"Kushida must have obtained the exam questions from Ryūen. Given her original academic ability, if she gets the questions in advance, a perfect score isn't impossible."
After leaving the café, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said to Saiki Kusuo,
"Horikita's academic ability surpasses Kushida's, but considering various factors, achieving a perfect score won't be easy for her either."
"Hmm."
Saiki Kusuo merely nodded faintly, not seeming particularly concerned.
"You look like you've already prepared for this."
Ayanokōji noticed Saiki's calm expression and assumed he had a plan.
*'Indeed.'*
Saiki thought to himself.
With his psychic abilities, this was hardly a problem for him.
During the exam, Saiki could use his powers to remotely alter the answers of both Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyō.
He could also make Kushida sleepless the night before the exam and cause her pen to break during the test...
For Kushida to outperform Horikita in front of a psychic was simply impossible.
Saiki had countless ways to ensure Kushida's defeat.
However, he couldn't reveal this, so he could only observe Ayanokōji, reading his thoughts for a conventional method to make Kushida lose.
[I plan to place cheating notes around Kushida before the exam, so Chabashira-sensei catches her cheating. That way, her score will be zero, and she might even be expelled. This would eliminate her threat in the class.]
"Maybe... we could make it seem like Kushida is cheating, causing her to lose this bet."
Saiki quickly suggested.
"Our thoughts align."
Ayanokōji nodded,
"How do you plan to do it?"
"Uh... find a chance to hide cheating notes in her clothes?"
Saiki replied.
[Saiki's idea matches mine, and he's the best person to execute it. After all, he has several girls around him who can be used as tools. He can easily use them to approach Kushida and pull this off.]
*'...'*
Saiki heard Ayanokōji's thoughts and didn't know how to respond.
"Then I'll leave this to you, Saiki. You'll likely find it easier than I would."
As Saiki hesitated, Ayanokōji spoke up, assigning the task to him.
"...I haven't agreed yet..."
"Also, I'm not sure what Horikita's plans are, but she's probably prepared too. Still, we should take precautions to avoid surprises."
"Hmm..."
Saiki nodded. He wasn't sure what Horikita had been up to lately—since he'd been spending after-school hours at the café with others for study sessions. With so many people around, he couldn't use his clairvoyance without drawing attention.
"I initially wanted Kushida expelled, but Horikita sees value in her and wants to use her to help the class rise. What's your take?"
"Whatever."
Saiki replied casually, not wanting to get involved in more trouble.
"Seems we think alike. Let Horikita handle it her way."
*'?'*
Ayanokōji interpreted Saiki's "whatever" as letting Horikita do as she pleased.
"This is how Horikita grows—I'll leave the Kushida matter to you, Saiki."
With that, Ayanokōji left, leaving Saiki alone and bewildered.
...
Days later, the exam arrived as scheduled.
Saiki stood outside the exam hall, where other students were preparing.
His gaze immediately fell on Kushida Kikyō.
"I didn't really study, so I'm not confident about this exam!"
Kushida smiled, chatting with the girls around her.
[I've already gotten the exam questions from Ryūen. A perfect score should be easy!]
[Not only that, I've submitted the questions to Chabashira-sensei early, so she won't accept anyone else's. This ensures not only my victory but also our class's failure.]
[Horikita Suzune, as class leader, will be forced to take the blame and drop out! The others will follow, and then my target will be Ryūen!]
*'Yare yare, so that's their plan?'*
Saiki narrowed his eyes, already aware of their scheme.
"Yamauchi, I'm counting on you for this exam!"
Kushida turned to Yamauchi Haruki, who was in the farthest corner.
Yamauchi flinched, nodding nervously:
"Uh, yeah..."
He had dark circles under his eyes, looking exhausted.
Once filled with unrealistic fantasies about Kushida, reality had been far harsher than he'd imagined.
[Yamauchi's fear looks so real, but only I know it's all an act. Still, I have to admit, his acting might even surpass mine. I couldn't pull off that expression.]
