Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

In front of the classroom of Class 1B.

Hanayama deliberately softened the tense and imposing aura he had previously projected in front of Class A.

Nevertheless, the unusual "aura" emanating from him was enough to make passing students stop in their tracks.

"Hello. You're Hanayama-kun from Class D... right? What brings you to Class B?"

With her long, light peach-gold hair swaying gently, Ichinose Honami looked up at Hanayama with her clear, innocent eyes, devoid of any hostility.

Her attitude was neither refined diplomatic rhetoric nor a forced show of bravado.

It was simply a pure, strong sense of goodwill and tolerance, an attempt to treat everyone equally, regardless of who they were.

"We're here to do business... There's something we'd like you to buy."

Without saying a word, Hanayama handed the folder bearing Majima's notary seal to Ichinose.

Ichinose took the folder and browsed through its contents—speculation about the hidden system and the penalty of deducting points, as well as the affirmation actually given by the teacher.

Gradually, the gentle smile on her face disappeared, replaced by a serious expression.

Her mind immediately grasped the seriousness of the situation.

"...Would you be willing to sell this to our class?"

Ichinose looked up and gazed into Hanayama's eyes. There was no doubt or scheming in them, only pure confirmation.

"The price is one million points."

Despite being offered an exorbitant price, Ichinose was neither surprised nor inclined to haggle.

"I understand... Everyone, could you give me a little time?"

Ichinose turned around and called out loudly to her classmates who were still in the classroom without explaining the situation.

"There's something we absolutely must achieve for the sake of the whole class. I hope you can trust me and each of you lend me some of the necessary points. I promise, this will definitely benefit everyone."

There was not a trace of confusion in her words.

Common sense dictates that handing over a large sum of money to someone who has only been enrolled for three days is simply insane.

However, the students in Class B began depositing points into Ichinose's account as naturally as breathing.

"Since it's Honami-chan's request, any amount is fine!"

"Just tell us your reasons properly later."

An overwhelming and absolute trust.

It is not about being dominated by fear, nor bound by logic.

Her very existence unconditionally attracts those around her and unites them together.

Within minutes, Ichinose had prepared one million points on her terminal. She transferred them to Hanayama's account.

"Received."

"Thank you, Hanayama-kun. ...You were a great help in bringing this information to our class so quickly."

Ichinose lowered her head deeply.

She genuinely believed that Hanayama had chosen to bring the information to Class B out of good intentions.

Huashan neither offered an explanation nor made a correction.

He simply held a firm belief in his heart as the leader of the Yakuza organization.

(...What a terrifying woman. Compared to that little girl in Class A, this woman possesses a far greater, innate "general's" magnanimity.)

There's no need for formalities or drinking toasts; simply existing there is enough to inspire people to entrust their lives to you.

That is the posture of the most elusive and naturally righteous person in the aesthetics of the ultimate path.

"Your name is Ichinose, right?"

"Um!"

"You... you're a natural team leader."

Huashan left only this brief sentence before turning away.

Ichinose tilted her head in disbelief, but still waved energetically at the figure's back.

"Thank you! Hanayama-kun, let's all do our best together in Class D!"

(What a good woman... but she lives too cleanly.)

As Huashan walked, he intuitively felt that his strength might one day turn into a huge weakness. However, it would be too tactless to criticize the way other organizations do things.

The rays of the setting sun slanted into the classroom of Class 1-D.

Since it was already after school, half of the students had already returned to their club activities or dormitories.

Those who remained were only Horikita, Hirata, Kushida, a group of girls centered around Karuizawa, and a few bored boys like Ike and Yamauchi.

With a whoosh, the front door was pulled open.

Huashan stood in front of the podium and slowly began to speak.

"You guys. Do you want to know the real rules of this school?"

A commotion broke out.

Ike and Yamauchi wanted to put on a flirtatious smile and say, "Hey, what are you talking about?", but the moment they saw Hanayama's face, their expressions froze and they shut their mouths.

"I just sold this information to Class A and Class B. ...This should have been a deal worth one million points, but we seem to have some kind of connection. Let's call it a six hundred thousand."

There was no shared desire from the class, just a sudden request to raise funds.

Huashan himself did not believe he could easily collect the money from this motley crew.

There will inevitably be people who won't accept things unless they are explained clearly and logically, and there will be those who resist. That's often how yakuza groups collect money.

but.

