A Simple Life in the Classroom of the Elite

"Ryuto-kun?" A gentle voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I blinked, finding myself back in the classroom. It was only the second day of school, and most of us were already waiting in bored silence for the lesson to begin.

Standing in front of me was Kushida Kikyo, her lips forming a small pout.

"Sorry, Kushida. Did you say something?" I asked, feeling slightly embarrassed.

"I called your name multiple times, but you didn't respond." She said, crossing her arms. "Is it because I called you by your first name? I thought you said it was fine yesterday."

"No, it's not that. I was just lost in thought." I reassured her, waving off her concerns.

"I see." She let out a small sigh before brightening up again. "Still, I wanted to apologize for rushing off after we got off the bus yesterday. I didn't even introduce myself properly, so I figured I should do it now."

With a cheerful smile, she clasped her hands together.

"I'm Kushida Kikyo! I hope we can get along."

"Me too." I replied with a nod. Up close, her enthusiasm was infectious, yet for some reason, it didn't quite reach me.

"Uhm, this might seem sudden, but could you give me your number?" She asked, her expression hopeful.

"Huh?" My mind went blank for a moment.

"You might remember from my introduction—I want to get along with everyone in class, so it only makes sense to exchange numbers!"

"Oh, yeah, sure." Clearing my throat, I quickly handed over my contact information. 'I should really stop assuming things.' I thought to myself, resigned to a single life—not that I was looking for a relationship anyway.

"Thank you!" She beamed, tucking her phone away before turning her attention to Horikita.

"Horikita-san, have you—"

"No, I haven't. My answer remains the same." Horikita cut her off coldly. "If you keep pushing, it'll just make you look desperate."

'Wow. That was…blunt.' I stared at the black-haired girl in mild shock.

Across from her, Ayanokoji looked even more disturbed, staring at Horikita like she was the devil herself.

'For someone who usually looks like his face is paralyzed, he sure shows a lot of emotions when he doesn't mean to.' I mused, suppressing a chuckle.

Kushida's smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. "Oh, I see…I'm sorry for insisting."

"At least you know now." Horikita scoffed.

"Hey, Horikita, no need to be so bitchy about it." I chimed in before I could stop myself.

Her brow twitched. "I don't recall asking for your opinion."

I shrugged. "Just saying, you could've been a little more respectful."

"You're right. Next time, I'll ignore her. Just like you ignored me yesterday." Horikita nodded as if that was the logical conclusion.

I opened my mouth, then shut it. 'I did do that, didn't I?'

I wanted to apologize, but before I could, Kushida clapped her hands together.

"Please stop fighting! Let's all just calm down!" She exclaimed, trying to defuse the tension.

Horikita simply huffed, pulled out a book, and shut out the rest of the world.

I sighed internally, but I wasn't the only one noticing her behavior. A few nearby students were glaring at Horikita with clear annoyance and disgust.

My brows furrowed. 'She's rude, sure, but does she really deserve that kind of reaction?'

A small squeak from my right caught my attention.

"Hm?" I turned, only to see a nervous-looking Sakura staring at the floor.

"What was that?" I asked, confused.

"Huh?" She flinched, as if she hadn't expected anyone to acknowledge her, then quickly averted her gaze.

"Are you alright?" Kushida asked with concern.

"Y-Yeah…That was just…scary…" Sakura mumbled so softly that I barely caught her words.

"Horikita isn't that scary." I said dryly, already feeling her gaze drilling into the back of my head.

Kushida took a gentler approach. "I don't think you stayed for the introductions, right? Could you tell me your name?"

"I'm…" Sakura started, but her voice trailed into whispers.

"Could you say that again?" Kushida asked, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Sakura Airi." She repeated, this time loud enough for us to hear.

"Nice to meet you, Sakura-san! I hope we can be friends!" Kushida said brightly.

Sakura gave a small nod, but her reaction was far from enthusiastic.

After some painful back-and-forth small talk, Kushida asked for Sakura's number, causing the girl to start sweating profusely.

