"Saiki? Saiki Kusuo?"
Sakayanagi paused, looking puzzled. She didn't expect Nagumo to mention that name.
She vaguely remembered Saiki as a student from Class B, previously in the same group as Ayanokōji.
However, she hadn't paid much attention to him before, as he was too ordinary. Her focus was entirely on Ayanokōji, believing Class D's rise to Class B was solely his doing.
"The student from Class B? What about him?"
Sakayanagi asked.
"Nothing, just curious. Don't mind me."
Nagumo replied slowly.
*From Sakayanagi's reaction, she doesn't seem to know much about Saiki.*
*Horikita was close to this Saiki... What's so special about him?*
*Could it be... that Saiki helped Horikita see through my plan? No, impossible...*
Nagumo quickly dismissed the thought. He had investigated Saiki before; the boy was utterly unremarkable.
Could he have misjudged even Saiki?
Impossible.
"If it's convenient, could you investigate him? See if there's anything special about him."
After a moment's thought, Nagumo asked Sakayanagi.
"Sure, consider it a favor for my upcoming actions."
Sakayanagi smiled.
...
Days later, Saiki Kusuo returned to his mundane school life.
For over half a month, nothing significant had happened in Class B, which was rare for him.
Neither Horikita nor Nagumo had contacted him during this time.
But Saiki knew his peaceful days were numbered.
For the past few days, he'd felt someone following him after school.
It was a girl from Class A, someone he'd never interacted with. Using his powers, he identified her as Kamuro Masumi.
She was following him under Sakayanagi's orders.
Masumi seemed confident in her tracking skills, but Saiki had noticed her from the very first second.
*'Looks like Sakayanagi's finally targeting me. Is it because of Hashimoto or Nagumo?'*
Saiki sighed, recalling recent events in the classroom.
He didn't expose Masumi's actions, knowing that both Sakayanagi and others only suspected him. Revealing himself might backfire, so he pretended to be oblivious, letting them underestimate him.
"Hey, have you heard about Class C?"
"I heard something near the school building. Not sure if it's true, but where there's smoke, there's fire, right?"
Saiki turned to see Ike Kanji and Sudō Ken discussing recent rumors.
They were about Ichinose Honami.
Initially, the rumors were mild, questioning her points and suggesting she might use class points.
But now, the rumors had escalated wildly.
Claims of a violent past, involvement in compensated dating, theft, and drug use.
These rumors were absurd, but their widespread nature made people question their truth.
"Kusuo, you look troubled."
Karuizawa Kei smiled, sitting beside Saiki.
"Nothing, just thinking."
Saiki replied.
As Kei approached, Ike and Sudō stood up in unison.
"Ike, let's go to the bathroom."
"Yeah, let's go!"
*What are they doing?*
Saiki could hear their thoughts clearly.
*Saiki's been close to Karuizawa lately! They might be hiding something from us!*
*We're not clueless! As friends, we should consider their future happiness! Staying here would be awkward!*
*Seriously...*
Ike and Sudō turned, smiling at Saiki, giving him a thumbs-up. Their eyes shone with envy, but their faces said, "Good luck."
*...*
Saiki was speechless.
Their actions, combined with Kei's presence, drew the class's attention to him.
*Saiki and Karuizawa are really close lately.*
*I never thought they'd interact. Karuizawa's so noticeable, and Saiki's almost invisible. How did this happen?*
*I'm so jealous.*
*This isn't something to envy.*
Saiki thought.
Since the island exam, maintaining a low profile had become difficult.
"What were you two talking about?"
Satō Maya appeared, sitting on Saiki's other side, smiling at Kei, who smiled back.
An invisible tension arose.
*I wish... I could join their conversation...*
Saiki heard Sakuras Airi's voice from behind.
*It's annoying! Why is Saiki so popular in class?!*
A frustrated voice came from the other side of the classroom. Saiki knew without looking—Yamauchi Haruki.
At that moment, Yamauchi Haruki's eyes were filled with envy, or perhaps even jealousy.
*"What makes Saiki better than me? Why does everyone revolve around him? Honestly, he's like a closed-off bottle every day."*
'I don't like this situation either, but I don't want you saying it.'
While Saiki Kusuo had previously labeled Haruki, Sudō Ken, and Ike Kanji as the "Three Idiots," the other two had since become indistinguishable from normal people. Even Sudō, who used to have the worst temper, had calmed down significantly. Only Yamauchi Haruki remained unchanged, still embodying the "idiot" image.
