Some things can't be found in the schedule.
They're not announced at assemblies, not printed in brochures.
But they exist. And they influence everything.
Today, I learned about the parameter.
It started during lunch.
I was sitting by the window, keeping a low profile.
In the distance — noise, conversations, the usual school background.
In front of me — a notebook, open to a page of notes on the point system.
Across the cafeteria — Aoi and Tokidzawa. Talking about something. Tokidzawa rarely speaks to people.
And then — him.
An unknown student from Class 2-C.
He walked up to the vending machine and tapped his card. A flash appeared on the screen.
One second.
But I saw it: "P: 172 — access granted."
P?
That's not points. Not a student ID.
It was a different kind of access level.
I went to the machine later, alone. Repeated his actions.
On my screen — nothing.
No number, no initial. Just the standard purchase menu.
Later, during break, I approached Aoi.
"Have you heard of the parameter?"
She smiled, took a bite of her bread roll.
"I've heard," she said casually. "But you're not supposed to know about it, right?"
I didn't respond. She continued,
"In this school, everyone has... an internal ranking. Something like potential.
No one can see it. But it's there. And certain things only unlock at a certain 'P.'"
"Who decides the parameter?"
"The system. Or the people behind it. Doesn't matter. What matters is — it shifts. It grows if you stay sharp. Drops if you mess up."
I looked at her.
Same smile. Same 'naive' face.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I know you saw it. And now you won't let it go."
That night, I opened a new section in my notebook:
Parameter
– Not directly displayed
– Affects access to resources
– Possibly tied to expulsions
– Related to surveillance? Or determined by AI?
– To test: how to raise it? How to see others'?
This school isn't about knowledge.
It's about value. About how much you're worth.
And apparently, you don't get to decide that yourself…
…someone else does.
But only for now.