Classroom of the Elite, Kusuo Saiki

Although Shiho Manabe seems to have some issues with Megumi Karuizawa, there's nothing wrong with what she did.

"Can I confirm with Rika? Is that okay? If it's not you, then it'll be fine, right?"

As Shiho Manabe spoke, she picked up her phone, preparing to take a picture of Karuizawa Megumi and send it to the girl named Rika.

But at that very moment, Karuizawa Kei suddenly stood up and slapped the other person's phone away, the phone hitting the ground with a crisp sound.

"what are you doing?!"

"This is what I wanted to say. You have no right to take pictures of me without my permission. Didn't I already say you admitted your mistake?"

Karuizawa Kei immediately spoke, leaning forward as if to express her dissatisfaction.

However, this undoubtedly exacerbated the conflict, and Shiho Manabe's dissatisfaction with Megumi Karuizawa intensified. Moreover, two other girls from Class D stepped forward and stood next to Shiho Manabe, ready to support their companion.

Honami Ichinose, who was standing to the side, didn't say anything, seemingly still judging right and wrong.

Meanwhile, Ibuki Mio, also from Class D, did not stand up. She simply looked at everyone with a cold expression, her words and inner thoughts being exactly the same:

Are you all idiots?

"What is an idiot? That has nothing to do with you, Ibuki-kun, because you and Rika are not friends."

Shiho Manabe immediately spoke to Mio Ibuki, her words carrying a hint of sarcasm, clearly indicating that she and Mio did not have a good relationship.

[Manabe and Ibuki don't seem to get along very well. Ibuki is considered a member of Ryuen's faction. Could this be interpreted as Manabe not being loyal to Ryuen?]

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka thought to himself.

"Yes, it really has nothing to do with me, so I'm just expressing my thoughts as an outsider."

Ibuki Mio shrugged, seemingly not wanting to pay attention to Manabe Shiho's actions.

"I'm going to film you today!"

Although Shiho Manabe was also somewhat annoyed by Mio Ibuki, she immediately took out her phone and continued to aggressively walk towards Megumi Karuizawa.

Now, she no longer simply wants to stand up for her friend; she simply wants to make things difficult for Karuizawa Megumi.

'If they start arguing, the meeting will definitely have to be delayed again...'

Just as Saiki Kusuo was feeling helpless, he heard Karuizawa Megumi's inner thoughts:

This can't go on... We need to rely on other people... to change the current situation.

Just then, Karuizawa Megumi suddenly turned her head and looked at Saiki Kusuo:

"Qi Mu, what they're doing is wrong!"

'? ? ? '

Kusuo Saiki never expected that Megumi Karuizawa would suddenly find him, but even if he had known in advance, there was nothing he could have changed.

'Damn it, why are they suddenly targeting me? This has nothing to do with me!'

Qi Mu even got sick during the last exam because of the class food problem, he'll definitely help me!

'Although I felt somewhat guilty, I was actually faking illness.'

Kusuo Saiki responded to the other person in his mind, and at the same time, he could feel that almost everyone else present was looking at him.

'Oh dear, this has caused quite a bit of trouble... Consider it compensation for the misunderstanding Ibuki has caused you...'

"Taking photos without someone's permission can definitely cause trouble."

Following Karuizawa Megumi's words, Saiki Kusuo said that if possible, he wanted to end today's meeting as soon as possible and go back to his room to rest.

"Hey, are you called Qi Mu?"

Shiho Manabe turned to look at Kusuo Saiki, a hint of disdain in her eyes.

"What's it to you?"

[This four-eyed guy looks like a complete weakling, yet he seems to get along quite well with that nerdy guy next to him. It's really pathetic.]

Shiho Manabe's true feelings were clearly heard by Kusuo Saiki.

'Oh dear, oh dear, that changes the nature of the matter.'

Kusuo Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Manabe-kun, could you please stop now?"

After Kusuo Saiki expressed his opinion, Honami Ichinose finally spoke up, expressing her own views in a more serious tone than before. The other members of Class C immediately echoed Honami Ichinose's words.

【hateful.....】

Although Shiho Manabe was somewhat annoyed, she was well aware that it was not appropriate for her to make a scene in this situation, and she was indeed in the wrong for trying to take photos. So she could only return to her seat with her classmates.

