After the final class ended, most students left the classroom.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka packed his things and headed to Chabashira Sae's office.
Behind him, Saiki Kusuo used his invisibility ability, quietly following.
He knew Chabashira calling Ayanokōji couldn't be good. To prevent any unexpected situations, it was better to stay close.
'I wonder what the teacher wants with Ayanokōji... A strange teacher and a strange student—they're a perfect match.'
As Saiki thought this, Ayanokōji, who had just turned a corner, suddenly stopped and spun around. His gaze seemed to land directly on Saiki, even though they were barely two meters apart.
"Strange, I keep feeling like someone's following me. Am I overthinking it?"
Ayanokōji muttered to himself. After glancing around, he continued toward the office.
'This guy... Does he have the instincts of a wild animal? I'm using invisibility, for goodness' sake.'
Saiki's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly calmed down, further concealing his presence. He followed Ayanokōji, soon arriving near the office.
Chabashira leaned against the doorway, seemingly waiting for Ayanokōji.
"Come in."
"I have no idea why you called me here."
Ayanokōji replied expressionlessly.
"We'll talk inside."
Chabashira led Ayanokōji into the office, with the invisible Saiki trailing behind.
"Counseling rooms usually give off an unpleasant vibe, but this one's surprisingly nice. Why? Because no one monitors it. The school ensures privacy for student-teacher discussions, so there are no cameras."
Chabashira smiled.
'Hmph, if the school were really that considerate, they wouldn't have this ridiculous S-system.'
Saiki scoffed internally.
"So, what do you want to talk about? I'm busy planning my summer vacation."
"That's a laugh. You don't have friends, so what plans could you possibly make?"
"No, no, no. That's a bit much. I do have a few friends—though you could count them on one hand. But it's not about the number."
Ayanokōji said.
[From a high schooler's perspective, who counts as a friend? Horikita—maybe. Sudō, Ike, Yamauchi—probably. Kushida—likely... Saiki—I'm not sure.]
'Saying that with a blank face... It's so jarring...'
Saiki felt like leaving.
"I called you here to share some of my life story."
*[Oh?]
'Oh?'
Both Saiki and Ayanokōji thought the same thing.
"Since becoming a teacher, I've never told anyone this. Consider it nonsense. What do you C-class students think of me as your homeroom teacher?"
'A teacher who does absolutely nothing.'
Without hesitation, Saiki answered internally.
"Another odd question. I think you're beautiful—can I say that?"
Ayanokōji said, unfazed.
'Bold.'
Saiki gave Ayanokōji a 'high rating' in his mind. Only he could speak to a teacher like that. Saiki also sensed the murderous aura radiating from Chabashira.
[This guy... I need to control my emotions. Ayanokōji is crucial for my advancement...]
'A teacher thinking like this is a total failure.'
[It's like the story of Icarus' wings. Once, a Greek inventor named Daedalus built a labyrinth for King Minos to imprison the Minotaur. Later, Minos abandoned him...]
'Wait, are you just rambling like a novelist padding their word count?'
[Looking at Ayanokōji, I somehow think of Icarus' wings... It's the closest analogy... I'm cornered, so I must climb higher...]
'If you want to reach A-class, start acting like a teacher. Doing nothing won't get you there.'
Saiki was exasperated with Chabashira but curious about her plans.
"Compared to other teachers, I feel you don't care about our class's future. You're a cold teacher uninterested in students, right?"
Ayanokōji replied.
'You just said it outright?'
"You're not wrong, but it's not the whole truth... I was once a D-class student here..."
'You were in D-class too?'
"But back then, the gap wasn't as huge. In our final semester, we were only 100 points behind A-class..."
Chabashira began sharing her past, and somehow, Saiki found himself holding a box of popcorn.
[I want my story to inspire Ayanokōji. He'll see reaching A-class requires immense effort.]
"...That's my story."
Chabashira said, studying Ayanokōji's reaction.
"I don't understand. How does your life relate to me?"
Ayanokōji replied without hesitation, unmoved by her words.
