The System's Catch

Third-Person Pov:

After leaving the classroom, Kudo Shinichi and Haibara Ai wandered through the vast campus, taking in the state-of-the-art facilities. The school's design was meticulously structured—clean, modern, and eerily efficient.

"This school is pretty interesting, don't you think?" Haibara asked, her arms crossed as she observed the cameras discreetly positioned at the corners of the hallways.

"Yeah," Kudo replied, his mind already processing the implications. "By the way, what do you think about it?"

"Hm," Haibara mused. "I think there's a catch in the S-System."

A smirk tugged at Kudo's lips. "So you noticed too. As expected."

Haibara turned to face him. "You mentioned earlier that you have a theory. Mind sharing it?"

Kudo's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Remember the cameras from earlier?"

"I saw them, but I didn't pay much attention," she admitted.

"I believe our points are deducted based on our behavior in class," Kudo explained.

Haibara nodded thoughtfully. "That's why you warned them earlier."

"Yeah, but I think there's more to it," he said, his voice lowering slightly. "During the entrance ceremony, I observed the different class sections. Class A students paid full attention. Class B, for the most part, did as well. But in Class C and D, many were distracted. I suspect…"

"A hierarchy system," Haibara concluded.

Kudo nodded. "Exactly. Class A contains the best students, while Class D is seen as the worst."

Haibara narrowed her eyes. "Then why am I in Class D? You know I would ace the entrance exam easily."

"That's what I was about to ask."

Haibara hesitated before answering. "I didn't take the exam like the others. I was with the chairman earlier."

"Then how did you get in?"

"Your father arranged for a student from Class D to receive a scholarship abroad in exchange for me taking their place," Haibara explained.

Kudo exhaled sharply. "That old man…"

Before Haibara could respond, Kudo changed the subject. "I need to buy some necessities from the store. Coming?"

"Sure."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka strolled toward the convenience store, his thoughts still lingering on Kudo Shinichi. A detective, huh? If he's as good as they say, he could be the one who...

Before he could finish his thought, a commotion near the entrance caught his attention. A red-haired boy stood aggressively in front of three smirking upperclassmen. The atmosphere was tense.

Sudou clenched his fists, his cup of noodles abandoned on the ground, its broth spilled.

"'First-year punk,' huh? You tryin' to make fun of me?!" Sudou snapped.

One of the second-years scoffed. "And you're in Class D, right? Figures. No wonder you're so easy to provoke."

The three upperclassmen exchanged amused glances, then casually dropped their bags on a nearby bench. "See? We were here first. Now, get lost."

Ayanokoji sighed. He has no restraint.

Sudou took a step forward, his muscles tensed, ready to strike. But before the situation could escalate, a calm yet firm voice interrupted.

"Fighting here wouldn't be wise," Kudo Shinichi said, stepping between them.

The upperclassmen turned to him, their expressions shifting from amusement to mild curiosity. "And who the hell are you?" one of them asked.

"Kudo Shinichi," he replied smoothly. "You might've heard the name."

One of them squinted. "Wait… the detective guy?"

Kudo's lips curled slightly. "That's right. I can tell you, this fight isn't worth it—for either of you."

Sudou scowled. "Stay out of this man !."

Ignoring him, Kudo continued, addressing the second-years. "This school has cameras everywhere. If a fight breaks out, the school administration will have clear footage. If you're caught provoking a first-year, what do you think will happen?"

One of the upperclassmen clicked his tongue. "Tch. This guy's annoying."

Kudo leaned in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Besides, your uniforms are a little too neat. If you were real delinquents, you'd at least roll up your sleeves or loosen your ties. You're trying to act tough, but you clearly don't want trouble."

The second-years visibly stiffened. Kudo had read them perfectly.

"Pfft. Whatever, this isn't worth it," one of them scoffed, backing off. "Come on, guys. Let's go."

As they walked away, one of them glanced back at Sudou. "Welcome to hell, Class D."

Sudou exhaled sharply, still frustrated. "Damn cowards."

Ayanokoji, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "That was interesting."

Kudo turned to him. "What was?"

"The way you de-escalated the situation. You didn't just stop the fight—you made them decide to leave on their own."

Kudo smirked. "People don't like being told what to do. It's easier to nudge them into thinking it was their idea."

Haibara, who had been observing from a distance, finally approached. "Impressive as always, Kudo-kun."

