"For a high school, there seem to be an excessive number of surveillance cameras."
At this moment, a boy stood before the gates of a school, silently thinking to himself.
His appearance was fairly neat, with a pair of green glasses resting on his nose and a pair of lollipop-shaped hairpins adorning his pink hair.
Saiki Kusuo is a psychic with a wide range of abilities that continue to evolve. To avoid unnecessary trouble, he has always concealed his identity, pretending to be an unremarkable ordinary person.
Today marks his first day of high school.
His gaze shifted slightly, landing on the prominently displayed sign at the school entrance.
Advanced Nurturing High School.
Originally, he had only wanted to attend a regular high school, live an ordinary life, and avoid drawing attention. However, he never expected his older brother, Saiki Kûsuke, to persuade their parents with the reasoning of 'no tuition fees and no need to worry about living expenses.' Using his connections and resources, Kûsuke enrolled Kusuo in this very school.
Kusuo holds no fondness for his brother, who possesses an exceptionally high IQ but a twisted personality. He is well aware that Kûsuke's decision to send him to this special school cannot be for any good reason. Before the entrance exam, Kusuo had even planned to deliberately fail to get rejected. However, after using telepathy to learn from the proctor's mind that the school boasts the most luxurious cafeteria in the country, he ultimately decided to moderate his performance, ensuring he passed without standing out.
Although today is his first day, Kusuo had already used his psychic abilities to thoroughly observe the school's environment, knowing full well that it is far from ordinary.
.....
The opening ceremony, class assignments, and self-introductions among classmates—these were all bothersome to Saiki Kusuo, especially the self-introduction part.
Kusuo doesn't care who his classmates are. For him, this school was initially just a temporary stop to blend in as an ordinary person and live a quiet life. He sees no need to form connections with those around him. However, to maintain his cover and remain as inconspicuous as possible, he cannot outright refuse these activities.
Using his telepathic abilities, Kusuo had already gained some insight into his classmates before the self-introductions began.
He can effortlessly hear their thoughts. Even with a limiter restricting his full power, he can still perceive the thoughts of nearly all living beings within a 200-meter radius. This constant ability is one of the challenges of being a psychic.
"These people are nothing but burdens. I'll surpass my brother through my own efforts."
"I want to make friends with everyone!"
"I need to find the right target to protect myself."
Just by listening to their thoughts, Kusuo realized that normal individuals in this class seem few and far between.
Some aim to surpass their siblings, others seek to stand out in this new environment, and a few, like Kusuo, wish to remain as hidden as possible within the school.
Kusuo doesn't concern himself with these matters. He simply wants to navigate his high school years as peacefully as possible, avoiding unnecessary attention.
However, the constant mental noise from his classmates is undeniably distracting.
After completing these tedious but necessary procedures, Kusuo and his classmates finally attended their first class at the school.
...
"I am Chashitsu Sae, the homeroom teacher for Class D."
"In this school, class assignments do not change."
"For the next three years until graduation, I will be your teacher."
Standing at the podium, the young woman who introduced herself as Chashitsu Sae spoke slowly.
She wore a black shirt that did little to conceal her curvaceous figure, paired with a short black skirt and black stockings that hugged her slender legs.
Chashitsu Sae's appearance was quite refined, but her gaze carried a sharpness unbecoming of a teacher, and her voice held a hint of coldness and apathy.
"First, I'll distribute the school materials. Pass them forward. This school has a special rule: during your time here, all outside contact and outings are restricted."
As Chashitsu Sae spoke, the students below exchanged surprised expressions.
At that moment, Kusuo heard the unspoken thoughts of his classmates echoing in his mind.
"We can't leave the school?"
"I didn't bring enough changes of clothes!"
"This rule is ridiculous and inhumane!"
None of them voiced these concerns aloud, as Chashitsu Sae was still speaking. Yet, Kusuo could clearly hear their thoughts.
'Can't go home?'
Upon hearing Chashitsu Sae's words, Kusuo's expression remained unchanged. With his teleportation ability, such restrictions are irrelevant to him.
Even if the school is far from his home, he can instantly return whenever he pleases.
Thus, regardless of how absurd the rules of Advanced Nurturing High School may be, they hold no significance for Kusuo.
In fact, this school is quite suitable for him.
"...However, there's no need to worry. The school is equipped with various facilities where you can purchase all your daily necessities, as well as entertainment options."
Chashitsu Sae continued.
Upon hearing this, the corners of Kusuo's mouth twitched upward. This was precisely why he had investigated the school in advance.
Using psychokinesis and teleportation, he had arrived at the school early, then used his invisibility to evade the cameras and thoroughly examine its layout.
Movie theaters, karaoke rooms, libraries—the school's entertainment facilities are comprehensive, vastly different from a typical high school. It resembles a small city.
While Kusuo's hobbies are limited, he does enjoy watching TV and reading novels, particularly mystery and detective stories.
His overwhelming psychic abilities ensure he never encounters unexpected situations in daily life, making his existence somewhat dull. However, telepathy is useless against fictional worlds, and he cannot predict the outcomes of stories, which is why he enjoys mystery novels.