Suzune began analyzing the situation aloud.
"The school wants students to fully understand the importance of money. If they wish to enjoy a comfortable and prosperous school life, they must discipline themselves, raise their grades, and develop their abilities in order to earn points."
After finishing her analysis, Suzune turned toward Ryouma again.
"Is there anything else?"
"Of course."
Ryouma stood up and casually tossed the empty tea container into a nearby trash can before continuing.
"The school divides its students into four classes: A, B, C, and D."
"Only students who graduate from Class A are recognized as outstanding elites and granted the privilege of freely choosing their future employment among major corporations."
"As for the other classes, they're merely stepping stones for Class A's development."
"Class D, in particular, is considered a collection of defective students."
The moment she heard those words, Suzune abruptly rose to her feet.
Her sharp eyes locked onto Ryouma.
"Is that true?"
Her academic performance ranked among the very best in all of Japan.
The same was true of her athletic abilities.
With her qualifications, she could have freely chosen practically any prestigious high school in the country.
And yet...
At this school, she was considered defective?!
It was simply incomprehensible!
As for the privilege of choosing a career, Suzune didn't particularly care about that.
"That's the reality."
Ryouma answered calmly.
Suzune fell silent.
After a while, she gradually regained her composure.
If she hadn't started in Class A, then all she had to do was climb to Class A and prove herself.
"I see. So this is the truth behind the school's meritocratic system."
She could already imagine that the examinations at this school would be nothing like the simple tests she'd encountered in middle school.
Furthermore...
In Japan, the importance of one's résumé went without saying.
Failing to graduate from Class A might even result in being branded a 'failure'.
Viewed that way, graduating from Classes B, C, or D could practically be considered a negative qualification!
"Suzune, that's all the information I have for you. Anything else you'd like to ask?"
Ryouma picked up his shopping bag, already preparing to return to the dormitory.
After all, this was information that would become common knowledge in another month.
There was absolutely no reason to keep it secret.
Of course, he had no intention of telling her anything truly important.
Suzune sneered coldly.
"This is information you should have voluntarily shared with the entire class. Yet you actually used it to negotiate with me. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
"Not in the slightest."
Ryouma smiled indifferently.
"After all, I have absolutely no interest in advancing to Class A, nor do I have any obligation to help the class."
He paused before adding,
"Besides, now that you know this information, you're free to use it however you like."
"I see. You're free to enjoy your high school life however you please, but you'd better not get in my way from now on."
With those words, Suzune picked up her shopping bag and headed straight back toward the dormitory without hesitation.
Having obtained all the information she wanted, she had absolutely no interest in learning why Ryouma didn't want to advance to Class A.
Nor did she have any desire to continue their conversation.
As long as she could reach Class A and show Manabu how much she'd grown over the next three years, surely her older brother would be proud of her.
"Looks like this is all Suzune is capable of right now."
Watching Suzune disappear into the distance, Ryouma muttered to himself.
Although advancing to Class A was a basic requirement of the Amakawa family's assessment, there was one principle he always kept in mind.
'Never let others know what you truly want.'
Otherwise, that desire would become a weakness they could exploit.
He had originally been preparing himself for how to answer Suzune's inevitable follow-up questions.
Who would've thought she'd completely disregard him instead?
This went far beyond simply having a narrow perspective.
Numerous shortcomings were plainly visible in Suzune Horikita.
Of course, Ryouma had also discovered quite a few of her strengths.
Her logical reasoning was excellent, and her ability to identify crucial details was exceptionally sharp.
It was practically instinctive.
She was also straightforward and genuine, with little difference between her outward behavior and her true personality.
When it came to kindness, though, she was rather awkward about expressing herself.
A sharp tongue hiding a soft heart, in other words.
Most importantly, Suzune possessed extraordinary initiative.
In that regard, she was even stronger than Honami Ichinose and the others.
Combined with her relentless determination to accomplish whatever she set her mind to...
As long as she received the proper guidance, she could become an outstanding leader!
After waiting a little longer, Ryouma picked up his shopping bag and returned to the dormitory.
Room 402.
That was the private dormitory room the school had assigned him.
Although it was a single-occupancy room, it came fully equipped with a kitchen, toilet, bathroom, bedroom, and balcony.
As expected of a school supported by the government.
They certainly weren't lacking in funds!
"Only a little over ten thousand private points left, huh?"
Looking at the number displayed on his phone, Ryouma lay back on his bed with a helpless sigh.
He'd spent more than eighty thousand private points on his very first day of school.
Aside from purchasing an untraceable account from Chabashira, he'd also bought a freestanding punching bag.
"Well, all the preparations are finally complete."
"I'm really looking forward to tomorrow."
Ryouma logged into the account he'd purchased from Chabashira and published a post on one of the school's online forums.
Then, without the slightest hesitation, he completely abandoned the account.
The account that had cost him fifty thousand private points...
Had successfully fulfilled its purpose.