Cote: Retelling

Chapter 7.2: Soon to Come Tumbling Down

(The last chapter was short and so is this one, so I decided to post earlier. Don't expect the next chapter to come as quick. If you have any opinions on release rate comment on the previous chapter.)

It's been three weeks since the first swimming class, and now it's the end of April. During this time, I've spent most of my free time taking part in soccer club practice and refining my cooking skills. I can now make a decent fish and have a grasp of the basics, so I've been slowly expanding my recipe repertoire, which is still limited. I usually bring one or two side dishes to eat with the free vegetable set, and it's been quite cost-effective. I've also now explored the entire campus, though I haven't found a suitable voice recording device, as expected.

During lunch I've been hanging out with either my fellow soccer club freshmen, the idiot trio, Matushita or occasionally Hirata and his harem. Unfortunately, I'm still not part of any friend groups, being relegated to a casual acquaintance by everybody (except maybe the soccer guys).

Thanks to my constant reminders and karate chops, the idiots have gotten a little more behaved in class. Though, since the teachers themselves don't do much to stop them, they still tend to go out of control. It's not like I can get up and smack them around during class, so my hands are somewhat tied. I can't keep reminding them since it'll lose effectiveness, so at this point I just hope my theory about behaviour being tied to class points/private points is wrong. I don't have power over the rowdy girls, either, which worsens the issue.

Other than that, my days have been uneventful. However, today a little crack showed up on that picturesque image of a peaceful life.

"Quiet down, all of you. Today's lesson will be a bit serious."

"What do you mean, Sae-chan-sensei?" Ike calls sensei by the overly cute petname the class has come up with. Honestly, I'm surprised she's taking to so well. Wouldn't that be embarrassing for someone her age?

"It's the end of the month, so we're going to have a short test. Pass these to the person behind you and don't flip them over until I say so."

"Eh! Sensei, we never heard about this!" shrieks a few students. Well, for those who haven't been paying attention, I suppose this would be a death call.

"Stop freaking out. This test is just for future reference and won't affect your future grades or report cards. There is no risk involved, though of course that doesn't mean cheating is allowed. I won't be taking questions during the test, so if you have any ask now."

I raise my hand. "Sensei, will our score for this test be posted?"

Chabashira Sae-chan sensei smirks and affirms, making the unstudious students look worried. Well, a bad score would be embarrassing, I suppose.

I then ask one more question, trying to make it sound innocent as possible. "Also, just out of curiosity, what will happen if we do cheat?"

To this, some classmates see it as a joke and chuckle. Horikita glares at me in a "what nonsense are you saying" sort of way. Hirata and Kushida smile sheepishly.

Chabashira-sensei simply says with an almost unnoticeable smirk, "It'll cost some of your private points next month."

And just like that, a spark flashes through my head and I'm put at an impasse.

If the punishment is just a reduction in 'private points,' why does my current balance remain the same? Why next month?

This is happening right before the point transfer next month.