It was 3:30 p.m.
Although classes had ended, an air of tension still hung over Class 1-A.
Unlike the other classrooms, there was little laughter or excitement after the final bell.
Instead, students remained gathered in small groups, quietly exchanging information.
After only a few days at Advanced Nurturing High School, they had already realized one thing.
This school wasn’t simply a place to study.
It was a battlefield.
Slide.
The classroom door opened without warning.
“…Excuse me.”
“I’m here to conduct some business.”
Standing in the doorway was Kaoru Hanayama, carrying a transparent document folder beneath one arm.
“…Who’s that?”
“He’s huge…”
The moment he entered, conversations throughout the classroom stopped.
Even the composed students of Class A instinctively fell silent.
The sheer pressure emanating from him overwhelmed the room.
A broad-shouldered student stepped forward.
Kōhei Katsuragi.
He met Hanayama’s gaze without flinching.
“You’re Kaoru Hanayama from Class D.”
“What business do you have with Class A?”
Hanayama walked calmly to the front of the room.
Without ceremony, he placed the folder on the teacher’s podium.
“I’m selling information.”
“The school’s hidden rules.”
“Specifically…”
“The Class Point system.”
A quiet murmur spread through the classroom.
Katsuragi frowned.
“A first-year who has only been enrolled for three days claims to understand the school’s hidden system?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have the luxury of wasting points on unfounded rumors.”
Hanayama said nothing.
Instead, he opened the folder.
The first page contained a concise explanation of the Class Point system.
At the bottom…
An official certification stamp.
Faculty Office — Certified
Satoshi Mashima
Katsuragi’s expression changed immediately.
“…My apologies.”
“I spoke too hastily.”
“If Mashima-sensei personally certified this document…”
“Then questioning its authenticity would be foolish.”
He carefully examined the pages.
The contents were detailed.
Logical.
Comprehensive.
Information capable of changing the fate of an entire class.
Hanayama folded his arms.
“The asking price is one million points.”
“But…”
“Out of respect for your homeroom teacher…”
“I’ll sell it to Class A for eight hundred thousand.”
Katsuragi remained calm.
“I understand.”
“But I can’t authorize that amount on my own.”
“I’ll need time.”
“I have to explain the value of this information and collect points from the rest of the class.”
Hanayama watched him quietly.
(Reliable.)
(An excellent administrator.)
But…
Not someone suited to making immediate decisions under pressure.
(Too slow.)
(Find the real decision-maker.)
Just as Hanayama turned to leave—
Tap.
Tap.
The rhythmic sound of a cane echoed through the classroom.
“My…”
“Katsuragi-kun is as cautious as ever.”
A petite girl with silver hair approached slowly.
A black beret rested neatly upon her head.
Her elegant smile never faltered.
Arisu Sakayanagi.
“Katsuragi.”
She passed him without another glance.
Then stopped in front of Hanayama.
Without hesitation, she raised her student terminal.
“I’ll pay the full amount.”
“Eight hundred thousand points.”
“Will that satisfy you, Hanayama-kun?”
She didn’t hesitate for even a second.
Beep.
Hanayama’s terminal immediately confirmed the transfer.
800,000 points received.
Even Katsuragi looked surprised.
“…You had that many points available?”
Sakayanagi smiled.
“I merely borrowed a little from those who support me.”
She spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Besides…”
“If eight hundred thousand points can secure Class A’s future…”
“It’s a remarkably inexpensive investment.”
Hanayama looked at her again.
(So…)
(This is the true leader of Class A.)
Her body was frail.
Her physical strength was practically nonexistent.
Yet…
Her ability to command others without hesitation was unmistakable.
She possessed the qualities of a ruler.
Hanayama nodded.
“Thank you.”
“The transaction is complete.”
He reached for the folder.
Before he could hand it over—
Sakayanagi gently rested one hand upon it.
“…One moment.”
“We’ve paid eight hundred thousand points.”
“So I’d like to ask one question.”
Her crimson eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.
“Does this purchase give Class A exclusive ownership of the information?”
“If so…”
“You would naturally refrain from selling it elsewhere.”
Hanayama looked at her.
Then chuckled softly.
“…Don’t be ridiculous.”
“The price starts at four million.”
“You can’t afford that.”
His voice remained calm.
Yet the oppressive weight behind those words caused the entire classroom to fall silent.
Sakayanagi merely smiled.
“I expected as much.”
“Then…”
“Suppose I copied the document.”
“And distributed it to the other classes for free.”
“Or perhaps…”
“For only a few points.”
“Wouldn’t that destroy your business?”
It was a simple proposal.
One that would completely ruin Hanayama’s opportunity to profit.
For someone like Sakayanagi…
It was an entirely reasonable strategy.
Hanayama said nothing.
He simply looked at her.
Silently.
There was no anger.
No killing intent.
No threatening expression.
Yet…
The pressure surrounding him grew so overwhelming that the atmosphere itself seemed to freeze.
To Sakayanagi…
It felt as though she had wandered before a sleeping Tyrannosaurus Rex.
A fox might possess superior cunning.
It might devise flawless strategies.
But none of those plans mattered if the predator chose to crush it with a single step.
This wasn’t a contest of intelligence.
It was the instinctive terror of standing before overwhelming power.
A bead of cold sweat slid down Sakayanagi’s cheek.
Her fingers tightened around her cane.
Despite understanding perfectly well that this was school…
Despite knowing security cameras surrounded them…
Her body refused to obey reason.
Her instincts screamed only one thing.
Danger.
After several long seconds…
She forced a graceful smile back onto her face.
“…Hehe.”
“I was only joking.”
She laughed lightly.
“Even if I copied your document…”
“Without Mashima-sensei’s official certification, no one would trust it.”
“And…”
“There isn’t enough time to stop you from approaching the other classes.”
Hanayama gave a small nod.
“I thought so.”
Without another word, he placed the certified folder into Katsuragi’s hands.
“Our business is finished.”
Then he turned and left the classroom.
Only after the giant disappeared beyond the doorway did Sakayanagi quietly release the breath she’d been unconsciously holding.
She leaned slightly against her cane.
Her smile faded.
(Class D…)
(Has produced an extraordinary anomaly.)
(This school has just become far more interesting.)