"I have to say, Saiki-kun, the questions you set this time really caught your teacher off guard."
Hiratsuka Shizuka took off her white coat and tossed it onto the office desk, crossed her legs, sat on the stool, and looked at Saiki with a light chuckle.
Saiki sat obediently to the side, correcting the test papers.
[It was difficult this time. Next time won't be like this.]
"Oh, since you say so, then I'll leave it to you next time too. I was originally thinking it would be troublesome to keep having you prepare the exam scope, but seeing you like this, I'm relieved."
[Can I take back what I just said?]
"Hehe, no."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "By the way, you're coming to school for remedial classes on Saturday too."
Saiki raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased.
[What the—? I got full marks.]
"You're the class rep, aren't you? Studying a bit more won't hurt. Those problem children like Akihisa and the others—having you there on Saturday would be better."
[I won't actually do anything even if I come. Seriously...]
Hiratsuka Shizuka hooked a smile, narrowed her eyes playfully, and spoke in a tone carrying a hint of threat: "Saiki-kun, you wouldn't want the rest of the class to find out that the scope of this exam's questions was set by you, right..."
Saiki raised an eyebrow.
(Yare yare daze. Why do people lately love using this tactic...)
......
Saiki returned home and opened the door.
[I'm home.]
Shiina Mahiru took Saiki's bag: "Welcome back, Saiki-kun. What would you like for dinner tonight?"
[Anything's fine.]
After saying that, Saiki flopped onto the sofa, narrowed his eyes, and went completely limp, as if melting into the cushions.
Shiina Mahiru watched him and sat down beside him: "What's wrong? Are you that tired? I heard at school that your exam results came out today. How did it go?"
[Same as usual.]
"Oh, still 100 points, as expected of Saiki-kun."
[But I still have to go to school tomorrow.]
"Ah, on Saturday too?"
[Yeah, what a pain.]
"Then I'll keep preparing your lunch bentos for tomorrow."
[Mm, thanks for the trouble...]
"It's fine. I'll go start dinner now."
Shiina Mahiru got up and headed to the kitchen.
Saiki rolled over and stared at the ceiling (What's going on? Why does this feel... kind of normal now?)
...
The next day, when Saiki arrived at school, the classmates looked at him in surprise and asked:
"Saiki, didn't you get full marks? Why are you here too?"
"It can't be that you volunteered, right? No wonder your grades are so good."
Akazawa Itsuki saw Saiki, came over, and slung an arm around his shoulder: "Yo, Saiki. Didn't expect you to come to school on Saturday too. Here to keep me company?"
Akazawa Itsuki's picture →
Saiki shook him off and patted his bag.
[No. I'm here to study.]
Akazawa Itsuki nodded: "Mm-hmm, I get it. But originally we were supposed to hang out today. What a shame. Since I ran into you anyway, I'll just say it—we can't go today, so let's do tomorrow instead. I've already told Chi-chan."
[Ah...]
"It's fine, just casual fun. Nothing bad. It's decided."
Akazawa Itsuki returned to his seat.
Saiki shook his head. He had just sat down when Yoshii Akihisa and the others crowded around.
"Saiki, you really love studying, huh!"
[Akihisa, like I said, that pen of yours isn't going to help in the end.]
Yoshii Akihisa looked at the pen in his hand, scratched his head, and said: "Yeah, maybe I've used it too long. Next time I'll switch to a new one and take the exam again."
[It's not about old or new.]
"It's because you don't study properly, Akihisa."
Shimada Minami flicked her ponytail from the side.
"If you studied properly, you wouldn't be like this."
Yoshii Akihisa weakly retorted: "Speaking of which, Minami, you came too, didn't you?"
"I came voluntarily, you know."
Yoshii Akihisa: "Eh? Really?"
"Of course. Himeji and I are different from you, right, Himeji?"
Himeji Mizuki suddenly appeared from behind Shimada Minami: "Yoshii-kun, exams still depend on your own effort."
Yoshii Akihisa, Shimada Minami, and Himeji Mizuki's picture →
"Himeji, you're here too. As expected, people who love studying won't waste weekend time if they can come to school. Mm-hmm."
Shimada Minami put her hands on her hips: "Why is it that when you see Himeji, you assume it's voluntary, but when it's me, you say I only came because I failed?"
Yoshii Akihisa: "Well, how should I put it... It's just instinct, right? Right, you repressed pervert?"
Tsuchiya Kouta: "Seriously, coming to school on the weekend. But it looks like it's not just our class here on Saturday. Even though there are way fewer people, wait... fewer people means the changing room..."
[Class is about to start. Hurry back to your seats.]
Just as Saiki finished speaking, movement came from outside the door. The others returned to their seats and looked at the person walking in—very surprised.
The person who entered was Nishimura Souichi.
"Ironman-sensei."
"Why is it Ironman? Where's Hiratsuka-sensei?"
The students below the podium murmured in discussion.
Ironman on the podium smacked his book: "Quiet!!!"
"Ahem. Hiratsuka-sensei had something come up suddenly, so today I'll be supervising you all..."
"Eh, no way. How is it Ironman?"
"Now I can't even sleep."
(What "something came up" for Hiratsuka-sensei? Clairvoyance.)
Saiki used clairvoyance with just a glance and saw Hiratsuka Shizuka lying in bed, her pajamas half-slipped off, exposing... She was clutching her head with an empty sake bottle next to her.
Saiki withdrew his gaze.
(I see. She got drunk. As for why, probably another failed omiai.)
Nishimura Souichi placed both hands on the podium, expression dead serious (｀へ´): "Alright. Before class starts, no one move. Put your bags on the desks and open them..."
"Eh, why..."
"What's this about now?"
Nishimura Souichi: "I said quiet. Just do as I say. I'm going to check if any of you brought anything strange to school. Even for Saturday remedial classes, no weird items allowed. Prepare yourselves mentally."
Nishimura Souichi began inspecting one by one. After confiscating Tsuchiya Kouta's digital camera from the front row, he mercilessly moved to Sakamoto Yuuji.
Sakamoto Yuuji gritted his teeth: "Damn it, it's Ironman. This is bad."
Nishimura Souichi said coldly: "Sakamoto, open your pockets too. Let me see."
"Damn it."
Sakamoto Yuuji still gave in and opened his pockets. Ironman's eyes were sharp—his hand shot out and pulled out a tape recorder still tangled with earphones...
Sakamoto Yuuji: "Damn it, why only me?"
(Special treatment for Kuma-nii? Well, it's not that bad actually.)
Saiki turned and saw Nishimura Souichi with arms crossed, expression even more stern, standing in front of Yoshii Akihisa.
(If even Kuma-nii got that strict treatment, what about Akihisa?)