Classroom of the Mediocre Supremacist

Xingye Yuan: "..."

This kid is just being unreasonable, isn't she? Right?!

"Feels like everything I just explained went in one ear and out the other (muttering)..."

"What did you say?!"

"Then let's think about it differently, Sakayanagi."

"You say that [White Room] only has him as its sole [Masterpiece]. So isn't it possible that he was actually a genius from the start—since he accomplished what ordinary people couldn't—and that the guy who came up with the [Artificial Genius] concept was just full of himself, trying to polish his own reputation? That's why he attributed the final result to himself, believing that without his training, the current [Ayanokoji Kiyotaka] wouldn't exist."

"What are you getting at..."

Sakayanagi Arisu was clearly swayed; she seemed to have considered this possibility too.

"Otherwise, why hasn't there been another [Artificial Genius] on par with [Ayanokoji Kiyotaka] since then? Doesn't that explain everything?"

"And this also indirectly supports your point: [Artificial Genius] can't beat a [True Genius]."

Sakayanagi Arisu:"..."

She accepted this "deduction."

"You're right. But even though I can accept it rationally, emotionally I can't: I still have to defeat him, I must defeat him!"

"It's not to prove anything. I just want to beat him, pure and simple. Otherwise, I won't feel at ease."

"And you too!"

She looked at Hoshino En sitting across from her, her body leaning forward slightly from excitement, her wilted spirit seemingly revived.

"I'm going to defeat you—that hasn't changed from the start!!"

Kamuro Masumi, watching from the sidelines:"..."

Your personality's already been read like an open book. How are you supposed to outplay him?

She had a feeling Sakayanagi would end up being toyed with by Hoshino.

"Then I'll be looking forward to it."

Seeing her "voluntarily" extend her little head, Hoshino En couldn't resist reaching out and rubbing it. Even through the beret, the feel was excellent.

But the moment he finished, he realized something was off: he'd unconsciously indulged in her beauty again.

Hadn't he deliberately sat across from Sakayanagi Arisu this time? Why was this happening?

Still, based on his judgment of Sakayanagi Arisu, even though she might tolerate his audacity because of his guidance, she would never allow someone to keep bullying her like this. So she should slap his hand away soon, maybe even use her cane.

But until that moment came, he'd just enjoy this unique sensation, consider it advance payment for the cane to the head.

Sakayanagi Arisu, fulfill your value as a [material] and help desensitize me, heh heh heh...

Yet after rubbing for a while, he didn't see her hand or cane come swinging.

He pulled his hand back and looked at Sakayanagi Arisu's face, only to find another blushing Arisu-chan.

Hoshino En:"..."

Seriously? Again? What's going on?

Did I misjudge her?

"Hoshino-kun, there are some actions you can't just casually do to a girl."

Just then, a familiar voice came from the side.

Hoshino En turned his head and found Ichinose Honami standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at him sternly.

"You need to be a bit more mindful of boundaries!!"

Hoshino En:"..."

Didn't I hear the same thing yesterday?

And where did Ichinose even pop out from?!

His gaze passed over Ichinose Honami and landed on Shiranami Chihiro not far away, who was making exaggerated faces at him, looking pretty angry.

"Hoshino-kun, I'm talking to you. Where are you looking now?"

Ichinose's voice snapped him back.

But as he looked at the girl so close, at the part above her abdomen accentuated by her hands-on-hips pose, he... he awkwardly lowered his head and averted his gaze.

Damn it, damn it. It had to be because of this morning's incident that he couldn't even face Ichinose properly now.

Hoshino En:...!!!

So scary. Puberty is terrifying. That thing... it's just a pile of fat deposits, no different from flab. Why does it shake my resolve?!!

Compared to her, Hoshino En suddenly found Sakayanagi Arisu much easier to deal with. At least he could face her without any ripples.

"Oh my~ I haven't even said anything yet, Ichinose-san. Why are you jumping in again?"

Thanks to Ichinose Honami's intrusion, Sakayanagi Arisu across from him instantly recovered three-tenths of her original nasty nature.

She glanced sideways at this third party who had barged into their "private world," her tone dripping with merciless mockery and amusement.

Kamuro Masumi: "Don't treat me like I'm invisible just because I'm quiet!!"

"This... it's because Hoshino-kun's sense of boundaries with girls is too weak, but he doesn't realize it himself, so I wanted to help him learn..."

"That's not the reason, is it? Ichinose-san, you're only this angry because the one he's being affectionate with isn't you, right?"

"See, weren't you even more upset when you saw he wouldn't even look at you?"

Sakayanagi Arisu looked at Hoshino En, who now had his head lowered, the mysterious flush on his face slowly fading.

"This..."

Ichinose Honami wanted to say something in rebuttal, but she couldn't deny the truth of Sakayanagi Arisu's words: when she saw Hoshino En avert his gaze from her, a nameless anger had indeed flared in her heart.

But it wasn't because of jealousy or anything like that; she simply felt disrespected by him, and that was why she was angry.

