But This Is the Mind of a Waste

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Class 1-A.

When Morishita Ran and Amasawa Reigetsu returned to Class A, they found the atmosphere in the classroom had changed significantly, but—

Sakayanagi, why are you walking so fast?! Why are you always entering the plot ahead of us?! Is your wheelchair a turbo-booster? Sprint! Sprint!

Sakayanagi Arisu: I'm just using teleportation without mentioning it; making a fortune in silence is the way to go, isn't it? Besides, haven't you noticed we're already in Chapter 6? My teleportation was ready ages ago; you two just refused to use it and insisted on walking back, didn't you?

Amasawa Reigetsu: Morishita Ran, Sakayanagi Arisu is blinking. Chapter 7.

Morishita Ran: Received. I'll come for a gank after clearing the blue buff.

Returning to Class 1-A.

In Amasawa Reigetsu's absence, the class had already split into two factions: Katsuragi Kohei's and Sakayanagi Arisu's, with their respective lackeys standing by their sides.

"Sakayanagi-san, I acknowledge your ability, but I cannot agree with your attitude toward the class and our classmates. Therefore, I will not betray the trust and expectations they have placed in me, and I will not abandon a single person."

Katsuragi Kohei's expression was resolute; the word "reliable" seemed written all over his face.

"But that is the thinking of a loser."

It seems Sakayanagi Arisu watches Jujutsu Kaisen too.

As Amasawa Reigetsu and Morishita Ran entered the classroom looking rather intimate, all eyes turned toward them—

Except for Sakayanagi Arisu, no one had noticed the two of them were missing; they were all too focused on the argument between Sakayanagi and Katsuragi Kohei.

"Hello everyone, I am Amasawa Reigetsu." A plain and simple self-introduction. Amasawa Reigetsu disliked dealing with places crowded with people and usually let others do it for him.

"Hello everyone, I am Morishita Ran, the daughter of the good friend of Amasawa Reigetsu's mo... mother!"

Damn it, here we go again! This was the second time since childhood that Amasawa Reigetsu had used his mental Induction at full power; the urgency was comparable to the 0.2-second Unlimited Void used by Gojo Satoru in Shinjuku.

Under the influence of the Induction, the students in the class didn't realize anything was amiss. After the two took their seats, the Class A homeroom teacher, Mashima Tomoya, walked in and led Class 1-A to the gymnasium for the entrance ceremony.

Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Gymnasium.

The massive indoor gymnasium was buzzing with noise, packed densely with first-year students in brand-new uniforms. The air was filled with restlessness and curiosity; the freshmen whispered in groups of three or five, their laughter echoing under the dome.

Board Chairman Sakayanagi Narimori walked slowly onto the stage. This man, around fifty years old, possessed a steady and dignified temperament, his every gesture carrying the composure of one who had long held a high position. He scanned the room with a gentle smile, his gaze sweeping across the class formations seemingly at random. It paused for a brief moment when passing Class 1-D, a flicker of imperceptible depth flashing in his eyes.

Amasawa Reigetsu noticed the Chairman's gaze, but this was within his expectations. After all, he had met Sakayanagi Narimori back at the White Room. As for what plans they had for Ayanokoji... forget it, it was nothing more than a clash of educational philosophies; Amasawa Reigetsu didn't care about such things.

When Sakayanagi Narimori's gaze reached Class A, he nearly lost his composure. Why was his own daughter sitting next to Amasawa Reigetsu, acting as shy as a little girlfriend? She was even looking at him with a lovestruck expression. What was even more infuriating was that this brat Amasawa was actually looking at him instead of his precious daughter!?

Sakayanagi Narimori felt his face heating up. He forced himself not to look toward Class A so he wouldn't have to think about it, and continued his speech.

Sakayanagi Narimori delivered a brief address and stepped off the stage amidst the applause.

Shortly after, a tall and slender figure walked slowly onto the podium. Through those ordinary-looking glasses, one could glimpse a pair of extremely sharp eyes. Even though he just stood there quietly without saying a word, he radiated a suffocating pressure.

"I am the student representative, Student Council President, Horikita Manabu." His voice was steady.

"This school upholds the principle of meritocracy above all else. I ask that you all keep this in mind."

Having delivered this resounding conclusion, he finished his speech with fluid grace and turned to leave.

Amasawa Reigetsu: Damn, what a show-off.

Sakayanagi Arisu, sitting next to Amasawa Reigetsu, saw his dull eyes suddenly brighten, as if the detonator had been turned to maximum power. His breathing became rapid, and his naturally weak heart began to struggle under the strain.

"It's coming... the power of that 'Zero'—"

"Because I want to do it, I can do it."

Ever since that day, when Zero-kun used his "Induction" ability on me, this sentence has remained stuck in my mind, unable to be cast aside.

Perhaps this is the feeling called love?

The ideals I had just established were shattered by Ayanokoji Kiyoko, yet I then saw those ideals take on a physical form.

Perhaps it's a bit different; this feeling is like—

A believer?

Ah, yes, that's it. Zero-kun, I think I have fallen into becoming your believer...

More... I want to see more♡

Meanwhile, Horikita Manabu was about to suffer:

Under Amasawa Reigetsu's suggestion, Horikita Manabu happily waved at the applauding crowd. While this gesture might have appeared to the freshmen as a sign of Horikita Manabu's approachability, if Nagumo Miyabi had been on the scene, he would have burst out laughing—he would pay any amount of points to buy this video!

It was a pity that our Vice President had not yet made her entrance at this moment.

Just as Amasawa Reigetsu withdrew his gaze with satisfaction, ending his little prank, he felt his hand being gripped tightly by a small, icy-cold hand.

Amasawa Reigetsu looked to his right and discovered that Sakayanagi Arisu was panting heavily; the hair at the nape of her neck was even sticking to her skin from sweat. In a blind spot hidden from everyone else's view, she was clutching his hand firmly.

Although from Amasawa's perspective the force was actually quite negligible, this was likely Sakayanagi's full strength. This couldn't help but make Amasawa feel somewhat bewildered—why did Sakayanagi always seem a bit like... a stalker toward him?

However, even though Amasawa didn't understand, he knew that if he didn't help this sickly little princess beside him return to a resting heart rate, she would likely faint.

"Sakayanagi, calm down."

Even without eye contact, Amasawa could achieve mental induction through his voice alone.

Sakayanagi Arisu's originally rapid and chaotic breathing was gently smoothed out by Amasawa's words. Her heaving chest gradually returned to a steady rhythm, and those violet eyes, which had appeared unfocused due to oxygen deprivation and excessive agitation, slowly regained their usual clarity.

She slowly loosened her fingertips from his palm, and the sensation of her desperate grip receded like a tide. Sakayanagi lowered her eyelids slightly and raised a hand to tidy the pale purple strands at the nape of her neck, which were damp with cold sweat and sticking messily to her fair skin. As her heart rate stabilized, the unnatural flush on her face rapidly faded away.

"Thank you, Reigetsu-kun."

"It's nothing."

"Would you do me the honor of joining me for lunch later?"

"My pleasure, Princess."