Akira's POV

A taste of surprise. That's my reaction.

Hishida Youka

I never thought I would run into him so soon. He has an unusual appearance: messy black hair, a bandage over his right eye, and red eyes. From what I've seen and heard, he seems like a cautious guy.

He acts based on a certain desire and logic. However, I never expected him to interfere in my business. Especially to save that girl.

Did he see something in her?

Should I learn more about him before taking action? In my opinion, I've been too careless. I need to be more discreet next time. From this point of view, it would be better if I took control of my class by the end of the month. I already have an unbeatable plan.

Hishida, just like me, you were a man who loved to play with fire. That's actually what drove me to find you.

I'm not a student, nor an elite.

I'm a player.

Hishida's POV

Hishida: "Are you okay?"

Horikita: "Uh... I..."

She was still in between. It's logical to think this is the first time she's been in this kind of situation. It all happened so quickly that she doesn't know what to think anymore. She was manipulated and almost fell under the influence of a man.

Moreover, it's strange how he was able to gather so many people and execute such a plan so early in the year. This man who manipulated Horikita, how did he convince his classmates to follow such a plan on the first day of school? Even I had trouble believing it, yet that's what I observed.

Throughout the gymnasium, it was those people who were acting strangely. They were behaving as if they were preparing something. And when I saw them react immediately when their leader went after Horikita, I understood right away.

Horikita is the president's sister, and based on her personality, he deduced that she had a single objective and that she was related to the school. By comparing her face to the president's, he made the connection. He then wondered how she ended up wanting to join her brother.

And thanks to this single question, he was able to determine everything about her, both her strengths and weaknesses.

This man is a true mentalist and a good psychological manipulator. What has he experienced to develop such skills?

Hishida: "Well, looks like the Ice Queen has lost face."

She glared at me.

Hishida: "Alright, no jokes. You can get up now."

She nodded and stood up on her own. She looked at me shyly, as if trying to confess something she had never done before. Then she muttered a small "thank you" from the corner of her mouth.

Not wanting to leave her alone, I walked her back to the gym where I eventually found Tokito.

Hishida: "What? What's wrong?"

Tokito: "...."

Hishida: "Are you mad at me for leaving you alone?"

Tokito: "...."

Hishida: "Alright, I get it."

It's true, she ended up all alone with the bandage covering her eyes. She then clung to my arm.

Horikita looked at Tokito again, wondering why she had a bandage covering her eyes.

Horikita: "Why does she have a bandage around her eyes?"

Hishida: "Ah, well... you'll find out during the day, I guess. Let's just say it's necessary for her."

Horikita: "I see."

She simply responded with a short phrase, and by now, she had abandoned her cold demeanor to show a completely different side of herself. I also noticed that she started to look into space, as if thinking about everything that had happened.

I did nothing for the moment.

All the students in the gymnasium were now present. A girl, seemingly in her final year, approached the microphone. She was strangely small but had this serious look as if she wanted to influence the crowd.

I thought of something.

Does she want to show off just because she's in her final year and has more experience than us? Anyway, should I conclude that she can't stand impolite underclassmen?

Tachibana: "Hello, I'm Hinata Tachibana, secretary to the president of the student council. Nice to meet you and welcome to our school. Please welcome our president, Horikita Manabu."

A man appeared. He wore glasses and had a serious expression. By his mere presence, he silenced all the whispers and murmurs in the room. He exuded a great charisma and an exceptional aura. Compared to his secretary, he had a calm, serious, and thoughtful air.

So, this is Horikita's older brother. Speaking of which, she seemed disoriented at the sight of him.

Manabu: "To everyone, I'm pleased to meet you. As my secretary told you, I'm the president of the student council here, or should I say, 'our school's student council.' Like each of you, you've come for the main advantage of our school. But don't forget that here we train elites. So be sure to behave like one."

His voice was calm and conveyed a serious tone. He looked at the entire room, but it felt like he was scanning each of us. I decided to follow his gaze to see where he was truly looking. He fixed his gaze on a young girl. She was small and seemed to be our age. Despite appearing to be handicapped, given her cane, what made her different was her smile.

She smiled.

It was a sly smile, as if she understood the situation from beginning to end.

Why is she smiling? Has she already understood the workings of this school? Or is she excited about the school's setup? If I compare her smile to those of other students who are really excited, the difference becomes clear.

I'd say she probably already understands the entire educational system here. Even though I can't base it solely on this, I can at least affirm it's a possibility.

Manabu: "One more thing, the student council is lacking staff due to the seniors who left last year. So, if anyone wants to join the council, please come to present yourselves at 7 PM during the club registration period. The only condition is that you must not be enrolled in any clubs. The registration locations will be provided by your homeroom teacher."

I wonder if there's an advantage to being in a club or even the student council. Do we get extra privileges? Or money? Maybe it's both?

In my opinion, it would be wiser to wait until the moment comes. There's no need to guess when I can find out on the spot.

Manabu: "But I'll warn you, we don't accept any ignorant people in the council. If you want to join, you'll have to show a lot of seriousness. Have a good day."

With that speech, he left. That guy gave off an impression to everyone present in the room, including me, of something truly extraordinary. For that alone, I respect him.

As for Horikita, she remained there, frozen. It took her some time to react and leave. I had the feeling that she was processing everything that happened today, and judging by the president's sidelong glance, it seemed he had noticed it. But after this tiring moment, I had to head to my new classroom.

                                                                                      -1-

The classroom was easy to locate, although some people had trouble finding it. It was empty for almost two minutes, which gave me a glimpse into the complexity of the school's corridors. I might be exaggerating, but it's normal for some to get lost on the first day, especially if there's no one to guide them.

Normally, each class has its own room, which it keeps throughout the three years of high school. This also means that you have the same classmates for the entire duration. It's an opportunity to build strong connections and make new friends. However, I think that for now, each student will end up in a class where they don't know anyone. What I mean by this is that the first impression you make on your classmates could be a factor in determining your social life at this school. People with strong social skills will have no problems, but as for me, I'll need to quickly find a way to solve this issue.

After all, I don't want to end up without any friends. Making friends will be my top priority, an urgent mission. I don't want to spend the rest of the year alone. To make friends, several approaches are possible. It will depend on how I present myself and how I can influence their opinion of me.

Of course, I need to be myself, because it would be troublesome if they became friends with a person who's faking their personality.

Anyway, I've made it one of my goals.

But I can't forget the most important one. I have to graduate, and if I want to make friends, I need money for outings. It would be embarrassing if I'm the only one in the group who hasn't bought anything, and it would be even worse if they end up paying for me. But the problem with both is that they have something in common:

Grades.

I need good grades for graduation, and I need them if I want to have pocket money. Grades will be the main factor that determines whether a high school student like me can have a good year. Unfortunately, I'm behind on everything related to academics, which is my biggest problem.

Will I be able to balance outings with friends and heavy studying for grades? I'll need to plan this carefully.

It didn't take long before I spotted my seat. All the way in the back by the window, a peaceful spot, as they say. Tokito was seated in front of me. She sat and waited for the others, despite not being able to see anything due to her headband. It felt like she was listening to the entire room. Horikita didn't take long to join us, sitting next to me. She didn't seem bothered by being next to me. If I hadn't saved her, I would have thought she wouldn't care.

