'Buy exam papers from upperclassmen?'
Saiki Kusuo glanced at the nearby upperclassmen with his peripheral vision. Most of them were discussing the upcoming exams.
In this school, exams were the most crucial factor in determining a class's points. Exam scores were the ultimate measure of a student's ability.
The school only cared about the final exam results, not how students achieved them.
Even cheating was acceptable as long as it went undetected.
Finding ways to score high was, in a sense, part of the school's evaluation of a student's resourcefulness.
Listening to their conversations and reading their thoughts, Saiki Kusuo gathered some important information.
In this school, the content and format of exams were unpredictable. However, for first-year students, the first semester usually consisted of basic written tests.
A class's points were determined by its average score. The higher the average, the more points the class earned.
Moreover, if a student failed the midterm or final exams, they would be expelled immediately.
Eliminating underperforming students was one reason the Advanced Nurturing High School boasted a 100% college acceptance rate.
Perhaps due to school policies, both upperclassmen and students seemed deliberately secretive about the rules, especially when it came to first-year students.
'So, it's all about the average score,' Saiki Kusuo thought. For him, exams were no challenge. While not as skilled as Saiki Kûsuke, high school-level questions were far too easy for him.
However, the average score was a problem.
Given Class D's current attitude toward studying, their exam results would likely be dismal.
'I'm not sure how exam scores affect class points, but judging from Chabashira-sensei's reaction, these exams carry significant weight. If all our class points are deducted, it'll be troublesome. I still haven't tried all the sweet pudding flavors yet. If we lose all our points, it'll be a minor inconvenience. I don't want to be dragged down by those idiots.'
Saiki Kusuo thought to himself.
While he could score high, doing so would draw too much attention. Besides, one high score wouldn't significantly impact the average. The real issue was the students likely to score low.
Like the Idiot Trio, for example.
Getting them to study seriously would be harder than climbing a mountain.
'Should I try to convince them to study? I can't bring myself to do that, and they probably wouldn't listen anyway.'
'Use mind control? No, that's too risky. That power could affect the entire world. If those three became studious, I can't even imagine the consequences. Yare yare. I don't want to interfere too much, but I need to raise the average score somehow.'
'I need a method that's effective but not too obvious.'
Saiki Kusuo pondered, then picked up a familiar voice. Turning his head, he saw Kushida Kikyō laughing and chatting with other classmates on the other side of the cafeteria. The Idiot Trio was nearby.
Watching their interactions, an idea formed in Saiki Kusuo's mind.
He opened his affinity meter and checked Kushida Kikyō's feelings toward others. Most were around fifty, while her affinity for the Idiot Trio was only in the low forties.
Yet, Kushida Kikyō showed no signs of dislike. Her face remained friendly, with no flaws in her demeanor.
'Impressive,' Saiki Kusuo thought. He then switched the meter to the Idiot Trio's feelings toward Kushida Kikyō. Their affinity for her exceeded eighty.
The disparity was striking.
After observing further, Saiki Kusuo noted that most classmates had high affinity for Kushida Kikyō, mostly above seventy.
Except for the prideful Horikita Suzune and the indifferent Ayanokōji Kiyotaka, everyone got along well with Kushida Kikyō. She likely held some influence in the class, making her a potential 'asset.'
Saiki Kusuo didn't want to directly inform Kushida Kikyō, as it would only cause him more trouble. Instead, he used his telepathy to transmit the upperclassmen's thoughts into her mind, making it seem like she overheard their conversation.
"Huh?"
Kushida Kikyō looked around, confused, before spotting the upperclassmen. She quickly approached them.
"Seniors, did you just mention something about surprise exams...?"
Seeing Kushida Kikyō take action, Saiki Kusuo felt his goal was achieved.
With her personality and abilities, she'd likely gather the necessary information from the upperclassmen quickly.
Saiki Kusuo left the cafeteria and returned to the library. After using telepathy to confirm Shiina Hiyori wasn't there, he swiftly returned the book he'd borrowed the day before. He then picked another book from Shiina Hiyori's recommendations. Thanks to their phone conversation, he hadn't been spoiled, and he was genuinely interested in the novels.
To avoid any spoilers, Saiki Kusuo left the library as quickly as possible and returned to his dorm. He planned to spend his lunch break reading and enjoying this rare private time.
'I have to admit, Shiina's novel recommendations are pretty good.'
'They're quite niche, but the suspense is well-crafted. I don't think any bookstores near my house carry these books.'
'I'll save the rest for later.'
Saiki Kusuo checked the time. Lunch break was almost over. He closed the book and headed back to class.