"Kusuo... you're actually really amazing, aren't you?"
Honami looked up at him, her expression serious.
*Uh-oh, how should I respond...*
Kusuo was in a bit of a bind. He hadn't thought carefully before asking, "How did you know?" which indirectly admitted his involvement.
How could he get out of this?
As Kusuo was thinking, Honami spoke again:
"You've been hiding your true strength, haven't you? I know you're powerful, but you're even more amazing than I thought. I don't know why you're hiding it, but I promise I won't tell anyone!"
"Uh... okay."
Kusuo could only nod. Honami wasn't good at lying, and he knew she wouldn't spread it.
But no matter what, this was unexpected for Kusuo.
"Also... there's something else..."
Honami suddenly remembered something and took off her bag, rummaging through it.
Just then, an unexpected visitor arrived.
"Good afternoon, Honami."
The familiar voice belonged to Nagumo.
"Good afternoon, Nagumo-senpai."
Honami stopped what she was doing upon seeing him.
"You seem full of energy."
"That's just how I am."
Honami smiled.
Beside her, Nagumo narrowed his eyes slightly.
*Sakayanagi said she'd target Honami, but it doesn't seem to have worked. Sakayanagi's capable, and those rumors were probably her doing. But yesterday, all the rumors stopped, and even the teachers banned their spread. Even the student council can't openly defy the teachers.*
*But... why? What happened? Why were Sakayanagi's attacks stopped?*
Nagumo was curious but couldn't find the answer.
"Don't you hate me, Honami?"
He asked.
"Why?"
Honami tilted her head, puzzled.
Then she seemed to understand his question.
*I only told Nagumo-senpai about my past when I joined the student council. He must have told Sakayanagi.*
"I don't hold any grudges. I'm only grateful to you for bringing me into the student council. I'll do my best, so please guide me."
There was no hatred in Honami's eyes.
"I see. You're exceeding my expectations."
Nagumo said. He had planned to break Honami and remake her into his pawn.
But his plan had failed.
*Did this guy do something?*
*I hate it when someone interferes with my plans.*
*If Kusuo really did something, I'll have to deal with him.*
Nagumo turned to look at Kusuo but quickly turned away and left.
*One day, Honami, you'll be my plaything.*
Nagumo smiled as he walked away, greeting other students.
Kusuo could clearly hear Nagumo's thoughts and secretly used his powers—
"Damn!"
A bird dropping landed on Nagumo's head, causing him to curse. The scene was witnessed by other students, making it hard not to laugh.
Honami, of course, didn't know what had happened.
After Nagumo left, Honami took something out of her bag.
"This Valentine's Day chocolate... can you accept it? I've never given anything like this before, but I can only thank you this way..."
Honami's face was slightly red. It was her first time, and she didn't know how to handle it.
"It's fine."
Kusuo nodded and accepted the gift from Honami.
*So that's why she bought chocolate at the supermarket yesterday?*
"Please continue to guide me!"
Honami bowed to Kusuo again and quickly left.
As Kusuo prepared to return to his dorm, his phone vibrated twice.
Hiyori: Kusuo, are you free now?
Aiura: Kusuo! Are you free tonight?
*Uh-oh...*
Kusuo shook his head. With all the chocolates he received today, he probably wouldn't finish them for days.
...
Half an hour later, in the student council office, Nagumo had just washed and dried his hair.
"Damn it."
A bird dropping had suddenly landed on his head, causing an embarrassing situation. Returning to the dorm would draw too much attention, so he had to wash his hair in the office before the school building closed.
Just then, the office door suddenly opened.
"Who is it?"
Nagumo glared sharply toward the door. It was already after school, and no one should be here.
"Nagumo-senpai."
That familiar, light voice belonged to Sakayanagi Arisu.
"Arisu? Why are you here at this time?"
Nagumo Miyabi narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at the other person.
"I just heard about some unfortunate events involving President Nagumo. I thought you might return to the office, so I estimated the time it would take and came to find you now."
Sakayanagi Arisu bowed and then walked into the office with a smile.
"You're certainly an interesting woman."
Facing Sakayanagi Arisu, Nagumo Miyabi showed no anger; instead, her face revealed a hint of anticipation.
"Since you're here at this time, I assume you have something important to say."
"Of course. First, the plan regarding Ichinose has failed."
"Indeed. But do you know why it failed?"
"As for the specific reason, I'm not entirely sure—"
Sakayanagi Arisu paused deliberately,
"But I have a general guess."
"Oh?"
Nagumo Miyabi leaned forward slightly.
"President, didn't you ask me to investigate a student named Saiki? I feel this matter might be related to him~"
Sakayanagi Arisu said slowly.
