The Mastermind Behind the Scenes, Starting with *The Fruit of Grisaia*

"Whether it's rising to Class A, passing the Gantz exam, or even becoming student council president... I will prove it to you! Brother!"

Saying this, as if afraid she might regret it, she turned and ran away without looking back.

Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger:

"What a disobedient younger sister."

Sakayanagi Arisu was amused to the point of laughter.

She reached out and pinched Su Wei lightly, unable to help covering her mouth as she giggled:

"Student Su Wei, it seems she doesn't care for your good intentions."

"How does it feel to be rejected in public? Surely I, who would never reject you, am the better choice, right?"

Su Wei ignored her, instead asking Horikita Manabu, who was preparing to leave:

"Student council president... since we're on the subject, may I ask how you managed to maintain zero casualties in the previous Gantz exams until now?"

"What makes you think this school has had such dangerous exams in the past?"

Having said that, Horikita Manabu did not linger and strode away.

Sakayanagi Arisu couldn't help but find it funny.

After all, as someone with administrative privileges, how could she not know that it was Su Wei who had Kushida Kikyo go find Nagumo Miyabi to peddle that information?

Su Wei glanced at her.

I should be the one with authority higher than yours.

You think I don't know, but actually, I know that you're secretly pleased because you think I don't know.

However, at this moment, he had no heart to dwell on such petty mischief.

Because.

The Gantz was alerting him.

New guests had already appeared.

Ignoring Sakayanagi Arisu's slightly mocking gaze, Su Wei remained outwardly calm while focusing his attention on the Gantz interface only he could see.

As the one calling the shots, he naturally ordered the Gantz to keep a constant watch.

Not just for the safety of humanity, but for the guests who might arrive—shouldn't he at least play the part of a good host?

As the map refreshed, several glaring red dots were scattered across every corner of Tokyo.

On the screen.

There were the Kabane from Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, their hearts encased in orange-red steel membranes, knowing nothing of fatigue; there were the Ape-Men from Darwin's Incident, raised by humans for years yet devoid of humanity, antisocial to the core.

But what surprised Su Wei the most were the few humanoid creatures in black suits, with pale faces and blurred features.

The Silence from Doctor Who.

A terrifying species that is instantly forgotten the moment one looks away, capable of interfering with human cognition.

Though, in truth, they only look intimidating; aside from their special ability to discharge electricity, their physical defense can't even withstand a handgun bullet.

Classic glass cannons.

What Su Wei was truly worried about were other monsters from Doctor Who.

For instance... the Weeping Angel.

A cosmic killer that quantum-locks into a stone statue only when observed; the moment you blink or look away, it sends its prey into the past to feed on their potential time energy.

"If that thing shows up, it's going to be a bit of a hassle..."

Su Wei rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

Although he had trap and magic cards from Yu-Gi-Oh! that operated on similar rule-based logic, who knew if a Water Barrier could bounce these high-dimensional beings back to the Doctor's world...

"To be safe, I'd better play it steady."

To deal with such sci-fi monsters, if trap cards don't work, he would use artifacts of the same nature to restrain them.

In any case, Doraemon's gadget inventory was a bottomless pit.

Whether it was the Shape-Solidifying Lamp that could instantly solidify objects, making them more thorough than a quantum lock; or using the Copy Mirror to create another Weeping Angel, forcing them to stare at each other and fall into a permanent quantum entanglement...

As long as he played it safe, there were always more solutions than problems.

Furthermore, during this time gap while waiting for the gadgets to refresh, he didn't mind showing a little tolerance to these visitors from other worlds.

For the Ghouls and Evil Spirits who were honest folk just wanting to live in peace, he was even willing to offer a chance at coexistence.

As long as they behaved like law-abiding citizens, he would be happy to be a hands-off manager.

As for the Kabane and The Silence, who were pure enemies of humanity by nature... he would just let them be the protagonists of the next trial.

"Before that, let everyone rest and recuperate for a couple of days."

"After all, I am not some devil who insists on driving people to their doom."

Days passed in such tranquility for four or five days.

But in the eyes of some, surface-level peace is not the same as true peace.

Inside the classroom of Class D, first year.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka rested his chin on one hand, appearing to be zoning out, while in reality, he was taking in every interpersonal movement within the class.

First, there was Horikita Suzune.

