Chapter 4: Chapter 4: A seemingly kind person... [Rewritten]
[2nd, April]
[Kurushima Pov]
Upon the arrival at the classroom, I was greeted by a vast majority of the class. The first one to greet me was Hirata.
"Good Morning, Kurushima-kun," Many of my classmates followed with their greetings. I greeted them back, and walked to my seat.
Strangely, it seemed like I was quite popular already, without doing anything much. Was obtaining popularity that easy? If so, that's great, is it not? I expected myself to have to work for it, but that might not be the case anymore.
As long as I'm charismatic, and friendly, I should be easily gain their likings. Perhaps, I might take control over the class, since Plan A won't really work...
"Kurushima-kun, we didn't exchange numbers yesterday. Mind if we do?" Matsushita-san, a girl with whom I was shopping yesterday, approached me. She was one of those who get well along with a fair share amount of people.
"You don't mind, do you?" Followed by her friends, Sato and Mori, I could see how they really wanted my phone number. Well, I was planning on exchanging it either way, so there's no issue regarding that, at all.
"Of course, not," I replied with a smile. I showed them my phone number, and a fairly decent amount of people typed them in.
Well, as of now, I have a decent amount of contacts, apparently. I'm not sure how much the average high school student has, but I also have some contacts from girls of other classes. Strangely, it's just girls, who ask me for my number.
There was Hirata and Ayanokoji, and someone from Class A, too. I meet him at the department where Shampoo's were. But the issue was, he was bald...
Anyway, his name was Katsuragi, and we exchanged a greeting, suddenly conversed, and soon after, I decided to share my phone number with him. The three guys that had my phone number, were the ones I approached. Meanwhile, the girls approached me...
Well, being good-looking makes you a target for many, it seems. If it's not wealth, then it's looks.
With a bright smile, Kushida approached me, "Kurushima-kun, would you also exchange phone numbers with me?"
"Sure, here you go," I placed my phone above hers, and it seemed like that was all.
I felt a gaze from behind, suddenly. "Even Kushida-chan?! Damn Ikemen..."
"Ike-kun, do you perhaps want my phone number?" she asked, seeing him staring at her.
"Yes, please," he said, almost sounding like begging for it.
Out of nowhere, the door opened, with Chabashira-sensei entering the classroom. Over the lesson we began to spent running over the course of objectives.
Once we were finished, and the lunchtime started, Hirata and I had a talk, and I suggested if he wanted to eat together, in the Cafeteria. That was how it should be...
But out of some reason however, Karuizawa alongside her group sat themselves to us. Well, the awkward thing came now...
Why the hell are they watching me eating?
"How elegant he moves the knife and fork," Someone remarked.
I felt a flush of surprise, not used to such attention over something as mundane as eating. It dawned on me then; perhaps they were intrigued by my table manners? I always eat like that, to the point I subconsciously executed each motion with precision and grace.
For me, it's a natural process, just like breathing. It's something I've done since I was three years old, so ingrained in my being that I hardly give it a second thought.
Apparently, this itself might even reveal the topic of me being wealthy, probably? I had the intention of manipulating the conversation, having Hirata figuring it out, but well, he might already concluded it, based on this.
Once again, I somehow had done something, which wasn't normal. I really didn't think anyone would be impressed about how someone eats, moves their knife and fork.
The meal itself, was pretty good. For just a price of 400 Points, I meant. I'd have loved to buy myself something more expensive... But I bought myself a Pillow, Blanket, and other things, and also, I tested several times something else out, which costs Private Points.
In the end, it's good to know that you can make yourself an Alibi, with the Allocation System on the phones, as once someone buys something, a [Record Entry] is created. I found a way to manipulate it, somehow. Quite a difficult method, which requires extreme precision and timing, but it's possible.
I should use it, when I have the time. For that however, something must happen, where I can take advantage of this.
Anyway, I'm not in the mood of thinking of that whole process how it works. I rather focus myself on this conversation, in case, Hirata does not figure it out, I manipulate him.
As I thought that Hirata might be speaking, someone else spoke up. "Now that I'm remembering, Sae-sensei said, we would be having swimming classes next week. I'm totally excited."
"Yes, I can't wait for that. However, I don't want those perverts to look at me," Sato said. With perverts, she meant Ike and Yamauchi, I believe. Perhaps also Sotomura, who has earned himself the nickname, 'Professor', out of some reason.
Shinohara agreed, having slight disgust in her eyes. "Yes, hopefully, those two don't take advantage of that to look at us, with their disgusting eyes."
"Now, now, everyone, please don't say this. We're classmates, after all. We should get along with each other," said Hirata, clapping his hands.
