Chapter 339: Honami Confesses Before Everyone / The Penalty for Class A!
Envelopes. The same tactic again.
Last time, Sakayanagi Arisu used envelopes to frame Ryuen Kakeru; now she was repeating the trick, but changing the target to Ichinose Honami.
Does she have some sort of obsession with envelopes?
"Shimizu-kun? Are you alright?" Shiina Hiyori asked with concern.
"I'm fine," Shimizu Akira closed his eyes, and when he opened them, they had regained their usual calm.
"I'm just worried about Honami's current state. As for Sakayanagi..." He took a breath and swallowed his words.
"Let's end it here for today. Thank you for the analysis."
He turned and left quickly.
"What is Sakayanagi even thinking?" Ibuki Mio muttered, unable to follow the logic.
"She helped improve our dorm environment during the summer, so why target Class D now, and specifically Ichinose?"
"Helping us doesn't mean she likes Class D," Hiyori shook her head.
"It was partly because she owed me a favor from the island, and partly to kick Nagumo Miyabi while he was down. As for why she hates Ichinose... perhaps, in her eyes, that flawless kindness and sunshine feels like a meticulously maintained performance."
"A performance? But isn't Ichinose just like that?" Ibuki blurted out.
Hiyori looked out at the darkening sky. "People have many sides. You saw Shimizu's reaction. If this were total nonsense, he wouldn't have left in such a hurry. Since Sakayanagi timed these letters for after school today and laid so much groundwork, she likely holds something we don't know."
Ibuki's eyes widened.
"You mean... Ichinose... really did something?"
"Perhaps. But it doesn't matter; the current Ichinose is good to her friends, and that's enough for me," Hiyori stood up. "Ibuki, let's message the group. Tell everyone to stay calm and not cause trouble for Class B. Ichinose took us in during the training camp; it's time to return the favor."
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When Shimizu reached the dorm entrance, a crowd had already gathered. Students from Classes A, B, and C were whispering about the mysterious letters.
"Hey, what does this mean? 'Criminal'... does that mean she broke the law?" some Class A students shouted, waving the envelopes.
"Are you kidding?! Don't slander our Ichinose!" Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako from Class B retorted fiercely.
"But it's written clearly in the envelope! If it's a lie, why doesn't she come out and say it? Where is she?"
Faced with the interrogation, the Class B students were at a loss.
"Honami... she's sick today! She has a cold and is resting! Can we talk about this another time?"
"Oh? What a coincidence. Getting a cold at just the right time... sounds suspicious, doesn't it?"
Kanzaki Ryuji stepped forward to face the Class A instigators.
"Is this Class A's doing? You guys were the first ones waving these letters around!"
"Watch your mouth!" a Class A boy snapped.
"Class C is in a partnership with you, so of course they won't say anything. Class D was here too but they were suddenly called away! Why blame only us?"
Shimizu Akira pushed through the crowd.
"That's enough. Stop the gathering and disperse."
"Who do you think—" a Class A boy started, but shrank back when he saw it was Shimizu.
A student named Morishige Takuro spoke up defiantly: "Shimizu... we aren't trying to disrespect you. But if there's a student with a criminal record in this school, none of us can sleep soundly at night, can we?"
"Use your brain," Shimizu snapped, his mood already sour.
"This is a national high school funded by the central government. Do you think they would admit a student with a criminal record? Use common sense. Are you questioning the school's screening process or the Chairman's judgment?"
Morishige was silenced. The other Class A students exchanged glances and slunk away, intimidated by Shimizu's cold gaze and the memory of his physical prowess during the Sports Festival.
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Shimizu sprinted up to the eighth floor and knocked on Ichinose's door. After a few seconds, a low, hoarse voice answered.
"It's me," Shimizu said.
"Cough... Akira-kun, I have a cold."
"Honami, I have a great constitution; I never get sick," Shimizu said softly. "And I have to see you today. We need to talk face-to-face."
The door opened. Ichinose stood there in a thin white shirt, wearing a mask, her eyes red and puffy. Shimizu stepped inside, closed the door, and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
"You... know everything?" she whispered.
"Yes. Hoshinomiya-sensei told me a bit about your past."
"..."
"Don't worry," Shimizu stroked her hair. "I still love you, just as always."
Honami let out a breath of pure relief. The sword that had been hanging over her head had finally fallen, but instead of piercing her, it had hit the floor while someone held her steady.
"I was so afraid," she confessed as they sat down.
"Afraid people would see me as a liar. Afraid you would be disappointed."
"Disappointed?" Shimizu looked at her. "Honami, who do you think you are?"
