Vol. 1 Chapter 2 - Free means something is wrong

Kokichi had been walking around the campus for a while now, mentally mapping the different stores. He noted their locations, memorizing the paths and shortcuts. It was always useful to know where to find everything, especially when he needed a quick escape or just wanted to explore.

He walked casually, whistling with his hands behind his head. With his short stature and smug demeanor, Kokichi really looked like a mischievous child. As he strolled through the campus, he took in the sights and sounds, feeling a mix of curiosity and amusement at his new surroundings.

He was currently on the hunt for a place to buy his favorite drink. It had been more than 10 hours without Grape Fanta, and he felt like he was going insane!

"Hm?" He noticed something. The presence of free items. Could this be related to the 'Mystery-Solving' fun that Hoshinomiya-Sensei mentioned? It must be! His curiosity piqued, Kokichi decided to investigate further, his craving for Grape Fanta momentarily forgotten.

"This is sooooo fuuuuuun! I'm going to solve the 'Mystery-Solving' fun!" he exclaimed to himself, attracting a few strange looks from other students.

He got into a thinking position. "I'm suuuuureeee that someone in my class asked what if points ran out..." he pondered. "Maybe these free items are a clue to that. If students can get essentials even without points, it could mean something about the school's system and how they support those who run out of points."

His thoughts started connecting. "The school never said anything about giving 100,000 points every month, as I said in class, implying that the amount can change. But on what basis does that depend? What's the base here? It MUST be important if the school provides free items. Normally, why would you give free items to students with that much of a balance? Unless they run out of points, and according to the first point, the value of monthly points can change to even zero..."

He stopped in his tracks, the realization hitting him. "So, if the points can drop to zero, the free items are a backup for when students can't afford anything. This just further proves my claim in class. I was right all along!"

Kokichi couldn't help but feel a mix of triumph and curiosity. "This school really wants to keep us on our toes. I need to pay attention to every detail if I want to stay ahead," he concluded, his mischievous grin returning.

Then he just shrugged everything off and resumed his search for a place to buy Fanta. He just solved a problem, so of course he should get a reward. Right now, his craving for that grape-flavored soda was all that mattered.

Kokichi finally found a vending machine and eagerly bought a bottle of Grape Fanta. After the satisfying clink of change and the whirr of the machine, he held the bottle triumphantly in his hand. As he took his first refreshing sip, he wandered through the campus, savoring the taste.

100,000 -> 99,850

Just then, he spotted Ryuji Kanzaki, who seemed to be checking out different stores as well. Kokichi's mischievous grin widened as he approached him.

"Hey, Kanzaki!" Kokichi called out, walking up to him with a playful swagger. "Still basking in your 'I-jump-to-conclusions' glory, huh? I see you're not avoiding the crowd—how cute."

Kanzaki looked up, composed and calm. "Oh, hello Ouma-Kun. What do you want?"

Kokichi leaned in closer, clearly enjoying Kanzaki's discomfort. "Oh, nothing much. Just thought I'd say hi. By the way, what do you think of the free items around? Or are you still thinking we'll get 100,000 points each month?"

Kanzaki's eyes widened slightly. "I've noticed the free items too, but I'm not sure what to make of it. Any insights?"

Kokichi's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, I heard this totally true rumor. They say if you run out of points, the school will send you a personal care package with luxury goods, like high-end electronics and gourmet meals, just to keep you comfortable!"

Kanzaki raised an eyebrow, clearly doubtful. "That sounds a bit exaggerated."

He paused dramatically, then burst out laughing. "Just kidding! That was a lie!"

"..."

"..."

"So? What's your actual insight?"

Kokichi grinned, savoring the moment. "Non, non, I can't just give away information like that. You know, maybe something like... some points could help?"

Kanzaki raised an eyebrow. "Points, huh? How much are we talking about?"

Kokichi leaned in with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let's start with 25,000 points. That seems fair for my valuable insights."

Kanzaki's eyes widened. "25,000 points seems a bit much. I could probably figure it out myself instead of paying that much."

Kokichi put on a dramatic pout. "Oh, come on! I'm giving you a deal here. How about 20,000 points?"

Kanzaki shook his head. "Still too high. I'd rather not spend that much if I can avoid it."

Kokichi sighed theatrically. "Fine, fine. How about 15,000 then? I'm practically giving it away."

Kanzaki hesitated, then shook his head again. "15,000 points is still too steep. I can't justify that."

Kokichi's face twisted into a playful scowl. "C'mon, party pooper! Nincompoop! I'm offering insider knowledge that could be crucial. You won't find a better deal!"

Kanzaki raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You've got to be reasonable."

Kokichi leaned in closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Alright, alright. How about this: 9,000 points. It's a fair compromise. You're getting valuable info, you know."

Kanzaki considered the offer, then sighed. "Fine. 9,000 points it is. I'll make sure you get them." Kanzaki took out his smartphone, and Kokichi did too. They exchanged points, and the shota saw that his points increased.

99,850 -> 108,850

Kokichi's face lit up with satisfaction. "Great! Here's what I've figured out: the free items are likely a backup for when students run out of points. It's a way for the school to ensure we're not completely stuck. This implies that there is something that influences our monthly points. The exact details are still a bit murky, but it's clear they want to keep us on our toes and make sure we don't flounder."

Kanzaki took a moment to digest Kokichi's words. Despite Kokichi's childish demeanor, Kanzaki realized that he was quite perceptive. Damn, if he hadn't been so impatient, he might have figured it out himself and saved those 9,000 points.

"Can I share this information with our classmates?" Kanzaki asked, trying to make sure the cost was worth it.

Kokichi shrugged casually. "Uh, sure. Go ahead. It's not like I'm keeping it a secret or anything. Just don't mention how much you paid for it. And that you got it from me."

Kanzaki nodded, feeling a bit better about the expenditure. "Alright. Thanks for the help, Ouma-Kun."

Kokichi waved him off with a grin. "No problem! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a Grape Fanta to finish. See you around, Kanzaki-chan!"

With that, Kanzaki headed off.