May 31st, 8:00 AM — Class 1-D
Kairon sat at his desk, chin resting in one hand, gazing out the window. Around him, the class had already begun splitting into groups.
From the corner, Yua turned to Ivy and asked, "Hey Ivy, do you want to eat lunch together today?"
Kairon's attention subtly shifted to Ivy.
"Sorry," Ivy responded with a polite smile. "I've got something to do."
Across the room, three boys huddled around a small carton.
Caden grinned, showing it off. "This beauty only cost me 80,000 points! We get 100,000 a month, so it's a steal."
Torin and Kei stared in awe. "Nice," Torin said, pulling out a gaming pad. "Check this—tons of new games."
Meanwhile, Sena, Meira, and Rika giggled among themselves.
"I saw the cutest pair of earrings!" Sena said.
Meira leaned in, "Want to stop by the shopping mall after class?"
"Sure! Let's shop for some clothes too!" Rika and Sena chimed in, laughing.
Kairon watched all of them, expression calm. Unlike everyone else… I've failed to make a single friend.
Without turning, Aria muttered, "You're pathetic."
Kairon turned his gaze to her. "Yeah? Well, you're a loner too."
"I am," Aria replied, biting into her sandwich. "But I prefer it that way."
Kairon stood, brushing off her words. "I'm hitting up the cafeteria."
He stepped out into the hallway—and was stopped by a voice.
"Kairon, right?"
He turned. "Yeah. And you're Ivy."
Ivy smiled brightly. "I'm so impressed you remembered my name."
Nothing impressive about that, he thought. How could I forget?
"Thanks for remembering my name too," she added, still smiling.
"Yeah, I did."
"I was wondering…" she said, fidgeting with her hands behind her back. "Can we talk for a sec?"
They moved to a quiet corner.
"I wanted to ask about Aria," Ivy said. "You two seem close."
"I wouldn't say that."
"But you're the only person she talks to. I want to become friends with everyone—even outside our class—so we can all make it to Platinum Rank together." She leaned forward a bit. "I asked for Aria's number, but she turned me down."
"She's just like that," Kairon replied.
"But I really want to be her friend, despite all of that." She stepped closer and gently took his hand. "Do you think you could help?"
Kairon remained calm. He slowly freed his hand, slipped it into his pocket, and started to walk away.
"Wait," Ivy called after him. "What's your motive?"
He paused, glancing over his shoulder. "What's yours?"
She smiled. "No motive. I just want to make friends. So, will you help me?"
He said nothing. His footsteps echoed as he walked away.
---
Class 1-E
Elira stood at the front of the class as the students barely paid attention. Kei snored in the back, another boy read manga, and some girls tapped away on their phones.
"That's all for today," Elira said with a tired sigh. "Make sure you review your materials for tomorrow."
She walked out, closing the door behind her.
Zip.
Aria unzipped her bag. Kairon stood, placing his books neatly inside his own.
"This school is ridiculously indulgent," Aria muttered. "Kids sleep, chat, ignore the teachers—and no one says a word. It's supposed to be elite?"
"Maybe they're just encouraging autonomy," Kairon said.
"Perhaps."
He slung his bag over his shoulder. "Hey. If you're not in a rush to get home… would you come somewhere with me first?"
She eyed him suspiciously. "What are you trying to pull?"
"It's just an invitation. Nothing shady."
"If you're honest about your intention, maybe I'll hear you out."
"You know that café in the mall—the one all the girls hang out at? The place kinda gives off a 'no boys allowed' vibe… I'd feel less awkward going with someone."
"Why me?"
"Because I don't have anyone else to ask," Kairon admitted.
Aria sighed. "I suppose you don't."
---
The Café
Outside, students bustled by. Inside, nearly every seat was filled—with girls.
As the automatic doors slid open, Aria scanned the place. "Is it always this crowded?"
Kairon chuckled. "First time for you too, huh? Oh right. You're a loner."
She narrowed her eyes. "How childish."
At the counter, two girls were still ordering.
"Now we have to wait," Aria muttered.
"They're done. Our turn," Kairon said as they approached.
Soon, they sat at a table with drinks in hand. Kairon placed a coffee down for her.
"I wonder," he mused aloud. "Do you think the others here think we're a couple?"
Aria shot him a glare.
"Never mind. Probably not," he said quickly, sipping.
This tension… it's making my stomach twist, he thought.
Suddenly—
"Aria?" a familiar voice called.
It was Ivy.
She beamed. "Kairon too? What a coincidence!"
She sat between them.
"So… do you two come here often together?"
"No," Kairon replied. "First time."
"I see. That's cool. I'm here alone too."
Aria stood. "I'm leaving."
"What? You just sat down," Kairon said.
"But Ivy's here now. You don't need me."
"She's just a classmate. We hardly know each other."
