After Hoshinomiya-sensei swept out of Class 1-B like a storm, the classroom was completely overtaken by excitement over the "100,000 points" distributed every month.
"Hey, let's go to Keyaki Mall after school!"
"Sounds good! Maybe I'll buy some new clothes!"
The unique excitement of brand-new students, combined with the intoxicating feeling of suddenly having a huge amount of money.
Amid all that, one especially eye-catching pink-haired beauty—Ichinose Honami—clapped her hands and stood up.
"Everyone, can I have a moment?"
Her bright, cheerful voice drew everyone's attention.
"There's still time before the entrance ceremony, so why don't we all introduce ourselves? We're going to spend the next three years together as classmates, after all! I'll start first since it was my idea!"
The class immediately responded with enthusiastic agreement.
Starting with Ichinose Honami, the classroom turned warm and lively as introductions began passing from student to student.
Hobbies, hometowns, club interests—everyone smiled as they introduced themselves.
(...This is bad. My turn's coming.)
Sitting in the very back seat by the window, alarms were blaring inside my head.
(This flow… there's no way I can avoid doing this too. Calm down, me. I absolutely cannot fail here. I cannot repeat the tragedy of being the "Lonely Demon King" all through middle school. My high school debut will be different. I'll become a refreshing guy who grows together with everyone through friendly rivalry…!)
Eventually, the student in front of me finished and sat down.
The entire class turned to look at me sitting in the back.
Perhaps because I'd already been radiating an "approach-at-your-own-risk" aura, their faces showed more tension than curiosity.
Slowly, I stood up.
Alright. The simulation in my head is perfect.
"My name is Aizen Sousuke. I like reading. I hope we can all grow together through mutual competition. Nice to meet you!"
That's it. A perfectly safe, full-score greeting.
I opened my mouth.
"—My name is Aizen Sousuke."
So far, so good. Perfect so far.
"…I have no intention of walking side by side with any of you. The path I walk leads only toward heights far beyond your reach."
(HUH!? Why did "grow together through mutual competition" become "I have no intention of walking beside you"!?)
"…However, during these next three years, I suppose I shall observe from the corner of my eye how you struggle and develop yourselves. At the very least… try to entertain me enough to stave off my boredom."
Silence.
Every sound in the classroom vanished.
My classmates stared with wide eyes and half-open mouths, literally petrified.
(I DID IT AGAIN!! This automatic poem-conversion ability is basically cursed equipment!! That sounded like a final boss introducing himself while looking down on everyone! I don't need high specs or overwhelming charisma—just let me talk normally!!)
Crying tears of blood internally, I quietly sat back down.
A silence that felt eternal.
At this rate, on the very first day of school, I was going to become "that dangerous guy you should never interact with."
And then—
"N-nya, nyahaha…!"
Ichinose Honami forced an awkward laugh and desperately began clapping.
"T-that was a really confident introduction! Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing those high ambitions of yours, Aizen-kun! Nice to meet you!"
Saved by Ichinose's incredibly forced (yet full of kindness) follow-up, the other students cautiously joined in.
"O-oh!"
"Nice to meet you too…!"
They awkwardly clapped along.
(Ichinose-san…! What an angel!! You're seriously an angel!! I'll never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!!)
On the outside, I merely wore a fearless smirk.
Inside, however, I was prostrating myself toward Ichinose in gratitude.
After that, us freshmen moved to the gymnasium for the entrance ceremony.
Once the principal's lengthy speech ended, the teacher acting as MC took the microphone.
"Next, the freshman representative speech. Freshman representative, Class 1-B, Aizen Sousuke."
The moment my name was called, the Class B rows stirred noisily.
(Alright, keep this one normal too. It's just the freshman oath. Tone the wording down…)
I slowly ascended the stage and stood before the microphone.
The eyes of the entire school focused on me alone.
"—Today, we step into this white academy. …But do not forget."
My quiet yet deeply resonant voice echoed throughout the gymnasium.
"Those who drown in the peace handed to them will one day fail to notice even the sound of the ice beneath their feet beginning to crack. Understand that invisible blades are forever pressed against our throats… and spend these three years never ceasing your advance. …That is all."
(Phew… Well, it got a little poetic, but compared to my classroom introduction, this is way better!)
Relieved internally, I stepped down from the stage.
While I personally thought it "wasn't too bad," the gymnasium had become filled with whispers bordering on fear.
"What was that pressure…?"
"The freshman representative is insane…"
—And among the rows of Class D, a certain gaze was fixed on me.
"..."
A brown-haired boy standing in a way that blended perfectly into the crowd.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka widened his eyes in genuine shock behind his emotionless mask.
(Sousuke… so you're here.)
A genius who once competed with him for the title of "masterpiece" within the White Room.
Someone who produced absurd results in every curriculum, then suddenly vanished from the facility as though exiled.
A bottomless monster.
(...Why is he at this school? Don't tell me he was sent here as an "assassin" to drag me back to the White Room?)
Worst-case scenarios rapidly unfolded in Ayanokouji's mind.
