Sendoh didn't just want to get free information from Ryuuen's actions.
Ryuuen was a classmate in Class C, and he took the initiative to seek information about the school, showing his intelligence.
But, if he used force and violence, although effective, it could cause problems for Class C and other students. However, simply dismissing Ryuuen was not a rational step.
So, Sendoh and Shiina followed Ryuuen from behind.
As expected, after leaving the supermarket, Ryuuen made his move. He squatted briefly by the roadside, then approached two senior students and followed them.
The two seniors had just left the minimarket when they felt hands tapping their shoulders.
When they turned around, they saw Ryuuen's face approaching.
Ryuuen smiled, but his gangster aura created enormous pressure.
Both were dragged into an alley by Ryuuen.
"What are you doing? I already told you, there are surveillance cameras everywhere in this school!" said one of the seniors. "The scene of you dragging us just now must have been recorded!"
"Oh, so what?" Ryuuen's gaze remained unchanged. "Just a regular fight. What can you do? But you might be in pain."
"Huh? You're just a first-year student!"
Both seniors immediately reacted.
This morning, at the entrance ceremony, the Student Council President and Secretary, third-year students, wore the same uniforms as other students.
From the outside, all students looked the same.
Uniforms at Koudo Ikusei High School didn't change for three years, and with the large number of students, it was difficult to distinguish new students from seniors, or their classes.
But these two seniors immediately knew Ryuuen was a new student.
'There's an information gap between seniors and new students,' thought Sendoh.
How was Ryuuen found out?
Ryuuen said fighting wasn't a problem.
Usually, schools handle minor fights, and if not serious, the punishment isn't severe.
But these two seniors clearly didn't think so.
'This means fighting is prohibited at this school, or the punishment is severe,' thought Sendoh.
"If you know I'm a new student, hand over information about this school," said Ryuuen. "This school is different, and you already know that. You're really pathetic."
Ryuuen's eyes were fixed on the shopping bags of both seniors.
Ryuuen was observant. Their bags contained few items, just basic necessities without labels, free items from the store.
"What are you looking at? What class are you from? Must be Class D or C. You'll soon see hell!" said one of the seniors.
'That's important information,' thought Sendoh.
Classes C and D were looked down upon. Sendoh and his classmates in Class C had just entered, but seniors already belittled Classes C and D. This meant these classes had performed poorly in the past.
'But why are Classes C and D always bad?' thought Sendoh. 'Aren't all classes recruited together? Are Classes C and D indeed weaker than A and B?'
Sendoh was still thinking.
Up ahead, Ryuuen moved again.
"Still dare to bark in front of me? You don't know who's boss here!" said Ryuuen.
Suddenly, a sound came from the alley.
"Please, we apologize!"
Both seniors pleaded.
'Ryuuen has already used violence,' thought Sendoh.
"I feel strange," Shiina said softly.
Not far from there, Shiina, on Sendoh's suggestion, was recording the incident with her phone.
Usually, people would stop a fight, but Shiina didn't. She recorded the video.
'I could stop Ryuuen now, but what about later?' thought Shiina. 'Besides, we're getting information from the seniors. If this fight is exposed, severe punishment could fall, and Ryuuen could harm Class C.'
Sendoh also turned on his phone recorder.
But he wasn't recording Ryuuen beating the seniors, rather the information revealed by the seniors.
Under the pressure of violence, the senior gave in.
This school truly prioritized strength and kept its promise that graduates could enter their university of choice without exams or get their dream job.
But only students who graduated from Class A in the third year received that privilege.
Students from Classes B, C, and D who graduated would be registered at other schools, not as graduates of Koudo Ikusei High School. So, their jobs and studies weren't related to the school's promise.
'That's the origin of the 100% acceptance rate and high job placement,' thought Sendoh. 'A cunning trick.'
'Isn't it unfair that only Class A gets privileges?' thought Sendoh.
But the school gave opportunities to other classes. The rankings of classes A, B, C, D were fluid, and the school evaluated each class comprehensively.
The content of the evaluation wasn't clear, but the results were announced every 1st of the month.
When new students entered, each class received 1,000 basic evaluation points. This score changed based on student performance—active or lazy, good or bad grades.
Class A could be careless and be surpassed by other classes, then drop in ranking the following month.
There were examples. Two months ago, the Student Council Vice President, Nagumo Miyabi, who was initially in Class B in the second year, led his class to surpass Class A and became Class A now.
If their class maintained its position, they could graduate as Class A in the third year.
For new students, the first month was crucial. All classes started with 1,000 points, but the school assessed the behavior of new students in the first month, which usually reduced points. Without realizing it, those 1,000 points could change drastically after the first month.
"Even if you become Class A, you can drop to B, C, or D if your evaluation points decrease," said the senior. "Rankings continue to change as long as you're at school."
"Why am I telling you this? Even if your Class C or D learns the school's secrets through dirty methods, you won't rise!" the senior continued.
"Has Class D ever risen in rank?" asked a voice.
"Yes, in the sixth and seventh batch, Class D rose to Class B. They say some students from that class stayed at school to become teachers. The homeroom teacher of Class D, Chabashira-sensei, was formerly from Class D, then rose to Class B..."
"Hm?"
The senior who answered honestly looked up. Ryuuen, who was listening, immediately moved.
He ran toward Sendoh and Shiina, who had made that sound.
"Ryuuen, you don't want your violence video sent to Sakagami-sensei, right?" said Sendoh, making Ryuuen stop in his tracks.