Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

3:30 p.m.

Even though the school bell had rung, a sense of tension still lingered in the classroom of Class 1-A.

Unlike other classes, few students became overly excited and noisy because of the sense of liberation after school.

Some students gathered together according to their factions, exchanging information in hushed tones.

Although they had only been enrolled for a few days, they had already personally experienced that this school was not just an educational institution, but a stage for competition.

Right there.

With a whoosh, the sliding door in front was pulled open without any hesitation.

"...Excuse me. It's time for our discussion."

Kaoru Hanayama stood there holding a transparent folder in one hand.

"Hey...who is that guy?"

"It's huge..."

The moment I stepped into Huashan, the composure and silence that surrounded the classroom, so characteristic of the elite, was frozen by instinctive fear.

"You... are you Kaoru Hanayama from Class D? What are the other students doing at this time?"

The one who broke the deadlock was a bald, muscular young man named Katsuragi Kohei.

He also possessed a physique and composure far exceeding that of a high school student, yet he appeared somewhat petite in front of Hanayama.

Hanayama faced Katsuragi's sharp gaze head-on, casually tossing the folder in his hand onto the podium in front of the blackboard.

"I'm here to sell information about this school. The penalties for expulsion, and how the monthly points are reduced."

A slight commotion arose inside the classroom.

Katsuragi frowned.

"A student who's only been enrolled for three days claims to know about this school's hidden system? We don't have the points to pay for such nonsense."

Hanayama didn't say anything, but showed Katsuragi the first few lines of the notebook, as well as the "Faculty and Staff Office - Notarized (Majima Tomoya)" stamp firmly affixed to the blank space.

"...I'm sorry, Hanayama-kun, I misspoke. If this information is true, it has the fatal value to influence the future of our Class A. Since it's not stamped with Chabashira-sensei's seal, but with our homeroom teacher Majima-sensei's notarized seal, only a fool would question its credibility."

"The original price was one million, but we're giving you a 20% discount because of your class advisor."

However, Katsuragi's gaze did not leave the folder.

"I understand. However, an amount of 800,000 is not something an individual can decide on the spot. I need time to collect the funds from the entire class and explain the legitimacy of this information to them."

A combination of diligence, steadiness, and a strong sense of responsibility.

Hanayama saw through Katsuragi's true nature in an instant.

Although they are essential talents for maintaining the organization, they are not suitable to be leaders who can instantly suppress the entire situation in such circumstances.

(...What a waste of time. Let's go find another one.)

Just as Huashan made his decision and prepared to leave.

Click, click.

In the quiet classroom, the sound of a hard cane tapping could be heard.

"Hehe. Katsuragi-kun is as overly cautious as ever."

The girl who appeared was petite and pitiful.

Sakayanagi Arisu, with her silvery hair swaying and wearing a black beret, walked past Hanayama with a cheerful smile.

"Sakayanagi...you."

Katsuragi cast a reproachful glance, but Sakayanagi completely ignored it and placed his terminal in front of Hanayama.

"Eight hundred thousand points. I'll pay it all at once now. Is that alright, Hanayama-kun?"

Without the slightest hesitation, the decision was made decisively on the spot.

Huashan's terminal emitted an electronic voice, announcing that a huge number of points had been transferred in an instant.

"This isn't an amount that can be easily pulled out, is it?"

Katsuragi Kohei asked with a hint of disbelief.

"I only borrowed a little from everyone who supports me. Besides, if you can buy the future of Class A with just this level of expense, then it's a very cheap deal, Katsuragi-kun."

(...I see. So this is the real leader of Class A.)

Huashan reassessed the petite girl before him.

His physical body was extremely weak, but his mind and the ability to control others at will were undoubtedly the talents of a leader.

"Thank you for your patronage. The transaction is complete."

Just as Hanayama was about to hand over the folder, Sakayanagi gently pressed his hand on it.

"Please wait a moment. After all, we paid 800,000. Could this information... be considered a contract for Class A to buy it out entirely?"

Sakayanagi's eyes shimmered with an eerie light, like amethyst.

If you can monopolize the intelligence, the other classes will self-destruct without knowing the rules. That's the most efficient way to win.

However, Huashan just scoffed and laughed.

"Don't talk nonsense. A buyout would cost at least 400 million, and you can't afford that price."

Hua Shan's deep voice sent a tremor through the air in the classroom.

Sakayanagi let out a soft "hmm".

"Indeed, as you say. ... So, how about this?"

A smile curved her lips.

"What if I distributed this information to other classes free of charge, or at a rock-bottom price, before Hanayama-kun sold it to them?"

That was a clear threat.

By causing the value of intelligence to plummet, thereby crippling Hanayama's business, this is a tactic that Sakayanagi Arisu often employs.

but--.

"..."

Hanayama said nothing, but simply looked down at Sakayanagi Arisu in silence.

There was no anger, nor any murderous intent.

However, what exists there is a violent entity of 100% purity.

To give an analogy, it's like a clever fox with human-like intelligence standing in front of a dozing Tyrannosaurus Rex.

No matter how much strategy you employ in your mind, no matter how you interpret the game.

Faced with such overwhelming quality, everyone must confront the fact that their lives, literally, could be wiped out with the mere touch of a finger.

That's not a defeat of intelligence. It's the absolute hierarchy between predator and prey etched into the DNA at the cellular level.

"..."

A bead of cold sweat slid down Sakayanagi's forehead.

The small hands gripping the cane trembled slightly, turning pale, out of a biological instinctive fear.

(What on earth is going on? This man...)

Rationally, it's clear. This is a school with security cameras; he has no reason to kill himself here.

However, that rational bulwark was easily breached by the sheer density of violence before their eyes.

A few seconds later.

"...Hehe. Just kidding."

Sakayanagi desperately suppressed his trembling and forced out an elegant smile that seemed to be pasted on.

"Even if you distribute ordinary photocopies, no one will believe it without Majima-sensei's additional notarization. Besides, there's simply not enough time to stop you from going to other classes."

"yes."

Hanayama seemed completely uninterested and slapped the folder onto Katsuragi's chest.

"Then I'll take my leave now."

After the giant walked out of the classroom.

Sakayanagi Arisu let out a soft breath when no one was watching, entrusted her weight to her cane, and quietly lowered her gaze.

(This school has really been infiltrated by a very strange anomaly.)