"It's him, after all? But how did you reach this conclusion?"
"I have no evidence, but a trustworthy 'friend' told me that Saiki Kusuo is likely connected to this."
Sakayanagi Arisu continued, referring to her friend Ayanokōji Kiyotaka.
"That alone isn't enough."
"Additionally, I heard something very interesting from a student in Class B."
"Oh?"
"You must have heard that in Class D, there's a student named Ryūen. He used to be quite active, and I must admit, he's somewhat capable."
"Ryūen, I remember him."
Nagumo Miyabi recalled her previous interactions with Ryūen Kakeru and thought he was indeed a unique individual.
However, since one day last semester, Ryūen had suddenly become inactive.
"Rumor has it that Ryūen was defeated by his own subordinate that night, and a student from Class B happened to go out late that night."
Sakayanagi Arisu said with a smile.
This information came from Yamauchi Haruki.
Though Yamauchi Haruki also mentioned Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's name, Sakayanagi Arisu didn't reveal it.
"Oh? That person wouldn't be Saiki, would it?"
Nagumo Miyabi already had her answer.
"As expected of the President, you guessed it right away. However, I have no evidence that Saiki is the mastermind, but both events happening on the same day is indeed suspicious~"
Sakayanagi Arisu bowed again, then turned to leave the office.
"I thought you might need this information, so I came to tell you."
"Thank you very much."
Nagumo Miyabi smiled.
After Sakayanagi Arisu left, Nagumo Miyabi stood up and threw a cup from her desk, shattering it.
Her plans had been disrupted for the second time.
Both times might be linked to that Saiki Kusuo.
"Just wait, Saiki Kusuo."
She said through gritted teeth.
Almost simultaneously, Sakayanagi Arisu walked down the corridor outside the room, her cane tapping the floor with a crisp sound.
"Saiki... To challenge Ayanokōji, do I need to face you first?"
"Or perhaps..."
"You're the greater threat?"
...
Unconsciously, over a week had passed, and the final exams arrived as scheduled.
In the days leading up to the exams, Class B held several study sessions, with Sudō Ken and Ike Kanji studying diligently.
Karuizawa Kei visited Saiki Kusuo every evening for tutoring in certain subjects.
Though reluctant, Saiki Kusuo agreed to her request.
This was noticed by Sakura Airi and Satō Maya, as Karuizawa Kei didn't hide her movements.
This forced Saiki Kusuo to tutor more people in the evenings.
After the final exams, temperatures rose, and March arrived quietly.
Monday.
"Teacher, you're going to announce the results now, right?"
At that moment, Ike Kanji eagerly shouted at Chabashira Sae in the classroom.
"No need to rush. It'll take less than a minute."
Chabashira Sae made her usual gesture, unfolding a large sheet of paper she brought.
The school typically used phones or online forums to announce grades, but results for midterms or finals related to expulsion were always announced this way.
"How did the exams feel, Ike?"
Chabashira Sae smiled, looking at Ike Kanji.
"Well... I've been studying hard."
"Have you really? You still seem anxious."
Chabashira Sae said with a smile, looking more cheerful. This already hinted at Class B's exam results.
"Sudō, always competing for last place, what do you think?"
Chabashira Sae turned her gaze to Sudō Ken.
"I'll definitely pass!"
Sudō Ken's eyes were filled with confidence.
"Hahaha, children's growth is truly interesting. You've completely overturned my expectations. Alright, I'll announce the final exam results you've all been waiting for!"
After saying this, Chabashira Sae posted everyone's results on the blackboard.
"Everyone has passed beautifully. This is the most flawless result so far."
All students passed, with Yamauchi Haruki still in last place. Since the sports festival, Sudō Ken had moved away from last place, replaced by Yamauchi Haruki.
Yamauchi Haruki showed no disappointment, instead smiling joyfully.
[After class, I'll go find Sakayanagi! We should be able to take the next step!]
*'Does this guy still not realize the problem?'*
Saiki Kusuo glanced at Yamauchi Haruki with his peripheral vision, then looked at the score sheet.
His ranking had changed slightly from before.
Previously, Saiki Kusuo maintained a mid-range position, but this time, he kept his score around 13th or 14th place.
Though still behind the top students, Saiki Kusuo's results were in the upper range of the class.
Even Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was surprised.
*'Tutoring others daily while maintaining mid-range scores would be more suspicious.'*
Saiki Kusuo thought, which was why he changed his ranking.
"But—"
At that moment, Chabashira Sae's smile vanished, and she continued,
"I think you've all anticipated that even after the written exams, it's not over—the next special exam is coming soon."