"Huh?"
Hearing Saiki's words, Horikita Suzune frowned in confusion.
"Saiki, you should know that persuading Katsuragi isn't an easy task. We don't have enough bargaining chips to negotiate, and we can't offer him sufficient benefits. Simply relying on Katsuragi's hatred for Sakayanagi is far from enough."
"That's true, but we might be able to use this opportunity to gather some information about Class A."
Saiki replied.
Although Saiki knew that Horikita Suzune's reasoning was sound, as a psychic, it naturally didn't affect him at all.
Saiki simply wanted to use this opportunity to interact with some students from Class A, which would allow him to learn about Sakayanagi Arisu's true arrangements for the exam events.
'Since Sakayanagi wants to settle the score with us through this exam, I should probably prepare a little—though the content of the competition doesn't matter, I need to ensure that it won't cause any trouble for me as the command tower. Also, I need to make sure Sakayanagi won't bother me in the future.'
Saiki thought to himself.
"Not only that, but Sakayanagi has already caused me quite a bit of trouble before. This time, I'll get a little revenge."
"Hmm."
Hearing Saiki's words, Horikita Suzune could only nod.
"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Saiki-kun, to go with Yukimura-kun later."
"Sure."
Yukimura Teruhiko, who was standing nearby, patted Saiki on the shoulder and gave him a smile.
...
On the other side, Sakayanagi Arisu was smiling as she looked at the form in her hand, which listed Class B's exam events.
"These are Class B's exam events. Did you all hear that?"
"Yes."
The other students in the class responded in unison.
"Also, Katsuragi-kun, I have something special to tell you!"
Sakayanagi Arisu slightly narrowed her eyes and turned to look at Katsuragi Kohei.
"What?"
Katsuragi Kohei raised his head, his eyes devoid of any light, and his entire demeanor lacking vitality.
Ever since Totsuka Yahiko was expelled, Katsuragi Kohei had lost all motivation and completely surrendered to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"During this match, students from Class B might come to contact you. After all, they should be well aware that you harbor deep hatred for me in your heart."
Sakayanagi Arisu's lips curled into a slight smile as she narrowed her eyes.
"If I find evidence of your betrayal, Katsuragi-kun, or if the event you're responsible for loses, some of the hardworking students in our class might be forced to drop out due to some unexpected circumstances~"
[Katsuragi's abilities are truly outstanding. It would be a shame to expel him, so it's better to use other students in the class as leverage to force Katsuragi to submit to me.]
"I understand."
Katsuragi Kohei's fists clenched slightly, his anger reaching its peak, but it quickly subsided.
He was well aware that he no longer had the means to compete with Sakayanagi Arisu.
"However, if Class B actively reaches out to you, this could actually be an opportunity for us."
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile.
At that moment, Katsuragi Kohei's phone rang.
"The fish has taken the bait~ Later, I'll teach you how to talk to them~"
...
Soon, behind the special teaching building, Saiki brought Yukimura Teruhiko to meet with Katsuragi Kohei.
As soon as they met, Saiki's gaze was inevitably drawn to Katsuragi Kohei's polished head, which reminded him of a lightbulb. He quickly shifted his gaze elsewhere, as staring any longer would allow him to see its internal structure.
[Yukimura came to me... but Saiki is here too? I've never been able to sense anything special about Saiki, but Sakayanagi seems somewhat interested in him. Last time, she even mobilized the class to vote for Saiki. Why is that?]
"...So, what do you want me to do, Yukimura?"
Katsuragi Kohei asked seriously.
"Katsuragi, I need your help with something."
Yukimura Teruhiko said.
"Given the timing of this discussion, I don't need to ask what it's about."
Katsuragi Kohei replied.
[You were smart to come to me—but your every move has already been seen through by Sakayanagi. No matter how much I despise Sakayanagi, I can't put my classmates in danger.]
'Yare yare, Sakayanagi has already anticipated this, huh?'
Saiki clearly heard Katsuragi Kohei's thoughts and already knew what Katsuragi Kohei might do.
"Then it's easy to discuss. I want you to tell me which five events will be officially selected. Another thing is, I want you to go easy on us during the exam."
Yukimura Teruhiko immediately said.
"What's in it for me if I do that?"
"Katsuragi, we'll welcome you to join our class!"
"That's quite interesting. Are you saying you want me to betray Class A and drop down to Class B?"
He mockingly rejected Yukimura Teruhiko's proposal.
"We're very close to Class A in terms of points. If we win this time, we might directly replace Class A."
Yukimura Teruhiko said.
In this exam, winning an event would deduct 30 points from the opposing class. Winning seven events in a row would deduct 420 points, and the school would also award an additional 100 class points.
This would be enough for Class B to overtake Class A.
This competition could instantly widen the gap between the two classes—or completely reverse it.
Katsuragi Kohei slowly said:
"One day, you'll rise to Class A? No matter which class says it, they all say the same thing, right?"
"This..."
"If you really have the ability, don't try to make temporary compromises. Isn't it because you can't do it that you're willing to use me to win?"
Katsuragi Kohei replied.
"Even if you do rise to Class A, can you immediately provide me with twenty million points in exchange for information? No, that's impossible. If you could prepare that amount of points, you would have stopped Yamauchi from dropping out earlier."
[Class B definitely doesn't have that kind of money.]
"This..."
"Are you going to tell me that in two years, you'll have twenty million points ready, so I should wait for you?"
"...That's right."
