No Complaint, No Case

Soon, Chabashira Sae brought Kamio Tatsuya and Yamauchi Haruki to a room on the fourth floor of another teaching building.

Judging by the furnishings, it seemed to be an office—and the sign outside the door confirmed that it belonged to the Student Council.

After they had been there for several minutes, Chabashira-sensei still hadn't said a word. Just as Kamio Tatsuya was starting to wonder what was going on, the meeting room door opened, and two people walked in.

They were both people he had met before.

One was the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu. The other was the Student Council secretary, Tachibana Akane.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

After saying that, Horikita Manabu took the seat at the head of the meeting table, while Tachibana Akane stood behind him.

Kamio Tatsuya and Yamauchi Haruki sat down on either side of the table.

As for Chabashira-sensei, she didn't sit with either side. Instead, she remained standing by the door.

Kamio Tatsuya found this rather surprising.

From the looks of it, the Student Council handled things like fights.

Did the Student Council really have that much authority?

Kamio Tatsuya remembered Miyabi Nagumo's earlier invitation for him to join the Student Council.

Maybe joining the Student Council wouldn't be so bad after all.

"I've already heard what happened, but I still need both of you to recount it."

The Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, spoke. Behind him, Tachibana Akane opened the notebook in her hands, ready to take notes.

Yamauchi Haruki had been making a scene earlier, but when faced with Horikita Manabu's stern expression, he could barely get a word out.

Kamio Tatsuya sneered inwardly, then cleared his throat twice and began to recount what had happened.

"Ahem. This is what happened."

"Kamio, in other words, you admit that you assaulted Yamauchi because of certain reasons, is that right?"

"That's right."

Kamio Tatsuya didn't try to deny it. What he had done wasn't some heinous crime, and it wasn't enough to get him expelled, so he wasn't worried.

At worst, they'd deduct some Class Points.

No big deal. Just a drop in the bucket.

"Does Yamauchi have anything to add to Kamio's account?"

"Ah, n-no."

Faced with such a serious situation, Yamauchi was so nervous that he couldn't even manage a complete sentence.

Then Horikita Manabu looked at Chabashira Sae, who was standing by the door.

"When I arrived, the two of them had already been separated, so I don't know exactly what happened. However, Kamio Tatsuya's account just now matched what he said in the classroom. The students of first-year Class D can confirm that."

Horikita Manabu nodded, then delivered his verdict.

"For assaulting a fellow student, Kamio Tatsuya is suspended for one week and ordered to return to his dormitory to reflect on his actions."

At the verdict, Kamio Tatsuya sneered.

He could accept his own punishment.

But the guy who'd spread rumors wasn't getting punished at all?

This school was seriously fucking ridiculous.

The People Don't Complain, the Authorities Don't Investigate

Kamio Tatsuya was so unhappy that Yamauchi Haruki hadn't been punished that he stood up in protest.

"Wait. What about him spreading rumors about a girl? You're just going to let that slide?"

Horikita Manabu didn't look flustered by Kamio Tatsuya's challenge.

"Today, I'm only dealing with your assault on Yamauchi. As for Yamauchi spreading rumors, the person those rumors were about hasn't filed a complaint, so the Student Council has no authority to intervene."

So that was it. The authorities didn't investigate unless someone filed a complaint, right?

So fucking rigid.

Kamio Tatsuya glanced at Chabashira Sae. She hadn't even asked Sakura Airi whether she wanted to file a complaint. Was that deliberate?

But then, even if she had asked, given Sakura Airi's personality, she would probably have wanted to avoid making a fuss and let the matter drop.

Too soft.

Kamio Tatsuya didn't regret standing up for Sakura Airi. Yamauchi was so infuriating that any normal person would have done the same.

Back in the classroom, Kamio Tatsuya immediately packed up his things and prepared to leave school.

His suspension lasted until next Monday, so he had to leave right away.

"Kamio, what are you doing?"

Seeing what Kamio Tatsuya was doing, Hirata Yosuke, who had earlier stopped him from beating up Yamauchi Haruki, came over and asked in confusion.

"Oh, I got suspended for a week because of the fight," Kamio Tatsuya said nonchalantly. "See you next week, Hirata."

