After a long ride, I finally got to the school. Today was a big deal because it was the entrance ceremony for all of us new students starting our first year.

I was already feeling grumpy, probably because I knew there'd be a ton of people at the ceremony. Just thinking about all those folks made me feel worn out.

But hey, there was no escaping it.

Next up was the first day of high school.

When I got to my classroom, which was 1-D, there were already a bunch of students there.

I planned my timing perfectly so I'd get there just in time and dodge any unnecessary stares.

I walked into the classroom and quickly spotted the only seat left with my name tag on it, right at the very back of the class. I was actually pretty happy about that.

But then again, my seat was between two girls, so maybe it wasn't such a great thing after all.

I quietly made my way through the classroom and sat down. Just as I did, the bell rang loudly throughout the school and our classroom too, signaling that I had arrived just in time.

As the bell's sound lingered in the air, a woman entered the classroom with an air of authority that made me pay attention right away. She seemed like the kind of person who didn't put up with any nonsense, and I'd guess she was around thirty. Her suit was spotless, and her delicate features were framed by a ponytail, which gave off a vibe of both professionalism and practicality.

"Hello there, everyone. Good morning! I'm the teacher for Class D. You can call me Chiyabashira Sae," she said with a strong and confident voice. "Normally, I teach Japanese history, but here at this school, we don't switch classrooms every year. I'll be your homeroom teacher for the next three years, and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. It's nice to meet you all."

While she was speaking, I looked around at my new classmates. Sitting at the back of the room felt good; it was nice to be out of the spotlight. I preferred it that way because it meant I was less likely to be noticed or get caught up in unnecessary chatter.

"The entrance ceremony is scheduled to start in the gym in an hour. But before that, I'll give you some documents that explain the special rules of this school. I'll also hand out the admissions guide," Chiyabashira-sensei went on.

I took the papers as they made their way back to me and started flipping through them, kind of curious about what they had to say. This school was definitely different from what I was used to. Living in dorms didn't bother me much, but not being able to contact the outside world, even my family, seemed a bit much. And needing permission to leave the campus? That was pretty strict, but maybe it would help me concentrate more on what I wanted to achieve.

The campus was huge, almost like a little town with everything you might need. I wasn't sure if I'd spend much time in the karaoke place or the café, but it was cool to know they were there. The place was over 600,000 square meters big, though I guessed I'd probably stick to my usual paths and not stray too far.

Chiyabashira-sensei's voice brought me back to the moment. "I'm going to give out your student ID cards now," she announced. "These cards let you use all the facilities on campus, buy stuff from the store, and things like that. Think of it like a credit card. But remember, you need to be careful about how many points you spend. Here, you can use your points to buy just about anything. Anything on the school grounds is up for grabs."

Holding the student ID card gave me a feeling of both freedom and responsibility. It was a chance to handle things my way. Using points like money was a pretty cool system. It was all about finding the right balance and making smart choices, something I could really get behind.

These points were like the school's own currency, all loaded onto our student ID cards. No actual cash was involved, which was meant to keep any money issues away. But it also meant we had to watch how we used our points.

"You just swipe your card through the scanner, and that's it," Chiyabashira-sensei said plainly. "It's an easy process, so there shouldn't be any confusion."

Every month, on the first day, we'd get our points automatically. We were starting out with a whopping 100,000 points. Since one point was the same as one yen, that was a big allowance for a high school student. The room was buzzing with shock and excitement.

Getting a monthly allowance of 100,000 yen was a surprise, but for a top-notch, government-run school, it made sense. It was a big amount for someone my age, showing how much the school believed in our potential.

"Surprised by how many points you got?" Chiyabashira-sensei asked, noticing the buzz in the room. "This school really values the talents of its students. Just passing the entrance exam says a lot about your potential and value. The points you've received show how the school rates you. You can use your points however you want. But remember, after you graduate, all your points go back to the school. Since you can't turn these points into real money, there's no point in saving them up. Once they're in your account, it's your choice how to spend them. Feel free to do as you please. If you don't want to use your points, you can give them to someone else. However, trying to force money out of your classmates is not allowed. The school keeps a close eye on bullying."

Her explanation was straightforward, and as I listened, I realized just how different this system was. It pushed us to be smart with our resources while making sure everyone was treated fairly and nobody got taken advantage of.

With the room filled with a mix of confusion and curiosity, I absorbed the reality of what this meant. It wasn't just about schoolwork; it was a real-world lesson in being responsible and independent.

Chiyabashira-sensei looked around the room, and it seemed like she was pleased that we all understood what she had explained. "Alright, it looks like there are no questions. I hope you all enjoy your time here as students," she said before leaving the room.

As soon as she was gone, the classroom buzzed with chatter and excitement. But honestly, I wasn't really interested in what everyone else was talking about.

