Auction ✕ Seat Change

"Auction ✕ Seat Change" (駆け引き✕席替えで), labelled 2nd Year Volume 1.05, is a short story released as the appendix booklet for Monthly Comic Alive February 2022 issue.

Summary
In the aftermath of the Unanimous Vote Special Exam, Kiyotaka reflects on how we often take things for granted until they're gone. This notion applies not only to people but also to material possessions, like a desk left empty after a student's expulsion. The emptiness serves as a reminder of events that transpired shortly after the school's opening ceremony.

In April, Chabashira informs the students that, now that they've entered their second year, they must change their seats. Some students are excited about this change, while others were less enthusiastic. Kiyotaka had initially assumed they would keep the same seats for all three years, but that was not the case.

Chabashira reveals a new seating method involving a table with 40 seats arranged in 5 columns and 8 rows. One seat in the back will remain empty due to there being only 39 students. Kiyotaka was intrigued by the term "unpopular" used by Chabashira, as well as the "pr" abbreviation next to each seat number. It was revealed that each seat had a starting price in private points displayed next to it, with seats near the window or corridor being more expensive, and prices decreasing further into the room. This unique seating arrangement introduces a competitive aspect to seat selection, with students needing to spend private points to secure their desired spots.

Following Chabashira's explanation of the seat selection process, it became clear that bids will begin with seat 1, and the student with the highest bid at that time will secure the seat. If no one bids on a seat, a second round will occur, with the seat's price reduced by half. There will be no third round. Students who haven't chosen a seat by then will enter a lottery for the remaining seats without any cost. Kiyotaka ponders the advantages and disadvantages of bidding in the first or second round. Waiting for the second round might be cheaper, but many students could have the same idea, leading to fierce competition. Bidding in the first round could secure a seat early but could also be risky depending on external factors.

Chabashira emphasizes that once a seat is chosen, it cannot be changed. Kiyotaka inquires about Suzune's seat preference, to which she responds that she won't spend private points on a seat. The auction begins with the first seat, priced at 45,000 private points. No students bid on it initially, likely due to its high cost. Kiyotaka realizes that while affordability is crucial, being close to friends might be even more important. He observes Sudō's desire to sit next to Suzune, regardless of the seat's price. Since Suzune doesn't intend to spend money on a seat, Sudō's only hope is the random assignment.

During the auction, the first seat, despite its proximity to the window, generated no interest from the students. Maezono asked Chabashira if they could consult with their friends before bidding, but her request was denied since pre-reserving seats would defeat the purpose of the auction. However, she allowed them to communicate through text messages. Many girls began texting immediately, with the boys following suit later. Unfortunately, no one placed a bid for the first seat within the allotted time, prompting Chabashira to move on to the next seat.

As the auction for the second seat began, Haruka messaged the entire Ayanokōji Group, proposing that they sit together. Keisei agreed to the idea, and Haruka suggested a group of six seats in the lower left corner, avoiding those attached to the window and the back row. Akito had a different preference but decided to go along with his friends. No one opposed the plan, and Haruka offered to purchase seat 15, the most expensive seat in their proposed group. However, Kiyotaka believed it would be challenging to realize their plan since other groups also wanted to sit together.

During the auction, seats 5, 6, and 7 were overlooked, but when seat 8 was up for bidding, four students—Sotumura, Okitani, Miyamoto, and Onodera—raised their hands. Chabashira encouraged them to place their highest bids, and after the bidding ended, Miyamoto secured seat 8 by paying 100,001 private points. Following Miyamoto's victory, a group of girls successfully claimed seats 10 to 12, and Keisei easily obtained seat 13 for 4,500 points, one of the Ayanokōji group's targets. Akito secured the next seat.

When the bidding for seat 15 began, Haruka and Ike both raised their hands, with Haruka winning the seat for 30,000 points. This left Kiyotaka and Sakura as the last ones to secure their seats.

