"Sakura-san should have some understanding now of the importance of personal points to this academy, right?"
Looking at Airi Sakura, who resembled a timid hamster with her head lowered, staring at who-knows-what, Subaru let out a gentle laugh. "Having too few personal points is a very dangerous thing in this academy."
"Treating personal points merely as a currency for consumption won't do."
"Un..."
"I heard everything Subaru-kun said to Yamauchi-kun this morning."
Listening to Subaru's explanation, Sakura responded in a small voice.
No matter how dull or naive one might be, after hearing Subaru's declaration this morning that he would attempt to use personal points to expel Yamauchi, anyone would be rudely awakened.
She realized that personal points were not simply currency for spending within the school.
Or rather, they weren't just consumption currency. Much like in the adult world outside, if one possessed enough yen, they could accomplish things that were normally impossible.
Such as trading money for power.
"So, in order to ensure Yamauchi-kun's stable expulsion..."
"I am currently attempting to acquire more personal points. And at this moment, I saw you, Sakura-san, being stalked."
Subaru began to state his reason for seeking out Sakura this time.
"Eh?"
Sakura lifted her head in confusion and looked at Subaru.
If Subaru hadn't mentioned it, Sakura would have thought the morning's incident had passed after the class representative, Hirata's, persuasion. She hadn't expected Subaru to still be intent on expelling Yamauchi.
This made Sakura, who was like a little white rabbit, subconsciously feel a bit afraid.
Although Sakura disliked socializing, the people around her had always been relatively kind. At worst, there were verbal arguments or fights, but nothing more extreme.
Let alone someone like Subaru, who spoke of expelling Yamauchi at the drop of a hat.
Even though Sakura also felt that Yamauchi didn't behave very well, and the way he usually looked at her was quite lewd, making her feel very uncomfortable.
A while ago, Sakura had even thought Yamauchi had seen through her disguise and discovered she was the internet idol 'Zero'.
"Sakura-san must be very distressed about being stalked, right?"
"Although the number of surveillance cameras in this academy is very high and coverage is comprehensive, Sakura-san is a girl, after all."
Subaru merely stated his objective to Sakura without elaborating further.
Sakura was a very simple little white rabbit; there was no need to say too much. Simply clarifying the stakes to her directly was enough.
"This academy's entire economic system is provided by personal points."
"Even for our homeroom teacher, salary settlements are in personal points. I believe that the person stalking you, Sakura-san, has quite a few personal points on him. I am very interested in his points."
"I need you to cooperate with me, Sakura-san. I will guarantee your safety."
"Afterwards, I will also share two hundred thousand personal points with you, Sakura-san. You like photography, don't you? That hobby isn't exactly cheap. Having ample personal points is for the best."
"Sakura-san, what do you think?"
After speaking, Subaru smiled, waiting for Sakura's reply.
"Un..."
"That Subaru-kun is willing to help me... I am very happy..."
Perhaps because Subaru's gaze contained no impurities, Sakura gradually broke away from her previous state. She looked up at Subaru and said somewhat seriously, "But two hundred thousand personal points is really too much..."
"Su... Subaru-kun is willing to help me, and I'm already very happy. I really didn't know what to do... Moreover, Subaru-kun also needs personal points very much..."
If Subaru hadn't come to find her today, Sakura would have only been able to continue living in anxiety. After all, Sakura didn't even know who was stalking her.
Subaru was willing to help her solve this matter.
Although his original objective sounded a bit unsavory—wanting to use this incident and use her to blackmail someone else—Sakura was genuinely very grateful to Subaru.
Not to mention, Subaru's gaze, pure to the extreme, made Sakura feel a sense of joy.
As a human being, Sakura also yearned for the feeling of having friends around her. However, she was indeed very unaccustomed to the gazes of most people, so she had never really had any friends.
Now, Subaru's appearance made Sakura feel a kind of possibility.
Therefore, Sakura didn't really want Subaru's two hundred thousand personal points. She felt that accepting them would make it a purely transactional act.
Not the kind of mutual assistance found between friends.
"When the time comes, I might need you to make a small sacrifice, Sakura-san."
"Two hundred thousand personal points can be considered the mental damage fee he pays you. The school will likely give a bit as well."
Subaru looked at Sakura, gave a faint smile, and said, "Sakura-san, just accept it with peace of mind."
"As for the personal points issue, the stalker has quite a lot on him. Even after deducting two hundred thousand, the remainder is enough for me to use for a short time."
The stalker had over 3.6 million personal points on him. Squeezing out 3.2 million wouldn't be a problem. Giving Sakura 200,000 would leave him with 3 million.
Year 1, Class B's homeroom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya, had one million personal points. Adding what he had left on himself, it would total nearly five million personal points. With a bit more scraping together, reaching twenty million to forcibly expel Yamauchi wouldn't be an issue at all.
It was just unnecessary.
Leveraging this midterm exam, five million personal points were completely sufficient to thoroughly remove Yamauchi.
Although there was the element of the exam questions remaining unchanged from previous years—and Arisu Sakayanagi would likely use this method to let Year 1, Class D know about the recycled questions so they could all pass—
How many points could Yamauchi actually score?
Subaru didn't believe Yamauchi would put much effort into memorizing the questions. He'd probably think a passing grade was good enough. Of course, the possibility that Yamauchi might study desperately wasn't nonexistent.
If that result ultimately occurred, Subaru could only credit Yamauchi's tenacity. He would then work a little harder, perform a few more rollbacks, scrape together twenty million personal points, and make Yamauchi get lost.
"Oh..."
"I understand. Do you need me to deliberately induce that person to make a move on me?"
