The Outcome

"What do you two teachers think?" Manabu Horikita asked, turning to the two teachers who had remained silent throughout the hearing.

"Let the students decide this matter. What do you think, Takeda-sensei?" Chabashira gave her opinion in response to the president's question, then looked over at Takeda-sensei, seated on the other side.

"I agree with Chabashira-sensei," Takeda-sensei said with a nod.

"Then I'll announce the result of the hearing. Before that, will both sides accept a private settlement?" Manabu Horikita asked.

"I hope you'll both think this through carefully. If you decide to proceed according to the ruling, Ken Sudō will be suspended for a week, and Kushida Kikyo and Nomura will each be fined 10,000 Private Points."

Ken Sudō's punishment was for his violent behavior. However, since no one had been injured and it was difficult to claim that any property had been damaged, his punishment was limited to a one-week suspension.

Kushida Kikyo and Nomura were being punished for buying and selling exam questions. Since no one had reported such behavior in previous years, there were no past cases to use as a reference. Manabu Horikita had decided on the severity of the punishment himself.

"Please consider this carefully," Manabu Horikita said, his tone cautionary. "Midterms are in three days. If you're suspended at a time like this..."

Sudō's simple mind turned the matter over. So that means I won't have to take the exam?

"If you miss the exam because of a punishment, your score will be zero," Manabu Horikita warned him further. "In other words, you'll be expelled."

"What?! There's no way I can accept that!" Sudō sprang to his feet. He'd worked so hard to get into the school, and the teachers at the Basketball Club had taken notice of him. He even had a chance of making the official team. There was no way he'd willingly get expelled now.

"What about you?" Manabu Horikita asked, turning to Nomura.

"100,000 points each. That's what it'll take for me to agree to a settlement." Nomura took a deep breath and stated his terms.

That was the main reason he'd cooperated with Sawahara's plan: poverty. As a third-year student in Class D, he'd more or less given up on moving up to a better class. On top of that, his class had few Class Points, so he never had much money to spend each month.

If he could get his hands on such a large sum of Private Points, he didn't care if he embarrassed himself. Being broke was more embarrassing, wasn't it?

"How could we possibly come up with that many points?!" Sudō glared at Nomura. There was no way he could afford that much. He'd nearly used up all his points in the first month.

"..." Kushida Kikyo looked troubled. "100,000 points... Could you lower it a little?"

She was in a difficult position too. Having so many friends meant plenty of social expenses, and Class D hadn't received a single point this month. She'd nearly spent all of hers as well.

In fact, she thought it might be better to simply accept the ruling. All she had to do was pay a 10,000-point fine, and Sudō would be expelled anyway. Afterward, she could go back to class and pin all the blame on him.

But Sudō was right beside her, and the Student Council President and teachers were there too. She didn't want them to see this side of her.

Go on, argue, you two. Keep arguing. As long as we can't reach a settlement...

Was there really such a thing as an angel in this world? Wasn't it all just an act?

"No. It's 100,000 points each." Nomura gritted his teeth and refused to budge.

"If you don't agree, then you can get expelled."

"Damn it, fine! I'll pay you the 100,000 points later, okay?" Sudō said through gritted teeth. "But Kushida had nothing to do with this. I was the one who lost my temper and got violent. If you've got a problem, take it up with me."

He didn't want to be expelled. He wanted to graduate from this school and become a great basketball player.

He wasn't very smart, but even he could see that the guy across from him was trying to use this opportunity to extort them. But he was the one who'd done something wrong, the one who'd insulted Nomura, and the one who'd refused to listen. Kushida had nothing to do with it, so he had to take responsibility himself.

He didn't want to become an irresponsible bastard like his parents.

"No, no way. It's 100,000 points each, for a total of 200,000." Nomura hesitated, but still wouldn't give in.

"Don't push it, you bastard!"

"It's okay, Sudō." Kushida spoke up. There was no way she could abandon Sudō outright now. If she stayed indifferent after he'd stepped up like this, she wouldn't be able to keep up her sweet, angelic image.

"If I hadn't asked you to come with me, this wouldn't have happened. I'm responsible too.

But we can't come up with that many points right away. Could you give us a few extra days?"

"Whew. Okay." Nomura let out a breath of relief. Honestly, Sudō's attitude had scared him. If the extortion failed, he'd have to pay 10,000 points himself. Fortunately, they'd finally reached an agreement.

"But you'll have to sign a contract. The points must be transferred before the midterms."

"Since both sides have agreed to a private settlement, this hearing is now over." After confirming that they'd reached an agreement, Manabu Horikita brought the hearing to a close.

By the time the hearing ended, it was nearly two o'clock. Manabu Horikita still hadn't had lunch because of the proceedings. Just as he was about to head to the cafeteria, he received a message on his phone.

*Good afternoon, President.

The hearing should be over by now, if I've got the timing right. Interested in talking? At the same café as last time.*

The message was from Sawahara, and it had arrived right on time. That made it clear he'd sent it after hearing that the proceedings were over.

It was as if he were openly telling Manabu Horikita that he was involved in what had happened.

Manabu Horikita picked up his phone and replied with a single word.

Sure.