Mornings in Class C are usually noisy. Everyone is highly individual, strong-willed, and proactive.
The defining trait of this class is that it naturally splits into small, tight-knit groups of close friends.
Within those groups, they chat and laugh freely. It's lively, and to an outsider it probably looks like a bright, cheerful bunch.
But Ryuuen's larger group surrounds and controls all those smaller ones.
When he's present, voices shrink, and the class can hardly be called lively.
Whether he's there or not, the volume of those small groups flips completely, and the entire atmosphere reverses 180 degrees.
Yet today's Class C feels different. Even with Ryuuen here, the room is somehow restless and buzzing.
No—it's probably not just Class C. The other classes are likely the same.
After all, today is the first of the month: point distribution day.
Ever since learning how important points are, every class has worked hard to improve daily conduct and avoid losing them.
The beginning of the month reveals whether that effort paid off.
Sakagami-sensei is already at the lectern, having finished writing the results on the whiteboard.
To clarify in advance: CP stands for Class Points—the shared points awarded to the entire class. PP stands for Private Points—the points each individual receives and can spend freely.
The "C" in CP comes from "class," the "P" in PP from "private."
Class A: 1004 CP
Class B: 765 CP
Class C: 580 CP
Class D: 87 CP
The classroom erupts in murmurs. Last month Class C had 490 CP—an increase of 90.
The other classes rose too. The amounts differ, but every class has undeniably gained points.
Yet there's one problem.
We received 580 CP.
But no points have appeared on our phones.
That's the source of the restlessness. People can barely hide their anger at not receiving what is essentially their allowance from the school, and for the fools among us, lacking PP—the equivalent of cash—could make daily life impossible.
"Well done this past month, everyone. Raising our points by ninety from last month is impressive. It's proof your efforts were rewarded."
"Hey, hey, Sakagami-sensei. That ain't what we wanna hear right now."
Ryuuen, slouched carelessly in his seat with a grin that could inspire fear in some, cuts the teacher off.
Naturally, the teacher doesn't reprimand his attitude.
It probably relates to the point distribution, but reprimands aren't possible.
"Hmm, you're right. The delay in point distribution—and the explanation for it—is what matters most to you. …To get straight to the point, there's been a minor incident. Because of it, distribution to all first-year classes is delayed."
Incident. At that word, Ryuuen flashes the most refreshed smile imaginable.
"But within a few days, 58,000 PP will definitely be transferred to your phones. Until then, borrow from friends or cut back and manage somehow."
After that, Sakagami-sensei efficiently handles the remaining announcements and ends homeroom.
Already, a few students are borrowing points from friends.
Some might wonder how anyone can run out when we get around 50,000 a month, but there's a reason.
Most borrowers are indeed fools, but a minority had unexpected expenses from clubs or similar obligations and had no choice.
Calling that entirely their fault would be a little harsh.
"Yo, I hear you ditched my party and had a secret rendezvous with Hiyori and Ibuki. In your room, no less."
While I'm preparing for class and thinking about this, Ryuuen approaches again, wearing the same full grin as before.
Classmates watching from the outside seem put off by his behavior.
"There's malice in your word choice."
"What, jealous of the guy with a beauty on each arm? Just came to hear the details."
He says he's jealous, but his face shows nothing but pleasure.
A teasing, amused smirk is plastered there.
"I don't care. Get to the point."
"Kuku, harsh. As expected from the ladies' man."
Typical of him—annoyingly persistent.
But more bothersome than that are the stares from around us.
He's deliberately speaking loud enough for others to hear, and the classmates' gazes sting. Especially the envious ones—they're irritating.
On top of that, phrases like "in your room" and "secret rendezvous" are causing weird misunderstandings.
I already hold the dishonorable title of top brooding loner; my reputation is terrible.
For someone objectively creepy like me to spend time alone in his room with two girls widely considered beautiful—the fallout is predictable.
That's the current mess.
And the secondary victim, Ibuki, has slightly flushed cheeks from the embarrassing misunderstanding while glaring at Ryuuen.
Today her glare inspires no fear whatsoever.
Incidentally, Shiina is deeply engrossed in her book and seems oblivious to the conversation.
"Because of you, strange rumors are likely to spread."
"Don't say that—we're best friends, aren't we?"
Ryuuen sits in the chair in front of me and offers a handshake.
