"Now, regarding the series of violent incidents that occurred recently, we will begin a joint questioning session involving the student council, relevant individuals, and class instructors. I, Tachibana, the student council secretary, will be presiding over this meeting."
The short-haired girl, Student Council Secretary Tachibana, gave a brief nod after finishing her opening remarks.
"I didn't expect the student council president to personally attend a dispute of this scale. That's unusual. Usually, only Tachibana comes."
"Due to my busy schedule, I don't always participate in every matter, but ideally, I should be present for key topics. Besides, the school has entrusted the student council with certain responsibilities."
"Also, this incident involves all four first-year classes, so I felt it necessary to attend in person."
"So, President Horikita, you don't think what happened that day was just a coincidence?"
Class 1-A's homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, smiled knowingly, but Horikita Manabu remained unfazed. He was well aware of Chabashira's confidence. After all, based on the current evidence, Class 1-A was clearly the victim in this incident, so it was only natural for her to carry herself with the arrogance of a victorious party.
In stark contrast stood the other three teachers. Hoshinomiya Chie of Class B appeared relatively composed, while Sakagami Kazuma of Class C and Mashima Tomonari of Class D looked grim, tapping their fingers on the table.
"The first matter pertains to the internal altercation within Class 1-C."
"Ordinarily, this would be a private issue for Class 1-C, and the other three classes would not be permitted to observe. However, due to the overlap with incidents involving students from other classes, the three of you are temporarily allowed to sit in—but not speak."
From the main seat, Horikita Manabu swept his gaze across the room. Having served as student council president for over a year, he exuded unwavering authority even while facing off against teachers, completely dominating the room.
"Class 1-C's Ryuuen Kakeru has reported that classmate Tokito Hiroya committed an act of violence against him."
"Tokito Hiroya, in turn, claims Ryuuen and Class 1-D's Yamada Albert were the ones involved in the fight, and that Ryuuen is framing him."
After briefly summarizing the situation, Tachibana Akane formally began the meeting:
"Based on the claims above, we aim to determine whose version of the story reflects the truth."
Ryuuen Kakeru and Tokito Hiroya were soon called into the room. Ryuuen still had bandages wrapped around his head, his left arm slung weakly across his chest, and his face covered with gauze pads, looking seriously injured. Tokito, on the other hand, appeared indignant, clenching his fists and glaring at Ryuuen.
"Tokito-san, Ryuuen Kakeru says that you lured him to the grove behind the infirmary and there initiated provocation and violence. Is this true?"
"Everything Ryuuen says is a lie! I didn't lay a finger on him!"
Tokito immediately denied the accusation.
"Then can you state what really happened?"
Confronted by the student council, Tokito faltered. After all, he couldn't admit he had sent Yamada to attack Ryuuen—that would amount to incitement.
While Tokito hesitated, Ryuuen interjected:
"I have the full chat history where Tokito invited me to meet alone in the grove."
Tachibana took Ryuuen's phone and projected the screen onto the large monitor. The timestamps and account details confirmed that Tokito had indeed initiated the meeting.
"I did invite him, yes. But I only meant to scare him a little. There's no way I could beat Ryuuen up like that!"
"I wasn't on guard. You ambushed me. Before I knew it, I was on the ground."
Ryuuen sneered:
"What happened? Weren't you enjoying the fight at the time?"
"Shut up!"
Tokito snapped back angrily. Realizing he couldn't cover it up anymore, he decided to confess:
"Yes, I wanted to fight Ryuuen. But I wasn't the one who attacked him—it was Yamada from Class 1-D. He's the one who left all those injuries. Doesn't your school have cameras everywhere? You can easily trace Yamada's movements that day. He definitely went to that grove."
Horikita nodded:
"We questioned Yamada from Class 1-D. He claims he went there just to take fitness selfies. He denies involvement in any Class C conflict."
"Selfies? Who the hell would go there for that?"
Tokito was stunned.
"Any proof?"
"Yamada frequently posts workout photos on his private social media. Because he's concerned about girls seeing them, he often goes to the grove for privacy."
Mashima Tomonari, Class D's instructor, interjected, since the topic involved one of his students. Horikita didn't stop him.
The persona of Yamada as a fitness-photo enthusiast had been established during the Sakura Airi incident. Horikita knew this was Kitagawa Ryo's doing.
After all, what were the chances of him conveniently being at the scene of a second incident in less than a month?
"Here are three photos Yamada accidentally captured while taking selfies."
Horikita projected the images onto the screen. In them, Tokito could be clearly seen straddling Ryuuen, one frame showing him slapping Ryuuen, another grabbing his collar. Judging by his fierce expression and their postures, it looked undeniably like an act of violence.
"Tokito, how do you explain these photos?"
"...I had a video showing Ryuuen and Yamada fighting."
Everyone—the teachers from all four classes and the student council members—looked up with interest.
"But I lost it."
Ryuuen burst into laughter.
"Then I could say I had decisive evidence too, but—oops, I lost it?"
"Ryuuen, please calm down. We're currently listening to Tokito's testimony. Don't interrupt."
