'How did things end up like this...?'
'My glasses are meant to suppress one of my abilities—anything I look at directly turns to stone...'
'But who could've seen this coming?'
Saiki Kusuo knelt on the ground, helplessly punching the floor in frustration. A bag of coffee pudding lay discarded nearby.
In front of him stood a stone statue.
The statue had Ryūen Kakeru's build and even his face was an exact match. And...
'This #$% is Ryūen!'
Saiki sighed, his gaze fixed on the statue.
Just seconds ago, it had been the lively Ryūen Kakeru.
Anything Saiki looked at directly turned to stone. Luckily, this power could be physically blocked—even a simple piece of transparent plastic would do.
Ryūen had been about to confront Saiki, but Saiki's attention was entirely on the pudding in his hands. He hadn't noticed Ryūen trying to remove his glasses.
And now, here they were.
If Ryūen had just been knocked away like a skipping stone, it would've been easier to handle. Saiki could've restored his body and erased his memory, and no one would've been the wiser.
But petrification was a whole different problem.
Once petrified, Ryūen couldn't be restored. He'd have to wait 24 hours to revert naturally, and his memory during that time would be lost.
On a holiday, it might've been manageable, but this was school. Every student had classes to attend.
Class D would notice Ryūen's absence immediately. If things blew up, it'd cause a ton of trouble.
Ryūen wasn't someone who went unnoticed. His disappearance for a day would definitely be noticed.
Saiki had to figure out not just how to cover up Ryūen's absence, but also how to keep Ryūen from realizing what had happened.
Petrification erased memory. When Ryūen reverted, his memory would pick up right before the petrification.
If he woke up somewhere else, surrounded by unfamiliar sights...
Saiki felt a headache coming on. He hadn't expected an even bigger problem after the sports festival...
First, he quickly scanned the area, confirming Ryūen's underlings, Albert and the others, weren't nearby. No witnesses either. He teleported Ryūen's statue back to his dorm room.
'What do I do now? Anyone who can help...?'
Saiki's brow furrowed. Suddenly, an idea struck him. He pulled out his phone and sent a text.
Saiki: Come to my dorm. Alone. Don't let anyone see you. Room number: XXXX.
The reply came instantly.
Aiura Mikoto: OK! On my way!
Saiki had exchanged contacts with Aiura earlier, just in case. As the only person at school who knew about his powers, she was his only hope.
Aiura: I can't get in. The dorms require a student card.
Saiki: I'll come get you.
Saiki teleported Aiura directly to his side.
"Wow, that was fast!" Aiura exclaimed.
The next moment, she dashed to Saiki's bed, hands on her clothes, ready to strip.
"I'm ready, anytime..."
"What are you doing?" Saiki asked, annoyed.
"Isn't that why you called me? You said come alone, don't let anyone see..."
"Your imagination's running wild."
"Isn't this why you called me?"
Aiura pouted, quickly adjusting her clothes.
"I need your help with something urgent."
"What? Did you accidentally kill someone and need me to dispose of the evidence?"
"Look behind you."
Saiki pointed.
"What?"
Aiura turned and froze at the sight of Ryūen's statue. For a few seconds, she stood stunned—
Then let out a blood-curdling scream.
"Ahhhhh!"
"Quiet!"
Saiki rushed over, covering her mouth.
"This is a dorm! If someone hears, we're in trouble!"
Not just the statue—Aiura, a non-student, being here was already a huge problem.
Saiki used telepathy to explain everything that had happened with Ryūen.
"So that's what happened..."
Aiura bit her lip, then looked at Saiki.
*He's definitely my soulmate. Even has powers like this...*
"Hey, stop your wild thoughts."
"Oops, forgot you can read minds."
Aiura turned back to Ryūen.
"I remember him from the sports festival. Didn't seem friendly. Can't believe he went after you."
"Technically, it wasn't me."
Saiki shook his head, thinking of Yamauchi Haruki. Still, he deserved it.
"He's trouble at school, but if he's gone for 24 hours, it'll cause even bigger problems. If the school checks the cameras, they'll see he came looking for me."
Ryūen's ambush spot was a blind spot, but he'd been caught on other cameras on his way there.
