Chapter 63: SOAAD System

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: SOAAD System

Shion’s monologue, POV

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?The human brain requires approximately eight hours of standard rapid-eye-movement sleep to reset its emotional baseline after a high-load psychological trauma....

?That’s what they say.

?Junpai should be fine after a good rest and comfort over time... I thought in my bedroom; it was dark and quiet.

?Well, I can’t guarantee that.

?On Monday morning, Classroom 2-B of the first years was filled with the specific, high-frequency chatter that always characterized the start of a school week.

?The weekend gossip was being traded like currency; students leaned over desks, sharing digital photos, laughing at inside jokes, and complaining about the upcoming mid-term preparatory quizzes. This was just the start of the semester; the review stage was a week that had just passed. Starting this Monday was the effective start of our academic lessons.

?At the front of the school public space, students would check their ranks and stats, which were displayed on a large screen monitor showing their names, ranks, class, and specialty. This was called the SOAAD (Student Overall Ability Assessment and Development) system.

?Intellectual Ability: Based on written exam scores and application of knowledge.

?Physical Ability: Based on physical fitness tests, martial arts, and performance in special physical exams.

?Adaptability: Measures problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and dealing with sudden situations.

?Social/Class Standing: Based on class attitude, attendance, lack of problematic behavior, and contributions like the student council.

?Though one’s weaknesses weren’t displayed or directly shown, anyone could figure that out just by observation and the SOAAD.

?Apparently, this morning the school announced an upcoming test that would be held amongst all first years. The test wasn’t given a name and was announced to start a coming week from now.

?Obviously, the teachers were absent from the class during this announcement. The students had already noted that they were only going to make an appearance on the day of the test.

?The board displayed a series of evaluations, showing the current ranking for the class.

?""LEADING CLASSES""

??◇??●Class Credits Evaluation○□??◇?

?1A - (0) | 2A - (0) | 3A - (0) | 4A - (0) | 5A - (0)

?1B - (0) | 2B - (0) | 3B - (0) | 4B - (0) | 5B - (0)

?1C - (0) | 2C - (0) | 3C - (0) | 4C - (0) | 5C - (0)

?1D - (0) | 2D - (0) | 3D - (0) | 4D - (0) | 5D - (0)

?1E - (0) | 2E - (0) | 3E - (0) | 4E - (0) | 5E - (0)

?1D - (0) | 2D - (0) | 3D - (0) | 4D - (0) | 5D - (0)

?From the displayed numbers, all first-year classes were reset for this semester’s rankings.

?Since next week was the official day, no student paid attention to the board.

?I walked through the hall, heading straight for class 2-B on the upper floor. The students were all incredibly lively today—I guess the recent news must have done something to spark their energy.

?On the other hand, I kept my eyes glued to my phone, checking the SOAAD metrics of students close to me or anyone I had a connection to. In my other hand, I carried a neatly wrapped wax-paper package.

?"Oh, hey, Shion-san!"

?I slipped my phone into my skirt pocket and slowly turned around. A cheerful female student stood there. Her long, cherry-brown hair was neatly combed, and her reddish-brown eyes practically glowed with energy.

?"...Ah, hey," I muttered, completely failing to recognize her.

?"You’re Shion, class 3-D’s leader, right?" she asked, leaning in closer.

?"Uh... yeah. Sorry, do I know you?"

?"Oh, right! Sorry for not introducing myself. I’m Lily. Lily Zach."

?The name Zach instantly caught my attention. She was related to someone from my class. So, this must be her older sister, I thought.

?"Zach? Wait, you mean—"

?"Yes, I’m Anna’s older sister," she interrupted smoothly, before adding, "You know, I’ve been trying to get in touch with dear Anna, but she just isn’t picking up."

?Dear Anna?

?"She must be busy with other things, I suppose," I replied. I couldn’t help but wonder why she was bringing this to me. If she wanted to see her sister, she could easily just walk over to our classroom.

?"You’re on your way to class 2-B, I assume," Lily uttered, looking straight at me. Her questioning was remarkably direct.

?"Yeah, I am," I replied, narrowing my eyes slightly. "But if you’re that worried about your sister, I could take you to our class so you can talk to her instead. Unless... that’s less important to you? I would understand."

?"It’s less important, actually."

?"Huh?" A wave of confusion hit me.

?"Anyway, don’t let me bother you! I was heading there to meet someone anyway," she replied, breezing past me.

?I stood there for a second. I didn’t know if she was trying to probe me for some reason, but her vibe made me instinctively put my guard up. Whatever. I wonder what Oota is doing right now?

?I trailed a few paces behind Lily, realizing that class 2-B really was her destination. She slid the door open, and I followed her inside. I immediately noticed her approaching two other students. From the way they carried themselves, I was willing to bet they were from class 1-B, too.

?At the lecture hall of class 2-B, I stood at the podium trying to find Oota from the tiered oak benches that rose toward a towering, reinforced concrete ceiling.

?At the back corner of the third row, Seat 14 was an absolute dead zone. Junpai was a first year at Karafuguru High; his SOAAD wasn’t anything special to speak of, but his social standing among the boys in his class gave him an edge of awareness.

?I noticed the massive, slate-grey blackboard monitor that stretched across the lower wall displaying the students’ evaluation matrices. They only do this once every semester, and the rating could change depending on our participation during school—apparently, it also involved outside school grounds.

