"Did Horikita actually change her hairstyle?"
"Short-haired Horikita... she's actually pretty cute, even cuter than with long hair!"
"So pretty! What made Horikita decide to change her hairstyle today?"
Almost every boy in the class turned their attention to Horikita Suzune simultaneously. Only Saiki Kusuo quickly averted his gaze, ensuring he didn't catch a glimpse of her muscle fibers or bones.
"That bitch, trying to attract attention again? Ugh, disgusting!"
Kushida Kikyō maintained her smile, her eyes also fixed on Horikita Suzune.
'Nothing changes, day after day.'
Saiki Kusuo sighed inwardly.
"Especially after last night—were you mocking me with that attitude? Of course, you know my past. I need to find a way to get you expelled!"
'Wait, what are you talking about?'
"I won't forget what happened yesterday, Horikita!"
Saiki Kusuo was confused for about 0.1 seconds before realizing what was going on.
Likely, Kushida Kikyō's erased memory had been replaced with something related to Horikita Suzune. Most probably, her deep hatred for Horikita caused her brain to fabricate a memory of a conflict between them... which is why she continued to vent her frustration by cursing Horikita yesterday.
In short, due to the memory erasure, Kushida Kikyō's hostility toward Horikita Suzune seemed to have intensified.
Saiki Kusuo slightly turned his head, glancing out the window as if oblivious to everything.
Horikita Suzune ignored the stares around her and returned to her seat.
"Good morning."
As she passed by Ayanokōji Kiyotaka and Saiki Kusuo, she greeted them before sitting down.
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka turned his head, looking at Horikita Suzune with a hint of confusion.
"What are you looking at?"
Noticing his gaze, Horikita Suzune glared back.
"Oh, nothing. You just seem different today."
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka shook his head in response.
As he'd just thought, he could keenly sense a change in Horikita Suzune.
"Horikita isn't the type to greet others proactively. Today's strange."
"Girls with long hair usually don't cut it short so easily. Something must have happened."
"Yesterday, Horikita and I left Saiki's room around the same time, and it was already late. If something happened, it would've been after that. So, what occurred in those few hours?"
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka was curious about the changes in Horikita Suzune. Given her personality, such noticeable changes in a short time weren't easy. Even he had planned to take time to gradually shape her into someone he could use.
Horikita Suzune's proactive change meant she must have experienced something significant.
But what?
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka's mind raced, though he likely wouldn't find the answer. Even if he knew her change was due to her brother, he wouldn't know Saiki Kusuo's role in it.
"The true meaning of being aloof and lonely... What did my brother mean by that?"
"I always thought he distanced himself from me because I wasn't capable enough. So, I tried to distance myself from those who weren't capable, just like him..."
"Was that thinking wrong all along?"
'Finally, she's reflecting a bit on her issues.'
Hearing Horikita Suzune's thoughts, Saiki Kusuo acknowledged inwardly. This way, she'd pay slightly less attention to him.
...
Soon, it was time for school to end. As previously agreed, several students headed to the school library for a study session.
'I really don't want to waste time on this, but I can't refuse now. I just hope they finish this study session quickly.'
Saiki Kusuo thought, following the others to find a suitable seat in the library. He glanced around at everyone present.
"No matter what, I need to improve their grades quickly. Getting them into Class A is a must."
Horikita Suzune thought, then took out her textbook and began explaining the lessons to the group.
"She's actually lecturing seriously here. Did she cut her hair to deliberately attract attention?"
"So sad... Kushida rejected my movie invitation..."
"Horikita... she's actually pretty. Her looks are probably top-tier in the class."
"What should we eat later..."
'Though, only Horikita Suzune seems serious about studying...'
Saiki Kusuo felt helpless, as everyone's thoughts seemed far from academics.
Meanwhile, Saiki Kusuo picked up some unfamiliar voices.
"Are they from Class C too? They're the ones who took our class's spot... Annoying."
"Ryūen told us to monitor their class and gather information about them."
"The girl with black hair is Horikita Suzune, right? And the other girl is Kushida Kikyō. Quite a few people in our class know her..."
Saiki Kusuo shifted his gaze to another table nearby, where several unfamiliar faces were observing them from the corner of their eyes.
Just from their thoughts, Saiki Kusuo knew they were from Class D.
'So, that Ryūen has taken action against our class, huh?'
"Someone's secretly watching us. Students from another class?"
Ayanokōji Kiyotaka also noticed the stares directed at them—though his attention quickly returned to Saiki Kusuo.
"Saiki just glanced at those people. Did he notice them too?"