*'Because he's not acting...'*
Saiki glanced at Yamauchi, who hadn't slept well in days and had even started studying seriously.
Forced to study?
His gaze shifted to Horikita Suzune, wondering if she'd taken any action to save him some trouble—
But Horikita's mind was entirely focused on her studies.
*'Is she that single-minded?'*
Saiki admired her dedication, impressed by her ability to concentrate despite any distractions.
"Kusuo!"
A lively female voice called out.
It was Karuizawa Kei, her face beaming like sunshine.
"Good luck on the exam!"
"We'll see how hard the questions are."
Saiki replied casually.
"Here, for you!"
Karuizawa handed him a small doll.
"What's this?"
"A good luck charm for a high score! We're in this together!"
She smiled.
"Good luck charm... Wait, where did you buy this?"
"From that new fortune-telling shop this semester. The owner's that fortune-teller from before."
"Her...?"
Saiki imagined Mikoto Aiura's smug face.
"Students, please enter the exam hall."
As the announcement sounded, students filed into the classroom.
The first subject was math, chosen by both Kushida and Horikita.
As the teacher distributed the papers, Saiki prepared to act.
*'Sorry, Kushida. Though we have no direct conflict—well, now we do. But to avoid future trouble, I can't let you score high.'*
Saiki looked at Kushida and instantly teleported small notes into her pockets, pencil case, and bag.
Cheating notes surrounded her, unnoticed.
*'Yare yare, even with the notes in place, the teacher might not find them... I'll need a special touch.'*
Saiki used his powers again—
Meanwhile, Kushida picked up her pencil case but struggled to open it.
[What's going on? Is it broken?!]
Unaware of Saiki's actions, she was confused.
*'Yare yare, traitors in class must pay a price.'*
Saiki watched as Kushida forced the case open.
He abruptly stopped using telekinesis, causing her to knock the pencils to the floor.
"Kushida, what are you doing?"
Chabashira Sae looked at her, annoyed.
"Are you disrupting the exam?"
"Sorry, my pencil case seems broken!"
Kushida apologized.
Chabashira frowned but bent down to pick up the pencils, handing them to Kushida.
"Thanks..."
Kushida nodded, puzzled.
[What's with the pencil case? Am I just off today? So strange...]
She quickly tried to write her name on the paper but couldn't leave a mark.
*'Yare yare, I broke her pen when it fell.'*
Saiki controlled everything, and Kushida was panicking.
[My pen's broken! Why? Wait... Could this be Yamauchi's doing?!]
Kushida's mind raced with suspicion.
[He was near me before the exam. Did he tamper with my pencil case and pen? Using the fall as an excuse—no one would suspect him! Damn! I let my guard down!]
Kushida glared at Yamauchi.
[I feel her killing intent...]
Yamauchi sensed it but dared not look up.
"Kushida, stop looking around! One more time, and I'll mark it as cheating!"
Chabashira warned.
"Sensei, my pen's broken..."
Kushida had no choice but to ask for help.
"Prepare your tools before the exam, just like in the workplace. Don't you know this?" Chabashira questioned.
"Sorry... It broke just now... But school rules allow asking the supervisor for help if stationery breaks."
Kushida knew she had to score high.
If she couldn't answer due to broken tools, she'd lose more than the bet—she might be expelled.
If either's score fell below a threshold, expulsion would follow...
Kushida didn't know what Yamauchi might do but couldn't risk expulsion.
"Fine, but this is the last time. Any more issues, and I'll give you a zero."
Chabashira handed her a new pen.
[Saiki's behind this, sabotaging Kushida's tools. Brilliant move.]
Ayanokōji observed silently, his thoughts loud in Saiki's mind.
*'This is your fault for involving me.'*
[Even without Saiki's intervention, Kushida would've failed. Ryūen already changed the exam questions.]
*'??????'*