Outside the convenience store in Keyaki Mall.
Hikigaya found an empty bench and was conducting market research.
Of course, it wasn't anything that grand; he was just sitting there in a daze.
There are roughly 480 students in the whole school.
Maybe there were dropouts in the upper grades, but he wasn't very clear on that; it shouldn't be too far off.
Then considering the number of school staff.
Well.
He wasn't very clear on this either.
In short.
Considering logistics costs, operating costs, electricity, water, and various miscellaneous things he didn't understand, Advanced Nurturing is definitely operating at a loss.
Every purchase.
They should strictly control the intake volume.
To keep monthly consumption within a controllable range.
Although he didn't understand much.
To run such a large school, they should do it this way.
Otherwise.
Wasting taxpayers' money, being a tax thief.
He would really go to the Ministry of Education to report them.
Speaking of which.
Perhaps because of the Sports Festival.
Even though school was over, Hikigaya still felt there were fewer people on the street than usual; they should all be staying at school to train.
The people in this school are truly hardworking.
"Let's give it a try."
Hikigaya walked into the convenience store and went to the counter.
"Excuse me, has the latest volume of 'Sword' arrived?"
"You must be talking about Volume 18; it's already here, on that bookshelf over there."
"Thanks."
Hikigaya turned and walked to the bookshelf, taking out that light novel.
Just like MAX coffee, for things that don't have high shelf-life requirements, the school generally purchases once a month.
Only bulk purchasing can lower costs.
Therefore, the latest light novel volumes at the school are usually about half a month to a month later than outside; generally, there's no problem.
"How much?"
Hikigaya picked up the new volume and returned to the counter.
"Five hundred personal points."
"Um... well... I wanted to ask, is this book only sold in this convenience store?"
"That's right, is there a problem?"
"No."
After all, it's a closed school; it can't be exactly like the outside world. Considering cost issues, large supermarkets also double as bookstores.
Anyway.
Even on the outside.
Convenience stores sell light novels and manga, so there's no problem.
"Um, excuse me, how many copies of this light novel are left?"
"Eh? Sorry, what do you mean by that?"
"Just how much stock did you bring in for this book."
"Sorry, customer, what do you mean by asking this?"
"It should be okay just to ask."
Hikigaya said somewhat helplessly; this is why I hate working, why do you care so much.
"Well, we brought in 350 copies this time, is there a problem?"
As expected.
Hikigaya suddenly became excited.
There aren't many girls who read light novels, and adult salarymen rarely waste time on light novels.
The target customers for light novels at school are basically for boys.
Therefore.
Monthly stock wouldn't be very much.
The remainder.
Will be.
Put into the library collection three months later for free reading.
However, when encountering an interesting novel, one can't wait to turn to the next page, even getting so excited they can't sleep.
Very few students would, for the sake of five hundred personal points.
Wait three months to borrow it from the library.
In fact.
Hikigaya seriously suspected.
Most students probably don't even know this; they might have never entered the library, or just treat it purely as a place for study groups.
350 copies.
This is clearly a quantity the school chose to order based on a large amount of data.
Even if there's leftover, it won't be much.
In simple terms.
He could completely use personal points to monopolize a popular small-scale commodity.
Of course.
The price certainly couldn't be set too high.
Otherwise, no one would be a sucker, but this method should be feasible.
"I'll take all 350 copies."
"Eh?"
The clerk was slightly stunned and asked in confusion: "Sorry, customer, could you please say that again?"
"I want all of this volume of 'Sword'."
Hikigaya smiled and said: "But with so many books, I'll have to take several days to move them back; that should be no problem, right?"
"Well... it's not a problem..."
The clerk was somewhat confused: "But what use do you have for buying so many, and..."
"Don't worry."
Hikigaya took out his phone and said proudly: "The total is 175,000 personal points, right? I can pay fifty thousand as a deposit first, how about that?"
"It's 175,000..."
"Oh, how about it?"
"Sure."
The clerk nodded reluctantly.
In any case, he couldn't control the students; he just had to do his own job.
Hikigaya readily paid the fifty thousand deposit.
Since everyone was a bird trapped in the cage of Advanced Nurturing, there was no need to worry about the other party not keeping their word; likewise, the other party didn't need to worry about him breaking the contract.
Front.
"Then these books, I'll just move them behind the counter for now and come pick them up tomorrow?"
"Sure."
Hikigaya huffed and puffed as he moved the books behind the counter.
He had also done market research; with the popularity of 'Sword', there should be no worry about selling them.
Even if it's a loss, it shouldn't be much of a loss.
Next.
