From Arisu Sakayanagi's perspective, setting aside Year 1, Class C for now, the performance of Year 1, Class B was truly a bit over the top.
Based on Year 1, Class B's performance, Year 1, Class A would likely face a challenge right from the start of the semester, and there was a high probability they would fall to the level of Year 1, Class B from the very beginning.
With everyone having the information, it would become a pure contest of attitude.
Everyone is a good student, so who could guarantee a surefire victory?
Arisu Sakayanagi felt that even she, under these circumstances, couldn't guarantee that Year 1, Class A would maintain its advantage from the start without resorting to some underhanded tricks.
"Well."
"But it doesn't matter."
Arisu Sakayanagi didn't dwell too much on the possibility that Year 1, Class B might usurp them from the very beginning.
"Perhaps it might be more interesting this way, who knows?"
"I wonder what expressions the guys from the Katsuragi faction will have if we fall from Class A to Class B in the very first month?"
Arisu Sakayanagi's slender fingers gently tapped the dragon head of her cane.
Regarding the possible future outcome, Arisu Sakayanagi could almost imagine the interesting expression that would appear on the always-serious face of Kōhei Katsuragi—that earnest man who lived by the creed of stability and responsibility—when he learned that Year 1, Class A had been usurped by Year 1, Class B right at the start.
"Just thinking about it for a moment feels very interesting."
Maintaining Class A's position might be Arisu Sakayanagi's goal, but in the process of doing so, 'fun' was what was truly important.
A Year 1, Class A that proceeded smoothly and by the book was simply too uninteresting.
Only by walking on the edge of a cliff, feeling the risk of falling, would the taste of victory be exceptionally sweet.
There was nothing more interesting than watching Year 1, Class A gradually fall into the abyss, and then personally pulling the fallen Year 1, Class A back up.
If she couldn't bring a fallen Class A back from the abyss, how could she prove herself?
And how else could she prove that the mere Kiyotaka Ayanokōji was nothing but a false, fake genius?
"Well then…"
"While I let Year 1, Class A fall into the abyss, I'll go and enjoy the substitute for a bit."
Arisu Sakayanagi chuckled and muttered to herself, then picked up her student terminal again and sent a message to Masumi Kamuro.
Arisu Sakayanagi: [There's only one last thing left. I need you, Kamuro, to observe Natsuki Subaru's spending.]
Arisu Sakayanagi: [Tally up Natsuki Subaru's daily spending for the next week.]
Masumi Kamuro: [?]
Masumi Kamuro: [Got it.]
"Oh, my."
"That girl Masumi-chan is really just too cute."
Looking at Masumi Kamuro's reply, Arisu Sakayanagi let out a light chuckle.
Barring any major surprises, Arisu Sakayanagi could already picture Masumi Kamuro's annoyed expression tomorrow.
Very kawaii.
...
For Natsuki Subaru, the next half-month was exceptionally calm.
It was as if nothing had happened with Kikyō Kushida at all. She was the same as before, and she never even deliberately avoided Natsuki Subaru.
Sometimes, she would even confide some small troubles to Natsuki Subaru, as if she were worried.
For example, she had still made no progress in befriending Suzune Horikita and had found no opportunity to show Suzune Horikita the value of becoming her friend.
Suzune Horikita and Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, on the other hand, had gotten together.
Perhaps their last conversation was very effective, or perhaps he really had learned a lot of basic common sense from Suzune Horikita, but in any case, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji gradually drew a line between himself and people like Haruki Yamauchi and Kanji Ike.
Before, they were almost always together, but now he was hanging out with Suzune Horikita.
Rumors had even started to spread that the two expressionless faces, Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Suzune Horikita, had started dating. As for the source of the rumors, those who know, know.
During this time, the central figure of the class, Kei Karuizawa, and the class representative, Yōsuke Hirata, officially announced their relationship, clearly becoming boyfriend and girlfriend.
This incident was like adding fuel to the fire, further stimulating the adolescent hormones of Haruki Yamauchi and the others.
Finally, there was Natsuki Subaru's relationship with Hiyori Shiina. Overall, it was progressing steadily. They would meet up to read together when they had free time, and they would chat online when they didn't.
Their relationship had certainly gotten a little better.
As for how much better?
One could only say, not by much.
Natsuki Subaru had plenty of patience for this.
As long as there was still hope, as long as the world in his eyes still had the potential to possess color, then Natsuki Subaru would have all the patience to wait.
Or rather, Natsuki Subaru was already very satisfied with his life as it was now.
Besides that, as the end of the month approached, Year 1, Class D as a whole became impoverished. Or rather, as early as mid-April, the overall points of Year 1, Class D had already hit rock bottom.
Aside from Kiyotaka Ayanokōji and Suzune Horikita, who barely spent any points, even the other more disciplined and better-quality students in Year 1, Class D couldn't help but spend a considerable amount.
As most people were forced to become frugal, Natsuki Subaru became somewhat conspicuous.
Because the lavishness of Natsuki Subaru's daily meals was simply breathtaking. If it weren't for the fact that everyone was thinking they'd get another one hundred thousand points next month, Natsuki Subaru felt someone might have already approached him.
'But, it's only a matter of time.'
'Next month's points probably won't be such a huge number as one hundred thousand.'
'At that time, my behavior will probably become very conspicuous.'
Without any need for speculation, Natsuki Subaru believed it was inevitable that everyone's personal points would be drastically cut next month. At that time, if Natsuki Subaru continued to maintain his level of spending, he would definitely attract the attention of almost everyone in Year 1, Class D, and a lot of trouble would come his way.
Natsuki Subaru didn't care about this at all.
Natsuki Subaru would absolutely not inconvenience himself for others, not even for someone who possessed color.
Perhaps there were once two such people; if they still existed, they would have been Natsuki Subaru's absolute anchor of humanity, capable of pulling him straight up from the abyss.
It was a great pity that, in this world, those two people did not exist.
And just like that, time reached May 1st, a brand new month.
___
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