[Now there's only one step left to reach Class A... as long as we put in a bit more effort, we can rise to Class A!]
While thinking this, Suzune's expression also seemed to become serious.
'Although we've already reached Class B, the gap with Class A is still quite large.'
On the other hand, Ayanokoji's expression didn't show any change.
[Horikita must be thinking about promoting the class to Class A, right?]
'You really understand her too well.'
[But this class rose from Class D to Class B in just four months, such speed has greatly exceeded my expectations.]
[This class lacks cohesion, the leader's personality is also lacking, and still needs to be polished. According to my calculations, the earliest we could reach Class C would be next semester, but now we're already at Class B, it goes to show just how outstanding Saiki's ability is.]
'Why am I being dragged into this for no reason... I just want to peacefully spend these three years of high school.' Saiki thought in his heart.
"Who do you think on this list is most worth being on guard against?" Ayanokoji continued to ask.
"Ryuen."
Without any hesitation, Suzune immediately gave her answer.
"Isn't it Katsuragi?"
"He is undoubtedly the most excellent among them, but Ryuen is the one more worth being on guard against." Suzune continued.
[Ryuen has significant flaws, but in many ways, Ryuen's way of thinking is similar to mine. He might be usable in the future. With a bit of polishing, he might become a decent tool.]
'You even want to use that kind of guy? And in your eyes, basically everyone is a tool, huh? Are you some kind of school worker?' Saiki complained internally.
"Yo, Suzune, here so early!"
At this moment, a familiar and careless voice came from the other side, Ryuen, draped in his uniform jacket, appeared in front of everyone.
And standing next to Ryuen was, Ibuki Mio.
"Didn't I tell you not to call my name without permission, Ryuen-kun? And as for you, being seen through for pretending to be well-behaved, now you're openly following Ryuen around. No need to pretend anymore, huh, Ibuki-san?"
Suzune's gaze fell on Ibuki's face, her tone full of provocation.
Although there hadn't been a major conflict back then, the fact that Ibuki was a spy from Class D was already known to other members of Suzune's class.
Ibuki's face was full of displeasure, but she wasn't planning to refute anything at the moment.
[Was it Horikita who intentionally gave me false information?] Ibuki was somewhat curious in her heart.
Although Saiki was the class's first leader, no matter how she observed, he only looked like an ordinary guy with no particular talent, not much of a threat to her.
"Still eating with your little tag-alongs again?"
Ryuen said with a laugh, sweeping his gaze over both Ayanokoji and Saiki.
'Hey hey hey, don't drag me into this, if anything, I'm the one being followed, right?'
Saiki just wanted to quickly leave this place and not waste his precious rest time.
"I think the school email has already been delivered. So? Has anyone among you become the VIP?" Ryuen said with a smile.
"Like I'd tell you. If I asked you, would you tell me?"
"Who knows, maybe I would?"
Ryuen spoke as he directly sat in the seat nearby, this made Saiki realize this conversation probably wouldn't end quickly.
But what slightly caught Saiki's attention was a thought he heard from Ryuen's mind, [Our group's VIP... is Kushida. Suzune definitely wouldn't expect that I already know this.]
Ryuen's lips curved upward slightly.
'Yare yare... It's only been a few minutes since the VIP info was released, and Ryuen already knows who it is in his group? That can only mean one thing, Kushida leaked intel again?' Saiki thought, but didn't say anything aloud.
"Back on the uninhabited island exam, how exactly did you do it?"
Ryuen narrowed his eyes, casting his gaze onto Suzune's face.
"No matter what you ask, I won't answer." Suzune directly ignored Ryuen, sipping her coffee nonchalantly.
"From Ibuki's report, you don't seem like someone capable of designing that kind of strategy." Ryuen continued speaking in a forceful tone.
[Suzune certainly has good ability in her class, but the type of person she is wouldn't be able to devise such a plan. Letting Ibuki infiltrate, feeding false info, this isn't her style. If anything, it's more like my style.]
[There should be another talent in Class B pulling the strings behind the scenes.]
[Maybe that person is the culprit behind the earlier recording incident.]
'As long as you don't suspect me, everything's fine.' Saiki responded in his heart.
"I'm not dumb enough to be seen through by that kind of guy."
Suzune gave Ibuki a side glance, then quickly returned her focus to her coffee, as if the other person was insignificant.
