially anxious. Although I'm doing better, sudden exposure to the crowd will not help me."
He finished with a sigh. What he said wasn't entirely a lie. Throughout heaven and earth- I mean elementary school and middle school, he only had one friend. Both socially awkward. Both of them contained with each other and didn't feel the need for others in their life. But that doesn't mean Kiruyin can't talk to people and stand infront of people. He just finds it bothersome. While his best friend is a true socially anxious person.
Hearing his response, Ichinose looked a bit troubled. Expression becoming difficult.
"No no. There is nothing to be embarrassed about! Its perfectly normal. Instead, we Class-B will be glad to help. So please, feel free to ask for any for help to anyone. I believe everyone will help you with patience and virtue."
She said with a languid smile.
'Bingo! Got her into guilt trip. Trouble averted for now. But already representing the class? Damn. I underestimated her. No. I was too arrogant.'
Kiruyin felt even more guilty for bad mouthing her in his mind. But he was not a bit of guilty for deceiving her. He understood that she is a pacifist person. She wouldn't stop until she fixed his problem altogether. So deception is the best option.
'Though I'm nothing compared to her...'
Kiruyin suddenly remembered Kikyo Kushida. Her skills in deception was on a whole different level.
"Thank you. And I believe with our classmates intelligence, it wouldn't take long for them to figure out that it was me who shared the information with you. So, it's fine."
"Um!"
Ichinose nodded happily. After that, she entered through the front door and Kiruyin through the back. Since his seat was right next to it. He sat in his dest and looked at Ichinose giving a brief warning about the school, Hoshino... Hoshinomiya-sensei and the things they should look out for. She also told them to stay after school to disclose more information she received.
Kiruyin fixed his hair as he listened and noted the reactions of the class. Most were instantly alarmed. Probably feeling the problems weight. The poop-err Kanzaki(?) Looked pleased for some reason.
'Darn it. I'm so bad at explaining things! I prepared my speech like a PowerPoint presentation and delivered it like a toddler blabbering nonsense! Fuck! Please goddess! Come down and fuck me until I die of snu snu!!'
Kiruyin felt insane level of embarrassment. Not only his speech was messed up, but also he gave that to a beautiful girl like Ichinose,
+100 Embarrassment.
Shame. Shame. Although he didn't have a dark history book of middle school like the most, it seems he needs to open one for high school instead...
While Kiruyin was internally dying of shame, he kept his attentive front with occasional twitch of his left cheek, Ichinose concluded her briefing.
After that, she walked down from the podium and have a sneaky smile towards Kiruyin. He smiled back.
'At least she won't make fun of me...'
He felt reassure and pressured at the same time. Solidifying that he will help Ichinose as much as he can.
Hearing the information given by Ichinose, no one dared to doubt the authenticity. Another reason why he chose Ichinose as a medium, while he himself could have told them.
Everyone in the class kept quite and took out their books to study. Even though it was just the second day of a new year. They realised that this school wasn't as simple dreamy place they had initially thought.
The room was quiet except for the occasional sound of page turning. Before, there was still tension in their. But now, the atmosphere cemented as something students dare not break. Because even the sound one's seat screeching against the tile felt like breaking a taboo. So everyone focused on their task.
Kiruyin however was hunched down on his desk, phone on his laps while he read Webnovel. He didn't feel like reading. His middle school grades were perfectly among the top tier even with just a one night of studying. So he was confident in himself. Even if this school was a sadistic one.
After few more minutes, Hoshinomiya-sensei finally arrived.
"Hai hai~~ everyone! Your favourite sensai has arrived~."
She begun with her usual playful introduction. She begun to chat about some random bullshit Kiruyin had no idea why she was sharing such things with Minors but noticing the stiffness of the class, she stopped. Panned her gaze then a sly expression appeared in her face.
"Heee~~ you guys already managed to figured something about the school~? Very nice~. So who was it hm?"
She asked with a playful smile. Some students involuntarily turned their gaze towards Ichinose. Realising again what she said must be true, for even the sensai to call it out.
"OHHH~~~!!! So it was Honami-chan~~!! As expected of Honami-chan!"
Hearing the compliment, Ichinose gave a guilty smile which didn't go unnoticed by the sensei. Confusion flashed across her eyes for a moment before she focused on taking attendance.
That brief confusion also didn't go unnoticed by Kiruyin.
'As expected. She is not that simple. She instantly figured out it was someone else whom she got the information from...'
Hoshinomiya-sensei talked few more nonsensical things before starting the attendance. Seeing that the students won't actually engage, she actually started teaching something.
Time passed and after the school ended, Class-B didn't leave and waited for Ichinose to explain everything as she stated.
Ichinose started to explain. Her explanation was more fluid and easy to understand than Kiruyin's explanation to her. Making him sigh in embarrassment.
After her explanation ended. Many questions rose which, she answered some while said she needed to ask the information provider for such questions.
With that, Class-B's second day at Advanced Nurturing High School ended with new found understanding of the school and trying to formulate plans for the future.