Hanayama stopped outside the classroom of Class 1-B.
Unlike when he had visited Class A, he deliberately restrained the overwhelming presence that naturally surrounded him.
Even so, students passing through the corridor instinctively slowed their steps, stealing nervous glances at the towering first-year.
“Hello.”
A cheerful voice greeted him.
“You’re Hanayama-kun from Class 1-D, right?”
“What brings you to Class 1-B?”
Standing before him was Honami Ichinose.
Her long, honey-blonde hair swayed gently as she looked up at him with warm, guileless eyes.
There was no fear.
No suspicion.
Only sincere kindness.
She treated everyone she met with the same open-hearted goodwill.
“I’m here on business.”
Hanayama held out the certified document folder.
“I’d like your class to buy this.”
Ichinose accepted it politely.
As she read through the contents, the gentle smile gradually disappeared from her face.
Her expression became serious.
She immediately understood the importance of what she was reading.
She looked back at Hanayama.
“…You’re willing to sell this to us?”
“The price is one million points.”
Hanayama answered without hesitation.
Surprisingly…
Ichinose didn’t bargain.
Nor did she question the price.
“I understand.”
She turned toward her classmates.
“Everyone!”
“Could I ask for a little of your time?”
The classroom quieted.
“There’s something our class absolutely needs.”
“I’d like everyone to lend me some personal points.”
“I promise I’ll explain everything afterward.”
“And I promise this will benefit every one of us.”
She spoke with complete confidence.
Ordinarily…
No sane person would hand over large sums of money to someone after only three days of knowing them.
Yet…
The students of Class B didn’t hesitate.
“If Honami-chan says it’s important, I’m in.”
“Transfer sent.”
“I trust you.”
“Same here.”
One after another…
Points flowed into Ichinose’s account.
There were no questions.
No arguments.
No suspicion.
Only absolute trust.
Within minutes…
Her balance reached 1,000,000 points.
Beep.
The entire amount was transferred to Hanayama.
“Payment received.”
Hanayama nodded.
Ichinose smiled warmly.
“Thank you, Hanayama-kun.”
“You really helped our class by bringing us this information so quickly.”
She bowed deeply.
She genuinely believed Hanayama had approached Class B simply because he wanted to help.
Hanayama didn’t correct her misunderstanding.
Nor did he deny it.
Instead, he silently evaluated her.
(An incredible woman…)
(Compared to the girl leading Class A…)
(This woman possesses the natural charisma of a true commander.)
She inspired loyalty without demanding it.
People trusted her simply because she existed.
Even within the yakuza world…
Such people were exceedingly rare.
“You…”
Hanayama spoke quietly.
“You’re Ichinose Honami.”
“Yep!”
She smiled brightly.
“You’re a born leader.”
With only those words, Hanayama turned to leave.
Ichinose blinked.
Then laughed softly before waving after him.
“Thank you!”
“And good luck with Class D, Hanayama-kun!”
Hanayama walked away without looking back.
(She’s an admirable woman…)
(But she’s almost too pure.)
People like Ichinose often inspired unwavering loyalty.
Still…
How another organization chose to govern itself wasn’t his concern.
The afternoon sun poured through the windows of Class 1-D.
Many students had already left for their clubs or the dormitories.
Only a handful remained.
Suzune Horikita.
Yōsuke Hirata.
Kikyō Kushida.
Kei Karuizawa and several girls gathered around her.
Along with Ike Kanji, Haruki Yamauchi, and a few other boys idling away the afternoon.
Slide.
The classroom door opened.
Hanayama entered.
He walked directly to the podium.
Then spoke.
“You all.”
“Do you want to know this school’s real rules?”
The classroom immediately erupted into whispers.
Ike opened his mouth to joke—
Then noticed Hanayama’s expression.
He immediately shut it again.
Hanayama placed the certified folder on the desk.
“I’ve already sold this information to Class A…”
“And Class B.”
“The original price is one million points.”
He looked around the room.
“But…”
“We’re classmates.”
“I’ll sell it to Class D for six hundred thousand.”
The classroom fell silent.
Hanayama had expected resistance.
Negotiating with reckless people usually required lengthy explanations.
Someone would complain.
Someone would refuse.
Someone would argue.
That was simply how collecting debts often worked.
