Ayanokoji silently marked Ryouma as someone who required further observation.
He was confident that he could see through Horikita at a glance.
In fact, he believed he could understand most of the students at this school with relative ease.
Yet, for the moment, Ryouma remained something of an enigma.
Noticing the bottle of shampoo in Horikita's hand, Ayanokoji casually glanced at its price tag before starting another conversation.
"Are you two shopping? We were given one hundred thousand private points, so buying something a little more expensive shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"That's none of your business."
Horikita didn't even bother looking up as she continued coldly.
"What are you doing here? If you don't have anything important to say, stop bothering me."
"Isn't it perfectly normal to greet someone from your own class?"
Ayanokoji remained completely composed despite Horikita's unwelcoming attitude.
Without waiting for her response, he continued.
"Earlier, I overheard people outside mentioning things like Class D, defective students, and hell. It made me a little uneasy."
"So you want me to explain what those words mean?"
Horikita immediately understood the implication behind his words.
Only then did she raise her head and glance at Ayanokoji.
"Well, considering you're someone without any friends, I suppose asking me is a relatively intelligent decision."
'For someone who can't even establish normal relationships with others, at least he has enough sense to ask me for help.'
That much was worth acknowledging.
Horikita brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and began analyzing the situation calmly.
"Since this school evaluates students according to their abilities, there's no way things will simply end here."
"However, since you're someone who prefers avoiding trouble, you should just concentrate on living your own life peacefully."
"That said, I would advise you to be more careful with your private points."
"I see. That's reassuring."
Ayanokoji nodded awkwardly in agreement.
'From the looks of it, she hasn't even conducted any basic information gathering.'
'Has she not been paying attention to what other people have been saying?'
'Her perspective is far too narrow.'
Nevertheless, her response revealed several things.
Horikita possessed a meticulous way of thinking.
She was also fundamentally kindhearted.
Furthermore, everyone in the world inevitably wore some kind of mask.
The only difference was how extensively they concealed their true selves.
Someone like Suzune Horikita, whose outward behavior perfectly reflected her inner thoughts, was a first for Ayanokoji.
'I wonder what someone like her will become as she grows.'
A faint sense of curiosity emerged within him.
However, none of this was what Ayanokoji had actually wanted.
He still hadn't obtained the information he was looking for.
Unfortunately, there weren't many other people he could turn to.
'Should I try probing Chabashira-sensei?'
He immediately dismissed the idea.
Revealing his abilities so carelessly would be incredibly foolish.
Although the White Room had taught its students to demonstrate their capabilities whenever possible...
After all, possessing extraordinary abilities yet accomplishing absolutely nothing was considered the height of stupidity.
However, once Ayanokoji's knowledge had reached a certain level, he'd gradually developed a different perspective.
'The ability to conceal one's true capabilities is itself an extraordinary talent.'
The society observed by ordinary people was merely a collection of superficial appearances.
Even those seemingly powerful and wealthy individuals might actually be nothing more than pawns placed in the spotlight by someone else!
Having failed to obtain the answer he wanted from Horikita, Ayanokoji turned his attention toward Ryouma instead.
"I've finished buying everything I need, so I'll be leaving now."
Before Ayanokoji could say anything, Ryouma picked up his shopping bag and walked straight out of the convenience store.
Horikita hurriedly gathered her belongings and followed after him.
Ryouma thought to himself, casting a sidelong glance at Ayanokoji, who remained standing where he'd been.
There was no doubt about it.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji was a genuine genius.
Furthermore, he'd been raised in the White Room since childhood.
His unique thought processes made him extraordinarily careful about every single word he chose during conversations.
Finding a flaw in his statements was practically impossible.
In fact, this cautious way of speaking had already become an unconscious habit.
To put it simply...
Ayanokoji could ramble on for ages without saying a single damn thing of substance!
Most of his statements were deliberately ambiguous.
No matter how someone interpreted them, they could arrive at several different conclusions.
Attempting to uncover his true intentions through his words alone was nearly impossible.
And that wasn't all.
In just one morning, Ayanokoji had already completely seen through Horikita's true personality.
Throughout their entire conversation, he'd controlled its direction from beginning to end.
He hadn't even needed to ask a direct question.
By merely expressing his supposed uneasiness, he'd exploited Horikita's kindness and prompted her to voluntarily reveal information.
'Well, that's exactly what makes this interesting.'
A smile unconsciously appeared on Ryouma's face.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji, who lacked ordinary emotions, possessed a mind as impenetrable as an iron fortress.
Trying to bring someone like that completely under his control would be nearly impossible!
However...
'Getting Kiyotaka Ayanokoji to work for me is another matter entirely.'
'That wouldn't be particularly difficult!'
In the end...
'It all comes down to which of us is the better player!'