It was clear that if pressed any further, she might actually combust on the spot.

"Kushida, maybe take it easy. You've got three years to befriend everyone." I suggested.

Realizing her mistake, Kushida backed off. "You're right. I'm sorry, Sakura-san."

Sakura mumbled something in response and returned to staring at anywhere but the people around her.

"I might be acting too rashly." Kushida sighed, turning back to me.

"Just a little. I don't think friends are made that easily." I said with a small smile.

"You're right. I guess I got too used to already being friends with everyone in junior high." Kushida returned my smile, but I noticed a slight twitch in her brow.

'Annoyance?' I wondered. After living with Arisu, I'd developed a knack for picking up on subtle emotional cues.

Before we could continue, a voice called out.

"Kikyo-chan! Come on!"

A girl—Wang Mei Yu, if I remembered correctly—waved at Kushida from across the room.

"Just a second, Mii-chan!" Kushida called back before flashing me another bright smile. "Well, now that we exchanged numbers, we're officially friends, right? See you later, Ryuto-kun!" She winked before leaving.

I watched her go, feeling slightly embarrassed by my earlier comment.

'Seems like she already made friends…'

Still, I couldn't bring myself to consider her one just yet.

…

A few minutes later, class officially started.

At first, my classmates were surprised by how kind and welcoming the teachers seemed.

But as the lectures continued, that surprise turned into disappointment.

'Just because this school is for elites doesn't mean the teachers have to be harshm' I thought, suppressing a sigh at their unrealistic expectations.

Soon, students began pulling out their phones, chatting, or outright sleeping.

Sudo was a prime example, his snoring audible even from across the room.

I frowned, watching my classmates waste their time. 'This doesn't look like a class full of elites.'

Of course, this was just my initial impression. I had no information on the other classes—aside from the fact that Arisu was in Class A.

Still, it was clear to me that we couldn't be the ones at the top. 'When you're at the bottom, there's only one direction left to go.' I thought with a chuckle.

'Maybe I should check out the second and third years at some point. See if I can pick up any clues.'

As I made a mental note, lunchtime finally arrived. Students filed out of the classroom, eager for a break.

I glanced around, hoping I wouldn't have to eat alone.

I could go to Arisu's class, but I figured she'd appreciate it if I gave her space.

Looking to my sides, I considered the two girls nearby…then quickly decided against it.

Instead, I turned to Sudo, who was still half-asleep.

"Wanna grab lunch?"

"Nah, not hungry." He mumbled with a yawn.

Hearing the clear rejection, I moved on and spotted Ayanokoji, who was currently being roasted alive by Horikita.

'Okay, maybe roasted is the wrong word. It's more like she's just belittling him.'

The corner of my mouth twitched as I watched her look at him like he was an inferior life form.

I was about to step in and rescue him when someone else beat me to it.

"Ayanokoji, Ryuto! Want to eat with us?"

Hirata's voice rang out as he waved us over, surrounded by a group of girls.

I noticed his pleading look and nodded. "Sure."

Ayanokoji quickly followed suit, escaping his torment.

"Great! We were heading to the cafeteria." Hirata said, though I noticed the girls didn't look as excited anymore.

'Am I that unlikable?' I thought, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

We walked toward the door, but just as we were about to leave, Kushida intercepted Ayanokoji.

"You're Ayanokoji-kun, right? Could we talk for a moment?" She asked sweetly.

"Huh? Y-Yeah." Ayanokoji stammered, looking at her in slight shock.

I sighed internally. 'He already fell for it…'

He didn't even glance toward us as he began talking with Kushida.

…

I was now walking alongside Hirata toward the cafeteria, feeling the burning stares of the girls behind me.

'I shouldn't have accepted…' I lamented, my face darkening.

Sensing the tension, Hirata decided to intervene.

"Ryuto, do you think the rules were important enough to pay two million for them?" He asked curiously.

"Huh? Why are you saying it like we can't pay anymore?" I replied, confused by his wording.

"You haven't seen the messages in the group chat?" Hirata looked surprised.

