The KTV Where Class C Often Gathered

As the sun was about to set, Konoe was walking along Commercial Street while talking to Ayanokoji on the phone.

"Are you sure this is okay, Konoe? I can't help feeling it's dangerous," Ayanokoji asked over the phone.

He hadn't planned to get too involved in Sudo's appeal, but hearing that Konoe intended to go alone into enemy territory to gather information had left him deeply worried.

"It'll be fine. I heard the students from Class C usually gather at the KTV to eat, drink, and have fun. I'm going to establish contact with them now." Konoe had gotten this information from Shiina Hiyori, a Class C student he'd met in the library last time.

Though Konoe felt uneasy about getting information on Class C from Shiina, when he'd asked her for help, she'd told him it was all public information.

I should probably avoid doing this next time... Konoe still felt a faint sense of guilt.

"So you're planning to peer at the blood in a jackal's mouth and gamble that it's eaten its fill?" Hearing the eager tone in Konoe's voice, Ayanokoji tried to talk some sense into him.

"Don't worry, I won't get caught. Besides, speed is of the essence."

"Speed? All I see is a lamb..."

After ending the call, Konoe entered a KTV and went straight to the front desk.

Konoe politely addressed the woman seated there. "Excuse me, is the Shop Manager here?"

"May I ask who you are?" the receptionist asked in confusion.

"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Konoe Hirakawa from the Student Council. I came to ask your Shop Manager about something." Konoe briefly introduced himself.

"Please wait a moment." The receptionist contacted the Shop Manager on her phone. A few minutes later, she returned with a reply. "The Shop Manager would like you to meet him in 'Dream Voice' to discuss things."

"Understood, thank you." Konoe went inside and headed to the room with 'Dream Voice' written on its door.

Perhaps because it was a private room, the space was cramped. A sofa, a glass table, and a television mounted on the wall took up nearly the entire room. He couldn't see any surveillance equipment with the naked eye.

A middle-aged man with a slightly chubby build was sitting on the sofa.

"Hello, I'm Kashiwagi, the Shop Manager here." Seeing someone enter, Kashiwagi stood up, took out a business card, and introduced himself with a bow.

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

"Please, have a seat." Kashiwagi sat at one end of the sofa, leaving the middle seat for Konoe. "I haven't heard of you before, Konoe, but anyone who's made it into the Student Council must be quite capable."

Kashiwagi seemed to be praising Konoe, but he was really prompting him to give a more detailed introduction and prove that he was a Student Council member.

"You're too kind, Shop Manager Kashiwagi. I only joined the Student Council recently, and I'm currently learning about accounting from Kiriyama." Konoe paused for a few seconds before continuing. "I'm familiar with this establishment, too. As a new KTV on the street, it's very popular with students. But..."

Though he'd heard a familiar name, Kashiwagi still couldn't confirm Konoe's identity, so he could only follow up. "Feel free to speak your mind, Konoe. As you can see, our shop is new, and we really need everyone's feedback."

"Why would I have any complaints about this place? Your establishment is one of the few profitable businesses on Commercial Street, and you're an example for everyone else. I just feel sorry that this means you've lost your rent subsidy."

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

"Your eye for detail is impressive, Konoe. No wonder you're a Student Council member. May I ask if you've come with any notice or instructions from the Student Council?" Hearing information that only an insider would know, Kashiwagi finally believed Konoe was a Student Council member. Still, he phrased his words modestly so that he wouldn't be put at a disadvantage.

"The Student Council recently received an appeal concerning a dispute between students. One of the students involved is a regular here, so..."

"Wait, I don't quite understand what you're saying, Konoe. What does a personal dispute between students have to do with my shop? Surely it didn't happen here?"

"Of course not. It has nothing to do with your shop. If anything, it's only connected to me." Konoe swallowed and continued, "The two sides in the dispute have given conflicting accounts, so President Horikita sent me to investigate the truth."

Kashiwagi picked up the intercom and ordered two drinks before answering. "I see."

When Kashiwagi fell silent, Konoe could only put on a dejected expression. "You see, Shop Manager Kashiwagi? I've only just joined the Student Council, and President Horikita has already given me such a difficult task. I'm really not sure I can handle it."

"Not at all. You look like a capable young man, Konoe. I'm sure you'll find a way to resolve this." Kashiwagi took the drinks from the server and handed one to Konoe.

"Resolving it won't be difficult, but as you can see, I'm learning accounting while also playing detective to uncover the truth. I can't handle both at once..." Konoe opened the drink without hesitation, took a sip, and sighed. "I imagine President Horikita plans to have me take over as the Student Council's accountant eventually, so it looks like I'll have to give up on this investigation. At worst, I'll apologize to President Horikita and accept my punishment."

"Come now, don't say that. You must have a lead if you've come here, right, Konoe? Why not tell me about it, and we can think of a solution together? I'm a little older than you, so perhaps I can help."

Konoe stated his goal plainly. "I'd like to get a copy of the surveillance footage from when that student was at your shop."

"Th-that's not possible. It would violate the customer's privacy. Without an official document from the Student Council, I wouldn't dare help you." As the Shop Manager, Kashiwagi could view the surveillance footage whenever he wanted, but handing it over was another matter.

"Shop Manager Kashiwagi, I actually think there are some problems with the school's current business policy. Shops that run at a loss get rent subsidies, while profitable ones lose theirs. Isn't that approach a little too simplistic?"

"...I understand what you mean, Konoe, but how am I supposed to trust you?" Kashiwagi, who ran a shop at this school, naturally knew about the contract.

"I can't offer you any guarantees, Shop Manager Kashiwagi. It's up to you to decide whether you want to invest in me."

"..."

"Although I'm a First Year, plenty of students have applied to join the Student Council and failed. I'm the only one President Horikita personally invited." Konoe shamelessly talked himself up.

"...Let me think about it. Please wait a moment. Excuse me." Kashiwagi left the room, leaving Konoe alone to drink his beverage.

Konoe wasn't sure how things would turn out, but all he could do was sit on the sofa and wait nervously.

Kashiwagi returned to the room more than ten minutes later.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Konoe." Kashiwagi looked pleased. "It's my honor to cooperate with the Student Council. Here's the footage."

Kashiwagi handed him a USB drive, and Konoe was the one who ended up stunned.

"...May I ask how you came to that decision, Shop Manager Kashiwagi?"

"Huh? What decision? As soon as I stepped out, I made a copy of the surveillance footage for you."