Chapter 19: Sudo Ken, You Better Study Properly!

[What exactly is Horikita saying? I totally can't understand it at all! What linear regression or whatever? Is it some kind of spell?]

Sudo Ken's entire being was basically in a foggy and confused state. At the beginning, he really did try hard to understand what Suzune was saying, but he quickly gave up.

However, because he was prideful, he definitely wouldn't let Suzune explain things more simply. He could only let his mind wander under Suzune's hypnotic-like explanation.

[Seriously, I'm originally an athlete, right? What meaning does this kind of result have for me?]

[I might as well use this time to go train for basketball!]

[Positioning… receiving the ball… crossover steps… breakthrough dunk!]

In Sudo Ken's mind, a basketball game scene suddenly appeared vividly. His whole person seemed to be in another dimension.

'Yare yare, to think he can imagine a basketball match scene so vividly?'

Saiki not only could hear inner voices, but could even "see" other people's thoughts. Everything Sudo Ken was thinking in his heart, Saiki heard clearly and distinctly.

Although Sudo Ken wasn't good in academics, in areas related to sports, he indeed had outstanding talent.

"Sudo, did you understand what I just explained?"

Suzune noticed that Sudo Ken's gaze was a bit unfocused and immediately spoke sharply.

"I-I-I!"

As if startled awake from a dream, Sudo Ken staggered slightly in his seat, but quickly came back to his senses and hurriedly responded to Suzune.

"Then explain this problem."

"This question… first move X over… then… then…"

[You already got the first step wrong!]

Suzune's eyebrows furrowed instantly, and in her eyes was a clearly visible trace of impatience.

[He can't even solve this kind of problem? Where did all the things we previously learned go?]

[Can't even solve a basic equation... I'm seriously starting to doubt whether this person even has the intelligence a normal high school student should have. No wonder he's last place in the class. He didn't listen at all to my detailed explanation, why am I wasting time on someone like this?]

[Might as well let them get expelled already!]

'She really looks extremely angry.'

[With Horikita's personality, she'll probably start mercilessly mocking him soon, and with Sudo's personality, there's an 80-90% chance the two will argue. This study session will probably end in nothing.]

At the same time, Ayanokoji was also thinking this in his heart.

[That b*tch Horikita will probably argue with Sudo, right? I'm really looking forward to it!] Kushida was mumbling in her heart, a bit excited about what might happen next.

'Although it's not good for classmates to argue, if this really can put an end to these study sessions, that wouldn't be so bad either. I could use those two hours for so many other things.' Saiki's lips curved slightly.

[No, this won't do. If someone gets expelled, it could affect our path to rise to Class A.]

[Yesterday... yesterday my brother said that I misinterpreted the meaning of loneliness and pride… was it my previous actions that had issues?]

[Maybe my previous approach was somewhat problematic. I should change a bit too.]

Suzune thought this way, but the tightly knitted eyebrows didn't loosen, "From the very first step, it was a big mistake! You… you go back and properly review these problems!"

Although Suzune strongly looked down on Sudo Ken's learning ability in her heart, at this moment, she still forcibly held back her anger and spoke in a relatively calm tone toward Sudo Ken.

This surprised everyone present a little.

[Horikita actually only replied like that? In the past, she definitely would've mercilessly mocked Sudo, right?]

Ike Kanji showed a surprised expression on his face, and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka slightly turned his head and glanced at Suzune.

[Even though it seems a bit forced, something has definitely changed about Horikita, hasn't it? Just why?]

"Then, today's study session ends here. Tomorrow after school, gather here again. We'll continue until you all fully understand these concepts."

Suzune tidied up her study materials and directly left the library.

Meanwhile, inside Saiki's heart, there was a slight mental collapse.

'This study session will continue until those few people understand everything?'

Saiki never expected that things would develop to this point. Originally, he thought he could use this chance to avoid participating in the study session altogether…

'The brain development of those three people isn't much better than that of monkeys…'

'And Horikita's own teaching ability is pretty average. She only explains the method she uses herself, and doesn't really explain the principles behind them in detail. Getting those three to fully understand is harder than climbing to the heavens.'

'Could it be… this meaningless study session will last for at least a month? No, no, with Horikita's personality, it might last until the final exams…'

Just thinking of this gave Saiki a very bad feeling. 'Two hours every day, five days a week means ten hours. In a month, that's forty hours. That means I'll be able to watch at least twenty fewer movies, read ten fewer novels, and play six or seven less garbage games. I absolutely can't allow this to happen.'

'I have to think of a way. My time must be spent on more meaningful things!' Saiki's brain began to spin rapidly, thinking about how to escape this study session.

[It looks like Class C's group is doing some group tutoring, probably to prepare for the upcoming midterm exams?]

[Ryuen said to focus on that tall boy, the one called Sudo.]

