Dressed in an oversized hoodie with the hood pulled low, I was doing my best to blend in. Yeah, I know, acting "casual" while hiding my face seems counterintuitive, but trust me, this place required discretion. The Keyaki Mall's Arcade Game Room wasn't exactly on-brand for Horikita Suzune. If anyone from school spotted me here, questions would fly, and explanations? Not worth it.
So why was I here? Simple: I had insider knowledge!
Classroom of the Elite had this hidden Easter egg that was hard to find unless you scoured online forums. Turns out, spending time in the arcade could boost my "Luck" stat—a feature players had begged for since stats like Intelligence and Physical Ability had easy, practical ways to level up. Luck, though? Locked behind secret mini-games in the arcade. Tedious, yes. But when Luck's maxed out, it's like bending the game's rules in your favor.
In fact, in a high-stakes encounter, Luck could mean the difference between a critical hit and a near-miss. There was a player video where Luck let them dodge an exam day they were unprepared for, shifting the deadline for the whole school like some kind of divine intervention without the use of points because why not? Ridiculous? Absolutely. But in a pinch, I'd rather bet on Luck than skill.
This hidden system had been controversial, sure, but it was practically cheating. If I could quietly grind up my Luck stat, I'd be unstoppable in tight situations back at school, manipulating outcomes without lifting a finger.
Asking for another example? Fine. I saw a player who maxed out their Luck stat pull off so much bullshit. They'd just missed an important study session and were about to face a random pop quiz in class. But, thanks to their Luck, the fire alarm accidentally went off, canceling the test altogether. As if that wasn't enough, they found extra test answers on their desk later that week. Luck wasn't just bending reality; it was twisting it into a personal cheat code. Imagine, a real-life "skip consequence" button.
That's plain cheating.
I was absorbed in my game of Mario Bros, grinning with each new pop-up notification.
+ 1 LUK!
+ 1 LUK!
+ 1 LUK!
Heh, this is way too easy! I probably should've toned down my creepy smile, though. I could feel some stares as I let out a small, triumphant chuckle. My dream of becoming the god of this school was unstoppable. No one could beat me, no one!
But then—a sudden clatter echoed nearby. I turned, and my face went pale as I spotted an unmistakable figure from my class.
"H-Horikita...san?" A boy in glasses stammered in disbelief, staring at me, pad forgotten on the floor.
Hideo Sotomura. That's what the floating screen showed. Of all the people to run into, it had to be him. And I was too shocked to even move.
"What are you doing here? Waah!" Sotomura exclaimed, his voice rising in surprise.
Before he could draw any more attention, I snapped out of my shock and clamped my hand over his mouth. Realizing he couldn't breathe, I hastily dragged him to a secluded corner like some murderer hiding the evidence. My heart raced too fast for a reason to catch up.
"'What are you doing here?' That's my line, Sotomura-kun. Why are you saying my name out loud like that? And how on earth did you recognize me?"
"W-well, the screen reflected your face a little, so I, uh, figured it out! I swear, I won't say a word! I promise!"
"Of course you won't. I'll make sure of that. You understand, don't you?" I lowered my voice to a chilling whisper, one that could freeze anyone in their tracks. "This alleyway is the perfect place to... deal with problems, don't you think?"
I tightened my grip just a little, trying to maintain the intimidating facade. Sotomura's eyes darted nervously, he let out a nervous laugh, only now fully realizing the "trouble" he'd stumbled into.
"Y-you can call me Professor!" he stammered with forced bravado, a shaky smile playing on his face.
"There is no way I'm going to call you that," I replied flatly, releasing my hold on him but still giving him a stare that could probably melt ice.
"Right, right… er, Horikita-san, I promise, I didn't see anything… at all!" He put his hands up in a plea, looking more like he was facing a final boss than a classmate.
Wait, technically he wasn't wrong.
"Good. I'd hate to think otherwise," I replied, leaning in just enough to make him squirm. "Now, tell me, what were you doing here anyway?"
