NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14: The cost of ignorance Part-2
The room was in disarray. As soon as Chabashira-sensei announced that the class's personal points had plummeted to zero, panic set in. The students' voices blended together in a chaotic cacophony of complaints and disbelief. Hirata, ever the class leader, stood up, his calm demeanor cracking slightly under the pressure.
"If we had known this earlier, we could have at least discussed it!" he exclaimed, trying to make sense of the situation.
Chabashira-sensei regarded him with a cold, indifferent gaze. "That's an interesting argument," she replied, "but haven't you all learned not to talk in class? Or to arrive on time? Surely, in the nine years of compulsory education you've had up until now, you were taught how a student should behave. If you had done so, your points wouldn't have dropped to zero. It's your own responsibility."
Sasuke watched intently from his seat, his sharp eyes observing every detail, every reaction. He could feel the weight of the teacher's words hanging in the air, pressing down on the class. Responsibility. It wasn't just a word—it was a test. This whole school was designed to weed out those who couldn't handle pressure.
Hirata, though visibly frustrated, quickly composed himself. "Then, can you at least tell us how the points increase and decrease? If we know how the system works, we can make sure we don't make the same mistakes."
Chabashira-sensei smirked slightly, an expression that didn't go unnoticed by Sasuke. "That's not possible," she said, her voice carrying a hint of sadistic amusement. "I'm not allowed to disclose the criteria by which your merits are assessed."
A ripple of unease passed through the students. *So, they're not just keeping us in the dark...they're actively setting us up to fail,* Sasuke thought, his mind racing through possible implications. This wasn't just about discipline. It was about manipulation—control.
"I'm not being cold or heartless," Chabashira continued, her voice icy yet controlled. "In fact, I find it a bit pitiful. But there's one more thing I need to add."
The faint smirk returned to her face, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed. *Here it comes,* he thought.
"Even if you all stop talking in class, even if none of you are ever late again..." She let her words hang in the air, relishing the suspense. "You still have zero points. Which means your next month's allowance will also be...zero."
Hirata's face visibly darkened, and the rest of the class fell into a stunned silence. The weight of her statement sank in slowly, like a creeping fog of hopelessness. Some of the students who had resolved to change their behavior slumped back into their seats, their determination extinguished. The despair was almost palpable.
*That's exactly what the school—or rather, the S-System—aims for,* Sasuke thought, analyzing every word Chabashira said. *They want to break them. To see who will crack under the pressure, and who will rise above it.*
The bell rang, cutting through the silence like a knife. Chabashira clapped her hands together, signaling the end of their discussion. "Enough chitchat," she said curtly. "Let's move on to the main issue."
The students exchanged confused looks as Chabashira unrolled a large poster and held it up for the class to see.
"Is this...the result of every class?" Horikita muttered from her seat, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Sasuke glanced at the poster. The rankings were clear:
- **Class A**: 940 points
- **Class B**: 650 points
- **Class C**: 490 points
- **Class D**: 0 points
He could feel the collective shock ripple through the class as they processed the numbers.
"So...1,000 class points equals 100,000 personal points," Horikita murmured. She was clearly working through the logic in her mind, trying to piece together how the system functioned.
Chabashira nodded. "Every class starts with 1,000 points. But as you can see, each class has lost points in some way. For the first month, you were all given the freedom to spend your points however you wanted. But it was your fault that your class points dropped to zero."
Sasuke observed his classmates' reactions carefully. Ike's frustration boiled over. "This isn't fair!" he shouted, slamming his fist on his desk. His anger was mirrored by several others, but Sasuke saw it for what it was—misdirected fury. Ike hadn't even grasped the real issue.
"I can't live like this!" another student complained, their voice shaky. Yamauchi, who had spent all of his points, was practically wailing in agony. "I used up everything! How are we supposed to survive?"
Sasuke's mind, however, was focused elsewhere. He wasn't concerned with the lack of personal points or the student's despair. His thoughts were on the bigger picture—the manipulation, the control, and how he could use it to his advantage.
*This system rewards intelligence and discipline, but more than that—it rewards adaptability,* he mused. *The ones who can see beyond the surface, who can exploit the rules rather than being trapped by them...they're the ones who will succeed.*
He glanced at Koenji, who remained as nonchalant as ever, seemingly amused by the entire situation. Horikita was scribbling down notes, her face tense with focus. Ayanokoji, sitting just a few seats away, seemed as detached and unreadable as always.
And then there was Sasuke himself. Unlike the others, he didn't care about being in Class D or starting at the bottom. In fact, it reminded him of his early days in the ninja world, where survival meant clawing your way up from the dirt. But staying at the bottom was never an option for him. Not then, and not now.
*Being at the bottom is just a temporary state,* he thought, his eyes narrowing. *And if this school is trying to crush me under this system, they'll soon learn that I'm unbreakable.*
Sasuke shifted in his seat, his gaze returning to Chabashira-sensei as she continued to explain the mechanics of the class point system. He knew one thing for certain—this game the school was playing was far from over, and Sasuke Uchiha wasn't going to be a passive participant. He would find a way to rise above it all, no matter what it took.
For now, he'd bide his time, observe, and plan his next move.