On the side of her desk, I noticed a name tag showing her seat. Her name was Horikita Suzune, a name that suited her perfectly, I must say. The classroom gradually filled up, creating a phenomenal buzz. People like the girl who helped the elderly lady and the egotistical guy made their appearances, as if fate was playing with me.

As I looked around the class, I could spot the future popular people. The first one was obvious—the girl with brown hair and a big heart for saving the old lady—who was already surrounded by both boys and girls. By discreetly listening, I learned her name. She was Kikyo Kushida, and she seemed to be skilled at everything social. The second was a handsome boy with green hair, surrounded by girls, while the boys shot him jealous looks. However, from the way he acted, he seemed to be kind to everyone. Again, with a discreet ear, I also overheard his name: Hirata Yousuke. Lastly, the last one was a blonde girl with a strong fashion sense. No need to wonder why she was surrounded by girls and not boys.

Despite my distractions, I couldn't hear her name; she was too far. The teacher finally arrived, and everyone took their seats. The lesson could begin.

The teacher had a serious face; it seemed like everyone at this school had the same expression. She appeared to be in her thirties, and judging by her serious attire and posture, something told me she wouldn't be as close to us as my teachers last year. I had teachers who made jokes, but with her, I had the feeling our relationship would be strictly teacher-student. In short, I thought her lessons would be painfully boring and that she would probably be more cold than friendly. Nevertheless, her steps seemed calculated, much like the atmosphere she wanted to create.

Chabashira - Ahem Good morning, everyone. My name is Chabashira Sae, and I will be your homeroom teacher from this year onwards. I teach Japanese history. I hope we'll get along well during these three years.

She spoke in a particular way, as if she was used to giving this kind of introduction. Each word seemed calculated in advance. I wondered if she had memorized her lines or if she knew them so well that she delivered them as if by routine each year. If I'm right, she probably has a lot of experience at this school.

She passed out papers to the entire class, starting from the front row. Once she distributed all the forms, she took a quick look at the class. Moments later, her expression grew even more serious than before, and her hand trembled slightly. It was imperceptible unless you paid close attention, but it was there. This action made me feel like she was trying to hide something. But what?

Her actions seemed calculated and anticipated, yet she was trying to hide something. Why did she react like that when she looked at us? Was she worried about us? Was she disappointed with the makeup of the class? Or was she hoping for a miracle?

Despite these sudden questions in my mind, she regained her composure. She seemed aware that it was pointless to dwell on it; her daily routine remained the same, always without hope. That's what I could read on her face.

Chabashira - This school is not like the others; it has its own rules. All students, without exception, must live on campus and cannot contact anyone from outside. To contact your family, you need to request permission.

As I thought, she started with the bad news. These rules seemed strict and authoritarian. However, I don't think the people in this room realize the benefits that will soon come their way.

Chabashira - It is strictly forbidden to leave the campus. To make up for these restrictions, everything is provided for you to live here and not feel deprived. There are cinemas, karaoke rooms, cafés, grocery stores, and all kinds of shops. So, you're essentially living in a small city with a 600,000 square meter campus.

The atmosphere was already heavy after the revelation that we couldn't leave without a justifiable excuse, all while being watched. But it lightened up when she mentioned the various facilities available on the campus, which mostly consist of everything a typical high school student would need for both primary and recreational purposes.

The biggest difference I noticed about the structure of the school was that it was 100 times larger than a normal high school. Every facility imaginable was here, some of which were not related to entertainment, of course, but were more focused on education.

Chabashira - The last specific feature of the school is its famous S.J. system. I will now distribute your student cards. These cards serve as credit cards and are the only means of payment on campus. I strongly recommend you manage your points wisely if you don't want to run out of money.

The points replace money and are stored in our student cards...

Each student starts with the same amount of points and is responsible for managing their spending. In any case, the points are distributed by the school and, in a way, by the government itself.

The fact that we pay by card rather than a new physical currency makes sense—it prevents theft and extortion between students. This would explain the number of cameras installed throughout the school, but having so many even in the classrooms still seems excessive.

I have my suspicions about the reason for all this.

Chabashira - All the shops and vending machines are equipped with student card readers. So you can use it anywhere. Your points will be credited on the first day of every month. You will have 100,000 points, or 100,000 yen. You understood me correctly, 1 point equals 1 yen!

The class erupted into loud chatter for a few seconds. It wasn't surprising, considering this is a special institution created by the Japanese government. Just to reward our admission, we're given a monthly allowance of 100,000 yen. It's quite a substantial amount for mere students.

Chabashira - Are you surprised? This school evaluates its students' abilities. The fact that you passed the entrance exams shows that you have a certain level. This amount reflects your worth, your skills. Enjoy it, because after you graduate, the points will be taken back, and you won't be able to convert them into money.

So, it was impossible to save up and leave high school ultra-rich. I suppose this could be a way for the government to save money.

The school thus offers a certain level of freedom, as I had predicted several times. We live within the school, with access to shops, cafés, cinemas, swimming pools, etc. Additionally, she also clarified that this school evaluates its students' abilities, and this sum reflects our worth and skills. This confirms my initial theories about the school, but it also implies a limit to this freedom.

Chabashira - To finish, spend your points as you wish. You can even transfer them to someone else. However, harassment to extract points is strictly forbidden. I insist, as the school punishes this behavior severely. I trust you won't cause any problems. 

After this short lecture, she returned to her seat.

In short, the amount of points given is significant for each student. Everyone will manage their own finances, deciding whether to spend them wisely or frivolously.

Chabashira-sensei observed the students while silence reigned.

Chabashira: "No questions. Well, I wish you all a great year here!"

Many of the classmates couldn't contain their joy at this news.

Ike: "In the end, this school isn't so bad."

Yamauchi: "Are you kidding? It's amazing, we live like kings!"

I can see that they're all blinded by the 100,000 points they've received. Meanwhile, they're forcing us to stay and sleep on the campus, not allowing us to leave. They've shown great generosity by giving us a considerable sum of money that can be used anywhere, anytime, for anything within the campus.

It's undeniable that we clearly have favorable treatment, which probably explains this idyllic setting. The greatest merit of this school was its 100% employability rate.

Hirata: "Excuse me, but I think we'll all be in the same class until the end of the year. I don't want anyone to end up alone just because they couldn't make friends. So I suggest we introduce ourselves in front of the class."

Karuisawa: "Yeah, that's a good idea, what do you think?"

Hirata: "In that case, I'll introduce myself. My name is Hirata Yousouke, but my old friends called me Hirata, so I'd like you to call me that please. I used to play football and I plan to join the school's club. I hope to get along with all of you. Nice to meet you."

The rest of Karuisawa's group approved of his choice. Having become the center of attention among the girls, she had the influence necessary to make them accept such a request.

As for Hirata:

Thus, he took the initiative for the entire class to avoid ending up alone during these three years. Some will likely see this as an opportunity to make friends. But judging by this boy's status, I believe he will receive more approval from the girls than the boys since he's an ikemen (good-looking guy). He wants to do good, but not everyone will be with him and will likely view him negatively.

But well, I'm not sure I'll need to use such methods to make friends. However, I'll have to explain the blindfold on Tokito's eyes. Some are even looking at her with an enigmatic expression.