That careless lie I once told has finally circled back to him.
Troublesome.
Any more of his pacing would be annoying, so I forcibly change the subject.
"The plan seems to be going well."
"Yeah, smooth so far."
"Shall I help?"
"I ain't planning to use you. Aces are kept in reserve. So just sit back and watch."
The plan is the attack on Class D—the cause of the current incident.
Why execute it? Simple.
Ryuuen Kakeru wants to know. He wants data on how far the school will go in response.
He's running smaller-scale harassment on Class B for the same purpose—gathering information about the school.
"Then back to the main topic. What boring thing do you want to tell me?"
"Impatient bastard. …I finally built one foundation for my rule. Thought I'd get your agreement too."
"The thing decided at the victory party."
"Yeah. In one word: tax collection."
He's started something very state-like. If discovered, the school would likely punish him, but if framed as reserves for upcoming class warfare, punishment won't come easily.
"It's still a trial period. If I deliver results in future class conflicts, we continue—conditional. I haven't fully grasped this class yet, so getting ratted out before it even starts would be boring."
For his appearance, he's surprisingly cautious and hardworking.
Telling him that would obviously make him angry.
"You could have just emailed it. Coming in person is a hassle."
"I said before—I don't trust these phones. Don't want any trails."
Very cautious.
I could erase such data completely, so his concern is misplaced.
"If you three hadn't had your little rendezvous, I wouldn't have needed to go to this trouble."
"We weren't the only ones who didn't come. Quite an accusation for something with no obligation."
"Shut it. The others who skipped—I'll just threaten them later, no effort. But you three, especially Hiyori, are too stubborn; dealing with you is a pain every time."
Ryuuen rubs the back of his head while complaining.
Even a tyrant gets worn down by someone truly independent.
I glance at Shiina.
Despite her name being mentioned, she's reading in exactly the same posture as before.
Ryuuen notices my shift in gaze and looks at her too.
Seeing her like that, he sighs. Her independence may have reached the level of talent.
Afterward, he hands me a sheet of paper detailing his so-called point tax.
──Point Tax──
From the forty students in Class C, collect 30,000 points per person per month. All collected points become Ryuuen Kakeru's PP.
However, points gathered this way will not be used for personal gain. Anyone may ask at any time how they were spent.
These points are expenses for future class warfare and emergency reserves. If someone desperately needs points for any reason, they may consult me.
Examples: club activities or student council. Exception: bonus private points, these may be spent freely.
Advantages:
1. Secures funds for class warfare, giving us an immediate edge over other classes.
2. Fixed collection of 30,000 ensures stability.
3. Higher CP visibly increases everyone's usable amount, encouraging cooperation and improving daily conduct—which in turn raises CP.
4. Forced frugality builds self-reliance.
5. No deduction from bonus private points encourages club participation.
Disadvantages:
1. If CP drops, fixed collection makes life harder for classmates.
2. Risk of school punishment if discovered.
3. If I stop delivering results, backlash could grow strong.
──Point Tax──
That's the gist. Quite a bold reform.
And above all,
"You've become quite a gentle tyrant. Did something change your—"
Before I finish, his right fist flies.
It reaches my cheek, but my left hand stops it.
Looks like his fangs are still there.
"…Tch, blocking even a surprise punch. You really are a monster. So, any objections?"
I release his fist immediately. The class buzzes briefly at the scene but will settle soon.
He's doing something wildly reckless, but I don't particularly mind.
If anything, this keeps things from getting boring for me.
Though the surveillance cameras in the classroom definitely caught that exchange, so we'll probably lose a few points.
"None. You were planning to say there's no right to refuse anyway, correct?"
"Still holding a grudge… Die, you damn kelp."
Ryuuen returns to his seat.
On the surface, he hasn't changed. A delinquent who believes in violence above all. Most people see him that way.
But watching his back as he moves like a typhoon, it somehow seems broader than before.
...
"You're really dating Kamukura-kun, Ibuki-san!?"
On point distribution day, a girl in my group for class asked me this.
When I heard it, I couldn't help sighing.
How many times have I gotten this question? The sigh slipped out from sheer repetition.
The answer has become a pattern in my mind—I've been asked the same thing so often.
Especially in early June, I remember getting it at least once a day.
I'm not good at talking to people. I'm confident I have fewer friends than average.
