The seasons changed from summer to autumn, and the calendar advanced to October. For the first week after Ogino's incident, I was bombarded with questions and people kept their distance, but I managed to get through it without any particular problems. Ogino, the person involved in the incident, left Shuchiin after a few days. I don't know if he was expelled or transferred schools. For some reason, no matter how many teachers I asked, they all just kept saying they knew nothing, and the details remained unknown. It was as if someone had imposed a gag order... After dropping off Iino and Daibutsu, which was becoming a habit, I remembered a rumor that had recently appeared in the middle school. A rumor that people who used to be Ogino's associates... were turning themselves in to the police station one after another.
On a certain day in October, in the student council room of Shuchiin Academy High School...
"Chairman, have you heard about the incident that happened in the middle school last month?"
"Oh, I heard from my sister. Apparently, she exposed the misdeeds of a student who was pimping out female students to boys from other schools over the school's public address system."
"Yes, apparently it was during lunchtime back then, and not only the students but also the teachers were listening, so it caused quite a commotion."
"I believe his name is Ishigami..."
"Yu Ishigami, a third-year middle school student... He has a rather interesting background."
"That's unusual, Shinomiya showing interest in other people."
"The chairman will surely be interested. Ishigami Yu... Until the end of his second year, his grades were below average, or at best slightly above average. However, in his third year, he rejoined the track and field club as the final competition approached, and he won an award at the Tokyo metropolitan tournament. Then he got first place in the end-of-semester exams, and since then, he's been helping out with committees he doesn't even belong to, and some people are saying he's become a completely different person."
"...Isn't it possible that he changed his ways after advancing to his third year of school?"
"It's impossible for people to change that drastically."
"But..."
"Well, since the facts have changed, it's not impossible. But that's not what I was actually interested in."
"Hmm? Then where exactly..."
"Going back to the topic, the person involved in the incident is apparently a student named Ogino Kou, but...he's missing."
"what...?"
"I looked into it, and it seems that a gag order has been placed on the teachers who are thought to know the full story. And recently... it seems that all of Kou Ogino's bad friends have turned themselves in to the police station."
"...So you're saying someone is working behind the scenes?"
"Hehe... The chairman would be surprised if anyone heard this, wouldn't he?"
"Does Shinomiya know?"
"It was a bit of a struggle, but there's nothing that can't be found through the Shinomiya family's information network."
"Who could it be...?"
"...It's the Ryuju Group. I never imagined she would make a move like this."
"The Dragon Pearl? Why...?"
"Well, I can't go that far... but I can look into it if necessary."
"...No, it's not necessary. If he's acting like that, there must be a reason for it. We shouldn't pry too much."
"...Right. Speaking of which, regarding the budget for the Hoshin Festival in two months..."
"slow."
"What? You summoned me so suddenly, and that's what you're going to say, Ryuju-senpai?"
Just as I was about to leave after dropping off Iino and Daibutsu as usual, I received a message from Ryūju-senpai that was incredibly simple: "At our usual coffee shop."
"Just sit down, time won't wait for you."
"You're not seriously thinking of having me help with a limited-time event, are you, Senpai?"
"If you understand, then log in quickly."
"There's no need to go to the trouble of meeting at a coffee shop..."
"You idiot, these kinds of collaborative events are supposed to be done in person."
"Well... there's some truth to that."
"Come on, hurry up or you'll be left behind."
"...Even if you don't get the item you wanted, please don't sulk."
"...When did I ever sulk?" *glare*
"..."
(I wouldn't say it happens very often.)
I started the game, ignoring Senior Ryuju's glaring gaze.
"Alright! Let's do it, Ishigami."
"Yes."
The night with my gaming friends is drawing to a close...
Somewhere on a certain day in October...
"..."
(Why, why did this have to happen to me...!)
That day, I was framed by Ishigami and taken to the police station accompanied by a teacher. I remained silent in the interrogation room. I thought that my parents would have already been contacted and that I just had to endure until they covered it up. But, contrary to my expectations, I was released from the police station that same day. Feeling good that my parents had quickly covered it up, I left the police station and headed straight home. I thought I should get home as soon as possible, so without any caution, I reached for the door of my house when someone grabbed me from behind and threw me into a car. Inside the car, I was blindfolded, my hands were tied, and my mouth was covered with duct tape. I didn't understand what was happening, and I desperately cried out, asking why this was happening to me, but only muffled sounds came out. After a while, the car stopped and I was carried away.
"Here we go!" *thud*
"Guh!?"
Once I was dropped to the floor, the blindfold and duct tape were removed, and I was finally able to understand my surroundings.
"Ouch... Wh-what happened...?!"
In front of me were adults whose appearance clearly indicated they were involved with organized crime, looking down at me.
"W-what do you think you're doing?! ...This is a crime!"
"I don't want to hear that from a kid."
"The young lady told me to help out if any of her friends were in trouble... and he was quite skilled for a middle schooler. As expected of someone the young lady considers a friend."
"Who the hell is this 'young lady'?! I don't have any friends like that..."
"It's not you."
His menacing voice took my breath away.
"Could it be, Ishigami...?"
"Oh, Ishigami's kid is a friend of the young lady... I never thought a middle schooler would get involved in a problem like this..."
"So, who exactly are you guys...?"
Just as I was about to ask who he was, I noticed a small embroidered detail on the suit the man in front of me was wearing.
"R-Ryuju Group!?"
"So you finally realized..."
Why... why did the Ryuju group show up?! I never knew Ishigami had such powerful backing...
"Just so you know, Ishigami's kid doesn't know us. He's just acting on the young lady's orders."
The Ryuju group, the young lady...could it be...one of the people at Shuchiin who you absolutely must not antagonize...Ryuju Momo?
"Ah...ahh..." *shaking*
Upon realizing that fact, my body began to tremble uncontrollably...
"I'm so sorry... I won't do this again! So please!!"
"So, let's see what sincerity you're talking about?"
"S-sincerity?"
"Name every single person who was involved in your disgusting game... Every single one."
"Y-yes! I'll tell you! I'll teach you!!"
"What if the person who left those instructions is found later...?"
"What if we get caught...?"
"Do you... want to spend your entire life running away from the Ryuju Group?"
Those words made me realize... that I had no other options left.
"Ah...ahhh..."
Just as I was about to lose consciousness from fear, realizing there was no escape, I saw the character for "dragon."