---Notice---
I am writing this along with my other story, a Naruto fanfiction, to see if having 2 stories to write motivates me to write more, as I tend to get bored of just writing one story (I get sick of writing the same world or characters), so I'm hoping a bit of diversity in my writing changes that.
**If you enjoy this story, please let me know with comments, reviews, and, of course, power stones!!!**
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"The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know." ~Albert Einstein
April was a strange time for school to start, even more so a strange time for the entrance ceremony, especially compared to my home England.
Looking around, I could see all kinds of people, old, young, and, of course, workers, but 70% percent of those on the bus were all students wearing a uniform similar to my own. I guess spring is a refreshing time to start school, in a way.
While I was looking at those around me, I also received some curious and wary glances from some of the students. However, I didn't really care what they thought of me.
I looked around the bus, taking in the details of the people and the environment. I noticed that all students were young, around 15 or 16 years old. They looked nervous and excited as if they were about to enter a new world. But there were some peculiar subjects that were boring or disinterested. Well, I guess I would also fit into that group.
I reached into my pocket and took out a candy. I unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth, savoring the taste.
"Don't you think the right thing to do would be to give up your seat?" At that moment, my eyes darted to an attractive girl who was both curvy and slender with short brown hair who stood next to an old lady while addressing a muscular blonde.
"Why should I have to give up my seat? The problems of others are hardly my concern, so why should I hand over my seat?"
"But you're seated in the priority seating. It would make sense to leave those seats for those who need them."
"I think you're confused here. The concept of 'priority seating implies these seats are for those who can't find a seat elsewhere, offering a degree of comfort equal to that of others. What I am doing is merely seating myself in the best and only seats available, so if someone can't manage to secure a comfortable spot, that's their problem, not mine. I won't be inconvenienced just to cater to their will."
"That's just too cruel–!"
"Pardon my intrusion, but the lady can have my seat; I don't find these bus seats comfortable anyways," I say softly, removing myself from my crouched position on my seat and receiving strange looks as I do.
The girl was previously surprised, but a smile soon took over her face, "Oh, thank you so much! That's really kind of you," she says as she helps the elderly lady to my seat, who also thanks me.
"No need for thanks. The comfort of the seat was of little consequence to me. I hope you find it more suitable." I state calmly, now facing the girl.
"Even so, you could've ignored the situation, so thank you. I am Kushida. What should I call you?"
Kushida? She is a strange girl; most would avoid making a show like her, especially on the first day of class, "I appreciate the sentiment, Kushida," I say and proceed to chew on the hard candy in my mouth, "as for me you can call me Eru."
"Eru, huh? That's an interesting name. Nice to meet you! I hope we are able to become good friends while at school together. What class have you been assigned to?" Kushida asks, but instead of answering her question, I begin to fiddle in my pockets.
"Eru? Are you looking for something?" She asks curiously, looking at my hand.
"Yes, something very important," I respond seriously.
"What is it? Did you lose it?"
"Ahh found it," I say as I take out a hard candy and put it in my mouth, while Kushida just stares at me strangely. "What? Would you like one?"
Kushida smiles. "No, I was just thinking that Eru is quite unique."
"Unique? You think so?"
"I do, but in a good way, of course! Anyways-" Before Kushida can finish her sentence, the bus announces its arrival at Koudo Ikusei High School.
"It appears our conversation must come to an end; being late for our classes wouldn't be ideal, would it?"
Kushida moves her head slightly. "I guess you're right! Yes, we definitely don't want to be late. I'll see you around Eru!"
As Kushida exited the bus, I watched her. "There is certainly something peculiar about her," I whispered as I exited the bus.
As I disembarked, a smaller conversation unfolded outside the school - considerably less significant than the bus chatter. I might have disregarded it, but my attention was piqued by the exchange between two individuals I found most intriguing during our bus journey: a brown-haired, fish-eyed boy and a sharp-eyed, black-haired girl.
"What are you looking at?" The sharp-eyed eye girl asked soon after noticing my gaze.
