Someone left a camera SD card on the ground.
Sendoh picked up the SD card, looked around, and saw no other students. After thinking for a moment, he put the SD card in his pocket and walked to the shopping street.
The street was busy. With 100,000 yen in living expenses, new students were enthusiastically shopping. The most popular places were milk tea shops and cafes.
Who doesn't like desserts?
Sendoh went to a cafe and bought a cup of coffee.
As someone who often stayed up late studying, coffee was inseparable from his life.
Sendoh chose an unsweetened raw coconut latte, which cost 350 yen. Quite expensive. Instant coffee at the supermarket was only 150 yen, much cheaper.
'It's more economical to make coffee myself,' thought Sendoh.
While thinking, Sendoh headed to the supermarket. On the way, he met the girl with purple hair clips from the electronics store.
The girl was looking down, staring at the ground, walking toward the electronics store. But she just stopped at the door, then turned back.
'Could that SD card be hers?' thought Sendoh.
"Is there a problem?" Sendoh approached and asked.
...
The girl raised her head, seemingly not recognizing Sendoh.
"I haven't lost anything," she said.
"And I don't know you." The purple-haired girl spoke, then turned toward the nearest bookstore.
So cold.
If Horikita Suzune, whom Sendoh had met in the elevator this morning, seemed indifferent, this purple-haired girl was even more aloof, refusing contact with people.
[She's lying.]
A narrative voice appeared in Sendoh's mind.
Sendoh also felt the girl was lying. When she raised her head, her eyes showed surprise for a moment, then quickly averted her gaze.
A guilty expression, but forced calm.
Most suspicious was that when Sendoh asked if there was a problem, she specifically answered that she hadn't lost anything.
It was a random question, but she gave a specific answer.
Sendoh's trap question had worked.
'Her brain might not be too smart,' thought Sendoh.
The girl clearly knew Sendoh, but said she didn't, meaning she wanted to keep her distance.
Sendoh was sure the SD card from the electronics store door belonged to this girl. There might be something important on it. That's why she kept it secret, not wanting people to know it was hers.
'I'll finish my business first,' thought Sendoh.
Sendoh had already appeared in front of her. If the SD card was important, she would surely look for him later.
...
Since buying a laptop and USB drive would take time, Sendoh went straight to the supermarket.
The supermarket was well-stocked, but the many choices made shopping time-consuming.
After buying daily necessities, Sendoh finally took a break.
"Ding ding!"
Shiina sent a file.
Sendoh knew it was the video of Ryuuen beating someone up.
An important task. Sendoh connected the laptop to power, turned it on, backed up the data, and transferred it to the USB drive.
One-stop service.
After finishing, Sendoh saw another message from Shiina on his phone.
A chat software invitation.
Every student was automatically registered in the chat application with their student ID.
Shiina had sent an invitation.
"Want to join the first-year Class C group?"
A class group.
Of course he had to join.
Sendoh had an idea. The school allowed students to compete between classes, with class evaluation scores being the only ranking criteria.
In the first month, new students would take a behavior test. Behavior not befitting high school students would reduce points from the initial 1,000 points per class.
'Points will definitely be deducted in the first month,' thought Sendoh.
Only Class A of the third year would graduate representing the school.
The scores of the four classes fluctuated. Students aimed for opportunities to rise. Upper classes would surely obstruct those trying to advance.
That was competition.
From the seniors, there were special exams every month.
The exams involved adding or subtracting personal points and class scores.
That's why class rankings changed constantly.
Now in the first month, the focus was on maintaining the initial 1,000 points.
But...
Sendoh sat at the desk, laptop open, noting information from seniors about point deductions.
Reading comics in class – points deducted.
Using phones in class – points deducted.
Sleeping in class – points deducted.
Being late, leaving early, skipping – points deducted.
Disrespectful behavior – points deducted.
Fighting – many points deducted.
It seemed trivial, but that was the duty of quality students.
All items reduced points. Was there no way to add points?
Only the classes knew the details.
Controlling one person was easy, but one class had 40 students, with tests for 30 days.
'...'
'Frightening,' thought Sendoh.
In today's class meeting, 80% of students were on their phones while the teacher was speaking. Sendoh also held his phone, but for recording.
Sendoh looked at the SD card from the electronics store door.
It almost certainly belonged to the purple-haired girl, but she kept it secret.
'The contents of the SD card might be serious, not to be revealed,' thought Sendoh.
Normally, lost items were taken to the student union office. But staff might check the contents of the SD card. If there was something major, the purple-haired girl could be embarrassed.
Sendoh's laptop had a card reader.
Perfect for checking the SD card's contents.
Click!
Connected quickly.
Several photos appeared.
Then...
!!
'...'
Sendoh was grateful there were no cameras in the dormitory. If there were, it wouldn't be the purple-haired girl, but him, Miyama Sendoh, who would be the first person in Class C to have points deducted today.