Saiki could read minds, but he wasn't considering himself.
Kushida Kikyō was the key.
Kikyō was a social butterfly, connected to every class and even upperclassmen. Her personality made her a confidant, holding secrets of most first-years.
She once used this to disrupt her middle school class.
Now, due to mental manipulation, Kikyō no longer saw Saiki as an enemy. He could get info from her without reading minds, providing it to Hiyori.
But...
Saiki wouldn't do that.
He respected privacy and wouldn't expose others.
Introducing Kikyō to Hiyori was risky. Few knew Kikyō's true nature; revealing it could disrupt the entire grade.
"No choice then," Saiki nodded.
"I'll think of something better... Any ideas, Saiki?" Hiyori asked.
*Her plan could help Ichinose but might cause more chaos...* Saiki thought.
"Not yet."
"Guess I'll keep thinking..."
After their chat, Saiki returned to his dorm.
But he sensed someone following—Kamuro Masumi.
Though they'd never met, Saiki knew her name. She'd been tailing him for days.
*Ignore her,* he decided, walking past.
"You know I've been following you," Masumi blurted.
*Why's she talking to me? No one's around...* Saiki thought, ignoring her.
"Are you ignoring me?" Masumi shouted.
Saiki stopped, sighing.
"Were you calling me?"
"Of course! Who else is named Saiki?"
"We don't know each other. I thought you were talking to someone else."
*Such a nerd... Is he really worth Sakayanagi's attention?* Masumi thought.
"I'm Kamuro Masumi. Sakayanagi ordered me to monitor you. I'm not interested, though."
"Monitor me? Sakayanagi?" Saiki feigned confusion.
*He's still acting...*
"We know about you. Both the former and current student council presidents are watching. You know that, right?"
"No clue. Is there a misunderstanding?"
Masumi grew frustrated but continued per Sakayanagi's orders.
"Fine. Sakayanagi's making me follow you. She's ruthless. If you don't cooperate, she'll target you, maybe even get you expelled. Let's team up."
Saiki knew she was lying but realized she'd keep pestering him.
"I don't understand."
"If you don't cooperate, Sakayanagi will ruin you. Let's talk somewhere private. It's cold here."
"Go to your dorm..."
"Your dorm, then."
Masumi followed Saiki into the elevator, leaving him no choice but to comply.
*What a nuisance. I'll deal with her later,* he thought.
"Bland room," Masumi commented, contrasting her thoughts.
"I have no hobbies."
Saiki Kusuo replied, while Kamuro Masumi sat directly on the bed.
"Grab something to drink. This might take a while."
"There's nothing."
Saiki Kusuo answered, secretly using his psychic powers to hide the milk tea he usually kept in his dorm room.
"Really? How's that possible?"
Kamuro Masumi said, incredulous, quickly walking to the fridge and opening the door.
It was empty.
"There's really nothing... Do you even live here?"
"I don't snack much, anyway."
Saiki Kusuo replied.
But a faint sweat formed on his forehead.
Just a second before Kamuro Masumi opened the fridge, there had been a cake Saiki Kusuo planned to eat that night. Given Kamuro Masumi's personality, she'd likely eat it without asking.
Luckily, Saiki Kusuo acted fast, teleporting the cake away as the fridge door opened.
*That was close.*
Saiki Kusuo thought, then said,
"So, what's this about? If it's cold, we could talk in the dorm hall. They have heating."
"Here's better. No one will disturb us. It's the perfect place to talk."
"What do you want? We just met, and you're already saying weird things."
"You're not like Yamauchi from your class."
Kamuro Masumi said.
*[That Yamauchi, does he even know his place? Does he really think he can win over Sakayanagi? Ridiculous.]*
*True, though it's a bit sad,* Saiki Kusuo thought.
"Are you curious about Yamauchi?"
"Not at all."
"Fine, I'll drop it. Doesn't matter anyway."
Finding no drinks or snacks, Kamuro Masumi looked disappointed, sat back on the bed, and continued,
"What do you think of Ichinose's letter?"
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Do you think she's guilty?"
"I don't know."
Saiki Kusuo replied.
*[This guy... He's so annoying... So boring.]*
Kamuro Masumi's eyebrows twitched as she continued,
"Even if you're not interested, you'd think about it—whether Ichinose's good or bad."
"Being a criminal doesn't make you bad, and not being one doesn't make you good."
Saiki Kusuo kept saying meaningless things.
*Time to leave.*
"..."
*[This isn't going anywhere...]*
Kamuro Masumi thought, then changed the topic.
"There are rumors about someone spreading lies, right?"
"Yeah."
"I think those rumors hold some truth. Ichinose isn't fighting back because she's hiding something. If she does, the truth will come out. But if she doesn't, people will suspect her anyway."
Kamuro Masumi paused, as if to emphasize the seriousness.
"And it won't solve anything. If those spreading rumors know her secrets, they'll keep going. Eventually, they'll reveal more, and she won't be able to deny it."
"Oh."
"Also, I'll tell you straight—Sakayanagi's behind these rumors. You should know that."
"I have no idea."
"Let me be clear: Sakayanagi doesn't know I'm here talking to you. If she did, she'd be furious. She plans to deal with Ichinose, then target you."
*Guess I can't act uninterested now. Great.*
Saiki Kusuo sighed internally, deciding to play along.
"So, you're betraying Sakayanagi?"
"Exactly."
"Hard to believe."
"I know. But I'll tell you Ichinose's secret—other students will know soon anyway. First, I'll explain why Sakayanagi controls me."
"I'm not—"
"I know you're not interested, but listen."
Without giving Saiki Kusuo a chance to refuse, Kamuro Masumi told her story with Sakayanagi Arisu.
It wasn't complicated: Kamuro Masumi had stolen something at school, Sakayanagi Arisu caught her, and threatened her into becoming her follower.
Using telepathy, Saiki Kusuo knew she wasn't lying. But he also knew Kamuro Masumi now served Sakayanagi Arisu willingly, not just out of fear.
"Done. So tiring... And nothing to drink..."
Kamuro Masumi complained.
*[Saiki will probably doubt my story, especially the theft. But Sakayanagi prepared beer, using someone's student ID. Students can't buy alcohol, so Saiki will assume it's stolen, lowering his guard.]*
*Typical plan,* Saiki Kusuo thought silently.
"You've said so much. Don't you have any reaction? Do you doubt me?"
Kamuro Masumi asked, pretending to be slightly annoyed.
"No, I trust you. Tell me what you'll do to Sakayanagi. I'll help."
Saiki Kusuo finally spoke.
*Just play along and get her to leave.*
His response completely threw off Kamuro Masumi's plan.
"You don't doubt me?"
"Not at all."
"I'll steal you a beer from the supermarket..."
"No need. I trust you completely."