Adapt to the Rules to Survive!

The classroom, once bustling with noise, fell silent as the new teacher walked in through the door. The sudden stillness was palpable, almost eerily quiet.

This was undoubtedly the unique presence of the new instructor.

On the first day of school, when students are unfamiliar with their surroundings, teachers often appear to hold the highest authority in their eyes.

However, as familiarity grows, teachers who don't employ special methods to maintain their authority often lose their intimidating edge.

As Hikigaya pondered this, he observed the new teacher.

She was a striking figure with a polished, professional demeanor, her long black hair tied back into a neat ponytail. She appeared to be in her early thirties, though it was hard to tell precisely.

Hmm, is this a no-nonsense teacher straight out of a drama or anime? Her aura does remind me a bit of Ms. Shizuka Hiratsuka, my middle school homeroom teacher…

Hikigaya still recalled the peculiar expression on Hiratsuka's face when she had invited him to this prestigious high school. Even now, he couldn't quite understand why she seemed so reluctant for him to attend, or why her farewell had felt almost like a somber send-off.

Lost in his thoughts, Hikigaya watched as the ponytailed teacher approached the podium.

"Welcome, new students. I am Sae Chabashira, the homeroom teacher for Class D and your Japanese history instructor. This school does not rotate homeroom teachers every year, so I will be with you throughout your three years here. I look forward to working with you."

"The entrance ceremony will be held in the gymnasium in one hour. Before that, I will distribute materials outlining the school's special rules. Although, you might have already received some of this information during the previous orientation."

A stack of enrollment documents was passed to the front row, information most students had already seen during the admissions process. But for Hikigaya, this was the first time he had laid eyes on them.

He had been transferred in mid-term by Ms. Shizuka Hiratsuka and, strictly speaking, was more of a latecomer than a regular student. Because of this, he hadn't gone through the usual formalities.

As Hikigaya skimmed through the details of the school's introduction, his expression gradually twisted.

It felt like a stomachache.

What the hell? This place doesn't allow students to leave campus freely? For the next three years, we're stuck here? Even contacting family members requires school approval?

Am I here to study or serve a prison sentence?

Hikigaya felt a sinking dread. The thought of not seeing his little sister, Komachi, for three years was like buying a soda only to realize it was flat, or opening instant noodles and finding the seasoning packet missing. He was on the verge of a breakdown.

He continued reading the handbook, and things only became more bizarre. The school was even larger than he imagined, almost like a small town, complete with a movie theater, cafés, clothing stores—everything.

No wonder this school was built in the middle of nowhere…

"These documents are likely familiar to most of you, so I'll skip ahead to the information you don't know," announced Sae Chabashira, their cold and unfeeling homeroom teacher. She scanned the room briefly before continuing, "What I'm giving you now is your student terminal or in other words, a smartphone. This is something you'll be required to carry with you at all times for the next three years. With this device, you'll have access to all of the school's facilities and be able to make purchases at stores within the campus."

"It functions similarly to a credit card, but it deducts from your points, so you should be cautious with its use. And here's an important point: in this school, there's nothing you can't buy with points. As long as it's within the school's grounds, everything is up for purchase."

There's nothing you can't buy with points…

While most of the students reacted with astonishment, Hikigaya's instincts were drawn to that particular statement.

Under normal circumstances, there would be no need for the teacher to emphasize that. But the fact that Chabashira did meant either something was off about her, or the school was trying to subtly hint at something.

Hikigaya, however, was too preoccupied with the fact that he wouldn't see Komachi for three years, so he let the thought slip away.

"Using it is simple," Chabashira continued, "Just scan it at any machine or present it when required. That should be easy enough. Also, you'll receive points automatically on the first of every month. At the moment, everyone has been issued 100,000 points. And to clarify, one point is equivalent to one yen. There's no need for further explanation, right?"

The moment she finished speaking, the classroom erupted.

No one had expected to receive what essentially amounted to 100,000 yen in pocket money right upon entering school. It was like something out of a dream.

Hikigaya also found it absurd, but what stood out to him wasn't the 100,000 yen. It was the fact that points would be distributed on the first of every month.

If this school was like a microcosm of society, then the monthly points allocation resembled the creation of private currency by some corporation. Once such a system was established, the possibilities for manipulation were endless.

This place was no longer just a regular school; it was a concrete jungle. Everyone would eventually be conditioned by this brand-new system…

Hikigaya had read plenty of famous sci-fi novels in the past, and he understood how terrifying the concept of capital conditioning could be. Human value would be utterly transformed.

Meanwhile, Chabashira seemed completely unfazed by the students' reactions. She spoke coolly, "Surprised by the number of points the school provides? This institution measures students based on their abilities. The fact that you've been accepted here means that you each possess value and potential in the school's eyes. Therefore, these points represent the school's evaluation of you. Don't hold back; use them as you see fit."

"However, when you graduate, the school will reclaim all points. Since points cannot be converted into cash, saving them won't benefit you. Once the points are credited to your account, it's up to you how to spend them. You're free to use them however you like. If anyone thinks they don't need points, they can always transfer them to someone else. But don't even think about using intimidation or force to take points from others. The school is extremely sensitive when it comes to bullying."

"Now then, I hope you all have a wonderful school life."

With that, Chabashira finished her announcement, walking out of the room as though she had just completed some mundane task. The students were left dazed, still reeling from what they had just heard.

No one could believe such a good deal existed. It was hard to accept the reality of it all.

"You've got to be kidding…"

At the same time, Hikigaya couldn't suppress the complicated emotions welling up inside him after hearing Chabashira's speech.

He finally understood why Ms. Hiratsuka had such a strange expression when she invited him to this school. It was almost as if she had been warning him not to come.

So, is this place really a high school?

Aren't high schools supposed to educate students and help them discover their own value?

The purpose of this school seemed completely inverted. After all, how could anyone's value be measured by points?

If human worth could be reduced to mere points, then the essence of being human had already been grotesquely warped into something unrecognizable.

To Hikigaya, this school was more like a dystopian cyber-utopia, where the value of a person had been entirely distorted.

People were no longer people; they were walking points.

This school was a place where only the law of the jungle prevailed, a dark forest where individuality had been stripped away, leaving only one truth:

To survive, you must adapt to the rules.