"Uh, well… sometimes I come here to unwind and play games, obviously. It helps to save some points instead of buying them," he admitted, adjusting his glasses nervously. Wow, it was honestly smart of him. "I, uh, actually go by 'Professor' in some circles, you know."
I rolled my eyes. "Don't expect me to humor that title."
"Yes, of course, absolutely not!" he replied quickly, nodding fervently, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. Then, after a moment, he hesitated, studying me with a curious look. "I mean… I didn't expect you, of all people, to be a gamer."
I raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly did you expect?"
I wasn't giving many impressions in class but surely it is too early to judge someone.
"No, no! Don't take it the wrong way! Just… well, seeing you here feels like spotting a rare Pokémon," he added, attempting a weak grin.
I give him a blank look, crossing my arms. "Listen, if you're hoping for some grand reveal or confession event, you're out of luck. I'm here..."
He seemed to nod knowingly, then gave a small, conspiratorial smile. "I get it. So, uh, if you need me to, I could… cover for you. You know, in case anyone else shows up here. Like… a lookout!"
I shot him a skeptical look, but the offer wasn't completely terrible. After all, the last thing I needed was a swarm of my classmates wondering why the ever-stoic Suzune Horikita was spending time at an arcade.
"Hmph. Fine," I muttered, glancing away. "Just keep your mouth shut, and don't get any ideas."
"Oh, of course! You can count on me, Horikita-san. Or, uh, should I say... Gamer-kita?" he added with a nervous chuckle, clearly trying to lighten the mood.
"I will kill you."
"L-let's not get carried away!"
ㅤ
Skip.
Skip.
Skip.
ㅤ
I was currently in our classroom, watching as lessons had already started. Seeing that everyone was present, I figured it was the perfect time to initiate my plan.
The moment Chabashira-sensei stepped out for her break, I made my move. Rising from my seat and ignoring the questioning look from my support character, Ayanokouji-kun, I walked straight to the blond-haired boy, who was deep in conversation with Karuizawa-san.
"Hirata-kun, sorry to interrupt, but I believe it's time to put our plan into action. I'll need your help, so please go ahead," I inform the boy who naturally brought the class together.
"Ah, I see, Horikita-san. If you think now is the right moment, I won't question it. After all, you pointed this out first," Hirata replied calmly.
Karuizawa-san glanced between us, her expression a mix of confusion and suspicion. "Yosuke-kun, what is Horikita-san talking about? What plan? And hey, what makes you think you can just walk over here like that?"
"It's okay, Karuizawa-san," Hirata reassured her with a gentle smile. "I'm sure you'll understand soon. Just bear with us for a moment. We're only trying to make sure our class stays on the right track."
"Fine, if you say so. But I won't forget this, Horikita-san. You hear me?" she muttered, crossing her arms.
I sighed, grateful she'd at least given us a bit of leeway, and offered her a quick thanks.
Hirata then stepped up to the front of the class, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention with a warm smile. "Excuse me, everyone, could I have a moment of your attention? Horikita-san has something to share, and I believe it will help us all understand the rules concerning this school better."
His natural charisma seemed to draw everyone's eyes to him instantly. Some, like Yamauchi and Ike, grumbled, muttering things like, "What's there to understand?" or "Let's get out of here; this is probably just about studying."
But word of my announcement would spread soon enough. Even Sudo, who looked ready to walk out, stayed seated, perhaps curious as to what I had to say. Hirata stepped aside, giving me the space I needed at the front.
I faced the class, feeling their eyes on me. "I'd like to ask everyone to keep what I'm about to share from reaching other classes." I then explained what I'd learned about Private Points, careful not to reveal too much. My goal was to subtly position myself as observant and insightful without giving too much away.
"Their reactions varied. Some looked in disbelief, while others seemed deep in thought. Koenji, of course, was preoccupied with brushing his hair.
"Wait, how do we even know that all she said is true? I mean, she could have just lied to us," Shinohara said with a doubtful tone.
"Why would I lie to you? What would I gain from it?" I responded, silencing her skepticism. "Even if you doubt me, are you willing to risk wasting your points just to prove me wrong? If I am lying, you'll still have three years to enjoy school life. Does waiting until May for new clothes or gadgets really matter that much?"
