Chapter 100: The Dragon Boy's Reckless Behavior  

"Your class has Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yōsuke, but with you around, they don't matter." 

Sakayanagi Arisu spoke with utmost seriousness. 

Sakayanagi Arisu is the biological daughter of the school's chairman, Sakayanagi. 

Chairman Sakayanagi, whose full name is Sakayanagi Narimori, once knew Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's father, Ayanokōji Atsushige, and was aware of the existence of the White Room. However, he did not support the White Room project, which is why he granted Ayanokōji Kiyotaka special admission to the school. 

When Arisu was young, she accompanied her father to the White Room and saw Ayanokōji Kiyotaka through the glass. 

From that moment on, Sakayanagi Arisu became intensely interested in Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. 

"It seems you know me well, but why aren't you planning to tell others about this?" 

Ayanokōji asked expressionlessly. 

"I don't want to be disturbed. Burying a false genius is a task only I am suited for." 

Arisu smiled, her cane tapping lightly on the ground. 

"This dull school life is starting to get interesting." 

"Is that so? Then may I ask you something?" 

Ayanokōji spoke up. 

"It's an honor to be questioned by you. Ask freely. If you want to know why I'm interested in you, I'll tell you." 

"No, I'm not interested in that. I only want to know one thing—can you bury me?" 

Ayanokōji's expression remained unchanged, his eyes revealing nothing. 

"Haha—sorry, I couldn't help but laugh. I'm not mocking you; I know how capable you are. From now on, I look forward to it. Destroying your father's greatest creation would fulfill my wish." 

Arisu's smile remained, confident in her abilities. However, before she could finish, Ayanokōji continued: 

"There is someone who could bury me, but it won't be you. I've already met that person." 

"Hmm?" 

Arisu's eyebrows twitched slightly. 

She knew Ayanokōji wasn't lying. 

"I wasn't lying earlier. I've barely been involved in recent events—others were responsible. I believe only that person could defeat me. Sakayanagi, you're not qualified yet." 

Ayanokōji walked away without hesitation. 

[Defeat me? I'd welcome it. My defeat would mean that man's defeat, proving all his actions were wrong.] 

[I hope someone destroys this tragic contradiction in my heart, but Sakayanagi Arisu, you're not the right person. I've already met the one who could defeat me.] 

[Though we're allies now, perhaps one day we'll become rivals. When that happens, you're the only one who could defeat me—Saiki.] 

Ayanokōji thought as he left the special classroom building. 

After he left, Arisu stood there, somewhat stunned. 

"Besides Ayanokōji... someone else? Horikita Suzune? Hirata Yōsuke? Impossible..." 

... 

Meanwhile, Saiki Kusuo, who had just finished packing up in the classroom, was heading to the school's dessert shop to buy a coffee pudding to enjoy in his dorm. 

He knew nothing about Horikita Suzune and Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's situation. 

'Geez, so much happened today. More exhausting than a regular exam.' 

Saiki sighed inwardly. 

While the exam was a success for the class, it was a failure for Saiki, who wanted a quiet life. 

The earlier competitions had made him slightly noticeable at school, which wasn't good. 

Saiki hurried out of the classroom. The dessert shop was about to close, and he couldn't waste time. 

But then, he heard a familiar inner voice. 

[I must recruit Saiki into the student council. He'll be the strongest force against Nagumo after I leave.] 

'Geez, I guess this is it.' 

Saiki knew the voice belonged to Horikita Manabu. 

'Damn, he's blocking the only exit. I can't use my powers freely, and the student council can access the security cameras.' 

Saiki knew he had no choice. To get his pudding sooner, he had to face Manabu. 

He walked forward, and Manabu noticed him. 

"You're here." 

Manabu adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixed on Saiki. 

[Why is the president so interested in Saiki? He even asked me to record their earlier race... Saiki ran fast at first but only placed fourth. Nothing special... Strange.] 

Beside Manabu, Tachibana Akane looked puzzled. 

"Is there something you need?" 

Saiki asked, though he already knew Manabu's purpose. 

"We have an opening in the student council. Would you consider joining?" 

Manabu asked. 