The professor then secured seat 16 for himself, while Mii-chan got seat 19 without any competition since there were no bids for seats 17 and 18. The bidding for the cheapest seat, number 20, started at 1,000 points. Kiyotaka speculated that, if points were scarce, some students might prefer to wait for random seat assignments rather than pay even 1,000 points. Surprisingly, Hirata was the only one who desired seat 20, which raised the value of nearby seats.

In the auction for seat 21, Kushida unexpectedly raised her hand. Some girls had initially planned to compete with her but refrained from doing so, having previously decided on their seats through text messages. Kiyotaka observed that with the two most popular students sitting in the middle, the value of seats in the center of the class might change. Since middle seats were less popular initially, randomly assigning them could lead to class complaints, something Hirata wouldn't allow. This way, both Hirata and Kushida contributed to class harmony, and it appeared that Mii-chan had anticipated Hirata's actions by choosing seat 19 in advance.

Continuing with the auction, seat 22 was the next to be auctioned, and Kiyotaka raised his hand to bid. Ike also raised his hand, eager to sit behind Kushida. Despite Shinohara's disapproving look, Ike remained unfazed and declared that he wouldn't lose to Kiyotaka. This made it challenging for Kiyotaka to place a high bid, as it could be misinterpreted. Eventually, Kiyotaka offered 10,500 private points for seat 22, which initially cost 2,500 points. However, Ike won the seat with a bid of 30,000 points.

Sakura, panicked by this unexpected turn, sought guidance from Haruka through messages. Haruka advised her to stick to the plan. Although Kiyotaka couldn't secure seat 22, Sakura decided to bid for the next available seat, which was directly behind Ike. Since nobody else bid for it, Sakura obtained seat 23.

Kōenji claimed seat 24, leaving Kiyotaka unsure about his choice. He could sit next to Sakura but would be separated from the other members of their group. His friends offered to help cover the points needed, but he declined, emphasizing the importance of saving those points for interclass competition.

While contemplating his options, Kiyotaka remembered that Karuizawa had asked about his seat choice, and they had agreed to keep their relationship a secret. A message from Karuizawa appeared on his phone, as she likely noticed he was trying to sit closer to his group. She asked for his seat information, and Kiyotaka replied that he didn't want a central seat. He suggested that seat 40 would be acceptable, and Karuizawa agreed with his choice.

The first round of the auction concluded, and the second round began. Interestingly, the seats near the window, which were initially unappealing, now seemed to gain popularity. Chabashira allowed about 5 seconds for bidding on each seat before moving to the next one. Kiyotaka had a strategy to raise his hand at the 4-second mark to avoid competitors. However, this strategy failed for seat 5, initially priced at 20,000 private points but sold for 70,000 points, and for seat 6, priced at 254,000 points but sold for 80,000 points. Despite Kiyotaka's bid of 100,000 points for seat 7, Ijūin outbid him with 115,000 points.

Kiyotaka apologized to his group for not securing a seat, but they reassured him that it was okay, considering Kushida's unexpected choice. In the current situation, he couldn't sit with his group even if he wanted to. Therefore, he asked for their input to choose a seat he wouldn't regret later, and the group unanimously agreed.

Interestingly, no one bid on seat 40, allowing Kiyotaka to easily secure it by paying 20,000 points.

At the end of the second round, only seats 17, 25, 32, and 37 remained unclaimed. Those who had not selected seats included Sudō, Suzune, and Okitani. Chabashira announced that seat 32 would be kept vacant, and the students who had not chosen seats would participate in a lottery to determine their seat assignments. Sudō, Suzune, and Okitani drew their tickets in hopes of securing a preferred seat.

Sudō, filled with anticipation, opened his ticket first but then closed his eyes and clenched his teeth in disappointment. Suzune and Okitani also checked their tickets before handing them to Chabashira. She declared that Suzune would sit in seat 17, Okitani in seat 25, and Sudō in seat 37. Sudō resignedly took his seat, while the others looked on with sympathetic expressions.

Trivia

 * A panel with Class 2-D students sitting in their classroom can be seen in the 2nd year manga. The arrangement of their seats corresponds to the narrative of this story.