"…Group chat?"

After an awkward pause, Hirata added me to the class's group. I scrolled for a few moments, my brows furrowing.

"They've already spent so much…" I muttered, noticing that most students had less than fifty thousand points left.

"It's everyone's right to spend how they want, but I can't help but wonder what the rules would've been." Hirata sighed.

"Hirata-kun, don't worry! I'm sure we would've just wasted our points for nothing!" A blonde girl with a high ponytail—Karuizawa—casually brushed it off.

"I hope so, Karuizawa." Hirata smiled, though he still seemed uncertain.

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to be careful with our spending. At least until next month, when we find out for sure." I suggested.

"Why should we listen to you?" A blue-haired girl scoffed.

"You don't have to. I'm just saying it makes sense." I shrugged, not understanding the sudden hostility.

"No need to be so rude, Shinohara." Another girl chimed in. She had brown hair—Maya Sato, if I remembered correctly.

"Whatever." Shinohara huffed.

"Ryuto has a point, though. Holding back on spending isn't a bad idea." Chiaki Matsushita, the last girl in the group, spoke up.

"I just found a pair of pants I want. Maybe after that." Maya smiled.

I sighed internally. 'These people are way too relaxed about this…'

We finally reached the cafeteria. Dozens of students were already inside, chatting and eating. The food options ranged from simple meals to near five-star courses, the prices varying just as much—some dishes costing over ten thousand points.

But one item caught my attention: a vegetable meal, costing zero points. A lot of the seniors here seemed to be eating it.

Curious, I bought it.

"Really? That's what you're gonna eat?" Karuizawa looked at me like I was crazy.

"I already said I want to save points. Besides, I want to know why this option even exists." I replied with a shrug.

"For students who spend all their points, obviously. There are lots of products in the stores for the same reason." Shinohara chimed in.

"Really?" I blinked, realizing I hadn't visited a store yet.

"Hmhm." Chiaki nodded. "To be honest, I didn't expect you to be such a person, Ryuto."

"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked, suddenly feeling wary.

"She means you seem more approachable up close." Maya explained.

"Perceptive too. You were the first to notice something off about Chabashira-sensei's words." Chiaki added with a smile.

"Thanks, but…did I not seem approachable before?" I asked, genuinely confused.

"You're a giant who looks ready to fight anyone who talks to you. What do you think?" Karuizawa raised an eyebrow.

"…That's just my resting face." I muttered, feeling wrongfully accused.

"At least now people will know you're not as scary as they thought!" Hirata chimed in cheerfully.

'That's not helping…' I sighed, feeling more disappointed than before.

"To be honest, after seeing so many friend groups already formed, it feels like I missed my chance without even realizing it." I admitted, setting my plate down as we found an empty table.

"That's not true! You talked with Kushida-san earlier, and with Sudo and Ayanokoji too." Hirata refuted.

"Kushida talks to everyone. As for those two, we're barely acquaintances." I shook my head.

"If you smiled more instead of looking so brooding, I bet you'd be popular." Maya said confidently.

"You think?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah! So show us your brightest smile, and we'll tell you what we think!" She grinned, clearly amused.

I hesitated. Smiling on command felt…weird. But under their expectant gazes, I sighed and forced a grin.

A beat of silence.

"...Yeah, no. That's terrifying." Kei deadpanned.

"Like a delinquent about to mug someone." Shinohara added, looking away.

"Okay, okay! Maybe don't force it…" Chiaki waved her hands, stifling a giggle.

I slumped, feeling betrayed. "Brought my hopes up for nothing…"

Hirata chuckled. "Well, at least it looks like you're getting to know each other."

Before my self-esteem could take any more hits, an announcement echoed through the classroom speakers.

"Attention, students. After classes today, a club fair will be held in the gymnasium. All students are encouraged to attend and explore the various clubs available."

I leaned back in my seat, barely paying attention to the rest of the message. 'A club fair, huh?'

That reminded me—why did Arisu go to the chess club?

