Compared to the version in his memory, this time Class 1-A had absorbed four former Class D students: Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Kushida Kikyou, Kouenji Rokusuke, and Hirata Yosuke. Meanwhile, Sakayanagi Arisu had been moved by Kitagawa Ryo into Class D. This meant that the previous standoff between Sakayanagi and Katsuragi would no longer happen.
Ayanokouji's personality made it impossible for him to step forward as a leader from the beginning. Kouenji outright disdained the entire class and even the school. Kushida and Hirata, each for their own reasons, wouldn't willingly take on a leadership role either. Thus, the obvious figure to rise as the first leader of Class 1-A would likely be Katsuragi Kohei.
Even in the past simulation, Katsuragi had become the temporary leader during two special exams over summer, largely due to Sakayanagi's physical limitations. Now that she was in Class D, Katsuragi would likely consolidate power and win over classmates even faster.
If Katsuragi were to play the role Hirata had in the former Class D, then Ayanokouji would need a helper—just as he had once hidden behind Horikita Suzune. This assistant had to be capable enough to integrate into the class's decision-making circle, but not too capable as to become uncontrollable. A flaw in personality would be a bonus.
Fortunately, Class 1-A had just such a person.
In fact, Kamuro Masumi shared a similar aura to Horikita Suzune. Kitagawa Ryo's understanding of her mostly came from idle chats with Sakayanagi Arisu during Karuizawa Kei's second simulation. Back then, he had even exploited Kamuro's kleptomania to orchestrate a plot against Class 1-B.
So Ryo had long predicted that Kamuro would enter Ayanokouji's sights. He just hadn't expected it to happen as soon as the first day.
"So?"
Kitagawa Ryo put away his digital camera, which had cost him a fair amount of points. Still, he knew it would prove useful in this school.
Kamuro Masumi eyed him suspiciously. She was the one who had stolen, yet Ryo's tone seemed to be aimed entirely at Ayanokouji.
"What are your terms?"
Ayanokouji quickly recovered from his surprise. He knew that the recording—perhaps even a video—wouldn't actually damage him. After all, Kamuro was in his own class.
With proper manipulation, he could even spin the narrative to portray himself as someone trying to help a classmate break a bad habit through earnest advice.
But what really concerned Ayanokouji was Kamuro's potential punishment.
Not because he had any particular attachment to her, but because finding such a perfectly fitting pawn was rare. If she got expelled, he'd lose a valuable asset, and the entire class might suffer consequences.
Ayanokouji understood the class point system. While he didn't know exactly how many points would be lost per expulsion, it couldn't be insignificant.
Thus, he chose to negotiate with Kitagawa Ryo.
He believed Ryo was a smart guy.
"My condition for not releasing the footage is that you sign a contract with me, Ayanokouji-kun."
"The contract will be officially notarized by the school and state that you are to transfer all of your personal points to me on the first of each month."
"You don't seem like someone who needs 100,000 points."
Ryo just smiled, offering no further explanation.
But Ayanokouji had already gleaned two important insights from Ryo's words:
First, it was possible to draft binding contracts between students with the school's enforcement.
Second, while personal points had monetary purchasing power, their value didn't stop there. Ryo's emphasis on them implied a deeper strategic use.
Of course, he didn't rule out the possibility that Ryo was simply preparing for the future. After all, Ayanokouji had already observed that upperclassmen in Class D were so short on points that they had to rely on free amenities and meal options just to get by.
Even if Class D had ten geniuses, the other thirty students were likely short-sighted fools—self-centered and focused only on the present.
So Ayanokouji didn't mind giving Ryo his monthly points. He had no extravagant needs. In fact, he was already planning to leak Ryo's hoarded point balance when the D class students inevitably hit rock bottom.
"I can accept that."
Ayanokouji nodded. To show sincerity, he immediately transferred over 90,000 remaining points from his student ID to Ryo's account. Once the contract was signed, Ryo deleted the recordings in front of him and even handed over the memory card from the camera.
After that, Ryo left quickly. Kamuro gave Ayanokouji one last complicated look before leaving as well.
Ayanokouji, now holding a large plastic bag of goods—probably his only food outside of the free cafeteria meals for the rest of the month—gave a small shake of his head and prepared to leave.
Just then, he heard a loud shout nearby:
"Don't look down on me just because I'm a first-year, dammit!"
Following the voice, he saw a tall, red-haired boy confronting three upperclassmen. The boy held a half-eaten cup of noodles, clearly interrupted mid-meal.
"You've got guts talking to us second-years like that. You see our luggage here, don't you?"
One of the seniors slammed his bag onto a seat provocatively, and they all laughed mockingly.
"That's right. Our stuff's here, so how about you first-years get lost?"
Their words further enraged the redhead, who clenched his fists, ready to fight.
"You've got some nerve, bastard."
He showed no fear despite being outnumbered—and judging by his build, he might actually win a three-on-one.
"Ooh, scary~ Which class are you in? Wait, let me guess. Class D, right?"
The second-years exaggerated their expressions and spoke in mock-serious tones.
"So what if I am?!"
At that, the upperclassmen exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
"Did you hear that? He admitted it. D class. Called it."
"Arguing with defective trash like this just cheapens me. Let's leave this poor idiot to stew."
"Hope he's still around next month with that temper."
