After Hikaru finished expining the school's css division system, Css D's remained chaotic. The students couldn't accept that they had been pced in the lowest-ranked css. Those who had det academic performance were especially vocal, loudly arguing that they should have been pced in Css A.

  "Everyone, please settle dow's tinue listening to Hikaru-kun. He probably has more importaails to share."

  Despite being shocked beyond words by the revetion, Hirata, as Css D's representative, had to step up and regain trol of the .

  After hearing his firm directive, the Css D students begrudgingly quieted down, even though their emotions were far from settled.

  Meanwhile, Kushida, standing beside Hirata, seemed visibly uneasy.

  Hikaru kly what was going through her mind.

  After all, he had deliberately emphasized that the school evaluates students' past records. Acc to his Stoalysis, Kushida had a hidden side—and that was likely why she had been pced in Css D.

  "Yes, everyone, don't be so hasty. I still have one very important rule to expin."

  Hikaru smiled faintly, letting his gaze sweep across the before briefly pausing on Suzune, who was still radiating anger.

  "The css rankings are not set in stone. Do you all remember the Css Points I mentioned earlier? This is the key to ging your css ranking."

  "At the end of each month, the school will recalcute the rankings based on the Css Points of all four csses. If a lower-ranked css surpasses another in Css Points, then the rankings will be adjusted accly."

  "For example, if Css D's Css Points surpass Css C's, then after the monthly assessment, Css D will move up to Css C. Does that make sense?"

  "…So that means…?"

  "It's all about petitioween csses? Everyone has to fight to move up?"

  This rule was fairly easy to uand.

  Hirata, who had been deep in thought, pohe school's i.

  If the goal was simply to ence petition, then why was this information worth 3,000,000 Private Points?

  "Of course, that leads us to the most important rule of this school."

  Hikaru's expression turned serious as he prepared to expin the single most crucial rule.

  This rule mattered just as mu and Css B as it did to Css D.

  "Why does the school force csses to pete? The reason is simple—to maintain a 100% graduation and employment rate."

  "Before enrolling, you all must have heard the school's most famous promise—that graduates will have their futures guaranteed."

  "But…" Hikaru paused for effect, his tone pyfully ominous, "not everyone graduate from this school."

  "Only Css A students are guaranteed full reendations and job pts. The students from all other csses do not receive this privilege."

  "This is the true reason behind the S-System and the stant css petition. Now do you uand?"

  Shock, Disbelief, and Anger

  "Hah?"

  "What do you mean?! Are you saying we 't graduate?!"

  "Wait, only Css A gets the guaranteed future? That's plete bullshit!"

  The moment this critical rule was exposed, Css D erupted in fury.

  No one had expected the school to fun like this.

  Did that mean students in lower-ranked csses were nothing more than stepping stones for Css A?

  "This is just how the system works. You have no choice but to accept it."

  Hikaru g Kushida, then casually asked, "Kushida-san, what do you think? Now that you know the truth?"

  "…It's quite shog. I never expected the school to be this ruthless."

  Kushida's smile was forced, her eyes betraying her astonishment.

  The school was essentially f every css to fight to move up the ranks. Those who failed would be discarded.

  "Right? We were just as shocked when we first found out," Hikaru said with a small smile.

  "But now that we know how the system works, we have no choice but to keep fighting."

  Hikaru turned slightly, his gaze meeting Iose's.

  Their eyes locked for a moment—a silent uanding passed between them.

  Both of them smiled.

  Iose was remembering how she had reacted the first time she learned about these rules. Back then, she had worried for her cssmates, unsure of what to do.

  But thankfully, Hikaru had been by her side—guiding her, strategizing, and ensuring that Css B could move forward together.

  Hikaru, oher hand, felt fortuo have been pced in Css B.

  Unlike Css A, they weree geniuses, but after spending this past week with them, he had e to uand Css B's greatest strength.

  They could unite quickly and trust each other unditionally—the most important foundation for success.

  A Final Rule: The Power of Private Points

  "Hikaru-kun, are there any other hidden rules?"

  Suzune, who had been furiously scribbling notes, paused her pen and looked up at him.

  "There's o thing—about how Private Points be used."

  Hikaru hen expihe special rule that Hoshinomiya had casually mentioned.

  "Private Points aren't just used for daily expehey also have special applications—such as the ability to switch csses."

  "Switch csses?"

  Kushida's expression shifted dramatically as she snapped her gaze to Hikaru.

  "Are you saying that by paying a certain amount of points, a student trao another css?"

  "Exactly. But it's extremely expensive."

  Hikaru held up two fingers, his tone pyful.

  "For 20,000,000 Private Points, a student freely trao any css they choose."

  "WHAT?!"

  "That much?!"

  Once again, the css was shaken.

  After learning that their monthly ine wasn't stable, many students had already decided to be more frugal. But now, they learhat Private Points could be used to ge their future.

  "Yes. The school won't foryoo do it—it's entirely up to personal choice. But if someone saves up that much, they'll have far more options."

  Hikaru smiled faintly, ing up his expnation.

  "And that cludes the hidden rules of this school."

  "I'll be taking my leave now. Please remember the terms of our tract—vioting it will result in expulsion."

  With that, Hikaru g Iose, signaling that they should go get dinner.

  Meanwhile, Suzu in absolute silence, her mind rag.

  Everything made sense now.

  The surveilnce she had noticed, the way Hikaru had been watg Css D's spending habits—it all poio one clusion.

  He had known about these rules from the start.

  His goal was clear: to collect Private Points and—ultimately—trao Css A befraduation.

  "…He's not a simple guy at all."

  Suzually added another rowing impression of Hikaru.

  Just as Hikaru and Iose were about to leave, a soft voice called out behind them.

  "Hikaru-kun, wait a moment."

  "Oh? What's up, Kushida-san?"

  Hikaru had been waiting for this moment—and internally, he was thrilled.

  Had she taken the bait?

  "Um… could we exge taformation?"

  Kushida smiled sweetly.

  "You shared so much valuable information with our css today. I'd love to treat you to a meal sometime as thanks."

  "?"

  Before Hikaru could respond, Iose's expression ged instantly.

  A sharp gre locked onto Kushida.

  —What do you mean? Why 't you just talk to me?

  —What exactly are you up to?

  ~~~

  Read 30 Chapters Ahead!

  > patreon./HudaLin