Initial Deliberations

The next day, as soon as Hoshino entered the classroom, he noticed a lot of unusual looks.

"Hoshino, I heard you're presiding over the hearing this time?" Before Hoshino had even returned to his seat, a handsome boy approached him, his face full of concern.

"...Yes, Hirata. Is there something you need?" Hoshino sighed inwardly, set his bag on his desk, and looked up at Hirata.

"Wow! Doesn't that mean we're guaranteed to win?" Yamauchi, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly jumped up from his seat.

"We've got to teach those Class C guys a lesson this time!" Ike, who was in the same group, chimed in, pumping his fist excitedly. You'd think they hadn't been the ones doubting Sudo that afternoon.

Sudo also seemed somewhat relieved, and the class's mood began to tip decisively in his favor.

"...I'll only act impartially. Without evidence, Sudo is still under considerable suspicion."

Hoshino found their attitude off-putting. Maybe they had never truly wanted to help Sudo in the first place. It was almost laughable.

"I told you, it was self-defense! Self-defense!" Apparently convinced that Hoshino still doubted him, Sudo slapped his palm on the desk and shouted at him.

"Mm, I understand." Ignoring the strange looks from the others, Hoshino gave Sudo a long look, pulled out his chair, and sat down.

"Wait, I..." Thinking Hoshino was brushing him off, Sudo sprang to his feet and made to charge over to him. Luckily, Hirata intervened in time.

Looks like I'd just been overthinking it. Sudo really hadn't changed much. Hoshino glanced at Sudo, still struggling to say something, and felt a little disappointed.

"Now, let's begin the hearing into last week's violent incident. I, Hoshino, secretary of the Student Council, will preside over the meeting!"

After glancing at President Horikita and Secretary Tachibana beside him and receiving their nods, Hoshino began the hearing.

"I never expected the Student Council President to attend in person over a dispute like this! How unusual!" Chabashira-sensei remarked in surprise.

As homeroom teachers, they were also required to attend the hearing. The homeroom teacher for Class C seemed familiar—he was also Hoshino's history teacher. If Hoshino recalled correctly, his name was Sakagami.

This time, only the three victims and their homeroom teacher seemed to have come from Class C. From Class D, besides Sudo and Chabashira-sensei, Horikita and Ayanokoji were also present.

Chabashira-sensei's comment made Hoshino realize that President Horikita might have come partly for Horikita's sake.

Sure enough, Horikita sat to one side looking shaken, nothing like her usual composed self.

Was she really going to "give in" just like that? Hoshino suddenly grew worried. He'd considered every possibility except this one.

"Hoshino, I hope you won't show undue favoritism toward your own class," Sakagami-sensei advised him in a "well-meaning" tone.

"Thank you for the reminder, sensei." Hoshino gave a slight bow, not taking it to heart.

"...All right. I hope this meeting will determine which side's account is the truth." Hoshino took a deep breath and began.

"The three students from Class C claim that Sudo called them to the club building and assaulted them. Sudo denies this, claiming that the three students from Class C called him out instead. Their accounts conflict. However, only one fact can be confirmed: Sudo's actions injured Komiya, Kondo, Ishizaki, and the others." Hoshino opened the report in his hands and read out the current situation and both sides' claims.

"Although I was the one who hit you, you provoked me first..."

"Order!" Sudo's shouting was starting to annoy Hoshino. "Horikita, Ayanokoji, if you're here to speak in Sudo's defense, please do so."

Though Sudo still wanted to say something, he sat back down, looking displeased. The meeting room fell silent.

Sakagami-sensei gave Hoshino a meaningful look. This approach could also be taken as a sign of guilt or favoritism.

Hoshino glanced at Horikita, who still looked shaken, and suddenly felt uncertain. Would she really be any help in this state?

"...If there's no new testimony, then we'll proceed. Is that all right?... The one-sided assault is already established as fact. As for Class D's claim of self-defense and Sudo's plea of innocence..."

"Huh?..."

Just as Hoshino was resignedly reading out the next steps, Horikita finally spoke up...

The details of what followed weren't particularly important. Hoshino was still surprised that they had actually persuaded Sakura to provide a photo of herself at the scene. However, her testimony was quickly riddled with holes.

But that was enough. Sakagami-sensei grew wary and began to back down, proposing that the injured students be suspended for one week and the uninjured ones for two.

"Does Class D agree with Sakagami-sensei's proposal?" This wasn't the outcome Hoshino wanted either, and he raised his voice as he challenged Horikita.

"We object. According to the eyewitness testimony, Sudo is the victim. Please judge the matter correctly."

"We're the victims here!..."

"What a joke!..."

"..."

These people were so annoying! Hoshino suddenly understood why Ryuen had brought those three.

Still, nice work!

"Order! Do both sides stand by their claims and insist that what they've said is true?"

"Of... Of course!"

"We're not lying!"

"Good. Then we'll hold another hearing next Monday. If by then we still haven't found evidence that the other side is lying, or no one admits to their mistake, the Student Council will consider the circumstances and issue a recommendation for expulsion!"

Postponing it as long as possible should buy them enough time. Monday would be plenty, Hoshino calculated.

He didn't know exactly how they should handle things, but threatening them with harsher punishments might make them think twice.

"President..." After the meeting ended, Hoshino approached President Horikita somewhat nervously.

"Good work."

Hoshino let out a sigh of relief. There had been several moments when he'd nearly lost his temper, but he'd tried to remain impartial.

"You must have some evidence, don't you?" Just as Hoshino relaxed, President Horikita's words made him tense up again.

"Haha... What are you talking about, President?" He played dumb, hoping to get away with it.

"You and Chabashira-sensei both acted strangely."

"Chabashira-sensei seemed unconcerned from beginning to end. And you, although you looked nervous at times, somehow gave the impression that... you'd be disappointed with the outcome?" Secretary Tachibana tapped her chin as she thought it over, adding the last part with some uncertainty.

"..."

Was it really that obvious?

Hoshino suddenly felt awkward.