[Joining the student council is every student's dream. It grants authority over others and even allows changing school rules.] 

Hearing this, Tachibana Akane was stunned. 

"President, are you serious?" 

[The president wants to directly recruit Saiki? Really? Besides the sports festival, he's nothing special. I checked his grades—they're average. He rejected Ichinose and Katsuragi, but now he's inviting Saiki?] 

"What's the issue? Are you questioning my decision?" 

Manabu turned, expressionless, but exuding pressure. 

"N-no." 

Tachibana quickly shook her head. 

"So, Saiki, what's your answer?" 

Manabu refocused on Saiki. 

"Sorry, I have no plans to join the student council." 

Saiki answered without hesitation. 

'Geez, I don't want more trouble. Student council members get attention and have work to do.' 

'And that Nagumo guy in the council seems like a troublemaker.' 

"Huh?" 

Tachibana was even more surprised. 

[He rejected the president's offer?! Joining the student council is a dream for many!] 

"Is that so?" 

Manabu seemed unfazed, nodding slightly and adjusting his glasses. 

"If you change your mind, let me know." 

Manabu left with Tachibana, and Saiki hurried to the dessert shop. 

... 

About half an hour later, Saiki held a bag with the pudding, eager to return to his dorm. 

'Geez, I finally got the last coffee pudding, a limited flavor. It's made with special imported coffee. I can't wait to enjoy it in my room with some milk tea. Despite today's troubles, this pudding will make it all worth it. Food tastes better after a hard day.' 

Saiki's thoughts were entirely on his pudding. 

The sky was darkening, and few students remained outside. 

But then, a figure appeared before Saiki. 

"Took you long enough." 

The casual voice belonged to Ryūen Kakeru. 

'Geez, another troublemaker.' 

Saiki thought. 

[Saiki is Shiina's friend, but I need information about Yamauchi from him. I'll make him pay for the sports festival!] 

[Kushida's betrayal—Yamauchi already knows and guessed my methods. He's no simple opponent. Likely, recent events are his doing.] 

[I need information about him, and Saiki is the best source.] 

'Huh?' 

Saiki froze for a moment after hearing Ryūen's thoughts, then realized what was happening. 

During the sports festival, Saiki had used tactics to hide his identity, leading Ryūen to believe Yamauchi was behind everything. 

But now, the 'boomerang' had returned to Saiki. 

'Geez... I thought I'd dumped the trouble on Yamauchi, but now it's back on me... Is this karma?...' 

Saiki sighed. 

"Don't freeze up, Saiki. Relax. If you cooperate, I won't hurt you. After all, you're Shiina's friend." 

Ryūen smirked. 

[Shiina is vital to our class, but I need information from Saiki about Yamauchi.] 

"What do you want?" 

Saiki asked, playing along. 

"You and Yamauchi are close, right? Friends?" 

Ryūen narrowed his eyes. 

"Not really. We're not that close." 

Saiki answered without thinking. 

'We're not friends.' 

"Oh? I thought you were often together. During the sports festival, you performed exceptionally. Were you hiding your strength?" 

"I've been practicing." 

Saiki's heart raced at the mention of 'hiding strength' but quickly calmed. Ryūen was just smart enough to avoid suspecting him. 

"Really? During the pole-toppling event, you appeared where no one expected..." 

'I zoned out. It was a coincidence.' 

"Was it Yamauchi's order?" 

"Just a coincidence." 

Saiki replied truthfully. 

But Ryūen didn't believe him, pulling out his phone and playing a video of Manabe Shiori and Karuizawa Kei. At the end, Saiki appeared, stopping the situation from worsening. 

"You're in the video, so you weren't recording it—but you were close to Yamauchi, who was!" 

"If I say Yamauchi wasn't recording, will you believe me?" 

"Such a lame lie is pointless." 

Ryūen's expression darkened, and he slowly approached Saiki, who instinctively protected his pudding. Nothing was more important. 

"You've reached my limit. I said I'd leave you alone if you cooperated—" 

"But since you won't, I'll use other means to make you cooperate." 

"Let me take off your glasses. Be careful—I might hit your face hard enough to break the lenses." 

Ryūen quickly removed Saiki's glasses.