After the homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, left the classroom, excitement buzzed among the students. The announcement that each of them would receive 100,000 personal points, equivalent to 100,000 yen, was more than any high school student could have expected. Almost immediately, groups began chattering excitedly, planning how they would spend their newfound wealth.
For most of the class, this was like a dream. But a few students were less caught up in the euphoria.
At his desk, Sasuke Uchiha sat silently, eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to the chatter around him. He hadn't flinched when the teacher mentioned the points, nor did he appear interested in the concept of personal spending. To Sasuke, there was something deeper going on, something more than just money. He knew better than to trust anything that appeared too good to be true.
Across the room, Horikita Suzune remained impassive, much like Sasuke. Her sharp gaze scanned the classroom, assessing her new environment. Although she didn't fully understand the school's system yet, she sensed that there was more to it than the simple allocation of points. Like Sasuke, she was cautious, unwilling to let excitement cloud her judgment.
Horikita stood and made her way toward the door. Sasuke, observing her movements carefully, opened his eyes slightly. She carried herself with determination, clearly not one to be distracted by idle talk. As she stepped into the hallway, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka rose quietly from his seat and followed her.
Sasuke, intrigued, stood up moments later and followed at a distance, curious about where this interaction might lead.
Hallway Conversation
Horikita stopped just outside the classroom, crossing her arms as she sensed Ayanokoji's approach.
"Why are you following me?" she asked, her voice sharp.
Ayanokoji gave a light shrug. "You seemed like you were in a hurry to leave. I was just curious."
Horikita's eyes narrowed slightly. "There's nothing wrong with avoiding pointless conversation. Everyone's celebrating getting personal points, but they haven't even thought about what this place really is."
Ayanokoji nodded. "You're right. It's strange how easily everyone accepted it."
Sasuke stood quietly around the corner, listening. He had thought the same thing—the system was too generous, too simple. There had to be a catch, though it wasn't clear what it was yet.
"I don't care about money," Horikita said, her voice steady. "I'm more interested in how this school works. I want to understand the real rules."
Ayanokoji tilted his head. "And you think there's something hidden behind all of this?"
Horikita crossed her arms again, her expression unwavering. "It's obvious, isn't it? No school gives away this kind of money without expecting something in return. We just don't know what it is yet."
Sasuke, still hidden from view, felt a flicker of agreement. He hadn't trusted the school from the moment they arrived. There was always more beneath the surface, and he would figure it out in time.
Back in the Classroom
Returning to his seat, Sasuke maintained his usual detached demeanor, his sharp eyes watching the classroom's social dynamics unfold. The students continued to chatter excitedly about their personal points, oblivious to the potential traps that awaited them.
Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki approached Sasuke's desk, their faces filled with excitement.
"Yo, Sasuke!" Ike called out, grinning. "Did you hear about the points? We're basically rich!"
Sasuke didn't even look up. "Not interested," he replied coldly.
Ike blinked in surprise, then laughed awkwardly. "Come on, man, don't be like that! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! We should all have fun with it."
Sasuke's silence was enough of a response. He had no interest in small talk, and the concept of spending money on trivial things didn't appeal to him. The other students could do as they pleased, but Sasuke's mind was already focused on the bigger picture.
Seeing that Sasuke wasn't going to engage, Ike awkwardly backed away, rejoining his friends with a nervous chuckle.
Meanwhile, Yosuke Hirata, the friendly and composed student, approached Sasuke with a smile. "Hey, Sasuke, right?" Hirata's tone was warm but not intrusive. "I noticed you've been keeping to yourself. If you ever need anything or have questions, feel free to ask. We're all in the same class, so we should help each other out."
Sasuke glanced at Hirata, briefly assessing him. He sensed no ill intent from Hirata, but he had no interest in relying on anyone. "I'll keep that in mind," Sasuke said flatly.
Hirata smiled and nodded. "Great! Don't hesitate if you need anything." With that, he walked away, leaving Sasuke to his thoughts once more.
Just as Hirata left, a cheerful voice broke through Sasuke's moment of solitude.
"Hi, Sasuke-kun!" Kushida Kikyo, the ever-optimistic girl with a warm, bubbly personality, approached with a bright smile. "You're pretty quiet, aren't you?"
Sasuke gave her a passing glance, but his expression remained indifferent. "Doesn't concern you."
Kushida wasn't put off by his cold response. "I just wanted to say, if you ever need help or want to hang out, feel free to come to me!" She leaned in slightly, her smile almost too bright. "I love making new friends!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed for a brief moment. New friends, he thought. He had no interest in such things. "Not interested," he said bluntly, dismissing her without a second thought.
Kushida blinked, her smile faltering for the briefest of moments before she regained her composure. "That's okay! If you change your mind, you know where to find me!" She waved cheerfully and skipped off, joining the other girls in the class.
Sasuke watched her go, not fully trusting her overly friendly nature. There was something off about her, something hidden behind that smile. He couldn't quite place it yet, but his instincts told him to keep his distance.
After School
When the bell rang to signal the end of the day, students filed out of the classroom, excited to explore the school and spend their personal points. Their laughter and conversation echoed through the halls, but Sasuke remained seated, his gaze focused on the empty space in front of him.
As he stood to leave, Horikita passed by without a word, her expression cold and focused. She had her own agenda, though Sasuke wasn't yet sure what it was. He respected her drive and determination, even if it was different from his own.
Sasuke walked out into the hallway, blending into the crowd of students, his mind still working. The system here was designed to test them, of that much he was certain. The personal points, the seemingly generous freedom—it all had to be a facade.
He didn't need to know all the answers yet. But he would learn. He always did.
For now, Sasuke would continue observing. Watching. And when the time came, he would act.