"Are you trying to avoid having everyone's attention shift to you after the exam?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka asked.
"Exactly."
Saiki Kusuo nodded.
"If you're the leader, it's not easy to achieve that."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka responded, quickly formulating a plan in his mind.
[But as long as we can change the leader, it should work. According to the original plan, we can intentionally let Ibuki discover the keycard, making her misjudge the identity of the class leader. At the same time, we'll destroy her digital camera, forcing her to take actual action to obtain evidence about the leader. Then, we'll deliberately create chaos in the class, such as starting a fire, giving her a chance to escape and spread false information, leading other classes to guess the wrong leader for our class.]
[After that, we'll use the rules to change the leader, making other classes guess incorrectly while also diverting the attention of our classmates. I'm sure Saiki can come up with a similar strategy.]
[However, there's a crucial point: replacing the leader. If the leader is forced to withdraw from the exam due to unavoidable circumstances, the class will definitely need to replace the leader; otherwise, the exam cannot continue.]
'This guy... he already had this planned from the start, huh?'
Saiki Kusuo, hearing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's thoughts, couldn't help but complain in his mind.
'And... in the end, it was you who started the fire?'
Saiki Kusuo had foreseen the possibility of a fire earlier, thinking it was an accident, but it turns out it was likely caused by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
This guy is truly terrifying.
"As long as we replace the leader, it should work, right?"
After thinking for a few seconds, Saiki Kusuo pursed his lips and continued,
"We can also take this opportunity to feed Ibuki false information, and then..."
Saiki Kusuo repeated the plan Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had just thought of, though he omitted the part about 'destroying the camera.'
"Hmm."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded.
[As expected of Saiki, his plan is almost identical to mine.]
'Sorry, but this was originally your plan.'
Saiki Kusuo looked at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka in front of him and continued,
"When the time comes, we can create an opportunity for Ibuki to escape with the keycard and meet up with others."
"Hmm, when the time comes—"
"First, we can't start a fire. That method is too dangerous."
"Alright."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded,
"But now there's a major problem: how to replace the leader. Generally, the leader needs to withdraw from the exam due to unavoidable circumstances, such as illness or injury, for the leader to be replaced. So..."
[Saiki has already demonstrated physical abilities far beyond others. Getting sick wouldn't be easy. The only way is to get injured accidentally.]
"Leave it to me."
Hearing Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's words, Saiki Kusuo already had an idea in mind,
"When the time comes, you just need to arrange the next leader. In return, I'll write down the information about the other class leaders and tell you in advance."
After all, Saiki Kusuo and Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had made a deal: for this exam, Class C would take first place. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka would help Saiki Kusuo divert attention, while Saiki Kusuo would directly provide information about the other class leaders.
'To be honest, even if I don't say it, Ayanokoji should be able to guess the identities of the other class leaders, right?'
"Alright."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka nodded.
...
After a brief exchange, Saiki Kusuo headed to the riverside again. This time, he chose a spot closer to Ike Kanji to fish.
"Saiki, why are you here?"
Ike Kanji was surprised by Saiki Kusuo's appearance.
"Just trying a different spot to fish."
Saiki Kusuo said nonchalantly, waiting for the right moment—
the moment to make himself 'sick.'
As a psychic, the probability of Saiki Kusuo getting sick is extremely low.
However, he can pretend to be sick.
Saiki Kusuo secretly activated his telekinesis, applying it to the other end of his fishing rod. The water surface immediately rippled violently, as if Saiki Kusuo had hooked a big fish. Saiki Kusuo himself pretended to struggle, leaning forward.
"Saiki, let me help you!"
[Wait, is there even a fish of that size in this river?]
Seeing Saiki Kusuo's condition, Ike Kanji hurried over to help, but Saiki Kusuo had already 'taken the first step,' pretending to lose his balance and jumping into the lake.
.....
An hour later, Saiki Kusuo, now in a fresh set of clothes, lay in the camp.
"Saiki, you're too reckless!"
Hirata Yosuke, sitting beside Saiki Kusuo, shook his head.
"Kusuo-kun..."
On the other side, Sakura Airi's face was filled with worry.
'Sorry, but to avoid future trouble, I had to do this.'
Saiki Kusuo thought to himself.
"Did you know? Saiki fought with a fish over a meter long for half the day so we could have delicious grilled fish for dinner, and that's why he lost his balance and fell into the water... It's all my fault... I couldn't help Saiki in time."
Meanwhile, Ike Kanji was dramatically wiping away tears while embellishing the story.
"Saiki went that far?"
"I never thought Saiki was such a caring person..."
"Saiki..."
Saiki Kusuo was surrounded by Class C students, some even moved to tears. Although Saiki Kusuo desperately wished Ike Kanji would shut up, this absurd speech had ironically drawn even more attention to him. But since he was pretending to be sick, he couldn't do anything about it.
'By intentionally falling into the water in front of Ike, it's only natural for me to pretend to be sick later.'
Saiki Kusuo thought to himself, then spoke up,
"I feel a bit dizzy... I think I might have a fever."
"A fever?"
Ike Kanji looked puzzled, reaching out to touch Saiki Kusuo's forehead, then let out a cry,
"It's so hot!"
'I set the temperature too high...'
