Classroom of the Elite, Kusuo Saiki

In this school, I need to find someone I can rely on to gain a foothold in the class and avoid being bullied... I've been focusing on reviewing for exams for a while now, so I haven't had much opportunity to make a move... Right now, the most suitable target in the class is probably Hirata.

[There aren't many reliable guys among them. Hirata has the best interpersonal skills and grades, and he's not bad-looking either. He's the most suitable target... Ikehiro, Sudo, and Yamauchi can't even be considered. Ayanokouji is alright looking, but he looks too gloomy.]

[Kōgenji Temple is too over-the-top, and Miyake's version wouldn't work either...]

Kusuo Saiki turned his head and looked at the source of the voice, which was none other than Megumi Karuizawa from before.

Similar to Kikyo Kushida, Megumi Karuizawa has a very good reputation, but it is mainly limited to girls. Her delinquent-like temperament makes her seem to be very popular among girls.

However, for Kusuo Saiki, people with good interpersonal relationships are the most difficult to get along with, because they easily attract the attention of others. Kusuo Saiki does not want other people's attention to fall on him, so he and Megumi Karuizawa have hardly had any communication.

At this moment, Karuizawa Kei's gaze swept across the faces of all the boys in the class, while she mentally considered their strengths and weaknesses as if she were conducting an assessment.

"Hey, are you scanning items in the supermarket?"

Kusuo Saiki thought to himself, while Megumi Karuizawa's gaze finally fell on him.

【...】

'Hey, hey, hey, what are you thinking about already?'

Karuizawa Kei's brow twitched slightly, then she lowered her head and glanced at her phone.

What is his full name?

'...'

For a moment, Kusuo Saiki didn't know what to say, but for him, this was a good thing.

[As of now, Saiki still doesn't seem to have any particularly noteworthy points.]

On the other side, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji had been observing Kusuo Saiki without making a sound, but he had no idea that the latter actually knew what he was thinking all along.

I haven't noticed anything unusual about him these past two days. Could it be that the information about Mr. Chabashira is incorrect?

[No, that's unlikely. Judging from what I've seen recently, although she seems indifferent to class matters, Chahashisa Sae would never give up any opportunity to climb the ranks. So she must know some information about Saiki, and he must have entered the school through other means, which is why Chahashisa Sae suspects him. However, it's clear that Chahashisa Sae's suspicions about Saiki Kusuo are only at the level of suspicion; she just wants to use me to obtain more information.]

Judging from the current situation, Mr. Chabashira probably already knows something about me. It's probably because Butler Matsuo used special methods to arrange my enrollment. That man probably can't arrange for other students from the White House to come in in a short time. Even if he did arrange for someone else from the White House, they shouldn't pose a threat to me—but even if there's only a one percent chance, I can't be too careless. After all, I haven't been able to get any useful information from Saiki yet. If he's really faking it, then he's definitely not an ordinary person.

In just a few seconds, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's thoughts were flowing freely.

'What exactly is this "White Room"? It sounds like an illegal training institution or a gym without a business license. Although I can guess most of it from Ayanokouji's thoughts, it seems there's a possibility that more "White Room" students will enter the school later. I just hope their target is Ayanokouji, and not me.'

Kusuo Saiki sighed inwardly; it seemed his life at this school wouldn't be so peaceful after all.

Just then, the classroom door opened again, and a slender figure appeared before everyone.

Wearing a red uniform, a white skirt, and with her fair thighs encased in black over-the-knee stockings, Horikita Suzune appeared before the crowd.

As soon as she entered the classroom, all eyes were on her.

The long hair that was there yesterday has disappeared, replaced by short hair that is almost shoulder-length.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Studying? It's impossible to study.

Has Horikita changed her hairstyle?

Horikita with short hair... is actually quite cute, even cuter than when she had long hair!

[So pretty! Why did Horikita suddenly change her hairstyle today?]

Almost all the boys in the class turned their gaze to Horikita Suzune at the same time, but only Saiki Kusuo quickly looked away before he could see Horikita Suzune's muscle fibers and bones.

[Is that bitch trying to get attention again? Damn it!]

Kikyo Kushida maintained her smile, her gaze also fixed on Suzune Horikita.

'Nothing changes every day.'

Kusuo Saiki thought to himself.

[Especially last night, were you mocking me the way you acted yesterday? I knew it, you know my past. I have to find a way to get you expelled!]

'Wait, what did you say?'

【I will never forget what happened yesterday, Horikita!】

Kusuo Saiki was puzzled for about a fraction of a second, but quickly realized what was going on.

It's likely that the deleted memories of Kikyo Kushida were filled in by things related to Suzune Horikita. It's probably because her hatred for Suzune Horikita was so deep that her brain filled in the memories of the conflict between her and Suzune Horikita... That's why she continued to vent her emotions yesterday, constantly cursing Suzune Horikita.