Impressive, Hirata. That's the power of an extrovert, it seems. I'm someone who tries to act like an extrovert, but truthfully, I'm just an introvert. If it wasn't for the influence I was aiming to get, I'd have walked away, already.
Somehow, the conversation didn't seem to stop. Because one of the girls, Mori Nene, said, "We can only trust Hirata and Kurushima-kun."
Of course, she meant it regarding the swimming classes. Since both of us get approached by them, they naturally also want us two to check them out, I believe.
Is that how you say it? Checking girls out? Hah, I don't know. I'm really not good at this. I learned so much, yet I don't know how to behave with mere high school students? I should have tried on learning to socialize myself with others...
Oh, wait, I rarely attended middle school...
I should have attended it more... But in recompense, my knowledge and my body are honed to perfection. It was kind of, an waste of time...
Besides, I did have the allowance to not appear so often. But that was because of my specific situation, rather. As long as I continued to be excellent in my studies and the school profited through me, they didn't really care, whether I appeared or not.
And I also didn't want to appear, actually. The only reason I wasn't requesting to be home schooled was because the probability of joining ANHS was higher with attending a school.
As their conversation continued, Hirata asked me a question, presumably to stop them from speaking bad about the other boys. "Kurushima-kun, do you perhaps want to join any club?"
Nobody spoke further from the girls, anymore. Hirata achieved it, his goal. "Clubs? I'm not that interested in that, currently. However, I might try to write an application to the student council."
As I was saying, gaining Influence was part of Plan B. And since the Student Council holds quite much authority, apparently, I'll also make sure to be appointed by them. Sooner or later, I'll incinerate a meeting between Manabu Horikita and myself.
"The student council?! Are you for real?" Sato exclaimed. She was apparently quite shocked, alongside everybody else present.
"Kurushima-kun, that's a great goal. Hopefully, you're able to achieve it. I wish you good luck with it."
"Thank you," I responded.
"Kurushima-kun, if you don't mind, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, go ahead, Hirata."
Within no time Hirata, continued to talk.
He seemed to be quite curious about something. "Regarding my question, Kurushima-kun, how do you know Koenji-kun? You don't have to answer my question, if you don't want to. And if I stepped my boundaries with this question, I apologize."
The reason he asked this is because Koenji is the only one who openly admitted and showed disdain of not socializing with the rest of the class. Perhaps, he had hopes that I could help him in that regard, however, if that is his intention, I have to disappoint him. Nobody can force Koenji to do something he doesn't want to.
"Our parents are some kind of old acquaintances, if you'd like to say so. I had only the pleasure of meeting him once, however."
"Acquaintances? If I remember right, didn't Koenji-kun say he is the heir of his family's conglomerate. Does that mean..."
Yes, yes, yes, Hirata. Say it. I can't say it aloud, but you can. After all, people would look at me differently, if I had introduced myself like Koenji.
"... You are just like Koenji-kun, a heir to your family's conglomerate?" Hirata asked, unsure whether this was the case or not.
Internally, I was clapping, but not outside. I'd love to clap, but then again, it won't be taken well at all, from any of them.
"Surprise, Surprise," I responded, rather uniquely.
"Doesn't that mean you're quite rich?" Karuizawa asked. She and the other girls had similar questions in that regard.
"I guess, you could formulate it like that," I answered.
I continued, "But please don't view me in a negative way, due to me being a little bit of wealthy."
I don't think I should say I was a 'Little Wealthy', when it's completely the other way around. But well, I don't intend to reveal how much 'Wealth' I have, rather, I intend to reveal that the conglomerate of my family offers great advantages and benefits, likewise with scholarships to the students here, so I can buy Private Points off, or get them through other means.
"Negative Way?!" Sato remarked, bewildered upon my answer.
"Kurushima-kun, I don't think anyone here views you in a negative way, at all. I think I should speak for all if I say, we view you in a very positive way," said Hirata.
"Yes, Hirata-kun is right, Kurushima-kun. I mean, nobody here views you in a negative way. It's rather the opposite," Karuizawa said.
"Yeah, they're right, Kurushima-kun," Matsushita-san said. Following her, everyone else on the table agreed too, fortunately.
I expressed my gratitude, "Thank you, everyone."
As this issue was solved, soon after, I stood up, walking alongside them back to the classroom. However, once the lesson ended, I walked towards the library, to read a book. But, I saw on a small alley, where no security camera's were a person being bullied by three people.
I can take this as my opportunity, for two reasons.
Firstly, I'll release some stress, and secondly, I obtain their Private Points, and perhaps, I should also use this to test the allocation System with the [Record Entry].
Well, I'm really fortunate, it seems.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone