"..." Saiki nodded, unsure how to respond. He headed back to the starting point, bought supplies, and then moved to another area to set up camp and rest.
After Saiki left, Tsukishiro carried the unconscious Sima back to the starting point.
"Sima-sensei? Tsukishiro, what happened to him?" Mashima asked, confused.
Sima had left with Tsukishiro less than an hour ago, but now Tsukishiro was carrying him back like cargo. Sima looked like he'd been attacked.
Teachers at this school weren't ordinary adults. For Sima to be knocked out, something serious must have happened.
"Sima-sensei slipped and fell off a cliff. He's unconscious," Tsukishiro lied quickly.
To make the lie believable, he smeared dirt on Sima's clothes, making it look like he'd actually fallen.
"I'll call the medical team," Mashima said.
"No need. Sima's tough. He'll be fine," Tsukishiro replied.
"Huh?" Mashima was even more confused.
Just then, Sima slowly opened his eyes. Tsukishiro feigned concern and asked, "Sima-sensei, are you okay?"
"What happened?" Mashima asked.
"You fell off a cliff. Do you remember?" Tsukishiro prompted, giving Sima a subtle cue.
Sima's mind cleared. He recalled being attacked by Tsukishiro. Had Tsukishiro betrayed him? Unlikely. Sima played along, "Yeah, I slipped off the cliff. Tsukishiro must have saved me."
"Really?" Mashima wasn't aware of their true identities. He noticed Tsukishiro's odd behavior but didn't question it further.
"Sima-sensei, are you hurt? Should I call the medics?"
"No, I'm fine. Don't trouble them."
"Mashima-sensei, let Sima rest," Tsukishiro said.
"Uh... okay." Mashima left the room.
"Why did you do that?" Sima asked, confused.
"Because you almost got me killed!" Tsukishiro snapped. "Ayano Koji ordered us to avoid Saiki. If Saiki heard us and told Ayano Kiyotaka, it could be disastrous."
"Ayano Koji said to avoid unnecessary contact. But Saiki might have heard us, and he's in the same class as Ayano Kiyotaka. If he tells Kiyotaka, it's a huge risk."
Sima's expression turned serious. "So you thought protecting the White Room's secrets was more important?"
"In the White Room, you've learned nothing!" Tsukishiro scolded. "Even Ayano Koji can't mess with the Saiki family. Their power is immense."
"Really?" Sima was skeptical.
"You didn't notice Saiki's GPS, did you? This entire exam is his setup. Even we can't tamper with the watches or GPS, but Saiki can. His brother, Saiki Kûsuke, provided the tech. Imagine the resources behind someone who can create such devices."
Tsukishiro seemed to vent his frustration. "I experienced Saiki's power firsthand. I tried to get Ayano expelled by planting a camera, but when I brushed past Saiki, he knocked me down without even moving!"
"A high schooler knocked you down?" Sima was shocked.
"Yes, and he destroyed my camera without me seeing how!" Tsukishiro said, agitated.
"I see..." Sima's forehead glistened with sweat.
"Let's talk later. I just hope those two kids don't provoke Saiki..." Tsukishiro thought.
The next morning, Saiki woke early and left his tent, heading to the designated area. He sensed hostility from other students and planned to secure more points. If he didn't act, the entire island might explode.
Looking at the gray sky, he muttered, "Is it going to rain? Will the exam continue?"
It was the seventh day, and students had unlocked GPS access the day before. Saiki didn't use it, so he didn't notice someone approaching him on the map.
Meanwhile, Ayano Kiyotaka and Nanase Tsubasa planned their next move.
"We should think carefully about our next steps," Kiyotaka said, studying the map on his tablet. Two routes led to the next area.
"The shortest route is over the D2 and D3 mountains, but with the weather, that path will be dangerous if it rains. The safer option is to go through E2."
"From my perspective, I'd prefer the mountain path," Tsubasa said.
"But it'll be dangerous in the rain."
"Most competitors will take the safer route, but that's our chance. If we reach the area before the rain starts, we'll get more points."
"What if I don't choose the mountain path?" Tsubasa asked.
Ayanokōji cautiously asked, "If that's the case, I'll challenge those mountains alone."
"There's a limit to inefficiency. Hōsen and Amasawa might not come to E2."
*"Nanase clearly has an agenda. I haven't figured out why she wants us to act together. If we part ways here, I'll probably never know the answer."*
"Got it. If you're determined, I'll climb with you," Ayanokōji replied.
"Thanks," Nanase nodded, her expression calm.
*"Seeing her reaction, I know one thing: Nanase's certain I'll climb with her. She's planning something for me up there."*
"Let's move now," Nanase said, already shouldering her backpack and heading in a specific direction.
Her gaze, however, grew colder.
*"I'll send him off there."*
---
Meanwhile, Saiki had reached the first designated area and was heading to the next.
Just then, his telepathy picked up a thought.
*"Saiki, you'll pay for this."*
*'Uh-oh, here comes trouble,'* Saiki sighed, shifting his gaze.
In his line of sight, the towering Hōsen Kazuomi emerged.
"Fancy meeting you here, Saiki. What's up?" Hōsen smirked, his eyes locked on Saiki.
*'Did he track me with GPS?'* Saiki shook his head slightly.
His X-ray vision noticed a radio in Hōsen's pocket.
*"Those C-Class guys want to use me to take out the second-year teams. Perfect. Ayanokōji's points are tempting, but first, I need to settle things with Saiki!"*
Saiki instantly understood why the first-years had targeted him earlier.
They likely wanted to eliminate more second-year teams to ensure their own safety.
Hōsen had been training excessively to strengthen himself for revenge against Saiki.
Now, Hōsen was far more formidable than in their first encounter.
*'Not just him, though.'* Saiki glanced elsewhere with his peripheral vision.
There, Yagami Takuya was filming the scene from a distance.
*"If I catch them fighting, I win. Both Saiki and Hōsen have dirt on them. They're mine to exploit."*
Yagami's thoughts were grating.
Hōsen, however, was oblivious to Yagami's presence.
Confirming no one else was around, Saiki shook his head again.
Some things couldn't wait any longer.
"What's wrong, Saiki? Looking troubled? Scared of me?" Hōsen smirked, stepping closer.
"If you kneel, I'll let you off with minor injuries."
Saying this, Hōsen poked Saiki's shoulder forcefully—
But Saiki instantly grabbed his finger.
"What?!"
Hōsen was stunned; the move was too fast for him to react.
Even Yagami, watching from afar, couldn't follow Saiki's action.
"This guy's fast!"
Instinctively, Hōsen tried to pull his finger free but couldn't, as if it were fixed to a boulder.
"You're more trouble than Ryūen, honestly," Saiki sighed, then slammed Hōsen to the ground like a plastic bottle!
"What—?!"
Hōsen was utterly bewildered.
What just happened?
Why was he suddenly on the ground?
Seconds later, the pain hit him.
"You're annoying," Saiki said, throwing a punch at Hōsen's face. The fierce wind distorted Hōsen's features—
In that moment, every cell in Hōsen's body trembled with terror.
It was a near-death sensation.
Hōsen had never felt this before.
Saiki's fist, however, stopped just before impact.
Beneath Hōsen's pants, warm liquid trickled down.
His eyes went blank.