Chabashira Sae slowly put down the phone in her hand, her fingertips gently tapping on the office desk.
The outcome of this matter came even faster than she'd expected. From Koenji Rokusuke's score being maliciously suppressed to the school authorities providing a solution, it took less than half an hour.
The relevant personnel were immediately dismissed, the informant received 50,000 points as hush money, and Koenji's class assignment remained unchanged.
"Just as I thought." She snorted lightly, tossing her phone onto the desk.
Having taught at Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School for eight years, she knew the school's operating rules too well.
All students were labeled during the entrance interview. Class A consisted of carefully selected geniuses, while Class D were the discarded "defective products."
One hundred sixty positions, one hundred sixty chess pieces. Their fates were sealed from the moment of class assignment.
In this school, only the chosen elites of Class A could truly achieve a 100% university admission and employment rate.
Chabashira suddenly looked at the Class D roster, specifically focusing on Shimizu Akira's admission file.
[Academic Ability: E-]
[Judgment: B]
[Intelligence: E-]
[Physical Ability: A]
[Teamwork Ability: E-]
Chabashira Sae's fingertip paused slightly.
The ability assessment data for Shimizu Akira in the file was unremarkable. Except for slightly above-average physical ability and judgment, all other categories were marked with glaring E- ratings. Such a score should have naturally placed him in Class D.
However, the clear and logical way the young man had spoken earlier formed a sharp contrast with this assessment report.
She quickly swiped open her phone, found "Shimizu Akira" in the list of friend requests, and sent him a friend request without hesitation.
"Interesting." A cold smile played on her lips.
The school authorities had just emphasized over the phone that the class assignment rules were a secret known only to a few high-ranking officials.
So the interviewer couldn't have possibly said, "Such an arrogant student should go to Class D."
"So, is this Shimizu-kun deliberately lying to test me?"
Chabashira Sae's gaze fell back on that suspiciously perfect low-score assessment.
Perhaps this report wasn't out of a sense of justice at all, but a carefully designed test. That young man might have already seen through the true nature of Class D as a "defective product containment facility."
Chabashira Sae's fingertips gently tapped on the desk.
"So that's it..." she murmured to herself, a knowing smile appearing on her lips.
Shimizu Akira's later inquiry about the Student Council probably wasn't mere curiosity. He was looking for evidence to verify his suspicions about the school's twisted rules.
After all, in this academy that adheres to meritocracy, the position of Student Council President has always been reserved for the most outstanding individuals.
Horikita Manabu, the most outstanding Student Council President in the school's history, came from third-year Class A without a doubt.
The two pieces of information he'd probed for were enough to prove it. Class A represented the elite, while Class D was considered by the school authorities to be a gathering place for defective products.
Did he analyze everything and come to test her less than a minute after her explanation?
"Could it be... that this year's Class D really has a chance...?" Her voice, uncharacteristically, carried a hint of hope.
In eight years of teaching, she'd seen too many generations of students, but she'd never encountered anyone who could see through the class assignment rules on the first day of school. Even in Class A, such students were few and far between.
"Ha! This year's Class A is really interesting!" A deep male voice suddenly interjected.
Mashima Tomoya—her old colleague and Class A homeroom teacher—was leaning against the office door, his muscular physique blocking most of the light.
Chabashira Sae looked up, seeing a rare look of astonishment on Mashima's face. "Sakayanagi Arisu in my class," he rubbed the stubble on his chin, "I'd just finished explaining the school rules, and she turned and caught up with me. Then she deduced the truth of the merit-based class assignments and the point rules with absolute precision." He shook his head. "In previous years, there were also students who knew these things, but they all found out through analysis and leaks from upperclassmen. She's the first one who could piece together the complete truth just from my few words."
"She even said she was going to the convenience store to 'confirm some things'!" Mashima scratched his head, a hint of confusion in his tone. "Most likely to look for those free supplies, right?"
Chabashira Sae was all too familiar with those "special benefits" hidden in the corners of the convenience store. They were relief supplies specifically prepared by the school authorities for financially struggling students.
When she first joined, she'd personally witnessed many Class D students barely getting by with these supplies.
But to deduce this arrangement without even stepping into the convenience store?
Chabashira Sae quickly flipped through Sakayanagi Arisu's file, which showed almost perfect scores. Except for physical ability and teamwork, all other categories were marked with prominent A grades.
Such a prodigy could almost certainly become the undisputed leader of Class A in the future.
"Will he win?" She suddenly thought of Shimizu Akira again.
To graduate successfully, one must ascend to the throne of Class A.
In other words, Shimizu Akira would have to defeat Sakayanagi Arisu in this cruel competition.
As Shimizu Akira entered the convenience store, it was already packed with excited new students shopping.
Figures moved between the shelves, holding shopping baskets filled with snacks and daily necessities. It seemed the initial 100,000-point subsidy had indeed encouraged many to spend freely.
However, his gaze lingered among the shelves for a long time, finally discovering a section marked "Free to Take" in a corner.
The shelves were neatly stocked with various daily necessities—bandages, notebooks, shampoo, and even simple toiletries. A prominent sign nearby stated the rule: Limit three items per person per month.
He quietly observed for a while as several upperclassmen successively came by.
Their expressions showed fatigue. They skillfully took a few essential items from the shelf and hurried away.
'It seems the situation of having zero points does exist. Otherwise, these upperclassmen wouldn't be in such desperate straits on the first day of school.'
Shimizu Akira narrowed his eyes slightly, having already drawn a conclusion in his mind.
"Student, you've been observing ever since you entered the convenience store, but your gaze has always lingered on the free supplies section. You must have also seen those upperclassmen from Class D, right? It seems you, like me, have also seen through the truth of the point allocation system?"
A questioning voice suddenly came from beside him.
Shimizu Akira looked in the direction of the voice.
A silver-haired girl was leaning on a cane beside the shelf.
Her pure white tie complemented her almost transparent skin, making her look like a meticulously carved ice sculpture.
At this moment, those playful eyes were watching him with great interest.