Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, You're on My Radar

Tsukishima waved a hand. "I don't really care about that. A student's job is to study, and I'm busy."

Sakayanagi set down her coffee cup with a light laugh. "Spending a fortune on pinhole cameras doesn't exactly scream 'studying' to me."

Tsukishima glanced at Sakayanagi. "As expected of a young lady—nothing escapes your eyes. But you're wrong about this. I bought those things precisely to study in peace."

He took a sip of coffee and sighed. "This school is a pure gladiatorial arena. To avoid getting hurt, I had to think of ways to protect myself. You know how it is—Class C is full of thugs, and Class D has its own share of lunatics."

He swept a glance at the Long-haired Gloomy Man. "Even you, young lady, have your own guardian. Someone as frail as me—how could I study without protecting myself?"

Sakayanagi tapped the floor lightly with her cane, her smile teasing. "Tsukishima-kun paints himself as so pitiful, but from what I know, you don't seem quite as... harmless as you appear."

"For example?"

"For example, having Kushida Kikyo from Class D visit your dorm alone at night. Or explaining the school's rules in the faculty office to lure Ichinose Honami into a deal with you."

Tsukishima gave Sakayanagi an odd look. "Young lady, you sound like some perverted stalker right now. That classmate of yours who gathers intel for you must work hard."

Sakayanagi covered her mouth with a light laugh. "Tsukishima-kun sure knows how to joke. I just pay a little extra attention to 'interesting people.'"

"Someone who could see through the school's rules in the first week of school—if I didn't look into them properly... what if they became an obstacle one day? That would be troublesome."

Tsukishima rolled his eyes. "Young lady, do you hear yourself? Anyone with a working brain could see the anomaly in 100,000 points, right?"

"Combine that with a bit of social experience, and you'd reach a similar conclusion, wouldn't you?"

He paused. "And besides, how could a Class D student like me ever become an obstacle for you? Oh!! Young lady, your intentions aren't pure!"

Tsukishima perked up with interest. "The person you care about is in Class D? Horikita? No—arrogant, stubborn, inflexible. Useless except for being the Student Council president's relative."

"Takara Temple? That Handsome Guy's inherent pride wouldn't let him rely on his... assets to curry favor with seniors for points. Hmm—looks like he has connections. You're probably not interested in him either."

"As for the commoners, they shouldn't catch your eye. That leaves only one person."

Tsukishima leaned forward, staring into Sakayanagi's eyes.

"The Score-Control Master who gets exactly 50 on every subject but has no presence in class—Kiyotaka Ayanokouji!"

Sakayanagi's expression didn't change, but her hand holding the coffee cup suddenly froze.

Tsukishima knew he'd guessed right. He started recalling Ayanokouji. "Tch—so it really is him?"

"What did he do to earn your attention, young lady?"

"Because of his precise score control on quizzes? That shouldn't be it. People like that are rare, but they exist."

"Kiyotaka Ayanokouji—Horikita's background prop, Yamauchi and Ike's friend."

"Hmm—that's a pretty terrible choice of friends. Why does Horikita let him stick around? Why would he befriend two gorillas in heat?"

"That's a bit strange."

Tsukishima suddenly picked up his slightly cooled coffee cup and took a sip. "But what does strange have to do with me?"

"Young lady, play however you want. Even if it drags me in, I don't care—just give me some benefits afterward, and it's all good!"

Sakayanagi covered her mouth with a light laugh, but her eyes grew deep. "Hehe... Tsukishima-kun is quite direct."

"Benefits are fine, of course... but Tsukishima-kun will have to show me your 'value' first."

Tsukishima shook his head, set down his coffee cup, and his expression turned serious. "It's like this, young lady—I think you've misunderstood."

"That line just now was a habitual joke. Don't take it seriously."

Sakayanagi let out a perfectly timed "Oh?" "Don't take it seriously?"

Tsukishima nodded. "Yeah, don't take it seriously."

"I have no interest in stirring up trouble. I only want points."

"These points can buy equipment—stuff I'd have to scrimp and save half a year working part-time to afford outside."

"Sell some intel, a few words here and there, and the points for a computer appear."

"As for your probing and others'..."

"I'll dodge what I can, chat when I can't. Worst case, I get expelled. I checked—even if I'm expelled, the things I bought with points are still mine."

"I'll take points that come easily. Points that require setting traps for others? Forget it."

"Can you understand that?"

Sakayanagi was silent for a moment, the playfulness in her eyes gradually shifting to something like understanding. "...I see."

"Tsukishima-kun is a 'pragmatist,' then."

She tapped the floor lightly with her cane and stood up. "Very well. Since Tsukishima-kun's mind is made up, I won't force it."

"But..." She glanced back at Tsukishima. "Sometimes, 'controllable risk' is just an illusion."

"In this school, wanting to take only the benefits without inviting trouble... isn't that easy, you know~"

Tsukishima smiled. "Of course I know. Sitting here right now—isn't that the trouble that came from earning points?"

"The worst trouble is just expulsion. Later, you can listen to what I had Katsuragi-kun relay to you. Maybe then you'll understand my actions better."