Kamuro Masumi was stunned. Saiki Kusuo's immediate trust ruined her and Sakayanagi Arisu's plan.
*[Is he serious?]*
Kamuro Masumi looked confused. The conversation was faster than expected, but it derailed her plan entirely.
*I am serious,* Saiki Kusuo thought.
He just wanted her to leave quickly.
"You don't doubt me..."
"I trust you."
Saiki Kusuo replied instantly.
*[What's his deal? I prepared all these answers, but they're useless...]*
"Fine... Sakayanagi said Ichinose has a past like mine. You should understand what's happening."
"Yeah."
"If this continues, Ichinose will be broken—not physically, but mentally. Then it'll be your turn. We need to work together to stop Sakayanagi. Then you'll be free..."
"What should I do?"
*[What should you do? How should I know? Is he even worth my time?]*
Kamuro Masumi sighed, then said:
"Just act freely. I trust your judgment."
Kamuro Masumi left immediately, not wanting to stay a second longer.
*Finally gone,* Saiki Kusuo thought, looking around to ensure she hadn't left any listening devices. He sighed in relief.
*Sakayanagi's targeting me now. Strange. Before, she only suspected me. Why the sudden change? Something must've happened.*
Saiki Kusuo thought, then used his powers to hide and follow Kamuro Masumi.
Kamuro Masumi had left the dorm building for an empty corner. Sakayanagi Arisu waited on a bench, having been there for a while.
"You're late."
Sakayanagi Arisu smiled, holding a beer.
"Everything's ready. Now..."
"Not needed."
"What?"
Kamuro Masumi told Sakayanagi Arisu about her conversation with Saiki Kusuo. Sakayanagi Arisu frowned.
"He didn't even have anything in his room. Unbelievable."
Kamuro Masumi complained.
"And he didn't suspect me at all. Is there something special about him? He seems so... ordinary, even boring."
*Good. Keep thinking that. Less trouble for me.*
Saiki Kusuo wanted Sakayanagi Arisu to keep underestimating him.
*[Did it go well? No, Saiki probably saw through her and played along.]*
Sakayanagi Arisu thought, then said,
"Maybe not. He might've just humored you. He could still suspect you, or even know your plan. He's acting ordinary on purpose."
"But Sakayanagi, everything Ayanokōji said about Saiki—"
---
Kamuro Masumi asked with a hint of concern.
Beside him, Saiki Kusuo's eyebrows twitched momentarily.
'Ayanokōji?'
Saiki realized that Sakayanagi Arisu's sudden attack on him was likely due to something Ayanokōji Kiyotaka had done.
"No, Ayanokōji has no reason to deceive me."
"Really?"
Kamuro seemed skeptical but eventually nodded.
"What should we do next?"
"Let's make this fire even more intense. For now, we should leave. The rest depends on Ayanokōji's actions."
Sakayanagi said, then led Kamuro away.
'Ayanokōji? What did he tell Sakayanagi?'
Sensing something was off, Saiki returned to the dormitory immediately after Sakayanagi left.
.....
Meanwhile, in Ayanokōji's room.
A gentle knock sounded, and Ayanokōji opened the door.
"Good evening, Ayanokōji."
Kushida Kikyō stood at the doorway.
"It's late. Come in if you'd like."
Ayanokōji said calmly.
"Is that okay?"
"It's cold out here."
"Thanks."
Kushida entered without hesitation.
'Kushida?'
Unnoticed by them, someone else had slipped into the room—Saiki, invisible.
"Ayanokōji, it's a bit early, but here."
Kushida handed him a box of chocolates tied with a pink ribbon.
"Is this okay?"
"I'm giving these out early since I have a lot to deliver on the 14th."
Kushida explained.
'The 14th... Valentine's Day?'
Saiki recalled the February holiday.
Couples or those with crushes give chocolates, though some are for gratitude or friendship, not romance.
Kushida's chocolates were likely for friendship.
'The 14th...'
Saiki wondered what might happen on Valentine's Day but focused on Ayanokōji and Kushida.
"So, what brings you here so late? It's unusual."
"I need to discuss something with you."
"Oh?"
Kushida smiled knowingly.
"First, I need to confirm something. Kushida, you're not still seeing me as an enemy, right?"
Ayanokōji asked.
"No, as long as you don't interfere with my plans against Yamauchi. The same goes for Horikita and Saiki."
Kushida's expression remained unchanged.
[She doesn't seem to be lying. Given her personality, she wouldn't lie in this situation.]
Ayanokōji thought, then continued:
"Why did you change your view so suddenly?"
"I realized it's pointless to see you as enemies. You wouldn't spread my secrets, and neither would Horikita or Saiki. Can we drop this topic? I might change my mind if it goes on."
Kushida said.
In reality, Saiki had used his psychic powers to make Kushida believe they wouldn't reveal her secrets.
[Can opinions change so easily? Did Saiki do something? I can't imagine what he used.]
'It's psychic powers.'
After a moment's thought, Ayanokōji continued:
"I understand. I need your help with something."
"I'm not sure I can help, but I'll listen. What could I possibly assist with?"
"I want you to tell me about first-year students' personal secrets—things that could cause trouble if spread."
"...What's this about?"
Kushida's expression turned serious, her smile fading.
"You said you had information that could dismantle our class, right? It's not just Class B—it includes other classes too."
"Why do you want to know?"
"You know Ichinose Honami is suffering from rumors, right?"
"Yes, like the letter today with those awful things..."
"I want to stop it."
Ayanokōji said calmly.
'Hmm.'
Saiki narrowed his eyes.
If Ayanokōji was serious, it could save him a lot of time.
But Saiki could hear Ayanokōji's thoughts clearly.
[Using rumors to force the school to intervene—but I won't rush. Let the rumors grow until Ichinose is almost desperate, then help her. That way, she'll become a useful tool.]
'Figures.'
Saiki wasn't surprised by Ayanokōji's plan.
It was similar to Shiina Hiyori's, except Ayanokōji had Kushida's information, which Shiina lacked.
[This could be my chance to outdo Saiki in this contest.]
'Wait, contest? What contest?'
Saiki looked confused.
"How does knowing secrets stop rumors?"
"It does."
"I don't get it. Won't spreading more rumors just make things worse?"
Kushida asked slowly.
"Ichinose is staying silent, so the school won't act. We need to escalate the situation so the school has to intervene."
"Are you sure? The school might act for Ichinose's sake."
"Either way, if the teachers haven't acted, it means Ichinose hasn't asked for help. We need to make it worse so the school steps in."
"Not everyone stays silent like Ichinose. So, some students might involve the school?"
Kushida seemed to understand Ayanokōji's plan.
"Exactly. With final exams approaching, the tension will rise, and more chaos might erupt."
"But how do you spread so many rumors? It's not easy."
"Initially, I planned to use the school forum, but did you notice? One night, the forum was down for maintenance for a long time."
"I didn't notice."
"When it came back, all posts about Ichinose were gone, but others remained. I think there's an admin deleting posts to prevent escalation. If the school's involved, it complicates things. So, I'll use other methods, like letters, as we saw today."
[Or maybe Saiki did something—made the admin delete posts or even hacked the site. But that's unlikely.]
'Don't blame everything on me.'
Saiki thought.
"To avoid mistakes, I'll choose the rumors carefully."
Ayanokōji continued.
"I see your goal. I'll consider it, but I have a condition."
"What is it?"
Ayanokōji asked.
"Yamauchi Haruki's expulsion."