Arisu Sakayanagi never doubted the existence of true geniuses in this world. The answer was, of course, yes—because she herself was one. The barely concealed looks of awe from the interviewers weeks ago had already confirmed it. Aside from the slight regret of her frail body, her record was breathtakingly perfect. No blemishes, no flaws, like a perfect crystal formed from precise calculations.
From A to D, from genius to trash. According to the school's rules, the class points would be reshuffled next month based on student performance. Especially that Class D—they would most likely drop to zero. This information didn't come from her father, the school's chairman. In fact, if she had prodded even slightly, her doting father would have told her everything.
But a true genius never deigns to take shortcuts. Half an hour ago, she had grasped everything from just her homeroom teacher's brief words. Now, the free-to-take section in the convenience store was the perfect confirmation of her deductions.
(I wonder if anyone else has noticed this hidden clue?)
(If it's just me, then this school will be far too boring.)
Arisu Sakayanagi stood still, her gaze slowly sweeping over every figure in the store. The vast majority of students paid no attention to the free section, too busy picking out the items they wanted.
Until—a beautiful girl with purple hair and purple eyes entered her field of vision. It wasn't just her identity as Masumi Kamuro from Class A that caught her attention. What was more interesting was that she was currently studying the positions of the security cameras with a professional eye, her feet unconsciously drifting toward the alcohol section for adults.
(Interesting... Is she planning to shoplift? From the looks of it, she's probably a habitual offender.)
(I'll play with her later. I happen to be in need of a clever subordinate.)
But Sakayanagi quickly looked away. From the girl's cautious movements, she was likely still in the reconnaissance phase—confirming blind spots, figuring out the staff's routines. She wouldn't act just yet.
Her gaze returned to the free-item shelf. 9:06:46. The time automatically appeared in her mind. Since elementary school, she could accurately calculate time through her heartbeat and changes in light, having no need for a clock. There were about twenty minutes left until the opening ceremony.
(Will anyone come?)
(Besides me, is there another genius who can see through this school's truth?)
On the surface, she was just a frail, gentle, beautiful girl. But only those who truly knew her understood—Arisu Sakayanagi was never a kind person. She was incredibly petty, and those who offended her would meet a miserable end. She craved challenges, yearned for an opponent who could force her to go all out. It was like a game of chess; only by playing against an equal could one feel true enjoyment.
(Too easy...)
(If they can't even see through the school's truth before the opening ceremony—)
(—then they are not worthy of being my opponent.)
This standard was perhaps overly harsh. But since she herself could do it, any opponent worthy of her anticipation should naturally meet the same standard.
Just then, fate provided an answer.
(Finally... someone decent has arrived.)
The moment the black-haired boy stepped into the convenience store, Arisu Sakayanagi's pupils contracted slightly. The boy's action of walking straight to the free shelf was too deliberate—just like a mirror image of what she had just done. When a few upperclassmen appeared, his almost imperceptible nod gave everything away.
(I see...)
(He needs the seniors from Class D to confirm his own deductions?)
(Unexpectedly rigorous, and yet... somewhat rigidly cute.)
A pleased smile graced Sakayanagi's lips. In her eyes, this excessive caution was like the unnecessary calculations on a math test—accurate, but lacking elegance.
Arisu Sakayanagi's fingertips tapped lightly on her cane, but her eyes never left the boy. He had neat short hair, and the red school uniform made his figure seem even taller and straighter—a physical height difference that forced her to look up slightly. The cane tapped the ground with a crisp sound. A faint smile played on her lips, and her amethyst-like eyes sparkled with a dangerous interest. Compared to the mediocre masses, this handsome opponent, whose caution was almost a fault, certainly fit her aesthetic ideal for a rival.
"Excuse me..."
...
Kiyomizu Akira was slightly taken aback.
(She saw through me?)
The girl's words were like a delicate key, precisely unlocking the discovery they both shared. He subconsciously glanced at the cane she was leaning on—so she had noticed even earlier than him but was limited by her mobility.
(If I hadn't gone to the restroom...)
He quashed the thought as soon as it appeared. His gaze swept over the girl's slender ankles, and any sense of competitiveness quietly dissipated. In the face of an absolute physical disadvantage, any comparison felt ungentlemanly.
"Yes, you're right," Kiyomizu replied curtly.
The silver-haired girl maintained her faint, enigmatic smile, standing as still as a meticulously designed mime. This deliberate silence made the air feel strange—was she waiting for him to say something more?
But Kiyomizu's attention had already shifted to the first piece of intel that had refreshed today:
[Intel 1: Today at 10:30 AM (after the opening ceremony), first-year Class A student Masumi Kamuro will shoplift a can of beer from the school convenience store.]
(Scoping the place out beforehand... very professional.)
His gaze discreetly swept towards the alcohol section. In his peripheral vision, he caught a purple-haired figure. The girl's eyes were precisely scanning the surveillance camera's blind spots, and she was the only one in the entire liquor aisle.
The silver-haired girl's cane suddenly tapped the ground three times, the crisp sound pulling Kiyomizu's attention back.
"Hello?" a half-smile played on her lips. "It seems our object of observation is the same. It appears geniuses are drawn to each other." The tip of her cane pointed accurately in Masumi Kamuro's direction. "This is the sixth time Masumi Kamuro has confirmed the camera's blind spot, the fourth time she has glanced at the staff, and the second time..." The cane drew an elegant arc in the air, "...she has stared at a specific can of beer."
Kiyomizu followed her gesture and indeed saw the purple-haired girl unconsciously biting her lower lip, her fingertips trembling nervously above a beer can.
"But..." the silver-haired girl suddenly lowered her voice, her cane gently touching Kiyomizu's wrist, "this should be the worst possible time, shouldn't it?"
"It's peak shopping time right after the class points were distributed... If she gets caught, she'll be socially executed." Her gaze locked onto Kiyomizu's eyes. "Do you share my opinion?"
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