A first student finally stood up.

Inogashira: "M... My name is Inogashira K...ko-"

She stammered, which stopped her in her tracks. She turned pale, so embarrassed by the situation that she couldn't say another word.

The pressure was palpable, and we could hear some girls in the back of the class laughing. This made the situation even more complicated than it already was. A shy girl, but who seems normal. I might think she has at least some friends.

??? - "Courage."

??? - "Take your time."

They were still paralyzed by fear, despite the encouragement from her classmates. I decided to intervene; it was pointless to let the situation drag on. I don't like waiting in such situations.

Hishida: "Take your time, there's no harm in being shy. It's just a difficult moment to get through."

My words were similar to the previous encouragements, but my tone was different. The boys were neutral, but the girls were reassuring, telling her to follow her own style. My words were more like telling her I understood her situation and she shouldn't worry. And it had the desired effect. After regaining her composure, she began to breathe deeply to calm herself. She finally spoke up.

Inogashira: "My name is Inogashira Kokoro. I don't like sewing, but I'm good at knitting. Please take care of me."

She didn't stop for a single second once she got going. She finished sitting down with a pleased expression on her face.

Yamauchi: "My name is Yamauchi Haruki. In elementary school, I played national table tennis, and then I became the star player of my baseball team in middle school. I was number 4. After an injury during an inter-school tournament, I'm currently in rehab. Nice to meet you."

All his sentences are full of lies. Also, you can't participate in a high school tournament as a middle schooler. He's the type of guy who invents a life for himself and makes jokes while throwing out trivialities about his existence.

By the way, I think I've played baseball before. Despite my minimal skills, I was the best player on my team. And I'm pretty good at ping pong too.

Kushida: "Is it my turn?"

This girl who had helped the old lady on the bus spoke up when it was her turn. She stood up elegantly before starting her introduction.

Kushida: "My name is Kushida Kikyo, and since none of my friends from middle school came here, I want to get to know everyone and become friends with all of you."

I was really skeptical about her. Why does she want to be friends with everyone? I find it hard to believe that someone can like and be friends with everyone. There must be people she dislikes. In reality, I don't think she likes anyone here. She wants to be popular, but for what reason? I know, I can feel it, and I can see it. Her movements are not natural; they are calculated to seduce every guy here. She's aware of the attention she's getting.

And as the saying goes, people who are too nice often have a much darker side. The mere fact that she said she wants to be friends with everyone made me realize that she might be dangerous. I can't say for sure, but I can still observe her for a while.

Kushida: "First of all, I really want to build connections with all of you, so I would really appreciate it if we could all add each other to our contact lists after the introductions. During vacations or after each school day, I want to make memories with as many people from the class as possible. So don't hesitate to invite me to your various events. That's all I have to say."

I don't think an ordinary person could keep up with her pace. If she helps everyone and tries to avoid conflicts, it must be an enormous source of stress. How does she relax? I'd like to know.

Hirata: "The next one is..."

BAAAAAAAAAAAM

??? - "Are you idiots or what? I'm not doing this pointless thing, so leave me alone."

As Hirata bowed politely to apologize, a few girls shot him a fiery glance, like Captain Flame.

??? - "It's not like it's the end of the world."

??? - "Yeah, he's really overdoing it."

No surprises, our handsome football player had already charmed a good number of the girls in the class. But since the incident with Captain Flame, half of the boys felt jealousy toward Hirata.

??? - "I don't want to pretend to be good friends!"

And he ended up leaving.

Hirata: "They're not bad people. I'm to blame because I caught them off guard by dragging them into my selfish idea."

You didn't do anything wrong, Hirata-kun! Let's just ignore them!

The introductions continued with the remaining students.

Ike: "I'm Ike Kanji. I like girls, and I hate good-looking guys. I'm currently looking for a girlfriend, so I'm excited to meet her. Ladies, you'd better be cute."

The worst part is that he's serious when saying this. We've probably already spotted our trio of idiots.

Hirata: "And the next one is... you."

It was my turn, and I was lost in thought. I could see the anticipation of many students to see the next personality emerge. But well, that's not my goal after all.

Hishida: "Hello, my name is Hishida Youka. I like board games, novels, drawing, and video games. I don't like being called Youka, so please call me Hishida. I used to play table tennis, basketball, and baseball, but I don't plan to join a club. I sincerely hope to get along with all of you."

All the girls started talking amongst themselves, but it was also at this moment that I realized Horikita was absent. The introductions didn't seem to interest her much. But that's not really important, after all. My main goal is to explain to my classmates about Tokito's problem.

Hishida: Hirata, may I ask a favor?

Hirata: Can it wait? We're just missing one person.

He clearly wanted to finish what he had started before moving on to something else.

Hishida: Actually, it's related to that person. She's my sister, and I must say she's particularly shy.

I wouldn't say she's really shy, she just doesn't speak. She can talk, I've heard her, but let's just say it's not her habit. You could even say that she could do her presentation on the board; it wouldn't bother her at all. The only problem is that the teacher took the only marker in the classroom, and none of us, at least in this class, bought our supplies.

The only way to explain this particular problem was me. As a kind older brother would say.

Hirata: I understand, it's no problem for me.

After Hirata's approval, Tokito moved forward blindly, and I ended up helping her so she wouldn't fall. Despite being intelligent, she could be very clumsy. Once we were in front of the whole class, we could read the surprise and astonishment on the faces of our classmates at Tokito's blindfold.

Tokito, having understood what she had to do, removed her blindfold, revealing her eyes with strange colors. As the atmosphere, filled with the excitement of simply discovering the school's rules, changed into something deeper. The feelings, at the mere sight of those eyes, were multiple; we could feel it all at once—surprise, astonishment, but above all, wonder. Never in their lives had they seen such beautiful eyes.

They were a mixture of several colors, blue, yellow, red, pink. You could see, you could feel through her gaze, that these were not contact lenses nor the result of human creation. It was clear that this was a creation of nature itself, or perhaps of the gods.

Everyone seemed hypnotized, and everyone became a witness to what Tokito truly was—a small creature with unparalleled purity.

Ike: Beautiful...

Shinohara: I... those eyes...

I then decided to explain what made them so hypnotic.

Hishida: First of all, know that her eyes are a malformation, and Tokito is a bit shy about this subject. She is very shy, and I would like you to take care of her.

They all looked at me in astonishment; Tokito seemed to have captivated the whole class. I had anticipated this outcome, and I couldn't change it. What Tokito needed to do now was to start talking to people other than me. She needed to live a peaceful life despite the things that made her so special. Giving her a normal life, giving her the freedom of choice, that was what I desired most at this moment.

                                                                                           -3-

The presentations were finished, and as I predicted, Tokito had become, in a single day, the most popular person. Currently, no one had spoken to her yet, or rather, no one dared to speak to her. They were all afraid of making a mistake or making her feel uncomfortable.

Tokito was currently walking next to me, observing the items with a certain curiosity. I was in a supermarket, buying my school supplies for the year, but also other basic items like food and soap.

However, I must say that the rules I've been told about make me a bit skeptical about the decisions to be made. If I've analyzed my class well, it's possible that they'll only be interested in the 100,000 points we were offered, and will be blinded by that. Some haven't even thoroughly analyzed the sheets our teacher handed out.

