Horikita Suzune

Satsu ignored Ayanokoji's inner thoughts and watched the students in the class with keen interest, shamelessly reading everyone's minds.

Aside from the characters he already knew, he was more curious about what these so-called NPCs were like. There were forty students in the class, but fewer than half had actual names.

That wasn't surprising, though. What author would bother giving names and backstories to characters who never needed to appear?

Just as Satsu was engrossed in his thoughts, the sound of a chair scraping came from beside him. He looked over and saw that Suzune had already stood up.

"Would you like to introduce yourself first?" Hirata asked with a smile.

Suzune didn't answer. She simply turned and left the classroom, her expression inscrutable but unmistakably disdainful.

Even an idiot could tell she thought introducing themselves was completely pointless.

Perhaps inspired by Suzune, several other students gradually followed her out of the classroom.

The sight left Satsu stunned. Wasn't Sudo supposed to be the one to do this?

In other words, had his presence caused the plot to veer slightly off course?

That was fine by him. If everything followed the plot exactly, what would be the point of having mind-reading powers? Everyone would already know what was coming.

This is perfect. Maybe it'll be a good chance to get to know Suzune.

With that in mind, Satsu stood up and left the classroom too. He'd already introduced himself, and besides, the whole thing really was pretty pointless.

The school was a fully residential institution, and there weren't that many students. Over the next three years, they'd be seeing each other constantly.

Forget classmates—if they put their minds to it, they could probably learn the names of every student in the school.

Thinking about it that way, Kikyo's promise to be friends with everyone really wasn't just empty talk.

This time, Satsu didn't come right out and say what was on his mind, like he had on the bus. Instead, he followed behind Suzune cautiously, trying to figure out what to say.

In some ways, getting to know Suzune was even harder than getting to know Ayanokoji. He couldn't just charge in recklessly.

Meanwhile, in an open area by the school building, two boys were hiding in a nearby grove, quietly watching two girls chatting and laughing on a bench.

"Go on, Kuraku."

The boy kept nudging his companion, urging him on. "Sae's really into this kind of tablet lately. If you give her one, it'll definitely raise her opinion of you."

"But, Matsuyama, will this really work?" Kuraku asked, looking down at the tablet in his hands. "This cost me fifty thousand points!"

Elsewhere, Suzune had keenly noticed Satsu following her.

"Is there a reason you're following me?" she asked coldly, stopping without turning around.

Realizing he'd been spotted, Satsu stopped hiding and casually came up with an excuse. "I was just wondering why you had a slightly disdainful look on your face when you left the classroom."

"Do you have something against introductions?"

"No!"

Suzune's firm reply rang out. She turned around, still wearing the same look of disdain, and said, "I'm just annoyed by the person sitting next to me."

"Huh? Me?"

At Suzune's answer, Satsu felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. Come on! He hadn't even done anything yet, and her opinion of him was already in the negatives?

"One's a homosexual, and the other seems to have a social disorder. If I had to guess, Ayanokoji's introduction is going to be absolutely spectacular."

"The worst part is that this homosexual seems to have a thing for the one with the social disorder. Just thinking about being stuck between you two for three years makes me feel suffocated."

With that, Suzune turned and walked away without giving Satsu a chance to explain.

He hurried after her. He had to clear this up now. If he said nothing, it would be the same as admitting it.

Back in the open area in front of the school building, Kuraku still hadn't made up his mind. After hesitating again and again, he turned to Matsuyama and said,

"Maybe we should wait until Sae's friend leaves. It'd be way too awkward to go over now."

Matsuyama was practically going out of his mind with impatience. He was about to speak when he noticed that Sae and the other girl had both turned their attention to the entrance of the school building.

"Hey! At least let me explain myself!"

It was Suzune and Satsu, walking out one after the other.

"There's nothing to explain. Stop following me."

"Having a lovers' spat?" Matsuyama remarked casually. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that something was up with Kuraku.

Kuraku was staring at Sae with jealousy written all over his face, while both girls were gazing in Satsu's direction with lovestruck expressions.

"Now that I look at him, that guy's pretty handsome."

The moment Matsuyama finished speaking, Kuraku darted forward—not toward Sae and the other girl, but toward Satsu and Suzune.

Seeing this, Matsuyama hurried after him.

"Hey! You two!"

The sudden shout startled Suzune, and she stopped, puzzled, as she looked at the furious Kuraku.

"What, do you two want to make friends?" Satsu said jokingly as he came to Suzune's side.

"I don't like your face. I want to embarrass you."

As he spoke, Kuraku shoved the tablet into Matsuyama's hands and cracked his knuckles at Satsu.

"Fighting is absolutely forbidden at this school," Satsu reminded him kindly, not the least bit impressed.

"Scared? Then slap yourself twice, and I'll let you crawl away."

"What a weirdo."

Suzune couldn't take it anymore. She rolled her eyes and turned to Satsu, letting loose a scathing remark. "I knew nothing good would happen with you around."

Satsu didn't respond to Suzune right away. After learning about Kuraku's shameless plan, he was desperately holding back his laughter.

Who said I was going to fight you? I'll just happen to trip while running past you—and then, by accident... (Kuraku)

I'll pull your underwear off! That's all! (Kuraku)

There has to be a security camera at the school entrance. I'll say I lost my student ID, then secretly record the video when they check the footage. You'll be finished! (Kuraku)

When Satsu didn't say anything for a while, Kuraku assumed he'd been scared witless. He shouted again, finally bringing Satsu back to his senses.

"Sorry, sorry. I've never seen a character this ridiculous before. I couldn't hold it in."

"What did you say?!"

Kuraku's voice turned hoarse with anger as he forced the words out through gritted teeth.

Within a week, there won't be a single person in the whole school who hasn't seen the video of you flashing everyone. If there is, I'll write my name backward! (Kuraku)

Satsu turned to Suzune and said, "Since you think nothing good happens when I'm around, let me take care of this mess."

He said it so casually, as if the matter didn't concern him at all.

Seeing Satsu step forward with such confidence, Suzune couldn't help smiling.

The other guy was clearly looking for trouble, and he was being downright hostile. Was Satsu really that confident?

In a teasing tone, she repeated his words: "Fighting is absolutely forbidden at this school."