Sakayanagi Arisu never doubted whether true geniuses existed in this world.
The answer was, of course, yes—because she herself was one.
The undisguised looks of astonishment from the interviewers a few weeks ago had already confirmed this.
Aside from her frail body, which was a slight regret, her resume was breathtakingly perfect.
No blemishes, no flaws, like a perfect crystal formed through precise calculation.
From A to D, from genius to trash.
According to this school's rules, class points would be reshuffled next month based on student performance.
Especially Class D—it would most likely drop to zero.
This information didn't come from her father, who was the Chairman of the Board. In fact, if she'd probed even slightly, her compliant father would have revealed everything.
But true geniuses never bothered with shortcuts.
Half an hour ago, she'd comprehended everything based on just a few words from her homeroom teacher.
Now, the free collection area in the convenience store was the perfect confirmation of her deductions.
'I wonder if anyone else, like me, noticed this hidden hint?'
'If I'm the only one, then this school is too boring.'
Sakayanagi Arisu stood still, her gaze slowly sweeping over every figure in the convenience store.
Most students ignored the free section, only focusing on selecting the items they needed.
Until—
A beautiful girl with purple hair and purple eyes entered her field of vision.
It wasn't just her identity as Kamuro Masumi, also from Class A, that interested her.
What was more intriguing was that she was scrutinizing the position of the surveillance cameras with a professional eye, her footsteps unconsciously moving toward the alcohol shelf in the adult section.
'Interesting. Is she planning to steal? Judging by her practiced manner, she's probably a habitual offender.'
'I'll play with her later. I just happen to need a clever subordinate.'
However, Sakayanagi quickly withdrew her gaze.
Judging from her cautious actions, she was still in the scouting phase—checking for blind spots in surveillance and figuring out the staff's routine.
She wouldn't make a move anytime soon.
Her gaze returned to the free shelf.
9:06:46.
This time automatically appeared in her mind.
Since elementary school, she'd been able to accurately calculate time through her heartbeat and changes in light, without needing to rely on a clock.
There were about twenty minutes left until the entrance ceremony.
'Will anyone come?'
'Besides me, are there other geniuses who can see through the truth of this school?'
On the surface, she was just a delicate, kind, beautiful girl.
But only those who truly knew her understood—
Sakayanagi Arisu was never a kind girl.
She was extremely petty, and those who offended her would ultimately meet a terrible end.
She yearned for challenges, for opponents who could make her go all out.
Just like playing chess, only by playing against an evenly matched opponent could she experience true pleasure.
'Too simple.'
'If one can't even see through the truth of the school before the entrance ceremony—'
'Then they don't deserve to be my opponent.'
Although this standard might be too harsh.
But since she could do it herself, an opponent worthy of her expectations should naturally reach this level.
Just then, fate responded.
'Finally, someone decent has arrived.'
The moment the black-haired boy stepped into the convenience store, Sakayanagi Arisu's pupils slightly contracted.
Because the boy's action of walking directly toward the free shelf was too deliberate—just like a replica of her own earlier.
When several upperclassmen appeared, his almost imperceptible nod exposed everything.
'So that's it.'
'Does he need an upperclassman from Class D to corroborate his deduction?'
'Unexpectedly rigorous, yet somewhat endearingly stiff.'
Sakayanagi's lips curved into a pleased arc.
This excessive caution, in her eyes, was like unnecessary calculation steps on a math exam—
Precise, but lacking in elegance.
Sakayanagi Arisu's fingertips gently tapped her cane, but her gaze never left the boy.
He had neat, short hair, and his red school uniform made his figure appear even taller. This concrete height difference forced her to raise her face slightly.
The cane touched the ground, producing a crisp sound.
A faint smile played on her lips, and a dangerous glint of interest flickered in her amethyst-like eyes.
Compared to those mediocre individuals, this opponent, whose caution made him seem even more appealing, indeed better fit her ideal.
"This student..."
Shimizu Akira was slightly startled.
'Was I seen through?'
The girl's words were like a delicate key, precisely unlocking their shared discovery.
He subconsciously looked at the cane she was leaning on. She'd noticed earlier than him, but was restricted by her limited mobility.
'If I hadn't gone to the restroom...'
This thought was extinguished as soon as it surfaced.
His gaze swept over the girl's slender ankle, and any competitive emotion quietly dissipated.
In the face of an absolute physical disadvantage, any comparison seemed less than gentlemanly.
"Yes, you're right," Shimizu Akira replied simply.
The silver-haired girl maintained a faint smile, remaining still like a carefully posed actress.
This deliberate silence made the air feel tense. Was she waiting for his next words?
But Shimizu Akira's attention had already shifted to the first piece of information updated today:
[Information 1: Today at exactly 10:30 AM (after the entrance ceremony), Kamuro Masumi of first-year Class A will "shoplift" a can of beer from the convenience store on campus.]
'Scouting in advance. Very professional.'
His gaze subtly swept toward the alcohol section.
His peripheral vision caught a purple-haired figure. The girl's gaze was precisely sweeping past the blind spot of the surveillance camera. She was the only one lingering in the entire alcohol shelf area.
The silver-haired girl's cane suddenly tapped the ground three times, the crisp sound pulling Shimizu Akira's attention back.
"Student?" Her lips curved into a knowing smile. "It seems our observation targets are quite consistent. It appears geniuses are attracted to each other." The tip of her cane pointed precisely in Kamuro Masumi's direction. "This is Kamuro Masumi's sixth time checking the surveillance blind spot, four times glancing at the staff, and twice..." The cane tip traced an elegant arc in the air. "...gazing at a specific beer can."
Shimizu Akira followed the direction and indeed saw the purple-haired girl unconsciously biting her lower lip, her fingertips nervously trembling above a beer can.
"But..." The silver-haired girl suddenly lowered her voice, her cane gently pressing against Shimizu Akira's wrist. "This should be the worst timing, right?"
"Now is the peak shopping period right after class points were distributed. If she gets caught, she'll definitely be socially destroyed." Her gaze locked onto Shimizu Akira's eyes. "Student, do you share my view?"