After their meeting with Katsuragi Kohei, Yukimura Teruhiko immediately brought Saiki back to the dormitory and, without delay, found Horikita Suzune to report what had just happened.
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Yukimura-kun."
Horikita Suzune politely said to Yukimura Teruhiko.
However, Saiki could clearly hear her thoughts.
[Was it really that smooth? No, even though Katsuragi must be very dissatisfied with Sakayanagi, the likelihood of him betraying Class A just because of that isn't very high.]
After a brief exchange, Yukimura Teruhiko left, and just as Saiki was about to leave as well, Horikita Suzune called out to him:
"Saiki, wait a moment."
"What is it?"
"What do you think about Katsuragi?"
Horikita Suzune asked with a frown.
[Saiki-kun's abilities must far exceed my imagination. He probably already saw through this—but given Saiki's usual behavior, it's also quite likely that he's pretending to know nothing.]
'Yare yare, can't I just brush this off? But even if it's not Horikita, other students should be able to guess this too.'
Saiki thought to himself, then spoke:
"I don't think it's very reliable. Sakayanagi might have even anticipated our possible actions and deliberately had Katsuragi act this way. After all, Katsuragi has probably completely submitted to Sakayanagi by now."
"Hmm, I think so too."
Horikita Suzune nodded in agreement.
"However, I think some of Katsuragi's information is still usable. For example, the events Sakayanagi has arranged are likely accurate—but the idea that he would go easy on us during the exam is hard to believe. It's probably a trap."
"Right."
"Regardless, we still need to give it our all to prepare... I've listed out various scenarios and can assign different students to different events. This is what I currently consider the optimal solution, and it should provide you with some reference."
As she spoke, Horikita Suzune sent a document to Saiki.
[This should be the absolute optimal solution.]
Saiki opened the document, which contained the ideal lineup of students for different events, even accounting for various unexpected situations.
'Yare yare, as expected of Horikita. This will save me a lot of trouble. During the exam, I just need to follow the arrangements she's laid out.'
Saiki thought to himself.
After exchanging a few more words with Horikita Suzune, Saiki finally returned to his room and carefully examined the contents of the document.
Horikita Suzune had considered various scenarios for the selected events and devised multiple strategies. After all, if different subjects were chosen, it could lead to significant changes in the lineup of participating students.
However, for Saiki, this wasn't a problem at all.
After all, there was no suspense about which events the school would choose. Saiki could easily manipulate the system, and everything was under his control.
'Let's just pick a combination of events that seems reliable...'
At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
[This is a perfect opportunity to settle things with Saiki.]
The voice belonged to Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
'Yare yare, is this guy ever going to give up?'
Saiki sighed, then opened the door.
"Saiki, do you have a moment?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked—
And Saiki noticed that he was holding a box of chess.
[I never had much love for chess, as it was just one of the daily training routines in the White Room. But now, for the first time, I feel some anticipation for this kind of challenge. I want to compete with Saiki. Perhaps Sakayanagi feels the same way. I'm starting to understand a little.]
"What is it?"
Although Saiki asked, he already knew exactly what Ayanokoji Kiyotaka wanted.
"I wanted to discuss chess with you, Saiki. Since you mentioned before that you also play chess, I thought we could have a match."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said slowly.
'Yare yare, I should have just said I didn't know how to play back then. But now there's no way out. I'll just make up an excuse and say my chess skills are limited...'
As he thought this, Saiki prepared to speak.
[Saiki might claim that his skills are lacking to refuse.]
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka thought to himself, completely guessing Saiki's thoughts.
'Are you a psychic too?'
Saiki swallowed the words he was about to say and quickly thought of a solution.
'At this point, I can't just refuse... I'll have to agree for now. Once we clearly determine the outcome, maybe he'll stop bothering me in the future.'
After thinking this through, Saiki nodded and said:
"Alright, I'll play, but my chess skills are limited."
"Thank you very much."
"How are your chess skills?"
Saiki asked curiously.
"I just know the rules."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said slowly.
[I've played against people in the White Room over a thousand times. After I learned the rules, I never lost.]
'Yare yare, perfect.'
An idea popped into Saiki's mind.
'Since Ayanokoji is so strong, I can justifiably lose to him. If I lose, he probably won't bother me to play chess again.'
Although Saiki knew the rules of chess, he wasn't particularly interested in it. And because of his telepathy, he could easily defeat any chess player just by knowing the rules.
Even Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was no exception.
This was also why Saiki didn't particularly enjoy such games.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka quickly set up the chessboard and began the first game with Saiki.
[If he moves his knight here...]
[If that's the case...]
[Then my next move...]
During the game, Saiki could clearly hear Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's thoughts, making it easy for him to win.
However, for Saiki, telepathy wasn't a tool to win but to lose.
'Don't underestimate the art of losing. To lose convincingly without others noticing requires great skill.'
'If I make the worst move outright, Ayanokoji might realize I'm throwing the game, which could lead to more trouble. That wouldn't be good.'
'So I need to lose naturally!'
Saiki thought to himself, then created the illusion of a fiercely contested game, only to make a mistake in the mid-game and lose!
The progression of the game went exactly as Saiki expected. After about ten minutes, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka unsurprisingly won the match.
'Should I pretend to be frustrated and slam the table? No, it's just a game. No need to overdo it.'
Saiki thought to himself, a slight smile forming on his lips. Everything was going according to plan.
'But now that Ayanokoji has won this match, he probably won't bother me anymore.'
Just as Saiki was thinking this, he heard Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's thoughts again.
[Saiki was definitely going easy on me.]
'Huh? I went to such lengths, and you can still tell? Really?'
Saiki's eyes widened in surprise.
[In the first game, I deliberately played at a beginner's level to test Saiki's skills, but he intentionally lost to me. I thought he didn't want to continue—but then he chose to start a second game.]
[In the second game, I vaguely guessed that Saiki might use his true skills, so I also gave it my all. But in the early to mid-game, I was completely crushed by Saiki... I've never lost in chess or any other board game, but Saiki easily defeated me... It's as if he could see through all my thoughts... What a terrifying guy... Not only that, but I also began to understand why he wanted to play two games. He wanted to show me that he could freely control the outcome of the match.]
[After the match, his comment about me "not using my full strength" didn't seem like a humble remark but a serious statement. Does that mean, in his eyes, my chess skills are almost like I was going easy? But that makes sense. To an elephant, an ant and a mouse might not seem much different... Is this the first time I've fought with all my might and still lost? Saiki... is far more terrifying than I imagined. It's as if he can read minds...]
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka kept muttering to himself in his mind.
Meanwhile, Saiki's expression gradually turned blank:
'??????'
'You deliberately went easy in the first game, then suddenly went all out in the second? What are you thinking?'
'And what's with all that overthinking? You almost guessed the telepathy part.'
Saiki pursed his lips, completely unprepared for how things had turned out.
"I thought my chess skills were decent, but it seems I'm nowhere near your level, Saiki-kun."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood up and said to Saiki.
"Well, well... it was just luck. No need to take it too seriously. Let's play another game."
Saiki quickly said.
"There's no need. Saiki, the gap between our skills is clear. No matter how many times we play, it's meaningless. Even if luck is involved, I might only win two out of ten games."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said as he tidied up the chessboard.
"Through this match, I've realized how big the gap between us is. Please take care of me in the future."
'...'
Saiki wanted to say something more, but Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had already left.