?Junpai Ryuun

Physical Ability: (D)

Intellectual Ability: (C+)

Adaptability: (C-)

Social/Class Influence: (B-)

?SOAAD: (C) Competent

Class: 2-B

(1st year)

?Junpai sat with his chin resting flat against his crossed arms on the polished wooden desk surface. He hadn’t unzipped his school bag. His uniform jacket was slightly rumpled, the top collar button undone in a way that completely violated the school’s strict dress code, but the school hadn’t even bothered to correct him.

?His eyes were wide, bloodshot, and fixed entirely on a tiny, superficial scratch in the wood grain of his desk.

?Two rows over, Aki sat sideways in his chair, his massive frame completely dominating the space. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw set in a hard, rigid line that kept the surrounding classmates from approaching him.

?He was normally the more cheerful one. The amusement park incident must have done a number on him.

?Aki Mashushiru

Physical Ability: (B+)

Intellectual Ability: (D)

Adaptability: (C)

Social/Class Standing: (C+)

?SOAAD: (C) Competent

Class: 2-B

(1st year)

?Usually, Aki was the social battery of the room, shouting greetings across the aisles, throwing crumpled paper balls at Oota, or arguing about sports statistics. Today, his energy was heavy, dense, and protective.

?Every few seconds, his eyes would flick toward Junpai’s slumped form, his teeth grinding in a silent, rhythmic display of unvented frustration.

?The class 1-B student suddenly left without saying anything.

?Oota sat in the center row, his fingers loosely holding a mechanical pencil above his blank notebook. He looked exhausted. The pale, unearthly light from the classroom windows caught the subtle shadows beneath his red eyes—shadows that hadn’t shifted since his frantic episode during the incident prior.

?Oota Kageyama

Physical Ability: (C+)

Intellectual Ability: (B)

Adaptability: (B-)

Social/Class Standing: (F+)

?SOAAD: (C+) Competent

Class: 2-B

(1st year)

?"O-oota-kun."

?I whispered, incredibly soft and stuttering, arriving from his left.

?I was leaning slightly across the narrow aisle separating our desks. My white pigtails were perfectly styled today, held in place by two small, violet ribbons that matched my eyes. My pastel sweater was gone, replaced by my usual school wear. I held out a small, neatly wrapped wax-paper package.

?"I made extra tamagoyaki for lunch today," she whispered, her voice carrying that sweet, remarkably fluid warmth that always seemed to ground him.

?"The sweet kind you like. You didn’t eat breakfast, right? I-I could tell by the way you walked through the gates," I stuttered.

?Gosh, I was confident just a minute ago. So why am I like this?

?Shion Nanase

Physical Ability: (F+)

Intellectual Ability: (A-)

Adaptability: (B+)

Social/Class Standing: (A)

?SOAAD: (C+) Competent

Class: 3-D

(1st year)

?Oota blinked, his chest tightening as he looked at the package, then up at my bright, attentive face.

?If she’s worried about the incident, it isn’t your fault. So why worry?

?I don’t like seeing you like this.

?The memory of me trembling on the Ferris wheel platform, my disheveled hair, my red wrists, my tears, must have flashed through his mind with absolute clarity.

?I had been hurt, humiliated, and shoved by someone they had trusted into their circle, yet here I was, on Monday morning, completely focused on his nutritional intake.

?"Thanks, Shion," Oota murmured, reaching out to take the package. His fingers brushed against mine for a fraction of a second, and he noticed I didn’t flinch. The fragile, terrified girl from Saturday had retreated behind her standard, dependable routine.

?I needed him, so I was protecting him.

?From the back row, Inosuki watched the exchange through a lens of agonizing neutrality.

?What’s his problem?

?His notebook wasn’t blank; it was covered in columns of interlocking algorithmic symbols, but none of them made sense anymore.

?If you are that bored, go play some games or something.

?"....."

?His eyes couldn’t stop staring at me. Noticing his attitude, he averted his eyes several times, but his gaze kept directing itself back to me.

?Obviously I ignored him, but don’t tell me what I think it is.

?It’s not like I hate him or anything; he’s a good guy, but... I don’t know. It’s not like I’m that interested in love or romance to begin with.

?"Yo, bro, you good?" A voice reached out to him. He already knew who it was, his eyes directing themselves toward the voice. He saw Aki standing next to him.

?"Eh? Oh, ahhh... it’s actually nothing that serious," Inosuki replied, his voice low.

?"You sure? ...You’ve been staring at Shion for quite some time now," Aki added as he turned to me, who was with Oota, and then back to Inosuki.

?Can you guys stop, please? I can hear you.

?His facial expression was covered with signs of teasing and anticipation. "Hmmmmmm."

?"W-what?" Inosuki questioned, his voice trembling.

?"Underclassman, huh?" Aki muttered to himself.

?"Nothing big, just that you have a long way to go if you are aiming for the expensive gems."

?....My mind went blank. I don’t know what to make of that conversation.

?Apparently, Aki wasn’t talking up until now. I guess his recovery from yesterday wasn’t a problem... but Junpai... My eyes lowered to Oota’s desk.

?Oota seemed to notice this and wanted to say something, but then...

?The classroom door slid open with a sharp, clean mechanical click.

?The chatter in the room didn’t stop, but the volume dropped by three decibels as a figure moved down the main corridor toward the teacher’s podium.

?It was Nanami.

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"A bad system will beat a good person every time."

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