"Expulsion for Yamauchi?"
Ayanokōji repeated Kushida's words.
Kushida had an unusual fixation on Yamauchi, and even Ayanokōji didn't understand why.
'Hmm, is it because of Saiki's mind control?'
Saiki Kusuo, standing nearby, pursed his lips slightly.
Earlier, he had used his psychic abilities to erase Kushida Kikyō's hostility toward them.
However, psychic control has a major drawback: Saiki Kusuo couldn't predict what would happen after using it.
He suspected that Kushida Kikyō's hostility toward them had likely shifted to Yamauchi Haruki instead.
"Originally, I planned to use half of my future points as a trade, but it looks like that won't be necessary."
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka looked at her and nodded.
"Deal."
"So, what's your plan?"
"Well, I've been feeling that the risk of expulsion seems higher in recent special exams. If you have any plans to get Yamauchi expelled, I can assist you."
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said slowly.
*Yamauchi holds no real value for this class—he's practically worthless. Even if he's expelled, it might be a good thing for Class B. After all, no one in the class likely has a positive impression of him.*
Ayanokōji thought to himself.
*"Yare yare... Has it really come to this? In a way, it's quite pitiful..."*
Saiki Kusuo sighed inwardly. Yamauchi Haruki's status in the class was even lower than that of a piece of chalk.
Using his telepathy earlier, Saiki had learned just how low Yamauchi's standing was.
"Gross, Yamauchi."
"What's that guy even saying all day?"
"Can he just die already?"
Essentially, these were the thoughts some students had about Yamauchi Haruki daily.
Yamauchi's situation was largely his own doing. He had no redeeming qualities, a terrible personality, lacked basic manners, and often mocked his classmates over trivial matters. This was the main reason why Sudō Ken and Ike Kanji had grown distant from him.
"Whether it's embarrassing secrets or past mistakes, anything that would cause trouble if exposed—let me know."
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said slowly.
"Let me think… I'll just pick a few to tell you."
Kushida smiled, as if finding it amusing, and began sharing the secrets she knew.
She started with who liked or disliked whom, then moved on to students' family backgrounds and disciplinary records.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka watched her expressionlessly.
*Kushida probably doesn't know my true goal: to confirm the quality and quantity of the information she holds. Originally, I needed this to expel her.*
*But my current plan has changed significantly. Kushida no longer intends to hinder Horikita's growth, so she's no longer a student I need to eliminate. Still, I must learn more about her to ensure she remains on our side in the future.*
*To prevent future issues, I must first gauge the power of the bombs she's holding.*
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka listened to Kushida's revelations, his mind racing.
*Kushida has an overwhelming information network. Her thorough investigations, the rumors she's heard, and how many people know about them—her grasp of student personalities and information is terrifying. At least within the first year, no one surpasses her in information gathering.*
Saiki Kusuo, standing beside him, couldn't help but admire her abilities.
Even with his telepathy, Saiki didn't know this much—though mainly because he wasn't interested in such matters.
"I see…"
"Anything useful?"
Kushida asked with a smile.
"I didn't tell you everything, of course. I have to keep some things from Ayanokōji."
*Yare yare, my invisibility is about to wear off.*
Saiki Kusuo realized his invisibility was ending and had to leave Ayanokōji's room, returning to his own to plan his next move.
*Ayanokōji plans to mimic Sakayanagi's method by sending letters to the entire grade? I'll need to prepare a countermeasure.*
Saiki Kusuo narrowed his eyes.
...
The next day, February 12th, seemed like an ordinary day about to pass uneventfully.
After school, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka found Kamuro Masumi and asked him to help photocopy letters containing various rumors.
After all, Ayanokōji and Sakayanagi Arisu had temporarily allied to defeat Saiki Kusuo in this incident—
But Saiki Kusuo had only learned of this yesterday.
Late at night, the school was silent. Outside the first-year dorms, a few figures gathered secretly.
They were Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, Sakayanagi Arisu, and her followers.
"It's so cold… I can't believe we're doing this again."
Hashimoto Masayoshi grumbled as he stuffed letters into the students' mailboxes.
Sakayanagi Arisu pulled Ayanokōji aside, smiling at him.
"So, this should wrap things up, right? I heard Ichinose got sick because of this."
"After this, Ichinose should recover and become mentally stronger than before."