Ever since the last "Special Exam" ended, she seemed to be carrying some sort of invisible, heavy shackle.

She no longer radiated thorns as she once did, becoming much more reticent instead.

Even when faced with compliments from her classmates, she only offered stiff responses; that sense of impatience, as if trying to prove something, was almost radiating from her body.

Next, there was Su Wei.

Ayanokoji shifted his gaze slightly, landing on the boy beside him who was currently slumped over his desk catching up on sleep.

Recently, the relationship between Su Wei and Kushida Kikyo had become visibly closer.

Although they still maintained a distance within the classroom and did not openly form a small clique, Ayanokoji still caught the silent rapport they shared when exchanging glances, as well as the way Kushida would occasionally lean her body forward when speaking to Su Wei.

That so-called Special Exam last week...

Was what Kushida said when she first approached Su Wei really just a coincidence?

Ayanokoji withdrew his gaze.

He was not someone who liked to show off or meddle in other people's business.

Even if his intuition told him that a massive secret was hidden behind this, he had no intention of getting involved.

Unfortunately, things often went against one's wishes.

In this world, there are some things you cannot simply stay out of just because you want to refuse them.

During the class meeting that afternoon.

Chabashira Sae once again wore that punchable sneer as she announced that a "Special Exam" would commence again tonight.

Under the feverish gaze of the entire class, Horikita Suzune, without a moment's hesitation, used her status as the winner of the previous exam to forcefully claim the sole spot.

Regarding this, Ayanokoji simply watched in silence, saying nothing.

It wasn't until after school.

When most students were flooding toward their clubs or dormitories, Ayanokoji, who was preparing to head back to his room to lie flat, was blocked at the stairwell corner by the woman who always carried the scent of tobacco.

"Is there something you need, Chabashira-sensei?"

Ayanokoji's tone was flat.

Chabashira Sae leaned against the wall, lit a slender cigarette, and after exhaling a ring of smoke, spoke nonchalantly:

"A few days ago, a man contacted the school administration."

"He used certain channels to pressure the school, demanding that Ayanokoji Kiyotaka be expelled unconditionally."

Ayanokoji turned his head back.

He looked at Chabashira Sae with an expressionless face:

"That is truly nonsensical."

"Although I don't know who that person is, the school shouldn't just listen to such unreasonable demands and expel a student so casually, right?"

"Heh."

Chabashira Sae chuckled softly and flicked the ash from her cigarette:

"That goes without saying."

"As of now, no one can stand above the will of this school."

"As of now?"

Ayanokoji keenly captured this subtle keyword.

Before he could think it over, Chabashira Sae shifted the topic:

"However, if you cause trouble, that is a different matter entirely. Not to mention..."

She paused here, her eyes becoming somewhat complex.

There was a hint of mockery, as if watching a show, yet also a trace of imperceptible pity hidden within.

"Forget it, I might as well tell you straight."

"As long as you are a student at Advanced Nurturing, and as long as you don't want to leave, no one can force you out. Of course, even if you wanted to leave yourself... hehe."

Chabashira Sae stubbed out her cigarette and turned her head.

"One final piece of advice, Ayanokoji."

"It would be best if you didn't stay in the school building tonight."

Watching the homeroom teacher's retreating back, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood where he was, his brow slightly furrowed.

He could guess that she wanted to extract some sort of value from him, yet he could not fathom the meaning behind that parting warning.

A provocation? Or some kind of hint?

Even though he had a hunch, Ayanokoji did not leave immediately.

He had to admit, Chabashira Sae had piqued a curiosity he hadn't felt in a long time.

And so, he stood in the hallway, watching the sun sink bit by bit below the horizon.

About ten minutes passed.

"Ayanokoji-kun?"

Hirata Yosuke from his class happened to pass by and looked surprised to see Ayanokoji alone.

"It's so late, you haven't gone back yet? Are you waiting for someone?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka pulled his thoughts back, held up his phone to give it a shake, and lied without changing his expression.

"No, I just thought the scenery was nice today and wanted to take a picture."

Hirata Yosuke followed his gaze toward the brilliant sunset clouds outside the window and agreed.

"It truly is a beautiful sunset."

"Well, I won't disturb you then, I'll be—"

Just as the two nodded to each other, preparing to part ways.