"By then, maybe he'll know his place. Hell's waiting, after all."
As the seniors left while sneering, the redhead glared at them, too furious to continue eating. He tossed his cup into a nearby bin and stalked off, hands in his pockets.
Ayanokouji felt reassured.
He didn't agree with the other party's decision to choose Class D. As the class with the lowest quality students among A-B-C-D, that hot-headed redhead was the perfect embodiment of its flaws.
Not worth worrying about.
Class D would self-destruct.
With that conclusion, Ayanokouji walked away from the scene.
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Club Building — Student Council
As one of the most important branches of Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, the student council didn't actually have that many members. With the previous third-years having just graduated and the new recruitment for first-years not yet underway, the interior of the student council room was particularly quiet. Only Vice President Nagumo Miyabi was inside, handling materials related to tomorrow's club orientation and recruitment.
It was tradition at the school to start club recruitment on the second day of term, and the student council was no exception. The one presiding over tomorrow's event would be none other than Student Council President Horikita Manabu.
While sorting documents, Nagumo yawned internally, bored and wondering if he'd get to meet a few cute underclassman girls this year. As the leader who had brought Class B up to Class A, the vice president of the student council, and someone with striking good looks, Nagumo had no shortage of confidence in himself.
But just as he began to drift into these idle thoughts, the door to the student council office was suddenly opened. At first, he thought it was one of his fellow council members, but no greeting followed. Slightly puzzled, he looked up—only to see a first-year student.
Though it was unclear how the newcomer had found his way here, Nagumo greeted him politely:
"Is there something I can help you with, underclassman? If you're here to join the council, please wait for tomorrow's official orientation and recruitment."
"I do have business here."
The boy stepped forward, smiling faintly. What caught Nagumo's attention, however, was the boy's appearance and aura—both flawless, to the point that it stirred a subtle, irrational annoyance deep within him.
"I'm Kitagawa Ryo, from Class 1-D."
"Class 1... D? Oh, I see. What can I do for you, Kitagawa-kun?"
Of course, Nagumo knew the truth about Class D. But he couldn't disclose anything about the true nature of class sorting—not yet. That information was part of the upcoming first-month special exam.
Details related to [Class Points] and [Graduating as Class A] were considered top-level intel. If the new students from all four classes found out early that class sorting wasn't random, the first special exam would lose its intended meaning. Every class would start abiding by the rules from the very beginning.
Ryo handed over his phone. The screen showed a video of three second-year students confronting a first-year. The tension could be felt even through the footage.
After watching the whole clip, Nagumo feigned outrage:
"Bullying underclassmen by flaunting seniority is unacceptable. We'll conduct proper disciplinary education for those three and make sure they apologize to the victim."
But Ryo didn't respond. With both hands pressed against the desk, his deep black pupils gazed into Nagumo's as if peering into a bottomless abyss.
"It wasn't bullying."
Ryo's gaze remained unwavering.
A cold chill climbed up Nagumo's spine.
"Those second-years leaked something they shouldn't have, didn't they?"
"If class placements are random, why mock Class D students as defective trash?"
"Or... could it be that A-B-C-D sorting actually follows some hidden criteria?"
"Like being ranked by overall ability? In that case, D Class really is the weakest. No wonder they got mocked."
Nagumo inhaled deeply, trying to respond—
—but was cut off by Ryo once more.
"I hear you've been making waves lately, Nagumo-senpai. Not just in your own class, but the entire second year is starting to fall under your control."
It was still only the first day of school. How much did this boy already know? How much intel had he gathered?
Nagumo, for the first time, felt more pressure from Kitagawa Ryo than even from Horikita Manabu.
He silently cursed the three idiots in the video.
Except for certain exceptions like the midterm exams, students were strictly forbidden from leaking any current or future exam information to underclassmen. Even assigning each grade to a separate building was meant to prevent this.
Yet those three not only picked a fight with a freshman on day one, but even blurted out things like "Class D is a bunch of defective rejects."
It was a direct slap to the school's face. If that footage went public, all four first-year classes would learn one month early that class placement wasn't random—it correlated with ability. That would ruin the first special exam.
As vice president, Nagumo should've stepped in immediately to minimize damage—punish the three second-years, even expel them if needed. After all, they were only from Class 2-C.
But Nagumo was caught at a delicate moment.
His consolidation of second-year power had just recently settled. It had taken careful negotiation to balance the interests of all four classes, keeping Class A on top while appeasing the rest.
If those three got expelled or penalized, 2-C's class points would plummet, and the fragile balance would collapse.
Worse, if the second-year students found out Nagumo himself had led the punishment...
His reputation as a stabilizing force would take a fatal blow. Many supported him with hopes he would uphold his promises as future student council president.
"I'll give you 1 million personal points. Delete that video."
Nagumo locked eyes with Ryo as he made the offer.
"I don't need points."
Ryo shook his head and brought up his student account page.
2,180,000 personal points.
On his first day.
For the first time, Nagumo's composure cracked. While he was still reeling, Ryo laid out his demand:
"Two seats in the student council."
"...Fine."
After a long exhale, Nagumo nodded hesitantly.
"Also, no one else may enter the council aside from the two I name."
"That's unreasonable—"
"You're in no position to negotiate."
Ryo pressed his index finger to his lips in a shushing gesture.
With that, the second step of his plan was complete.
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