The already unfavorable situation further deteriorated with Ryuuen's defection.
Kanzaki was caught completely off guard by Ryuuen's sudden betrayal.
Ryuuen, however, keenly seized upon Class B's oversight and tried to shift all responsibility onto Class B.
As Class B's representative, Kanzaki naturally would not allow Ryuuen to act so recklessly.
But... Kanzaki glanced warily at Amane nearby.
His enemies were not just one.
Compared to Ryuuen, the quiet Amane was the most lethal one.
"What nonsense are you spouting! Our cooperation only began after Ishizaki harassed Shiraha-san!"
Kanzaki frowned and immediately refuted Ryuuen's accusation.
Through analysis, Kanzaki determined that the most fatal charge was secretly cooperating with Class C to trade class points. Only by tackling this first could they minimize Class B's future punishment as much as possible.
As for turning the tables?
That was already a pipe dream. Just a short while ago, Class B had been in a position of absolute advantage.
But in less than an hour, the situation had undergone a drastic change.
All the evidence was pieced together by Amane, bit by bit.
And it formed a complete picture, becoming a magic weapon to turn defeat into victory.
And the smug Class B and C, having not prepared themselves for Amane's dangerousness, ended up being played like puppets.
If it were just Amane, Class B would have to endure it, however unwillingly, since they were the ones who betrayed first. Even if Amane settled scores, they had no right to object.
But what was Ryuuen?
Midway through, he convinced Ichinose by suggesting that someone might drop out.
Ichinose took a huge risk and agreed.
Initially, everyone was discussing how, if things continued like this, they would soon surpass Class A and become the leader of the first year.
But reality delivered a crushing blow.
Ryuuen, to absolve himself of responsibility, turned into a mad dog and began to tear into Class B.
He, Kanzaki Ryuji, had no retreat.
Similarly.
Ryuuen also had no retreat. Since he had made up his mind to betray, he would not waver like Ichinose.
The difference between him and Kanzaki was that he saw through Kanzaki's weakness.
Kanzaki, however, knew almost nothing about Ryuuen's weaknesses.
"It's come to this, and you still plan to argue? Then please tell me, how did Kondo get the key to your changing room and slip the love letter into your changing room?"
"This..."
Facing Ryuuen's questioning, Kanzaki's face grew even uglier.
A changing room and a shoe locker were not the same concept.
Shoe lockers were placed in public areas, and except for the area leading to the sports field which had no surveillance, all other shoe lockers were within surveillance zones.
So, if anything happened, it would be easy to check the specific course of events.
Valuable information could also be inferred from the actions of both parties.
However, each class's changing rooms were separate rooms, and the keys to the boys' and girls' changing rooms were kept by designated individuals.
The key to Class B's girls' changing room was kept by Ichinose.
And the key to the boys' changing room... was kept by him, Kanzaki Ryuji.
Kanzaki, thinking of this, subconsciously touched his key.
It was perfectly intact, hanging from his waist.
Then why... could that guy Kondo have stealthily placed the confession letter in his and Shibata's lockers?
"What? Speechless already? Did you forget that it was you who suggested you also get a confession letter? Have you forgotten it all so quickly?"
Ryuuen's smug look made people want to punch him hard in the face.
But Kanzaki had no such thoughts right now.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand why, after all the twists and turns, the crucial point would ultimately fall on him.
Kanzaki's silence, however, made those unaware of his thoughts immediately start to imagine things.
"Kanzaki, did you really reach such an agreement with Ryuuen?"
Shibata looked at the silent Kanzaki in disbelief.
Shibata's questioning made Kanzaki so angry he wanted to vomit blood.
"Shibata, are you an idiot? You know our situation, and you can still suspect me?"
"But isn't the changing room key in your hand? You received a love letter shortly after I did. Logically, it's not surprising that I, being active in the soccer club, would be known by girls from other classes. But you don't have any social interactions with other classes, do you? Wouldn't you find it strange if someone wrote you a confession letter?"
Kanzaki was the core member who was usually closest to Ichinose.
Although Shibata, like Hirata, was quite famous among the first-years and upperclassmen, he didn't like to meddle in class affairs, so he became suspicious of Kanzaki and Ichinose.
If everything Ryuuen said was true, then Ichinose had acted first and reported later, keeping it from everyone, and then hypocritically followed the procedures... He didn't want to believe Ichinose was such a person.
But Kanzaki didn't even have the courage to refute Ryuuen, and the changing room key was also in his hand... "Shibata, what do you mean? How should I know why this happened?"
Kanzaki held his head in his hands, in pain.
He simply couldn't understand why such a thing would happen.
Amane glanced at Ryuuen.
Ryuuen gave Amane a look.
Was this an attempt to take credit?
Ryuuen surprisingly understood her.
The pain of betrayal... let you experience it firsthand too.
"I didn't expect you, Kanzaki, to be such a person? To conspire with Class C to frame a girl?"
"I didn't!!! I would never stoop to such a thing!"
Kanzaki, with red eyes, yelled at Amane.
"Huh? You didn't? So you mean Class B has another mole who helped Class C get the key? Hahahahaha, is this Class B? That's quite hilarious, hahahaha."
Amane's mocking laughter made Kanzaki even more distressed.
He had considered this possibility.
But, but would there really be multiple people betraying Class B?
No.
Class B, led by Ichinose, could not possibly have such a situation.
But if he denied there was a traitor... only one answer remained.
It was he, Kanzaki Ryuji, who had colluded with Ryuuen.
"No, no! Something must be wrong! It's all Ryuuen's scheme! If he hadn't bullied Shiraha-san first, none of this would have happened!"
"Kanzaki, you look terrible. Vice President Nangong, I think the matter can be concluded. Class B and C, having some ideas about me, designed this trap to make me use violence to protect Shiraha-san, and then recant their testimony to get me expelled."
Amane paused, her gaze turning to the uneasy Sakura Airi beside her.
"They even sacrificed an innocent girl to retaliate against Class D, causing her reputation to be damaged. Such despicable methods are disgraceful. Furthermore, privately trading class points violates school rules. Therefore, I suggest the Student Council impose penalties on both Class B and C for their involvement."
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