10 When All According to the Plan

Kuroshio was aware of the possibility of buying the explanation with points. Specifically, the points of all his classmates. 

He assumed that the price for that would be a deduction of 20,000 private points for all the students next month. He picked up that price from his prior knowledge. However, even if he didn't know, he wouldn't take that method.

The main reason was because he didn't think he could get all the students at the same table. His current method might be more inefficient than others would think, but he didn't care. As long as he had fun, that was all that mattered.

Chabashira-sensei was the first to come out of her startled state. "Were you told that by someone?"

He choked. "That's just mean, Sensei. I—"

He explained his observations of the other classes, pointing out their detailed differences between each other, and their correlation with the point deduction factor that had previously been briefly discussed. Everyone in the room listened closely.

'He... He did it,' Chabashira tried her hardest to hide her excitement. 'The method was a little off, but he succeeded in the end. This is a first.'

Horikita, and a bespectacled fellow named Yukimura, wrinkled their foreheads in confusion and dissatisfaction. What Kuroshio had said made too much sense for them to refute. Almost all of the oddities that this school had provided matched his explanation. There was only one thing missing.

"Sensei, why was I placed in Class D?" Yukimura asked, not even once thinking to ask for confirmation as to the validity on Kuroshio's explanation. "I figured I had above-average academic grades. Shouldn't I be placed in Class B or A for that matter?"

Chabashira swept a glance at him, inhaling quietly. "I can't answer that."

Yukimura frowned.

Kuroshio laughed rather loudly, drawing the attention of the others again. 

"I don't know if this is true or not, and I have no intention of agreeing to it even if it is true, but can that explanation be bought with points? Sensei, you said it yourself on the first day that—as long as it's within the premise of the school, or something along those lines—we can use points to buy anything!" He tried to confirm it.

His classmates, meanwhile, failed to comprehend his words once again. That wasn't a mainstream thought!

"Yes," Chabashira answered quite quickly, her face returning to its original level state. 

"May I know the exact price?"

Chabashira was silent for a few seconds. "A loss of 20,000 points at the beginning of next month. From every one of you"

"Did you hear that, guys?" Kuroshio stood up, turning towards his classmates. There was an amused smile on his face. "I can tell from your expressions right away that you don't really want to do this. Uh, I take it back. It seems that not a few are willing to try. In any case, I'm not saying that my explanation is correct, but if the explanation purchased matches what you just heard, that means you spent a total of 20,000 Yen for nothing! And sensei, all the students have to agree to buy that, right?"

She nodded wordlessly.

Kuroshio turned back to the students. "I'll pay if it's for class. However, I strongly suggest you think this through."

Horikita was one of the students tempted to buy the explanation. 20,000 Yen wasn't very much to her, but after hearing that all the students had to agree, she lost her ground instantly. How was she supposed to convince them? The reason she wanted to do so was simply because she didn't want to accept the reality he laid out. However, a good number of people accepted it.

Kushida hadn't been aware of this, so she had been taken aback as well. 'All these trivial instructions to the other classes for this?'

"Do the other classes know too?" Ike inquired in curiosity.

Kuroshio strained his smile. "Probably. I went to them without the knowledge that the class competition was a thing. I didn't tell them this explanation, but it's not strange that they would realize it sooner or later."

"That's a bit lucky for them... Even though the idea came from you. Oh, no offense to you, dude."

"That's great to hear. I'm actually worried that you guys would berate me for that."

"Of course we wouldn't,!" Satou sprung into motion to refute him. "You did all that by yourself for us. We wouldn't have even thought of it that way."

Kuroshio smiled gently. "I had Kushida's help too. She built more connections than I did, after all."

Seemingly having prepared to be called out in advance, the girl in question expressed her delight at being complimented. "I'm just speeding up the process. To tell the truth, even without me, Kuroshio-kun will be able to know them sooner or later."

"You're probably right, but you still helped in the end. Thank you."

"Hehe, you're welcome. I'll support you on your explanation, Kuroshio-kun."

Seeing Kushida's involvement, about half the class quickly made up their minds with her. 

"Me too!"

"Yeah, I don't want to lose 20,000 Yen for an explanation that's already been heard." 

"As long as we don't make trouble until next month, there shouldn't be any problems either, right?"

Most of the remaining were now inclined to follow her.

Seeing the exchange between her students, Chabashira smirked thinly. "Those who agree with Kuroshio raise their hands. The majority will be chosen. The discussion for those who still disagree can be held after class."

Many of them immediately raised their hands. A little more than half at first, then increasing to eighty to ninety percent before the last remaining ones also raised their hands.

'...How effortless,' Kuroshio was satisfied. 'Class D's problem should have been solved by now, and I also got other classes connection!'

Finally, the lesson commenced. Over the past week, the students had mostly kept their manners, but were still occasionally negligent. Now, though, there was no one who dared to. Kuroshio had no idea how long they would last, though.

When lunch time came, he went to the cafeteria with the regular members; Hirata, Miyake, Sudou, Matsushita, and Hasebe. 

"You're a genius, Kuroron!"

Hasebe was the first to talk while on the way.

