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Chapter 3 - Volume 1 - Chapter 1: Admission to Kurohana Academy

Part 2 – Strategy and Observation

I don't like welcoming ceremonies. Many first-year students seem to feel the same way. The principal's smiles and forced applause don't matter; the crucial thing is to understand who will be an ally and who will be a hindrance. Failing at this stage would mean years of disadvantage.

I decided to stay out of it, assessing and calculating before making a move. The first few days determine a lot, and a mistake can cost class points, Kurei, or social influence. I mentally practiced the ways to approach others: brief conversations, discreet exchange of contacts, assessing expressions and gestures. The Kurohana Inner City punishes the unwary.

As I entered the classroom, I sat near the window, at the back. In front of me, a boy seemed isolated, though it wasn't wise to approach him without a strategy. Before I acted, someone placed their backpack next to mine: Kaori Hasegawa, the girl I had a brief run-in with on the train.

"So we're in the same class, huh?" —he said. His tone was serious, direct, measured, as if he were assessing both the class and me. His presence indicated that he would be a solid ally if handled correctly.

Shortly after, Professor Emiko Tanaka arrived, very strict. He explained the rules of the Kurohana Point System (KPS): each class started with 10,000 points, which determined reputation, resources, and access to Kurei. Each monthly activity could grant or subtract up to 250 points; individual performance adjusted the allocation through a personal CRI: an average of 1 to 12 could subtract up to 10% or add up to 10% to the monthly Kurei bonus.

The students murmured in surprise. Kaori and I exchanged a silent glance: the Kurei seemed plentiful, but individual and collective decisions would determine who would have resources and who would be limited. For someone like me, observing and calculating every move was more important than hastily socializing.

During the introduction, I immediately recognized the rivals and allies:

Ayame Kobayashi, intellectual rival, gauging reactions and measuring abilities.

Tsubasa Inoue, social manipulator, smiling strategically, gauging influence.

Kaito Yamamoto, athletic and unpredictable, seeking to provoke and test boundaries.

Akari Fujita, born leader, analyzing alliances and the flow of power.

Other students demonstrated natural charisma, like Haruto Fujimoto, and popularity, like Natsumi Aoyama or Daichi Okabe. Every gesture, every greeting, was valuable information for future point and Kurei calculations.

When my turn came, I spoke neutrally:

"Um... I'm Sayuri Akurisawa. There's nothing special about me... I'll do my best to get along with everyone... nice to meet you."

Cold, brief, strategic. No one would remember my words, but I recorded every reaction, every microexpression. Kaori nodded briefly, assessing my profile; Ayame watched me curiously; Inoue barely smiled, gauging my potential influence.

Silent, I did a quick calculation: with the class at three wins out of four possible activities, our base bonus was 75%. My personal CRI was around 11 points, which meant a +10% on Kurei's total. Each future move could increase the class's standing or reduce our resources. It all depended on anticipating behaviors and managing information.

Surviving the first day wasn't a social achievement; it was a strategic victory. I observed, analyzed, and was already mentally mapping out the next steps.

It depended on who knew how to observe and decide best.

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