"HEY. WHAT ARE THESE FOR?"

As I looked for things to talk about, I saw something unusual.

In the corner of the convenience store, I saw individual portions of food and supplies.

At first glance, they looked the same as everything else, but with one major difference.

"Free... ?"

Also feeling interested, Horikita picked up one of the items. Axel also picked some items.

Daily necessities such as toothbrushes and bandages were put in a bin labeled "free of charge". The bin also had the words, "3 items per month" written on it, and it was obvious that these were different from the other goods.

"I wonder if this is emergency relief for those who have used up all their points. What a surprisingly lenient school."

"Wow, can I pick this? It looks tasty." Axel said while holding a lollipop. I sighed.

I wonder if they're only thorough with these kinds of services, though.

"Hey, just wait a bit! I'm looking for it now!"

Interrupting the peaceful background music was a loud voice from the middle of the store.

"Hurry up! Everyone's waiting!"

"Oh, really!? Tell them to complain directly to me!"

It sounded like there was trouble.. Two boys were glaring at each other as they started to quarrel. The one with a disgruntled face was the all too familiar red hair guy. He was clutching cup noodles in one of his hands.

"What's happening here?" Axel asked, the boy looked at him.

"Oh? Who're you?"

Red hair mistook Axel for another enemy and shot him a glare.

"I'm Arison from the same class. I spoke up because I thought there was trouble here." He looked at me.

"I'm Ayanokoji."

After explaining, red hair lowered his voice after understanding the situation.

"Oh... I remember you guys. I forgot my student card. Forgot that that thing is practically money from now on."

After seeing his empty hands, he started to head for the dorms. He probably forgot it there.

To be honest, it didn't fully sink in yet that the cards were needed for every payment.

"If it's fine with you, I can pay for it now. It'd be troublesome to go back to get it—I don't mind if you use my points." I said. He looked at me surprised. Axel also nodded.

"... That's true. It's annoying. Good thing you're here, thanks."

The distance to the dorm isn't a big deal. But by the time he would've gotten back, the line would probably get long since it'd be lunch time.

"... I'm Sudou. I owe you one."

"Thank you also Arison." Axel just smiled at him, Sudou's cheeks became red and looked away. I narrow my eyes.

"Nice to meet you, Sudou." I said.

Horikita was amazed after seeing that short exchange of conversation.

"You're a pushover even from the first meeting. Are you going to be his obedient servant? Or is this how you're trying to make friends?" Horikat said while staring at Sudou.

"Rather than making friends, I was just trying to help. Nothing else." I said.

"You don't seem to be scared of his appearance either, Arison." she said while looking Axel who is eating his snacks.

"Scared? Why would I be scared? Because he looks like a delinquent?"

"A normal person would probably stay away from that kind of person."

"Nah, he doesn't even look like a bad person anyway. Also, you don't look scared either."

"Only people without any method of protecting themselves stay away from those types. If he seemed violent, I'd repel him away from me. That's why I'm not really afraid."

Whenever Horikita says something, it's always something unusual. First of all, when she says "repel," what does she mean? Is she carrying around some kind of anti-molester spray?

"Let's finish shopping. It'd bother other students if we loitered around too long."

We finished up our shopping. After presenting the student ID card to the machine, the transaction was quickly completed. It was even faster because there was no small change involved.

"It's really usable as money... " Axel and I say unison.

The receipt showed the prices of each good and the leftover amount of points. The payment went off without a hitch. While we/re waiting for Horikita, I put hot water into the cup noodles. I thought it'd be more difficult to open the lid and pour in the hot water, but it was surprisingly easy.

"Kiyo, you look weird." Axel said to me, I just ignored him. He pouted then continued eating.

At any rate, this is a really weird school. I should ask Axel later if I also found this school weird.

What kind of merit does each individual student have that warrants that big of an allowance?

Since my grade has about 160 people in it, by simple calculation, the high school should have about 480 people total. Even in a month that's already 48 million yen. In a year, 560 million.

Even if it's backed by the country, it still seems like overkill.

"I wonder what benefit it would bring to the school. 100,000 yen is a lot to give someone." Axel said while munching.

"Well... There seem to be way too many facilities for the number of students, and it doesn't seem necessary to give the students that much money. The students may neglect their studies because they have so much money."

I'm not sure if this is our reward for passing the test.

By talking about money, the students might be motivated to work harder.

But, without any conditions attached, 100,000 yen was handed out to everyone. Suddenly Horikita overheard our conversation and start talking

"It's not something I can really tell you two to do, but it's probably better to save your money. Bad habits are difficult to fix. Once humans get used to a comfortable life, it's hard to let it go. The mental shock would certainly be pretty big."

"I'll take that to heart." I said.

"Yes Ma'am." Axel said.

