Practical Classroom: Kaoru Hanayama's Classroom of Merit

The door opened, and Chabashira Sae, holding the attendance list and dressed in a women's suit, quickly scanned the classroom with a cold gaze.

"Dear new students, I am Sae Chabashira, your homeroom teacher for Class D. I teach Japanese history. In this school, classes don't change every academic year, so I will be your homeroom teacher for the next three years until graduation. Please take good care of me."

Although she narrowed her eyes for a moment at the strange sense of oppression emanating from Huashan behind her, she immediately wiped away her expression and continued to speak in a businesslike tone.

"This school has very unique rules. In principle, students are prohibited from leaving the campus before graduation. Contact with the outside world is also restricted."

"But don't worry. The spacious campus has everything you need for living and entertainment, from cafes to movie theaters. And this is what you use to access those facilities."

At the tea stand's signal, the school-designated mobile terminals were distributed to the students' seats.

"Cash is prohibited in this school. Instead, all expenses are paid using personal points issued to that terminal. The points are valued at 1 yen per point."

Chazhu surveyed the students, who were holding their breath, with a cold gaze.

"And today, the 100,000 points for you new students this month have been credited to your accounts. This school is meritocratic. Being admitted means you possess a value equivalent to this number."

The students hurriedly began operating the newly distributed special terminals. Soon, exclamations of amazement echoed throughout the classroom.

"Really? One hundred thousand...?"

"You're kidding, right? Now you can buy anything?!"

A commotion and cheers erupted in the classroom. For these newly-minted high school students, having 10 yen to spend freely each month was like a dream come true.

However, what appeared in Huashan's eyes, sitting in the last row, was not joy, but quiet doubt.

(What a cheap trap.)

Kaoru Hanayama swiped her thick fingers across the small terminal screen, staring expressionlessly at the number 100,000 in the balance.

From the perspective of an average high school student, this should be an amount that would make anyone ecstatic.

But for him, who stood at the top of society, the idea that there was no such thing as "free money" was already ingrained in his bones.

In the world of yakuza, "nothing is more expensive than free." Behind this money, there must be unseen collateral or heavy rules.

Huashan gave a soft hum and roughly stuffed the terminal into his pocket.

"The opening ceremony will be held at 9:00 AM in the gymnasium. Please be on time. That concludes my explanation."

After simply stating the bare minimum rules without any emotion, Chabashira walked out of the classroom.

After the teacher left, the classroom returned to a tense atmosphere.

Just as everyone was focused on the giant in the back row and couldn't move, a handsome young man with blond hair, Hirata Yosuke, stood up.

"Um, everyone! There's still a little time before the commencement ceremony. Shall we continue with the self-introductions we just interrupted? After all, we'll be living in the same class from now on, and we'd like to get to know each other better."

Hirata's gentle and non-pressing suggestion eased the atmosphere in the class somewhat.

Immediately after, a strikingly beautiful girl stood up from the seat next to her—Kikyo Kushida.

"I agree! After all, it's hard to strike up a conversation if you don't know someone's name! Let's all get along well."

Her perfect smile and cheerful voice, which made both men and women feel close to her, gradually soothed the hearts of the students who were originally stiff.

Under the skillful guidance of Hirata and Kushida, the baton of self-introductions was passed around again.

"Well then, let's start from the order we just broke up. It's Sudo-kun, right?"

As Hirata's gaze fell upon him, Sudo Ken, who had just been frightened by Hanayama's imposing aura and had retreated back, clicked his tongue awkwardly.

"Tsk. I'm Takeru Sudo, my hobby is basketball, that's all."

Sudo slumped back into his seat with a thud. Then, it was Yamauchi Haruki's turn to stand up.

Although he occasionally stole glances at Huashan behind him, he couldn't hide his innate vanity and frivolity, and opened his mouth.

"In junior high, I was the ace of the table tennis team, making it to the national tournament was a piece of cake! Also, I occasionally work as a reader model, so girls are welcome to ask me for my contact information! Nice to meet you!"

Faced with such a shallow lie, several people in the class were speechless, but in the current situation, even this frivolity seemed like a refreshing balm to ease the tension.

Then, the baton of self-introductions was passed down in order, finally reaching the last row.

Crunch-!

The chair emitted a deep, resonant sound. Kaoru Hanayama slowly stood up.

"Kaoru Hanayama".

Although the voice had a deep bass tone, it did not convey any sense of intimidation or a deliberate attempt to lower the volume to scare the listener; rather, it was a very calm voice.

"I went to a regular public school for junior high. I don't have any hobbies that I'm particularly proud of. Please take good care of me for the next three years."

Huashan said only these words, then nodded slightly in greeting with great politeness.

A brief, simple, and polite greeting.

This is a place called a school. As long as you stay here, you must abide by its rules. This is Huashan's own sense of justice and common sense.

Faced with this contrast, the students' eyes widened in surprise.

Despite his appearance not being that of a respectable person, his attitude was surprisingly serious, making him seem like a perfectly normal high school student.

"That's a very polite greeting! Um... you're in such good shape, Hanayama-kun, did you also train in some kind of sport like Sudo-kun?"

Hanayama looked down at Hirata and slowly shook his head.

"No. ...I do know a little about combat sports, but I've never participated in any competitive sport."

"Oh, I see! Haha..."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Hirata's forehead, and then Kushida, standing next to him, joined the fray with a perfect social smile.

"Hanayama-kun, although you look a bit wild, you speak with a very mature and composed manner! If we encounter difficulties, you seem very reliable; you can lead the boys to solve them!"

"……Yeah."

Huashan gave a brief reply and slammed back into his seat.

The dialogue was established. This fact brought a wonderful sense of reassurance to the students in Class D.

(Oh, so it's just that it's huge and looks scary.)

(Once you strike up a conversation, he's just an ordinary person.)

The classroom quickly returned to normalcy from its tense atmosphere, and the class finally began to return to a stable state.

"Well, it's getting late, let's all get together and go to the opening ceremony."

Organized by Hirata Yosuke, the students of Class D went to the school gymnasium in twos and threes.