A Good Story, A Good Design, A Good Evidence

"Class 1-C has filed a complaint stating that Sudō from Class D intentionally provoked them and left after beating the three of them into serious injury. Regarding this, does Class D have anything to say?"

Sudō was just about to speak when he was held back by Ayanokōji at his side; he couldn't let him make things even more chaotic here.

However, Horikita seemed to have gone blank, keeping her head down and remaining silent.

With no other choice, Ayanokōji had to poke Shinjo on the side.

"Well, it can't be helped. I'll speak on behalf of Class D, is that alright?"

"Please, go ahead."

Ishizaki on the opposite side clearly recognized Shinjo; come to think of it, he really had to thank the guy for today's events.

If he hadn't dropped a hint, Brother Ryuen wouldn't have been able to prepare so thoroughly—selecting the targets, picking the location, and even forging the evidence...

[You could talk until the world ends, but you're never going to clear Sudō of this crime!!]

"Huh? Ishizaki, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Called out by name, Ishizaki hurriedly looked away and spat:

"Pah! Do you think you're some kind of handsome hunk or beauty?"

"Then why are you staring at me? Oh! I get it. After Ryuen went back last time, he took his leftover anger out on you, and now you're holding a grudge against me, right?!"

"That... what does that have to do with you?"

"Ha! I knew it, that big brother of yours..."

Seeing the topic veering off course, Sakagami on the side hurriedly spoke up to rescue Ishizaki:

"This student, aren't we supposed to be discussing the issue of Sudō's assault? You seem to have gone off-topic."

"Exactly! What does our class's business have to do with you?!"

Shinjo shrugged, indicating that it truly was none of his business, but he just felt that Ishizaki's expression was a provocation, which was why he had asked that question.

"Regarding the issue of Sudō's assault... I would like to say that this is complete slander, naked slander. As for this, I would like to see what evidence Class 1-C has to prove that Sudō beat you all unilaterally?"

Horikita Manabu did not respond, instead handing the floor over to Class 1-C.

Having made preparations well in advance, they were clearly not going to be stumped by this question. While pointing to the injuries on his own body, one of them took out a photograph.

"First of all, Sudō himself should have admitted that he threw the first punch. Furthermore, someone happened to see him with the three of us that day, and this photo is ironclad proof of Sudō grabbing my collar and assaulting me!"

The photo was very clear; the lighting, composition, and angle could all be described as perfect.

Although in the eyes of a photography expert, this would undoubtedly deepen the suspicion that they had intentionally framed him, the fact that Sudō had committed assault was an undeniable reality.

Horikita Manabu clearly saw through some of the tricks, but evidence was evidence. Compared to Class D's empty words, the preparations made by Class 1-C were indeed very thorough.

Moreover, the injuries on those three people could not be faked; the Health Department teachers had specifically prepared a ward for them and issued medical reports.

[They really filled in the missing pieces of evidence this time. A good story, a good design, good evidence... they really caught everyone off guard.]

"Now, does Class D have anything else to say?"

"This is a frame-up! Yes! I admit I threw a punch, but that's because they from Class 1-C hit me first! I was only acting in self-defense!!!"

Sudō broke free from Ayanokōji and hurriedly stood up to defend himself.

Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and cast a casual glance at where his sister was sitting. After sighing inwardly, he said:

"Then, can you provide any relevant evidence?"

"Evidence!..."

In these few days, he had managed to find at most one witness, but that witness didn't seem to want to testify for him at all!

So, Sudō felt like a deflated balloon, unable to say another word, and his entire demeanor became dejected.

"Regarding evidence, we are still collecting it, so..."

Shinjo and Ayanokōji didn't say anything more either. The current situation was clearly unfavorable for Class D; no matter how capable the two of them were, there was nothing they could do right now.

"See? Student Council President, they can't find any evidence at all! We request once again that a dangerous element like Sudō be expelled!"

Class 1-C hurriedly took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.

"Regarding such a malicious incident, if it is verified, the school will inevitably handle it seriously. However, the school's disciplinary action will not be officially executed until next Tuesday, at which time I will personally be in charge of the review."

"The evidence is already conclusive now, isn't it..."

"Are you questioning the decision of the Student Council?"

Hearing someone sounding unconvinced, Tachibana Akane naturally took the initiative to become Horikita Manabu's mouthpiece.

Seeing this, Komiya from Class 1-C didn't dare to say anything more; it was only a matter of waiting a few more days...

Just as everyone thought the meeting was about to adjourn, Horikita Manabu spoke again, asking the empty air:

"Do you have nothing to say on your end?"

?????

Upon hearing this, Horikita Suzune felt a surge of excitement. She had thought she wasn't worthy of being in her brother's eyes, but to think, her brother was actually still paying attention to her?!

And so, she struggled to open her mouth:

"I..."

"Well, not yet. Do you intend to go over and have a cup of tea?"

Just as she managed to spit out a single word, she heard Shinjo chime in from the side.

"That sounds good, let's go together, Tachibana."

"Yes! President."

????????

Horikita Suzune looked toward her brother in a daze, but Horikita Manabu had already left the conference room with his little secretary, following Shinjo.

The people from Class 1-C had no desire to linger here either, so they stood up and left as well.

Because Sudō was in such a foul mood, he could go without anything else, but not basketball! He had finally become a regular member, yet now there was a high possibility he would lose his eligibility due to the persecution of a petty person.

And so, after telling Ayanokōji that he was "in a bad mood and wanted to go out for some air," he walked out with his head hung low.

"Horikita, are you alright?"

"I..."

Horikita Suzune didn't know if she was alright. If what had just happened wasn't a hallucination, did that mean her brother really hadn't been paying attention to her?

Furthermore, why was he with Shinjo...

No!

My brother said "over there," but that "over there" clearly didn't refer to Class D! So what could it be?

With Horikita Manabu no longer present, Horikita Suzune's intelligence reclaimed the high ground.

Her listless aura revived as if rotten wood had encountered spring.

Chabashira Sae naturally noticed the curiosity in Horikita's eyes and simply spoke up to explain it to her:

"Yorozuya. You should have heard of it, right? Yorozuya is the club created by that guy, specifically responsible for handling things that are not easy for ordinary people to deal with, but the prerequisite is that you have to pay."

"Yorozuya?!"

How could Horikita forget that name? Even her brother had personally given a presentation for this Yorozuya, which was enough to prove that the place had already earned his approval.

Therefore, she had always been looking for an opportunity to join Yorozuya. Because she felt she didn't have the qualifications to stand by her brother's side, she hadn't wanted to join the Student Council.

However, because she had been unable to free herself from trivial matters, she had never gone to visit it in person.

And now, Chabashira-sensei was actually telling her that Yorozuya was the club created by that Shinjo; how could she possibly remain calm?

"Chabashira-sensei, are you telling the truth?"

Chabashira nodded:

"But there is one prerequisite I must tell you: Yorozuya is Yorozuya, and Shinjo is Shinjo. As for the rest, you can go to the 4th floor of the Activity Building and ask him yourself."

"Yorozuya..."