At this time, Koenji Rokusuke had both legs propped up on the desk, holding a mirror in one hand, and with the index finger of the other hand playing with his bangs, he looked intoxicated at his reflection in the mirror.
In the class that was originally full of monsters and freaks, Koenji was always the most special one among them.
No matter what the matter was, Koenji's style was always going his own way, completely incompatible with others, and there was basically no communication.
However, Saiki, who had telepathy, was also very clear that Koenji was somewhat similar to Ayanokoji, possessing outstanding talent that others in the class did not have.
It's just that Ayanokoji and Saiki tried all kinds of ways to hide themselves, while Koenji didn't care about this at all, and even had some behaviors that made him extremely attention-grabbing.
Koenji's test results in the class ranked among the top. Although not full marks, it was actually because every time he just casually chose to do a portion of the questions, and for some questions either simply didn't do them, or just randomly picked answers based on his interest.
He could be said to be an extremely self-centered person. His behavior and manner in all aspects exceeded the range of ordinary people's understanding, even to the extent of completely ignoring others' existence.
It could be said that in the first minute when classmates began to get to know each other, Koenji had already earned the dislike of almost everyone. Saiki didn't want too much contact with such a person.
"An existence as un-beautiful as you has no need to remain here." Koenji maintained that slightly strange tone as he spoke, but his eyes never moved onto Sudo Ken.
"What did you say? Try saying that again?"
"To repeat it several times is too inefficient. Truly nonsense. If you're saying it because you're aware your ability is poor, then I don't mind saying it to you one more time."
Sudo Ken flew into a rage, slamming the desk forcefully, the enormous strength almost flipping the desk, and his whole body was about to charge at Koenji.
Saiki didn't step in to stop it, because he knew clearly that someone would intervene before that.
"That's enough! Both of you stop right now!" Hirata Yousuke loudly stopped the two of them.
[I absolutely cannot let a serious incident like mutual fighting happen in class.]
'Hirata is truly an angel. If there were more students like him in the class, it would be great.' Saiki sighed in his heart.
[That Rokusuke guy is really annoying.]
[If someone has to be expelled, it'd be best if Rokusuke gets expelled too.]
[Honestly speaking, I think Rokusuke is even more hateful than Sudo.]
The inner thoughts of most students in the class had already changed. Their hostility had basically shifted onto Koenji.
Although the anger on Sudo Ken's face was nearly overflowing, luckily, due to Hirata Yousuke's timely intervention, no further conflict broke out between the two of them.
And Koenji was always looking into the mirror, tidying up his appearance, as if he hadn't placed Sudo Ken in his eyes at all.
"One week from now, the student council will intervene in the negotiation between you and Class D. Depending on the results of the negotiation, points will be deducted, and Sudo's punishment will also be determined."
As the teacher, Chabashira Sae still turned a blind eye to the tense atmosphere in the class, and instead seemed to somewhat look forward to what might happen next.
———
After the morning classes ended, Chabashira Sae brought Sudo Ken and left the classroom to inquire about the situation in the office.
And in the classroom, the students were all talking noisily about Sudo Ken's matter.
"No points again this month… I thought points were about to be distributed, so I spent a lot the other day…"
"Seriously, that Sudo guy might as well just get expelled."
"What do we do now, this month…"
Since Sudo Ken was no longer in the classroom, the other students basically didn't hide their opinions of him anymore.
"What do you think, Horikita?"
Ayanokoji propped one hand on his cheek, slightly turned his head, and looked at Horikita Suzune beside him.
"Not sure if a student being expelled will affect class points. For now, it's best to avoid such situations from happening." Horikita Suzune said calmly, appearing very composed.
[Although Sudo's temper isn't good, I feel like what he said just now wasn't false. And I've also heard some rumors about Class D lately, especially that guy named Rokusen Ryuen... he might be quite a troublesome presence.] Horikita Suzune thought this in her heart.
[If it were the old Horikita, she would've probably said something like, 'A guy like Sudo is better off expelled.']
Ayanokoji didn't speak, just quietly looked at Horikita Suzune.
'Geez, the atmosphere in the classroom is getting a little strange. I'd better leave first.' And on the other side, Saiki was thinking this in his heart, preparing to leave the classroom for lunch.
For him, helping Sudo Ken clear his name wasn't that difficult, but Saiki had to think of a way to avoid making the situation more troublesome.
Acting alone would definitely be more convenient for him.
'Better leave quickly, or else...'
Before Saiki could stand up from his seat, Hirata Yousuke had already stood at the classroom podium.
"I choose to believe in our classmates. I believe we should all work together to find clues from any witnesses!" Hirata Yousuke said very seriously from the podium.
"I agree! I also believe in Sudo!"
"Since even Hirata said so…"
"Me too."
After Hirata Yousuke finished speaking, quite a few classmates voiced their agreement, most of whom were girls.
'Wait a sec… weren't some of you just badmouthing Sudo behind his back? Now you changed your stance right after Hirata spoke?'
Saiki complained in his heart. He knew very clearly that if it were him standing on the podium, probably no one would respond.
'I didn't agree to this at all, Hirata, but if I were to leave openly like Rokusuke, I'd probably become everyone's target.' Saiki thought in his heart, planning to wait until everyone's attention shifted, then quietly leave.
But in the next second, a bad feeling surged in Saiki's heart.
"Saiki-kun, you'll definitely help too, right?" Kushida walked up to Saiki, smiling as she asked.