"Me? I'm just looking around." I said as I stared in dead silence at the two and chewed on my candy.
"I observed you giving up your seat on the bus. I'm curious about your reasons behind that decision if you don't mind sharing," Fish eyes responded.
"I guess I don't mind sharing. I gave up my seat on the bus because I prefer to stand. I also find sitting uncomfortable, especially in public places."
"Then why sit in the first place?"
I bring my finger to my lips and begin to speak. "In the moments I chose to sit, there were incidental advantages, but as the need arose for the elderly lady to occupy a seat, those advantages dissipated. Thus, I had reasons to relinquish my seat." My initial purpose for sitting was rooted in the desire to quietly observe the bus's dynamics without unnecessary movement. However, as my destination approached, the need to continue sitting weakened. Opting to stand without apparent cause would seem strange, and the elderly lady's presence provided a convenient opportunity to stand while maintaining the semblance of a benevolent gesture.
The cold-eyed girl seemed confused by my response, but the boy did respond, "I see."
The girl also soon spoke up, "I have no interest in wasting any more of my time with you two." Leaving just me and the boy.
"I am Kiyotaka"
"Eru," I respond, walking up the steps to the school.
As we walked through the school, we seemingly headed in the same direction and soon found ourselves in a big classroom with nameplates on each desk, mine reading Eru Lawliet.
"Wow, what a surprise, Eru! We're not just in the same class; it looks like we'll be seatmates. Fate has a funny way of bringing people together, doesn't it?"
"Indeed, it appears that way," I said before looking around the classroom to see all the students making acquaintances and unpacking their class necessities.
I then decided to claim a seat, like many of my classmates. Pulling the chair out, I crouched into it, inviting a few curious glances. Shortly after, another recognizable face settled into the seat behind me: Rokusuke Koenj, his nameplate indicated, the blonde man from the bus. Our eyes briefly met, but I sensed no inclination for conversation on his part, prompting me to divert my gaze elsewhere.
Soon thereafter, the bell rang, and at that moment, a black hair woman wearing a suit walked into the classroom. It was safe to assume she would be our teacher.
She soon picked up a marker and began to speak, "I am Chiyabashira Sae, and I will be Class D's homeroom teacher for these next three years," she said as she wrote her name, she then proceeded to pick up the pamphlets seated on her desk and ask the students in the front of class to pass it down back to those behind them.
"On the paper I've just provided you all with, you will find many of the rules of the school you should abide by during your years here." as she once again fiddles with a basket on her desk, I take the pamphlet and look over it all the rules and information being self-explanatory albeit they seem to be purposefully ambiguous.
"Alright, everyone, next is your ID cards. They double as debit cards, and each of you have received your first allocation of 100k points. Use them wisely, anything you need, any shop. This school's got everything up for grabs, so make the most of it." She says confidently. "These cards can be swiped like regular debit cards and can be transferred to another student through the use of your phones, which should now be active; 1 point is equivalent to 1 yen."
As I received my card, I began to fiddle with it and take out my phone. Many seemed excited and surprised by Chabashira Sensei's words but I was more curious she did not specify how much we would receive each month. While the pamphlet explains when points are deposited nothing explains how the allowance was calculated or what factors influenced it. She did not tell us if the allowance was fixed or variable or if it could be increased or decreased. She did not tell us if the allowance was dependent on our performance or if it was independent of it. She did not tell us anything useful or clear. She only gave us vague and ambiguous information, which leads me to assume that the answers to these questions are opposite to that of what those the this class are assuming. The system seems designed to be mysterious. Even more suspicious are those cameras; there are too many, and they are even in classes. They can't all be for security, right? Not they have to be for general surveillance.
The deliberate vagueness in Chiyabashira Sensei's explanation raises intriguing possibilities. Is it a calculated decision to withhold details, a sign of her disinterest, or perhaps a deliberate test for the students, maybe on her behalf but more likely on behalf of the school, or else we would learn of the system the second we make contact with other classes? The lack of transparency could be a tactic to gauge our reactions or an intentional puzzle for us to decipher.
