The Verdict / I Can Only Touch You for a Little While

She would harshly reject someone she disliked, but this was Aoyama Shiki.

A boy who has been staying by her side since the start of the semester, treating her specially and giving her more trust than others.

Aoyama is a suspicious person and doesn't easily give his trust.

The longer Kamuro stayed by Aoyama's side, the more he realized this fact and began to wonder why Aoyama trusted him no less than Yamamura did.

Mingming Yamamura is the obvious one; she puts her heart into him and obeys his every whim.

Aoyama said seriously, "This is no joke."

I know I'm not joking, but it would be too embarrassing to nod in agreement.

And this happened in public; what if someone saw it?

What I want to hear now is a playful reply like, "If Kamuro is joking, then I'm the one who should be angry."

Looking into Aoyama's earnest eyes, Kamuro's emotions churned even more intensely. Knowing Aoyama well, she knew that once she agreed, Aoyama would definitely pat her head.

This awful head-patting freak, I don't know why he likes to pat girls' heads so much.

Hateful!

"I can agree to your request, but there are three rules. First, you can't touch my head without my permission." Annoyed, Kamuro teleported two steps away from Aoyama.

But now...

"Then forget it."

"I'll do Masumi."

Standing at attention, Aoyama solemnly pledged his allegiance.

Chapter 189 Judgment

"Masumi."

"What's wrong now?"

"I just wanted to call you."

"... troublesome guy."

The following afternoon, Horikita Manabu, the Student Council President known for his exceptional efficiency, convened a meeting in the Student Council room with those involved in yesterday's conflict.

The homeroom teachers from both sides were naturally among those invited.

Following Mr. Mashima's sturdy figure, Kamuro, with a pout, and Aoyama, grinning, entered the Student Council room one after the other.

Looks like you're badly injured, but you're just unlucky.

Meeting the angry gaze of Mizowaki, whose left leg was in a cast and who was sitting in a wheelchair, Aoyama felt no remorse whatsoever.

He didn't hold back much with that back throw; there was nothing he could do even if he bumped into the nearby sink.

"Regarding the violent incident that occurred on August 20th, we will now hold a cross-examination session among those involved."

"The presentation at the meeting will be given by me— Student Council Secretary Tachibana Akane."

Once everyone was seated, Tachibana Akane immediately stepped forward to begin chairing the meeting, while Horikita Manabu sat calmly in the head seat with his fingers interlaced, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful.

"The only definitive evidence in the complaint filed by Aoyama from Class 1-A that Mizowaki did indeed engage in malicious stalking on that day, and that Mizowaki's arm was scratched by Mizowaki."

"I didn't! That's impossible!"

As a member of the Student Council, even though he knew it was inappropriate, Mizowaki couldn't help but shout it out.

Yesterday he was constantly on the defensive and had no chance to fight back. How could Aoyama slander him without any evidence? Moreover, the Student Council said they have solid evidence.

"Mr. Mashima, when I was untying you, I made a point of checking between your fingernails after being reminded, and I clearly found tiny traces of blood."

The doctor who examined you yesterday didn't find any bloodstains or anything like that on your body.

Calmly explaining the situation to Mizowaki, Tachibana Akane, holding a writing tablet, looked every bit like a secretary, exuding a somewhat heroic air.

Looking at Tachibana Akane's Aoyama, Aoyama couldn't help but imagine that when he became the Student Council President, his lovely Masumi would stand majestically beside him, just like Tachibana Akane.

That must be really cool.

Mizowaki was so angry that his hands trembled. "It must have been Aoyama who knocked me unconscious and then slashed my hand like that."

Tachibana Akane's expression remained unchanged. "But based on the information the Student Council found out, it's almost certain that Mizowaki- san's claim of fainting is a lie."

"Impossible, absolutely impossible, I'm 100% sure I just passed out."

With a fierce and agitated expression, Mizowaki tried to stand up from his wheelchair, but the moment his left foot touched the ground, he turned pale and sat back down.

Judging from the tension in his face, he's probably in a lot of pain.