The school offers a certain freedom, as I've predicted several times. We live alone in a school where we have access to stores, cinemas, swimming pools, etc... Moreover, it was also specified that this school follows its own rules. This could imply some limits to this freedom, and the fact that they give us all of this for free proves there is something behind it.

The value of a student is about 100,000 points. According to the teacher, this value is proportional to the worth after being accepted into such a school. The question now is how they evaluate our worth. And, more importantly, if our value changes, will the points we receive next month change as well?

For the first question, I have the answer. I know and have deduced that the school chooses its students, and its criteria for admission are different from other regular schools. However, the teacher said that the points we receive are the value of our admission into this school. We can then assume that the admission criteria of this school are the factors that will affect the number of points we receive. This means our behavior, social status, and grades.

As for the second question, the teacher specifically said "this month," so if I take into account their criteria for earning these points, plus the fact that our value can decrease, I fear we won't have many points next month.

The school will highlight work, but more than that. Things that, according to them, are important in our society. The act of working, having knowledge, socially adapting, or even adapting to any situation. They push students to use these skills by promising money. Like a good citizen who follows the orders given to them.

By giving us a taste of the adult world, they educate us. Because deep down, what matters is not our skills, even though they are important. No, what interests them is our ability to progress for a reward.

The other students don't question this and are rather attracted and mesmerized by the amount they received. What I mean by this is that if no one in this class realizes the true intentions of the institution, I fear we're heading towards disaster. It will be important to have all the cards in hand to prove my words and theories.

I think some could have already deduced almost all the rules from the start, especially in the higher classes. If there is really competition between classes, I wonder how they will handle the situation. It's also something I need to prepare for.

Tokito: Hishida...

Hishida: Oh, you've decided to speak now?

She pointed at a box of crepes. Tokito loves crepes and doesn't care if they're too greasy. Anyway, no matter how much she eats, she doesn't gain weight. I end up picking up the box; after all, I can buy it for her. I take my box of Smarties; I eat them all the time, everywhere. So, nothing better than getting the 50-pack box of Smarties.

Well, when it comes to food, I need to find something not too expensive but with enough quantity to last for at least the whole month. Of course, I also need to consider the protein content. I don't have much knowledge on this subject, but I'd say the basics would be vegetables, meat, and dairy products.

I can start by buying things like rice or pasta. These can be cooked with water, and since we don't pay for it, it's totally beneficial. Moreover, given the amount of rice, I have enough to last for 2 months, which makes the deal even more affordable.

Tokito had already started looking for what I asked for. She eventually picked up everything we need to wash ourselves and brush our teeth. In total, if I calculated correctly, the groceries cost me 11,260 points. Which I consider a success.

Horikita: Isn't it strange how things work out?

As I was getting ready to go to the checkout, I saw Horikita, who seemingly had the same idea as me. This shouldn't be surprising from her; she just decided not to buy unnecessary things like entertainment but rather get supplies to start school tomorrow. She never does anything unnecessarily, so it's natural that she'd buy the cheapest items.

But it's a good thing to run into her here. I knew she'd come here as soon as the teacher finished her speech, but I didn't think she'd go to this store. Given that it's the closest one for this kind of purchase, I thought she'd be faster. Considering the number of things she bought, it should've only taken her 5 minutes.

To remind you, since she didn't listen to the presentations, logically, she should've left by the time I entered the store. Either she did something beforehand, or she ran into someone she knows and wanted to chat with them. Unfortunately, neither of those is the answer.

I have a little idea about this.

Hishida: Are you okay since this morning?

Horikita: Yes, why?

Hishida: Well, given what happened today, I think it's natural to ask.

Horikita: Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine.

She had lost her haughty tone, which was a bit unsettling. At the same time, she saw Tokito and was mesmerized by the sight of her multicolored eyes. She quickly turned her head, as if trying to return to what she was doing.

Horikita: Tell me, Hishida?

Hishida: Yes?

Horikita: Do you like Karaage?

Hishida: Why this question?

She slightly averted her gaze. We could see, even though it was almost imperceptible, a slight blush on her cheeks. From what I understood, she was asking me for an unknown reason if I liked Karaage. Knowing that it's often put in bentos, I quickly understood what she meant.

Hishida: Do you want to make my Bento as a thank you for what I did?

Horikita: Not just yours, but your sister's too.

She seemed slightly panicked.

Horikita: But if you don't want me to, I'd be happy not to make it.

Hishida: Oh no, no, I'd love for you to make one for me.

Horikita: Too bad, that could've saved me some money.

Her tone indicated she was serious, and it wasn't a joke. Her expression showed indifference toward me, as if I were just another student who had helped her. So, what she was implying was that this wasn't an act of kindness, or rather, since I had helped her, it didn't affect our relationship, which from her perspective was merely that of classmates.

She was trying to make me understand that it was unnecessary to try to get closer to her. That for both of us, it would be a pointless and non-negligible waste of time.

Hishida: But you offered, didn't you?

Horikita: That's true.

However, in her words, she had forgotten that it was her who asked to be saved in exchange for something, not me. She should've just thanked me, and this situation wouldn't have lasted this long.

From this point of view, we can assume that she doesn't like being helped. Maybe it's simply because she believes she can face any unforeseen problem on her own. And even though the situation this morning couldn't have been solved alone, she resents that I helped her. And so, if someone helps you, you must repay them. That's why she wants to repay me.

At least, that's just a hypothesis.

That's what I think.

Hishida: It would be kind of you.

Horikita: I haven't done anything kind; it's just a gift as thanks for what you did.

She seemed to be getting back to her usual tone, which was a good sign in itself. Even though she clearly wanted to demonstrate that any form of friendship was out of the question for her.

She then quickly glanced at Tokito's eyes. I could feel the same look in her eyes that I had seen in my classmates. The only difference was that she detached from it quicker. She then resumed her serious expression and continued the conversation.

Horikita: I'm starting to understand why she wore a blindfold this morning.

Hishida: Yes, I wanted to explain the reason during the presentations.

Horikita: I didn't listen to you since I left. That kind of thing is rather useless for someone like me.

She thought that presenting in front of the class was for those who wanted to make friends. However, she didn't want any, and in order not to waste time, she judged it better to use that time for something more productive, like buying supplies to start school tomorrow, to wash, to eat, or to repay the help of someone she didn't initially want to accept.

As the conversation continued, I started to understand it's like I'm piecing together a puzzle without knowing the final result, but I can imagine, or even assume, in my mind what the image of Horikita looks like.

By observing the gaps in this image, I can deduce, through pure logic, the missing pieces of the puzzle. And out of curiosity, a desire to uncover the truth arose within me. I wanted to know more about the person in front of me.

Hishida: Have you always been solitary?

Horikita: I don't think my life is very interesting.

Hishida: On the contrary, what you're saying is an excuse to hide something you don't want to surface.

Horikita: It's true that it's none of your business, but I find it a bit sad to spend three years of high school alone.

Horikita: It won't affect me, just as it didn't affect me during the previous years of middle school and elementary school.

Hishida: It's a shame, wasting three years of your life, especially in high school. It's a time of life that's particularly magical, especially in our situation. It's kind of cruel not to take advantage of it.

