In the Student Council Room, Ichinose waited quietly in front of the desk, looking confident and composed.
Since it was lunchtime, she had to wait a while to report the incident.
After all, the Student Council needed a break, too.
After a while, a tall figure finally came through the door.
"Ichinose, we meet again. What brings you here today?"
Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses, his expression calm. His gaze happened to settle on the little object in the girl's hand.
"President Horikita, I have something to give you," Ichinose said with a smile. "It's evidence concerning the fight between Sudo and the students from Class C."
"Oh?" Horikita Manabu's expression grew intent. "Is it evidence that clearly describes what happened?"
"Yes. Please listen."
Ichinose took out her phone, opened the call history, and set it on the desk. Then she took the butterfly-shaped object in her other hand, opened it halfway, and pressed the button inside. A recording played from it.
As the recording played, Horikita Manabu listened to the whole thing. Before he knew it, the corner of his mouth had lifted into a faint smile.
"Interesting," he said slowly. "Thanks for your efforts. I'll play this recording as evidence from the third party at next week's hearing."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Ichinose finished with a polite, sweet smile.
In a secluded corner of the school building.
I told you, one clown was enough.
Ayanokoji watched the scene before him with an impassive look.
Horikita had been put on the back foot again.
Since the recording wasn't absolutely reliable evidence, the three students from Class C had found some of their nerve again.
"Do what you want. Even if you bring that up at next week's hearing, it won't prove that we were the ones who provoked Sudo... Who knows if you edited that recording?"
"No, it was edited! We're the victims here. Don't try to twist the truth!"
The three protested loudly. They were still a little rattled, but now they had to stand their ground and keep playing the victims.
After all, if they gave themselves away too easily, they'd be going against Ryuen—and he and that big, dark thing under his command wouldn't let them off lightly!
Uh... I guess that wasn't really a problem.
Meanwhile, Horikita was at a loss in the face of Ishizaki and the others' shamelessness.
She pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow, then unconsciously glanced at Ayanokoji, who was standing beside her with a vacant look on his face. Her expression seemed to ask, Ayanokoji, why are you just standing there?
Ayanokoji wanted to say something, but figured it wasn't time yet.
"Enough of this. We're leaving!"
Ishizaki raised his voice, then beckoned to his two companions and started back, afraid they'd let something slip if they stayed any longer!
Horikita was powerless to stop them. All she could do was watch them leave, a hint of frustration in her reddish-purple eyes.
"Hey, Horikita. Do you think this has anything in common with Ike nearly getting expelled last time?"
After watching the three students from Class C leave, Ayanokoji finally spoke, his eyes straying to Horikita's delicate profile.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you saying they're all idiots?"
"Yeah."
Ayanokoji spoke flatly.
Horikita almost doubted her ears. She hadn't expected him to agree so seriously.
That had only been an angry remark she'd tossed out.
While she stood there frowning in surprise, Ayanokoji continued, "They're always breaking school rules and don't watch what they say or do. In a situation like this, they'll naturally be at a disadvantage in the eyes of public opinion..."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward the backs of Ishizaki and the other two in the distance. "So, Horikita, we need to put both sides on equal footing. Then, together with the recording you have, we might be able to keep Sudo from being expelled and get him a lighter punishment."
Horikita froze for a moment, then asked uncertainly, "Do you want me to dig up dirt on Ishizaki and the others?"
Ayanokoji nodded slightly.
To increase their chances of winning next week, he'd decided to add another layer of insurance.
Horikita thought it over for a while, then agreed with Ayanokoji's idea.
And so, the two reached an agreement once more and began preparing a draft for next week's hearing...
Of course, Horikita was the only one who felt tense. Ayanokoji was still enjoying himself.
He didn't know why this girl was so invested in the incident. Seeing her looking so serious and conflicted brought that thought back to his mind.
Could she... really like Sudo?
Time flew by, and before long, the next week arrived.
On the day of the hearing, Hirata gave his seat to Ayanokoji. Class D's representatives were now Ayanokoji, Horikita Suzune, the student involved, Ken Sudō, and their homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae.
Class C was represented by the same three students as before, along with their homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma.
The two classes sat on opposite sides, facing off against each other.
Before long, Horikita Manabu walked in, as solemn as ever, giving the impression of an impartial judge. A mascot carrying his documents followed behind him.
He took his seat, accepted the documents from Tachibana Akane, and scanned the attendees on both sides. His gaze lingered on Ayanokoji for a moment before he looked away, cleared his throat, and announced the start of the hearing.
However,
Class D immediately fell behind.
The three students on the other side bombarded them with accusations, while only Sudo, the student involved, actively responded and argued back. Class D was having a hard time keeping up.
After a few rounds, Ishizaki and the other two brought out their trump card, planning to crush their opponents in one fell swoop!
"Mr. President, Sudo's always been arrogant and overbearing. He doesn't care about the school rules, and he's extremely violent. What he did to us this time is completely in line with his usual behavior. Someone like him is nothing but a menace to the school!"
"Yeah, I don't know how many more people he'll beat up. My arm still hurts."
"Exactly! President, you have to give us justice!"
Horikita Manabu glanced at them without saying anything, then shifted his gaze to the girl who hadn't spoken a word since the hearing began. His eyes were cold.
Ayanokoji caught his look and glanced at the girl beside him as well, his eyes widening slightly.
Wow, this was the first time he'd seen her so nervous. She looked so timid, as if she'd wet her pants in class and was afraid someone would notice.
Although seeing the girl like this excited Ayanokoji a little, he knew now wasn't the time to gloat.
After a brief hesitation, he lowered his shoulder slightly and reached out toward the girl's slender waist.
He didn't mean anything by it. He just wanted to help her loosen up.
As soon as his hand touched her slim waist, Ayanokoji gave it a gentle squeeze, and the girl let out a coquettish cry.
"Ah~"
?
Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's. Ayanokoji wasn't satisfied.
The ancient poem "Song of the Pipa" had taught him that to play the pipa well, one had to pluck and stroke the strings gently, slowly, and in turn. The girl's waist was as slender as a pipa string, so the same principle must apply. Then...
What was he waiting for?
Ayanokoji's hand twitched, and he gave her a good massage.
The next second, Horikita Suzune burst into laughter as bright as the sound of wind chimes, drawing everyone's attention.
"Hahahahahaha—waaah..."
Well, she definitely seemed a lot more relaxed. Ayanokoji lifted the corner of his mouth in satisfaction.
Before you continue