"I'll take the credit," he chuckled. 

"You should've asked for my help, Kuroshio-kun," Hirata said.

"It's not that I didn't think of it, Kushida was just too quick to link me with another class. Otherwise, I would have gone to you as well."

"Ahh, she is indeed better than me in that regard."

"Right?"

Sudou patted his back a little hard. "Well, aren't you a nice pal? To have done all those favors for us."

He just smiled dryly. 

Miyake chimed in, "I haven't thought much about them in a while, honestly. I don't even know what to make of them."

Matsushita stared at him strangely for a while.

At the cafeteria, Hasebe was excitedly talking about Kuroshio's achievements. Because of her loud voice, not a few people heard her. The rest of the group hurriedly covered her mouth to avoid further spill, even though it was already late. 

Kuroshio could see Ichinose's group, a number of Class A students, and the seniors listening to the key points of Hasebe's short ramble. They all had different reactions, but the predominant ones were surprise and confusion.

'...It might be awful if we decide to buy the explanation earlier,' not only does she give the other classes an advantage, there is a chance that she will be punished by the school for leaking confidential information.

After lunch was a swimming lesson.

"Man, you're ripped," Sudou said in the changing room, his gaze moderately surprised. Then, he wrinkled his forehead. "That's a large scar."

He referred to the scar from the left side of Kuroshio's back to the left side of his chest that took the shape of a slanted sickle. Naturally, his other classmates were attracted by it.

One of them asked bluntly, "What happened? Seemed awful."

"An accident occurred," he answered casually, preventing them from thinking it was something uncomfortable for him to discuss. "Sadly, the scar are almost impossible to remove."

After exiting the room, they waited for the girls and the teacher for a while. Kuroshio noticed a small, chubby guy among the rows of boys. He tilted his head in confusion.

He approached him. "Hey, Sotomura, right?"

He turned around, revealing his also chubby face with glasses. "Ah, Kuroshio-dono, is there anything you need from me?"

Kuroshio smiled faintly. "I heard about your "operation" the other day. You didn't go through with it?"

His eyebrows twitched, and he lowered his head slightly. "After hearing your words, I rethought the risks for both me and the class. I decided to step down."

"Huh," Kuroshio paused. "Wel, that's great."

All he knew was that they were more open in their degeneracy than Kuroshio. Speaking of degeneracy, he had little trouble enduring it at the moment, so long as he tried hard to keep his gaze in the right direction.

"I have something else, Sotomura," Kuroshio wanted to ask him about it ever since a while now. "You wouldn't mind accompanying me to the electronics store later?"

Kuroshio thought his glasses were flashing. Obviously, that was just an illusion.

"Of course! I'm confident in that knowledge."

Kuroshio nodded. "We already exchanged contacts. If you need any more time to think it through, tell me when the time's right for you."

"Understood!"

The girls arrived not long after. 

The idiot duo and a number of guys were disappointed at finding the reserved school swimsuit. Kuroshio knew beforehand, so he acted normally.

He glanced at the tilted floor terrace on the second floor. A few students who had certain issues didn't participate. He spotted Karuizawa among the students. She happened to spy Kuroshio, widening her eyes. Kuroshio simply smiled. She must've been shocked seeing his large and obvious scar.

Horikita approached him, also staring intensely at the scar.

"I'm not feeling pretty comfortable if you keep looking at me like that, you know?"

She flinched. "I-I'm sorry. I..."

He chuckled. "Well, that's just the usual. And in case you're wondering, this came from an unfortunate accident. I won't say what."

"That's fine," she acted awkwardly for a while. "...Do you exercise? Your muscles are coming along well."

'...She tried to divert the topic.'

"In a way, yes. My past is a bit problematic, though, so I ask you not to pry too much about them."

She nodded without hesitation. "I understand."

Kuroshio then realized. It seemed that Horikita possessed a soft side for people who were smarter than her, although she herself wouldn't admit that. She only appeared as a reserved, sophisticated lady from the outside as a result. Kuroshio couldn't remember her ever showing her foul side to him.

Ignoring the stares of the remaining girls, occasionally answering their questions with the same answer, Kuroshio joined the line of students to hear the announcement of their gym teacher. He was a well-built man.

"Alright, almost everyone is present, great," he nodded. "A few couldn't. That's unfortunate. Is there anyone who can't swim?"

A handful of students quickly raised their hands.

The teacher nodded. "You don't need to worry, I'll get you started before summer comes. Remember, it will definitely come in handy. Definitely."

Kuroshio ignored the hint.

"After the warm-up, have a competition."

"Competition?!"

The unconfident students were demoralized. 

"It's gender-segregated," he stated. "The winners will be given 5,000 Points. The worst ones gets extra lessons."

"Giving away so much money. How lenient..." Horikita muttered.

Kuroshio responded. "Points are quite important, from the looks of it. I think it would be wise to collect as many of them as possible."

She furrowed her brows slightly. "You could be right. The initial amount they gave is also more than reasonable. The rest of it has been set up as a clue for us... What do you think they can be used for? Other than the explanation before."

"I'm curious about that myself..."