After parting from Shiina-san, Sendoh headed straight to the electronics store.
The school strongly supported its students. On the shopping street alone, there were three electronics stores.
Sendoh guessed these stores were managed by the school.
With 160 first-year students, the total number of students across three grades was about 480. Adding teachers and store staff, the population at Koudo Ikusei High School might be more than 2,000 people. But the stores' income wouldn't be enough to cover expenses.
Even though store staff had salaries, not all students had money.
Senior students from Classes C and D often lacked funds. Otherwise, the two seniors who became Ryuuen's targets wouldn't have been looking for free items.
'The purchasing power of students is weak,' thought Sendoh.
Points were limited.
So, could the stores still make a profit?
The stores served students, and they couldn't force staff to shop. Was the school spending money without taking profits?
Perhaps the school covered the stores' expenses.
These stores were free from operational costs.
It didn't make sense to open hot springs, movie theaters, or galleries for 2,000 people.
Movie theaters required daily expenses, and not all shows would be full.
'...'
'It's impossible to work part-time here,' thought Sendoh.
As a regular high school student, Sendoh was prepared to take side jobs.
But the school didn't allow it.
If stores operated at a loss, it would be difficult to employ people. From the information gathered, the school wanted students to compete between classes, with rewards.
First, Class A graduates would receive school awards.
Second, students' living expenses were deposited into their personal accounts based on their class value x 100.
Sendoh understood why new students received 100,000 yen upon entry: the initial class value was 1,000 points, so 1,000 x 100 = 100,000 yen.
It all made sense.
The school probably didn't allow students to earn points by other means.
While thinking about this, Sendoh entered the nearest electronics store.
There was only one clerk, wearing a red uniform. A short man with a thin beard, dark face, and small eyes. The type that made people suspicious.
'He looks dishonest,' thought Sendoh.
But that was just a first impression.
As Sendoh stood at the door, the clerk immediately approached, showing enthusiasm for sales.
"What would you like? A camera or a laptop?"
"You're a new student, right? Many new students choose laptops. If you're looking for something economical, our store recommends..."
The store's business was slow, but the selection was complete.
The prices weren't expensive.
There was a laptop priced at 28,888 yen. Cameras ranged from 20,000 to 40,000 yen.
Sendoh had 100,000 yen, enough to buy several electronic items.
But did new students really need laptops?
Sendoh came here just to buy a USB drive to store the video of Ryuuen beating people up.
But the video on his phone couldn't be transferred directly to a USB drive.
He needed a laptop as an intermediary.
Borrow a laptop from the store or someone else? Not safe, it could leak.
So, buying a backup laptop was the best solution.
The expense would be significant.
Sendoh valued his points, but was firm.
He had to buy what was necessary.
As Sendoh was about to speak, he heard a sound from the door. Two girls entered.
One tall, one short.
The tall one had purple hair with bangs and wore two hair clips. She had a beautiful face, but a cold attitude, as if she was annoyed.
The shorter one had dark blue hair, wore a hair clip, and had a more ordinary appearance.
The short-haired girl was outspoken.
"Hello, I want to look at hair dryers," she said loudly.
"If it's an electric fan—" The clerk looked at Sendoh, seeming embarrassed.
"Finish your business first, I'll look around myself," said Sendoh.
The clerk nodded, but didn't go directly to the girl. He went to the cash register, moved a sample camera on the desk, and only then approached the short-haired girl.
Sendoh continued checking the laptops.
The cheapest was 28,888 yen, the most expensive 99,999 yen.
USB drives were sold separately, prices ranging from 2,000 to 7,000 yen.
Reasonable prices.
But Sendoh noticed the store sold voice recorders, and the price was outrageous.
100,000 yen.
'A regular voice recorder costs 100,000 yen? More expensive than a laptop?' thought Sendoh.
Why?
"Dongdong—"
Sendoh saw the purple-haired girl take a USB drive from the table and walk to the cash register.
At the register, there was a sample camera.
The girl stood at the cash register, her body leaning forward, her left hand on the desk. Her movements were quick.
Suddenly, she turned and glared at Sendoh.
'...'
"I don't believe it," muttered the girl, putting the USB drive back on the shelf, then leaving.
Confusing.
"It's expensive here. I'll go to the supermarket instead," said the short-haired girl, abandoning her purchase and leaving.
"Customers—"
After losing two orders, the clerk approached Sendoh.
"I'll buy a laptop and a USB drive," said Sendoh.
Sendoh was practical. Rather than spending time choosing, he preferred to learn.
Shopping was completed in 5 minutes.
"Please come again."
Seeing the remaining 61,233 yen in his account, Sendoh felt mixed emotions.
As he heard the clerk's farewell, he exited the store, almost bumping into someone.
"Are you okay?" asked Sendoh.
"No, it's nothing, I didn't bump into anyone. Mi-Miyama?" The girl was dressed simply, with a hunched back, large twin ponytails, and wore glasses.
She was used to apologizing, her face embarrassed, but surprised when she saw Sendoh.
"Have we met before?" asked Sendoh.
"No, not yet."
The girl shook her head quickly, then ran into the store, as if frightened.
'Am I that scary?' thought Sendoh.
[You feel that the girl seems somewhat familiar, but you can't remember who she is. She has seen you more than once.]
The narration appeared in Sendoh's mind.
Sendoh remembered the narration mentioned that at the school gate, there was a girl who saw him and was afraid.
'Was that girl from earlier?' thought Sendoh.
Sendoh felt he got along well with Shiina-san, but this purple-haired girl and the glasses-wearing girl made it difficult for him to understand girls.
Ding!
Sendoh's phone vibrated.
[Miyama-kun, I returned to the supermarket. Someone approached me, so it took a while. Our shopping carts haven't been moved. I put your cart at the service counter. You can pick it up to pay later. There are too many items, so I'll handle my things first.] – Shiina Hiyori.
'Shiina-san is kind,' thought Sendoh.
Sendoh felt touched.
Huh?
As he was about to leave, Sendoh felt he stepped on something. He saw a small black object on the ground.
Sendoh squatted down and picked up the object. It turned out to be an SD card.
From its size, it seemed to be a camera SD card.