His direct interactions with the other two had also decreased.
Seeing Saiki chatting with two girls, Haruki grew frustrated and tried to force his way into their conversation.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about?"
However, Karuizawa Kei and Satō Maya silently and perfectly ignored him.
At that moment, a light female voice sounded from the classroom door.
"Is Yamauchi Haruki here?"
The students still in the classroom were surprised but turned their attention toward Haruki.
Haruki, already in an awkward situation, seized the opportunity to escape. He quickly walked toward the door.
"Uh, that's me… What's up?"
Haruki always got excited around cute girls, but this time he seemed startled.
It was because Sakayanagi Arisu, the leader of Class A, had appeared and specifically asked for him.
'Sakayanagi's here, huh.'
Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly, observing her.
"Can I borrow some of your time?"
Sakayanagi smiled.
"O-Of course I'm free…"
Haruki awkwardly scratched his head.
"...It's a bit weird here. I'll wait for you in the corridor by the stairs!"
Sakayanagi seemed conscious of the other students' gazes. She lowered her head slightly and disappeared into the corridor, looking like a girl about to confess her feelings, feeling incredibly shy.
*"Sakayanagi, Sakayanagi came for me?! The way she acted... was she shy because of me?! Wait, she asked to meet me elsewhere, just like a girl about to confess to her crush! Could it be... Sakayanagi's going to confess to me?! Is this just like in anime? Did she fall for me at first sight after our physical contact last time?!"*
'Yare yare, Haruki really has no self-awareness.'
Saiki thought to himself.
He knew Sakayanagi's intentions well, having heard her thoughts earlier and again just now.
*"Yamauchi Haruki has no resistance to flattery from girls. If I manipulate him a little, he could be a useful pawn, maybe even betray Class B!"*
*"If I plant him as a spy in Class B, I can gather information about the others more easily."*
*"Once he's completely used up, I'll dispose of him. That'll even the score for him knocking me over last time."*
'This is definitely trouble... but... it's not my problem for now.'
Saiki muttered to himself.
At that moment, Class B fell silent, not even a breath could be heard. After a few seconds, a loud voice broke the silence.
"No way! This can't be!"
It was Ike Kanji, who had also walked to the classroom door.
*"Sakayanagi came for Haruki?!"*
*"There must be a specific reason."*
*"Why would Sakayanagi be interested in Haruki?"*
'It's a bit sad that everyone thinks this way, but it's true.'
Saiki commented.
Everyone knew Sakayanagi likely had ulterior motives. As the leader of Class A, her methods seemed rather crude...
But Yamauchi Haruki didn't notice a thing.
You could say... he deserved it?
"Sorry! I've got something urgent!"
Haruki, oblivious to everything, grabbed his bag and headed straight for Sakayanagi.
*"Jealous, Saiki?!"*
'What does this have to do with me?'
"Hold on, Haruki."
"What, what is it, Horikita?"
Haruki was practically bursting with energy, ready to dash out of the classroom, but Horikita Suzune stood at the door, blocking his path like a wall.
"Isn't she planning something against Class B?"
"What? Why would you think that?"
"This situation is weird. Sakayanagi wouldn't want to meet you alone, would she?"
Horikita frowned.
*"Sakayanagi coming for Haruki definitely has a purpose."*
'Yare yare, everyone else just thought it, but Horikita said it out loud. Honestly, it makes the situation more awkward—but since it's Haruki, it doesn't matter.'
Anyone else would've been at least slightly annoyed by Horikita's words.
But Haruki was different.
"You know that classic plot where someone bumps into a transfer student eating bread on a street corner and falls in love...?"
Haruki's face lit up with excitement.
"Huh? Bread… street corner?"
For the first time, Horikita's eyes showed such confusion, even more than during the uninhabited island exam.
"Sakayanagi's waiting for me. I'm off."
Haruki ignored Horikita and kept walking.
"What if it's a trap? What'll you do?"
"What do you mean? It's not a trap."
Haruki refused to believe it.
"I'm this class's secret weapon, so it's fine. If it's a trap, I'll handle it! I've already thought of a plan!"
*"Sakayanagi's waiting for me! I can't keep her waiting!"*
Haruki hadn't actually thought of anything.