"Hey, long time no see, Saiki!"
A flawless face wore a relaxed smile, sharp eyes gleaming with intent.
It was none other than Kiryūin Fūka.
"Kiryūin-senpai?"
Saiki Kusuo was slightly puzzled, not expecting her here.
Though Kiryūin Fūka was a third-year student, she wasn't under Nagumo's jurisdiction. Like Kōenji Rokusuke, she did as she pleased. With Nagumo's personality, he'd never let her near.
"I just used GPS to track your route. This is the last challenge nearby, so I guessed you and Nagumo were dueling here."
Kiryūin Fūka smiled.
"Besides, Nagumo's lackeys couldn't stop me."
Her tone was absolutely confident.
Saiki was sure Nagumo's followers would try to intercept Kiryūin.
But with her abilities, no student could stop her.
*Hmm, is Kiryūin my opponent this time? Though she's one of the few students with A-level academics and physical strength, it doesn't matter to me.*
Saiki thought.
Just then, Nagumo Miyabi and his group arrived late, far slower than Saiki.
"Kiryūin, what are you doing here?"
Nagumo Miyabi was briefly stunned but quickly guessed what happened.
Kiryūin Fūka had definitely broken through his blockade.
"Why can't I be here?"
Kiryūin Fūka smiled, as if not taking Nagumo seriously.
Nagumo's gaze turned hostile.
"Are you here to interfere?"
He thought Kiryūin Fūka was here to snatch the last challenge spot.
"Interfere? No, I'm just here to watch the fun."
Kiryūin Fūka kept smiling.
"I'm not interested in first place. I'm just here for personal points. But you know, I'm curious about Saiki. I'm just here to watch your battle up close. After all, this match is the final showdown between you two."
"What are you talking about, Kiryūin? Even if one of us wins today, the match isn't over. We still have a day or two to change the rankings."
"Other students are probably using GPS too. Some might even guess you're dueling based on score changes. Right now, your scores are close, within single digits. If Saiki wins this round, he'll take first place. For others, even if Saiki's only first for a moment, he'll truly surpass you, Nagumo."
Kiryūin Fūka narrowed her eyes, her words almost taunting.
*This damn Kiryūin!*
Nagumo Miyabi cursed her in his mind.
But even surrounded by his followers, he had to maintain his dignity as student council president.
"I'm just here to bond with my junior."
Nagumo Miyabi walked to Chabashira Sae and registered for the exam.
Other third-year students could only watch from a distance.
"Both contestants, come here."
Chabashira Sae led Saiki Kusuo and Nagumo Miyabi to the arena—a marked, simple-looking area with a plastic mat to prevent serious injuries.
Beside the arena was a special machine, resembling a unique camera.
It was one of Saiki Kūsuke's creations, automatically identifying students' movements and providing real-time technical scores to ensure fairness.
"Saiki, this is today's final challenge."
Nagumo Miyabi looked at Saiki Kusuo, his smile now tired.
Today's exams had drained him, but as student council president, his pride demanded he beat Saiki Kusuo at least once.
"Saiki, you're truly special. Among first-years, only you've made me feel this way. Even Horikita Suzune can't compare."
"But no matter what, I must win this exam."
"And our duel won't end until the last day."
Nagumo Miyabi's gaze turned serious.
It was the twelfth day of exams, with two days left.
But today was the last day the top ten scores would be revealed.
After today, no one would know each other's scores.
If Nagumo Miyabi lost to Saiki Kusuo in this round, others would only see Saiki in first place after the final tally. Nagumo wouldn't be able to strategize effectively against Saiki.
This was Nagumo's last chance.
As Nagumo Miyabi spoke, Saiki Kusuo thought about how to handle the challenge.
Though wrestling rules had been explained, Saiki couldn't use full force.
He even considered intentionally losing, since he'd been winning all day.
Even if he lost now, he could easily surpass Nagumo later, as scores wouldn't be revealed. Saiki could use his powers to know others' scores.
"Ready!"
Just then, Chabashira Sae announced.
"Begin!"
*Huh? It's starting already?*
Before Saiki Kusuo could react, Nagumo Miyabi pounced like a cheetah!
"Go, President Nagumo!"
"So fast!"
"Take him down!"
Cheers erupted from the watching students.
Nagumo's attack was fierce. An ordinary student would've been instantly defeated—
But his opponent was Saiki Kusuo.
Saiki had planned to lose, but Nagumo's sudden charge made him instinctively raise his hand—
With a single slap, Saiki Kusuo sent Nagumo Miyabi flying like swatting a fly.
Nagumo crashed to the ground, rolled a few times, and lay motionless, knocked out.
One-shot KO.
"..."
An eerie silence fell.
No one expected Nagumo Miyabi to be defeated in one move.
*What just happened?*
*Nagumo... lost like that?*
"I… I didn't see anything clearly…"
Even Kiryūin Fūka was taken aback, her eyes widening in surprise. After a few seconds, she burst into laughter.
"That's hilarious! It's the first time I've seen Nanase so disheveled. Nice one, Saiki."
"Me…?"
Saiki felt a bit helpless at that moment.
He hadn't wanted things to turn out this way.
But he hadn't expected Nanase to suddenly charge at him like that. It made him feel uneasy, so he instinctively swatted him away.
Fortunately, Saiki held back his strength at the last moment, avoiding shattering Nanase's skull.
Chabashira Sae froze for a moment before snapping out of it. She rushed over to check on Nanase's condition.
Nanase seemed unharmed but had clearly lost consciousness and the ability to move.
The match was decided.
"The winner is Saiki from Class 2-A, earning 15 points."
Chabashira turned to Saiki.
*Saiki took down Nanase with a single strike?*
*But what was that move? It looked like a simple slap. How could it be so powerful?*
*Saiki… he's the most terrifying person in the class…*
Chabashira thought to herself.
*'Yare yare…'*
Saiki felt helpless but knew he had to secure first place.
There was no other choice…
*Nanase was spouting nonsense and then charged at me. He's 99% responsible for this.*
---
At that moment, on the deserted island, everyone's tablets updated the rankings.
They all saw Saiki overtake Nanase in points.
The new ranking stunned almost everyone.
For a moment, the question *"Just how strong is Saiki really?"* crossed nearly everyone's mind.
"Saiki… is he really at this level?"
Horikita Suzune's grip on her tablet trembled slightly. She knew Saiki, like Ayanokōji, hid his true strength.
But she hadn't expected him to be this powerful.
He wasn't just above Kōenji; he could surpass Nanase too.
"Is this why my brother was so interested in Saiki before?"
Horikita wondered.
---
"Saiki? How did he manage to take first place?"
Katsuragi asked Ryūen, confused.
"He's just a bit more serious than usual," Ryūen replied, swallowing hard.
His expression hinted at painful memories.
Though Ryūen didn't know what had happened, he had a feeling that Hōsen and Yagami's expulsions were somehow connected to Saiki.
"Saiki… he's definitely a monster…"
Ryūen muttered.
---
"As expected of Saiki," Kushida said, smiling as she watched him rise to first place.
She wasn't happy for her classmate's success but for Yagami's withdrawal from the exam.
Before the test, Kushida had approached Ayanokōji to plan Yagami's expulsion.
Ayanokōji had told her how to handle Yagami and added,
"Get Saiki to help. Make Yagami withdraw."
Kushida had been confused, unsure why Ayanokōji would say that.
After all, she didn't know Saiki's true strength.
Now, seeing Yagami's withdrawal and the current situation, she finally understood: Saiki was the one hiding the deepest strength in their class.
---
"Saiki took first place, huh?"
Ayanokōji glanced at the rankings on his tablet, speaking to himself.
He and Nanase had already parted ways, and as expected, he maintained a rank just outside the top ten.
A question crossed his mind: *Could I take first place if I gave it my all?*
After a few seconds, he shook his head.
The answer wasn't hard to guess.
Ayanokōji didn't think he could.
But something else intrigued him more.
Tsukishiro hadn't taken any action during the exam.
The only obstacle had been Nanase, who couldn't force Ayanokōji's expulsion alone.
Tsukishiro's inaction made no sense.
What had really happened?
Had Saiki done something behind the scenes?