Hirata Yosuke opened his mouth at that, but didn't know what to say.

"I'm sorry."

Kamio Tatsuya found that strange.

"What are you apologizing for?"

He didn't think there was anything wrong with Hirata stepping in to break up the fight. Hirata had been keeping order in the class, and he hadn't taken sides.

Besides, Kamio Tatsuya knew what kind of person Hirata was, so he had no reason to resent him. That was why the apology seemed so strange.

"If I'd been able to stop Yamauchi, maybe..."

This guy was way too righteous.

Kamio Tatsuya was speechless.

What the hell did that have to do with you?

"Forget it. Do what you want. He's already spreading rumors about girls behind their backs now. Who knows what kind of even weirder stuff he'll do in the future?"

Kamio Tatsuya slung his bag over his shoulder, patted Hirata Yosuke twice on the shoulder, and left the classroom.

That evening, while Kamio Tatsuya was playing the game console he'd bought earlier that day, someone suddenly knocked on his door.

"Hold on, I'm coming."

When he opened the door, he found Kamuro Masumi from Class A standing there. She had long purple hair tied in a side ponytail.

"What brings you here? Do you need something?"

Kamio Tatsuya was a little surprised. He wasn't surprised that Kamuro Masumi knew where he lived; she could have just asked the dormitory's first-floor manager.

What surprised him was why Kamuro Masumi had come to see him. Was she here to comfort him or something?

They weren't that close, were they?

"Are you planning to make me talk to you out here?"

Kamio Tatsuya shrugged and stepped aside.

"Excuse me."

After entering, Kamuro Masumi took off her shoes and walked into the room.

"Want something to drink? I've only got tea and hot water."

"A cup of hot cocoa."

What the fuck? Had she not heard what he'd just said?

Was she trying to mess with him?

Kamio Tatsuya pretended he hadn't heard her, brewed a pot of tea, and poured her a cup.

When Kamuro Masumi saw what Kamio Tatsuya brought over, she looked displeased.

"You really didn't listen to a word I said, did you?"

"You're no different. Drink it or don't."

Kamio Tatsuya glanced at her, then sat down on the floor opposite her. Kamuro Masumi had already taken over his bed, sitting with her legs crossed and showing off her long legs in black stockings.

"Go on, why are you here?"

Kamio Tatsuya lowered his head and looked at the tea in his cup.

He couldn't help it. From this angle, things were a little tricky. If he looked up, he might catch a glimpse beneath her skirt.

At an age when it was easy to get hard as iron, he was constantly plagued by all kinds of troubles.

And he had to admit that Kamuro Masumi's looks and figure were right up his alley. She wasn't busty, but she wasn't flat-chested either.

There was just something about her that Kamio Tatsuya found appealing.

"Everyone at school has heard that you got suspended."

"Oh."

Kamio Tatsuya wasn't surprised. He could even imagine how that idiot Yamauchi Haruki would brag about having dominated the disciplinary hearing.

He'd probably add, "That's what happens when you mess with me."

Ugh, he shouldn't think about it anymore. It was too disgusting.

"You don't seem surprised at all."

"Isn't that obvious? The punishment's already been decided, so the Student Council will put out an announcement sooner or later. It was only a matter of time before the whole school heard."

"You've certainly become famous throughout the school because of this."

Kamio Tatsuya didn't seem to hear Kamuro Masumi's sarcasm. Still looking down, he flashed a peace sign.

"Just like Sakayanagi said, you really don't care at all."

Kamuro Masumi picked up her teacup. The tea was hot enough to make her frown, so she set it down again.

"I've been meaning to ask—why did you help me that day?"

She was only asking now?

That had happened ages ago.

Kamio Tatsuya looked at her in surprise.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Do I have to?"

"Do you really have some kind of shady motive?"

Kamuro Masumi's expression darkened.

"No. I just thought a beautiful girl like you and the word 'thief' didn't really go together," Kamio Tatsuya answered honestly.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Kamuro Masumi's hand froze as she held her teacup.

H-he thinks I'm a beautiful girl?

Could he be joking?

No, no. He sounded serious.