Horikita: That's how I am, and it won't change. Thinking about such things is a waste of time. It's more productive to work to secure the future.

I can't say that what she's saying is false, but we must note that it's never good to work too much. Or even to make work your whole focus, thus rejecting everything that constitutes a high school student's experience. Being alone also means not having anyone to confide in or share your burdens with. If what she says is true, then it only strengthens my previous theories.

Horikita Suzune is a cold person who rejects all forms of friendship. The fact that she's done this since she was young shows that she doesn't understand the true meaning of friendship or even the pain that it can bring. Either she experienced a trauma that convinced her to maintain this attitude, or it's a choice she made for a goal she considers vital, to the point of abandoning everything.

For both hypotheses, it's possible that she had friends at one point. And if she were to taste the pain that they can bring, I fear she would only dig herself deeper into error and worsen her situation. Without someone intervening or her coming to a realization, she'll isolate herself, spiraling deeper into mistakes again and again, in an endless cycle.

Thus, wasting a part of her life that should have been her most beautiful.

Humans are fragile by nature; they need support to move forward. They need a shoulder to cry on, to find relief, to be loved. Those who don't want branches—people to lean on—are either those with a goal so great that they abandon everything else, or people who've experienced that very trauma, who have changed the course of their existence forever. Those who have never had branches are creatures clinging to survival at all costs. Using any means to survive, they also seek, by any means, what pleasure or happiness is.

In Horikita's case, she has had a branch in her life, one she relied on. Her behavior can be explained by the reason she came to this school. Does she want to make her parents proud, or is there someone in the school she wants to connect with, someone she absolutely wants to reach?

Horikita Manabu.

Horikita Suzune.

Suzune was quite disoriented at the sight of him—it wasn't just her cousin; it was her brother. The cold gaze of her brother toward his little sister.

I don't think it's useful to continue this conversation; it could seem suspicious if I keep asking questions about her. It's better to change the subject. What could be better than talking about the boring guy who messed up his presentation? Although, he is an odd and curious student.

Horikita's Point of View

It felt like such a long time. I couldn't bear knowing that I couldn't solve this problem on my own. I wanted to fix it by my own means. But I never could have done that if that man hadn't intervened.

I don't like admitting it, but I do owe him a little. It's not like I want to become friends with him. What I want to avoid right now is him acting like a nice guy, asking if everything is okay. I want to thank him properly while showing him that there's no need to worry about me, and that I can handle things just fine on my own.

I had finished my shopping five minutes ago and was waiting for Hishida. From what I've observed about him, he can be quite clever. This was proven when I was attacked; he had already noticed and deduced the intentions of my assailants and acted accordingly. At least I can give him credit for that. Anyway, I'm getting off track.

Logically, when he comes out of the classroom, he will either go to the Keyaki Mall, like all the idiots who want to enjoy what's been offered to them, or he will head to his dormitory. And, of course, he will have to take this path and thus run into me. There was a very small chance he might prefer to visit the school, but I bet on the first possibility.

Employee: Excuse me, do you need anything?

I was there waiting for someone, so it was normal for her to find it strange that I was waiting in the middle of a store. This woman probably thought I needed help, and being a good employee at this convenience store, she asked if everything was okay.

But it was unnecessary to offer help; I didn't need any.

Horikita: No, nothing. Please go back to what you were doing.

At my words, she fell silent and went back to her tasks. I finally saw Hishida. I approached the aisle where he was going. From what I observed, this man buys simple things: rice, pasta. It's as if he's trying to save his points.

I would have thought he'd be like the others who waste money. The only non-economical thing he bought was that pancake box. His sister really wanted to buy it, so I imagine he couldn't escape her whims.

Horikita: Coincidences are strange, aren't they?

He turned around and seemed surprised to see me in this store. He glanced briefly at what I had in my cart before answering.

Hishida: Is everything okay since this morning?

Apparently, he was referring to this morning, something I wanted to avoid thinking about. But, from him, it was coming from a good place.

Horikita: Yes, why?

Hishida: Well, considering what happened today, I think it's natural to ask.

Horikita: Thanks for your concern, but everything is fine.

Still coming from a good place, he was worried, something I didn't want at first. I don't want to be helped and to be indebted to anyone. It's a sign of weakness. That's the whole point of what I had planned with him. After I give him what I wanted to give him, I'll end our relationship.

Horikita: Tell me, Hishida?

Hishida: Yes?

Horikita: Do you like Karaage? *1

Hishida: Why this question?

I decided to put my plan into action, causing a surprise in my conversation partner.

Hishida: Do you want to make my bento as a thank you for what I did?

Horikita: Not just for you, for your sister too.

He seemed increasingly surprised. Normally, this is something I would reserve for my brother or family. Cooking for a stranger goes against my principles. But I judged it necessary after what happened, and I figured it was a way not to break my principles.

Horikita: But if you don't want it, I'd be happy not to make it for you.

Hishida: Oh no, I'd like it if you made me one.

Horikita: Too bad, it could have saved me some money.

Hishida: But you offered it yourself, didn't you?

Horikita: That's true.

It's just because I'm not used to these kinds of situations. That's all.

Hishida: It would be kind of you.

Horikita: I didn't do it out of kindness. It's just a gift as a thank you for what you've done.

He seemed to misunderstand my personality and who I am. Despite that, I felt a little grateful to be recognized as such. It was a strange feeling, especially coming from me.

I wanted to avoid talking about why I was making his meal to thank him. I finally saw his sister, and to my surprise, she no longer had the bandage she wore this morning. It had somehow hidden her beautiful eyes.

Her irises were like several drops of ink poured into water. The mix created by these ingredients matched the color of her eyes perfectly. My mind was overcome with a strange sense of well-being as I looked at her. I felt almost drawn to her gaze. But I quickly regained control of my mind and continued the conversation. I also took the opportunity to change the subject.

Horikita: Now I understand why she wore a bandage this morning.

Hishida: Yes, I was going to explain why during the introductions.

Horikita: I didn't listen to you since I left. That kind of thing is rather useless for someone like me.

It's not like making friends is useless. It's just useless for me. Having friends also means the danger of straying from the goal I've chosen. Having friends means worrying about them, but I only care about one person. No one will tell me if what I'm doing is right or wrong.

Hishida: Have you always been solitary?

Horikita: I don't think my life is very interesting.

He seemed interested in my life, which I clearly didn't want to talk about.

Hishida: It's true that it's none of my business, but I find it a bit sad to spend three years in high school alone.

Horikita: It won't affect me, just like it didn't affect me during the previous years of middle school and elementary school.

Hishida: It's a shame to waste three years of your life, especially in high school. It's a time of life that's particularly magical, especially in our situation. It's kind of cruel not to take advantage of it.

Horikita: That's how I am, and it won't change. Thinking about such things is a waste of time. It's more productive to work to ensure the future.

After I tried to avoid talking about what happened this morning and the meal I was making for him, he started talking about more embarrassing topics than my personal life. Not wanting to offend him, I wanted to change the subject again, and I saw the guy I had seen this morning on the bus. He was my neighbor, and he had that bored look I found annoying.

And for some unknown reason, he addressed us.

Point of View: Ayanokoji

I couldn't stop thinking about the disastrous presentation in front of the class. All I left them with was the memory of a lonely and boring guy. My attempt to make friends had failed, and I ended up feeling confused about the direction things were taking. Because it was very clear to me that this wasn't what I had planned.