If the school didn't investigate, it'd be fine. But if they did...
"I get it. So what's the plan?"
Aiura asked eagerly.
*If I help Saiki, we'll get closer for sure!*
Saiki heard her thoughts clearly. Aiura was trouble, but right now, he had no choice.
"You'll impersonate Ryūen."
Saiki stated his plan.
"Huh?"
Aiura froze.
"You heard me. I can hypnotize people to change how others see you, even your voice. You know about my powers, and you're not a student, so you're the perfect candidate."
Saiki could change how others saw someone, but not himself. That's why he needed Aiura.
She'd impersonate Ryūen, go about a normal day, and no one would notice his absence.
"I'm not a slacker! I run a shop at school! I even sold water!"
Aiura protested.
Her fortune-telling shop had been popular during summer, but it was seasonal. Most people only visited once, so business was just average now.
Aiura wasn't short on money. She was here solely to find her soulmate.
"Will you help?"
"I will!"
Without hesitation, Aiura nodded.
"But there's a condition."
"What?"
"You have to go on a date with me."
"I refuse."
Despite Aiura's stunning looks, Saiki refused flatly.
"Why? I'm making a huge sacrifice here!"
"Fine, I'll owe you one. If it's just hanging out or going for a walk, I'll agree. But I set the time and itinerary."
Saiki replied.
This was a crisis. He needed Aiura's help.
And if he controlled the plans, he could avoid trouble.
Maybe a boring library visit or an afternoon of pudding would make Aiura lose interest.
Everything's under control.
"Deal!"
Aiura smiled, nodding firmly.
"Agreed!"
It wasn't just Saiki's promise—this sounded fun to her too.
"Okay, let me check on them."
Saiki used his clairvoyance to observe Class D.
Outside the dorm, Ishizaki Daichi, Albert, and Ibuki Mio were chatting by the bushes.
"Seriously, where's Ryūen? He should've gotten info from that Saiki guy by now."
Ishizaki kicked a stone.
"Give it time. Maybe Saiki's stubborn, or he really doesn't know anything."
Ibuki shrugged.
"Yeah, let's wait."
Albert added slowly.
*Does Ryūen have something to do now?*
Saiki teleported Aiura near the dorm and used hypnosis to make her appear as Ryūen.
*I'll communicate with you telepathically. Just follow my lead. Questions?*
Saiki's voice echoed in Aiura's mind.
*Got it.*
Aiura nodded.
*Act like Ryūen—a ruthless gang leader.*
Hearing Saiki, Aiura strode confidently toward the group.
"Ryūen, you're late!"
Ibuki frowned at Aiura's arrival.
*I don't know these people!*
*Don't panic. The girl's Ibuki Mio, the black guy's Albert, and the other guy's Ishizaki Daichi.*
Saiki explained.
*Right.*
Aiura responded mentally, then spoke.
"My apologies, Ibuki-san!"
"???"
The group froze at Ryūen's polite tone.
*Did he just say "san"? Did I hear that right?*
*Is he being sarcastic?*
*Is Ryūen mad...?*
*Hey, remember your role! You're Class D's ruthless leader!*
Saiki reminded her.
*Oops, first time impersonating someone!*
Aiura replied, her mind flooding with gangster movie scenes. Saiki relived them with her.
*I know what to do!*
Aiura smiled confidently, standing tall with a hint of arrogance.
*Good, keep it up.*
Saiki praised.
Aiura turned to Ishizaki.
"Kneel."
*???*
Saiki was stunned.
*What are you doing?*
*Gang leaders always talk like this in movies!*
Aiura explained.
*No they don't! Even Ryūen wouldn't...*
As Saiki struggled, Ishizaki knelt.
*?*
Saiki's mind filled with question marks.
"My apologies, Ryūen! I followed Yamauchi for hours... found nothing unusual. I'm so sorry..."
Ishizaki's forehead pressed to the ground.
*What has Ryūen done to you?*
*Next, you're supposed to say, "You won't even call me Godfather..."*
*Stop copying movies! And why The Godfather?!*
Saiki shouted in Aiura's mind.