'Why did things turn into this…'
'My glasses are to suppress one of my abilities, the one where any living creature directly caught by my gaze turns into stone...'
'But who on earth could have predicted something like this!'
Saiki knelt on the ground, a little helplessly clenching his fist and striking the floor. The bag holding his coffee pudding was tossed aside.
And right in front of Saiki stood a stone statue.
That statue had the exact same build as Ryuen, even its face was a perfect match with Ryuen, and what's more...
'This #%￥ thing really IS Ryuen!'
Saiki let out a sigh, letting his eyes fall on the stone statue.
At least a few seconds earlier, this statue had been the lively, kicking-and-squirming Ryuen.
Any creature directly stared at by Saiki would turn into stone. Thankfully, this psychic ability could be physically controlled, as long as something blocked his gaze, even just an ordinary piece of transparent plastic, it would be enough.
Just now, Ryuen had been about to teach Saiki a lesson, but Saiki's full attention was fixed on the pudding in his arms. He never imagined Ryuen would suddenly reach to snatch his glasses off.
And after that, things became the way they were now.
If it had only been a matter of blasting Ryuen away like a skipping stone, that would have been easy to handle. All Saiki needed to do was restore his body and erase his memory, and it could be brushed over.
But if the person was turned to stone, then it became a complete hassle.
Anyone petrified could not be restored by Saiki's reversal ability. They could only return to normal automatically after twenty-four hours, and their memory during that period would be cut off.
If this were during a holiday, it might still be okay. But this was school, every student was supposed to attend class every day.
Class D students would immediately notice Ryuen's disappearance. If word got out, it would definitely create a huge mess.
If it were someone with little presence in class, maybe it wouldn't matter much. But Ryuen was the type who drew attention everywhere. If he went missing for even a single day, people would absolutely notice.
So what Saiki had to deal with wasn't just covering up Ryuen's disappearance, but also making sure Ryuen himself wouldn't realize what had happened.
While petrified, one had no memory. When he returned from stone form, his memory would resume right from the instant before petrification.
But if Ryuen were to revive somewhere else, only to find himself in an unfamiliar place...
Saiki felt a headache coming on. He really hadn't expected that after the sports festival ended, there'd be an even bigger problem waiting.
First, he quickly checked the surroundings, confirming that Ryuen's underling Albert and the others weren't nearby, and that there were no other witnesses. Then, carrying Ryuen's statue, he teleported straight back to his own dorm room.
'Yare yare... what am I supposed to do now? Who can even help me with this...'
Saiki's brows furrowed tightly. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He immediately pulled out his phone and sent a text to someone.
[Saiki: Come to my dorm room. Alone. Try not to let anyone else notice. My dorm number is XXXX.]
As soon as Saiki sent the message, he got a reply.
[Ai: OK! I'll be right there!]
As a precaution, Saiki had exchanged contact info with Ai earlier. She was the only person in this school who knew he was a psychic. Right now, she was the only one who could possibly help him.
[Ai: I don't think I can get in... Seems like the dorm requires a student card to enter.]
[Saiki: I'll come get you]
Then, using his powers, Saiki teleported Ai directly to his side.
"Wow, amazing! You just instantly teleported me here!" Ai exclaimed in awe.
But in the very next moment, she jumped straight onto Saiki's bed, put her hands at the hem of her shirt, and prepared to strip it off.
"I'm already ready, anytime..."
"What are you doing?"
Saiki's eyes carried a trace of disgust.
"Didn't you call me here for this? You said alone, and that no one else should find out..."
"Your imagination runs a little too wild."
"So it wasn't for that?"
Ai stuck out her tongue in disappointment, hastily pulling her shirt back on.
"I called you because there's something seriously urgent."
"What kind of thing? Don't tell me you accidentally killed someone and need me to destroy the evidence?"
"Look behind you."
Saiki pointed with his finger.
"Huh?"
Ai turned around, right into the sight of Ryuen's stone statue. For a few seconds she froze stiff,
Then let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"AAAAHHHHHH!"
"Quiet!"
Saiki rushed forward and clamped a hand over her mouth.
"This is the dorm building. If anyone hears, we're screwed!"
It wasn't just the issue of Ryuen's statue. The fact that Ai, a non-student, was here at all could cause serious trouble.