Although the argument had subsided, the atmosphere in the room had become tense, and the fact that the students in Class A were unwilling to participate in the discussion made the following time rather agonizing.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's attention, however, kept shifting between the people around him.

The conflict between Karuizawa and Class D might become a catalyst for future conflict. Although you tried to appear calm and assertive just now, I sensed a hint of fear in you. Is it because of something that happened in the past? It's highly likely you experienced school bullying.

'You're so strong, I'd believe you if you said you had superpowers.'

She wields considerable influence in her class, arguably rivaling Kushida in leadership among the girls. If she could be controlled, Karuizawa could become a very useful tool.

"Here we go again. Are you a hardware wholesaler?"

[Qi Mu specifically mentioned this name to me before, so this must be what he meant.]

No, that's not true.

[Ichinose had remained silent until Saiki spoke, after which she immediately stepped forward to voice her opinion. Considering Saiki's earlier statement that he understood Ichinose's personality, it seems he has successfully turned Ichinose into a tool he can use.]

'Can you please stop lumping me in with you?'

Kusuo Saiki was utterly helpless; in this room, there were still very few normal people.

[Discussion concluded. All students are now free to leave the meeting room and engage in their own activities.]

Is it finally over?

Kusuo Saiki breathed a sigh of relief; this was the first time he had ever found the school's broadcasts so pleasant.

"In that case, let's conclude today's discussion."

After Ichinose Honami finished speaking, Saiki Kusuo left the conference room almost without hesitation.

He had barely stepped out of the conference room when his phone vibrated.

Airi Sakura: Kusuo-kun... are you free now? I have something I want to tell you in person...

'Oh, is there anything else?'

Kusuo Saiki was somewhat helpless, but he still gave Airi Sakura a positive reply and walked towards the agreed location.

After Kusuo Saiki left, the others also left one after another.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji stared thoughtfully at Megumi Karuizawa's retreating figure.

A few seconds later, he seemed to have figured something out.

"So that's how it is. This is Qi Mu's plan."

"As expected, Saiki thought the same as me. He told me Karuizawa's name, probably to make me notice the details about her."

"In that case, I'll give it a little push."

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze devoid of any emotion.

Chapter 81: Haruki Yamauchi? Could he also be a master?

"Kusu-kun... please, please make a date with me..."

Near the ship's rest area, Kusuo Saiki heard Airi Sakura talking to herself as if reciting lines.

Although she stammered and couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time, Kusuo Saiki was able to use his telepathic abilities to know what she was going to say.

【Kusuo-kun...please go on a date with me!】

No... I just can't bring myself to say it...

I completely...don't know how to put it.

"Oh dear, it seems Sakura-san has a strange fondness for me."

Kusuo Saiki muttered to himself expressionlessly.

'I don't want too much attention from other people. Having Ayanokouji is enough already...'

Based on his past practices, Kusuo Saiki would try to dispel the other party's unrealistic ideas.

If it weren't for Kusuo-kun... I probably wouldn't dare talk to anyone else now. Kusuo-kun is my only friend in this school.

"Oh dear, let's talk about this later."

Kusuo Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly, then walked up to Airi Sakura.

"Kusuo-kun?! Have you arrived already?"

Upon seeing Kusuo Saiki arrive, Airi Sakura couldn't help but smile with delight, but she quickly returned to her usual composure.

"Sakura-san, is there anything I can help you with?"

"I asked Saiki Kusuo."

Although Sakura Airi had obtained permission from Saiki Kusuo to address him by his first name, Saiki Kusuo still referred to Sakura Airi by his surname.

"Um... Qi Mu, are you free lately?"

"There shouldn't be anything going on lately, right?"

"If it's possible... could you...?"

Sakura Airi raised her head, her gaze falling on Saiki Kusuo, her cheeks instantly flushing slightly before she quickly looked away.

The words were already on Sakura Airi's lips, but she couldn't utter a single word for a long time. She lowered her head, and her body trembled slightly.

"Is it about your group?"

Kusuo Saiki interrupted the other person directly and asked.

"Um....."