I never intended to throw away my money on random expenses originally, but she made a valid point. But for Axel... well I should tell him to save his money, he will never listen to anyone except for me.

After finishing the transaction, Sudou was waiting in front of the convenience store.

Seeing me and Axel come out, Sudou waved his hand at us. When I also waved to return his feeling, I felt a bit embarrassed yet happy at the same time. Axel also waved his hand.

"... Are you actually trying to eat here?" Axel asked.

"Of course I am. It's common sense, where else would I eat?" He nodded when Sudou said that.

When Sudou answered like that, I was surprised and Horikita let out an exasperated sigh.

"I'm going to go home. It feels like my dignity is slowly degrading away here."

"What dignity are you talking about? You're just a normal high school student. Or are you some kind of ojousama?"

Even though Sudou snapped at Horikita, she didn't even bat an eye. Axel just let out a small chuckle.

Feeling irritated, Sudou put down his cup noodles and stood up.

"Ahー? Listen to people when they speak. Hey!"

"What's up with him? Suddenly getting angry."

Horikita continued to ignore Sudou and talked to me.

Having been pushed over the edge, Sudou shouted in anger.

"Come over here! I'll beat you up!"

"I'll admit Horikita's attitude was bad. But your behavior isn't very good either."

Sudou's patience seems to have run out.

"So? Her attitude's way too cheeky for a woman!"

"For a woman? That kind of thinking is outdated. Don't be friends with someone like him."

With that, Horikita turned around, ignoring Sudou to the very end.

"Hey wait! Damn woman!"

"Calm down." I held back Sudou who was trying to reach Horikita.

Without even looking back, Horikita headed back for the dorms.

"What kind of person acts like that? Dammit!"

"There are many different types of people, you know." Axel said. I nod as I agree.

"Hmph. I hate that kind of person."

After that Sudou grabbed the cup noodles, tore off the cover and started eating. Axel also sits down beside Sudou. I sigh.

A little while ago, he also fought at the register. It seems like he has a low boiling point for his anger.

"Hey, are you a first year student? That's our spot."

As I watched Sudou slurp up his noodles, a group of three boys walked out of the convenience store carrying similar bowls.

"Who are you guys? We're using this spot right now. You're blocking the way. Fuck off."

"Didn't you hear him? Scram. Some cheeky first year brat."

The three laughed at Sudou. Sudou stood up and threw his cup noodles on the ground. Soup and noodles splattered onto the ground.

"Hey Sudou, calm down." Axel said but he just ignored and started arguing.

"The first year's trying to fight, ha— what!?"

... That's not it. Sudou has a low tolerance for anger. He's the type of person to try to intimidate the other party.

"These second years are saying some bullshit things. We're already sitting here."

The second year senpais put down their stuff right there too. And then they began to laugh.

"Yup, we're here too. So scream, this is our spot."

"You guys have some nerve, you shits."

Sudou didn't falter from the difference in numbers. Looks like a fistfight will start anytime soon now. I, of course, didn't count myself in those numbers.

"Wow—— so scary. What class are you guys in? Oh wait, never mind. Let me guess... you're in class D right?"

"So what!?"

After Sudou said that, all the upperclassmen looked at each other, and laughed at the same time.

"Did you hear? He's in the D class! It was really obvious!"

"Oh? What do you mean by that, huh?"

As Sudou was getting heated, the boys took a step back.

"Because you guys are so pitiful I'll let you stay there for today. Let's go."

"You guys running away!?"

"The dog's barking! Anyway, you guys will face hell soon enough anyway."

Face hell?

They clearly looked calm and composed. I wonder what they meant by "face hell".

I thought that this school was for those fancy obocchans or ojousamas, but there are quite a few people like Sudou or that group of three earlier.

"Dammit, if it were girls or nice second-years it would've been fine, but we got that stupid bunch."

Sudou shoved his hands in his pockets and headed back without even cleaning up the noodles.

I looked at the outside of the convenience store. Two surveillance cameras had been placed there.

"There'll probably be problems later, huh."

Reluctantly, I reached down and started cleaning up the mess. After I clean that Axel grabs my hand.

"Look, your hand is now dirty, tsk." Axel said while wiping the dirt in my hand. I look at him, he seems to be observing the Second Year. I'll discuss this later with him.

I also realize when the second-years knew Sudou was class D, their opinions changed instantly. Although I felt anxious about it, there was no way for me to understand why.

"Their behaviour is weird, Kiyo."

"Yeah."

"Wait, can you go to my dorm later? I want to try something."

"Yeah sure, what time?"

"Hmm around 7:00pm, don't worry Matsuo teaches me to cook so I'll have our dinner- ohh we don't have any ingredients." I sighed.

"Of course you don't, you just bought snacks." he hit my arms then went inside the convenience store again.

I silently chuckle.

Cute.