[His grades are average, but apparently, he already became a core member of the school basketball team as a first-year. His physical ability is really great, but it seems his grades are really bad.]

Saiki heard the inner voices of several people from Class D. Their attention was clearly still focused on this side.

But Saiki didn't have time to bother with them. If Ayanokoji noticed any small movements from him again, who knew how much more trouble it would bring.

'Never mind these guys from Class D. Nothing is more important than my precious free time. Convincing Horikita to cancel the study session without using psychic powers seems unlikely, but getting those idiots to understand the material is also very difficult… unless their IQs can also suddenly evolve drastically… wait a minute…'

And then, in Saiki's mind, a new idea appeared.

———

"Seriously, although Horikita's attitude today wasn't as bad as before, I still didn't understand a single thing she explained! Seriously, as long as I can become a national-level basketball player, that's enough. What use do regular test scores have? Studying math doesn't improve my basketball at all!"

After leaving the library, Sudo Ken kept grumbling in his heart about Suzune. In his view, test scores didn't matter at all, as long as his basketball skills were strong, that was enough.

He soon arrived at the gymnasium and trained with the school team for several hours. Only then did he return to the dorm covered in sweat.

After showering and doing a few stretches to relax his muscles, Sudo Ken lay down on his bed, planning to play on his phone before sleeping.

At the library, Suzune told him to go back and review the material properly, but by now he had already thrown those words far to the back of his mind.

As he scrolled through short videos, Sudo Ken began giggling foolishly, completely forgetting about anything related to studying.

He didn't even notice that at that very moment, someone had been watching his every move all along, Saiki.

'Yare yare, just as I thought, you're not studying at all. Although your IQ isn't exactly high, your study attitude is truly awful. I can't let my break time be wasted because of you!'

Right now, Saiki was in his room, using his psychic powers to observe Sudo Ken's every move. In a way, he could understand Suzune's frustration and disappointment.

Immediately, Saiki activated his psychic ability.

On the other side, just as Sudo Ken was watching funny videos, suddenly a voice appeared in his mind.

'Have you looked at the knowledge points Horikita assigned you?'

"Huh?" Sudo Ken's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

"Seriously, how did I suddenly forget about that?"

Saiki used his telepathic ability to directly transmit Horikita's earlier words into Sudo Ken's mind, making him recall the matter.

"Horikita told me to review that material. If she finds out I didn't, she'll probably explode with rage tomorrow, right?"

'As long as you understand that.' Saiki replied inwardly.

"But… it's already this late. I'll deal with it tomorrow!"

'…'

Saiki clenched his fist tightly. A crisp cracking sound echoed from his knuckles.

'This guy is hopeless.'

But Saiki wasn't going to let this go easily. Right now, nothing in the world was more important than his free time.

Even lying under the sea reading books would be more meaningful than this study session.

'I need to correct your study attitude a little.'

On the other side, Sudo Ken once again pushed aside the thought of studying and continued scrolling through videos, only now, all the content in the app had become study-related videos.

[Did you study math properly today?]

[If you don't study well, you'll end up on the streets!]

[Even athletes need to study!]

[What the...? Why am I suddenly getting these kinds of videos?]

Sudo Ken froze for a moment and quickly refreshed a few videos. All of them were about studying. And strangely, all their lines seemed to be directly hinting at him.

This was all the work of Saiki. Manipulating electronic devices was a piece of cake for him.

"Study, study, study… so annoying!"

Sudo Ken complained and threw his phone aside, closing his eyes to sleep.

After all, with the intense training he had gone through, Sudo Ken was exhausted. In no time, he drifted off into a deep sleep, only, this played right into Saiki's hands.

'Since you didn't study well during the day, then study properly in your dreams!'

Saiki's eyes opened slightly, a trace of coldness in his gaze.

Then, he used his telepathic ability again and directly transmitted all the knowledge points from earlier into Sudo Ken's mind.

———

[The Next Morning, in the Classroom]

Sudo Ken sat at his desk, looking completely deflated, with no energy at all. The dark circles under his eyes were also very obvious.

"Sudo, why do you look so out of it?"

Ike Kanji noticed Sudo Ken's appearance and asked curiously. Normally, Sudo Ken always looked full of energy, but today he was a completely different person.

"I didn't sleep well last night…" Sudo Ken sighed and replied helplessly.

"Had nightmares all night…"

"Nightmares?"

"The dream was full of math formulas… I barely slept at all. Every time I dozed off, countless formulas would pop up in my head… it was terrifying…"

As he spoke, Sudo Ken trembled all over.

"What you think about during the day appears in your dreams, that means your mind has been focused on studying lately."

"You don't say… Every time I try to do something, it feels like someone in my head is forcing me to study. Whenever I pick up my phone, math formulas start flashing through my mind… At this point, I'm honestly scared to even touch my phone…"

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/XenosX

🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