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka said slowly.
"I gave up the chance to break Ichinose just to challenge you."
Sakayanagi Arisu kept smiling.
"You never intended to break Ichinose. This was just to draw my attention."
Ayanokōji looked at her, his expression blank but seemingly seeing through her entirely.
"Oh?"
"If not for Saiki's involvement, you'd have used someone else to approach me and provide information about Ichinose's past the same way."
"Interesting theory."
Sakayanagi Arisu narrowed her eyes.
"But my goal is achieved—cooperating with you in this to secure a future challenge. Once Saiki's defeated, it'll be our turn to face off."
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka remained silent.
But in his mind, he had already formed an idea.
*A true duel requires equal strength. Sakayanagi, you're not there yet.*
"I wonder what will happen at school tomorrow? So many rumors spreading."
Sakayanagi Arisu looked up at the night sky, speaking slowly.
...
Ten minutes later, Hashimoto Masayoshi and the others finished stuffing the letters into all 160 mailboxes across the four classes—no small task.
Afterward, they quickly left the dorms and returned to their rooms. This operation had to remain secret.
However, they didn't know that after they left, a figure emerged from the shadows.
Saiki Kusuo.
*Yare yare, they're finally gone?*
While Hashimoto was acting, Saiki had been hiding nearby, observing.
*Can't let this get worse. If those rumors spread, the school will be in chaos again.*
Saiki thought.
Not just to prevent escalation—also to thwart Ayanokōji's plans, Saiki had to act.
He snapped his fingers. The security cameras turned away, and the letters in the mailboxes began crawling out, stacking midair as if alive.
Saiki raised his hand again, flames appearing at his fingertips, instantly burning the letters to ashes.
*Rumor problem solved. Now, on to the next issue.*
Saiki thought, then teleported to the teachers' dorms.
...
The next morning, Sakayanagi Arisu left her room and entered the classroom.
*With yesterday's actions, class order should be disrupted, right? Especially with those heavy revelations.*
Sakayanagi smiled, surveying the students—
But nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Students were either chatting or studying, just like any other day.
"What's going on? Didn't they check their mailboxes? Strange… Though few students check them in the morning. Maybe there'll be a reaction after school."
Sakayanagi muttered, feeling something was off. She called Hashimoto Masayoshi to check the other classes.
Ten minutes later, Hashimoto reported back:
"Sakayanagi, no abnormalities in the other classes!"
"Strange… Hashimoto, check the mailboxes."
Sakayanagi felt a sense of unease.
...
Meanwhile, in Class B, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka observed the students silently.
*No abnormalities. Strange. Students should've found the letters, especially after yesterday's incident.*
Ayanokōji felt puzzled, then looked at Saiki Kusuo beside him.
*Did Saiki do something?*
*Yare yare, it's my psychic powers.*
Saiki thought.
Soon, Chabashira Sae entered the classroom, her expression serious.
"First period will be a class meeting. I have something important to say."
Chabashira spoke sternly.
"The school has noticed the spread of rumors—on forums and in anonymous letters. This disrupts school order. From today, malicious rumor-spreading is strictly prohibited. Offenders will be punished, possibly expelled."
*Strange. My goal was to get the school's attention, but this is too fast. Normally, it'd take days. Why did the school act so quickly? And there are no new rumors among first-years… Did yesterday's letters fail?*
Ayanokōji couldn't understand the situation.
*Same psychic powers.*
Saiki Kusuo smirked.
After dealing with the letters, Saiki had gone to the teachers' dorms and used his psychic control on them.
Inspired by Shiina Hiyori and Ayanokōji's plan, Saiki realized involving the school would quickly resolve the issue.
And no one would suspect him.
Plan successful.
Almost simultaneously, Ayanokōji's phone buzzed. Sakayanagi Arisu had messaged him, asking to meet during lunch break.
...
At lunch, Ayanokōji Kiyotaka arrived at the agreed spot.
The cute girl's face was filled with anxiety.
"Ayanokōji, do you know what's going on?"
"I had Hashimoto and a few others check this morning. There's nothing in the mailboxes. We definitely put the letters in yesterday, right?"
"Not only that, but despite no major fallout, the teachers seem to be getting involved now!"
Arisu's voice was urgent.
"I don't know," Kiyotaka replied, offering nothing more.