Kaedehara Tōru had not gone far; he was walking down the Teaching Building corridor, which still had few people.
He chose not to go straight to the gymnasium but instead circled to the other side of the teaching building, stopping next to a vending machine by a window.
This spot was excellent, allowing him to avoid the main flow of people exiting the classrooms while still observing the mandatory route leading to the gymnasium.
He didn’t buy a drink; he simply leaned lazily against the wall, hands in his pockets, his gaze directed towards the campus scenery outside the window.
Time passed second by second, and the corridor remained quiet.
Kaedehara Tōru showed no sign of impatience; his patience was as good as ever, seemingly waiting for something.
Finally, a rhythmic “tap, tap” sound came from around the corner of the corridor.
The sound was neither fast nor slow, possessing a unique sense of rhythm.
Kaedehara Tōru didn’t turn around, nor did he change his posture, still gazing out the window as if unaware of the movement behind him.
The crisp tapping grew closer and finally stopped not far behind him.
“It seems Kaedehara-san’s taste in admiring scenery is quite unique.”
Sakayanagi Arisu’s voice carried a hint of subtle scrutiny.
She stood there, her silver-white hair faintly shimmering in the light filtering through the window, the tip of the cane in her hand tapping softly on the floor.
Her entire presence resembled a still, classical painting.
“Even the most beautiful scenery becomes tiresome after a while.
Occasionally changing one’s perspective, or waiting for some more interesting, special scenery to appear, serves as a good change of pace.”
Kaedehara Tōru finally turned around, leaning against the wall, meeting Sakayanagi Arisu’s gaze without evasion.
“Oh?
Special scenery?”
Sakayanagi Arisu’s lips curved slightly into a shallow, elegant arc.
“I thought Kaedehara-san was in a hurry to leave to attend the entrance ceremony?”
“The Entrance Ceremony is still a while away; there’s no rush.
But you, Sakayanagi-san…”
Kaedehara Tōru’s gaze paused for a moment on her excessively slender body before returning to her face.
“I’m more concerned about you.”
“Concerned about me?
Kaedehara-san, your words are always inscrutable.
Is there anything about me worth your concern?”
“You’re really slow, Sakayanagi-san.
Or perhaps no one dared to say this to you before…
After all, you are a cute maiden!”
Sakayanagi Arisu’s reaction to Kaedehara Tōru’s nearly flippant assertion was unexpected.
She showed no trace of shyness or anger; the curve of the smile on her face remained unchanged.
“Cute?
That truly is an interesting assessment.”
“Kaedehara-san, typically, when male creatures use this word, it often points to the target’s harmlessness, obedience, or some fragile quality that inspires a desire to protect.
Which of these do you think I fit?”
“No, Sakayanagi-san, you’ve got it all wrong.”
Kaedehara Tōru shook his head, slowly pushed off the wall, and took a step closer to her.
“The ‘cuteness’ I speak of has nothing to do with harmlessness, obedience, or fragility.”
“It’s you…
who, while pretending to be a quiet doll needing care, secretly yearns for a satisfying ‘slaughter.'”
“That, in my eyes, is the ‘cutest’ thing about you.”
With every sentence, he took a step forward.
By the time he finished, he was standing directly in front of Sakayanagi Arisu, close enough that he could clearly smell the faint, elegant scent emanating from the ends of her hair.
This distance was invasive for anyone, let alone a girl with a physical disability who valued her personal space immensely.
This was blatant provocation, a physical form of pressure.
However, Sakayanagi Arisu did not step back.
She remained quietly in place, raising her head, forced to look up at Kaedehara Tōru, who was much taller than her.
Her heart rate did quicken for an instant.
But that was not due to fear or romantic feelings, but rather the excitement of meeting an opponent, a sense of unexpected delight.
Just who was this man?
On the first day of school, an unknown Class A student possessed such terrifying insight.
A breeze blew in through the corridor window, lifting a few strands of her silver hair, which lightly brushed against Kaedehara Tōru’s hand.
“Kaedehara-san…
you truly are a surprising delight.”
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil within, her smile unwavering.
“It seems I need to re-evaluate your ‘worth.’ ”
“My worth is far higher than you imagine.”
“Alright, let’s stop the appetizers here.”
Kaedehara Tōru glanced towards the end of the corridor, where scattered students were beginning to head towards the gymnasium.
He extended his hand in a “please” gesture, the familiar cynical smile returning to his lips.
“If you don’t mind, Sakayanagi-san, how about we attend the entrance ceremony together?
After all, having a ‘cute’ kindred spirit nearby while listening to those boring speeches might make this wasted time slightly more interesting.”
Sakayanagi Arisu looked at him quietly for a few seconds.
“Since Kaedehara-san has so graciously invited me, naturally, I have no reason to refuse.”
She nodded slightly in agreement.
“However, I walk quite slowly, so I might slow you down.”
“It’s fine, I have plenty of patience.”
Kaedehara Tōru smiled and stepped forward, standing beside her, deliberately slowing his pace to match hers.
“Perfectly timed.
I also have many questions I’d like to ask you along the way.”
“By the way…” Sakayanagi Arisu asked casually, as if suddenly recalling something, “What are your thoughts on the S System and the one hundred thousand points given monthly, Kaedehara-san?”
This question seemed casual, yet it was another heavy-duty probe she was launching.
Kaedehara Tōru glanced at her, his eyes assessing.
“Oh?
Isn’t Sakayanagi-san the chairman’s child?
You should know the intricacies involved, so why ask me?”
Sakayanagi Arisu quickly responded, seemingly wanting to know if Kaedehara Tōru could spot the flaw in the S System.
“I simply want to hear your perspective.”
“These one hundred thousand points, rather than a benefit, are a test—an initial filter to screen ‘fools’ from ‘smart people.'”
“It’s like throwing a pack of wolves that haven’t eaten for days into a warehouse full of food without telling them that once the food is gone, there will be no more.
Those who recklessly splurge their points will quickly find themselves unable to maintain even basic survival.
This school has been conducting ruthless elimination from the very beginning.”
Kaedehara Tōru’s reply confirmed to Sakayanagi Arisu that he understood the true meaning of the S System, raising her estimation of him once again.
Sakayanagi’s voice held a trace of genuine approval.
“In that case, what do you believe is the core of this system?”
“Exchange.” Kaedehara Tōru spoke the two words without hesitation.
“Exchange?”
“Yes, exchange.”
Kaedehara Tōru’s pace didn’t falter, his gaze cutting through the bustling crowd ahead.
“Points for goods—that’s the most basic exchange.
But what the school truly wants us to learn is a higher level of exchange: information, favors, loyalty, betrayal…
and even class ranking.
I suspect there must be some convertible link between class evaluation and individual points.”
Leveraging his knowledge of the plot, Kaedehara Tōru definitively stated the function of the S System and its future impact on the classes.
Sakayanagi Arisu fell completely silent.
She walked quietly, leaning on her cane, but her mind was racing.
This man…
what exactly did he know?