Hikigaya bought a set of clothes similar to the clerk's uniform and also bought a badge; as long as he stuck the front of the badge to his chest.
He probably wouldn't be discovered... maybe.
Starting tomorrow,
Monopolize Advanced Nurturing!
Hikigaya set a even greater goal for himself!
The next day.
First-year Class B.
After math class, the bell rang.
To prepare for the next PE class, everyone also headed to the locker room one after another.
"Knock, knock."
Just then, Shibata suddenly knocked on Hikigaya's desk and whispered: "Hikigaya, trouble you to come out with me for a bit."
""
Hikigaya gave him a dead-fish eye.
Wasn't this the line hoodlums used to invite people to the restroom? Sure enough, the normie Shibata finally showed his true colors.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing, just borrow a bit of your time to come out with me."
Shibata looked toward the girls and lowered his voice.
"Fine."
The two came to a corner in the hallway.
Seeing no one around, Shibata pinched his chin, his gaze deep as he started walking in circles around him.
"What exactly do you want to do."
Hikigaya said, somewhat speechless.
Is this guy's brain not quite normal today?
"I checked online yesterday on how to attract someone you like."
"What?"
Hikigaya was greatly alarmed.
Scared, he quickly backed up to the wall, trembling slightly: "You, you, you... what do you mean?"
So Shibata was actually that kind of person; it was truly terrifying. Thinking of how this guy had approached him before, Hikigaya suddenly felt a chill.
"No, no, no, you misunderstood, my orientation is normal."
Seeing this, Shibata stopped circling and quickly explained:
"It said online that there are generally three routines to attract someone you like: becoming a cute and tsundere cat, becoming a tiger with a temper that isn't easily conquered, or becoming a dog drenched in the rain."
"And?"
Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief.
This guy couldn't be calling him a dog, could he? How hateful.
Routine?"
"I was just thinking."
Shibata said with some confusion: "Hikigaya, you couldn't be some kind of love master, using some advanced routine I don't understand, could you?"
"What do you mean?"
Hikigaya was even more speechless.
If I understood these routines, I wouldn't have been rejected by a girl in middle school and turned into a laughingstock.
"Besides, the things you just said sound like they're for women to attract men; what do they have to do with me?"
"Is that so?"
Shibata scratched his head in confusion.
Hikigaya could bet that the other party was likely a virgin just like him.
Who would have thought.
That the excellent Shibata actually hadn't had a girlfriend yet; it seems this normie isn't so annoying after all.
"Speaking of which, Hikigaya, you don't know yet."
"Know what? Please speak clearly if there's something."
"The event registration form."
Shibata asked in confusion: "How was your event registration decided?"
"Don't know, it's fine to participate in whatever."
Hikigaya didn't care; anyway, it was just going through the motions.
"I see..."
Shibata scratched his head awkwardly: "Fine, next period is PE; let's hurry and go change."
Hikigaya had no idea what this guy was doing.
Simply crazy.
Sports field.
Hikigaya followed the team, marching in step.
Performing training for the class entrance and exit of the Sports Festival.
He couldn't help but remember the middle school sports meet; there were always girls who liked to shift the blame, saying they couldn't get high scores because Hikigaya didn't practice well.
Simply hateful.
His mood suddenly turned bad.
He was clearly being super serious; it was great that no one in Class B was accusing him.
As the PE teacher announced free activities.
Some boys borrowed a handgrip dynamometer.
Just like.
Although Ichinose seemed to follow the principle of free participation based entirely on interest, this felt more like a commotion to compete over who was stronger.
Hikigaya could only helplessly line up at the very end.
When it was his turn, Hikigaya used all his strength.
[48.6]
Unfortunately,
The number on the dynamometer was not ideal.
This was his strength.
Only slightly higher than the average.
It was too difficult to get a ranking; better just give up!
As everyone began their respective training, Shibata was practicing running, and Ichinose was practicing ball tossing with a group of girls.
Hikigaya couldn't sit still anymore and walked up behind Ichinose, saying:
"Ichinose, can I trouble you for a moment?"
"Eh? Sure, let's talk over there."
"No need, I just wanted to ask which events I'm participating in."
Although asking Ichinose about his own affairs felt a bit strange, Hikigaya left it entirely to her.
With his athletic scores.
It wouldn't be strange even if all of them were skipped.
Such a simple question didn't warrant needing Ichinose to step away for a private conversation.
"I know."
Ichinose looked back with a brilliant smile: "But, I want to talk to Hikigaya-kun; is that not okay?"
"It's okay..."
Hikigaya followed behind Ichinose. The two walked away from the class group to the grass of the soccer field.
He really didn't know what Ichinose wanted to do.