In conclusion, because her memories have been erased, Kikyo Kushida's hostility towards Suzune Horikita seems to have deepened.

Kusuo Saiki turned his head slightly and looked out the window, pretending that he knew nothing.

Ignoring the stares of the others around her, Horikita Suzune returned to her seat.

"Good morning."

As she passed by Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and Kusuo Saiki, Suzune Horikita greeted them and then sat down.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji turned his head and looked at Suzune Horikita with a hint of confusion.

"What are you looking at me doing?"

Horikita Suzune noticed Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's actions and glared at him in return.

"Oh, it's nothing, I just feel like you're acting a little different today."

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji shook his head in response.

Just as he had just said, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was able to keenly sense a change in Suzune Horikita.

Horikita is usually the type who doesn't greet people first, so today is really strange.

Generally speaking, girls with long hair wouldn't easily cut it short, so something must have happened to make them do this.

[Last night, Horikita and I left Saiki's room around the same time. It was already quite late, so if anything were to happen, it should have been later. What exactly happened during those few hours?]

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was curious about the changes that had occurred in Suzune Horikita. He believed that it would not be easy for Suzune Horikita to undergo such a significant change in a short period of time, given her personality. Even Kiyotaka Ayanokouji himself was prepared to spend time slowly cultivating Suzune Horikita and shaping her into someone he could use.

The fact that Horikita Suzune took the initiative to change things indicates that she must have experienced something very important.

What could it be?

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's mind raced, but he probably wouldn't find the answer. Even if he knew that Suzune Horikita's change was due to her brother, he wouldn't know what Kusuo Saiki had done in the process.

[The true meaning of aloofness and loneliness... What exactly did my brother mean by these words?]

I've always believed that my brother distanced himself from me because I lacked ability, which is why I, like him, wanted to distance myself from those who lacked ability...

Is this line of thinking ultimately wrong?

'Well, at least you're starting to reflect on your own problems.'

Having heard Horikita Suzune's thoughts, Saiki Kusuo felt a sense of affirmation. In that case, Horikita Suzune should pay less attention to him.

......

Soon it was time to leave school, and as agreed beforehand, the students went to the school library together for tutoring.

'I really don't want to waste time on these things, but I can't refuse now. I can only hope they end this book club soon.'

As he thought to himself, Kusuo Saiki found a suitable seat in the library with the others and sat down, glancing over everyone present.

[Regardless, we must improve their grades as soon as possible; getting them into Class A is a must.]

Thinking this to herself, Horikita Suzune immediately took out her textbook and began explaining the lesson to everyone present.

[How can he still be giving a lecture here so seriously? Did he cut his hair short to deliberately attract attention?]

I'm so sad... Kushida-kun turned down my invitation to go to the movies...

[Horikita...she's actually quite pretty. Her looks are probably top-tier in the class, right?]

What are we going to eat later...?

'However, it seems only Horikita Suzune is studying diligently...'

Kusuo Saiki felt somewhat helpless; it seemed that no one's mind was on studying.

At the same time, Kusuo Saiki is also able to catch some unfamiliar voices.

Are these people from Class C too? They're the ones who stole our spot... How awful!

[Longyuan asked us to monitor their class and investigate information about it.]

The girl with black hair seems to be named Horikita Suzune, and the other girl is named Kushida Kikyo. Quite a few people in our class know her...

Kusuo Saiki shifted his gaze and saw on the other side. At another desk not far away, several unfamiliar faces were observing this side out of the corner of their eyes.

Just by listening to their inner thoughts, Kusuo Saiki could tell that they were students from Class D.

'So, it seems that person named Long Yuan really did take action against our class?'

[Someone is secretly watching us. Are they students from other classes?]

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji also noticed the gaze directed at him—but his attention quickly returned to Kusuo Saiki.

[Did Qi Mu notice when he turned his head and glanced at those people?]

Chapter 38: Changes in Horikita Suzune

If Qi Mu also sensed that we were being watched, then it means he truly possesses exceptional observational skills and is definitely not an ordinary person.

'Hey, hey, hey, you noticed even a subconscious, slight turn of your head?'

As Kusuo Saiki thought to himself, he didn't turn his head back. Instead, he kept his gaze in the distance, pretending that he was daydreaming, in an attempt to lessen Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's suspicions.

[...Does it seem like you're just pretending? Or are you trying to avoid arousing my suspicion?]

'Aren't you kidding me? Are you a superhuman too?'

Kusuo Saiki was somewhat helpless, but for now he could only grit his teeth and continue to play dumb.

"Qi Mu, what are you looking at!"

Just then, Horikita Suzune noticed that Saiki Kusuo's gaze was elsewhere, and immediately said with a serious expression.

"Sorry, I was thinking about the points you mentioned and my mind wandered a bit."

Kusuo Saiki made up an excuse on the spot.

"Then repeat what I just said."