If Aizen Sousuke intended to oppose him—
(If it's Sousuke… this will be rough. Even as a child, I could never fully grasp the depths of that man. Those poetic phrases he used earlier were probably just advanced psychological warfare meant to confuse people.)
Quietly exhaling, Ayanokouji steeled himself once more.
Meanwhile, while stepping down from the stage, Aizen was thinking:
(Oh, Hiyori's looking over here and waving at me! Cute!)
His attention was entirely focused toward Class C.
He didn't notice Ayanokouji's existence in the slightest.
After school.
I hurried toward the library.
When I opened the door, Hiyori was already there.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Hiyori."
"Ah, Sousuke-kun. Your freshman representative speech was wonderful. You looked very dignified."
Smoothly, I pulled out my phone.
"…I wish to preserve your words of praise so that I may receive them at any time. …Would you connect with me through a corridor of words?"
(Yes! That's my elegant version of "Let's exchange contact info!" Please understand me!!)
"Hehe, yes. You mean exchanging contact information, right? I was actually about to ask too."
After successfully exchanging contacts, I was internally dancing with joy.
(I DID ITTTT!! I GOT HIYORI'S CONTACT INFO!!)
"By the way, Hiyori. Did your homeroom teacher explain the school rules? About receiving 100,000 points every month?"
"Yes. Everyone was really happy about it… but is there some kind of catch?"
"…Yeah. Let's go verify our answers with the adults."
Together with Hiyori, I headed toward the faculty office.
"Is Class 1-B's homeroom teacher, Hoshinomiya-sensei, here?"
When I called out, Chie Hoshinomiya stood up from a desk deeper inside the room.
"Oh my~, Aizen-kun! What's wrong? Coming to see your teacher on the very first day…? And who's this cute girl with you? Your girlfriend maybe~?"
Hoshinomiya grinned teasingly.
Hiyori immediately turned red.
"E-eh!? N-no, we're just friends…!"
"…What a foolish question, Sensei. Please refrain from defining us with such cheap terminology."
"Ahaha, Aizen-kun really talks like an adult. So what did you need?"
I led Hoshinomiya into an empty guidance room.
The moment the door closed, the atmosphere around me changed completely.
"—I came to glimpse the hidden underside of the board laid out by the gods."
(Translation: Sensei, I figured out the school's point system and came to confirm it.)
Hoshinomiya's fluffy smile twitched.
"Umm… the underside of the board…?"
(There's no way the school just gives us 100,000 points forever, right? There are security cameras everywhere, so bad behavior and grades probably reduce the entire class's points through collective responsibility?)
"—Only fools believe the sweet nectar falling from heaven will never run dry. The mechanical eyes hidden everywhere, and the scales known as 'ability.' In this miniature garden, a single stain muddies the entire surface. One individual's sin spreads like ripples, directly becoming the thirst of the entire group."
(UGHHHH!! I just wanted to ask "Points get reduced through collective responsibility, right?" Why did it become this ridiculously roundabout villain speech!? Hoshinomiya-sensei looks completely stunned!)
While I internally held my head in despair, Hiyori stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei. Sousuke-kun means this."
"Eh, Shiina-san…?"
"'The 100,000 points distributed every month are not fixed, correct? Based on the security cameras installed everywhere and the emphasis on ability, he believes that students' behavior and grades affect future point distributions. And rather than individual responsibility… the system likely deducts points through class-wide collective responsibility.'"
Upon hearing Hiyori's flawless translation, the soft atmosphere around Hoshinomiya vanished entirely.
In its place appeared the sharp, cold gaze of a teacher.
(...Amazing. To realize that much on the very first day.)
Hoshinomiya Chie silently stared at the boy before her—Aizen Sousuke.
(Aizen Sousuke… According to the data beforehand, both his academic and physical abilities are beyond exceptional. Normally, he absolutely should have been placed into Class A.)
She remembered the student file she'd seen earlier.
(But he had one fatal flaw: catastrophic communication ability. A defect too severe for group life. That's why he ended up in Class B instead of the highest-ranked Class A. …But to think he'd bring along a girl who can interpret him and uncover the school's entire system on day one…)
A thrill ran through her.
(Fufu. To have such an outrageous genius in my class… This year's Class B might really devour Class A.)
"…Amazing, Aizen-kun. To notice that much on the first day. Honestly, I'm impressed."
Hoshinomiya looked at me with probing eyes.
"—It was only a natural conclusion."
(Translation: This much is obvious.)
"…And there's one more thing I'd like to ask."
(The guaranteed 100% career path isn't for all students, right? It's a privilege only for the higher-ranking classes that win the point competition?)
"—The stars do not shine equally across the heavens. The cheap phrase '100% hope' is merely another name for the miracle granted only to those who reach the summit. Heavenly light never reaches the mud crawling at the bottom. …Isn't that right?"
Hiyori translated perfectly once again.
Silence fell.
Only the ticking clock echoed in the room.
Finally, Hoshinomiya sighed.
"…I'm sorry, Aizen-kun. Shiina-san too. I can't answer that question. As a teacher, the rules forbid me from revealing that right now."
