Sakayanagi Arisu never doubted the existence of true geniuses in this world.
The answer was obvious—because she herself was one.
The unconcealed awe in the interviewers' eyes weeks ago had long confirmed this.
Aside from her regrettably frail physique, her credentials were flawless to the point of being suffocating.
No blemishes, no imperfections—like a perfect crystal formed through precise calculations.
From Class A to Class D, from geniuses to rejects.
According to this school's rules, class points would be redistributed next month based on student performance.
Especially that Class D—they'd most likely plummet to zero.
This intel didn't come from her father, the school chairman. In fact, the slightest probing would make her doting father spill everything.
But a true genius would never resort to shortcuts.
Half an hour ago, she'd deduced everything just from her homeroom teacher's offhand remarks.
Now, the "free supplies" corner in the convenience store perfectly validated her reasoning.
*(I wonder if anyone else noticed this hidden clue.)*
*(If I'm the only one, this school would be dreadfully dull.)*
Sakayanagi remained still, her gaze sweeping across every figure in the store.
Most students ignored the free section entirely, focused only on their desired purchases.
Until—
A purple-haired, purple-eyed beauty entered her field of vision.
It wasn't just her identity as Kamuro Masumi from Class A that caught Sakayanagi's attention.
What intrigued her more was how the girl was professionally surveying the security cameras, her steps unconsciously drifting toward the alcohol section.
*(How amusing... Planning to steal? Given her proficiency, she's likely a repeat offender.)*
She'd noticed earlier but was hindered by her limited mobility.
*(If I hadn't needed the restroom...)*
She dismissed the thought immediately.
Her eyes traced the girl's slender ankles, and a competitive spark faded just as quickly.
Comparing himself to someone at such a physical disadvantage would be ungentlemanly.
**"You're right."** Shimizu responded curtly.
The silver-haired girl maintained her faint smile, poised like a meticulously rehearsed mime.
Her deliberate silence thickened the air—was she waiting for his next line?
But Shimizu's focus had already shifted to today's first intel update:
**[Intel 1: Today at 10:30 (after the entrance ceremony), Class 1-A's Kamuro Masumi will "pocket" a can of beer from the campus convenience store.]**
*(Scouting ahead... very professional.)*
His gaze drifted inconspicuously toward the alcohol section.
His peripheral vision caught the purple-haired girl—her eyes precisely avoiding camera blind spots as she lingered alone by the beer shelf.
*Tap. Tap. Tap.*
Sakayanagi's cane struck the floor three times, the crisp sound yanking Shimizu's attention back.
**"Classmate?"** Her lips curved into a knowing smirk. **"It seems our observation targets align. Geniuses do attract each other, after all."** Her cane tip pointed unerringly toward Kamuro. **"That's Kamuro Masumi's sixth camera blind-spot check, four glances at the clerk, two..."** The cane traced an elegant arc, **"...lingering stares at a specific beer can."**
Following the cue, Shimizu indeed saw the purple-haired girl biting her lower lip unconsciously, her fingers trembling nervously above the beer cans.
**"But..."** Sakayanagi's voice dropped, her cane lightly tapping Shimizu's wrist, **"this might be the worst possible timing."**
**"It's peak shopping hours right after point distribution... Getting caught would mean social suicide."** Her gaze locked onto Shimizu's eyes. **"Don't you agree, classmate?"**