Nagumo put his hand on Mizowaki's shoulder to comfort him, "On what basis did the Student Council conclude that Mizowaki is lying?"

"First, there's eyewitness testimony. According to the surveillance footage outside, Kamuro went into the restroom shortly after Mizowaki entered, and when she heard the arguing turn into a fight, she immediately went in."

"When she went in, she found bloodstains on Aoyama's arm, but she didn't see Mizowaki Matoba."

"Kamuro and Aoyama are in the same class and have a very good personal relationship. It's normal for him to lie to protect his own classmates." Nagumo questioned, his expression slightly cold.

If a witness has a good relationship with the person involved, the credibility of their testimony will be greatly reduced, but that's all.

According to the surveillance footage, Kamuro entered the men's restroom almost immediately after Mizowaki, undoubtedly witnessing the entire incident.

"The Student Council wouldn't judge Mizowaki as lying based solely on witness testimony." Horikita Manabu raised his hand to stop Tachibana Akane from answering, and turned his gaze to Mizowaki.

"In his subsequent account to Mr. Mashima, Mizowaki explicitly mentioned that it was Aoyama who attacked him immediately after he entered the restroom. When he was carried and thrown to the ground, writhing in pain, Aoyama stomped hard on his forehead."

"Then he fainted, and the first person he saw when he woke up was Mr. Mashima."

Without flinching, Mizowaki Horikita Manabu's cold gaze head-on and nodded confidently.

"Yes, that's right, it must have been Aoyama who grabbed my hand and cut himself while I was unconscious."

"That's exactly what Mizowaki- kun told me back then."

Facing Horikita Manabu's cold gaze, Mashima calmly spoke, and their answers definitively confirmed Mizowaki's claim that he had fainted.

This is completely different from what Kamuro and Aoyama said.

"You are all members of the Student Council, and I believe you know that being caught lying will be considered as disrespect for the Student Council, and the only punishment awaiting you is expulsion."

Pushing up his glasses, Horikita Manabu issued his final ultimatum with a blank expression.

In order to uphold the authority of the Student Council, expulsion is a necessary punishment for liars. If we don't make an example of them, the slanderous behavior among students will put the Student Council's work in a difficult situation.

If fights in the restrooms become frequent, it will cause problems not only for the Student Council but also for the school itself.

Because no matter what, you can't install surveillance cameras in the toilet.

Calmly, Kamuro raised his hand. "I assure you that my testimony is not a lie."

Me too.

With a smile playing on his lips, Aoyama looked at Kamuro and decisively followed.

Regarding the matter of slandering Mizowaki, he took a huge risk by getting involved himself. If Kamuro recorded the conversation with him and betrayed him, he would only face the punishment of being expelled from school.

After entering the school, for the first time, he entrusted his safety to someone else.

"I... I can also guarantee that everything I said is true."

Seeing that the two of them made their promises without the slightest hesitation, Mizowaki began to wonder if he had really not fainted. Were these two really not afraid of being expelled from school?

"Alright, let's continue the meeting, Orange."

"Understood, Chairman."

Taking another step forward, Tachibana Akane turned her gaze to Mizowaki.

"Based on the statement that Mizowaki was knocked unconscious by a severe blow to the head, we had the attending physician conduct a thorough examination of Mizowaki's head yesterday, including a brain CT scan."

"According to the doctor's diagnosis, there is no visible sign of an attack on the surface of Mizowaki's head."

"Upon questioning, there was no abnormal pain reported, and the brain CT scan showed no abnormalities. The conclusion is that Mizowaki did not suffer a severe blow to the head, or the force of the attack was too weak to knock him unconscious."

"Furthermore, based on doctors' experience, people experiencing severe pain in their left leg and back generally do not faint; the pain will keep them conscious."

A person suffering from severe pain cannot faint without the help of medication.

For example, the most common anesthetic drugs, which are also the ones that ordinary people simply cannot obtain.

"Impossible! I'm one hundred percent sure! I lost my memory for a period of time!" Mizowaki shouted, his face contorted in a rage.

He was convinced that the doctor must have taken money from Aoyama to make that diagnosis.

