Fortunately, thanks to Saiki Kusuo's intervention, Mikoto Ai, disguised as Ryūen Kakeru, didn't do anything out of the ordinary.
"Ryūen, that's enough. Ishizaki tried his best, and our opponent wasn't exactly a pushover," Ibuki Mio said, frowning as she tried to reason with him.
Though she knew Ryūen's abilities were crucial for Class D, she wasn't entirely comfortable with some of his actions.
"Oh? And who are you to tell me what to do?" Mikoto Ai retorted, still mimicking Ryūen's gangster persona.
Mio sighed, slightly annoyed but also embarrassed. "You seem… off today. Did you learn something from that Saiki Kusuo guy?"
*'If we can use this to stop Class D from causing trouble, that'd be great. But if Ryūen figures out what's going on once he's back, we're in trouble,'* Kusuo thought, then instructed Mikoto: "Nothing useful. Keep up today's plan."
"Got it," Mio nodded.
"I'm tired. I'm heading back," Mikoto said, mimicking Ryūen's mannerisms as he strode into the dorm, acting cold and distant.
"Does anyone else think Ryūen's acting strange today?" Ishizaki asked, scratching his head as he watched Mikoto leave.
"It's understandable," Mio replied. "We lost the sports festival pretty badly. Ryūen was so confident, but we ended up the biggest losers. Plus, this is the first time he's been outsmarted. Let him cool off for a bit."
"True…"
---
Inside the dorm, Mikoto took the elevator to Class D's floor, following Kusuo's instructions.
*'Third room on the right—Ryūen's room,'* Kusuo directed.
[I don't have a keycard,] Mikoto noted.
*'Not a problem.'*
The door unlocked instantly.
[This telekinesis is so handy,] Mikoto remarked.
*'I wouldn't say that,'* Kusuo sighed, glancing at Ryūen's petrified statue in his room.
Ryūen's frozen, taunting pose looked almost comical. If not for Kusuo's powers, none of this would've happened. Ryūen's student ID was still in his pocket, but the owner was now stone…
*'Sleep here tonight. Don't change anything in the room. I'll handle the rest,'* Kusuo instructed, then teleported Ryūen's statue back to his home, hundreds of kilometers away. Leaving it in the dorm was too risky.
Meanwhile, at the Saiki household:
"Honey…"
"Dad…"
Kusuo's parents, Kusuo Kuniharu and Kurumi, were sharing a tender moment—until Kusuo appeared with the statue.
"Ah! Kusuo! Why are you back so soon?" Kuniharu exclaimed.
*'I usually come back around this time,'* Kusuo replied telepathically.
"What's that you brought, dear?" Kurumi asked, eyeing the statue.
"A gift for us?" Kuniharu smiled, walking over to inspect it. He gently touched the statue, then—
*'It's my classmate. He accidentally turned to stone. I brought him here to prevent further issues…'*
"This is the first time Kusuo's brought a classmate home… though I didn't expect it to be a stone one," Kurumi noted.
*'Can't be helped…'*
Before Kusuo could finish, a loud crack echoed.
Ryūen's statue—shattered. His head rolled into the corner, still wearing that arrogant smile, now eerily mocking.
Kuniharu stood frozen, staring blankly. He'd accidentally knocked it over.
Ryūen never imagined he'd end up like this.
*'￥%＃＃...'*
"Kusuo, from now on… I'll rely on you to take care of Mom…" Kuniharu declared solemnly, tears welling up as he pulled out his phone. "Hello… police? I'm turning myself in…"
Kusuo stopped him. *'Calm down. No need to confess.'*
"Really?"
"Just use the restoration ability. It'll fix this."
Kusuo picked up Ryūen's head, restored the statue, and reassembled him. While restoration couldn't reverse petrification, it could repair damage.
"Great job, Kusuo!"
*'Don't celebrate yet. The restoration ability only works once per day on the same object. If anything else happens…'* Kusuo wiped sweat from his brow. *'If he dies, I'm at least 2% responsible.'*
"Don't worry, dear," Kurumi smiled. "I'll put your classmate in the empty cabinet. That should prevent any more accidents."
*'Alright, for now.'*
"I'll help move him!" Kuniharu offered.
*'No, I'll do it!'* Kusuo insisted, determined to prevent further mishaps.
---
The next morning, Kusuo arrived early at school, using his powers to monitor Mikoto's location.
Mikoto, still disguised as Ryūen, entered the classroom.
[Ryūen's here so early?]
[He usually arrives right before the bell.]
[Don't make eye contact…]
Class D students looked terrified.
*'Hmm, so he usually arrives just before class. Slightly off today…'* Kusuo thought. *'But Ryūen's extreme personality means few students interact with him. That should reduce trouble. Mikoto, avoid contact with others until school ends. Got it?'*
[Leave it to me!] Mikoto replied confidently.
"Good morning, Ryūen. You're early today," Ishizaki greeted nervously as the bell was about to ring.
Mikoto ignored him, turning away.
*'Whoa, that's a bit much…'* Kusuo worried.
[Is Ryūen still mad? He's too hung up on yesterday… This is bad…] Ishizaki panicked.
"I'll keep tailing Yamauchi! I'll get more intel!" he blurted, but Mikoto still ignored him.
Ishizaki, embarrassed, returned to his seat.
*'Hmm, oddly effective?'* Kusuo sighed. He'd have to wait until evening to assess the situation.
---
As the day ended and night fell, Kusuo brought Mikoto back to where he'd met Ryūen the previous day.
"Almost time," Kusuo said, placing Ryūen's statue where he'd been before. He held a pudding package, though it was regular, not limited edition.
"I'm exhausted," Mikoto groaned. She'd had a busy day, nearly walking into the boys' bathroom and causing a scene.
"He'll revert in a minute. He won't remember this gap, right?" Mikoto asked worriedly.
"As long as his memories align before and after, it'll be fine."
"What if he checks his phone and notices the date?"
"Don't worry. I've got it covered."
Kusuo's mental manipulation could even distort time perception. Everyone's hair colors were his doing too.
*'Without this, the plot timeline would've broken,'* he thought.
"Alright, you should leave now."
"Hey, you're kicking me out after I helped?" Mikoto pouted.
"If he sees you first, it'll cause more trouble."
"Fine, fine. Don't forget our deal!"
Mikoto left. Kusuo focused on Ryūen, who was seconds from reverting.
*'Should work… though Ryūen smells faintly of mothballs. Is it from the cabinet?'*
*'His memories should match yesterday's… but I can't let things escalate again.'*
Kusuo stood where he'd been before, posing as if Ryūen were about to remove his glasses.
Ryūen's stone form began to crack—
"Don't blame me for what's coming," Ryūen said, fully restored but unaware of what had happened.
*'He hasn't noticed anything. Good… He'll never know his head rolled like a soccer ball.'*
Ryūen was about to remove Kusuo's glasses—
Kusuo suddenly dodged backward, avoiding the attack.
Ryūen was surprised by Kusuo's agility but quickly grinned. "Impressive, but the more you resist, the more fun it'll be. I'm still furious about losing the sports festival. You'll be my outlet!"
*'That was actually yesterday.'*
As Ryūen stepped forward, his phone rang.
"Hmm?" He checked it, narrowing his eyes. His own voice played from the speaker.
"Listen up. Our next target is Horikita Suzune.木下, you're in her group, right? Fake an accident, like we practiced. Make it look like she collided with you."