Kudo shrugged. "It's just common sense."

Sudou, still fuming, crossed his arms. "Tch. I could've taken them."

Kudo sighed. "Maybe. But if you got suspended on the first day, what would that accomplish?"

Ayanokoji tilted his head slightly, studying Kudo. He's more capable than I expected.

Without another word, he walked past them and entered the store.

"Oi, where are you going?" Sudou called after him.

Ayanokoji didn't stop. "To buy groceries."

Kudo chuckled. "Looks like we're heading the same way."

And with that, the three of them entered the convenience store, the incident behind them—but not forgotten.

--

As Kudo, Haibara, and Ayanokoji entered the convenience store, the cool air inside provided a brief respite from the heat outside. The store was well-stocked, filled with students browsing the aisles, spending their generous allowances on snacks, drinks, and daily necessities.

As they moved further inside, Kudo's sharp gaze scanned the store's layout. This place really is like a small city…

Haibara, walking beside him, picked up a small bottle of mineral water. "For a school, this place is unusually well-supplied."

Ayanokoji, who had been quietly following along, finally spoke. "It's designed to keep students comfortable. The school provides everything so we don't feel the need to leave."

Their conversation was interrupted when they turned a corner and found themselves face-to-face with Horikita Suzune. She was holding a shopping basket with only a few necessities inside—soap, shampoo, and some basic toiletries. Unlike the other students eagerly spending their points on luxury items, she had chosen only the cheapest products available.

Her sharp eyes flickered over them, settling on Ayanokoji with an expression of mild irritation. "My, what an unpleasant coincidence," she muttered.

Kudo raised an eyebrow at her tone. "And you are?"

"Horikita Suzune. Class D," she answered curtly.

"Nice to meet you too," Kudo replied with amused sarcasm.

Haibara smirked then teased "Charming, isn't she?"

Horikita ignored the comment and turned to Ayanokoji. "You're not the type to associate with others. It's unusual to see you with company."

Ayanokoji shrugged. "I was just browsing."

Horikita sighed. "I hope you're not wasting your points on nonsense."

Kudo glanced at her basket. "You're buying the cheapest items possible. Saving up for something?"

Horikita scoffed. "Unlike certain fools in our class, I believe in being financially responsible. It's clear that most students don't understand the value of what they've been given."

Kudo smirked. "That does seem to be the case." His eyes then landed on a small clearance section in the corner of the store.

Free items?

Horikita followed his gaze. "That caught my attention too," she admitted. "Why would a school that gives students such a generous allowance offer free supplies?"

Ayanokoji remained silent, but Kudo walked closer, inspecting the bin filled with basic necessities—soap, toothbrushes, instant meals. A small sign indicated that each student was entitled to three free items per month.

Kudo's eyes gleamed. "Interesting…"

"What is?" Haibara asked, stepping closer.

Kudo pointed at the bin. "At first glance, this looks like an act of generosity. But think about it—why would they offer free products when every student has more than enough points to buy them?"

Horikita frowned. "You're saying it's a trap?"

Kudo tapped his chin. "Not a trap… more of a safety procedure. This suggests that some students—eventually—will run out of points. The school is preparing for that outcome."

Horikita narrowed her eyes. "That would mean…"

Kudo nodded. "Our points aren't guaranteed. They could be taken away, or reduced based on performance."

Ayanokoji glanced at Kudo, his expression unreadable. He figured it out instantly. He might be more perceptive than I thought.

Haibara crossed her arms. "So this school isn't just handing out free money. There's a catch."

Horikita smirked slightly, as if pleased that someone else saw things the way she did. "It seems you're not as clueless as the rest of our class."

"Flattered," Kudo said dryly.

Ayanokoji looked at the bin one last time before turning away. So, we won't be receiving 100,000 points every month… This school rewards value. And Class D? We're at the bottom.

"Well, this has been enlightening," Kudo said, stepping away from the clearance section. "But I still need to buy a few things."

As they walked toward the checkout, Horikita spoke once more. "Most of our classmates are wasting their money. If they're not careful, they'll be forced to rely on these free products soon enough."

Kudo smirked. "I wouldn't be surprised."

Ayanokoji remained silent. Inwardly, he knew she was right. It won't be long before reality sets in for Class D.

And when it did, the real struggle would begin.