Chapter 5: Hey, What Are You Even Saying?
That boy was named Hirata Yosuke. Under his leadership, almost all the students in the class took turns starting their self-introductions.
Through this, Katsuragi Keima also learned the name of the other taciturn girl sitting beside him. Although her voice was so quiet at the time it was nearly inaudible, Keima still remembered it.
Sakura Airi.
Keima had an impression of this name. He remembered it appearing on one of the cards. However, the illustration on the card and the current Sakura Airi looked like two completely different people.
The Sakura Airi on the card looked bright and cheerful, showing off her beauty and confidence as a girl without reservation, while the girl sitting next to him looked somewhat gloomy.
'Is she the type with a contrasting 'inner and outer' personality?'
"Then, it's this student's turn next."
Hirata Yosuke's gaze landed on a boy in the corner.
"I am Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. Um, please treat me well. Well, uh, I don't have any particular hobbies or interests. I'll work hard to get along with everyone."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's voice carried a hint of listlessness. His introduction was so simple it was almost dismissive, causing the room to fall silent for a few seconds before a somewhat awkward round of applause broke out.
'I think I messed up. There probably won't be a self-introduction worse than mine,' Ayanokouji Kiyotaka thought to himself as he sat back down.
"Next... it's this student's turn."
A smile appeared on Hirata Yosuke's face as his gaze fell upon Katsuragi Keima.
Keima stood up and pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting a piercing light.
'The real world is utterly meaningless. For something like a self-introduction, remembering each other's names is enough.
However—
Since there seem to be names in this class that need to be "captured," I might as well use this opportunity to make them remember my name thoroughly.'
This school was too strict; they weren't even allowed to bring in electronic devices. Even though Elsie had helped him shrink his PFP, he certainly couldn't play it out in the open.
Furthermore, they weren't allowed to leave the premises during this period, which meant he wouldn't be able to play any new games...
'A world like this... as expected, it's better to clear it quickly and leave!'
What he needed to do now was make those people remember his name. Even if it was a negative impression, as long as the timing was right, it would eventually turn into a positive one.
"My name is Katsuragi Keima. I have the ultimate ability to capture 24 ADV games simultaneously. I write walkthroughs for lost lambs on the internet, which is why they call me the 'God of Conquest.' I have conquered 10,000 female characters and played nearly 5,000 games..."
Keima began to talk incessantly about gaming-related matters.
Everyone around him froze, staring blankly at Katsuragi Keima. Even Horikita Suzune, who usually wore a sour expression, showed a look of confusion for a split second.
'What on earth is this guy talking about?'
Beside him, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's gaze also fell on Keima.
'It seems a self-introduction worse than mine has appeared.'
'I remember him. He's the person from before on the bus who gave up his seat.'
'Is he the "goody-two-shoes" type? After giving up his seat, he had an exchange with Kushida Kikyo. I'm not sure if it's my imagination, but it felt as if he were deliberately guiding the topic.'
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka pondered inwardly.
"Um, Katsuragi-kun, that was certainly a very unique self-introduction," Hirata Yosuke said with a smile, tactfully cutting Keima off. A scattered, bustling sound of applause followed.
Katsuragi Keima pushed up his glasses and sat back down, letting out a sigh.
'The 3D world truly cannot understand the 2D world.'
Suddenly, Keima seemed to catch something. He jerked his head toward Horikita Suzune next to him, noticing the corners of her mouth were turned up slightly.
"Hey, were you just mocking me?"
"I was just thinking that for someone to actually say such an 'impressive' speech, you are quite brave in a sense."
Horikita Suzune mocked him without hiding it.
Just as the self-introductions were halfway through, a crisp sound echoed from the doorway—the sound of sharp high heels lightly stepping on the floor. A woman with a beautiful face and a professional suit entered the classroom.
There wasn't a trace of a smile on her face. Her gaze swept over everyone as if she were appraising the value of objects.
The homeroom teacher of Class 1-D, Chabashira Sae.
After simply stating her identity, she introduced the school in a cold tone. After enrollment, no student can leave the school or contact the outside world. However, this academy was fully equipped to meet all living needs—including entertainment projects—and essentially anything could be purchased.
Students would need to spend points from their student ID terminals to buy items. On the 1st of every month, the school would issue 100,000 points to students, which could be converted to cash at a 1:1 ratio.
For an ordinary student, this was a very substantial figure.
"You probably didn't expect this much. Our school measures students by their 'strength', which is to say, those of you who successfully enrolled possess a corresponding value."
While Chabashira Sae was speaking, Katsuragi Keima took out the student terminal issued at entrance.
Sure enough, it displayed that he had 100,000 points.
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After Chabashira Sae finished introducing the school's affairs, she left the classroom immediately. Since today was the first day of school, no classes were scheduled, and students were free to move about.
Katsuragi Keima rushed out of the classroom almost immediately.
"Kami-nii-sama... I mean, Nii-sama, wait a second! Why are you in such a hurry? What are you going to do!" Elsie hurriedly caught up to ask.
"I'm going to verify something Chabashira-sensei just mentioned."
"Something sensei just said? Wasn't it just that 'in this school, points can be used as cash'?"
"No, Elsie, didn't you notice the important information within her words?"
Katsuragi Keima pushed up his glasses.
"What?"
Elsie's face was full of confusion, completely failing to understand Keima's meaning.
"Strength. This word has been mentioned repeatedly since we entered the school. Especially the last sentence the teacher said—that these 100,000 points serve as the 'value' of our enrollment. Perhaps in the future, our points will fluctuate, and it will definitely be tied to that so-called 'strength.'"
"As expected of Nii-sama!"
Elsie's eyes widened in surprise. "So, Nii-sama, are you planning to find a way to prove your strength now?!"
"What are you saying? Sensei said that everything can be bought in the school supermarket, so I want to see if I can buy handheld consoles and games that only exist in this world!"
"Huh?"