"Kushida, may I borrow a sheet of paper and a pen?" I ask, facing Kushida to my right; she gives me a slight nod and passes me both things, attracting Chiyabashira Sensei's gaze as I begin to write.
"Self-explanatory, right? Now, does anyone have any questions?" She asked, facing the classes, and as she was about to turn around, I raised my hand. "Yes?"
"I am curious; do the dynamics between teachers and the school mirror those among the students and the school?" I ask as I finish signing my name on my paper.
"That's an interesting question. Do you have a hypothesis about the dynamics between teachers and the school? Or are you just asking out of curiosity?" She said, looking at me with a faint smile. "Well, I suppose I can give you a hint. The teachers and the school do indeed have a similar relationship as the students and the school. However, there are also some differences between the teachers and the students. The teachers have more authority and responsibility than the students. We also have more knowledge and experience than the students. And we have our own goals and motivations that may or may not align with the schools. Does that answer your question?" She said, looking at me with a sly expression. "Or do you have more questions?"
I proceeded to tear the paper Kushida provided in half horizontally, garnering some attention. "Not precisely, but I would value your insight on this matter," I state calmly, gesturing with the now divided papers to attract Chiyabashira Sensei's attention. As she approaches my seat, I fix my gaze on her face while she reads the prepared documents.
Contract between Chiyabashira Sae and Eru Lawliet
The following are the terms and conditions of the contract:
- The contractor, Chiyabashira Sae, agrees to pay the contractee, Eru Lawliet, 300,000 Private Points at a later specified moment in exchange for providing Class D the information about the point system of the school.
- The contractee, Eru Lawliet, agrees to explain the Private and Class point system of the school to the contractor, to Class D, in a clear and accurate manner.
- The contractee, Eru Lawliet, agrees to keep the contract and the information confidential and not to disclose them to anyone else without the contractor's consent.
- The contractor, Chiyabashira Sae, agrees to keep the contract and the information confidential and not to disclose them to anyone else without the contractee's consent.
- The contractor, Chiyabashira Sae, will transfer the 300,000 Private Points to the contractee, Eru Lawliet, within 24 hours of the future specified time.
- If the contractee, Eru Lawliet, fails to explain the point system adequately, he will receive no points from the contractor and will forfeit any rights or claims to the contract.
- If the contractor, Chiyabashira Sae, fails to transfer the points or breaches the confidentiality clause, she will pay an additional penalty of 100,000 Private Points to the contractee.
Signed by:
~ [Empty]
~ Eru Lawliet
Chiyabashira's eyes widened slightly as she read the contract. She looked up at Eru, who was staring at her calmly. "What is this?" She asked, holding the paper. "A contract?"
"Yes, a contract. Do you accept it?" I asked without blinking.
Chiyabashira's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she read the terms and conditions. She frowned and tilted her head. "Do you really understand everything as you say you do?" She asked, suspicious and cautious.
"That's not relevant. You have nothing to lose if I do not. The only thing that matters is whether you agree or not." I say with a straight face.
Chiyabashira's lips curled slightly into a faint smile as she read the contract. She nodded and chuckled. "You are very bold. I like that. You have piqued my interest." She said, intrigued and amused. She took out a pen and signed both contracts, taking one and leaving me with the other. "I accept your offer." She said, handing the paper back to Eru. It appears she truly believes this may benefit Class D. I remain skeptical about the interest students would have for this information as most seem… Lackluster…Hence, I made the decision to contract with Chiyabashira directly instead of involving Class D. However, things may change, with Chiyabashira now essentially granting me permission to share this information, which gives the information credibility.
Following that, I stood up and walked to the front of the class, holding my phone and my card. I look at my classmates, who are staring at me with curiosity and confusion because of the interaction that just occurred.
I clear my throat and begin to speak. "Hello, everyone. My name is Eru Lawliet; like all of you, I am new here, and I want to explain to you the point system of the school,"
Before I can even speak, I am cut off. "But didn't Chiyabashira Sensei just explain the point system to us? We get 100k points every month, right? I think everyone understands that" and one by one, everyone in the class agrees with this response. Chiyabashira frowned at this but remained silent as I shook my head.
