Our Class D showed a level of cooperation and determination reminiscent of the midterm period and quickly began searching for witnesses. To prepare for interference from Class C, we moved around in teams of two or three to gather information and were busier than ever.

That said, there is absolutely no way another witness will appear.

Just as I planned, my incompetent classmates are searching for something that does not even exist while leaving the perfectly fine witness sitting right there in our own class. No matter how many times you investigate after school, all you are doing is wasting your time and dancing in the palm of my hand.

When they failed to even identify a suspect no matter how hard they tried, the class gradually began to show signs of exhaustion.

“Why wasn’t I in Class A from the start. If I were in Class A, I’d be enjoying my school life right now.”

“Yeah, I wish I were in Class A too. I could be going out and having fun with my friends.”

Starting with Ike and Karuizawa’s delusions, the gathering to save Sudō gradually turned into a place for childish whining.

You guys… Class A? I can say for certain that unless you were born with absurd luck like Totsuka, it would be absolutely impossible. Even if you did somehow make it into Class A, you would only be used as Sakayanagi’s footstool before being mercilessly discarded. Be grateful you even made it into Class D.

I let out a hollow laugh and take out a book to read. The book I chose is Dostoevsky’s Demons. A perfect title for the incompetent fools of Class D who are searching for something that does not exist.

“It would be amazing if there were some hidden secret technique to become Class A in one go. Gathering class points is way too hard.”

There is a secret method, Ike. But with your remaining private points down to a single digit, raising class points would actually be easier for you.

“Rejoice, Ike. There is exactly one way to become Class A in a single stroke.”

Chabashira-sensei’s voice came from the front classroom door. There were still five minutes left before class, yet she is as diligent as ever.

“Sensei… what did you just say?”

“I said that there is a way to move up to Class A even without class points.”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the teacher. Some argued that it must be a joke but seeing Chabashira-sensei’s serious expression, they quickly realized it was real and focused their attention. Even Horikita closed her book and raised her head, but since I already knew the answer, I continued reading.

“Sensei… what exactly is that special method?”

Ike, who had been joking around until a moment ago, asked carefully so as not to offend her. Even if you hear it, it will be absolutely impossible for you.

“You all remember when Ayanokoji bought Sudō’s English score, right? It is the same method. As I announced at the entrance ceremony, there is nothing you cannot buy with points at this school. That means you can even force a class transfer with points.”

For a moment, Horikita glanced at me. Judging by her gaze, she realized that I already knew the method. For Incompetent-kita, she is surprisingly perceptive.

“R-really?! How many points do we need to collect for that?!”

“Twenty million points. You will have to work very hard. If you manage that, you can move up to the class you want.”

Just as Ryūen said, the amount is exactly twenty million. At least he did not lie.

“Twenty million points… that’s obviously impossible!”

“Normally, yes. But you can move up to Class A with no conditions attached, so naturally it is expensive. If you even reduce a single digit from that, Class A would exceed one hundred students by the time third-years approach graduation. Such a Class A would have no value at all.”

Well, if it were two million, it would be well within reach just by carefully saving the points distributed each month. Though for those incompetents, even that would be impossible.

“Then I have a question. Has there ever been a student in the past who changed classes that way?”

“Unfortunately, no. The reason is obvious. Even if you perfectly preserved your class points from the entrance ceremony and never used them, in three years you would only reach 3.6 million. Even if you increase them as efficiently as Class A, you might reach four million at best. No matter what, you will always fall short.”

She phrased it nicely but in reality, it means that reaching twenty million points is practically impossible. Looking around, the hopeful looks in the students’ eyes had completely died.

“May I ask a question as well?”

The one who raised her hand was Horikita. Seeing her raise her hand after quietly observing until now, it seems she wanted to dig deeper into the method.

“Has there been a case where they were close to 20 million?”

“That is a very good question, Horikita. It was about three years ago. A student from Class B who was close to graduation collected twelve million points and became a hot topic.”

Damn it… I remember this from a disciplinary case in the student council records. It was such a reckless and absurd, utterly incompetent case that it stuck with me.

“But that student ultimately failed to reach twenty million points and was expelled.”

“Then those points were earned illegally.”

“Correct. Does anyone have a guess what the reason for expulsion was? Well… Ayanokoji, you answer. If you were that third-year, what kind of illegal scheme do you think you would have used to gather so many points?”

This teacher seems to have surprisingly high expectations of me. Well, since I know the answer, I will say it as it is.

I look straight at the teacher and reply.

