Today’s lunch was the cafeteria’s signature tonkotsu ramen.
Shimizu Akira had always harbored a quiet appreciation for authentic Japanese ramen, particularly when a rich, slow-simmered pork bone broth was paired with perfectly chewy, thin noodles.
The kitchen staff had generously garnished his bowl with tender slices of fish cake and vibrant spinach.
The emerald leaves floated just beneath the surface of the thick, steaming soup, releasing an aroma that was more than enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
Just as Akira separated his wooden chopsticks to take his first bite, an uninvited guest dropped into the empty seat directly across from him.
“I don’t drink.
I’m returning this to you.” The purple-haired girl spoke without a shred of preamble.
Kamuro Masumi pushed a bulging, semi-transparent plastic bag across the tabletop.
Through the thin plastic, the neatly stacked aluminum beer cans were perfectly visible, sweating slightly in the ambient air of the cafeteria.
Akira paused, his chopsticks hovering over his bowl.
He raised a single eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her defensive posture.
“Is it because the alcohol content is too low for your tastes?” “The alcohol content isn’t the point at all!” Kamuro snapped, her voice spiking sharply enough to draw curious glances from a few neighboring tables.
She gritted her teeth, leaning forward until her hands were pressed flat against the table.
“I have questions for you.
Which class are you in?
What’s your name?
And more…
how the hell do you know my class and name?” Unbothered by her hostility, Akira calmly lowered his chopsticks, picked up his spoon, and took a slow, deliberate sip of the rich broth.
Only after swallowing did he offer a leisurely reply.
“Class 1-D.
Shimizu Akira.” He set the spoon down, meeting her intense glare with mild amusement.
“As for how I know your information…” He offered a slight shrug.
“Sakayanagi Arisu told me.” Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a lie.
During their initial encounter at the convenience store, that cunning, silver-haired girl from Class A had indeed let Kamuro’s name slip in a deliberate show of dominance.
“…It was actually Sakayanagi-san?” Kamuro muttered, her hostility faltering into genuine surprise.
Of course she knew who Sakayanagi Arisu was.
During yesterday’s freshman orientation, the fragile-looking girl leaning on a cane—alongside the imposing, bald boy named Katsuragi Kohei—had instantly become the undisputed center of attention for the entirety of Class A.
‘Why would Sakayanagi reveal my information to some random student from Class D?’Kamuro thought, her brow furrowing deeply.’And when it comes down to it, why did this guy even help me cover up the theft?’She scrutinized Akira, her sharp eyes searching his face for any ulterior motives.
Yet, all she found was a placid, almost bored expression.
The way he sat there, casually enjoying his lunch, didn’t match the profile of a lovesick boy trying to impress a girl he had a crush on.
There was no nervous energy, no lingering stares.’Could it be…
I completely misunderstood?’ she wondered, a faint trace of embarrassment warring with her natural cynicism.
Perhaps he really had just extended a helping hand out of a bizarre sense of goodwill.
“…I owe you a favor,” she finally forced out, the words stiff and unnatural on her tongue as she averted her eyes, refusing to look at him directly.
“It was just a small matter.
Don’t take it to heart,” Akira replied, waving a hand dismissively.
After all, buying the beer had merely been a necessary prop for his psychological bet with Sakayanagi; bailing Kamuro out of a tight spot was nothing more than a convenient side effect.
“Give me your contact information.” Ignoring his nonchalance, Kamuro pulled out her smartphone and unlocked the screen, her dark eyes locking back onto his.
Akira was slightly taken aback by the sudden demand, though he quickly realized that the girl sitting across from him operated purely on her own rigid, ego-driven logic.
Without arguing, he retrieved his phone and accepted her friend request.
Kamuro stared at the newly added profile on her screen, her lip curling in faint disgust.
“Using your actual real name as your ID?
What a textbook boring man.” “It prevents unnecessary confusion,” Akira replied dryly.
“Whatever.
If you ever run into something important, you can ask me for help.
But remember—you only get one chance.” Having delivered her terms, Kamuro pocketed her phone, stood up, and turned away without another word, her posture as rigid as ever.
Watching her retreating back, Akira had to admit that Kamuro Masumi was a walking contradiction.
She wrapped herself in a thick layer of defensive thorns, practically radiating a warning for others to stay away, yet she still possessed the integrity to bluntly admit when she owed a debt.
On the surface, she acted like a delinquent who did whatever she pleased, but beneath that abrasive exterior lay a surprisingly strict set of personal principles.
“That kind of awkward honesty…
isn’t bad at all,” Akira murmured to himself, picking up his chopsticks once more.
He glanced down at his phone screen.
Compared to the hypocritical pleasantries most people exchanged, he vastly preferred Kamuro’s sharp, unfiltered bluntness.
