The classroom of Class B was filled with murmurs as students exchanged names and got to know one another. New faces, new friendships, and some nervous excitement buzzed in the air. Arakawa, however, remained seated at his desk, staring out the window, uninterested in the chatter around him.
The bell rang sharply, silencing the room. The door slid open, and a woman with an air of confidence strode in. She had dark hair tied back, a form-fitting shirt and blazer, a short skirt paired with leggings, and glasses that added a sharp edge to her look. Her revealing chest area made her instantly likable among the boys, some of whom couldn’t stop staring.
“Everyone, sit down,” she commanded, her voice clear and authoritative. The students quickly took their seats. She walked to the front of the classroom and faced them with a professional yet slightly playful smile.
“I am Yui Sizumu, your homeroom teacher for your time here at Erito High. I look forward to working with you all,” she began, her gaze sweeping over the room. “Now, let’s start by introducing ourselves. Stand up and share a little about yourself, starting with the back row.”
The last student rose from his seat—Arakawa. He introduced himself in a monotone voice devoid of excitement, his cold demeanor sending a chill through the room. The girl next to him, Nijuri Tokato, followed suit, her introduction equally disinterested and aloof.
As the introductions went on, the atmosphere shifted. Hiroshi Tanaka shared his passion for sports with a grin, earning some nods of approval. Hina Koboyashi spoke softly, her words barely audible. Then came Umaki Sayori’s turn. She stood confidently and introduced herself in a voice she thought would make her seem important, but instead, it rubbed some classmates the wrong way.
Sakura Suzuki, on the other hand, stood up with a cheerful energy that filled the room. Her bubbly personality instantly won over many, which Sayori noticed with a twinge of jealousy. Takeshi Yamamoto introduced himself last, his natural charisma and confident tone drawing admiration from both the boys and girls. By the time the introductions were over, it was clear that Sakura and Takeshi had already become the most popular students in the class.
After the students finished introducing themselves, Yui Sizumu, their homeroom teacher, adjusted her glasses and called for the class's attention. The students, intrigued by her confident demeanor, quickly fell silent.
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"Now that introductions are over, I need you all to listen carefully," she began, her voice firm. "Erito High operates under three primary rules. Breaking any of these rules will result in your immediate expulsion. Additionally, your class will lose 50 points for every expelled student."
Murmurs swept through the room as the students exchanged curious glances.
"Each class starts with 100 base points. By the end of the year, whichever class holds the highest number of points will receive a significant reward in Dark Stones—an amount that could potentially change your lives," she continued. "However, if your class comes in last, you will be penalized heavily. That class will owe the school a large sum of DS. The second and third classes will face no penalties but will not earn any rewards either."
Yui paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.
"Your actions here directly impact your class's future. Keep that in mind before you decide to break the rules," she concluded with a sharp tone. "To reiterate, the rules are:
1. never engage in physical violence with other classes.
2. taking outside help for schoolwork is strictly prohibited.
and finally,
3. everything is legal as long as it happens within the school grounds.
The gravity of the rules left the students thoughtful. Arakawa, however, remained expressionless, his cold gaze fixed forward. Nijuri Tokato, sitting nearby, subtly observed his demeanor, her curiosity growing.
Yui’s voice broke the silence once more.
“As you know, Erito High is located on this remote island, isolated from the mainland. The school operates on its own currency system called Dark Stones, or DS for short. One DS is equivalent to $100. You’ll use DS for everything—buying clothes, food, paying dorm fees, and more.”
The students murmured among themselves, intrigued.
“To earn DS, you must excel in academics, sports, or other school activities. At the beginning of each month, every student receives 57 DS from the administration for their basic expenses. To give you an idea: dorm rent is 20 DS per month, and two daily meals for 30 days cost 30 DS. You’re free to exchange DS for real money or vice versa, as the system is fully integrated. Keep in mind, however, that with enough DS, you can buy almost anything within the school.”
The bell rang, marking the end of their first session. Yui smiled lightly, signaling dismissal. "That's all for today. Explore the campus and familiarize yourselves with the facilities. Your journey begins now."
As the students dispersed, groups began to form. Sakura Suzuki quickly became the center of attention among the girls, while Takeshi Yamamoto was surrounded by boys and girls alike, his confidence drawing people in. Umaki Sayori, watching from a corner, clenched her fists in irritation as she saw Sakura basking in the limelight.
Arakawa silently left the classroom unnoticed by most, though Nijuri’s sharp eyes followed him. Ren Saito, sitting quietly in the corner with a book, remained untouched by the unfolding social dynamics, his isolation almost tangible.
Outside, Arakawa opened his school-issued phone, logging into his account to read through the school rules again. His cold eyes caught one particular line:
"You can buy anything with enough DS."