A Day

After school, Chabashira stopped Sudo, who was hurrying out, and said:

"Sudo, I need to talk to you about something. Come to the Teacher's Office."

"Huh? Why me? I've got practice with the Basketball Club next." Sudo pulled a jersey out of his bag to show her.

"I've already spoken with your club advisor. Whether you come or not is up to you, but I won't take responsibility for what happens afterward." Chabashira's tone was calm, but her words sounded like a warning.

After hearing her, Sudo looked a little nervous. "What the hell? It'll be over soon, right?"

"That depends on your attitude. Time is ticking away, second by second."

After Sudo left with Chabashira, the students in class started talking.

"I thought Sudo had changed, but he's still the same after all."

"If only Sudo weren't in our class..."

Complaints about Sudo came from various corners of the room. The class had already split into several cliques.

Konoe walked straight out of the classroom, intending to return to the dormitory. He had just reached the dorm building when Chabashira called him. He answered, but before he could say anything, her voice came through quickly:

"Konoe, get to the Old Classroom we went to last time. Right now."

With that, Chabashira hung up. Konoe had initially thought of simply not going, but he was a little concerned about Chabashira's confidence, so he turned back toward the School Building and went to the Old Classroom where he'd spoken with her privately last time.

"What's this about? Why didn't you call me over when you called Sudo?" Konoe had a vague feeling that what Chabashira wanted to discuss might have something to do with Sudo.

"You really don't know?" Chabashira said mockingly. "The School Student Council received a complaint from a C Class member of the Basketball Club against Sudo. He claims Sudo beat him up unilaterally and injured him after club activities."

"What?"

Konoe was surprised by what Sudo had done, but what surprised him most was that he, as a member of the Student Council, knew nothing about it.

"So why did you call me here, Chabashira-sensei? What do you expect me to do? As you can see, I don't know anything."

"Sudo insists it was self-defense, but there's no evidence to support his claim."

"Honestly, I think he might really do something like that if he gets provoked." Konoe made his position clear, indicating that he didn't want to get involved.

"I've already bought us one day. By the day after tomorrow at the latest, I'll tell the class about this during the morning meeting. Once I tell them, the news will spread. Konoe, use this time to think it over."

Konoe shook his head. "Impossible. Putting aside the fact that you've given me too little time, Chabashira-sensei, I did say I'd help once, but I said that to Horikita."

"Do whatever you want. That's all I have to say." Chabashira left the Old Classroom.

Konoe checked the time. There was still plenty of it, so he thought, Sigh, since I'm already at the School Building, I might as well stop by the Student Council Room.

As soon as Konoe entered the Student Council Room, he heard a voice that clearly didn't welcome him.

"Well, this is a rare sight."

"...I'm not exactly a guest, am I, Tachibana Senpai?" Konoe said cautiously, unsure what he'd done to offend her.

Tachibana continued, her tone strangely sarcastic. "Back when we joined the Student Council, we worked here until the afternoon meal every day. Working overtime in the evenings was routine, too. Konoe, you only show up once a week. Can you really call yourself a member of the Student Council?"

"...I'm completing the task the President assigned me. Besides, don't the others go out for work pretty often?"

"Konoe, have you finished memorizing the materials?" Horikita Manabu heard him and asked directly.

Konoe went straight to the reason he'd come to the Student Council Room. "Sorry, President. I still need some time to finish with the materials. I came to ask about the complaint against First Year Class C."

"Konoe, I don't know where you heard about this confidential matter, but according to Student Council rules, you have a conflict of interest and must recuse yourself."

"...President Horikita, I don't think that explanation holds water at this school. How many points would I need to pay to take part in this matter?"

"You're gradually getting used to this place, I see. But this complaint was filed in the name of Class C by its homeroom teacher. If you're thinking of using points and your position on the Student Council to resolve the matter directly, I'll tell you now: there's no way a First Year could afford the number of points required."

"Am I not even allowed to look into it?"

"If you want to see the complaint documents in detail, finish the work I assigned you first."

"...Then I'll go back to work. Sorry for the interruption, President, Senpai."

Konoe felt a little dejected. After saying his goodbyes, he left the Student Council Room.

"Is this really all right, President? It's just the complaint documents. Surely we could let Konoe see them?" Tachibana asked worriedly.

"Tachibana, things are far too unfavorable for him right now. One person can't stand against the collective strength of an entire class."

Konoe returned to his dorm room and lay on the bed, frustrated. He suddenly realized that Chabashira hadn't said he couldn't tell anyone else, so he sent Horikita a text message about the matter, hoping she could help him think of a solution.

But the response he got was unexpected.

Horikita: "I don't plan to help. What you do is up to you."

After reading Horikita's reply, Konoe thought, Wait, if Horikita isn't planning to do anything, why am I in such a hurry?

Konoe closed his eyes to calm down and began to sort out his thoughts:

First, Chabashira called Sudo out. Judging by the timing, she must have called me over right after she finished talking with him.

Chabashira told me what was going on and asked me to think it over. Then she said she'd bought us one day.

Why won't the Student Council even let me see the case file? That's strange...

Why did Horikita immediately decide not to help? She seemed very proactive last time.

Most importantly, why am I in such a hurry?

After organizing the questions and information, Konoe took out a piece of candy, put it in his mouth, and activated Mind Palace.