When I heard the words coming out of Hoshinomiya's mouth, I couldn't help but frown.
I never considered myself a good person, so I didn't mind being labeled a "very bad child," as she put it. However, why does she seem so disappointed that I refused to be class representative? Is there any advantage to being one? Or is it because she, as our homeroom teacher, possesses some kind of authority over the representative?
Don't tell me she wanted me to be her errand boy... Well, since I've refused, it's not my problem.
"So, Hoshinomiya-sensei, what's the verdict?"
"Your answers are all correct, to say the least. Just as we thought, you already have a good idea of the school as a whole, even if you lack a few details. That said, I don't think anyone has managed to learn this much during the first two days of school." Hoshinomiya said with a small sigh before she looked at me with her usual smile.
"So, will you buy the remaining information for 500.000 points or not?"
"We should buy it." Ichinose spoke up before I could answer the question, causing me to turn at her as she looked at all of us with a serious expression. "I'm sure that everyone understands by now, from yesterday's talk and Kokonoe-kun's answers just now, that this school is anything but normal. I think it's in our best interest to buy them out."
"Ichinose-san is right." Kanzaki followed with a nod, looking serious as ever. "Although Kokonoe-san has apparently discovered a good portion of the S-System's secrets, Hoshinomiya-sensei said he's missing some details, so it's best if we know everything, not to mention that we only have to 500.000 points for them thanks to him, instead of the original 2.000.000."
Upon hearing his and Ichinose's words, all of our classmates nodded. Unlike yesterday, they were willing to contribute, seemingly understanding the seriousness of our current situation. One by one, they sent me 12,500 private points each, prompting me to give them a grateful nod.
"Thank you, everyone." I said before looking at Hoshinomiya after confirming that I had received 487.500 points in total from all my classmates and sent her the points.
"Then, as promised, can you tell us everything about the system, Hoshinomiya-sensei?"
"I did give my words, so go back to your seat, because it's going to take a while to explain everything." Hoshinomiya said, clapping her hands and we nodded, listening to her instruction. But on my way to my seat, I stopped in my tracks, wanting to ask a question.
"Oh, by the way, is the classroom soundproof?"
"Of course. As long as the doors and windows are closed, nothing will come out of this room." She said, making me smile because I didn't want anyone outside of this classroom to listen.
And once I sat down, Hoshinomiya let out a few little gasps before starting to explain the S-System to us in its entirety.
Advanced Nurturing High School operated on a meritocratic system where classes are forced to compete with only the best receiving benefits, such as the 100% higher education admission rate and employment rate, upon graduation.
She then explained to everyone how the classes were organized, with Class 1-A housing the best students of our grade while Class 1-D contained the most "problematic" of the batch, being commonly labelled as "defective" on campus.
She also introduced Class Points and their relationship to our monthly distribution of private points, as well as how they determine our place in the class rankings before addressing the issue of special exams.
Passing these exams meant moving up the ranks or staying at the top, depending on your position.
Failure, on the other hand, meant falling further in the competition against the other classes or even expulsion if the student was well below the class average in terms of grade. Hoshinomiya even informed us that twelve students were expelled in second grade and five in third grade.
She did tell us that we could avoid that outcome by paying 20 millions Private Points, an amount that could also be used to transfer to another class.
And once her explanation was finished, a heavy silence fell upon the class as nobody spoke.
I glanced from my seat at their expressions, some being relieved that they weren't in Class 1-D, or even 1-C, while some felt the pressure of oncoming exams and the horrible risk of expulsion.
Yeah, nobody wants to be expelled since it'll be recorded in our school record. It's essentially a black mark on their resume.
As I observed them, I decided to act and see for myself if I could trust this class for the next three years.
"Kokonoe-kun?" I heard Ichinose whisper as I stood up from my seat and walked towards the podium before standing behind it next to Hoshinomiya, who was looking at me with a grin on her face.
But I ignored her and looked at all of my classmates who were staring back at me, silent, as if observing my very gestures.
Now that I think about it, why doesn't everyone feel slightly uncomfortable when listening to me, despite my low charisma stat? On the contrary, they seem intrigued by me?
Is it because I proved myself by answering Hoshinomiya's questions in front of them?
Or is it because Ichinose, who is already liked and trusted by nearly everyone in the class, is willing to trust me that they are willing to listen to me? Perhaps her charisma is so strong that it overshadows mine to the point of erasing the negative side.
Well, if that's the case, if our plan to go to that cafe later is still on, I'll treat her whatever she wants.
"Everyone, I have some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that we know about the school's true face and rules. As for the bad news, we might be in trouble for many reasons. But before we go any further, I'd like to ask why you all. Why did you come to this school?" I asked, looking each of my classmates in the eye, noting their puzzlement, but I ignored it and went on.
"Is it to make friends? Or is it because you followed your friends and came to the same school as them? Or is it because your parents decided for you? Or, like me, you came here because of the 100% higher education admission rate or the job employment rate."
Hearing my words, I saw a large majority nod their heads at the 100% part, silently admitting that this was the reason why they came to this school.
"It's nice to see that you're all like me, which is great because we all have a common goal. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that, as we now know, we won't benefit from it since we aren't students from Class A because the school judged us as average unlike the excellent students in the other class." I said, causing many to look down, as if depressed about being labelled as such, while some frowned at my words and I frowned as well, trying to express some dissatisfaction.