"How's that different from us?" Aria challenged. "Besides… something smells fishy here."
"What do you mean?" Ivy asked, blinking.
Kairon thought to himself: Wrong response. The right one was: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Aria continued, "The girls at the order table… and the ones who left just before us—they're all in our class. Don't you find that odd?"
"Wow," Kairon said. "I didn't notice. You're sharp."
Aria nodded. "You and I came here right after class ended. The others couldn't have been here long."
Ivy hesitated. "Well…"
"Yeah," Kairon cut in. "You're right. We set you up."
"I thought so."
Ivy stood. "Please, Aria… I just want to be your friend."
"Well, I want to be left alone. You're wasting your time."
"But… won't you be lonely?"
"Being alone isn't the same as being lonely. And every word from your mouth repulses me."
Kairon said softly, "Are you sure? Three years is a long time to be isolated."
Aria paused as she passed him.
"My heart is weak, yes. But I've been lonely for nine years. What's three more?"
She walked off.
"I'm sorry," Ivy said quietly. "I think I made Aria hate you too…"
"Don't worry about it."
---
Outside
As they walked together, Ivy said, "If I can't be friends with everyone in my class… my goal feels impossible."
"Aria's an exception," Kairon replied.
Up ahead, two girls passed—one with long pink hair.
"Lizzy!" Ivy waved.
Lizzy waved back as they passed.
"She's from Class 1-B," Ivy explained.
"That explains the silver medal."
"We became friends yesterday."
"You're friends with students from other classes too?"
"Yep! Class 1-B has a lot of nice people."
They continued walking.
"This school really is amazing," Ivy said. "So many shops. And that 100,000 point allowance?"
"Seems excessive, honestly," Kairon replied.
"Right? Calling them 'points' makes it way too easy to spend. It's messing with my money sense."
Kairon's thoughts drifted.
"I'll have to budget more tightly from now on," Ivy added. "I mean, I'll still get what I need—soap, toothpaste, panties—"
She trailed off.
"…Yeah. Aria said something similar," Kairon replied.
Ivy moved forward and stopped right in front of Kairon, leaning in just slightly, her voice low and teasing.
"Oh, you know how Aria spends her money. You two really are close friends, aren't you?"
Kairon's eyes flickered downward for a brief moment, tracing the line of her collarbone before he looked back up with a faint smirk.
"No," he said, shaking his head. "I just happen to be there."
He glanced again, almost amused, and added, "Oh, she's so close."
Ivy's eyes narrowed playfully as she stepped back, crossing her arms.
"Fine. I'll take your word on it," she said with a light smile. "Well, we'll just have to leave it at that."
Kairon watched her walk away and muttered under his breath, "Happens to be the truth."
He looked back toward Ivy's retreating figure and spoke quietly, as if confessing a secret.
"You don't have to pretend in front of me anymore. No one else is here."
Ivy paused mid-step, glanced over her shoulder, and smiled mischievously.
"What do you mean?" she called out, then disappeared down the hall.
---
Hostel Dorm — Room 5
Kairon changed into more comfortable clothes and sat on his bed, staring at his phone screen.
100,000 points, huh? he thought. Most students just use their allowance without a second thought. Day after day, they blow through it like it's endless — buying whatever they want, no discipline, no consequences. Sleeping in class, chatting away, skipping lessons — everything just runs wild.
He scrolled through his messages.
But starting June 1st... everything changes.
---
June 1st, 8:00 AM — Class 1-D
The students sat restlessly, eyes glued to their phones.
Torin broke the silence, voice filled with disbelief. "Huh? We haven't received anything yet."
He nudged Caden. "Have you?"
"Nope."
Murmurs rose among the girls, who whispered anxiously.
Just then, Elira entered the classroom. Riven stood sharply and called out, "Good morning, Miss Elira!" The others followed suit, standing and greeting her.
They sat back down quickly, anticipation hanging thick.
Torin raised his voice. "Miss Elira, we haven't received our points for the month!"
Girls chimed in, complaining.
Elira smiled, her eyes gleaming with a cold edge.
"You're all fools," she said plainly.
The room fell silent, shocked.
"Huh?" someone muttered.
Elira continued, voice steady and clear.
"The points were allocated... but the authorities judged your class before releasing them. What did you think? All you've done is sleep, waste your points, arrive late... Your class's performance is zero."
Shock rippled through the students.
Torin slammed his desk. "You should have told us!"
Elira's smile didn't waver.
"Did it never occur to you that you're children? Why would you be given 100,000 points if you didn't earn it? And even if you doubted it, why didn't you try to improve? You're worthless."
Kairon remained calm, looking at his phone screen, which showed: Points: 825,300
Elira said one last thing as she looked around the stunned classroom.
"The test score for this class is zero. As a result, no points will be allocated."