Classroom of the Elite, Kusuo Saiki

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji silently watched Shiho Manabe and the others leave.

I didn't actually witness that scene, so if the conversation drags on, my lie might be exposed. My goal is to add fuel to the fire and intensify their conflict.

Only in this way can we create a stage that belongs to Karuizawa, let her perform in it, destroy everything, and then rebuild it all.

[This must be what Kusuo Saiki was thinking. Even without communicating with him, we share the same thought process in this regard. Consider Karuizawa a gift to show my sincerity; I'll give it to you once it's perfected. You might become a valuable asset in my dealings with the white-room.]

For Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, only Kusuo Saiki was someone who stood on the same level as him.

.....

Meanwhile, Saiki Kusuo, who was eating ice cream, felt a chill.

What's causing this ominous feeling?

Chapter 82: Qi Mu, this is the stage I've prepared for you!

Two days passed quickly.

During this period, the meetings within the Mao Group made no progress whatsoever, as several members of Class A remained unwilling to participate in the discussions, leaving the others at a loss.

However, the one-hour meeting had to be completed, so the others tried to pass the time by playing board games. However, the girls from Class D didn't participate much, and the game eventually turned into a game between Class B and Class C.

Although Kusuo Saiki was involved, he was basically just going through the motions.

'Given the current situation, no one else should be able to guess the identity of the person receiving preferential treatment, so this outcome is acceptable.'

Kusuo Saiki thought to himself.

At the same time, he also noticed that Shiho Manabe and others seemed to be increasingly hostile towards Megumi Karuizawa.

Although Kusuo Saiki was not clear about what had happened, it was understandable, since the conflict between Kei Karuizawa and Shiho Manabe and others had become increasingly irreconcilable.

However, Kusuo Saiki did not intend to get involved in this matter, since it was a conflict between Kei Karuizawa and Shiho Manabe, among others.

However, during this time, Kiyotaka Ayanokoji's true feelings made Kusuo Saiki somewhat concerned.

I recall a psychological experiment conducted in the 1960s called the Milgram experiment, also known as the Eichmann experiment. It involved teachers and students in an isolated setting. First, the teacher, or rather, the subject, would receive a low-level electric shock to help them remember the pain and fear of the shock…

[...Then, place the student character opposite the teacher character through a glass partition, install the electric shock device on the student character, and then hand the shock button to the teacher character...]

[...Next, the person conducting the experiment will instruct the teacher, acting as the subject, to ask questions of the student, requiring them to apply electricity if they answer incorrectly. Furthermore, the teacher will be instructed to increase the voltage for each incorrect answer... Depending on the situation, everyone will exhibit cruel and abusive traits...]

"No way, what are you thinking? Why would this kind of knowledge pop into his head at this time? What's going on in his head all day long?"

Kusuo Saiki felt somewhat helpless and tried his best to ignore Kiyotaka Ayanokouji's thoughts.

Telepathy isn't something you can hide by covering your ears. Unless you use the germanium ring, Kusuo Saiki will be forced to hear these thoughts.

However, unless it's a necessary occasion, Kusuo Saiki would never choose to use the ring—after all, there are no normal people in this school, and who knows what tricks they're thinking.

[Time's up, students are free to do their own things.]

As the announcement came on, everyone left the conference room one after another. Karuizawa Kei was the first, and as soon as she stepped out of the conference room, Manabe Shiho and the other two followed her.

This guy absolutely needs to be taught a lesson.

And at the very moment they left, Kusuo Saiki clearly heard their inner thoughts.

'Yay! Yay!'

Kusuo Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly.

'To be on the safe side, let's go check it out.'

After waiting a few seconds, Kusuo Saiki followed behind them and made his way to the emergency exit on the ship's deck.

There are no surveillance cameras there, and normally no students or teachers come here.

"Why did you bring me to this place?!"

Karuizawa Kei shouted her questions, but because the emergency exit was in a remote location, no one else could hear them.

"You're the one who bullied Pear Blossom before, aren't you?"

Shiho Manabe's momentum did not diminish in the slightest, and she immediately spoke.

"I've already said, this has nothing to do with me! You've mistaken me for someone else."

Despite what Karuizawa said, Manabe Shiho and the other two still surrounded Karuizawa, forcing her against the wall so she had no chance to escape.

"I have something to do, could you please move aside?"

Karuizawa said this, trying hard to suppress the trembling in her voice, desperately trying to continue to pretend to be strong.

Even so, her fear was still evident in her eyes.