"That's pure fantasy. Even if you rise to Class A, there's no guarantee you'll have twenty million points ready by then. Even if we exchange contracts, without the necessary conditions, it's useless. Moreover, this matter hasn't been agreed upon by your entire class, has it?"
[If it were the opinion of the entire Class B, Horikita or Hirata would have come to me. And with just this level, you can't compete with Sakayanagi.]
Saiki looked at Katsuragi Kohei, who was actually an outstanding student and had a good understanding of Class B's situation.
"I can understand your desperation, but you haven't even prepared the prerequisites for negotiation. Are you expecting me to happily agree to help and then discuss it with your class to get approval? Do you think I would accept that? For me, the risk is too great."
[Dammit, Katsuragi has completely taken control of the situation. Saiki, say something!]
At this moment, Yukimura Teruhiko frowned, his mind racing.
[We'll have to target Sakayanagi directly.]
After a moment of silence, Yukimura Teruhiko continued.
"...Are you really okay with being pushed around by Sakayanagi like this?"
"What?"
"She forced Totsuka to drop out. Even so, do you still want to cling to Class A?"
[Sakayanagi...]
Saiki sensed that Katsuragi Kohei's resolve was indeed wavering.
"I don't have the confidence to live in such a miserable state until graduation. That's something only a coward would do."
"Your final tactic is to call me miserable and provoke me? That's a zero in terms of negotiation, Yukimura."
Katsuragi Kohei frowned.
"Yukimura, I don't want to blame you, but if you want someone to betray, you need to have the corresponding resolve—however, you did say one thing right."
"...The right thing?"
Yukimura Teruhiko asked, confused. He had thought his plan had already failed.
"That I harbor uncontrollable, intense anger towards Sakayanagi. Even without bargaining chips, this alone is enough to make me do something."
Katsuragi Kohei crossed his arms and continued.
"You might have guessed it to some extent, but Sakayanagi hasn't told anyone the official five events. If you don't mind my presumptuous guess, I can tell you."
"R-really?!"
Yukimura Teruhiko's lips curled into a slight smile, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Saiki stared intently at Katsuragi Kohei.
[Right now, Yukimura must think that I've chosen to betray the class because of my hatred for Sakayanagi.]
[I do hate Sakayanagi, but I also have to acknowledge her abilities. From start to finish, Yukimura, every word you've said has been predicted by Sakayanagi! She specifically had me contact you like this, first rejecting you and then expressing a willingness to cooperate, to make you let your guard down.]
[The moment you brought this up, you fell into Sakayanagi's trap. I'm sorry, but I'm still a student of Class A, and I can't just abandon my classmates like this.]
Katsuragi Kohei thought to himself, then spoke:
"The condition is that you must promise not to leak this information."
"O-of course. I'll also propose the twenty million points to Horikita and the others later."
Yukimura Teruhiko quickly nodded.
"That's not necessary. Even if this information benefits you, you still can't prepare twenty million points, right?"
"In that case, what do you want in return?"
"Nothing. If I had to say, it's only Sakayanagi's defeat."
Katsuragi Kohei continued.
"Chess, English exam, math exam—these three events are definitely the top priority. Next would be modern literature and rapid mental calculation. On the other hand, events that require a large number of participants, like group jump rope or dodgeball, are almost certainly decoys. As far as I know, the students haven't been practicing them."
[This is indeed my genuine guess, but Sakayanagi told me to share this guess. A lie mixed with truth is harder to discern.]
"Is this really okay? After all, we can't offer any rewards right now..."
Yukimura Teruhiko actually felt a bit embarrassed.
"I already said it, didn't I? Even without bargaining chips, it's worth it for me to act."
"Th-that's great, Saiki! Now we have a chance to win!"
Yukimura Teruhiko turned to Saiki with a smile.
'Hey, hey, you thought we were doomed from the start, didn't you?'
Saiki thought to himself but still nodded.
"There's one more thing. You said you wanted me to go easy on you during the exam, right?"
At that moment, Katsuragi Kohei spoke again.
[This is the real trap Sakayanagi is setting.]
"Although you're Class B, to be honest, I think your class's overall strength is far inferior to Class A—maybe even worse than Class C. I don't think Class A is an opponent you can beat with just this level of assistance. If I go easy on you, you might have a chance to compete, but the only events I can help you with are rapid mental calculation or, if it's selected, group jump rope."
Katsuragi Kohei continued.
"However, I want to avoid letting Sakayanagi know that I intentionally lost, so in the rapid mental calculation event, I'll only solve the easy problems."
[I'm sorry, but I won't go easy on you. You might end up sending weaker students because you think I'll go easy.]
"Thank you so much!"
Yukimura Teruhiko nodded vigorously.
Meanwhile, Katsuragi Kohei turned to Saiki, feeling somewhat puzzled.
[These two aren't asking why I believe Sakayanagi will still select these events?]
'Because there's no need. After all, you won't actually go easy on us, right?'
"With that settled, I'll take my leave. I hope you can give Sakayanagi a defeat."
Katsuragi Kohei quickly turned and left, while Yukimura Teruhiko excitedly explained his future plans to Saiki.
'Yare yare, Sakayanagi seems quite confident, huh.'
'Maybe Sakayanagi is considered outstanding among ordinary people, but compared to a psychic, she's still far from enough.'
'You've caused me quite a bit of trouble before and even got the teachers' attention. This time, I'll pay you back properly.'
Saiki muttered to himself in his heart.