Classroom of the Elite, Kusuo Saiki

Upon thinking of this, a bright smile immediately bloomed on Haruki Yamauchi's face, and all sorts of fantasies began to form in his mind.

However, Kikyo Kushida only gave him a cold look before raising her head and turning her gaze to another person present—Suzune Horikita.

After the book club ended, it was Horikita Suzune who called her over, and Kushida Kikyo could roughly guess what it was about.

Could it be that Horikita also has feelings for me...? Is this the legendary love triangle?

Although Haruki Yamauchi is not particularly handsome, he has a beautiful mind.

"Then I'll get straight to the point."

Horikita Suzune looked at Kushida Kikyo with utmost seriousness. Although she didn't understand why Kushida Kikyo wanted Yamauchi Haruki to stay, given that Kushida Kikyo had previously shown great concern for him, Horikita Suzune decided not to concern herself with it since it was Kushida Kikyo's decision. The truth would naturally be revealed in due time.

"Kushida, isn't the relationship between the two of us irreconcilable?"

“That’s right.”

Kikyo Kushida said with a cold laugh.

Is that really the case? Did those two really have such a fierce argument because of me?

Haruki Yamauchi was completely unaware of the seriousness of the situation from beginning to end.

"Is it because we used to go to the same school?"

"That's so sudden! Why bring up the past all of a sudden? I don't like that topic!"

"I don't want to look back on the past, but it's something that we can't avoid for either of us."

"If that's the case, then it's true. After all, we hardly ever have a chance to be alone together. I already told you last time that I really hope you can disappear from this school, because you and I went to the same junior high school, were classmates, and you know about 'that incident'."

“I’ve thought about it a lot. I have indeed heard that something happened in your class, but for someone like me who doesn’t have any friends, that’s not something I would be interested in. Besides, what I heard was just a rumor. I don’t know the truth and I don’t care whether it’s true or not.”

"But you can't guarantee you don't know the truth, can you?"

Kikyo Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly, and the murderous aura emanating from her gradually intensified.

"Wait, what are you two talking about?"

Haruki Yamauchi now realized that he couldn't understand what the two people were saying at all.

"Well, it seems that I can't bridge the gap between us because of this. No matter how much I deny it, you can't deny the possibility that I'm lying. Not only that, I think you can't tolerate my existence knowing about what happened, which is why you want to expel me from school."

“That’s right.”

Kikyo Kushida maintained her smile and did not deny Suzune Horikita's words.

"We are all students in Class B, and we are just one step away from being able to move up to Class A. We need to help each other."

"That's not a problem. For me, if I can get you out of this school, all the problems will be solved. After you drop out, I will work hard with the other students to get into Class A."

After hearing what the other person said, Horikita Suzune pondered for a moment before speaking:

"Would you like to make a bet with me, Kushida-kun?"

"Oh?"

"If I get a higher score than you on the final exam this time, I hope you can help me in the future and not oppose me—no, I don't expect you to help me, but I hope you won't do anything to hinder me in the future, that's all."

Horikita Suzune's expression was very serious; she had given this matter considerable thought.

"Does this mean it's a competition based solely on individual subjects, regardless of the total score of the partners?"

"Ah."

"That's a ridiculous bet, Horikita-kun. After all, I've never beaten you in exams, let alone in total scores. And what would I gain if I won?"

"Of course I know. We won't compare total scores; we'll decide the winner based on one of the eight subjects in the final exam. You can freely choose the subject you're best at—"

Horikita Suzune paused for a moment, then said with unwavering determination,

"Then, if your score is higher than mine, I will voluntarily withdraw from school."

"Oh? Are you serious?"

Kikyo Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly intrigued by Suzune Horikita's suggestion.

“I am very serious, so I called in witnesses.”

As Horikita Suzune spoke, another person walked in.

Horikita Manabu.

Although Horikita Manabu is no longer the student council president, he still wields considerable authority within the school. If he were to act as a witness, even Kushida Kikyo would have no choice but to abide by the agreement.

"If possible, I'd like to add one more condition."

"what?"

"If I win, this guy will have to drop out of school along with you."

As Kikyo Kushida spoke, she glanced at Haruki Yamauchi beside her out of the corner of her eye.

Chapter 110: This has nothing to do with me!

【what? 】

At this moment, Haruki Yamauchi's face was full of question marks.

From the beginning until now, he hasn't understood a word of what these two people are saying.

