"I want to join the study group with Kusuo... but I'm too scared to say it..."
Saiki Kusuo could always hear Sakura Airi's thoughts. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed, stood up from his seat, and walked over to where she was sitting.
"You're here, Sakura."
"Huh... huh?"
Startled, Sakura looked up at Saiki, her face filled with surprise. She hadn't expected him to notice her so quickly. "Oh, what a coincidence! Kusuo..."
"Is it really a coincidence...?" Saiki asked, looking at her.
"It really is!" Sakura nodded vigorously.
"I saw you keep looking back..."
"Uh... sorry..." Sakura scratched her head, embarrassed that her lie had been exposed.
"Do you want to join our study group?" Saiki asked directly.
*If I don't bring it up, she'll probably keep following us. Better to address it now and avoid more trouble later.*
"I... why are you asking, Kusuo?"
"You're carrying a backpack and books, so I figured you wanted to join."
"Oh..." Sakura hugged her backpack, looking shy.
*I do... I really want to join... but I've never talked to anyone else...*
Though her body language showed willingness, Sakura struggled to voice her thoughts. After all, aside from Saiki, she hadn't spoken a word to anyone else.
Sakura opened her mouth, trying to say something, but no words came out.
"Except for Satō and Karuizawa, everyone here is pretty much a loner, so it shouldn't be a problem."
Fortunately, Saiki's telepathy let him know her thoughts instantly. He also acknowledged that Sakura had changed significantly. In the past, she would never dare to come to such a crowded place.
But now, here she was... a huge step forward, in a way.
*If I don't join the study group... the gap will only grow wider...*
*What gap? You'd better mean academically.*
As Saiki thought this, Sakura nodded firmly. "Okay, okay..."
She then followed Saiki to their table, where a waiter added an extra chair for her.
No one objected to Sakura's arrival.
"We're all pretty much loners here," Hasebe Haruka remarked, though her gaze briefly swept over Karuizawa Kei and Satō Maya.
"Before we start, Saiki, can I ask you something?" Miyake Akito, who had been quiet, now focused his attention on Saiki.
"What is it?"
"At the sports festival, you really stood out. We had no idea you were so good at sports."
Miyake, who considered himself athletically decent, believed Saiki was far superior.
"Just luck," Saiki replied flatly.
Others might feel happy hearing this, but Saiki wasn't. He didn't want moments of "standing out."
"Saiki, do you have a girlfriend?" Hasebe asked, her eyes narrowing curiously.
Though she didn't socialize much, Hasebe loved class gossip.
"No." Saiki answered without hesitation.
Sakura, Karuizawa, and Satō all turned to Hasebe.
*Why did Hasebe ask that?*
*Does she have feelings for Saiki too?*
*Hasebe...*
Feeling their stares, Hasebe quickly explained, "I'm just curious about these things."
"By the way, Saiki, after the sports festival, did the track team invite you?"
"They did, but I declined."
After the festival, several sports clubs had approached him, but Saiki saw such activities as burdens. Especially sports—he couldn't risk breaking world records accidentally.
"Let's focus on studying," Saiki said, eager to end this quickly.
"Right."
---
Two hours later, the session finally ended.
Despite his reluctance, Saiki had seriously explained key concepts to the others.
"I had no idea you were so good at these subjects, Saiki. No wonder Horikita said you're great at studying."
*I just wanted to end this quickly. Teaching them faster means ending this sooner.*
"I'm just slightly better at these subjects than others," Saiki replied modestly.
"Thanks for tailoring the session to what Hasebe and I struggle with. You must've prepared a lot yesterday."
"No problem. It was just a review for me."
With telepathy, Saiki instantly knew their weak subjects. For him, the material was as simple as 1+1=2, so preparation was minimal.
He packed his books, ready to leave, when his phone buzzed—Ayanokōji's phone buzzed too.
*Horikita Suzune: Come to the school building after class.*
*This can't be good,* Saiki thought.
---
Meanwhile, at the school building.
Horikita Suzune had just finished her first study session. With time before the next one, most students had left, leaving only her, Kushida Kikyō, and Yamauchi Haruki.
Yamauchi, packing up, was about to leave when Kushida stopped him. "Yamauchi, could you wait a moment? I have something to tell you!"
"Sure!" Yamauchi beamed, thrilled to be alone with Kushida—a dream come true.
*What does Kushida want to tell me alone? Could she... confess her feelings?!*
*It must be! My time has finally come!*
His imagination ran wild, but Kushida merely glanced at him coldly before turning to Horikita.
After the session, Horikita had called Kushida aside, and Kushida could guess why.
*Could Horikita have feelings for me too? Is this a love triangle?*
Yamauchi, clueless, dreamed big.
"Let's get straight to the point," Horikita said seriously. "Kushida, our relationship is irreconcilable."
"Agreed," Kushida smirked.
*They're fighting over me!* Yamauchi thought, oblivious.
"Is it because we attended the same middle school?"
"Suddenly bringing up the past? I don't like that topic."
"We can't avoid it. It's crucial for us."
"True, we rarely get to talk alone. Last time, I told you I want you to leave this school. We were in the same middle school, same grade, and you know about 'that incident.'"
"I've heard rumors, but I don't care about them. I don't know the truth and don't want to."
"But you can't guarantee you don't know the truth," Kushida said, her eyes narrowing.
"Wait, what are you two talking about?" Yamauchi finally asked, confused.
"I can't bridge the gap between us. No matter how I deny it, you'll think I'm lying. You can't tolerate my existence, so you want me gone."
"Correct." Kushida didn't deny it.
"We're both in Class B, close to Class A. We need to work together."
"Not a problem. If you leave, I'll focus on reaching Class A with others."
Horikita paused, then said, "How about a bet, Kushida?"
"Oh?"
"If I score higher than you on the final exam, you'll assist me and not interfere. I don't expect your help, just no obstruction."
Horikita was serious, having thought this through.
"Just one subject, not total scores?"
"Yes."
"That's a ridiculous bet. I've never beaten you, and if I win, what's in it for me?"
"We'll compete in one subject from the final exam. You choose your strongest—"
Horikita paused, then firmly added, "If you score higher, I'll withdraw from school."
"Really?" Kushida's eyes narrowed, intrigued.
"I'm serious. I brought a witness."
Horikita gestured to the doorway, where Horikita Manabu entered. Though no longer student council president, his authority remained.
"Can I add a condition?" Kushida asked.
"What?"
"If I win, this guy leaves with you." Kushida glanced at Yamauchi.