"Class D's Ayanokoji, I thought you'd contact me sooner." In the Student Council President's office, Sawahara watched his visitor and breathed a sigh of relief. If the other boy had remained so composed, he would have had to consider Plan C and Plan D.
"...I just gathered some information." Ayanokoji looked at Sawahara expressionlessly. He had expected Sawahara to reach out to him again, but the other boy had made no move after the Sports Festival. Even knowing Sawahara was doing it on purpose, he had no choice but to come here. After all, he was the one at a disadvantage.
"Looks like you've got your evidence ready?" Sawahara raised an eyebrow. As expected, the other boy had already figured out quite a bit.
"Yeah, but I still have one question."
"As Student Council President, I'd be happy to answer any questions students have about the school." Sawahara calmly set the limits of what he would discuss. Anything about the school was fair game; anything about the White Room was not.
"Do teachers have the authority to expel students directly?" Ayanokoji asked the question that mattered most to him.
"No." Sawahara answered without hesitation. "Teachers at any school don't have the authority to expel students directly."
That was especially true at a school that gave so much power to its students. But that didn't mean teachers were powerless.
"Still, they can get a student expelled indirectly by manipulating them into breaking the rules set by the S System."
"Ayanokoji, what do you want with me?"
Chabashira Sae looked at Ayanokoji, who was waiting nearby, her brow furrowed. That afternoon, she had suddenly received a message from him asking to meet by the Artificial Lake at ten that night.
"I'm not the one who wants to see you." Ayanokoji looked