Surveillance Footage

Although Kashiwagi seemed a little strange somehow, Konoe still accepted the USB drive containing surveillance footage of a Class C gathering.

When Kashiwagi had left, his eyes had been full of doubt and worry. When he came back, though, he'd been enthusiastic. He must have confirmed some information while he was away.

Regardless, Konoe took the USB drive straight back to his dorm and watched the footage on his computer.

The room Class C used was quite large, almost like a semi-public space. As a result, it had several camera angles, though none of the recordings had audio.

Multicolored neon lights swept across the room, where the juices on offer came in every color. A red-haired man sat in the center, with even a female student pouring him a drink.

This must be Ryuen Kakeru, the current representative of Class C, the one Shiina mentioned... Konoe thought. The man looked mature, with sharp eyes, like someone who could make a decision and take action in an instant.

Konoe watched the footage from each angle at high speed. At last, he spotted something useful.

The footage showed a student who seemed to be injured walking into the room with one arm held against his body during Class C's gathering the day before. He nervously reported something to Ryuen.

This must be Ishizaki Daichi, the Class C complainant. Konoe was puzzled, though. Ishizaki's injuries didn't look too serious. Even if Class C's complaint was upheld, the incident could still be treated as a student brawl, in which case Sudo would only be suspended at worst.

But what happened next surprised Konoe. A dark-skinned man, several times larger than an ordinary student, stepped out from beside Ryuen and knocked Ishizaki to the ground with a few punches. Blood immediately ran from Ishizaki's nose, and a short while later, his face was bruised and swollen.

I see. They want to make Sudo's punishment more severe by doing this before filing the complaint? Class C's methods are even beyond what I'd imagined... Konoe thought, frowning.

This information was useful, but it wasn't enough to tip the scales in favor of the complaint. At most, it could help keep Sudo from being expelled.

This is enough. Next, I just have to finish the work Horikita Manabu gave me and get the Student Council's complaint documents, Konoe thought.

As long as he got the Student Council's file, he could read the basic descriptions of the injuries suffered by the three students who had filed complaints against Class C. If Ryuen's side had caused their injuries before they filed the complaints, then this footage could be used to keep Class C in check. If not, the Student Council's ruling would take their injuries into account, and Sudo wouldn't be expelled. At most, he'd be suspended and his class would lose some points.

Class C probably wasn't making accusations without a reason. Perhaps they were using this method to test the School Administration's limits. Either way, Ryuen would surely make the three students' injuries worse before filing the complaint.

Konoe closed the video and made a backup on his computer, then prepared to memorize the Student Council's accounting materials. Just then, his phone chimed with a text message.

Ayanokoji: "I've persuaded Horikita."

After reading it, Konoe was about to text Ayanokoji and ask how he'd persuaded Horikita when his phone suddenly rang. The caller was Horikita Suzune.

"What is it?" Ever since Horikita had taken his points last time, Konoe had treated her rather rudely, but she didn't seem to mind at all.

Horikita's voice came through the receiver. "I just heard something. Is it true that you joined the Student Council?"

As soon as he heard that, Konoe understood how Ayanokoji had persuaded Horikita Suzune. He must have used Konoe's Student Council position to convince her, after learning about her relationship with Horikita Manabu that night.

Konoe resented Ayanokoji for it, but he could only play along. "That's right. Horikita Manabu is your brother, isn't he? He often assigns me work."

"..." Horikita fell silent.

"Well?" Konoe pressed impatiently.

"What are you planning to do about Sudo's situation?"

"I've looked into it. This was indeed an attack by Class C against Class D."

"If so, do you know who the witnesses are?"

Konoe asked in surprise, "Huh? Witnesses?"

"...You're hopeless. You haven't even figured that out? Sudo said it seemed like someone else had been watching at the time."

"Is that all? What if he was mistaken?"

"Regardless, I'll investigate along those lines. Show me what a Student Council member can do."

Horikita sounded full of fighting spirit, as if she wanted to use this matter to prove herself better than Konoe.

"I don't know where this competitive streak of yours came from, but I'm not planning to do anything else. I can guarantee that Sudo won't be expelled. Class D's score might drop again, though."

Horikita exclaimed in disbelief, "What?! You got Ayanokoji to persuade me to take action, but now you're not going to help? Konoe, don't you think that's going too far?"

"Not at all. I understand now why you didn't want to help in the first place. Your brother's assignment is more important to me now. That's all." Konoe hung up before Horikita could reply.

He sighed, then put the matter out of his mind. After composing himself, he prepared to memorize the Student Council's shop data.

Several hours passed. Combined with the effort he'd put in over the past few days, they were finally enough for Konoe to commit the massive amount of shop data to memory.

It was already the middle of the night. Konoe stretched, then climbed straight into bed.