After lunch, I was walking down the hallway, planning to catch my breath at the observation deck and ease the fatigue accumulated from life on the deserted island. Then, an argument suddenly broke out around the corner.
"Isn't it about time you admitted it, Hashimoto?! You're the one who betrayed the class!"
"Quit slandering me. I didn't betray the class."
Peeking around the corner, I saw the Katsuragi Faction, led by Totsuka, surrounding Hashimoto. Despite the accusations, Hashimoto was still grinning. It seemed they had decided he was the one who had sold out the class's information.
After assessing the situation, I decided to step in and defuse things. After all, I had asked Hashimoto for help during this incident, so it was only right that I lent him a hand.
"Hey, hey. Isn't it a little much for so many of you to gang up on a classmate?"
The instant I showed myself, Katsuragi fixed me with a sharp glare. Totsuka's face was full of rage, while the Katsuragi Faction's lackeys showed a lesser degree of hostility. Only Hashimoto gave me a breezy smile and waved. "Yo, Hikigaya. Finished eating?"
"Just did."
"Where are Kamuro and Shiina?"
"They said they had to organize their luggage, so we split up for now. We're meeting at the observation deck later."
"Heh, resting at the observation deck? Want to hit the pool after?"
"Stop joking around!" Totsuka suddenly roared.
"Hey, hey, watch your tone. And why am I getting yelled at too?"
"Quit playing dumb! You, Hashimoto, and Kamuro joined forces to bring down Class A, didn't you? Otherwise, how could you have identified the leader?!"
Apparently, Totsuka saw us as being in the same group. He was not entirely wrong, but for the sake of those two, I had to deny