"I... I want to be kind and help everyone... but sometimes I get tired, or selfish, or want to run away. And I did do something wrong."
"So, you're a normal person who gets tired, can be selfish, makes mistakes, but works hard to be better and help others," Shimizu summarized.
"Does that contradict the Ichinose Honami I know?
You don't need to be a saint, Honami. No one has the right to demand that of you.
As for the past, you've paid the price through your suffering. It's part of your history, but it isn't your end. Every step you've taken since then defines who you are now."
Honami looked up, tears blurring her vision. No one had ever told her she was allowed to stop running from her shadow.
"The content of the envelope... is true," she said, her gaze hardening with resolve.
"Tomorrow... I want to gather everyone and confess."
"Are you sure? You don't have to force yourself."
"I'm sure. If I keep running, the thought of disappointing you outweighs my fear of how others look at me."
Shimizu smiled. "Good. But you won't be the only one gathering people. This started with Sakayanagi, and it should end in front of her. I'll make sure she's there. Since she likes public letters, let's lay everything out in the open."
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The next day, after school, a crowd gathered in the First Gymnasium. Students from all classes watched as Ichinose Honami stepped onto the stage. Sakayanagi Arisu stood near a basketball hoop, watching with a faint, mocking smile.
"Regarding the letters from yesterday," Ichinose's voice rang through the hall, shaky at first but gaining strength. "The contents... are true. In middle school, I once... stole a hair clip from a convenience store."
A deathly silence fell over the gym.
She explained everything—the single-parent struggles, her mother's illness, her sister's birthday, and the desperate choice she made.
She didn't cry or beg for mercy; she simply stated the facts. She spoke of her self-isolation, her hard work to get into this school, and her desire to help others as a way to prove she was no longer that person.
"I didn't have the courage to tell you. I was afraid of your disappointment. I'm sorry for hiding it. I'm sorry."
She bowed her head, expecting jeers. Instead, a voice rang out from the Class C section.
"That's it?" Ike Kanji scratched his head.
"I thought it was something huge like arson or murder! It was just a mistake in middle school? Who hasn't done something stupid? And you apologized and were forgiven, right?"
Sudo Ken snorted in agreement. In the Class B section, Kobashi Yume stood up with red eyes. "Honami! We don't care about what you did in middle school! We care about the you standing here now! The one who always helps us!"
"Exactly!" Amikura Mako stood up. "Everyone has a past! What matters is who you are now!"
One by one, the Class B students stood up in support. Even students from other classes began to murmur in understanding.
Sakayanagi Arisu began to clap slowly. Clap. Clap. Clap.
"What touching friendship," she smiled. "But a student who has committed theft... is such a person really fit to lead a class or enjoy the school's trust?"
"Regarding qualifications," a familiar voice boomed from the entrance.
Horikita Manabu, the former Student Council President, walked in. Shimizu handed him a pre-prepared microphone.
"As the former President and a graduating senpai, I have a few things to clarify," Manabu stated. "First, this school's entrance screening is extremely rigorous. The school decided to admit Ichinose Honami after evaluating her background, proving that her past error does not define her potential. Her performance here has more than justified that decision.
Second, Sakayanagi Arisu. You gathered and publicized private information to disrupt class stability. I personally question if this aligns with the student code of conduct."
Sakayanagi's smile wavered.
"Horikita-senpai, I was only thinking of the school's discipline..."
"Discipline?" Manabu interrupted.
"Then are you willing to disclose how you obtained these strictly protected student records?"
Sakayanagi fell silent.
At that moment, Hoshinomiya-sensei entered with Nagumo Miyabi.
"The rumors in the first year have exceeded a hundred," Nagumo said sternly.
"From today, spreading new rumors is forbidden. Each instance will result in a 50-point deduction for the class, with no upper limit."
He turned to Sakayanagi.
"As for you, Sakayanagi Arisu. While there is no direct proof for the forum posts, security footage confirms Class A students distributed the letters. For damaging a student's reputation—Class A will be penalized 100 class points."
Hoshinomiya-sensei hugged Honami.
"This matter is closed. If anyone tries to use this as leverage again, the school will strictly punish them."
Sakayanagi looked at Manabu, Nagumo, and finally the upright Ichinose. She gave a soft laugh.
"It seems... I underestimated you." She bowed slightly to Nagumo.
"Thank you for the lesson, senpai. I will remember it."
She walked out of the gym alone, her cane clicking on the floor.
The Class B section erupted into cheers. Shimizu looked at Ichinose, who caught his eye through the crowd. She was crying again, but this time, it was a radiant smile of total liberation.
Shimizu nodded back. This was the Ichinose Honami he loved.
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