Instead…
The first person to move was Horikita Suzune.
She calmly walked to the front of the classroom.
After reading several pages…
She nodded.
“…I see.”
“So all of your deductions were correct.”
She took out her terminal.
“I’ll pay my share.”
“This information carries Mashima-sensei’s official certification.”
“Its value is beyond question.”
Beep.
Moments later…
Yōsuke Hirata stood up.
“I’ll contribute too.”
“If it’s something that benefits the class…”
“Then helping is only natural.”
Beep.
Kikyō Kushida smiled sweetly.
“Me too.”
“It’ll help everyone, right?”
She completed her transfer without hesitation.
Privately…
She also understood that earning Hanayama’s goodwill could prove useful later.
Up to that point…
Everything remained perfectly reasonable.
Then…
Class D reminded Hanayama exactly why it was Class D.
“I-I’ll pay too!”
Ike hurriedly grabbed his terminal.
“Same here!”
“We’re buddies now, Hanayama!”
Yamauchi frantically transferred his points as well.
Neither of them had carefully read the document.
Neither cared about hidden school rules.
They simply feared the enormous man standing before them.
Somewhere deep inside…
They also believed that if they stayed on Hanayama’s good side…
The strongest person in Class D might protect them.
It resembled paying protection money to the yakuza.
Only…
Neither of them realized it.
“Hey!”
“We can’t let only the boys pay!”
One of Kei Karuizawa’s friends spoke first.
“Kei, let’s do it too.”
Kei hesitated briefly.
“…I suppose it wouldn’t hurt.”
Soon…
The girls also began transferring points.
Beep.
Beep.
Hanayama’s terminal chimed continuously.
Incredibly…
The most disorganized class in the first year collected 600,000 points faster than either Class A or Class B.
Class A relied on organization.
Class B relied on trust.
Class D relied on fear…
Instinct…
And the simple desire to survive.
Hanayama looked at the completed balance.
One corner of his mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
(This really shouldn’t have been this easy…)
Before logic had time to intervene…
Their instincts had already made the decision.
For some reason…
He found himself unable to dislike these idiots.
He cleared his throat.
“I’ve received the payment.”
“Now listen carefully.”
The classroom became completely silent.
Even Ike and Yamauchi sat up straight.
“These points aren’t free spending money.”
“They’re tied directly to your class’s performance.”
“Sleeping during class.”
“Talking.”
“Skipping lessons.”
“Poor grades.”
“Every mistake reduces your Class Points.”
“And next month…”
“So will your allowance.”
Hanayama slowly looked around the room.
“I’m not your teacher.”
“If you ruin your own lives…”
“That’s your choice.”
He paused.
“But…”
“I accepted your money.”
“And I won’t stand by while people under my watch destroy themselves over something so stupid.”
“Starting tomorrow…”
“Take your classes seriously.”
It wasn’t encouragement.
Nor was it a lecture.
It was a declaration.
Blunt.
Harsh.
Yet unmistakably protective.
Meanwhile…
Inside the men’s restroom.
The struggle that had begun earlier finally reached its conclusion.
“…Boss.”
Albert’s deep voice echoed through the room.
At his feet…
Ryūen Kakeru lay sprawled across the floor, bruised and bleeding from the mouth.
Throughout their fight…
Albert had thrown him down again and again.
Yet every single time…
Ryūen had stood back up.
Laughing.
Smiling.
Demanding another round.
Albert possessed overwhelming physical superiority.
He could defeat Ryūen a hundred times over.
But Ryūen possessed something far more frightening.
An obsession that refused to yield.
A madness that declared:
“This ends only when I win.”
Albert realized it long before the fight was over.
His body had won.
But his spirit had already lost.
Ryūen slowly pushed himself upright.
He spat a mouthful of blood onto the floor.
Then grinned.
“…From now on…”
“Your strength belongs to me.”
“No objections?”
Albert lowered his head respectfully.
“…None.”
Through sheer determination…
Violence…
And an utterly unbreakable will…
Ryūen had successfully brought Class C’s greatest fighter under his command.
However…
While Ryūen had been focused on conquering Albert…
Classes A, B, and D had already uncovered the school’s hidden rules.
Class C remained almost completely ignorant.
And that ignorance…
Would soon become very expensive.