Advanced Nurturing High School was established by the Japanese government to train future generations who will uphold the nation. According to various sources, including the government itself, the school boasts a 100% employment and university admission rate. With unique, state-led teaching methods, it spares no effort in shaping the nation's desired future. Spanning roughly 600,000 square meters, the campus is practically a district of its own.
I'm standing at its massive gate, ready to check in. In a wide open area, a crowd of students is lined up in rows before the gate. Each person has to go through an identity check and a search of their belongings before being allowed onto the campus.
"Student Kōenji Rokusuke, verification complete. We wish you an excellent stay at Kōdo Ikusei."
After passing the check, a woman at the booth hands me a card that doubles as a campus map, with my classroom marked in red. The novel didn't mention this, but it makes sense—first-years would struggle to navigate such a huge place without guidance.
Following the map, I have no trouble finding my classroom. Looking at the door, I crack a smile: 1-D. While first-years aren't supposed to know the truth behind the numbering yet, I do. The "1" refers to the year, and the "D" indicates the class's rank, with A being the highest and D the lowest.
Beyond that, this class is special. It's the main setting for the novel's key protagonists, including the main character. It's a gathering place for the year's most flawed students, making it a rowdy group. As a member of this class, I'm no exception.
'This is gonna be interesting.'
Barely containing my excitement, I open the door slowly and carefully. The room is sleek, white, and spotless. On the platform, alongside the teacher's desk, there's a whiteboard flanked by TV screens on either side. The student desks are arranged in five rows of eight. At the back, there are lockers matching the desk numbers.
Each desk consists of a square table with a storage compartment underneath and a chair. Every desk has a label with the assigned student's name.
I scan the room, quickly taking in the people already there. Judging by the crowd, I'm one of the last to arrive. Without wasting time, I head to my seat and settle in. I can feel eyes on me. No surprise—I stand out. This body's hard to miss. It brings back memories.
I pretend not to notice.
My seat's in the middle of the row, so I can't stare out a window to kill time. I'm about to pull out my pocket mirror but stop myself.
'Damn it, don't tell me I've picked up this body's narcissistic habits! No mirror… at least not in public.'
Resisting the urge, I rest my elbows on the desk, raise my forearms, and clasp my hands in front of my slightly tilted face, my torso leaning forward. In what I call "the cool guy pose," I stare into space, casually noting the students trickling in.
I don't show it, but I'm pretty nervous. It's been over thirty years since I set foot in a school. Naturally, I'm a bit unsure about how to act. Luckily, this body gives me a sense of calm and confidence.
'Come on, no need to stress. It'll be fine. This world's based on a novel I know well—I've got a huge advantage. Normally, this body would've arrived on the same bus as the main character, but aside from that and the hyper-real feel, things seem to stick to the novel overall "'It'll be fine.'
"Hello…"
A soft, faint voice snaps me back to reality. Based on the direction and the attention aimed at me, I know the greeting's for me. Yeah, like I said, this body's superhuman analytical skills are now mine.
I turn to my right, where the voice came from. The speaker's a girl with a lively, captivating face. She's wearing the same school uniform as me, naturally. Her light blue hair falls to her waist, with bangs framing her face, and she's got a well-proportioned figure, a mole visible near her left eye. She's clearly destined to be a stunner as an adult.
"Hello…"
I return her greeting with a tone as warm as hers, pairing it with a pleased smile.
'In the novel, Kōenji was an eccentric jerk who didn't care about anyone and was super narcissistic, which got him shunned by his classmates. Looks like that's not happening here. Good call resisting the mirror… Crap, don't think about it, or you'll cave.'
She seems thrilled by my response, growing more confident in approaching me. That greeting was definitely a test.
If my memory's right, based on her description in the novel's illustrations, she's Hasebe Haruka. An ordinary girl and a minor character, but later part of the main character's friend group. She's supposed to be introverted, so I'm surprised she took the initiative to talk to me. I'm honestly flattered.
"I'm Hasebe, Hasebe Haruka. You?"
"Kōenji Rokusuke. Nice to meet you, Hasebe-san."
"Same here, Kōenji-san."
Knowing her reserved nature, I can tell the conversation will fizzle out if I don't step up. To reward her courage for making the first move—and since she's the first person I'm talking to at this school—I take charge.
"Ready for classes to start?"
Still flashing my charming smile, I toss out a topic for Hasebe.
For a moment, she looks startled, probably because I'm taking the lead now. The sparkle in her eyes shows she's delighted.
"Uh, not really. You?"