Knowing her, she wouldn't do something without a clear reason. And considering how seriously she takes chess, I doubted she saw anyone in that club as a worthy opponent.

'Then the only logical reason…would be points, right?'

I was about to think deeper on it when Karuizawa's excited voice pulled me back to reality.

"Hirata-kun, are you going to join the soccer club?" She leaned in closer to him, smiling.

"Yeah, but let's see if they accept me first." Hirata chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Of course they will!" Karuizawa scoffed, waving her hand dismissively.

"You like soccer?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Mhm. It's a passion of mine." He nodded. "What about you guys? Planning on joining any clubs?"

"Unless there's a fashion club, nope." Maya said without hesitation.

"Same here." Chiaki added with a chuckle.

"I don't have time for clubs." Karuizawa shrugged.

"I was thinking about volleyball." Shinohara propped her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful.

"What about you, Ryuto?" Hirata turned to me.

I shook my head. "I don't have anything in mind."

"Really? You seem like the type to join a martial arts club or something." Karuizawa said, tilting her head in mild surprise.

I sighed. "Just because I look the way I do doesn't mean I like fighting."

"Oh? But you do fight." Chiaki pointed out, catching my wording.

"Knew he was a delinquent…" I heard Shinohara mutter under her breath.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "I wasn't the one starting them. Back in junior high, I just…got caught up in fights when I tried to protect other students." I shrugged, taking a bite of my food—then instantly regretted it.

'Why did I expect this to taste good?' I grimaced at the dry vegetables.

"So you were some kind of hero?" Chiaki teased, smirking.

"I wouldn't go that far." I said, scratching my cheek. "I just didn't like standing by when I saw someone in trouble."

Maya hummed in interest, a glimmer of admiration in her eyes.

"Hmph. Don't think telling us this will get you brownie points." Shinohara scoffed, though her tone was noticeably less harsh.

"Well, he gets points from me!" Maya grinned before turning her gaze toward Hirata and Karuizawa. "What do you two think?"

Karuizawa's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before she scoffed. "Acting like some kind of knight in shining armor sounds like a pain."

Hirata chuckled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Still, it's admirable. Not everyone has the strength to do that."

Something about their reactions felt…odd. Like I'd touched on something I wasn't supposed to.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Chiaki quickly changed the topic, steering the conversation toward lighter subjects.

…

After finishing our meals—some looking more appetizing than others—we left the cafeteria. Just as I stepped into the hallway, my phone buzzed with a notification.

Glancing at the screen, my steps halted. My eyes widened as nearly a hundred thousand points were deposited into my account. The sender? Arisu.

"Something wrong?" Hirata asked, noticing my reaction.

"No, everything's fine." I quickly dismissed his concern, forcing a neutral expression. "You guys go ahead. I have something to take care of first."

As they continued down the hall, I veered off toward a more secluded area.

'This feels like I'm making some kind of shady deal…' I sighed before sending a short, concise message, asking for more information.

…

...

With that, she ended the conversation.

I exhaled, slipping my phone back into my pocket. 'I can't tell if she's messing with me or not…'

Shaking my head, I made my way back to the classroom.

…

Class 1-A

Just as Mashima-sensei was about to leave the classroom, I spoke up.

"Sensei, there's something I've been meaning to ask."

The room quieted, eyes shifting toward me. My voice wasn't loud, but it caught their attention. The teacher paused, turning to face me with an unreadable expression.

"Please speak, Sakayanagi-san."

I smiled slightly, drawing their curiosity. "After spending the last two days wandering around campus, I've noticed something peculiar."

Mashima-sensei gave a small nod. "No matter what it is, I'll answer to the best of my ability."

I took that as my cue. "Considering the number of points we receive, I find it strange that so many upperclassmen appear to be struggling financially."

Murmurs rippled through the classroom.

"Now that someone mentions it…it is odd."

"Yeah, and there are all those free items too."

A confused voice cut through the noise.

"Huh? So what? It's because those guys are stupid and spent all their points." Kamuro Masumi, my desk mate, scoffed.