"In that case, let us confirm. I'll call Pear Blossom over right now, and if it's not you, we'll forgive you!"

As she spoke, Shiho Manabe took out her phone and dialed Rika's number.

“...I just remembered...it seems like someone did bump into me before.”

"Stop playing dumb. You clearly remembered from the beginning—oh well, never mind. Will you properly apologize to Rika?"

Shiho Manabe continued to question Megumi Karuizawa, as if they would forgive her previous behavior if she were willing to apologize.

'Well, well, it was ultimately Karuizawa's own fault. If she had apologized sooner, perhaps all of this could have been avoided.'

Kusuo Saiki shook his head and prepared to leave. In a sense, Karuizawa Megumi's actions were her own fault. As long as she apologized, this matter should be over.

But at that moment, Kusuo Saiki heard Shiho Manabe's inner thoughts once again.

【How could I possibly forgive you? After you apologize, I want to see you looking so pathetic! How about I give him a good beating right now?】

"No, it's that woman's fault! She's so slow-witted!"

Karuizawa Kei stubbornly insisted, but the perceptive woman had already realized that the other party was merely using this as an excuse to pick a fight with her.

From the very first meeting, Shiho Manabe's purpose was no longer simply to seek justice for her friend, but was solely aimed at Megumi Karuizawa.

"Shiho, I've reached my limit of patience. Perhaps we really can't forgive Karuizawa."

"Right? I think she feels the same way about Rinka. Should we seriously bully her?"

"I hate Karuizawa's looks, she's ugly! Seriously, why don't we just smash her face?"

Shiho Manabe grabbed Megumi Karuizawa's hair and slammed her against the wall.

Those words weren't a threat; they were a statement that Shiho Manabe genuinely intended to make.

But at that very moment, the heavy hatch was suddenly flung open, and just as everyone was somewhat taken aback, Kusuo Saiki appeared before them.

"You, why are you here?"

Shiho Manabe was somewhat surprised; she hadn't expected Kusuo Saiki to be following behind them.

"Qi, Qi Mu?"

Karuizawa Kei was also somewhat surprised.

"Oh dear, I really didn't want to interfere in other people's affairs, but if I don't keep a little in check, things might get a bit out of control."

Kusuo Saiki narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze sweeping over Shiho Manabe and the others.

'While Karuizawa has its own problems, using this opportunity to engage in school bullying is even more unacceptable.'

"What are you doing here, you four-eyed geezer?!"

Shiho Manabe saw Kusuo Saiki's arrival and said in a very disdainful voice.

"The teacher is right next to us, she should be here soon."

Saiki Kusuo said slowly.

Normally, Kusuo Saiki would use his superpowers to lure the other teachers here and use them to stop this behavior. However, the situation is somewhat urgent now, so Kusuo Saiki has no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

'Oh dear, oh dear, there's so much more trouble now.'

Not only that, Kusuo Saiki also heard another voice not far away.

From Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.

Just as expected. That Milgram experiment...

'So it really was Ayanokouji who did this? What exactly is he trying to do?'

Kusuo Saiki was somewhat annoyed; the students at this school always seemed to cause him a lot of trouble.

"In addition, there are several other boys from our class standing nearby."

"cut."

Shiho Manabe was extremely unhappy, and her emotions were practically written all over her face.

This four-eyed guy is really annoying, I really want to beat him up too!

"Oh? You can give it a try."

Kusuo Saiki looked directly into Shiho Manabe's eyes.

Honestly, if the teacher comes, there will definitely be a lot of trouble! Let's just let it go for today!

"I will definitely make you apologize to Rika!"

After uttering those harsh words, Shiho Manabe quickly left with her accomplices. However, before leaving, she suddenly lost her balance, tripped and fell, looking extremely disheveled. She quickly got up and hurriedly left.

This was, of course, a 'small act of revenge' from Kusuo Saiki.

'It feels like this isn't over yet.'

Kusuo Saiki turned his head and looked at Megumi Karuizawa in front of him.

[Great... Saiki-kun is here and chased them away...]

Even without telepathy, Kusuo Saiki could see a look of relief on Kei Karuizawa's face.

Karuizawa Kei was on the verge of an emotional breakdown, and the persona she had created was about to collapse at any moment.

Should I say something to Qi Mu? I don't think I gave anything away too much... What should I say if he asks?

Karuizawa Megumi's mind raced as she considered how to talk to Saiki Kusuo—

However, Kusuo Saiki simply turned around and left the place.

'I'm just trying to prevent things from escalating and causing any negative consequences; I don't want to get involved.'