I was already quite surprised by the feeling of having glimpsed Tokito's eyes. In terms of emotions, they could be described as surprise and wonder. Moreover, I could completely abandon the possibility of befriending people like Hirata, which personally bothered me a little. I had the feeling that he would be a good friend, but his popularity was more of a drawback than an advantage for me.

I could, at the very least, consider befriending Kushida, but the fact that she wanted to be friends with everyone made me doubt whether I should only have her as a friend. If things continued this way, I wasn't sure how I was going to end up this year in high school.

Ayanokoji: This situation is hopeless.

There was no longer what I had earned at this school — 100,000 points, which equals 100,000 yen, and that would reflect our worth once we managed to enroll. But to me, it sounded more like a reward for successfully registering for this "month." Such a large amount of money for high school students was abnormal, and even if what I said might have errors, it was impossible for the government to pay every month for a school with more than 300 students. It's way too much, even for the government.

For now, I had to remain cautious and hesitant about buying certain items, even though some were tempting.

Ayanokoji: Instant ramen?! Is the price right?

Although I was currently in a store, I couldn't help but question aloud. By chance, I bumped into three classmates, one of whom was my neighbor. If I remembered correctly, it was Hishida, Youka, and Tokito. As for my neighbor, I didn't know her name.

In fact, in addition to mocking my disastrous presentation, she hadn't even revealed her name. So, I decided to approach them.

Ayanokoji: Hello.

Although I didn't know much about how to approach someone, I began to venture into the unknown, thinking that greeting someone would be a good way to start a conversation.

Hishida: Oh, hello. Do you need anything?

Ayanokoji: No, nothing. You said you liked books during the presentations, and I wanted to share my passion for them too.

Hishida: Oh really? That's cool.

I wasn't sure if bringing up my passion for books was a good idea. But given my situation, I thought it was worth a try. The question now was whether he wanted to continue the conversation.

Hishida: That's strange! You didn't say you liked reading books during the presentations. Is there a reason?

A reason? I didn't know. During the presentations, I had been focused on figuring out how to proceed. The problem was that presenting to one person was different from presenting in front of an entire class. Certain rules need to be followed if you want to make a good impression.

My presentation was more improvisation than preparation. The looks from others raised many questions in my mind. Is it looked down upon to read books? Is it arrogant to boast about one's abilities? I knew the answers at that moment. But my brain, and my lack of experience, couldn't help but make me doubt the proper course of action.

Ayanokoji: I don't know. But I didn't want to come off as boring, I guess.

Hishida: No, I don't think so.

Ayanokoji: Really?

Hishida: Yes. From the look on your face, you're actually quite a handsome guy. If you had said you liked books during the introductions, the girls would have thought of you as the mature type.

That was an interesting analysis, but the opinion of the girls about me wasn't my primary concern.

Ayanokoji: And what if I want to make friends?

Hishida: Ah, you know, you don't really have to worry about that. Presentations aren't necessarily the best way to make friends. If you start hanging out with the right people, like Kushida, you're more likely to make friends.

Ayanokoji: Why?

Hishida: Because she's popular, and by hanging out with her, you'll have a better chance of talking to other people.

Ayanokoji: That could be a problem. Since she's popular, there's a high chance she's always surrounded by a crowd. And I don't like crowds.

Hishida: I'd say it's not that big of a deal, but we can find a solution.

He seemed to understand my problem and tried to find a solution. But I wondered, deep down, if I had actually managed to become friends with him.

Ayanokoji: What's this solution?

Hishida: Be friends with me!

He made the rather surprising suggestion.

Ayanokoji: Friends?

Hishida: Let me start from the beginning. You came to me because we share a common interest. I imagine you've realized that your presentation didn't help you make friends with anyone, and people like Kushida aren't an option due to your fear of crowds. So, you tried to befriend me. Is that right?

He had perfectly understood my situation, and it was pretty impressive how quickly he figured things out.

Ayanokoji: That's it.

But his reasoning was a little strange. Trying to prove his point this way made me a bit puzzled.

Hishida: I've been wanting to talk about a particular series with someone.

Or maybe not.

Ayanokoji: I see. I suppose I can consider you my first friend.

Hishida: But be careful. If you want to be friends with me, you also have to be friends with Tokito.

Ayanokoji: That's not something that bothers me.

Hishida: That's nice of you.

I eventually thought about it, but where had the raven-haired classmate gone? She had been there with him. It would be a shame not to get to know her better since she was my neighbor. After thinking about her personality, it wasn't surprising that she left.

Hishida: Are you looking for Horikita? Knowing her, she probably left.

So her name was Horikita. It was a nice name, and it suited her perfectly.

Ayanokoji: Sorry for making her leave.

Hishida: No problem. She'll be back.

Despite this moment of questioning about Horikita, something felt off about the situation.

Hishida was a pretty strange person in my eyes. At first, when he introduced himself, the class saw him as a handsome guy with diverse tastes and hobbies—a normal guy. The only thing that made him stand out was his little sister.

In other words, if she really was his sister, it meant she must have skipped a grade. Because it's impossible to have your sister in your class unless one of them repeated or skipped grades. But I'd bet on the latter possibility. No, actually, what surprised me the most was not only the color of Tokito's eyes but also her aura.

I hadn't noticed it, and I had to think about it in the moment. But I had the impression she had a better-than-normal understanding of words. And she had a way of thinking that was quite impressive. She understood my situation and intentions simply by reading my actions and words. At least, even if what I said was based on theory and hypothesis, I could still be wrong about her.

Her laid-back attitude and love for talking about her passions made it hard for me to figure out if she really had a hidden side.

Horikita: If your friend wants to eat with us, consider it a no.

Hishida: Oh come on, the more the merrier, right?

Horikita: Sorry to tell you, but I don't like situations like that. Either you eat with me tonight for free without him, or there's no thank-you meal at all, until I decide otherwise.

Hishida: What if I paid for his meal? Would you accept that?

She seemed to think about it for a while. In reality, the only thing she'd have to do if Hishida paid for the food was cook for one more person in the end.

Horikita: Do whatever you want, but I won't accept anyone else.

Hishida: There you go! Ayanokoji, what do you think?

He had finally found a compromise, and even though I hadn't really wanted it at first, he gave me the choice. But well, after all, who could refuse a free meal?

Ayanokoji: I'm in.

Horikita: Two idiots in my new house, I never thought this would happen.

I didn't know who the two people were, but I imagined she was talking about me and Hishida. And clearly, she didn't want to criticize Tokito. During the shopping for the ingredients that evening, I noticed that Horikita asked for Tokito's opinion more than mine or Hishida's. Tokito, by the way, only responded with nods. The result was that it seemed like she had the best meal prepared by Horikita. Hishida, who pointed this out, was shut down by her.

Hishida: Why is she spoiling my sister, seriously?

He said after waiting until Horikita and Tokito had gone quite far.

Ayanokoji: "Her sister is already being pampered by half the class."

Hishida: "Yeah, but she seemed like the type of person who thinks she's superior to everyone. I never would have thought she'd play favorites."