[This arrogant girl... I'm definitely going to punch her someday!]
Ibuki's furious inner voice was so loud that even Saiki found it noisy.
"No, in your class, there's definitely someone controlling everything. I believe that. The original leader was Saiki, you're Shiina's friend, I remember you."
Ryuen cast his gaze toward Saiki's face and studied it carefully, but he couldn't glean any useful information, after all, the latter's face remained expressionless.
"If the leader title was handed to you, then whoever's orchestrating everything from behind must have some connection to you."
Ryuen's gaze then shifted to Ayanokoji's face, again, no emotion was visible.
Ibuki stared intently at both Saiki and Ayanokōji.
[Two emotionless blocks.]
"The most suspicious candidates... aren't they right beside me?"
Suzune added, highlighting the presence of the other two. At this point, this approach actually helped divert suspicion.
[These two don't seem that likely... if it were either of them, they wouldn't be tagging along behind Suzune like this.]
'Even though I've cleared suspicion, it still somehow feels annoying.'
Saiki's brow twitched slightly.
"Then let's face off again in this exam."
Ryuen placed his hand on the back of the chair, preparing to stand, and declared his departure proudly.
But at that moment, Saiki secretly used psychokinesis to tilt the chair forward slightly, just enough that Ryuen, as he stood, lost his balance and fell.
'Yare yare... feels a little better now.'
"Ryuen, what are you doing?"
Ibuki frowned, quickly stepped forward to help him up.
Because of the loud commotion, nearby students all turned their attention toward Ryuen, a truly embarrassing scene.
"Damn it."
Ryuen cursed, wanting to kick the chair hard, but considering there were many people around and damaging school property would result in a heavy point deduction, he held back. Taking Ibuki with him, he left in a hurry.
"So pathetic. The great Ryuen can't even walk straight? Time to go back to kindergarten and relearn walking?"
Suzune said to Ryuen's back. But this time, Ryuen didn't respond, he just left.
'Yare yare... finally over? I can leave now, right?' Saiki thought to himself.
"Since that annoying guy is gone, let's continue discussing the matter at hand."
"....."
———
At 1 PM. Saiki arrived at the meeting room right on time.
'Even though I already know who the VIP is, judging by the current situation, I should still pretend not to know anything... let's try to lower my presence as much as possible. If I can coast through this test, then I'll just play the invisible role.' Saiki thought as he opened the door.
The moment he pushed it open, he saw a familiar face.
"Saiki-kun!"
Seeing Saiki arrive, Ichinose Honami walked over warmly and greeted him with great enthusiasm.
The moment he heard her call out his name, Saiki knew all his plans were doomed.
"Saiki-kun, your class got 300 points in the last test! That's amazing, congratulations!"
Ichinose Honami's face beamed with a pure smile as she spoke to Saiki.
'Crap...'
Although Saiki could tell Ichinose's words were genuine, the instant she called his name out loud, he became the most noticeable person in the room.
[Saiki? Who's that? There's someone named Saiki on the list...]
[Ichinose used to be Class B... now she's the famous beauty of Class C... she looks pretty close with this Saiki guy.]
[This Saiki dude looks totally average. How's he so familiar with Ichinose? Kinda irritating.]
'Yare yare... things haven't even started and I'm already being targeted by a few people, huh?'
Saiki sighed. Though he had seen their group list the day before, aside from the few he knew, he didn't care to remember the rest.
"Lord Saiki, you're here too! I had three eel lunch boxes this afternoon, too full now. I was planning to go on a diet but failed, is also true."
Sotomura Hideo said as he patted his round belly and laughed while speaking to Saiki.
'Can you please talk normally?' Saiki couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.
[So gross.]
[Absolutely must avoid contact with this guy.]
[This guy's a total loser otaku.]
In an instant, Sotomura Hideo was ranked as the lowest presence in the group in the eyes of others.
'If I respond to this guy now, they'll probably think I'm his friend. My social image will tank. But I have no way to reject him. Rather than sit next to Ichinose and get targeted by everyone else, I'd rather sit next to this guy.'
Saiki nodded at Sotomura and sat beside him, Ichinose Honami then sat down on Saiki's other side.
'???'
Saiki hadn't expected things to turn out like this. No matter how you looked at it now, he was in a hopeless position.
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