What about dropping out of school, what about the past...? Are Kikyo Kushida and Suzune Horikita acting out some kind of drama?

“This is a battle between the two of us. Yamauchi is a completely irrelevant person. I don’t understand why you care about him so much.”

Horikita Suzune looked at Kushida Kikyo with a puzzled expression.

"I don't know if you're pretending to be stupid or if you really know nothing. From the recording incident at the beginning to the sports festival, it was all orchestrated by you, Yamauchi, behind the scenes."

Kikyo Kushida narrowed her eyes slightly, her gaze still fixed on Haruki Yamauchi.

"what?"

Haruki Yamauchi's small eyes were filled with great confusion; he had no idea what Kikyo Kushida was talking about.

"Are you still pretending to be stupid now? I know everything you've done. You're behind all of this, aren't you? How did you manage to obtain such a private recording... Did you set up recording equipment in the room beforehand?"

Kikyo Kushida continued to inquire.

"what?"

Haruki Yamauchi's face was still full of doubt.

[What's going on? A recording? What recording?]

Haruki Yamauchi felt that Kikyo Kushida's words were even more obscure and difficult to understand than the lessons in school, and judging from their expressions, Kikyo Kushida and Suzune Horikita did not seem to be joking.

What's more... former student council president Horikita Manabu is here...

This put Haruki Yamauchi under immense pressure.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about...Kushida-san..."

"Yamachi-kun, please stop wasting time pretending you know nothing. If you are truly innocent, then give me your phone and prove it to me."

Kikyo Kushida said with utmost seriousness.

"well!"

Upon hearing these words, Haruki Yamauchi quickly handed his phone to Kikyo Kushida.

Kikyo Kushida frowned slightly. She hadn't expected Haruki Yamauchi to hand her the phone so directly, but she still took it from him. She first opened the chat app and checked the chat history, then opened the shopping website and browsed the other party's messages.

Kikyo Kushida's gaze was instantly drawn to something, focusing on several purchase records.

Hidden cameras, remote-controlled driverless cars...

"So that's how they used that method! I see!"

Kikyo Kushida suddenly realized what was going on and immediately turned her gaze back to Haruki Yamauchi's face.

The other party simply handed her their phone so she could see the purchase records. In Kikyo Kushida's eyes, this behavior was no different from provocation.

"what?"

Haruki Yamauchi found it even more incomprehensible.

"Hidden cameras, and remote-controlled cars... Are they using remote-controlled cars to hide cameras in suitable locations beforehand? No wonder no one noticed."

"Hidden camera?"

Haruki Yamauchi was stunned for a moment, then suddenly remembered what these things were.

During summer vacation, a few of them planned to invite other girls to the pool and secretly install cameras in the women's changing room to record them changing clothes.

Because of Kusuo Saiki's intervention using his superpowers, Haruki Yamauchi and the others' plan failed, and as time passed, Haruki Yamauchi forgot about the matter.

......

Meanwhile, in another classroom in the teaching building, Kusuo Saiki and Kiyotaka Ayanokouji were listening to all of this through the latter's phone speaker.

Previously, Horikita Suzune sent a message asking the two of them to come to the vicinity of the teaching building, and then made a phone call so that Saiki Kusuo and Ayanokoji Kiyoshi could also hear her conversation with Kushida Kikyo.

For Kusuo Saiki, he didn't need a phone to know what was happening here...

However, he did not expect things to develop this way.

The various trinkets that Haruki Yamauchi had previously purchased actually further solidified his identity as the 'mastermind'...

Now, Haruki Yamauchi is in a situation where he can't clear his name no matter what.

I remember that during summer vacation, Yamauchi, the professor, Sudo, and a few others bought surveillance equipment and such...

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, standing to the side, began to ponder. Earlier, during the price negotiation, Haruki Yamauchi and the others had contacted Kiyotaka Ayanokouji, wanting him to participate in their operation. Therefore, Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was aware of the situation.

[Could it be that Saiki had anticipated this from the beginning, which is why he deliberately made Yamauchi the scapegoat...? Did Saiki Kusuo foresee this day and do this all along?]

'I didn't think that much about it at all!'

Kusuo Saiki shouted in his heart.

At first, he just wanted to teach Yamauchi Haruki, who was following behind him looking for trouble, a lesson. He never expected things to develop like this. Now, even if he comes out to explain, Kushida Kikyo probably won't believe Yamauchi Haruki.

Kusuo Saiki pursed his lips, deciding to listen quietly to see how things would develop.