Saiki then used telepathy to beam the entire sequence of events with Ryuen directly into Ai's mind.
"So... so that's what happened..."
Ai pressed her lips together, then looked at Saiki.
[As expected of my destined soulmate... even this kind of psychic ability he has...]
"Hey, hey, don't let your thoughts wander."
"Oops, forgot you could read minds."
She quickly shifted her gaze back to the statue.
"I remember this guy. Saw him during the sports festival. He didn't look easy to get along with. Can't believe he was crazy enough to pick a fight with you."
"Strictly speaking, it wasn't me."
Saiki shook his head, thinking of Yamauchi Haruki. Well, that guy kind of had it coming.
"Anyway, he may be a troublemaker at school, but if he disappears for twenty-four hours, that'll cause even worse trouble. Once the school checks security cameras, they'll find out he came to me."
Although the spot where Ryuen ambushed Saiki was a blind spot for cameras, the route he took to get there definitely wasn't.
If things didn't alarm the school, it was fine. But if the school actually investigated the cameras... the consequences were unimaginable.
"I see... So what will you do?"
Ai hurriedly asked.
[As long as I can help Saiki, we'll definitely grow closer!]
Her thoughts were, of course, crystal clear to Saiki. Ai was undeniably a hassle, but right now he had no choice but to rely on her.
"You're going to impersonate Ryuen."
That was Saiki's immediate answer.
"Eh?" Ai froze.
"You didn't hear wrong. I have hypnosis powers. I can alter how others see you, even your voice. And since you know I'm a psychic, plus you're not an enrolled student, you're actually the best person for this."
Saiki could change how others perceived someone, but he couldn't use it on himself. That's why he needed Ai.
If she disguised herself as Ryuen and just went through a perfectly normal day, no one would notice his disappearance.
"I am not some layabout! I run a shop on campus, you know, I even sold drinks before!" Ai quickly protested.
Her fortune-telling shop had been super popular at school for a while, but it was only a summer-limited thing. And most people only got a reading once, so business had since become average.
Not that she needed money anyway, her real reason for being here was just to seek her fated soulmate.
"So, will you help?"
"I will!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Ai nodded hard.
"But on one condition."
"What?"
"You have to take a day off sometime... and go on a date with me."
"I refuse."
Even with her pretty face and curvy figure, Saiki still refused without hesitation.
"Whaaat! Why! I'm making such a huge sacrifice for you!"
"Yare yare. I really do need your help. Let's say I'll owe you one. If it's just hanging out, shopping or whatever, I could agree, but I get to choose the time and place." Saiki replied.
Right now, things were critical. He needed Ai's cooperation.
By choosing the schedule himself, he could avoid lots of trouble.
After all, spending an afternoon in the library or eating pudding together could technically count as a "date." With something that boring, maybe she'd end up disappointed and lose interest in him.
Everything was under control.
"Deal!"
Hearing his words, Ai's face lit up with a big smile. She nodded firmly.
"It's a promise!"
Not just because of Saiki's agreement, Ai also felt this whole thing might be pretty fun.
"Alright. First, I'll check their situation."
Saiki then used clairvoyance to scan Class D.
———
At that moment, outside the dorm building, Ishizaki Daichi, Albert, and Ibuki Mio were standing by the bushes chatting.
"Seriously, Ryuen still hasn't come back? Normally, he should've already gotten the info out of that guy called Saiki by now."
Ishizaki kicked a stone around in boredom.
"Let's just wait a bit longer. Maybe that guy was tight-lipped, or maybe he really didn't know anything." Ibuki shrugged.
"Yeah, wait a bit longer." Albert said slowly.
'Yare yare... looks like Ryuen already has something to do, huh?'
Saiki then activated his power, teleporting Ai near the dorm. At the same time, he cast hypnosis so everyone else would see her as Ryuen.
'I can talk to you directly through telepathy. Just follow my instructions. If you've got a question, ask in your head.'
Saiki's voice rang in her mind.
[Got it.]
Ai nodded.
'Just act like a delinquent punk, that's how Ryuen is.'
Hearing his words, Ai swaggered over with an arrogant gait, right up to the three Class D students.
"Ryuen, you're too slow!"
Seeing her approach, Ibuki frowned and spoke.
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