The Only Way

"We won't be found innocent in the hearing. Even if a new witness appears from Class C or Class A, we still won't be able to win. But as an alternative, I'd like to ask you to prepare something. For this one and only solution." Beside a bench, Horikita Suzune spoke to Ichinose and Kanzaki, who were sitting across from her.

"What do you mean by something?" Ichinose asked.

"A surveillance camera," Horikita Suzune said, naming the one thing essential to her plan.

Ayanokoji was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Horikita Suzune to come up with this strategy after deciding to stop following in her older brother's footsteps—and without any prompting from him.

Ichinose, who had been calm until then, looked a little stiff. She seemed to think the proposal was reckless and didn't agree right away. Kanzaki also fell silent, as though deep in thought.

"I understand my position very well. I can't make a request like this. So, if you're willing to accept what I'm about to say, could I ask you to help?" Horikita Suzune told everyone present about the only solution she had in mind.

"That's certainly an unexpected idea, and I think the results could be promising, but is something like that really okay?" Ichinose asked, turning to Kanzaki for his opinion.

"This might go against your rules and your moral standards, Ichinose," Kanzaki said.

"Ahaha... That's true. But it might really be the only way to solve this." Ichinose thought it over carefully, then agreed.

A battle full of lies really didn't suit Ichinose, but she had no choice but to get involved for the sake of uncovering the truth.

"But do they actually sell surveillance cameras at school?" Ichinose asked.

"Yeah, they should have some..."

"It sure is lively here. Hey, everyone." Before Horikita could finish, Ying interrupted as he arrived.

"Byakuya, are you done with your Student Council business?" Ichinose asked when she saw Ying.

Kanzaki noticed the bag in Ying's hand and asked, "What's that?"

Ying waved his hand and said, "Don't even ask. That shady store clerk ripped me off again, claiming these were '360-degree, no-blind-spot super cameras.' I just went to report him to the Kouiku Market Supervision Department. But the people there said these really can film 360 degrees without any blind spots. I can't believe it. If I'd known that, I wouldn't have tried to sell those fake goods I got swindled with before..."

As Ying continued his tragic tale, Horikita Suzune said, "Can we borrow those from you?"

"Huh? You know what's inside?" Ying asked, puzzled, then pulled out one of the cameras.

Everyone stared at the bag full of surveillance cameras, stunned.

"Byakuya, it's not too late. Turn back before it's too late," Kanzaki said, patting Ying on the shoulder.

"Yeah, Byakuya. Everyone in Class B will help you."

Ying: ???

"No, I don't think you heard me. Let me say it again. That day, I..."

"Whatever. Can we borrow this equipment? We'll return it later." Horikita Suzune cut off Ying's explanation and held out her hand for the bag.

Ying sighed and handed the bag to Horikita Suzune, saying helplessly, "If you want them, take them. I don't need them anymore anyway."

"What a coincidence, though. We'd just decided to buy surveillance cameras, and now Byakuya shows up with some," Ichinose said with a smile.

"Yeah, I'm surprised myself," Ying replied.

Could something this coincidental really happen? Horikita just happened to notice the cameras, and Ying just happened to show up at that moment... Ayanokoji said nothing, simply watching Ying in silence.

"Now that we have all the equipment, there are two days left until the final hearing. We should hurry and get our plan ready." After saying that, Horikita Suzune began discussing the operation with everyone.

"A little farther that way. Yes, right there. Hold it steady. That's just right." Sotomura, whom the students of Class D called the Doctor, was directing Ying, who was doing the heavy lifting, as he installed the cameras.

"Can you hurry up? I can't hold on much longer...!" Ying had been supporting a pile of surveillance equipment for nearly three hours.

"Keep it up, Byakuya," Ayanokoji said from nearby.

"Ayanokoji! What have you been doing for the past three hours!? You slacker!" Ying yelled at Ayanokoji, who was drinking something.

"I've been keeping watch."

"Didn't Horikita and the others already have someone keeping watch!?"

"They're discussing the plan."

"Byakuya, don't move. I'll have it done in a moment." The Doctor reminded Ying, who could only keep forcing his arms to hold steady.

"Um... do you need any help?"

Ying looked toward the voice. "Sakura!? What are you doing here?"

"Don't move!" Sotomura said.

"Sumimasen (I'm sorry)!"

"Kushida told me you were getting ready for the operation, so I wanted to come see if there was anything I could help with. If only I'd been able to come forward as a witness sooner... I'm sorry, everyone!"

"You don't need to blame yourself, Sakura. Everyone in Class D believes you now." Ying glanced at Ayanokoji as he spoke.

"Yeah. Not just Horikita and me—everyone in Class D believes your testimony, Sakura," Ayanokoji said, watching Sakura as she looked ready to cry.

"That's right. I believe your testimony very much, Sakura," the Doctor said.

"Please, let me help!" Sakura said earnestly.

"Yoshi (All right)! Sakura can keep watch, and Ayanokoji can come over here and do the heavy lifting!" Ying said with a grin.

"I agree as well," the Doctor said.

With Ayanokoji's help, the work was finished soon after.

"Ahh, my shoulders are so sore," Ying complained.

"Would you like me to rub your shoulders, Byakuya?" Sakura offered.

Ying: !

"Oh, you really shouldn't have~. But I'll have to trouble you!" Ying said, then sat down on the stairs with his back to Sakura.

Ying felt a pair of hands press against his shoulders, and then...

"Crack!"

Now that was the real deal!

"Byakuya, does that feel good? Hahaha!" Ying turned around and saw that it was the burly Shibata giving him a "massage."

"Fuck you!" Ying shouted, then unleashed every one of his eighteen "massage" techniques on Shibata, who cried out in delight.

Hamaguchi and Beppu laughed so hard they could barely breathe. Kanzaki and Ichinose couldn't help smiling, either.

Everyone gathered together to discuss the details of the operation. Horikita Suzune, Sudo, and Sakura would go to the Student Council and wait for the retrial. Ayanokoji, Ichinose, Shibata, and the others would carry out the plan to set a trap for Class C, while Ying would continue serving as the host.

"Um, I have something I need to take care of that day, so I might not be able to make it," Sakura said apologetically.

"That's okay, Sakura. With Horikita there, even if our plan fails that day, I'm sure she'll get justice for Class D," Ichinose said.

Ying, who knew the original story well, already knew what was about to happen. He regretted that he wouldn't be able to rush to the scene, since he had to host the Student Council meeting. But then he seemed to realize something and asked Ayanokoji, "Ayanokoji, are you friends with Sakura?"

"No. Why?"

Ying: ...

"Go add her, you idiot!"