Chapter 255. [Social Games]

《Um, I guess it’s faster to do calculations like this in my head.》

《Wow!? Iroha-chan, you’re a genius!》

《No, no, no!? It’s not that I’m amazing. It’s just something all Japanese students can do, right!?》

《Really? Japanese people are all rich and geniuses, the strongest!?》

Well, the prejudice is getting worse!

Honestly, it’s embarrassing to be praised for something like this!

There’s nothing impressive about doing mental math.

In the first place, in America, calculators are allowed to be used in math classes.

So, it’s not that everyone can’t do it. But there’s no culture of mental calculation.

Maybe that’s why we don’t calculate fractions at the checkout, among other things, due to these influences.

***

The next class was National History.

In other words, it’s about the history of America.

High school textbooks are generally thick.

But this class had a surprisingly thin textbook.

《Well, that’s because America was founded just 200 years ago.》

Following the previous class, the girl sitting next to me continued to explain.

Is it about England and France? During that time, right?

When you think about colonial times. It’s only been about 400 years.

Or rather, it might be more unusual for a country like Japan, which has existed for thousands of years without changing.

《At this rate, it looks like we’ll finish quickly.》

《But after national history, we have to learn ‘state history’, you know?》

《There’s something like that?》

When Japanese people are asked, “Where are you from?” they answer with the country name, Japan, and Americans answer with the state name.

Such differences might surprisingly stem from such things.

I felt like I could see the background of America little by little with each class, whether education shapes ideology or not.

***

The last class today was Finance.

In short, it’s about pensions and investments.

《Everyone, the essence of money is trust.》

I thought while listening to the teacher’s words.

I wish I had taken this class in my past life.

《When you hear how people use money, what comes to mind?》

Living, saving, hobbies, and investing.

The students who were chosen answered. What came to my mind was also around those areas.

《That’s a very good answer. Now, let’s delve deeper. What specifically is investment?》

Stocks and bonds came to mind first.

And then, currency, and lately, even digital currencies.

《Is that really all? If digital currencies like Bitcoin are okay, what about NFTs… Digital artworks that cannot be counterfeited?》

I agreed with what was said.

Nowadays, they are treated much like stocks.

《What about things like paintings and other artworks? Or even something as simple as trading cards?》

When mentioned, those are investments too.

Or rather.

《Buying computer parts to mine digital currencies? Buying exercise equipment for your health?》

All of them are investments.

Listening to the discussion, I realized for the first time that investments are a much more casual presence than I had thought.

《Everyone… Start by investing in what you know well or are familiar with something you can trust.》

Something I can trust? For me, that’s already decided.

Of course, it’s VTubers!

《And, everyone. Learning about investments is the most low-risk, high-return investment you can make. Not just about money, but make sure to learn it well at this school.》

That’s how the teacher wrapped up the discussion.

After that, the conversation turned to the pension problems happening in America.

This was the most interesting class I’ve had in America compared to any other.

《Investment. Investment, huh?》

I’m not unfamiliar with it.

I allocate money for materials for the next event and equipment costs.

I also donate to create future VTuber fans (well, it’s also for tax purposes).

I own shares in a VTuber agency.

I also use super chats for my favorite.

But somehow, I felt like there was something more I should be doing, something to contribute to the VTuber industry.

***

《That’s about it~》

I spread my class notebook on the living room table while sharing today’s events with Angu Ogu.

On the monitor is the finance assignment.

《Until the next class, we were told to come up with a new investment plan and present it. But I wonder what to do. Angu Ogu, do you have any good ideas?》

《Ugh~! I want to go to high school and experience school life with Iroha!》

《Were you even listening to me? And don’t cling to me like that.》

I pushed Angu Ogu away firmly.

Maybe because we can only spend time together at night lately, our interactions have become more intense.

《Muu~, so cold. Well, why not write about the investments you’re already making?》

《Well, that’s true.》

《Oh, by the way…》

《Did something come to mind?》

《Well, it’s not about investments. Have you heard, Iroha? Soon, our agency and another major one will collaborate on a VTuber game release.》

《Huh? What game collaboration?》

《No, not like that. It’s VTuber-only, an original one.》

《Fan-made?》

《Official.》

《Ah, they released a novel game before, right?》

《It’s a social game.》

《Wha-wha-whaaat!?》

I grabbed Angu Ogu in excitement.

Ah! Is that so? Is that where I should be investing!?