Class C's Regular KTV Gathering

The sun was about to set as Konoe walked along the commercial street, talking on the phone with Ayanokoji.

"Is everything alright? Konoe, I feel like this is a bit dangerous," Ayanokoji asked on the phone.

He hadn't intended to interfere much in Sudo's appeal case, but hearing that Konoe was going to infiltrate enemy territory alone to gather information made him very worried.

"It's fine. I got intel that Class C usually hangs out at KTVs to eat and drink. I'm going to establish that connection now." Konoe's information came from Shiina Hiyori, a Class C student he met at the library last time.

Although Konoe felt a bit uneasy about getting information on Class C from Shiina, when Konoe asked, Shiina had said it was all public information.

'I shouldn't do this again next time...' Konoe still felt a faint sense of guilt.

"So, you're going to poke your head into a wolf's mouth, hoping it's already full?" Ayanokoji, hearing Konoe's eager tone, tried to persuade him earnestly.

"Don't worry, I won't be discovered. Besides, speed is of the essence in warfare."

"Warfare? I only see a sheep..."

After hanging up the phone, Konoe walked into a KTV and went straight to the front desk.

Konoe politely addressed the woman at the front desk, "Excuse me, is the shop manager here?"

"May I ask who you are?" the receptionist asked, looking puzzled.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Konoe Hirakawa from the Student Council. I'm here to consult with your manager about something," Konoe briefly introduced himself.

"Please wait a moment." The receptionist then contacted the manager via mobile phone. A few minutes later, she returned with a reply, "The manager invites you to 'Dream Voice' for a detailed discussion."

"Understood, thank you." Konoe then entered and arrived at a room with a sign that read 'Dream Voice'.

Perhaps because it was a single room, the space was very cramped. A row of sofas, a glass table, and a television on the wall filled the room. There were no visible surveillance devices.

Sitting on the sofa was a middle-aged man, slightly overweight.

"Hello, I'm Kashiwagi, the shop manager," Kashiwagi, sitting on the sofa, stood up as someone entered, took out a business card, and bowed as he introduced himself.

Although Konoe didn't have a business card, he could only return the bow and accept the card. "I'm Konoe Hirakawa from the Student Council."

"Please, have a seat," Kashiwagi gestured to the sofa, leaving the middle seat for Konoe. "I haven't heard your name before, Konoe, but being in the Student Council must mean you're quite capable."

While Kashiwagi seemed to be praising Konoe, he was actually prompting Konoe to introduce himself further and prove his status as a Student Council member.

"Thank you for the compliment, Manager Kashiwagi. I only recently joined the Student Council and am currently learning accounting under Senior Kiriyama," Konoe paused for a few seconds before continuing. "I'm also familiar with this establishment. As a newly opened KTV shop on the street, it's very popular with students, but..."

Even though he heard a familiar name, Kashiwagi couldn't confirm the other person's identity and continued, "Please, Konoe, don't hesitate to speak. As you can see, our shop is new and we really need everyone's feedback."

"How could I have any complaints about this place? Your shop, as one of the few profitable establishments on this commercial street, is worthy of everyone's study. I only regret that this has also led to your shop losing its rent subsidy."

Konoe had spent several days memorizing the third-party shop data provided by the Student Council, which included this KTV.

"Konoe, your insight is sharp, truly befitting a member of the Student Council. May I ask if there are any notices or instructions from the Student Council this time?" Hearing the inside information, Kashiwagi finally believed Konoe was a Student Council member, but Kashiwagi's humble wording kept him from being at a disadvantage.

"Actually, the Student Council received a complaint regarding a dispute between students. One of the students involved is a regular customer at your establishment, so..."

"Wait, I don't quite understand what you're saying, Konoe. How is a personal dispute between students related to my shop? Surely the dispute didn't happen here?"

"Of course not, it has nothing to do with your shop. Rather, this matter only concerns me," Konoe swallowed and continued, "Actually, the parties involved in the dispute each have their own version of events. President Horikita has sent me to investigate the truth of the matter."

Kashiwagi first picked up an intercom and ordered two drinks before replying, "So that's how it is."

Seeing Kashiwagi fall silent after speaking, Konoe could only feign dejection. "You see, Manager Kashiwagi. I've only been in the Student Council for a short time, and President Horikita has already given me such a difficult task. I truly feel powerless."

"Not at all, not at all. I see Konoe is quite capable and will surely find a way to resolve this matter." Kashiwagi took the drinks delivered by the server and handed one to Konoe.

"Resolving this matter isn't difficult, but as you can see, I'm currently studying accounting and also acting as a detective to uncover the truth. It's hard to balance both..." Konoe unceremoniously opened his drink, took a sip, and sighed. "I suppose the President intends for me to take over the Student Council's accounting. It seems I'll have to give up on this matter. At worst, I'll have to beg President Horikita for forgiveness."

"Oh, don't say that. Konoe, you must have found a clue by coming here, right? Why don't you share it, and we can brainstorm together? I'm a bit older than you, perhaps I can help."

Konoe stated his purpose directly. "I would like to obtain the surveillance footage of that customer's entertainment at your establishment."

"This... how can I do that? This is the customer's privacy. Unless there's an official document from the Student Council, I wouldn't dare to help." For Kashiwagi, as the shop manager, viewing surveillance footage was easy, but leaking it was another matter entirely.

"Manager Kashiwagi, I actually think there are some minor issues with the school's current business model. Subsidies for losses, but no subsidies for profits. Isn't this approach too simplistic?"

"...I understand what you mean, Konoe. But how can I trust you with something like this?" Kashiwagi, having a shop in this school, naturally knew about contracts.

"I can't offer any guarantees, Manager Kashiwagi. The choice is yours, whether to invest in me."

"This..." Kashiwagi was stunned.

"Although I'm a First Year, many students applied to join the Student Council but were unsuccessful. I was personally invited by President Horikita," Konoe shamelessly inflated his own importance.

"...Please allow me a moment to think. Please wait a moment, excuse me." Kashiwagi left the room, leaving Konoe alone to drink his beverage.

Konoe was also unsure, but he could only sit on the sofa and wait with a forced composure.

More than ten minutes later, Kashiwagi returned to the room.

"My apologies for the delay, Konoe," Kashiwagi said with a joyful expression. "It is my honor to cooperate with the Student Council's work. The footage is here."

Kashiwagi handed over a USB drive, and Konoe was taken aback.

"...May I ask how you made your decision, Manager Kashiwagi?"

"Huh? What decision? As soon as I went out, I helped Konoe copy the surveillance footage."