Rational Analysis and Decision Making

[Target: Kanzaki Ryuji (Refresh)]

[Affection: 31 (Neutral) → 33 (Neutral)] - Approval for listening to Toudou Shizuka and sharing his indignation.

[Skill Tree Refresh: Rational Analysis and Decision Making B-Rank (Active, anger at injustice)... Sense of Justice (Principled): B-Rank (Active)...]

Toudou Shizuka sneered inwardly. Chabashira Sae's "looking into the matter" probably amounted to casually asking someone at the shop. There was no way a shrewd person like Yamamoto would admit anything.

With a simple "denial" and "no evidence," she had the perfect excuse to shirk responsibility. Her A-Rank Rule Enforcement probably only applied when it benefited her—or when it minimized the damage to her class "within the rules."

Protecting students? In her eyes, that was probably nowhere near as important as Class Points, especially when there was "no evidence."

"That really is too much." Toudou Shizuka agreed, his face showing sympathy for Sakura and confusion over Chabashira's response. "Sakura must have been frightened. The shop assistant wasn't even warned. He might do it again..."

"Exactly!" Kanzaki Ryuji's gaze sharpened. "Allowing this kind of behavior is enabling a potential danger! It's unsafe for the other students, too!

"As her homeroom teacher, Teacher Chabashira's handling of this is completely negligent!" He took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "Unfortunately, we're not in Class D, so we have no authority to intervene."

Toudou Shizuka watched Kanzaki's righteous indignation, his thoughts racing. Kanzaki's sense of justice and principles (B-Rank) had been stirred up, which was good. At the same time, this gave him an opportunity to get involved.

"Kanzaki," Toudou Shizuka said quietly, testing the waters with a hint of caution, "even though we can't intervene directly... Sakura is our schoolmate, and she's faced this unfair treatment and potential danger...

"Could we... find a way to remind Teacher Chabashira to take this matter 'more seriously'? Maybe we could give her a few... leads in the name of looking out for a schoolmate's safety?"

Kanzaki Ryuji's gaze sharpened as he looked at Toudou Shizuka. "Leads? Do you have some, Toudou?" His Rational Analysis Ability came online at once.

Toudou Shizuka didn't answer directly. Instead, he hinted, "After Sakura left the shop that day, I stayed and bought a few things.

"That shop assistant... was emotionally unstable. He kept talking about Sakura and was still hostile toward her. I just think it would be too hasty for Teacher Chabashira to drop the investigation simply because he 'denied' it. Maybe she needs a little... 'reminder'?" He hinted that he might know something, without mentioning the audio or video recordings.

Kanzaki Ryuji fell silent for a moment, then pushed up his glasses. Light flickered behind the lenses. "You're right. Ignoring this could lead to trouble later. Teacher Chabashira needs a reminder of her responsibilities. Toudou, if you have more specific information, or if you're willing to come with me to report this to Teacher Chabashira, I'll support you. We can say we're Class B students concerned about safety on campus."

[Kanzaki Ryuji Affection +3 (Approval of his desire and strategy for upholding justice). Current: 36 (Neutral) → Target: 45 (Approval).]

[Simulation Points +5 (Advancing a key event). Current: 55 Points.]

Toudou Shizuka felt reassured. With Kanzaki Ryuji, Class B's vice class leader, backing him, going to Chabashira Sae in the name of "looking out for a schoolmate's safety" seemed entirely reasonable, no longer out of the blue. Kanzaki's sense of justice and principles made the perfect cover and support for getting involved.

"Okay." Toudou Shizuka nodded, his gaze firm. "For Sakura's safety, and for the sake of the school environment, I think we should talk to Teacher Chabashira. How about after school today?"

"Sounds good." Kanzaki Ryuji agreed without hesitation. "I'll prepare what to say. We can meet in the hallway outside the Teacher's Office. It should be fairly quiet there."

With the plan settled, Toudou Shizuka watched Kanzaki Ryuji walk away, then glanced at the System Interface. His affection score was drawing closer to 45 (36/45), and he had 55 Simulation Points.

After classes ended, Toudou Shizuka and Kanzaki Ryuji met as planned in the quiet hallway leading from the Teaching Building to the Teacher's Office.

"Kanzaki, Toudou? What do you need?" Chabashira Sae's distinctive, metallic voice rang out, cold as ever. She seemed to have just come out of the office, a document tucked under her arm, and looked at the two students blocking her way with detached eyes. Her A-Rank Aura Intimidation spread silently around her.

Toudou Shizuka could clearly feel Kanzaki Ryuji tense beside him for a moment. But he quickly steadied his breathing, pushed up his glasses, and stepped forward. His tone was calm and respectful, and his words were clear and orderly.

"Teacher Chabashira, sorry to trouble you. We're here about Sakura Airi. We understand that she reported being harassed by a shop assistant at the Precision Electronics Workshop on Commercial Street, but the matter doesn't seem to have been properly addressed.

"As students at the same school, we're concerned, and we're also worried about potential safety hazards on campus. We'd like to provide you with some additional information so that this matter can be investigated more thoroughly."

Chabashira Sae's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and her gaze grew even colder. She looked at the two Class B students before her, especially Toudou Shizuka, who seemed quiet and gentle. Toudou stood half a step behind Kanzaki, his head slightly lowered in a respectful posture. But Chabashira Sae's B-Rank Insight gave her the faint impression that something lay beneath the student's calm exterior.

"Sakura Airi?" Chabashira Sae's voice was utterly emotionless, her tone formally cold. "I've already looked into the matter.

"The shop assistant denied harassing her.

"Sakura Airi is introverted and unclear in her account, and there's no substantial evidence. The matter is closed." Her words were final, allowing no room for argument. As soon as she finished, she started to walk around them.

Kanzaki Ryuji's expression darkened, and he was about to argue his case.

Just then, Toudou Shizuka raised his head slightly and met Chabashira Sae's cold, scrutinizing gaze. He said nothing, merely adjusting his glasses. The corridor lights reflected off the lenses in a brief, sharp glint. (The Scheming Frog keeps feeling your belly.)

Chabashira Sae stopped in her tracks. She looked at Toudou Shizuka—at his calm, unruffled gaze, and the flash behind his lenses that seemed to see through everything. A faint sensation of being seen through, like a cold snake, slid down her spine.

Her A-Rank Rule Enforcement made her keenly sense some kind of... potential threat. Did this quiet Class B student know something? Or... did he have something in his possession?

Toudou Shizuka still said nothing. He simply maintained that calm, faintly probing gaze. The air seemed to freeze; only the three of them breathing softly could be heard in the hallway. Kanzaki Ryuji had also noticed the subtle shift in the atmosphere, and he glanced at Toudou Shizuka in surprise.