Yet even classmates in C who never speak to me normally—and people from other classes—ask this.
And I always deny it.
Just one sentence—"Kamukura and I aren't dating"—and people usually vanish from my presence.
Occasionally an annoying one probes further to mark territory, but I brush them off.
Thinking back, some of them were probably aiming for Kamukura.
They didn't want to let even someone like me get a head start. That must be it.
Granted, Kamukura is a premium catch—he can do anything at an insane level—but anyone who falls for that appearance is probably off in the head.
Well, whatever. The real issue is why I keep getting asked.
I know the reason.
It's because I go home with Kamukura.
Don't misunderstand—there's absolutely no romantic feeling between us.
Sure, I consider him a friend.
In Class C he's not exactly normal… but he's more cultured than the rest, and one of the rare people I can relax around without effort.
When I answered questions like that, even friends I trust asked whether a guy and girl could really go home together almost every day with nothing romantic.
I thought, what a pain these people are—but fact is, we don't go home together just because we're friends.
The reason is simple: being with Kamukura keeps Ryuuen away.
I hate Ryuuen. I can't agree with his methods or his mindset.
I only follow him because I lost—I'm honestly sick of his dirty tricks.
That's how much I despise him.
Yet even Ryuuen acknowledges Kamukura and gives him considerable freedom.
So if I'm with Kamukura, orders from Ryuuen drop to a minimum, and even if one comes, I can drag Kamukura into it.
Once he's involved, he finishes it quickly with his usual abilities, and I basically do nothing.
…Ryuuen has probably noticed my thinking, but since it pulls Kamukura in, he doesn't complain.
Nothing offers me more advantages.
In one word, the reason I go home with Kamukura is like anti-Ryuuen spray.
That's the truth—and the source of the misunderstanding.
But there's another reason I can't develop romantic feelings for Kamukura.
My heart fears him.
And only a few people, including me, know the basis for that fear.
The word he says like a catchphrase—"boring."
When it slips out unconsciously, those blood-red eyes reflect something unknowable—something indescribably terrifying.
The atmosphere he showed when cornering Ryuuen.
That unreal presence, close enough to drive you mad, scattered terror to everything around it.
How am I supposed to fall in love after seeing that?
I'm a girl too. I've thought about romance.
I have standards—what personality I like, what kind of face.
But even if Kamukura fit my type perfectly, to me Kamukura Izuru is less "the amazing guy who can do anything" that other girls call him and more a person harboring something terrifying that words can't explain.
I can't feel romance toward someone like that.
…That said, when just hanging out normally, as I mentioned, he's easy to be around—so I don't dislike him.
Friends is plenty.
Anyway, today after school I'm heading home with Kamukura again.
No orders from Ryuuen today—a good, relaxed day.
Come to think of it, I'm just using him one-sidedly.
Right after enrolling, I used him to better understand points too.
I really am selfish and pragmatic.
But I don't see it as bad. Deep down, I'm not a good person either.
"Hey, Kamukura—don't you have any girls you're interested in?"
I got tired of thinking, so I ask the guy walking beside me—partly to kill time, partly out of curiosity.
"No."
"Hmm. Ever had a girlfriend?"
"Do I look like the type to have one?"
"Nope, not at all."
My reflex answer is probably correct.
"But there might've been someone—think back."
"A girl I'm interested in…"
Kamukura pauses in a very uncharacteristic way, just like when asked before. Maybe there really was someone.
Imagining this stone-faced, slightly off guy having sweet memories piques my interest.
In the end, I don't hate this kind of talk.
I thought people asking were annoying earlier, but now that I've felt the fun of hearing someone else's love story, I quietly repent—I can't badmouth them anymore.
"So there is? Or was?"
"…No. As I said, no such person exists for me."
"Suspicious pause."
I grin and press him. I'm probably smiling in a very unladylike way right now.
If I had to onomatopoeize it, something like a sly smirk.
"It's irrelevant. More importantly—did you give Ryuuen-kun your points?"
He changed the subject. But changing it means there's something there.
Good find. I'll use it as topic fodder with Shiina next time.
That aside, I answer his question.
"Yeah, I did. I hate the guy, but this point collection makes sense—I can agree with it."
"You separate personal feelings from public duty."