[This, for me, also counts as a good opportunity. I can further improve my image in the class. First of all, in terms of facial expressions and mannerisms, I must not show any problems. I need to do my best to show a concerned appearance toward classmates.]
Kushida controlled the expression on her face very well. Her face carried a polite smile, but in her eyes there was a hint of concern toward Sudo Ken.
'What excellent acting... In a certain sense, you can also be counted as one of the people who indirectly framed Sudo.'
Saiki thought in his heart, and at the same time noticed that the others, upon hearing Kushida's voice, also turned their gazes over.
'Hirata's speech successfully changed the atmosphere in the classroom. The others will probably take the initiative to help Sudo find a witness. In that case, I don't really need to do anything. Should I casually come up with some important excuse to reject them first?'
"Ayanokoji-kun, you'll definitely help me, right?" Before Saiki could open his mouth, Kushida added another sentence.
In the classroom, more gazes were cast toward Saiki, and the latter could clearly hear their inner thoughts.
[Since both Hirata and Kushida said so, we definitely have to help Sudo properly!]
'Just one minute ago, you clearly weren't thinking this way.'
[To actually be directly invited by Kushida-san to act together! I'm so jealous of Ayanokoji!]
'Well, you're jealous of the wrong thing.'
[Why isn't that guy Saiki answering? Don't tell me he's going to refuse? Then he must be the same kind of troublesome guy as Rokusuke.]
'Looks like there's no room to refuse now.'
At this moment, Saiki only wanted to sigh. In his eyes, if he were seen as someone on the same level as Koenji, that would be an event big enough to destroy the world:
"Alright."
"Thank you so much, Saiki-kun!" Kushida's smile instantly became even more radiant. Her voice also rose by several pitches, and her body slightly leaned toward Saiki's direction.
[Damn you, Saiki! You actually look so close with Kushida!]
Saiki ignored the inner voice coming from Ike Kanji, and could only go along with Kushida and the others to take action.
Immediately after, the few people from the classroom were basically divided into pairs, asking other students around the school whether anyone had witnessed the related incident. Saiki and Kushida were one pair, while Horikita Suzune did not participate.
This afternoon, they didn't have any classes. Saiki had no choice but to follow Kushida and run around the school.
Even when facing upperclassmen they had never met before, Kushida could naturally greet them. This made Saiki admire Kushida's social skills. The amount of words she spoke in one afternoon felt like more than Saiki would speak in six months.
However, they achieved nothing at all the entire afternoon.
———
Soon, the sun was about to set, and the sky had turned dim yellow.
Kushida and Saiki came together to the school's sports field to take a short break. Ike Kanji and others as well as Ayanokoji were also resting here. Sudo Ken, who had previously been taken to the office, also arrived to regroup here.
"Everyone, did you find any information about a witness?"
Kushida looked clearly very anxious and immediately asked, but the others present could only give negative replies.
"Damn it…" Sudo Ken stomped his foot a bit unwillingly.
Everyone else also looked out of breath, except for Ayanokoji, who had no special reaction, he simply cast his gaze into the distance. A familiar figure appeared in front of everyone.
"Kushida, Saiki, what are you all doing? So many people!"
Ichinose Honami walked over with light steps and the curve of her upper body swayed slightly with her movement.
[Wow, another big beauty appears!]
[Isn't she Ichinose Honami from Class B?]
[She even knows Saiki… Wait, I remember now! At the start of school, she had lunch together with Saiki and Kushida!]
Saiki immediately felt the anger levels from the idiot trio toward him rise sharply, and could only try to shift his gaze toward others as much as possible.
Kushida then explained the ins and outs of the whole situation to Ichinose Honami, and the latter nodded firmly at once, "Our Class B can also help you! Maybe we'll be able to find some useful information."
"Really?! Thank you so much, Ichinose-san!"
Hearing Ichinose Honami's words, Kushida immediately showed a very happy smile, almost throwing herself into the other's arms.
[To directly go ask students from other classes for help? Kushida gives off a sense of inconsistency.]
On the side, Ayanokoji silently observed Kushida and Ichinose Honami. He knew of Ichinose Honami, but had not had much interaction.
'Ayanokoji also noticed Kushida acting weird? But Ayanokoji doesn't have mind-reading powers and hasn't personally seen Kushida's outbursts yet.'
Saiki only nodded toward Ichinose Honami, gave a small greeting, and didn't say much else.
'In Kushida's heart, there's actually no gratitude toward Ichinose Honami, because in reality, helping Sudo isn't her original intent. She just wants to use this opportunity to show a caring appearance toward classmates.'
'But Ichinose truly, simply wants to help… It's rare to see such a person in this school. Kushida is probably trying to imitate someone like Ichinose Honami.'
At this moment, in Saiki's heart, the people he had interacted with who had relatively normal personalities were three: Hirata Yousuke, Shiina Hiyori, and Ichinose Honami.
'As for the others…'
Saiki glanced at the idiot trio out of the corner of his eye, and was met with gazes full of envy and anger.
'Let's not even mention those other monsters and freaks for now…'
"Well then, I'm heading back first! If there's any progress, I'll come find you!"
Ichinose Honami waved her hand toward everyone and then left the plaza.
[Damn Saiki, how come he randomly knows all these girls?]
'Sorry, I don't want that either.'
[Last time at the café, I even saw Saiki chatting and flirting with a silver-haired girl!]
'We were just purely talking about detective novels, nothing else.'
[Re... really envious! Damn it! I originally thought I could use this opportunity to strike up conversations with other girls!]
'So you also didn't want to seriously help, huh?'
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