COTE : There is Something Wrong With Hikigaya

"Tch, as expected of a student placed in Class D." 

Was it just his imagination? 

As Hikigaya walked past the podium, he vaguely heard the female teacher mumbling to herself. 

There was a hint of annoyance in her tone… and maybe even self-mockery? 

Thankfully, the teacher didn't make things difficult for Hikigaya just because he was late. She simply let it slide. 

Hikigaya let out a sigh of relief—yeah, right! 

"Wow, what's up with this guy? Late on the first day? That's bold!" 

"He's not even apologizing or looking guilty. Must be a repeat offender!" 

"Such a gloomy loner… and what's with those eyes? So creepy!" 

Hikigaya had hoped to downplay the situation, thinking that if he stayed quiet, people would soon forget about it. That way, he wouldn't become a running joke in class. 

But he soon realized it was all pointless. 

Under the curious gazes of his classmates, he kept a straight face and walked to the only remaining seat in the last row at the center. 

On the outside, he looked completely unaffected. But inside, he couldn't help but argue with himself. 

Tch, being late is still better than not showing up at all, right? 

And those girls by the window—can you not give people random nicknames on the first day? Also, if you're going to whisper, at least do it properly! I can hear you from all the way over here! 

And my eyes aren't creepy! They just have a lot of DHA, okay? You ignorant fools, haven't you ever read an animal encyclopedia? Damn it! 

--- 

"I originally thought Class D was in trouble with students missing on the first day. But if it's just tardiness, then congratulations, you can relax for now." 

The homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, said something vague that left the students confused. Then, she continued. 

"What I just explained was the basic structure of the school. Now, I'll go over something extremely important. This is the most unique rule of this school—one that will affect your entire three-year experience." 

Hikigaya could clearly feel Chabashira-sensei's gaze on him. Was that a subtle warning about his tardiness? 

At the same time, he took another look at their homeroom teacher. 

She dressed in a mature and professional way, but her cold demeanor and serious expression gave off an air of authority. It was the kind of strictness that made students instinctively fear her—just like those middle-aged discipline officers in their forties or fifties. 

But judging from her appearance, Chabashira-sensei seemed to be in that awkward age range—older than thirty, but maybe not by much. 

Wait… why does she remind me of someone? 

If it's about matchmaking, maybe they could be good friends and exchange experiences. 

Suddenly, the classroom burst into chatter. 

ANHS High School's most unique system—something called the S System—was about to be introduced. 

--- 

"What you're receiving now is a special student ID card. It allows you to make purchases anywhere on campus. However, transactions require private points. At this school, there's nothing you can't buy as long as you have enough points." 

"As society continues to evolve, our school facilities are updated to stay in sync with the outside world. Aside from using your student ID, you can also link it to the school-issued phone for mobile payments." 

"It's a simple system, so I won't explain further. Since no one has questions, I'll assume you all understand." 

"Now, about private points—each student will receive an automatic deposit on the first day of every month. Right now, all of you should have been given 100,000 points. Also, 1 point is equal to 1 yen, so there's no need for further explanation." 

At first, the students thought it was just another boring school announcement, so they weren't paying much attention. 

But as soon as they heard 100,000 yen, the entire class lit up with excitement. 

Especially two guys who looked like total idiots—they were so hyped that they even started making monkey-like noises! 

Hikigaya wasn't just shocked—he was scared! 

What does 100,000 yen mean to a normal high school student? 

Based on Hikigaya's own experience, aside from part-time jobs, the average monthly allowance for a regular high school student is around 5,000 yen, which even includes some lunch expenses. Comparing that to 100,000 yen, it's clear just how huge that amount is for a student! 

And here's a dark joke—someone's allowance had always been below that average line. 

Along with the student ID card, students were also given a custom phone for school communication, as well as a student handbook and other materials. According to Chabashira-sensei, the phone had undergone special modifications, automatically blocking all outgoing communication related to the school while still allowing incoming messages from the outside world. 

—"Surprisingly modern." 

Hikigaya was a bit surprised. Generally, schools aren't keen on students carrying electronic devices. He had expected ANHS, with its strict management style, to be even stricter. But instead, the school was unexpectedly lenient—going so far as to issue phones to students. For Hikigaya, who thought he'd be spending three years in a completely closed-off and dull environment, this was a pleasant surprise. 

After a short moment to process everything, the class gradually came back to their senses from the initial shock and excitement. Even the two loudmouths who had been acting like excited gorillas started feeling uneasy about the situation. 

"This school evaluates students based on their abilities. Since you've been admitted, it means you already have the necessary value and potential. So, there's no need to be surprised. Once the points are distributed, how you use them is up to you. If someone feels they don't need to use their points, they're free to transfer them to others. 

However, keep in mind—threats, coercion, or any kind of violence is strictly forbidden. The school takes issues like bullying very seriously." 

Chabashira-sensei scanned the room, saw that no one had any questions, then packed up her things and left the classroom. 

Hikigaya twitched slightly at the corner of his mouth and instinctively glanced at the time. This homeroom teacher, who was supposed to guide them for the next three years, had taken less than fifteen minutes from start to finish. 

Besides explaining the so-called "S System," shouldn't she at least show some interest in getting to know the students in her class? She even walked out of the room briskly, as if she were escaping from hell. Was she rushing off to a marriage meeting or something? 

And what's with this overwhelming "wage slave" aura? 

Chabashira-sensei looked exactly like an office worker forced to do overtime at the last minute, filled with reluctance and deep resentment. Hikigaya wasn't the only one who noticed—other students seemed to sense it too. 

—What a cold-hearted teacher. 

Hikigaya thought to himself. 

"This level of generosity... it's almost unbelievable." 

To his left, a girl with long black hair and an icy demeanor murmured. 

Hikigaya completely agreed. In this world, there's no such thing as kindness without a reason, just as there's no hatred without cause. Giving out 100,000 private points was like a random stranger jumping out on the street, yelling, "I love you! Please marry me!"—the kind of absurd prank you'd see on a variety show. 

…Wait, could there be hidden cameras around? 

Huh... there actually are?! 

There were cameras even inside the classroom. Wasn't this a little *too* much attention on the students? 

As for Chabashira-sensei's claim that they had "value" matching the amount given, Hikigaya didn't believe that for a second. If anything, it only deepened his doubts. 

He had always believed that everything comes with a price. So-called "free" things are usually the most expensive. 

Because hidden behind the mask of "free" could very well be a pair of fangs waiting to bite. 

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