"You see, if my assumptions are correct, there are two types of points in this school: private points and class points. Private points are the ones that you can use as money and class points; those are what truly determine your allowance and probably more. I believe we start off with a number of class points that result in receiving a private point amount equivalent to 100k points, but a change in this class point amount would result in a change in private points. You see, the class points are not fixed; they fluctuate based on your behavior and performance, and because of this, private points aren't fixed." I say while pointing to my card, "If you look around the school, you will see that they monitor you through surveillance cameras, which can be used not just for security reasons but to spot any misconduct or violation of the rules. The school does not tell you how many class points you have or how they are calculated. The school does not tell you how the tests and exams affect your class points or what the rules and penalties are. The school does not tell you anything useful or clear. The school only gives you vague and ambiguous information, which leads you to make wrong assumptions and decisions. I assume by the end of this month; the school wants to see how students act with the belief they can just get 100k points a month and the skills of the classes to see how long it will take them to figure out the class point system, I would even go as far to assume classes are ranked based on the amount of class points in their possession."
"Is this true, Chiyabashira Sensei?" Kushida ask.
"I cannot answer that question."
The class was silent for a moment as they tried to process what I had just said. Some of them looked at their cards, probably wondering if they could see their class points somehow. Others looked at Chiyabashira, hoping for some confirmation or denial of my claims. But the teacher remained expressionless as if she had nothing to add.
Then, the silence was broken by a loud voice.
"What the hell are you talking about, Eru? Are you trying to scare us or something? There's no way the school would do something so shady and unfair. You're just making things up!" His name was Ken Sudo. Some of the class even seemed to agree with him, nodding their heads at his words.
"I'm not making anything up, Sudo. I'm telling you what I deduced from the information I gathered. You can choose to believe me or not, but I suggest you all pay more attention to your actions and the consequences they might have. If I am correct, it should become more notable the more time we spend in school." Most of the class was silent at my words, and since no one had anything else to say, I returned to my seat.
"Well then, I will leave all of you to it." Chiyabashira Sensei says as she leaves the room. Second, after she does, the class begins to break out into groups and chatter about the point system. Even Kushida starts to talk about the point system with three other girls, Kokoro Inogashira, Nene Mori, and Haruka Hasabe, I believe. It seems like she was a very social character.
"Eru, is what you said really true?" Kushida asks me with a tone full of anticipation, facing me with the 3 other girls also staring at me, although they also seemed to be critiquing the manner in which I sat.
"Of course, I have no reason to lie," I respond simply.
"I see, " she says, contemplating my response. After a brief moment, she offered a friendly smile and nodded. "Thank you for sharing that information with the class, Eru. This way, we can all work together as a class to strive for Class A!"
"It's only natural," I say, taking a candy out of my pocket. "I mean, we are friends after all, right?"
Kushida responded with enthusiasm, "Yes, of course!" She then pointed at my phone on the desk, asking, "May I?" Upon receiving my nod, she smiled and exclaimed, "There we go! You were my first contact. I added my number to your phone, too. I'm hoping to make friends with everyone, so I have to start somewhere."
"Can everyone listen to me for a bit?" asked a short brown hair boy; his name was Yosuke Hirata. It seemed like he was trying to take control of the class. "It looks like we will be together for the next three years, and if what Eru says is correct, then we will work together. So before the entrance ceremony, I think we should take some time to get to know each other and become friends; what does everyone else think?" Soon, most came to agree with Hirata and introduced themselves.
"It's your turn now, Eru." Hirata said to me, and most of the class looked at me with curiosity.
"There isn't much to be said about me," I said, looking upwards. "Well, my name is Eru Lawliet. I am a big fan of sweets, and I hope we can coexist peacefully during our time here."
"It's a pleasure, Eru," Hirata says with a smile, "Thank you for helping the class with the information you provided earlier; I hope we become good friends." soon, the introductions came to an end.