[If Saiki also noticed that we're being watched, then it means he has very sharp observational skills. He's definitely not an ordinary person.]
'Hey, hey, even a slight turn of the head was noticed?'
Saiki Kusuo thought to himself, not turning his head back. He kept his gaze fixed in the distance, pretending to be lost in thought to reduce Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's suspicions.
[...Does he just seem distracted? Or is he pretending to avoid my suspicions?]
'This guy, are you for real? Are you a psychic too?'
Saiki Kusuo felt helpless, but he had no choice but to keep up the act.
"Saiki, what are you looking at?"
At that moment, Horikita Suzune noticed Saiki Kusuo's gaze wandering and immediately spoke sternly.
"Sorry, I was thinking about what you just explained. I got a bit distracted."
Saiki Kusuo casually made up an excuse.
"Then repeat what I just said."
Horikita Suzune frowned slightly, seemingly unconvinced.
Saiki Kusuo quickly summarized what Horikita Suzune had just said. While it wasn't word-for-word, the general meaning was close enough. Horikita Suzune's expression softened a bit, and she nodded at Saiki Kusuo.
[Was I overthinking it?]
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze remained fixed on Saiki Kusuo. Compared to Saiki Kusuo's presence, the surveillance from Class D was insignificant.
"Let's continue."
Horikita Suzune cleared her throat and resumed explaining the material. However, Horikita Suzune wasn't exactly a great teacher. Her explanations were dry, and some of the problems she tackled used advanced methods that were simple for Saiki Kusuo and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. Kushida Kikyo also had no trouble.
But for Sudo Ken and the others, it was like listening to a foreign language.
[What is Horikita even talking about? I can't understand a thing! What's this about linear regression? Is it some kind of spell?]
Sudo Ken was completely lost. At first, he had tried to understand Horikita Suzune's explanations, but he quickly gave up. However, his pride wouldn't let him ask her to simplify things, so he just zoned out during her monotonous lecture.
[Seriously, I'm a sports student. What's the point of these grades for me?]
[I'd rather use this time to practice basketball!]
[Cutting... receiving the ball... crossover... dunk!]
In Sudo Ken's mind, a vivid basketball game was playing out. He was completely immersed in another world.
'Yare yare, he can imagine a basketball game in such detail?'
Saiki Kusuo could not only hear thoughts but also "see" the images in people's minds. He could clearly visualize what Sudo Ken was thinking.
Although Sudo Ken wasn't great academically, he did have exceptional talent in sports.
"Sudo, did you understand what I just said?"
Horikita Suzune noticed Sudo Ken's wandering gaze and immediately spoke sharply.
"Me? Uh, yeah!"
As if jolted awake from a dream, Sudo Ken stumbled slightly in his seat but quickly recovered and responded to Horikita Suzune.
"Then solve this problem."
"This problem... first, transform X... then... then..."
[He got the first step wrong!]
Horikita Suzune's frown deepened, her eyes clearly showing impatience.
[He can't even solve this problem? Where did everything he learned before go?]
[He can't even solve a basic equation. I'm starting to doubt if he has the intelligence of a normal high school student. No wonder he's at the bottom of the class. He didn't listen to a word of my lecture. Why am I wasting my time on someone like this?]
[I should just let them get expelled!]
'She looks really angry.'
[Given Horikita's personality, she's probably about to ruthlessly mock him. And with Sudo's personality, they'll likely end up arguing, and this study session will fall apart.]
At the same time, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka was thinking the same thing.
[That bitch Horikita Suzune is probably going to argue with Sudo. I can't wait!]
Kushida Kikyo muttered to herself, eagerly anticipating what would happen next.
'It's not great for classmates to argue, but if it means this study session ends sooner, that's not bad. I could use these two hours for so many other things.'
Saiki Kusuo's lips curled slightly.
[No, no. If someone gets expelled, it might affect our climb to Class A.]
[Yesterday... yesterday, Brother said I misunderstood the meaning of being aloof and isolated... Was my approach wrong?]
[Maybe I was a bit off in my approach. I need to change.]
Horikita Suzune thought this, but her frown didn't ease:
"You got the first step completely wrong! You... go back and review these problems properly!"
Although Horikita Suzune strongly despised Sudo Ken's academic abilities, she managed to suppress her anger and spoke to him in a relatively calm tone.
This surprised everyone present.
[Horikita just responded like that? In the past, she would've ruthlessly mocked Sudo.]
Ike Kanji's face showed surprise, while Ayanokoji Kiyotaka glanced at Horikita Suzune.
[It seems a bit forced, but Horikita has indeed changed quite a bit. Why?]
"Let's end the study session here for today. We'll meet here again after school tomorrow until you all fully understand these concepts."
Horikita Suzune gathered her materials and left the library.
Meanwhile, Saiki Kusuo's heart sank a little.
'This study session won't end until they understand everything?'