After scolding Ryuuen, Horikita turned to Sakagami Kazuma, Class C's instructor:
"As Class C's homeroom teacher, which version of events seems more credible to you?"
Sakagami took a deep breath. As the teacher, he knew that if Tokito was expelled, the class would lose 300 class points. However, having already chosen Ryuuen as the class leader, he had no choice but to support him.
"Tokito is hot-tempered. Ryuuen is aggressive. They've always had friction."
With Tokito at a clear disadvantage, this seemingly neutral statement destroyed his chances of reversing the situation. He stared in disbelief at his teacher, unable to comprehend the bias.
Ryuuen tore off the gauze from his cheek, revealing raw injuries. He pointed at his broken arm.
No matter how Tokito tried to argue, those wounds were compelling evidence.
And with the photographic evidence, he had nowhere left to run.
The only thing he could hope for—the camera memory card containing the full footage of Yamada attacking Ryuuen—was missing.
Over the past two days, Tokito had replayed every moment of that day. He narrowed it down to two instances when the camera was out of his hands: once when he gave it to Yamada, and once during a brief collision on the way back to the dorm.
He had even identified the person who collided with him as Yagami Takuya from Class 1-B. But both Yamada and Yagami denied ever touching the camera. With no evidence, Tokito could only rage helplessly.
He had a sinking suspicion he'd been set up, but didn't know by whom. Even standing on the edge of expulsion, he finally felt the crushing weight of his own incompetence.
Looking at the pale, lifeless Tokito, Class C's Sakagami could only shake his head.
To Ryuuen, this was a purge—an opportunity to eliminate dissenters and consolidate power.
To Class C, it was a costly and irreversible move.
All Sakagami could hope now was that, with opposition out of the way, Ryuuen would lead Class 1-C more effectively.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Then came Horikita's cold announcement:
"Based on current evidence, Tokito Hiroya committed severe violence against Ryuuen Kakeru. Ryuuen, would you consider forgiving him? That might reduce the severity of the punishment."
"I will not forgive him. I request the school to impose the harshest penalty."
Ryuuen grinned sharply.
"Understood."
"According to school regulations, acts of violence against fellow students, teachers, or staff are judged based on intent, environment, and severity of injury."
"With that said, thank you for your time."
Horikita's chilling words shattered Tokito Hiroya's last hope.
"After school, please submit your withdrawal application, accompanied by a guardian. Class C's homeroom teacher will assist with contacting your family. However, further involvement in the investigation may require you to remain nearby. Please wait outside for now."
-------------------------------------
[Class 1-C: 300 class points deducted.]
Kitagawa Ryo watched Tokito Hiroya stumble out of the meeting room in a daze and reached a silent conclusion.
According to his calculations, Class 1-C should have had around 500 points left at the end of this month. Now, subtracting 300, they were down to just 200.
Class 1-D's biggest weakness had always been the first month. With the overall quality of the students, it was inevitable that their initial 1,000 points would be completely wiped out. Kitagawa couldn't stop that, and in truth, he had never intended to.
If nothing unexpected happened, Class 1-D would fall behind Classes A, B, and C by 1,000, 700, and 400 points respectively.
So the first step was to bring all four classes back to the same starting line.
Kitagawa glanced at Yamauchi Haruki and Ike Kanji, who were trembling in the distance. Judging from the look on their faces, Tokito Hiroya's miserable state seemed to mirror their potential fate. They kept wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
"Next should be the incident between Class 1-A and Class 1-D."
Horikita Suzune whispered beside Kitagawa. Although she hadn't participated directly in the meeting, as a member of the student council, she was familiar with the general process.
"You orchestrated the Class 1-C incident, didn't you?"
She poked Kitagawa's back with her pen. The two of them were crouched around the corner in the hallway outside the meeting room. Kitagawa was squatting, while Suzune rested her head atop his, peeking curiously toward the room.
"It was a win-win, wasn't it? Why does your tone make it sound like I committed some heinous crime?"
"Tch. Win-win? More like you won twice."
Suzune's delicate chin pressed against Kitagawa's head as she grumbled. She rubbed her head against his in mock frustration.
"Class 1-C lost class points. Class 1-D will lose two deadweights to expulsion. And in the end, all the resentment will be aimed at Class A for reporting them and Class C for exposing their scheme."
"You missed something, Suzune."
Kitagawa looked toward the two students—Yamauchi and Ike—who had just been called into the meeting. Tilting his chin slightly, he said:
"There's one mystery they'll never be able to solve."
"Who gave them those fake injuries? And why?"
"That person is actually the one who hurt them the most. But of course, if they had a bit more sense and didn't try extorting people, none of this would've happened."
Suzune sighed and crouched down beside him. She leaned her head onto Kitagawa's shoulder and whispered into his ear:
"Are you talking about yourself, Ryo?"
"Of course not."
"I've never even touched those two idiots."
Kitagawa chuckled.
"You know, when a bait is too obvious..."
"That's when it works best."
[Class 1-A: Katsuragi Kohei, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, Kushida Kikyou, and Kouenji Rokusuke, please enter the meeting room.]
Hook, line, and sinker.
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