Houtarou Oreki Classroom of the Elite

From the first day of enrollment, we knew this school was all about ability and Points. So is there anything wrong with accumulating more Points?

Not at all.

Since enrollment, everyone in Houtarou's Class A contributed 50,000 Points each to understand the school's rules.

Then, due to his store plan, Class B suffered losses while he claimed most of Class C's Points. Looking at it now, three first-year classes have been squeezed dry, leaving only Class D.

Class D's Class Points are at rock bottom, and the students have no spending money — they're even borrowing from each other.

So in this situation, can they still be squeezed?

They can. According to Kōhei and Masumi's information, this exam's class evaluation could be worth 500-600 Points — a score high enough to make even the usually composed bald guy lose his cool.

The current Class Points are as follows:

「Class A: 1330 Points」

「Class B: 670 Points」

「Class C: 490 Points」

「Class D: 80 Points」

There's a comfortable 660-Point gap between Class A and Class B.

But now a special exam worth 500-600 Points looms ahead. If we slip up, the consequences are unpredictable.

Kōhei is worried. The Student Council President can set any Point value for special exams, from tiny to massive.

So why choose such a large value this time? What is Manabu thinking?

He has a headache, but Houtarou doesn't.

500-600 Points could certainly affect Class A's position. Though this month's exam rules haven't been revealed yet, he thinks this isn't a problem.

Even before the exam, he has three plans to maintain Class A's position while keeping Classes B and C at bay.

First, Class A could demonstrate absolute excellence, monopolizing most or all of the 600 Points to maintain their overwhelming lead.

Second, they could distribute the 600 Points, letting each class take a small share so the gaps remain unchanged. Class A would maintain its lead.

The third plan is more radical: give these dangerous 600 Points to Class D — a class that's currently irrelevant in the rankings.

Once Class D rises, Classes B and C will have to deal with them first instead of targeting Class A. They'll need to prevent falling in rank themselves, creating pressure to climb back up.

This would trigger a three-way battle between B, C, and D, while Class A watches from the sidelines.

Houtarou checked the System again. After making his choice, the Task had updated.

〖 Side Task: Give Me My Money, Dumb ATM! 〗

〖 Task Requirement: In the Island Exam, gain control of Class D and turn them into an ATM! 〗

〖 Task Duration: 8/8 Days 〗

〖 Task Reward: Enhancement of Restoration Ability (Extending disease healing duration) 〗

〖 Task Punishment: When using Clairvoyance, eyes will become cross-eyed (Charm decreased by 20) 〗

Houtarou stared at the System's Task prompt.

Among the three methods mentioned above to handle this exam, he chose the third one.

It's somewhat selfish.

While the third plan can maintain Class A's position — which fulfills his responsibility to the class — it has personal benefits too.

His female friends are all in Class D, and helping them gain Points would give them a welcome boost. Plus, Class D could prove useful as an ATM while still showing some initiative.

He sees no reason to waste this opportunity.

It benefits him as well. With a new ATM, he'll be able to return Points to that wealthy senior girl when she inevitably discovers he's dating other girls.

However, one crucial question remains: does the school actively prevent Class D students from advancing?

Class D contains many troublemakers. If they rise in rank, these students might become complacent, thinking they can coast on others' efforts.

Their advancement could become problematic for Class A, potentially requiring effort to push them back down.

That would be inefficient.

He needs to understand why Sae's Class D ultimately failed. If their failure stemmed from school policy — refusing to let Class D students represent the school's image — rather than Sae herself, then his plan should work.

Once confirmed, even the troublemakers would have no choice. If the school's rules inherently exclude Class D from class competition, any support they receive will be naturally limited.

Should Class D rise too high, the school will intervene — saving Class A the trouble.

If no action is required, then potential complications become irrelevant.

Houtarou believes this scenario likely, given the school's commitment to fairness.

After all, they created rules allowing students to transfer to their desired class for 20 million Points.

This ensures that capable students placed in lower classes still have options — they can advance on individual merit.

So after arranging for the recovered Suzune to investigate Sae, all he needs to do is await her response.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Houtarou sensed someone approaching.

Since his body's transformation had given him superhuman abilities, his perception and insight had sharpened considerably.

He turned to face the figure who had spotted and followed him from the deck.

"Sakura, are you coming to enjoy the deck too?" Houtarou asked.

The person following him was Airi Sakura.

He knew it had to be her or Masumi — they were the only ones who would follow him like this.

"Ah... I'm sorry." A pink-haired girl in plain clothes emerged from around the corner.

It was indeed Airi.

She looked just as she did at school — long hair in large twin tails, pink-framed glasses, and a camera clutched in both hands, giving off an air of vulnerability.

"You messaged about wanting to photograph the sunset. Were you on the deck earlier but got scared away when you saw Class C arguing?" He asked.

"Mm-hmm." Airi nodded quickly, "That's right... It was frightening—"

Such confrontations must have been completely foreign to her.

Yet after witnessing that scene, she'd spotted him and decided to follow.

Airi, you truly have a gift for stalking.

Houtarou suppressed a sigh and said, "You should avoid dealing with Class C students. And about those photos—"

"I want to take them now." Her cheeks flushed pink.

Though she appeared timid, her eyes held an almost fanatical gleam.

"I think Oreki-kun would be perfect to photograph. Your skin looks even fairer now — and there's something different about your presence, more intense." She studied him carefully, "If I had to say when this change happened, I'd say it was after we boarded the ship."

Without waiting for a response, Airi raised her camera and snapped a photo.

"..." Houtarou.

I didn't mean take photos right this moment.

And Airi, when did you become so perceptive?

She had noticed his changes right away, unlike the dense Suzune who remained oblivious.

Perhaps Suzune's obliviousness ran so deep that even ten years later in the Precognitive Dream, her mature self failed to recognize Arisu as a romantic rival vying for her husband.

While waiting to hear back from Suzune — a task that could take some time — he decided to focus on building a rapport with Airi.

Having committed to the Class D mission, he needed to accomplish two goals: gain control over Class D and transform them into an ATM during the island exam.

Though he had Suzune's support, her influence in Class D was limited — as evidenced by her previous attempt to negotiate Class Points, where she could only secure 20 instead of the proposed 50.

He needed to make additional arrangements. Being an outsider to Class D himself, he needed more allies he could count on to achieve his objectives.

So he accompanied Airi back to the deck.

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