“The charge would be a violation of school rules as well as fraud. As an upperclassman, you would have the advantage of superior information compared to first-years who just enrolled and know nothing. You would probably lie about doubling their points through saving or converting them into cash and collect points from the first-years. If the annual intake is 160 students, the total points distributed to first-years would be 16 million. As a Class B student, you would already have a fair surplus, so combining that with the points of about half the class would be enough to reach twenty million.”

“Correct. Your perspective was not bad but if you break the rules, you must be properly punished.”

This story is not meant as a reference but as proof that it is unachievable. Even I would not attempt something that reckless. Horikita seemed to realize that raising her hand was foolish and returned to reading.

After that, the usual stories I already knew began, such as earning points through club activities. In the case of clubs, they demand too much personal talent, so without a certain level of skill in at least one area, it is impossible.

“If I knew I could earn points, I would have joined judo or handicrafts or anything!”

For example, someone like Ike, who lacks seriousness and only likes to fool around, would only become a negative factor in club activities. An easy choice only leads to an easy downfall.

Club activities… Thinking about it, I can see quite a few candidates who could earn class points. Of course, the one I expect the most is just a single person.

The central figure of the current incident, Sudō Ken. If a first-year is chosen as a regular player for a tournament, he has more than enough potential to perform well in competitions. Basketball is a team sport so the abilities of teammates also matter but I acknowledge Sudō’s stamina and athleticism. He may be the worst incompetent in this school but if he fixed his personality and went to a sports academy, he would not seem out of place being called a talented athlete.

In short, these incompetent fools of Class D all have one or two usable traits if you look carefully. Horikita and Yukimura in academics, Sudō and Miyake in sports, Kushida in social skills, Wang in English and Chinese, Sotomura in computer skills and so on… If a capable person like me handles them and makes proper use of their strengths, even this incompetent Class D could display power comparable to Class A.

Of course, irredeemable trash like Ike, Yamauchi and Shinohara would be better off not existing at all. If all such trash were to disappear, I would gladly believe in this class’s potential and cooperate in rising to Class A.

In any case, although this Class D is full of incompetents, they are still quite usable chess pieces if handled lightly. I will thoroughly exploit them for three years and enjoy a peaceful school life. Of course, the process will not be smooth. But as for the captured pieces…

You simply discard them.

* * *

After class, I walked straight back to the dormitory. I received reports from Hirata and Kushida but there was no news, so I instructed them not to stop the search until further orders.

Some, like Karuizawa and Shinohara, cast displeased glances at how openly I gave orders to the class’s main figures and how they followed me as if I were the leader. However, Sato, who practically worships me like a god, praised me and actively followed Hirata and Kushida’s instructions. Seeing that, they could not say anything and followed along.

They might resist and slack off out of resentment toward me but it does not matter. I am making them move meaninglessly on purpose.

Just as I was checking my mailbox to collect its contents, I received a message.

[Hello, Ayanokoji? It’s Kushida… I got your number from Hirata-kun. I’m really sorry for messaging you without permission! I’m with Horikita and Sudō right now and there’s something I want to tell you… could we meet?]

The sender was Kushida Kikyo. A woman with a hidden face. After our conflict, Kushida did not openly talk to me in front of everyone but she kept trying to approach me. However, her methods were so obviously scheming that I thoroughly ignored her.

Is she contacting me now to report about Sudō? It seems Horikita lacks confidence in persuading Sakura on her own. For now, it would be good for me as well to steer things so that Horikita’s reputation improves a little. Shall I go?

I immediately asked Kushida for their location and upon receiving a message saying they were in Sudō’s dorm room along with the room number, I headed there instead of my own room.

Come to think of it, this is my first time going to the boys’ dormitory floor. And of all places, I am going to Sudō’s room. How unpleasant.

When I arrived, I knocked and the door opened immediately as if they had been waiting. Kushida welcomed me.

“Ah, you came! It’s your first time here, Ayanokoji…”

“Who is inside right now?”

I cut her off and went in. Inside were Sudō sitting formally on the bed, Ike and Yamauchi sitting on the floor and Horikita sitting proudly on a chair.

“Would you like something to drink? I have cola and vitamin drinks.”

“If there’s no coffee, I’m fine. I didn’t come planning to stay long.”

I pulled out a chair from the table and sat down with my legs crossed. Judging by his demeanor, Sudō looked guilty and uncomfortable. He especially could not bring himself to meet my eyes, the savior who saved him.

“Why are you making such a stupid face? That’s the kind of face the perpetrators should be making.”

“Ugh… thanks, Ayanokoji. I heard from Kushida. She said you defended me.”

“I didn’t defend you. I only told the truth.”