'I see. She's testing the waters before opening up. Gotta play it smart—not too casual, but not too brief either.'
"As for me, I've got some nerves. This school's known for its unique teaching style. I'm kinda eager to find out what that's about."
'There. Concise, not too much, not too little. That should put her at ease.'
"Yeah, I'm curious about how this place works too. It's already massive."
'Good, her sentences are getting longer… Wait a sec. What's with me? Since when do I overanalyze everything?'
"Wanna explore the campus together after the opening ceremony? What do you say?"
I throw out an offer.
Don't get the wrong idea—it's just a friendly invite to get to know each other better later. Sure, I'm in a teenager's body, but I'm in my forties. Hasebe feels more like a sweet kid than a romantic prospect. Besides, I'm planning to check out the campus anyway, and it's better with company than alone. Now it's up to her. I know my offer might seem sudden, but since she's clearly impressed by the campus's size, a thorough tour's probably on her radar too. Here's hoping she's cool with me tagging along.
"Um, if it's okay with you, sure."
She's surprised at first but quickly calms down and agrees.
'Nice. If this goes well, I'll end the day with at least one friend in my corner.'
Even though I know the school's true purpose, I'm not planning to go lone wolf. My real-world experience taught me that cooperation beats individualism. So, over the next three years, I'm aiming to make friends and build partnerships. That means standing out.
I'm about to keep chatting with Hasebe when, with perfect timing, the first bell rings. Almost simultaneously, a woman in a suit walks into the classroom.
Her vibe screams "teacher," and she looks strict. She's probably in her thirties, with long hair tied back in a ponytail.
She steps up to the teacher's desk and, facing a now-silent room, begins: "Good morning, new students. I'm Chabashira Sae, and I'm in charge of this class. I teach Japanese history. Since this school doesn't reshuffle classes each year, I look forward to getting to know you all over the next three years. The entrance ceremony is in one hour at the gymnasium. For now, I'll distribute the list of this school's special rules and the enrollment guide."
With that, she hands stacks of handouts to the students at the front of each row to pass back.
Once everyone has the materials, Chabashira continues: "This school has unique rules that set it apart from other high schools. First, all students must live on campus and are forbidden from contacting anyone outside the school. Even immediate family can't be reached without school approval. Leaving the campus is also prohibited. However, the campus has plenty of facilities to ensure you don't feel restricted."
There are karaoke rooms, theaters, cafés, and even shops. But I know there's something far more important: the S-System, the absolute rule governing this school and its students.
"I'll now distribute student ID cards. With these, you can buy anything at campus shops and facilities. They work like credit cards. Be mindful of your points, though—there's nothing on campus you can't buy. If it's here, it's for sale. Swipe the card at machines to use it. The machines are user-friendly, so you won't have issues. Points are credited automatically on the first of each month. Everyone currently has 100,000 points on their card. One point equals one yen. No further explanation needed."
The room erupts in chatter. Understandable—telling a bunch of high schoolers they get a monthly allowance of 100,000 yen from the school is bound to cause a stir. But I know what's behind this generosity.
"Surprised by the points? This school evaluates students' abilities. Everyone here, having passed the entrance exam, has shown a certain level of merit and value. The money reflects your skills. Spend it freely. After graduation, though, all points are reclaimed. Since points can't be converted to cash, there's no point in hoarding them. How you use them is up to you. Spend on what you like or need. If you think some points are useless, you can transfer them to others. However, bullying for points is strictly forbidden. The school takes a hard line on bullying."
Chabashira-sensei finishes and scans the room, her eyes briefly meeting mine.
'Here we go. The game's officially on.'
Knowing the novel's plot, I'm aware this school isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Our teacher's a special case too. Unlike her colleagues, she's deliberately withholding info to test us.
In the novel, Class D's students fell for the trap and ended up with no allowance the next month. If nothing changes, that'll happen here too.
I see this situation as a shot at a brighter life. To make that happen, I need to turn this school into a springboard for success. That means standing out from the start. I'm not here to suffer through the plot's drama. I've got a good-looking, smart, and strong body to back me up.
'Alright, time to shake up this damn plot and climb to the top of this school.'
"It seems no one…"
Chabashira's about to wrap up, seeing no questions, but I cut her off by raising my right hand high.
My move draws the class's attention, and I catch a slight, intrigued glance from Chabashira.
"Yes?"
With her permission, I stand, straight and tall, locking eyes with her.
'Time to start my rise.'
"Thank you, sensei, for giving me the floor."
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