It's true that this wasn't the image we had of Horikita. From what I observed about her, not only was she unpleasant to listen to, but she also had this tendency to believe she was superior to everyone. In fact, she treated everyone the same way.

And from what we've seen, Tokito was getting special treatment.

Hishida: "Seriously, the world is...!"

??? : "HEY, LEAVE ME ALONE! I WAS HERE BEFORE YOU!"

He was cut off by someone from outside. Many students turned around at the noise caused by this person. This person, who happened to be our dear Captain Flame, seemed to be complaining to other students. Curious about what was going on, I decided to get closer. Hishida, on the other hand, preferred to observe the situation.

??? : "You should talk better to your seniors, ginger. This spot has been ours for a long time."

??? : "Oh yeah? I don't see your name written on it."

??? : "Wait, you're in Class D, aren't you?"

??? : "What does that matter to you?"

They all started laughing. It was clearly provocation. But I couldn't see the logical connection between them and the fact that we were in Class D. What does Class D mean to them? This question began to intrigue me.

??? : "We'll leave you the spot, ginger. Enjoy it while you can, because you're going to live hell."

Ayanokoji: "Hell?"

They all eventually left.

??? : "Damn."

He kicked the trash can. Aware of the camera above, I quickly fixed the mistake he had made. Without saying a word, Hishida followed my lead. It wasn't long before Horikita and Tokito joined us. Despite the strange events, I couldn't help but notice Tokito's curious presence.

She seemed to be, like me, under the grip of unyielding curiosity. Her eyes wandered everywhere, observing with an eager desire to learn about her world. I was already quite curious, but her desire seemed multiplied by a thousand. At least, that's how it felt deep inside me. A normal person wouldn't be this curious about things that are so easy to observe.

Just like me.

Akira POS

In an alleyway beyond the small supermarket where Hishida lived, the three eldest children were there, disgusted that their plan had failed. They were there, discussing a new attempt to steal money from their beloved kouhai. They saw them as a new source of money, something they hadn't been able to have for a long time.

Since a certain vice-president had ruined their classes down to the last drop. The only way out for them, as they saw it, was to collect enough points to save themselves from their predicament.

Akira -A colossal sum in other words, you need to collect between 15 million and 25 million points. You lied not verbally but by making fun of people in class D, even though you're in that lower class yourself. So are you guys in class B, C or D?

What do you want, son of a bitch? I don't think you have the right to know.

Akira-Ah right? No answer then... If there's no answer then I guess you're ashamed of your position and want to hide it so as not to add irony to your words. From that point of view, I'd say you're in class C.

????-Don't try it, man, you're making a fool of yourself!

Akira- Judging by your reaction, I'd say class D. 

They all stiffen at the mere mention of my words. Like leaves, they've become as brittle as leaves, the air getting colder and colder as they stare into my eyes.

Akira-Your reaction says it all: you tried to swindle a second-grader, but the big problem is that other students have already tried and been expelled as soon as the school found out. This was said by your head teacher. But your future depends on it, you know you can't win any more, you know there's only one way to get there, you've got 2 years left, 2 years to do whatever it takes to get there. But then ... how do you do it? How do you avoid getting caught? Nothing's better than provoking them and resorting to blackmail.

But ....

Akira- Ignoring the rules of your school, you left your classroom to observe your targets. Logically, knowing that it was a class of trash, class D was your first target. You saw and observed the behavior of the famous Sudo. You provoked him, hoping that he would make a mistake that would lead him to give away all his points. But strangely enough, you saw that a certain girl was approaching, and according to you, she wasn't there for the races, but with a visible determination to solve the problem. So you gave up on the pretext that you'd leave him alone for the day. But that's not the problem.

???-Or ...is the problem exactly, you've got nothing to back up what I've said.

Akira- That's right, I don't. On the other hand, I'd be willing to show you leniency.

???-You're trying to pull the wool over our eyes, pretending to be a guy who knows everything, and now you want to make a deal?

Akira -I don't know ....which points are you interested in?

They all began to think, and it wasn't at all difficult for me to read them. They had predictable personalities, you just had to have a good understanding of their actions and personalities to understand. But even now he continued to have doubts, because one false step in their actions and he risked screwing up everything.

????-How much are you willing to give us? 

Akira- 50,000 points plus 1,000,000 points if you'll make a deal with me.

???-I knew this story was dirty, but tell me what you want.

Akira- Some students in my class are really bothering me, and I want you to sort them out.

???-Do you realize what you're saying? If we do it, we risk being expelled.

Akira-Oh, I think it's possible, there's a special place for that and you know it very well.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Akira- Oh don't worry, I know you're lying Kenji Isaka

???-Just like I guessed his name

No matter what the process, he couldn't escape, and neither could his friends. A more than tempting proposal, he thought about it for days, contaminating his thoughts and prompting him to try and unravel the offer.

Akira- I'll give you 1 month to do it, and you'll see that the 50,000 points are in your account.

A little ring was heard on his phone, and as he looked at his phone, he was instantly certain of the truth of my words.

Akira-If you need any more information, I'll meet you here every Wednesday at 6pm.

I end up leaving

Isaka - WAIT!

Akira- Who is it?

Isaka-Who are you?

Akira- A student, a person... What's the point in knowing?

Isaka-You're no ordinary person, you've guessed everything, from our plan to my name. WHO ARE YOU?

Akira-As I said, you don't need to know. Just accept what I'm proposing. You and your friends had no choice but to use this kind of means. Do you think you'll ever have such an opportunity? Do you think you'll ever have such an opportunity in your life? I'm bringing you a miracle that won't happen twice. You've got nothing left, you've got no other solution, you've got no time, you've got nothing left but my proposal.

I continued

Akira-Think about it, Isaka, no one's going to offer you a place in this class unless you buy it with money, and I've got the money!

Ayanokoji POV

Hishida: "How about we eat at my place?"

Horikita: "And what's the point of eating at your place?"

Hishida: "Let's say, considering the number of people you need to cook for, it would make sense to have a bigger space that could fit all of us."

Horikita: "And what does that have to do with your room, Hishida?"

Hishida: "Actually, since Tokito and I are siblings, we were given a shared apartment. It's bigger than the others' apartments and has two separate rooms."

From this perspective, Hishida was right. Since there were four of us, a regular room provided by the school wouldn't have been enough. In my opinion, we would have been cramped. That's why Hishida proposed his apartment. A space, in his words, larger thanks to the school's favor, and thus beneficial for us.

To remind you, we had finished shopping, and Horikita decided to make Chinese-style pork for everyone. She had, of course, bought ingredients for pancakes, which seemed to be something Tokito wanted. We were heading to Horikita's apartment when Hishida made his suggestion.

Horikita: "It's true that it would be more practical, and it doesn't really bother me."

She shared her opinion. Personally, I didn't have an issue with it. In fact, I didn't mind eating at Hishida's place. As long as I could spend the evening with my first friend, that was all that mattered. It was probably going to be a unique evening for me, even though I wondered if young people nowadays still eat Chinese pork among friends. I had read online that such foods aren't very healthy.

Now all I had to do was respond, to get the approval to eat at Hishida's room with them. Well, it didn't take as much effort as a presentation, right?

Ayanokoji: "I don't mind."

Tokito nodded in agreement, making her look, from an outside perspective, quite adorable.

