May 1.

The first thing Horikita did after waking up in the morning was check the amount of points deposited on her smartphone.

Seeing the number displayed on the screen she let out a small breath.

Only 10,000 points had been added.

Not much.

But it was also exactly as expected.

In the end this was probably the extent of her own ability.

She had fully understood the S System and even tried to influence her classmates, yet this was the result.

It perfectly proved that someone unable to build trust with others could accomplish very little.

Still it was more than last time.

This time at least 10,000 points remained.

That meant Horikita’s efforts had produced a small effect.

Of course her classmates would be shocked.

Some of them had already spent all 100,000 points from last month.

When they realized this month’s allowance was only 10,000 points chaos would erupt.

How to contain that chaos.

That was today’s challenge.

* * *

Morning homeroom.

A different atmosphere filled the classroom.

“Hey did you check your points?”

“Yeah I did. I only have 10,000.”

“Same here. Isn’t that a bug?”

Voices of confusion rose from everywhere.

Everyone stared at their smartphones tilting their heads in disbelief.

At that moment the bell rang.

Sae Chabashira entered the classroom.

The same expressionless face.

The same cold eyes.

“Take your seats.”

The students hurriedly sat down.

But their restlessness was obvious.

“Sae-chan sensei!”

The first to shout was Ike.

“I only got 10,000 points. Is there some kind of mistake?”

“A mistake?”

Chabashira looked at Ike with cold eyes.

“There is no mistake. The points have been distributed correctly.”

“But last month we got 100,000! Why is it only 10,000 this month!?”

Ike pressed the matter.

Yamauchi beside him nodded vigorously.

“Quiet. Stop talking for a moment.”

Chabashira spoke in a low voice.

The classroom fell silent instantly.

“You probably have many questions but first look at this.”

Chabashira turned toward the blackboard.

She picked up a piece of chalk and began writing.

Class A: 940

Class B: 650

Class C: 490

Class D: 100

Four numbers appeared on the board.

“These are the ‘Class Points’ for each class.”

“Class Points?”

“At the time of enrollment each class was given 1,000 Class Points. The monthly amount distributed is the Class Points multiplied by one hundred. The points each of you personally hold are called Private Points.”

Chabashira explained calmly.

“Interpret Class Points as the evaluation of a class. Class A has 940 Class Points which means their monthly allowance is 94,000 Private Points. Class B has 650 so they receive 65,000 points. Class C has 490 which means 49,000 points.”

Chabashira pointed to the number for Class D.

“You Class D have 100. That means this month’s allowance is—10,000 points.”

The classroom froze.

“W-What the hell!”

Sudo jumped to his feet.

“Why is our class the only one this low!”

“No way…”

“You’ve got to be kidding…”

Screams anger and confusion echoed through the classroom.

But Horikita remained calm.

“Chabashira-sensei.”

She quietly raised her hand.

“Could you tell us the reason for the deductions?”

The classroom fell silent again.

Chabashira looked at Horikita.

There was a slight hint of interest in her eyes.

“…Normally I have no obligation to explain. But it seems you had already noticed so I will tell you as a special case.”

Chabashira unfolded a sheet of paper.

“First tardiness. A total of twelve times.”

The classroom murmured.

Sudo frowned.

“Next talking during class. A total of 488 times.”

Ike and Yamauchi awkwardly looked away.

“Sleeping during class. A total of 154 times.”

Chabashira continued reading calmly.

Tardiness.

Talking.

Sleeping.

Missing assignments.

Attitude during class.

Everything had been quantified.

“That is all. A total deduction of 900 points. Subtract that from the initial 1,000 Class Points and 100 remain.”

Chabashira closed the paper.

“No one told us about that!”

Sudo slammed his desk and shouted.

“No one said points would be deducted for being late or talking!”

“I did.”

Chabashira replied coldly.

“On the first day I explained that everything in school life relates to points. You simply chose to ignore it.”

“That’s ridiculous…”

“This school is based on meritocracy. Naive thinking will not work here. Reflect on your behavior.”

Many students still looked unconvinced but another blow followed.

The results of the short quizzes that had been conducted earlier were announced.

As expected the results were terrible.

If those had been real exams seven students would have received failing grades.

Nothing had changed from before.

Of course any student who received a failing grade would be expelled.

“The midterm exams are in three weeks. Take time to think carefully and avoid expulsion. I am certain there is a method for you to survive without failing.”

With those words Chabashira left the classroom.

The remaining students were left stunned.

“Expelled… You’ve got to be kidding. I seriously don’t understand any of this.”

“That aside the points are bad too. 10,000 points is just 10,000 yen…”

“I spent everything from last month… what am I supposed to do…”

Despair.

Regret.

Anger.

Various emotions swirled through the classroom.

Then one voice rang out.

“…Horikita was right.”

Turning around they saw Sudo standing there with a bitter expression.

“You said the points might decrease, didn't you… So it was actually true…”

All eyes turned toward Horikita.

The gaze was different from before.

Previously it had been cold.

The gaze directed at someone saying strange things.

Now it was different.

The gaze directed at someone who had spoken the truth.

From suspicion to a small amount of trust.

A small change.

But a definite one.

* * *

Lunch break.

Horikita sat alone in the classroom eating her lunch.

Around her the conversation was still dominated by talk of the lost points and the upcoming tests.

“What the hell are we going to do…”

“Is there any way to earn points before next month…”

Voices filled with anxiety and impatience echoed everywhere.

“Horikita-san.”

She looked up when someone called her.

Hirata stood there with his usual gentle smile.

“Is it alright if I sit here?”

“…Yes.”

Hirata sat down in the seat beside her.

Ayanokoji had gone to the cafeteria so there was no problem.

“You didn’t seem surprised by this morning’s announcement.”

“…Because I expected it.”

“I thought so. You noticed from the beginning.”

Hirata nodded with admiration.

“Thanks to you we were able to learn the truth. I’m grateful.”

“You don’t need to thank me. In the end I didn’t manage to help much.”

“Even so. If you hadn’t warned us things might have turned out much worse.”

Hirata’s words sounded genuinely thankful.

“I’d like to improve the class together from now on… what do you think Horikita-san?”

“I don’t mind. That was my intention from the beginning.”

“Thank you. First we need to bring the class together to survive the midterm exams. I can’t do it alone but if I have your help we might succeed.”

Hirata’s proposal.

She had received the same proposal before.

Back then she refused.

She said she would do it alone.

She believed relying on others was weakness.

As a result Horikita became isolated and struggled to unite the class.

This time she made a different choice.

“…Yes. Let’s work together Hirata-kun.”

Hirata smiled happily.

“Thank you Horikita-san. Let’s do our best together.”

They shook hands.

It was a small step.

But a different step from before.

Chaos still continued in Class D’s classroom.

Yet within that chaos new movements had begun to emerge.

A group centered around Hirata was trying to rebuild the class.

Horikita was within that circle.

In a different position from before.

With a different role than before.

The road ahead was still long.

But she had definitely taken the first step.

Suzune Horikita continued walking through her second high school life.

And that figure—

Was quietly being observed by a single student.