Hearing Subaru's words, Sakura nodded in sudden realization.
Subaru never employed any brilliant stratagems. He relied on his ability to rollback, checking the results before making his move—simply taking the test with the answers in hand.
It was a very simple setup, a 'badger game'.
Although she was somewhat afraid that an accident might happen, since Subaru had said so, Sakura decided to try.
"En."
"After the blackmail is complete, you can also rest assured, Sakura-san."
Subaru continued to explain, "I will turn around and report him to the school. The school will definitely deal with this stalker then, and there is a high probability they will give you some compensation in personal points, Sakura-san."
"A staff member within the school making dangerous moves toward a female student—this is a massive scandal."
"No amount of points would be excessive."
"When the time comes, whatever personal points the school gives, just accept them with peace of mind, Sakura-san."
"After all, the future of Year 1, Class D might not see any income from personal points for a very long time."
At the end, Subaru's tone carried a hint of meaningful warning.
Expelling one person would result in a deduction of three hundred class points.
Originally, this midterm exam could have allowed Year 1, Class D to gain a few more class points and catch their breath.
But if Yamauchi drops out, any points gained after the exam results are released will surely be deducted again. When Year 1, Class D will have income again in the future is truly an unknown matter.
"I understand. I will cooperate with you, Subaru-kun!"
Hearing Subaru's reminder, Sakura nodded seriously.
After completely settling things with Sakura, Subaru nodded and didn't disturb her any further. Next up was Year 1, Class B's homeroom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya.
One million personal points. Neither too much nor too little—he wouldn't say no to free points.
He only needed to offer a few promises that he, Subaru, would never possibly fulfill anyway.
...
Year 1 Faculty Office.
Subaru could be considered quite familiar with the place.
He had come once with Ichinose at the start of school, and again with Sakayanagi a few days ago.
"Hmm?"
"Subaru-kun?"
He hadn't run into Sae Chabashira the previous few times, but this time Subaru did encounter her.
In the Year 1 faculty office, it was a rare occasion where all four homeroom teachers were present.
Chabashira looked at her student arriving at the office and asked, "Is there something you need, coming here at this time?"
"Good afternoon, Chabashira-sensei."
"However, I am not here to see you this time, Chabashira-sensei. I have something I want to discuss with Hoshinomiya-sensei."
After exchanging polite pleasantries with Chabashira, Subaru immediately shifted his gaze to Chie Hoshinomiya, who was sitting nearby.
Chabashira had too many issues, little money, and was troublesome; Subaru didn't really want to have anything to do with her.
During his previous rollbacks, Subaru had also come to understand what exactly Chabashira was thinking.
It was nothing more than her failure to reach Class A when she was a student, so she wanted to force her unfulfilled dream onto her current students.
To lead Year 1, Class D to become Class A—never mind one million personal points, even if it were more, ten million or even a hundred million personal points, Subaru wouldn't pay it any mind.
Not to mention, this academy was ultimately not a real society; it was just a simulated social system.
It would eventually be regulated.
If he really held too many personal points in his hand, he would definitely be targeted by the true management.
"Looking for Hoshinomiya?"
Chabashira's expression froze.
With a gaze of disbelief, she looked at Chie Hoshinomiya sitting opposite her.
It wasn't just Chabashira. The homeroom teachers of the other two classes, Tomonari Mashima of Year 1, Class A, and Kazuma Sakagami of Year 1, Class C, all raised their heads in unison to look at Hoshinomiya.
As colleagues who had worked together for many years, and could even be called friends, they knew very well what kind of person Chie Hoshinomiya was. They hadn't expected her to hook up with a Year 1 student so soon after school started.
"My, is Subaru-kun here to see me?"
"I didn't expect that."
Hoshinomiya was also stunned for a moment.
She couldn't imagine what Subaru wanted with her, the homeroom teacher of Year 1, Class B. At the same time, she knew what the gazes of her three colleagues meant.
However, Hoshinomiya still feigned surprise and said, "You want to whisper sweet nothings to Hoshinomiya-sensei? No problem~"
"Well then, everyone~"
"I'm going to go whisper with Subaru-kun now~"
Hoshinomiya grinned at Chabashira and the other two teachers. "No eavesdropping allowed!"
With that, Hoshinomiya followed Subaru out of the faculty office, leaving behind a grim-faced Chabashira, and Mashima and Sakagami, who wore expressions that said, 'Just as expected.'
They didn't say much.
As long as it didn't cause a scene in the open, it was a matter of mutual consent.
Outside, after following Subaru to a slightly secluded and somewhat quiet grove, Hoshinomiya spoke with a hint of impatience in her tone. "Subaru-kun, did you come to find Sensei specifically to tell me something?"
"Or... do you want Sensei to help play matchmaker?"
"Our Little Honami from Class B is indeed a very charming girl."
"If you make your move too late, someone else might snatch her up."
Hoshinomiya brought up Ichinose.
After Sakayanagi brought Subaru to the office last time—or perhaps even earlier, when Subaru came to the office with Ichinose—Hoshinomiya had harbored similar thoughts.
She wanted Ichinose to tie down Subaru, a person of obviously extraordinary talent.
Then, whether it involved spending a massive amount of points to have Subaru transfer to Year 1, Class B or something else, it would be fine—as long as he didn't work for Year 1, Class D.
"Ichinose-san is indeed very charming."
Hearing Hoshinomiya's words, Subaru smiled faintly and said, "However, Hoshinomiya-sensei has misunderstood. I didn't ask you here to play matchmaker this time. I came specifically for you, Hoshinomiya-sensei."
___
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