Saiki Kusuo quickly adjusted the temperature around him, bringing his body temperature back to a biologically normal range.
"Really?"
Hirata Yosuke was surprised. While catching a cold and developing a fever after falling into the water wasn't unlikely, it seemed a bit too fast.
He also reached out to touch Saiki Kusuo's forehead and confirmed that he indeed had a fever.
Saiki Kusuo glanced at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka out of the corner of his eye—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka understood and immediately spoke up:
"If it's a fever, the situation might be serious. I think it's best for Saiki to return to the ship for treatment."
"Hmm, I agree!"
"Saiki has done so much for us recently."
"You've worked hard, Saiki!"
This time, no one objected, unlike the reaction when Koenji Rokusuke withdrew from the exam.
'Yare yare, I'm really sorry. Although the class points will be deducted by 30, the food points saved from fishing these past few days, as well as the reward points from guessing the other class leaders' identities, far exceed this amount. Consider this my repayment.'
As Saiki Kusuo thought this, he could clearly hear the thoughts of those around him.
For example, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
[Saiki actually managed to successfully pretend to be sick. I thought he would intentionally injure himself. I never expected him to use such a clever method. How did he do it?]
'The answer is psychic powers.'
Saiki Kusuo replied in his mind.
At the same time, Saiki Kusuo could hear Ibuki Mio's voice outside the tent.
[Found it!]
Saiki Kusuo turned his head, looking in the direction of the sound, his vision gradually penetrating the tent to the outside of the camp.
Ibuki Mio was secretly rummaging through Class C's belongings, searching for the keycard. With the class's attention focused on Saiki Kusuo, no one noticed Ibuki Mio's movements.
Finally, Ibuki Mio found the keycard in Saiki Kusuo's backpack.
[Saiki Kusuo?! He's the leader? I never expected that.]
[I'm really sorry, Class C. Although I don't agree with Ryuen's methods, being too nice comes with a price.]
[I hope you learn a lesson from this.]
Feeling a hint of glee, Ibuki Mio quickly took out her digital camera, snapped a few photos, and immediately left Class C's camp.
...
About ten minutes later, Chabashira Sae, along with Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and Horikita Suzune, escorted Saiki Kusuo to the shore. Soon, medical personnel arrived and took Saiki Kusuo back to the ship to rest.
"Hey, glasses boy, didn't expect you to be back too!"
As soon as Saiki Kusuo returned to the ship, he saw Koenji Rokusuke lying on a deck chair, sunbathing.
"Are you feeling unwell too? Just like me. I've been receiving treatment, but it's strange—on such a hot day, there's no ice water on the ship?"
'I'll break your room's air conditioner later.'
Saiki Kusuo found Koenji Rokusuke's face irritating and didn't want to engage with him. After all, because of him, Saiki Kusuo had to stay on the island for several extra days.
'Yare yare, although there are only a few days left until the exam ends, I've still managed to return early.'
Saiki Kusuo returned to his room and lay down on the bed.
'I've already told Ayanokoji the identities of the other class leaders. For the class, it's a fair trade... But I should still keep an eye on things over there to avoid any unexpected incidents.'
Thinking this, Saiki Kusuo activated his clairvoyance.
...
"Did Saiki really fall ill just like that?"
Horikita Suzune, looking in the direction of the cruise ship, still found it hard to believe.
"It's only been a few hours. Even if he caught a cold, it shouldn't have happened this quickly, right?"
"Maybe he was already sick and only just couldn't hold on anymore?"
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka helped explain.
"That's possible. But I never expected Saiki to be such a stubborn person."
Horikita Suzune shook her head, shifting her gaze elsewhere.
"But if Saiki withdraws from the exam, how will our class secure the bases later? The keycard can only be used by the leader."
"The school's rules wouldn't have such a loophole."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka said as he approached Chabashira Sae, his almost emotionless gaze falling on her face.
"Chabashira-sensei, since Saiki is unwell, shouldn't our class replace the leader?"
"That's right."
Chabashira Sae smiled meaningfully at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.
"What? The leader can be replaced?"
Horikita Suzune's eyes widened in surprise. This was something she had never considered.
"Then let's change the leader to Horikita."
.....
Meanwhile, in the forest on the other side of the island.
Ibuki Mio leaned against a tree, seemingly waiting for someone.
At that moment, two figures emerged from the depths of the forest.
One of them was Katsuragi Kohei.
The other was Ryuen Kakeru.
At this moment, Ryuen Kakeru looked utterly disheveled, his clothes covered in mud and dirt, his face unshaven, and his body bearing numerous scratches.
To convince the other classes that Class D had withdrawn, Ryuen Kakeru had been surviving alone on the island, without points or supplies, unable to stay in the free tents provided by the school. He had been drinking river water, eating wild fruits, and sleeping in caves or bushes every day.
"I've taken the photos."
Ibuki Mio first glanced at Ryuen Kakeru, then handed her digital camera to Katsuragi Kohei.
"Saiki... Saiki Kusuo?"
Katsuragi Kohei was momentarily stunned by the name, unable to recall who it belonged to.
But it didn't matter who it was.
"In that case, the contract is settled."
Katsuragi Kohei said to Ryuen Kakeru, who nodded with a smile.
All of this was part of Ryuen Kakeru's plan.