(I see. Refusing to answer basically confirms it.)
"—I understand. Silence itself is the most eloquent affirmation. …That is answer enough."
Hoshinomiya coughed lightly.
"Aizen-kun. Shiina-san. I acknowledge that you've reached the truth. But I want you to keep this secret from the other students for now. This is also a test from the school."
"…So you request silence. Understood. …However."
I slowly curled my lips upward.
"To purchase my silence… compensation will be required."
"Compensation…? How much do you want?"
Hoshinomiya glared cautiously.
Gracefully shaking my head, I replied:
"…That is not for me to decide. Rather, I wish to see what 'value' the school itself is willing to present in order to conceal the cracks in its system. …Show me the sincerity of the adults."
(OH GOD! That sounded exactly like extortion!! That's not it! I just wanted a few extra points to have tea with Hiyori at a café!! Even 20,000 points would've been enough!!)
Twenty minutes later, after an emergency staff meeting, Hoshinomiya returned utterly exhausted.
"…Haa… haa… I negotiated with the higher-ups. This is an exceptional exception. If you absolutely do not reveal this information before May 1st, the school will provide you both with 3 million points. …Does that settle the contract?"
(TH-THREE MILLION!? I only wanted like twenty thousand!! What kind of budget does this school even have!?)
Though internally losing my mind, outwardly I nodded calmly.
"…A reasonable judgment. We have a deal."
Immediately, 3 million points were transferred to both my and Hiyori's terminals.
"—One final truth I'd like to hear from your lips."
(Translation: One last question, Hoshinomiya-sensei!)
As I stopped without turning around, Hoshinomiya straightened instinctively.
"…You said that in this white miniature garden, even miracles may be bought if one piles high enough mountains of digital sand."
"Y-yes… that's true, but…"
(Alright, here's the real point. I absolutely need to end up in the same class as Hiyori. I'm going to ask how many points class transfer costs!)
I slowly turned back and asked the question I most wanted answered.
"—Then tell me… the 'right to rebel against god' and sever the chains of fate placed upon oneself, ascending instead to another board entirely. …How much sand must one offer to obtain such a privilege?"
(WHYYYYYYYY!! I JUST WANTED TO ASK "HOW MUCH DOES CLASS TRANSFER COST"! What the hell is "the right to rebel against god"! This chuuni syndrome is too embarrassing!!)
Hoshinomiya completely froze.
"R-rebellion against… god…?"
Immediately, the angel beside me stepped in once more.
"Hoshinomiya-sensei. Sousuke-kun means this."
"Eh…?"
"'Since anything on campus can supposedly be bought with points, how many points would it cost to purchase the right to transfer classes?'"
The moment Hiyori perfectly translated it—
Hoshinomiya sharply inhaled.
On the very first day of school, this boy had not only uncovered the S-System's secrets, but already reached the absurd conclusion of "changing classes."
Looking at me as though staring at an unbelievable monster, she answered clearly.
"…20 million points. If you save 20 million points, you can buy the right to transfer to any class you want."
(T-TWENTY MILLION!? Even with 100,000 points a month that's nowhere near enough!! That's ridiculously expensive!! Totally impossible!!)
Inside, my heart shattered completely.
But my face—the shell known as Aizen Sousuke—allowed no weakness whatsoever.
"—Fuh. …What a laughably cheap miracle. If the throne I desire may be obtained with so small a mountain of sand, then it is trivial indeed."
(WAAAAAAAAH!! STOP ACTING TOUGH, ME!! IT'S NOT TRIVIAL AT ALL!! THAT NUMBER IS PURE DESPAIR!!)
"'Thank you for informing us,' he says."
"..."
Overwhelmed by the imbalance between my bottomless arrogance and Hiyori's translated politeness, Hoshinomiya could only stare speechlessly.
Leaving the guidance room, Hiyori and I walked together beneath the sunset.
Orange light stretched our shadows across the school walls.
(...20 million points. An absurdly hopeless number. But…)
I glanced at the silver-haired girl walking beside me.
My only true friend, smiling happily while matching her pace to mine.
(If it's for the sake of being in the same class as Hiyori… then it's more than worth pursuing.)
"…Sousuke-kun, you're amazing!"
Suddenly, Hiyori looked at me with admiration.
"To negotiate with a teacher so confidently and uncover the truth behind everything… you really are incredible."
"—It was nothing difficult. Merely a few additional pieces beginning to dance upon my board."
(Dammit! Another accidental villain monologue!)
"…Still. If they are pieces moved for your sake, I do not mind."
Hearing those words, Hiyori blinked in surprise before blushing happily.
"Hehe… thank you, Sousuke-kun."
"…Now then. Since we unexpectedly acquired some startup capital, shall we go purchase some daily necessities to brighten our new lives, Hiyori?"
Inside: an ordinary peace-loving person.
Outside: the overwhelming aura of a final boss.
For the extremely personal goal of entering the same class as Hiyori, Aizen Sousuke quietly began his secret maneuvering (?) within this school of meritocracy, aiming toward the impossible target of 20 million points.