"What… I don't decide everything by likes and dislikes. No matter how much I dislike him, I agreed because it benefits the class going forward. Nothing strange about that."
"True."
Conversation stops here.
He changed the subject and then cut it off himself.
Curious what the culprit's face looks like now, I lean in to peek.
I figured forcibly ending it might show a different expression, but—nope, same blank face. Completely unreadable.
His features are well-proportioned, though. What a waste—that hair ruins it.
"You should cut your hair."
"After staring at someone's face, that's your conclusion?"
"Shut up. So what are you doing about that hair?"
"Nothing. It causes no issues like this. And if I want it cut, I can do it myself."
"…You have Ultimate Hairdresser talent or something?"
"Correct."
I said it almost as a guess, but apparently right.
Yet getting it right doesn't make me happy at all.
More like—why the hell do you even have hairdressing talent?
"There really isn't anything you can't do."
"Yes… Jealous?"
"Hah? Not jealous at all."
His rare question throws me briefly, but I answer right away.
Having tons of talents is impressive, sure, but I don't envy or resent it.
Because that would be lame.
Maybe as a kid, but in high school, whining about what you don't have is pathetic.
"Right. That's the kind of person you are."
—Kamukura's face softens, somehow gentler than his usual stone expression.
For a second I thought it was a hallucination, but this is reality.
Surprised, I blink—and when I look again, it's back to blank.
"Weirdo."
"You're similar."
"Haaa!? I'm definitely better than you!"
With that pointless exchange, we reach the dorm.
...
Back in the dorm, I take a shower first thing.
No particular reason.
Just felt like it—meaningless.
"…A girl I'm interested in."
Ibuki's question echoes in the empty room.
At that moment, I was remembering her.
Nanami Chiaki
The girl who cared for someone more than herself, fought despair with strong feelings.
The girl who couldn't overcome despair and died in a pool of blood.
And the boy who saw that scene, tears flowing, confused like a malfunctioning machine.
What emotion did that boy feel then?
When tears came, did the boy's—my—heart ache?
Of course, emotions do not exist.
The former me, Hinata Hajime, certainly held special feelings for her. The same during the killing game and deserted island life.
But I, Kamukura Izuru, am not Hinata Hajime.
Romance—simple yet complex, sometimes close to despair, forming messy relationships—holds no meaning for me. It is merely boring.
Therefore, Nanami Chiaki could never be a romantic interest for me.
I take something from the desk drawer.
Something I once always carried in my pocket, wherever I went.
I don't know why it's in my hand now.
Her hair clip. She always wore this uniquely shaped accessory.
She was important to Hinata Hajime even in death, but not to me.
So I have no need of it.
Yet I cannot throw it away.
"Romance… I have no need for such a thing."
At this school, I think of the two female students I spend more time with than others.
Shiina Hiyori is independent but gentle and kind.
Ibuki Mio is short-tempered and foul-mouthed but considerate.
Above all, neither is overly jealous of talent.
They aren't parasites. But that doesn't make them romantic interests either.
"Well, thinking about it could serve as future pastime. We have time—let's consider it slowly."
I dry my hair and prepare for tomorrow.
I'll sleep early tonight.
====================================
[Advanced Nurturing High School Student Database]
[Name: Kamukura Izuru]
[Class: Class 1-C]
[Club Activity: None]
[Birthday: January 1]
[Evaluation:
[Academic Ability: A]
[Intelligence: A]
[Decision Making: A]
[Physical Ability: A]
[Cooperativeness: E-]
[Comments from Interviewer:
"In the entrance examination, this student demonstrated overwhelming ability and was evaluated as one unlikely to ever be surpassed on an individual level.
Since his true capabilities could not be fully measured by a mere "exam," we had no choice but to assign the highest grade of A—an occurrence likely unprecedented in this school's history.
He was originally slated for Class A without question, but as a side effect of his extraordinary talent, he shows no need whatsoever for relationships with others, resulting in the lowest possible evaluation for cooperativeness.
After comprehensive consideration, we have decided to place him in Class C."
[Comments from Homeroom Teacher:
"I was initially concerned about his complete lack of need for others, but as of July 1, he appears to have made friends—including Ibuki-san, Shiina-san, and Ryuuen-kun—and is integrating well into the class, which puts my mind at ease.
His perfect scores on both the quiz and the midterm through legitimate means were truly impressive."
***
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