A Good Story, Good Design, Good Evidence

"Class C is accusing Sudo from Class D of deliberately provoking them, then leaving after beating the three of them so badly they were seriously injured. Does Class D have anything to say about this?"

Sudo was just about to speak when Ayanokoji stopped him. They couldn't let him make an even bigger mess of things here.

But Horikita seemed to have gone stupid. She just kept her head down and said nothing.

With no other choice, Ayanokoji could only poke Shinjo beside him.

"Well, this can't be helped. I'll speak on behalf of Class D, then. Is that all right?"

"Go ahead."

Ishizaki on the other side clearly knew Shinjo. Come to think of it, they really did owe him a lot for what happened today.

If he hadn't given them a heads-up, Big Brother Ryuen couldn't have prepared so thoroughly—choosing their targets, picking the location, forging evidence...

No matter how much you turn this place upside down today, you won't get Sudo off the hook!!

"Huh? Ishizaki, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Ishizaki quickly looked away when Shinjo called his name, then spat out,

"Pah! Who do you think you are, some handsome guy or gorgeous girl?"

"Then why were you looking at me like that? Oh, I know! After Ryuen went back last time, he took his extra anger out on you. Now you hold a grudge against me, right?!"

"This... What's that got to do with you?"

"Ha! I knew it. That big brother of yours..."

Seeing the conversation veer off course, Sakagami hurriedly spoke up to save Ishizaki.

"Hey, aren't we talking about Sudo beating someone up? You seem to have gone off topic."

"Exactly! What our class does is none of your business!"

Shinjo shrugged, indicating that it really wasn't any of his business. He'd just felt Ishizaki's expression was challenging him, so he'd asked.

"As for Sudo beating someone up... I'd say this is all slander, pure and simple. I'd like to see what evidence Class C has that Sudo attacked you without provocation."

Manabu Horikita didn't respond. Instead, he gave Class C the floor.

They'd clearly come well prepared, and weren't fazed by the question. They pointed to their injuries and took out a photograph.

"First of all, Sudo himself has admitted that he hit us. And someone saw him with the three of us that day. This photo is irrefutable proof of Sudo grabbing me by the collar and assaulting me!"

The photograph was crystal clear. The lighting, composition, and angle were all practically perfect.

Any experienced photographer would likely find that suspicious and suspect they'd deliberately set Sudo up. But regardless, the fact that Sudo had hit them was indisputable.

Manabu Horikita had clearly noticed something was off, but evidence was evidence. Compared to Class D's empty words, Class C had indeed come thoroughly prepared.

Besides, the three boys' injuries couldn't be faked. The Health Department teacher had even arranged an infirmary room for them and issued medical reports.

They've really made up for the lack of evidence last time. Good story, good design, good evidence... They really caught us off guard.

"Does Class D have anything else to say?"

"This is a frame-up! Yes, I admit I hit them, but it was because they from Class C hit me first! I was only acting in self-defense!!!"

Sudo broke free of Ayanokoji and hurriedly stood up to defend himself.

Manabu Horikita pushed up his glasses and casually glanced toward where his younger sister was sitting. After a quiet sigh, he asked,

"Then can you provide any relevant evidence?"

"Evidence!..."

In the past few days, Sudo had managed to find at most one witness, but that person didn't seem to want to testify for him at all!

So Sudo deflated like a punctured ball and fell silent, his whole demeanor turning dejected.

"We're still gathering evidence, so..."

Shinjo and Ayanokoji had nothing more to add. The situation was plainly against Class D, and no matter how capable the two of them were, there was nothing they could do right now.

"See? Student Council President, they can't find any evidence! We're once again requesting that you expel a dangerous person like Sudo!"

Class C hurried to pile on.

"If an incident this serious is confirmed, the school will certainly handle it severely. But the school's disciplinary action won't officially take effect until next Tuesday. I'll be the one presiding over the case then."

"But the evidence is already conclusive..."

"Are you questioning the Student Council's decision?"

Hearing the discontent in their voice, Akane Tachibana naturally stepped in to speak for Manabu Horikita.

Komiya from Class C saw this and dared not say anything more. They only had to wait a few more days...

Just as everyone thought the meeting was about to adjourn, Manabu Horikita spoke again, addressing the empty air.

"Nothing to say on your end?"

?????

Suzune Horikita grew a little agitated at his words. She'd thought she wasn't even worthy of her brother's attention, but could it be that he'd still been keeping an eye on her?

So she did her best to open her mouth.

"I..."

"Well, nothing for now. Would you like to go have a cup of tea?"

She'd barely managed to get one word out when Shinjo cut in.

"Sounds good. Let's go together, Tachibana."

"Yes, President."

????????

Suzune Horikita numbly looked toward her brother, but Manabu Horikita had already left the meeting room with his little secretary, following Shinjo.

The people from Class C had no reason to hang around either, so they got up and left as well.

Sudo was feeling terrible. He could give up anything, but not basketball! He'd worked so hard to become a regular team member, and now he might lose his spot because of some underhanded scheming.

So he told Ayanokoji, "I'm not in a good mood. I want to go out and clear my head," then walked out with his head down.

"Horikita, are you okay?"

"I..."

Suzune Horikita didn't know if she was okay. If what had just happened wasn't an illusion, did that mean her brother really hadn't been paying attention to her?

And why had he gone with Shinjo...?

No!

My brother said 'on your end,' but 'your end' clearly wasn't referring to Class D! So what was he talking about?

With Manabu Horikita gone, Suzune Horikita's wits had reclaimed the high ground.

Her dejected spirit revived like a dead tree coming back to life in spring.

Sae Chabashira had naturally noticed the curiosity in Horikita's eyes, so she simply explained,

"The Odd Jobs Agency. You've heard of it, right? The Odd Jobs Agency is a club this guy founded. They handle things that ordinary people have trouble dealing with, but there's a catch: you have to pay."

"The Odd Jobs Agency?!"

How could Horikita forget that name? Even her brother had given a special presentation about the Odd Jobs Agency. That alone was enough to show he approved of it.

She'd been looking for a chance to join the Odd Jobs Agency too. Since she felt she wasn't worthy of standing by her brother's side, she hadn't wanted to join the Student Council.

But she'd been too busy with various matters all this time to find a chance to visit in person.

And now Teacher Chabashira was telling her that the Odd Jobs Agency was the club Shinjo had founded. How could she possibly stay calm?

"Teacher Chabashira, is that true?"

Chabashira nodded.

"But there's something I need to make clear: the Odd Jobs Agency is the Odd Jobs Agency, and Shinjo is Shinjo. As for the rest, go to the fourth floor of the Activity Building and ask him yourself."

"The Odd Jobs Agency..."