Still, looking at his contact list, he couldn’t help but notice how barren it was.
Only two lonely names occupied the screen: Kamuro Masumi and Sakayanagi Arisu.
“Perhaps…
I should actually try interacting with my own classmates in Class D?” It wasn’t that he actively resisted socializing, but his pragmatic nature meant he only ever initiated conversations when he found someone genuinely interesting or useful.
Now, on his second day at the Advanced Nurturing High School, his social circle was practically nonexistent.
As if mocking his solitary status, his Daily Intel System flickered to life in his mind, projecting a new line of text: [Information Two: Ichinose Honami from Class 1-B—after only a single day of enrollment, her contact list has exceeded three digits, including numerous upperclassmen.] “Other people already have hundreds of friends…” Akira sighed softly, dismissing the interface.
His gaze drifted back to the plastic bag of beer Kamuro had abandoned on his table.
Dealing with this contraband had suddenly become an immediate logistical problem.
As someone who had absolutely no intention of drinking it, he needed to dispose of it cleanly.
Perhaps handing it off to an adult would be the safest policy?
His homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, seemed like the type who might appreciate a free drink after dealing with Class D’s antics.
As his thoughts wandered, he recalled the other pressing matter on his agenda.
He needed to track down a second-year student named Yamamura—an upperclassman who was supposedly hiding a valuable secret.
Exchanging 10,000 Private Points to purchase concrete information regarding the hidden rules of the S-System was a flawless investment, provided he could actually find the guy.
“Excuse me, student!
You’re not twenty yet, so you really shouldn’t be drinking alcohol~” A sweet, crystalline voice suddenly broke through his quiet plotting.
Akira turned his head, his eyes widening slightly.
Standing beside his table was a strikingly beautiful girl with long, flowing strawberry-blonde hair.
She was staring at the bag of beer with wide, genuinely concerned eyes.
Recognizing her instantly from the system’s earlier prompt, Akira quickly cleared his throat.
“Actually, I don’t drink.
I was just sitting here worrying about how to properly dispose of this.” “Really?” The girl’s expression instantly brightened, a relieved smile washing over her face.
“That’s perfect!
Our homeroom teacher actually loves drinking~ If you don’t mind, why don’t you let me take this off your hands?” She tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
“Oh, right!
How much did this cost you at the store?
I’ll transfer the Private Points to your account right now.” “There’s no need for that,” Akira said, shaking his head.
“Honestly, it’s a huge help just having you take care of it for me.” “That won’t do!” The girl shook her head vigorously, her bright hair swaying with the motion.
“That’s way too unfair to you.
If you won’t take the points, then you have to at least let me do you a favor in return!” Before he could protest again, she clasped her hands behind her back and beamed at him.
“But before we get to that, let me introduce myself!
My name is Ichinose Honami, from Class 1-B.
It’s great to meet you, fellow student~” Akira’s pupils dilated slightly.
For a brief second, he just stared at her.
‘So this is Ichinose Honami,’ he thought.
The legendary social butterfly from his intel, the girl who had effortlessly built a network of over a hundred people in less than twenty-four hours.
Seeing her in person, the sheer warmth she radiated made the statistic entirely believable.
Composing himself, he offered a polite nod.
“I’m Shimizu Akira, from Class 1-D.
It’s nice to meet you, Ichinose.” “Eh?
Class D!” Ichinose’s eyes lit up with genuine delight.
“What a coincidence!
I actually know Kushida-san from your class.
We just exchanged contact info yesterday!” Akira couldn’t help but stare at her for another second.
She had already bridged the gap to Class D on the very first day?
‘This level of social ability…
it’s actually terrifying,’he noted internally.
Then, a sudden realization struck him.’Wait.
This might be the perfect opportunity.’ Seizing the opening, Akira leaned forward slightly.
“In that case, I might actually take you up on that favor, Ichinose.
I need to find an upperclassman from Second-Year Class D.
Given your network, could you possibly help introduce me to someone there?” “Second-Year Class D?
No problem at all, just leave it to me~” Ichinose patted her chest confidently, a smile as bright and warm as the morning sun blooming across her face.
Akira blinked, momentarily disarmed by her sheer radiance.
‘Could this girl actually be an angel sent to this cutthroat school?’ They had only spoken for two minutes.
Yet, not only had she actively volunteered to solve his contraband problem, but she had also agreed to use her upperclassman connections for a complete stranger without a single second of hesitation or suspicion.
In a place like the Advanced Nurturing High School, where every student was a potential enemy and every interaction was a transaction, this kind of pure, unguarded kindness was something Akira hadn’t encountered in a very long time.
[Inorin’s Note: Hey guys, hope you’re enjoying the novel!
Hate waiting for updates and cliffhangers?