Chapter 190 Only able to touch for a short while

"Could it be an anesthetic?"

Nagumo questioned this, refusing to believe that Mizowaki would lie to him about something like this.

Given that Mizowaki had indeed fainted, he could only think of two possibilities: either the doctor gave a false report, or Mizowaki had been drugged unintentionally.

"We also had the hospital examine it, and they said they couldn't find anything."

"However, they also mentioned the possibility that it may have already been metabolized, because several hours had passed between the testing and the incident."

"Given that there have been no cases of stolen anesthetic drugs at the hospital, and considering that anesthetic drugs are controlled substances—not to mention students, even adults who are not medical workers cannot obtain them—wouldn't Student Council consider this possibility?"

Anesthesia can put a person in a completely controlled situation, so it is strictly controlled in every country.

In strict countries, the use of every narcotic drug must be recorded and preserved for years.

"We request a suspension of the meeting. During the suspension, we will search for new evidence to prove that Mizowaki was not lying."

All the evidence pointed to Mizowaki lying, and with the situation becoming overwhelmingly unfavorable, Nagumo proposed suspending the meeting and delaying the Student Council's verdict.

When Horikita Manabu obtained a promise from the three that his words were not false, the future of each being equally at fault was already lost.

In order to uphold the authority of the Student Council and make an example of someone, one side will inevitably face the severe punishment of expulsion from the Student Council, serving as a warning to students of all grades to think carefully about the consequences before causing trouble, and whether they can accept them.

This is an inescapable trend, and even if things go wrong on Aoyama's side, Horikita Manabu probably won't show any mercy.

"Yes, that's your right too."

"I will make a judgment in three days based on the latest information."

Maintaining his expressionless, indifferent demeanor, Horikita Manabu abruptly ended the interrogation.

Following behind Mashima, Aoyama led Kamuro out of the Student Council room. At the entrance of the teaching building, Mashima, who was walking in front, stopped and looked at the two of them with a serious expression.

The situation was clearly in his students' favor, but he couldn't be happy at all.

His years of social experience told him that this incident was most likely orchestrated by his good student, Aoyama Shiki, to Mizowaki.

"There's a saying: 'Better to be upright and lacking than to be wicked and abundant,'" Mashima admonished sternly.

Based on the current situation, Mizowaki is likely to be expelled from school, all of which is a consequence of Aoyama's masterpiece.

If possible, he hoped that Aoyama could stay on the right path, instead of learning from Ryuen or Nagumo, whose methods became increasingly dirty and whose actions became extreme.

Without rebuttal, Aoyama glared angrily at Mashima, "The teacher's values are somewhat incompatible with this school."

Advanced Nurturing High School informs its students on the very first day of school that this is a place where meritocracy reigns supreme.

From the school rules, he could only see the words "cannibalism," and the word "justice" was nowhere to be found.

Over 90 percent of the students in the school are disposable resources used to cultivate a select few elites, and Mashima, as the homeroom teacher of Class 1-A, must know this.

"... I lost my composure, I'm sorry." Mashima's face stiffened slightly before he lowered his head, not expecting Aoyama's response.

"No need to apologize, Mashima. I know you meant no harm." Aoyama said casually. "However, if you're going to lecture me, I suggest you go to Sakayanagi Arisu instead."

"Because I am aware that I haven't done good deeds, while Sakayanagi hasn't, and I need your guidance, teacher."

In terms of being inhuman, Sakayanagi is far more serious than him.

He treated his enemies inhumanely, but Sakayanagi not only treated his enemies inhumanely, but also those who followed him. The fact that he wasn't killed later was all because of his good family background.

"Forget it, what right do I have to criticize you geniuses?"

A wry smile appeared on his serious face, and Mashima quickly left without looking back.

Although Aoyama Shiki acted arrogantly, he could still sense some respect from him. As for Sakayanagi Arisu, the so-called respect was completely superficial.

Although it was well concealed, his experience still allowed him to detect it.

Preaching to Sakayanagi Arisu?

Mashima said he didn't want to lose face, but his students retorted without holding back.