I smiled internally. 'Even the ignorant have their uses.'

"If that were true, why would the school provide free necessities for them?" I countered. "At an institution like this, wouldn't you expect students to manage their resources more carefully? Yet, there's a support system in place. That implies…"

"The school expected this to happen." Hashimoto Masayoshi finished, amusement lacing his tone.

"Exactly."

"But we get a hundred thousand points every month. Why would we ever need the free stuff?" Another student asked.

"Who said we're guaranteed the same amount next month?" A deep voice exclaimed. Katsuragi Kōhei, a tall, bald student, crossed his arms

The realization hit like a brick. The class turned to look at our homeroom teacher.

"That's what Mashima-sensei said, though!" Someone protested.

"No." Katsuragi shook his head. "He only said points would be distributed at the beginning of the month. He never specified the amount."

A beat of silence. Then—

"Wait, does that mean we won't get a hundred thousand!?" Totsuka Yahiko questioned hurriedly.

Mashima-sensei remained calm under the face of that question.

"I can't answer that." He said.

Totsuka shot up. "Why not!?" He quickly realized his outburst and sat back down, embarrassed.

Katsuragi leaned forward. "Is there another way to find out?"

Mashima-sensei shook his head, offering no further explanation.

A heavy silence settled over the class as everyone processed the implications.

Sensing the need for a push, I decided to intervene.

"Considering this secret was hidden within Sensei's welcoming speech–" I said smoothly, "Couldn't the answer be hidden somewhere in it as well?"

My words set off a chain reaction. The students immediately began recalling the speech, murmuring amongst themselves, trying to decipher any overlooked hints.

I allowed a brief pause before pressing further.

"Sensei, you said that points are omnipotent in this school. Could they truly be used to buy anything? Even the answers we seek?"

A faint smile appeared on Mashima-sensei's face. "Yes. As I stated before, points hold absolute value within this institution. That includes information."

The murmurs intensified.

"Then don't leave us hanging, Sensei! How much would it cost?" Someone called from the back.

Mashima-sensei paused slightly, then leaned forward.

"Two million." He said bluntly.

The class erupted.

"That's insane!"

"No way we're paying that."

"That's too much, even if all of us pitch in!"

"I'm not giving up my points for this." Kamuro scoffed.

I quietly analyzed the situation. 'Unlike fluctuating campus goods, the school rules seem to have a fixed price. Interesting.'

"This isn't something we can just ignore." Katsuragi stated firmly, his tone colder than before. "The school clearly intended to keep this from us."

"Yeah, just pay up! Big deal!" Totsuka chimed in, backing him up.

"Don't antagonize them, Totsuka." Katsuragi warned, shooting him a sharp look.

"But you're the one who figured it out! They should help now." Totsuka huffed.

Hashimoto chuckled. "Katsuragi figured it out? If anyone uncovered this, it'd be Sakayanagi-san, wouldn't it?"

"Well…she did bring it up." Someone muttered.

The murmurs grew, with more people agreeing.

Mashima-sensei took that moment to interject. "So? What will you do?" He questioned the class, his gaze, however, lingered on me.

I smiled slightly. "I apologize for wasting your time, Sensei, but it seems we've reached an impasse."

Rising from my seat, I addressed the class.

"The club fair starts soon, so I see no reason to dwell on this now. I suggest we investigate further before making a decision tomorrow."

The class seemed to accept my proposal, the tension beginning to dissipate.

"Not only is she cute and polite, but she actually thinks about us too…" Someone whispered.

"Dude, shut up. She can hear you."

A smirk tugged at my lips, though I pretended not to hear.

Mashima-sensei nodded. "Very well. I'll await your answer tomorrow." With that, he exited the room.

One by one, my classmates followed, still engaged in discussion about what happened.

I took my time leaving. Just as I reached the doorway, I felt a gaze lingering on my back.

I didn't need to turn around. I already knew who it was.

'I hope you can entertain me…Katsuragi.' A small smile tugged at my face.