The first to stand up from her seat was the black-haired girl with a cold gaze, Horikita Suzune.

Without hesitation, she walked up to the podium and glanced at the contents of the document.

"...I see. It seems all your speculations have been confirmed."

Horikita took out his terminal.

"I will pay for my share. Since this is a notarized document that you negotiated and obtained from Majima-sensei, this information is definitely worth paying for."

Upon seeing Horikita transfer the money without hesitation, one of the men immediately took action.

"I'll pay too. If it's something important for the whole class, it's only natural to cooperate."

Yosuke Hirata completed the remittance with a hearty smile.

"Me too! If it's for everyone's benefit, this amount of money is very cheap!"

Kikyo Kushida followed closely behind with her perfect angelic smile.

Faced with Hua Shan's unfathomable power, she calculated that doing him a favor here was the kindest thing to do.

Up to this point, it was still a logical action to some extent.

However, from this point onward, the unusual nature of Class D's ecosystem became apparent.

"Okay, okay! Just pay, I'll pay!"

"Please, Huashan! Now we're best buddies!"

With trembling hands, Yamauchi and Ike began to operate the terminal.

They don't care at all about the details of the rules.

Dominating their minds was the fear of being beaten if they disobeyed this tall and dangerous guy, and the utterly irrational fantasy that as long as they paid the money here, this strongest man would protect them.

This is exactly the same structure as paying protection money to the Yakuza.

"Wait a minute, it's too sneaky for only the boys to pay! Karuizawa-kun, let's pay too!"

"Yes, yes... It's not a bad thing to do someone a favor here."

The small group of girls centered around Karuizawa Kei, out of their instinctive obedience to the powerful man, transferred their points one after another, as if pooling together spare change.

The sound of beeping.

At an astonishing speed, a notification sounded on Huashan's terminal indicating that funds had been deposited into his account.

As a result.

Compared to the well-organized Class A, and the Class B, which is bound by absolute trust.

This D class, which should have been the most disorganized, easily scraped together the huge sum of 600,000 points simply through fear, planning, and instinct.

“…………”

Looking at the number that had been collected, Huashan couldn't help but raise only one corner of his mouth.

(Although it was against the rules... it was done incredibly quickly.)

Before the mind could even register what was happening, respect for wrist strength and the instinct for survival took over.

This vivid and lively reaction, so much like that of a petty thug in the slums, made it impossible for Huashan to dislike him.

"I did receive the money. ... You guys, listen up."

As Hanayama announced in a deep voice, the classroom fell silent. Even Ike and Yamanouchi held their breath, waiting for the "group leader's" instructions.

"The points at this school aren't just free pocket money. They're increased or decreased monthly based on your attitude and grades. Dozing off in class, chatting, skipping class—all of these things will gradually reduce your allowance for the following month."

Huashan paused for a moment, looking around at the group of students in the classroom.

"I'm not a teacher. I don't care if you guys go bankrupt. But since I've taken the money, I can't watch the people on my turf destroy themselves for stupid reasons. ... Starting tomorrow, you'd better pay a little more attention in class."

It was a brutal, yakuza-style, yet undeniably sanctioned declaration of asylum.

At the same time, in the men's restroom, where a fierce battle had raged for hours.

"...Boss."

Albert Yamada's rugged voice echoed in the narrow space.

At his feet, Long Yuanxiang, who had been injured all over and was bleeding from the corner of his mouth, was lying on his back.

Albert felt utter fear and immense charisma towards the man who, no matter how many times he was knocked down, would lunge at him with a maniacal smile.

Albert has an overwhelming advantage in arm strength. He would win every time they fought.

However, in Ryuen's eyes resided a madness that defied common sense: "It will never end until I win."

The moment Albert was pierced by that gaze, his mental defeat was already sealed.

Long Yuan slowly propped himself up and spat out a mouthful of saliva mixed with blood.

"Hehehe... So now your hands and feet are mine. No objections, Albert?"

"...Yes."

The giant bowed his head respectfully.

Through violence and fear, and through madness that came at the cost of his own body, Ryuen Sho completely mastered the greatest fighting force in Class C.

However, after only three days of school, classes A, B, and D were already fully aware of the school's rules, while class C's understanding of the school's rules was practically zero.