[Does she want me to empathize? Impossible.]
Ayanokōji saw through Chabashira's intentions.
"You're essential for reaching A-class."
Chabashira declared, her tone serious.
[Damn... He's unshakable. Time for my last resort—]
"A few days ago, a man contacted the school, demanding Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's expulsion."
Chabashira blurted out.
*[Sakayanagi told me about Ayanokōji's father—a man she knew. I can use this! Make Ayanokōji help me reach A-class!]
'Seriously? A homeroom teacher manipulating a student like this?'
Chabashira threatened Ayanokōji, claiming she'd force his expulsion if he didn't help her.
[I can't confirm her words, but if that man's involved, it's plausible. I can't lose my school life now.]
Ayanokōji thought, then said:
"Teacher, you might regret using me like this."
"Don't worry. My life's already full of regrets."
Chabashira laughed bitterly.
'So that's her goal. Good thing it doesn't involve me.'
Feeling their conversation was ending, Saiki prepared to leave.
But then Chabashira spoke again:
"You were behind the recent D-class recording, weren't you?"
"It wasn't me."
Ayanokōji denied flatly.
"I know about you, so there's no need..."
"It wasn't me."
Ayanokōji repeated, and Chabashira's expression finally shifted.
"Not you? Then who?"
'Ugh, why did the topic shift to this?'
Saiki abandoned his plan to leave.
"I don't know either."
Ayanokōji shook his head.
"No clues, no useful info. It's more likely D-class infighting."
"Infighting?��
Chabashira's eyebrows twitched. She doubted Ayanokōji's words but saw no reason for him to lie.
After a moment's thought, she continued:
"Have you noticed anything unusual about Saiki?"
"No."
Ayanokōji replied.
"He seems ordinary, nothing special."
Though he said this, Ayanokōji thought differently.
*[If that man wants to expel me through the teacher, there are no other White Room agents here. Saiki's definitely not connected to them.]
*[Saiki's ordinary in every way, trying to stay unnoticed—like me. I sense a similarity but can't get more info. The more ordinary he seems, the more suspicious. No one this average could enter this school.]
[Could there be another White Room-like organization? Maybe Saiki entered for the same reason as me. It sounds absurd, but it's possible. If true, I could use him to test Chabashira's lies.]
'You're overthinking. I'm just an ordinary psychic.'
Saiki thought, knowing bigger troubles awaited.
Ayanokōji initially suspected Saiki of being a White Room assassin, so he was cautious. Just as Saiki relaxed, Chabashira shifted Ayanokōji's focus back to him.
'Does this mean my efforts this semester were pointless?!'
Saiki was exasperated.
"Is that so?"
Chabashira pursed her lips.
[If Ayanokōji says so, Saiki's nothing special—just an ordinary student who entered through connections. Still, Sakayanagi approved his enrollment, so his background must be impressive. But for now, Saiki's useless.]
'Her words are annoying, but at least she's off my back. Thanks, Ayanokōji, for doing something useful.'
Saiki thought.
Ayanokōji and Chabashira's conversation ended, and Saiki's invisibility faded. He teleported out of the office.
"Ugh, looks like my month of peace is over."
Saiki sighed.
"Summer trip... I really don't want to go..."
...
Two days later, August 1st.
The boundary between the azure sea and sky blurred under the bright sun. A massive, luxurious cruise ship sailed slowly, marking the official start of the students' summer vacation.
Onboard, students reveled, nearly all ecstatic about their first luxury cruise experience.
"Amazing!"
"My first cruise! So cool!"
"Sudō, glad you weren't expelled! We wouldn't have experienced this otherwise!"
The Idiot Trio was completely immersed in the festivities.
Unlike others enjoying the open sea views, Saiki sat alone in the ship's restaurant, savoring a massive fruit shave ice made with premium imported jam.
*'This shave ice uses top-tier imported jam—unavailable anywhere else.'
*'Unlike school, everything on this ship is free!'
'This trip's turning out better than expected.'