The next morning, Class 1-F entered their classroom with a lingering tension from yesterday's scavenger hunt. Whispers circulated: who was the fastest, who finished flawlessly, who barely survived. Most students were still trying to process what had happened.
Kaito Maikeru walked in as usual, calm, observing the students. His team from yesterday shuffled in quietly, some still trying to argue over who had slowed them down. He ignored them. They don't even realize how predictable they are.
Sayaka Mizuno entered after him, silent, carrying her notebook. Her presence alone seemed to chill the room — no one dared approach.
The door opened, and a new announcement appeared on the classroom screen:
"Welcome to your first official reward review. M Points will now be introduced."
The students froze. M Points? The name sparked whispers instantly. Nobody had ever seen the full system in action, only rumors circulating like wildfire.
A recorded message played, Ms. Delacroix's voice crisp and authoritative:
"M Points are the currency of Elite Prestige Academy. They dictate privileges, opportunities, and your standing within this school. Every challenge, every test, and every strategic choice can earn or lose M Points. The more points you accumulate, the greater your advantages — from access to resources to social leverage. Pay attention: those who fail to gain points are at a disadvantage. Those who excel will rise."
A murmur ran through the room, and panic quickly set in for some students. A few whispered frantic questions to each other, trying to understand what this meant.
Kaito leaned back in his chair, expression calm, fingers steepled. Finally, the real rules appear. Interesting.
Sayaka, as usual, didn't react. She scribbled a note in her notebook, then leaned back, eyes scanning the others. Parasites everywhere. This will be easy to navigate.
The scoreboard appeared, revealing the first M Points results from the scavenger hunt:
Sayaka Mizuno – 120 points
Kaito Maikeru's Team – 105 points
Most other groups – 30–80 points
The reactions were immediate:
Some students whispered, terrified at how far Sayaka had outperformed them.
Others stared at Kaito with suspicion. He moved quietly, yet scored so high… how?
A few tried to console themselves, claiming luck or minor victories, but the tension was palpable.
A boy muttered, "So this… M Points system… it's not just grades. It's control. Power."
Kaito tilted his head slightly. Exactly. And the weakest always overestimate strength, underestimate observation.
Sayaka tapped her pen on the desk. "Parasites," she muttered under her breath. All of them.
The announcement continued:
"From this point forward, M Points will influence class rankings, access to resources, and eligibility for advanced programs. Observe carefully. Act strategically. The students who understand the system first will dominate."
By the end of the class, 1-F students were buzzing with new energy — fear, ambition, and scheming filling the room. Some groups quietly planned alliances; others muttered about betrayal and sabotage. The first glimmers of rivalry had begun to form.
Kaito observed everything in silence. Every whisper, every glance, every misstep was another data point. He already began forming subtle strategies, noting who would bend easily, who would resist, and who could be manipulated without realizing it.
Sayaka remained silent, detached as always, her eyes cold. But a small smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Interesting. He's… different. Not worth my attention — yet.
And with that, the first day of M Points had ended. For some, it was an opportunity. For others, a warning. But for Kaito and Sayaka, it was merely another layer of the game — a veil over the chaos that surrounded them.
The real play has begun.