"Yes, I understand that it is quite insulting to us..." I said, clutching my fist before I looked at my classmates and started to raise my voice.
"However, we still have a chance in the next three years to reverse this situation! As long as we manage to surpass Class A in terms of class points, we will take their place at the top and obtain the privilege reserved for them for ourselves!"
"Kokonoe!"
"Yes, what is it, Shibata-san?" I asked when I heard the blue-haired boy calling my name as he stood up from his seat.
"What do you think we should do right now if we want to surpass Class A?"
"For now, we have to respect all the school rules we were taught when we were young until the end of the month. No using our phones during class, no being late or skipping classes without excuse, no eating or talking with our classmates during class, being respectful to our teachers, and so on. Well, I'm sure these rules must be common sense to all of you by now. That said, I won't be telling you guys to do it." I said, prompting many incredulous looks as they stared at me with wide eyes, seeming not to understand what I had just said, while I just smiled.
"I mean it literally. Yesterday was our first meeting, we don't know anything about each other yet, aside from a brief introduction, so I'd feel bad suddenly giving you orders as if I was your leader. Personally, I'd hate it if it happened to me, being bossed around by someone I barely know. But of course, I'll do my part of the job since, as you can see, I'm not wearing my earrings and came nicely dressed today." I jokingly said, flaunting my attire to the class before I quickly regained a serious expression, if not a bitter smile.
"And to be honest, just as I said earlier to Hoshinomiya-sensei, I never thought of myself as leader-material. I'm not as kind or outgoing like Ichinose-san and my grades are only average compared to the entire student body. Perhaps, among us, I am the one with the lowest grade around. That said, I'll work hard from now on and better myself because, to benefit from that admission rate reserved to students of Class A, I have no choice but to do it."
Or I could just raise 20 million points on my own and transfer into the best class at the time, right before graduation. It's always good to have a plan B in the back.
"Now, what about you all? If you are really like me... then I'm sure you all know what you must do now. We have to improve ourselves, our grades, our physical abilities, everything in order to surpass those guys in Class A and take the 100% admission rate for ourselves, for our own future!"
"Kokonoe is right..."
"There is a medical school I really want to get into..."
"There's also the fact that it's the school that is paying the administrative fees for us..."
One by one they began to talk to each other, gradually creating a racket, and among them a complaint arose.
"Do we really have to work so hard?"
Everyone in the classroom looked at the speaker at once, the boy being surprised by the sudden looks before becoming embarrassed.
"What? I'm just asking..."
"Did you really think that you'll be granted free access to the university or the job of your choice by slacking off?" I asked the boy who turned to me, while I stared straight into his eyes.
Honestly, I have nothing against what he said since I'd love nothing more than slacking off. However, I also know that doing this could have a negative impact on my future, just like in my previous life.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but the world isn't that nice. Only talented people get to enjoy such advantages while we, according to the school's standards, are merely average students. For people like us, the only sure way for us to get what we want, to be noticed by the administration and have our efforts recognized, is to work hard, nothing more."
There is also trickery and deception, but if discovered, it could cause problems, so it is not something I'd recommend to someone unless they are a good manipulator.
"Also, I'd like you all to know that a little effort won't be enough. If you really think that by working a little harder, we could surpass Class A, then you're taking both them and the school for fools. They were chosen to be part of that class because the administration judged them best during the entrance exam. Do you really believe that with just a little effort, we'll surpass them? I don't believe so, because they too will work hard to maintain their place at the top!"
I couldn't help but shout, getting a little excited by my own speech, before taking a deep breath and calming down a little.
It's not often that I give this kind of speech, and I don't really like doing it, but it's the only way I can think of to get the message across.
"And don't forget they're not our only rivals with the C and D classes behind us. Just as we'll challenge Class A for their spot, they'll likely challenge us... no, think of us as stepping stones in their climb to the top. They'll come, baring their fangs at us, because we're on their way to the privileged places and leave us in the dust if we don't improve ourselves."
When I mentioned Classes C and D, I saw a few people blink in surprise, as if they'd forgotten about them, only thinking of class A.
Even though they're supposed to be inferior to us, that doesn't mean they can't take us down, just like how we are trying to take down Class A.
"And in case you forgot, the administration will punish struggling students by expelling them, and given the number of people gone among the second and third year students, they seem to be taking this seriously. So, unless you're fine with having a poor school record, you have no choice but to study hard anyway."
And as I said this, I couldn't help but snicker, because my words applied to me too.
Well, I have many reasons to study hard this time around, having learned from my mistakes from my past life. And the fact that I could sometimes be competitive helps, so the idea of reaching the top could be a great source of motivation.
"That said, I'd like you all to think for yourselves what you should do from now on, for yourselves, because now, starting from this moment and for the next three years, it is your own future that is at stake."
I said, once again causing a heavy silence over the class as they all stared at their desks, seemingly lost in their thoughts.
Ichinose was staring at her hands, thinking deeply while Kanzaki nodded slightly in approval. I noticed one student clenching their fist, as if they made up their own mind while another classmate muttered under their breath, "...I'm gonna make it to Class A."
Well, this is what I want from them, for them to be motivated and work hard. And this better work… or I just made a fool of myself in front of forty people.
Still, I can only hope that no traitors are born in this class because of today's event, because one is enough.