"Besides, I had already predicted such an outcome and prepared countermeasures for it. Everything has gone according to plan so far, without a doubt. Just watch it unfold," I added confidently before heading towards Hirata Yōsuke.
Being constantly under surveillance by people who don't even know me until recently is certainly not a pleasant experience, huh? Not that I believe any alternative would be more preferable in any way, it's just that it doesn't affect me.
I highly doubt that someone who has never experienced 24/7 surveillance would truly understand it. If they were placed in such a scenario hypothetically, they would either constantly feel uncomfortable or dismiss it entirely to cope with the circumstances.
As for my case, it's simpler than you might think. I have managed to stop feeling uncomfortable or paranoid about being under surveillance. However, I still subconsciously remain aware of the surveillance, always paying attention to it.
That's why whenever I enter an area under surveillance, I can sense the presence of surveillance cameras, including whether or not someone is actually behind them. It operates as some sort of unexplained instinct or intuition.
"Hey, Hirata," I greeted Hirata Yōsuke as I approached him, noticing that he was currently occupied with teaching others.
"Good evening, Ayanokōji-kun. How are you?" Despite being busy, Hirata Yōsuke took the time to greet me with a bright smile. It made me wonder what flaws he might have.
"I'm fine. I assume you're doing well too? By the way, would it be alright if I borrowed that?" I responded with an expressionless tone, pointing at the paper near him.
"Hmm? Of course, it's fine," Hirata Yōsuke replied, handing me the paper. If I'm not mistaken, it contains the material that Class D will be studying for the upcoming midterm.
Deciding not to disturb Hirata Yōsuke any further, I left his study group and ventured deeper into the library. Among the countless bookcases, I began my meticulous search for books related to the material mentioned in the paper.
Normally, I wouldn't pay much attention to it since I would achieve perfect marks regardless of the study materials used. However, I had noticed something peculiar about this particular topic for quite some time.
"Well... this is going to be a long day, isn't it?" I mumbled to myself as I gathered some of the books I was after and prepared to leave.
Or at least, that was my plan. Unfortunately, I accidentally collided with someone I knew. Not only did we stumble, but all the papers and books we were carrying fell to the ground.
"Ah... sorry, I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going," I responded with an expressionless tone as I got up and offered to help the other person gather their papers.
"Oh... um, yeah, it's my fault too," the other person turned out to be none other than Ichinose Honami, the representative of the first-year Class B.
Who would have thought I would accidentally bump into someone without intending to? Of course, it's not like I possess some unrealistic intuition that allows me to predict and avoid such trivial incidents in advance, right?
After we helped each other collect the scattered papers and books, I thought it would be best not to attract too much attention and quietly make my exit. Being seen with a popular girl like Ichinose Honami would only fuel unnecessary rumors, and I already had more than enough, none of them being favorable.
"Sorry for the inconvenience. I'll be more careful from now on," I responded as I attempted to continue on my way.
"It's alright, really..." Ichinose Honami replied, glancing at the books in her arms. "Oh, wait, Ayanokōji-kun. I think this book is yours."