I let out a slow, quiet breath.
I don't hate the guy. Quite the opposite. I am a huge fan.
In reality, Ayanokouji genuinely wants a normal life, but an underlying, darker motivation drives his actions. He desperately wants to prove his father wrong. He wants to experience a genuine defeat to prove that the White Room's educational philosophy is not the absolute pinnacle of human development.
I will expel him. Not out of malice, but as a favor. I want to help him achieve his ultimate goal.
I bring a hand up to cover my mouth, covering the wide smile stretching across my face.
I know perfectly well that future knowledge alone is not a guaranteed win condition against someone like Ayanokouji.
Even knowing the rules of the island exam or the VIP targets in the zodiac test won't be enough to casually brush aside a monster born from the White Room.
Chabashira checks her wristwatch.
"Well, it appears no one has any questions," she says, her voice cutting through the rising murmurs. "I hope that you enjoy your time here as students."
She turns sharply, her heels clicking against the floor, and walks out the door. The heavy wood clicks shut behind her.
Instantly, the classroom erupts.
"Hey, hey! Do you want to check out a store with me on our way back? Let's do some shopping!" a girl squeals, jumping out of her seat.
"Sure. With this much, we can buy anything. I'm so glad I got into this school!"
I keep my hand over my mouth, screaming with joy on the inside. The noise in the room fades into a dull roar.
Sorry, but I don't think I'll lose.
It isn't just about knowing the future. I actually analyze every special exam, the S-System, the hidden rules and mechanics a hundred times. Every possible move on the board, I make an in-depth analysis on it.
Why?
Because it was my obsession.
Pushing my chair back, I stand up.
There is a famous quote by Warren Buffett. "An idiot with a plan can beat a genius without a plan."
No matter how terrifying Ayanokouji's natural intellect is, he is still human. If he walks into a trap completely unprepared, he will fall. It is like a Chess Grandmaster sitting down to play a game, only to realize his opponent has memorized the next forty moves of an incredibly obscure opening line.
The Grandmaster might have a brain power a thousand times higher, but the novice doesn't need to think. The novice just has to execute the pre-planned destruction.
I slip my hands into my pockets and walk toward the door at a perfectly normal, casual pace. Slipping through the excited groups of students, I step out into the hallway.
The moment the classroom door closes behind me, I accelerate.
I'm still weighing the options. Route one or route two? The decision remains unmade.
The wide corridor stretches out ahead, polished and gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Chabashira is walking briskly toward the faculty offices, a thick stack of papers tucked under her arm. Her black heels snap against the floor in a steady, rhythmic march.
I lengthen my stride, eating up the distance between us.
"Chabashira-sensei."
She stops, turning her head slightly to look back over her shoulder. Her expression is completely guarded, a mask of professional apathy.
"What do you want?" she asks.
I come to a halt a few paces away. "I have three questions. I read through the rules you handed out earlier. The admissions guide left a few things vague. I need some clarifications. Would it be alright to ask?"
She turns to face me fully, her dark eyes locking onto mine with a cold, piercing intensity. She is probably sizing me up. A student asking questions about the rules on the very first day is a rarity in Class D.
There is actually a big, glaring mystery about this school that I am dying to uncover. It has absolutely no strategic value for the upcoming exams, but my curiosity is burning a hole in my chest. Now that I am standing in this universe, I have to know the truth about the external economy.
"Go ahead," Chabashira says, shifting her weight slightly. "What do you want to ask?"