Yet such an explanation clearly wouldn't convince Sakayanagi Arisu, and would only lead to her making wild guesses about something else. Ichinose Honami didn't want to make things more complicated.

So here, she should temporarily retreat from the confrontation...

However, just as she was on the losing end and considering a withdrawal, another fierce warrior burst in.

"That's not true!!"

It was Shiranami Chihiro, who had been watching the whole time.

"This big bad guy clearly got shy because he saw Fubou-chan's chest, how could a flat board like you possibly understand?!"

Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."

Ichinose Honami: ...!!

Kamuro Masumi: Ah!! She said it, someone actually said it!!

Earlier, Sakayanagi had been in a daze and hadn't noticed, but as a bystander to this argument, Kamuro had long since caught the moment Hoshino En glanced at Ichinose Honami's chest and immediately looked away.

That was clearly shyness!! Sakayanagi, how could you not understand that?

But while they were locked in confrontation, she didn't dare point it out openly—such an act of undermining her own side would definitely be settled by Sakayanagi afterward.

But now... Ichinose Honami's lackey was actually brave enough to attack Sakayanagi Arisu's physical flaw right to her face.

Hopefully, she'd come out of this okay, though it'd be best if she and Sakayanagi ended up mutually wounded.

Kamuro Masumi thought this as she silently watched the show.

"This classmate... is Shiranami Chihiro from Class 1-B, I presume?"

Thanks to the girl's bold declaration, Sakayanagi Arisu successfully shifted her gaze away from Ichinose Honami.

Shiranami Chihiro said nothing, just glared at Sakayanagi Arisu with a puffed-up face.

"Heh..."

In the end, though, the dispute didn't escalate into a full-blown argument, because Ichinose Honami stepped in.

"Sakayanagi-san, Hoshino-kun, I apologize. Chihiro-chan's words just now were rude."

"Fubou-chan, but..."

"Chihiro-chan, let's go back first."

She pulled Shiranami Chihiro and left the cafeteria without looking back, her backset in firm resolve.

Watching their fleeing figures, Sakayanagi Arisu's side fell into silence.

"Somehow, I feel like I'm some kind of heinous villainess."

Kamuro Masumi: Aren't you??

Sakayanagi Arisu sulkily toyed with her cane.

But she had only instinctively lashed out with sharp words at the intruder because someone had interfered with her "duel" with Hoshino En.

Today, it was two to one, and she had lost. But if not for Ichinose Honami's interruption, she could have definitely scored another win, at least tying the score.

How frustrating~

And on top of that, someone had pointed out her physical sore spot—even more frustrating.

"Sakayanagi, do you want to tie the score?"

At that moment, Hoshino En across from her posed a question.

"If you want to catch up, make a bet with me."

Sakayanagi Arisu perked up with interest.

"A bet? On what?"

"On next month, May 1st, when the Class Points are revealed—the four first-year classes' Class Points. We'll see who guesses closer to the truth. The specific judgment method: take the difference between the predicted points and the actual points, average them across the four classes, and whoever has the smaller number wins."

"Oh? That sounds quite interesting. And the stakes?"

"If you win, I'll agree to one condition of yours, as long as it doesn't harm my physical or mental health, and you'll be considered the definitive victor. If I win, you let me touch your legs, for at least ten minutes, and you can still keep trying to defeat me."

"...You're a damn pervert."

"But you won't refuse."

"That's true."

"Oh, and one more thing. The time for guessing the points will be set for April 30th. Until then, please enjoy your school life to the fullest."

After all, Hoshino En had promised Chairman Sakayanagi that he would take his daughter out to have fun, so there shouldn't be any problem with him doing this.

Having set up the bet, he stood up and left.

There was still some time before lunch break ended, and he still needed to head to the student council.

Sakayanagi Arisu: "..."

Sitting in her seat, Sakayanagi Arisu grew excited.

"Provoked by you like this, how could I possibly have the heart to leisurely enjoy a carefree life?"

"Heh... heh heh heh..."

Kamuro Masumi: This guy's finally lost it.

First Semester of First Year:

Chapter 20: Class 3-A, Tachibana Akane with the Bun

Shiranami Chihiro was pulled back to Class 1-B by Ichinose Honami.

This class of good-natured little angels had basically already been won over by Ichinose Honami's personal charm, but seeing that she seemed to have something to discuss privately with Shiranami Chihiro, the others tactfully refrained from butting in at that moment.

"Honami-chan, why did you run away?"

Back in the classroom, Shiranami Chihiro looked at Ichinose Honami, who was calmly sitting in her seat, and asked in confusion.

Although she had no good feelings toward that big bad Hoshino En who had taken liberties with Honami-chan, since Honami-chan liked him, she would stand by her side and support her.

Even if it was excruciatingly painful for her own broken heart, as long as Honami-chan could be happy, she herself would be fine with anything.

So, even if it meant facing that Sakayanagi Arisu from Class A, she wouldn't back down.

But why? She had already steeled herself to go all out against her opponent, so why did Honami-chan have to stop her at a time like this?