The 20 Million Points Plan

Led by Ichinose Honami, the group made a grand entrance into the family restaurant. Andō, the student she had mentioned earlier, immediately went to the reception to confirm their reservation. A waiter quickly approached them.

"I'll show you to your table," said the young employee wearing a headband, glancing at the group before adding with a smile, "There are seven of you, correct?"

Ichinose, her three female classmates, Hikaru, Shibata Sō, and Kanzaki Ryūji indeed made a group of seven.

"Yes, thank you."

Andō seemed comfortable with the procedure. After all, she was the one who had made the reservation on the very first day. Clearly, she was used to this kind of thing since middle school.

When they were led to a spacious long table, a collective hesitation arose about seating arrangements.

It was then that Ichinose Honami displayed her leader's charisma, swiftly assigning seats with a wave of her hand:

"Girls, take the seats at the back. Hashima-kun, you can sit next to me."

"Kanzaki-kun and Shibata-kun, across from us. Does that work?"

"Let's follow Ichinose's arrangement," suggested Shibata, whose sporty and cheerful nature led him to guide Kanzaki to the outer seats while the girls settled at the back.

"Hehe, I've got so many questions for you, Hashima-kun. Sorry for trapping you next to me," Ichinose joked, scooting slightly closer to him.

The subtle fragrance lingering between them made Hikaru uneasy.

"You can ask me anything directly. We're classmates, after all."

He steered the conversation to distract himself, turning toward Ichinose.

"I promise I'll be transparent. Actually, I came today because I had some ideas to share."

"Really?"

Shibata, sitting across from them, immediately perked up: "Hashima-kun has a new plan? Can I join?"

"They're just thoughts..." Hikaru sighed, exhausted from the morning's strategic deliberations. He wasn't in the mood to dive into calculations today.

"Even better! Whenever you have an idea, count us in," interjected Andō, the student who had made the reservation.

Pretty and well-groomed, she had clearly taken the time to put on makeup before coming out, enhancing her charm.

"Everyone's been talking about you since lunch, Hashima-kun. The whole class is thrilled to have someone like you with us."

"And on top of that, you're super handsome! Getting placed in Class B is pure luck!"

Under the direct comments from the three girls, while Ichinose watched the scene with amusement, Hikaru rubbed his temples. This was exactly the kind of pointless social situation that wasted his time.

"The guys are talking about you too," added Kanzaki Ryūji, teasingly noting his weary expression. "You managed to attract this much attention in just one morning. Impressive."

"If only you'd look at Ichinose that much, I'd be happy. She's our leader."

"No, no. Even though I'm the class rep, I also have faith in you, Hashima-kun."

"Right... Should we order first?"

Hikaru glanced at the waiter still standing nearby and grabbed the menu to change the subject.

"Ladies first."

"Got it! Any allergies or preferences?"

Ichinose took the menu and started discussing meal choices with the group. When the attention finally shifted away from him, Hikaru let out a quiet breath.

Once the orders were placed, conversation flowed naturally around the table.

Being all fifteen or sixteen years old, the atmosphere stayed relaxed. Topics ranged from influencers to celebrity scandals—once the ice was broken, bonds formed quickly.

It wasn't until the food arrived that attention turned to the meal.

About twenty minutes later, with plates nearly empty, Ichinose wiped her lips with a napkin before addressing the serious matter.

"Hashima-kun, can you tell us about your idea now? We're all waiting."

"Yeah, everyone's curious about how you plan to help the class," Andō chimed in, sipping her orange juice while staring intently at him.

"Alright. This plan will need everyone's participation, so I'll explain it directly."

Hikaru decided to make a bold move to boost Ichinose's "stock."

He took a deep breath before raising two fingers and declaring in a grave voice:

"I want to accumulate 20 million private points."

"WHAT?!"

Faces around the table froze. No one had expected such a statement.

Earlier, Teacher Hoshinomiya had explained the special rules regarding private points, but no one had paid much attention. Even if those points could allow class transfers or prevent expulsion, the required amount seemed unrealistic. Class B students didn't believe it was possible to gather that many.

"Don't be surprised. Remember what I said this morning—the competition between classes has already begun."

Faced with their stunned expressions, Hikaru smiled calmly before continuing:

"This 20-million-point rule is crucial. I think it's one of the most important in the school's system."

"But... why would you need that many points? Do you want to switch classes?" Ichinose asked, puzzled.

"Of course not. I like Class B—I wouldn't leave." His tone was sincere. "I want these points because I'm afraid of an unacceptable outcome in future class battles."

"Someone... could be forced to leave the school."

Silence followed his words. Ichinose, usually so gentle, reacted with unexpected coldness:

"Why do you say that?"

"I've gathered information," Hikaru explained, noticing her shift in mood but remaining composed. He showed them his phone.

"This is an announcement posted on the school forum by second-year students. Look closely at the participant count. Don't you find anything strange?"

"?"

Ichinose hesitated before taking the device. After a careful look, she gasped:

"Class 2-B... only has 36 students?!"

"What?"

The others leaned in to check. The screen displayed an invitation to a dinner organized by Class 2-B. Reserved seats: 36. The confirmation list also had 36 names.

One conclusion was inescapable.

"Exactly. By the end of their first year, four students had disappeared from their class."

"In your opinion... why did they leave the school?"