Hishida: "Alright then, since everyone's okay with it, let's go."

It didn't take long for Hishida's suggestion to be accepted, even if it wasn't exactly equal to Horikita's approval.

After about 10 minutes, we arrived in front of his room. What I noticed was that other students hadn't waited to go to their apartments. I wondered if they were in the same situation as me, meaning without friends.

Well, even though I was lucky. Meeting Hishida was a stroke of luck.

Hishida opened his door, revealing an almost empty apartment. From what we could see inside, some things like a computer and a TV were provided. Same with the kitchen tools. We could see that the kitchen was connected to the living room, and there were three doors. They seemed to lead to Hishida's and Tokito's rooms. The last one must be the bathroom.

Hishida: "An apartment for simple high school students. If life isn't beautiful, what would I have become?"

Tokito seemed amazed by the apartment and didn't wait a moment before exploring her room. Hishida turned on the lights, and it was 6:46 PM, with the sun already seeming to set.

Horikita: "I'll start cooking."

She headed to the kitchen, taking out the ingredients. She was going to make that famous Chinese-style pork, which she would accompany with sautéed vegetables. Not wanting to seem impolite, I eventually asked if everything was okay.

Ayanokoji: "Do you need any help?"

Horikita: "No, it's kind of you, though."

Even though I was already expecting that answer, I couldn't help but be surprised by the tone she used. Hishida turned on the TV and even began analyzing it in detail. I didn't know where to place myself, so I preferred to give my opinion on the different channels Hishida was flipping through.

It was quite a relaxed day, I must say. Spending this kind of time was pleasant in my opinion. The way it unfolded was quite unexpected. I never would have thought that after the introductions, things would turn out this way.

But well, I think my peaceful life is in good hands.

Horikita's POV

Everyone: "Itadakimasu!"

Horikita: "Itadakimasu!"

Everyone started shouting.

Hishida: "Damn, this is so good!"

Ayanokoji: "I confirm."

The meal was long, and everyone started talking about various things. Hishida, being the guy who talks a bit too much. Ayanokoji seemed to be listening, while Tokito stayed silent. The atmosphere was warm, but I was intentionally staying out of it.

It's something that, even now, caused me more discomfort than comfort. I didn't want to take advantage of it, no... That's not what I would do. This evening, this meal... it's just a thank you for the man who saved me. Yet, a part of me wanted to join in. But she knows, I'm not like that. The person I am now isn't me.

I've never been like this. But if I were to say what kind of person I want to be, I would say like my brother. He's the role model, the ideal model. I want to be the kind of person who can support him.

Yes, that kind of person.

Just like Tokito, I didn't say anything during the conversation. Eating while looking off into space.

Afterward, dessert arrived. Tokito left the table and went outside. Curious about what she was doing, I went to join her. She was sitting on the ground, gazing at the sky with a look that could be described as curiosity. She was watching the stars, eating her pancakes with a satisfied expression.

She looked like a child, as pure and innocent as possible. She seemed to be contemplating, from Earth, a spectacle one would think is normal. She made me realize through her actions how special she was. At least, that's how she had become for me. For some unknown reason.

Horikita: "Aren't you coming to eat with us?"

She said nothing, continuing to look at the sky. I decided to leave, but before I could do so, she did something unexpected.

Tokito: "The sky is watching us, Horikita."

For the first time, I heard her speak. Her voice was almost identical to mine, though a bit more childish.

Tokito: "It watches us, it sees us grow through its millions of gazes... Unfortunately, some were born in hidden places... it hasn't seen them again, before seeing them again."

I didn't quite understand, even though I was listening to what she said. I tried to make sense of it, but it remained a mystery. She continued with her beautiful words.

Tokito: "The starry sky is like our mother... the world stole the children from their mothers... I want to catch up on the time I lost with my mother, but now she's gone, doomed to never be seen again... reduced to a simple memory."

Horikita: "Tokito... did your mother die?"

Tokito: "I only have my brother left... together, we're invincible."

This confirmed my suspicions. If I were to analyze her words, I could understand that she had been locked away for a good part of her life. And that her mother was dead. While I was curious about her death, I preferred to refrain from asking, preferring to just listen.

Tokito: "Horikita, do you have a brother?"

Horikita: "Uh, yes."

Tokito: "You want to get closer, but you can't."

Horikita: "I don't want to talk about it."

Tokito: "Horikita..."

She paused, looking at me with her large, multi-colored eyes. I had let my guard down, revealing what I truly was. Giving up on what I wanted to hide. My true face.

Tokito: "You're like me. You want to be with your brother, but you can't. Because you're not going about it the right way."

Horikita: "And how should I do it, according to you? My brother already hates me."

Tokito: "Think about doing the opposite of what you think is right. An older brother doesn't want a pale copy of a sister."

She stood up, gave me one last look, and asked me one final question.

Tokito: "Please, follow my advice. I already consider you my first friend."

And she went to her room, leaving me alone on the balcony.

I turned back to go see Ayanokoji and Hishida. I sat down in front of them, deep in thought.

Horikita: "I also read Maxime Chattam, Hishida."

Hishida: "No way. Which one?"

What Tokito said was partly true. Manabu never wanted me to be his copy, I suppose. Maybe if I changed my habits, acted according to my true desires, he would see me from a different angle. Maybe the solution was as simple as completely changing my mindset.

Tokito had changed something in me. I didn't know why, but her last words stuck with me. And they made me realize that I needed to ask myself one question: Would she really be a friend to me?

In my desire to learn more about her, I can say with certainty...

Yes, Tokito.

I suppose we can call ourselves friends.

Hishida's POV

It was the end of the evening, and what I had predicted had finally come true. After speaking with Tokito, Horikita had radically changed. They had both grown. Personally, I was happy about their transformation. I had wished for this change for Horikita, just as I wanted Tokito to have friends. I could calmly say that, at least one thing had been achieved that day.

Regarding what happened throughout the day, several things caught my attention and confirmed some of my theories. One of them was about competition between the classes.

First, I noticed in the store that some students, who seemed to be in their first year, bought things that were relatively different from the others. Some groups bought expensive items, while others tried to save their points as much as possible. I also noticed the free items in the store, which seemed to be intended for students who had no money left. Although, 100,000 yen is a bit excessive for that.

Secondly, what confirmed the theory about competition was something a first-year student said. I quote, "Since we're in Class D, we're going to live through hell." This means that, because we're in this specific class, we might end up experiencing hardship. I had also noticed a certain intention behind their actions. I had this feeling that they weren't lying verbally, but through their actions. It seemed like they wanted to do something, and upon seeing a girl who wanted to solve the problem, they abandoned all their plans.

I still wonder, but didn't they try to provoke Sudo into making a mistake so they could blackmail him? Objectively speaking, it's true that it's forbidden to scam students, but if they had succeeded, it would have been Sudo who made the mistake, and this payment could be seen as his way of asking for forgiveness. A devious plan, but I imagine they choose their targets carefully in situations like this. Like people who would easily get caught in such traps.

Finally, the behavior of our seniors — they seem to be careful not to make mistakes, unlike us, who let our guard down. Anyway, I don't think it's useful to keep speculating about these kinds of things.

The goal now is to gather information from the school through an upperclassman.

For now, let's think about my plans.