+ 1 CHA!
+ 1 CHA!
+ 1 CHA!
My words struck deep into them, I think.
To everyone's surprise, Koenji added his piece.
"You seem awfully confident, Horikita-girl. Care to give us one good reason why we should take you seriously?" His sudden involvement took me by surprise. If someone like Koenji, usually withdrawn from everything happening in the class, was intrigued, it surely gave the others something to consider.
I seized the opportunity. "Did you know we're under surveillance? Hidden cameras record everything—tardiness, phone usage, all our slip-ups. They're discreetly placed in the ceiling corners."
My words stirred the class into a murmur of alarm.
"No way, right?" "That can't be possible!" "Wait... there are cameras with red lights…"
"But isn't that invading our privacy?" Yukimura asked, disturbed by the thought of being constantly monitored.
Koenji chuckled, his eyes still fixed on me and Hirata. "You assume something so naive, Glasses-boy? This is a government-supported institution. Unlike your typical school, stepping in here means agreeing to terms of conduct. Anyone who read the school's regulations online would know. Naturally, in a secluded place like this, our movements are thoroughly monitored."
"What Koenji-kun says is true," I confirmed, seeing the shock on their faces. Sure, they expected some rules, but nothing on this scale. Unlike typical schools, where cameras are in the halls or common areas, here they were everywhere. Shop entrances, lights, and parks. It was necessary, though.
"Now, now, Koenji-kun, don't scare them too much, please." Hirata, noticing their unsettled faces, stepped in like a hero. "The school indeed monitors us, but that's normal, right? Without legal guardians around or teachers hovering over us outside school grounds, they need a way to ensure we're safe."
Then he turned to me. "This is why we wanted your attention today. Horikita-san fears we're not guaranteed our monthly point allowance."
"What? We were promised 100,000 Private Points at the start of each month, weren't we?" Karuizawa-san spoke up, clearly trying to be the voice of the confused class. Smart move.
I figured it was time to reveal the truth.
"I don't think we were promised those points," I explained. "Chabashira-sensei mentioned the school would evaluate us based on our behavior and completing assignments. Doesn't that sound like a performance appraisal? This is supposed to be the best school in the country, so don't you think it's strange there aren't stricter rules? And why would they give us such a ridiculous amount of points, equivalent to real yen?" I tried to explain as clearly as I could, hoping the class would see our situation wasn't as ideal as it seemed.
"That's bullshit!" Sudou, who had been silent, suddenly burst out, almost knocking over his chair as he stood up. "What!? Are we supposed to just figure all this out on our own!?"
Others voiced similar frustrations, though more subdued.
In a way, I understood the teachers and administrators. To them, we were expected to understand basic behavior, to be pragmatic, and to want to improve ourselves out of our own drive.
But the reality was different. My classmates, even myself, like most young people, needed to see firsthand why certain actions were worth taking before they committed to them. The administration wouldn't cut us any slack. They simply expected us to adapt to society's expectations. Otherwise, you'd be left behind, just another nobody.
Haha, I made it sound almost terrifying! But thankfully, most people find a way to move forward. The game was meant to be casual, yet the truths it revealed about the real world were astonishing. I was merely quoting what I had read on the fandom Wiki.
I wondered if this inner debate of mine was a mix of Horikita's original personality and my time in this body, making me strangely attached to concerns about my own teenage life.
I hope I'm doing you proud, Horikita-san!
+ 1 CHA!
+ 1 CHA!
+ 1 CHA!
PING!
[You gained 5 Favorability Points with Hirata Yosuke.] [You gained 10 Favorability Points with Karuizawa Kei.] [You gained 15 Favorability Points with Matsushita Chiaki.] [You gained 10 Favorability Points with Sudou Ken.] [You gained 10 Favorability Points with Teruhiko Yukimura.] [You gained 10 Favorability Points with...]
I was suddenly spammed with notifications; it seemed my speech had dealt an effective blow to them!