However, the thought of the huge amount of points the school gave us lingered in my mind. I was curious about why they were so generous. Still, I figured it didn't really matter since I didn't plan to spend much time outside or spend much money anyway.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the noise. "Hey, everyone! Could you please listen to me for a moment?" A guy with blonde hair stood up from the second row, clearly aiming to grab everyone's attention. And it worked; all eyes, including mine, turned to him to hear what he had to say.

"Starting today, we're all going to be classmates," the blond-haired student declared with a confident and friendly smile. "So, I think it'd be a great idea for us to introduce ourselves and get to know each other. We've got some time before the entrance ceremony. What do you all think?"

I watched him, both curious and a bit skeptical. It was impressive how he managed to grab everyone's attention so easily. Most of the students seemed a bit hesitant, caught up in their own thoughts, debating whether to speak up or not.

"Yeah, that sounds good! We don't even know each other's names yet," someone chimed in, breaking the ice and encouraging others to join in.

As the room buzzed with murmurs of agreement, I stayed quietly in my spot at the back, observing the scene. I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of introductions, preferring to stay under the radar, but I understood why it was important.

"My name's Hirata Yousuke. Back in junior high, lots of people called me Yousuke. Feel free to use my first name! I guess my hobby is sports in general, but I especially like soccer. I'm planning on playing soccer here, too. Nice to meet you!" Hirata introduced himself with ease, exuding a natural charisma that seemed to instantly elevate his popularity.

I couldn't help but notice how effortlessly he navigated social interactions—something I always found challenging. Hirata seemed like the type who would naturally become a leader, keeping everyone motivated and honest.

"Well then, I'd like everyone to introduce themselves, starting from the front. Is that okay?" Hirata suggested.

The girl at the head of the class hesitated, looking a bit bewildered, but Hirata's encouragement seemed to give her the push she needed. She stood up, albeit nervously.

"M-my name is...Inogashira Ko-Ko..." she stammered, freezing mid-introduction. I could see her struggling, caught off guard by the sudden spotlight.

"Don't panic! It's okay!" someone called out, trying to reassure her.

I watched everything happening, knowing that my turn would come sooner or later. A part of me wasn't looking forward to it, preferring to stay unnoticed. Still, I realized this was my chance to dive into new social situations, even if it wasn't what I naturally wanted to do. For now, I just listened, checking out my classmates and making little mental notes about each one.

As everyone introduced themselves, I stayed silent, thinking about how much—or how little—I wanted to share when it was finally my turn.

"Well then, I'm next, aren't I?" said the cheerful girl as she stood up. It was the same girl who had helped the elderly woman on the bus this morning. Her name was Kushida Kikyou, and she seemed to radiate warmth and friendliness.

"My name is Kushida Kikyou. None of my friends from junior high made it to this school, so I'm alone here. I'd like to get to know all of your names and faces right away and become friends as soon as possible!" she announced with an enthusiasm that seemed to fill the room.

Her energy was infectious, and I could see why others would be drawn to her. Yet, part of me wondered if such openness would last in a place like this. As Kushida continued to speak, I found my mind wandering, her voice fading into the background as my thoughts drifted.

Before I knew it, I had dozed off for a bit, only to be snapped back to reality by the sound of applause. I must have missed part of what she said, but from the smiles and nods around the room, it seemed like she had really made a good impression.

I shook off the leftover sleepiness and tried to focus on what was happening. Watching Kushida go back to her seat with a big smile, I couldn't help but notice how fake her smile was.

The introductions continued for some more times , as it finally came the time for the last row of the class and immediately a red haired student was a bit angered, although I couldn't hear perfectly what he said, but it was something on the line of - "We are not elementary school students to need introduction like this"

That's the gist of it. Right after saying this, he walked out of the class, still arguing, and he wasn't the only one—some other students followed him out as well.

I thought about doing the same, but for some reason, I stayed put, even though I wasn't really sure why.

After a few more awkward introductions...

"Alright, it's time for the next person. Can you please introduce yourself?"

With that question, everyone's eyes were suddenly on me.

I could feel the weight of everyone's attention on me, and it was far from comfortable. But it was a moment that was bound to come, one I'd been quietly dreading.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. "I'm Hayashi Minato," I started, trying to keep my voice steady despite the nervousness bubbling inside me.

I paused, thinking about what else I wanted to say. "I like reading and solving problems," I added, keeping things short and simple. "I hope to focus on my studies while I'm here."

There was a brief silence, with my words just sort of hanging in the air, and then the class started clapping.

"Nice to meet you, Hayashi-kun."

And that was it. I had successfully presented myself as the most boring person in the room, someone everyone would likely overlook. Perfect.

But does that mean I'm going to take it easy on anyone?

There's no clear answer to that just yet. I'll do what I want, when I want, and how I want.

Maybe sometimes I'll just watch from a distance.

That being said, school life is definitely going to be exciting, no doubt about it.