Initial Deliberation

The next day, as soon as he entered the classroom, Hoshino sensed many strange gazes directed at him.

"Hoshino-kun, I heard you're the one presiding over the deliberation this time?" Before Hoshino could even return to his seat, a handsome boy approached him, his face filled with worry.

"...Yes, Hirata-kun, is there something you need?" Sighing inwardly, Hoshino placed his school bag on his desk and looked up at Hirata standing before him.

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

"We have to make those people from Class C pay this time!" Sudo's group member, Ike, chimed in, waving his fist excitedly. It was as if they weren't the same people who had been doubting Sudo that very afternoon.

Sudo seemed to have calmed down a bit as well, and the atmosphere in the class began to lean heavily toward supporting him.

"...I will only act impartially. Without evidence, Sudo still remains a significant suspect."

Hoshino felt a sense of revulsion toward these people's faces; from start to finish, they perhaps never truly had any intention of helping Sudo, which was somewhat laughable.

"I've already told you, it was self-defense! Self-defense!" Seeming to feel that Hoshino was still doubting him, Sudo slammed his hand onto the desk and shouted at Hoshino.

"Yes, I understand." Ignoring the strange looks from everyone, Hoshino took a long look at Sudo, pulled out his chair, and sat back down.

"Wait, I..." Seeming to feel that Hoshino was brushing him off, Sudo stood up with a start, ready to rush toward Hoshino the next second, but fortunately, Hirata spoke up and stopped him in time.

It seems he had thought too much; Sudo really hadn't grown at all. Glancing briefly at Sudo, who was still struggling and saying something, Hoshino felt a bit of regret.

"Now, let us begin the deliberation regarding the violent incident that occurred last week. The meeting will be presided over by me, Student Council Secretary Hoshino!"

Glancing at President Horikita and Secretary Tachibana beside him and receiving their acknowledgment, Hoshino began the deliberation meeting.

"I didn't expect the Student Council President to come in person for a dispute like this! How rare!" Chabashira-sensei said with a look of surprise.

As a homeroom teacher, she also had a responsibility to participate in the deliberation. The homeroom teacher for Class C seemed to be a familiar face, also Hoshino's history teacher; it seemed his name was Sakagami.

This time, it appeared that only the three victims and their homeroom teacher were present for Class C, while for Class D, besides Sudo and Chabashira-sensei, there were also Horikita and Ayanokoji.

Chabashira-sensei's words made Hoshino realize something; the reason President Horikita came was likely, in part, for Horikita's sake!

Come to think of it, sure enough, Horikita was sitting to the side, looking shaken and completely devoid of her usual composure.

She wouldn't really just "surrender" like this, would she! Hoshino suddenly grew worried; he had calculated everything, but he had missed this point.

"Hoshino-kun, the teacher hopes you won't arbitrarily shield your own class!" Sakagami-sensei advised Hoshino with a "earnest" tone.

"Understood, thank you for the reminder, sensei!" Hoshino didn't take it to heart and bowed slightly.

"...Haa—for this meeting, I hope we can determine which side's claim is the truth!" Hoshino took a deep breath and began the meeting.

"The three individuals from Class C claim they were called to the club building by Sudo and were beaten. Sudo denies this, claiming he was called out by the three from Class C. The claims are inconsistent. The only confirmed fact is the following: Sudo's actions resulted in injuries to Komiya, Kondo, Ishizaki, and others." Opening the report in his hand, Hoshino read out the current situation and the claims of both sides.

"Although I did hit you, you were the ones who provoked me first..."

"Order!" Hoshino was getting annoyed by Sudo's shouting. "Horikita, Ayanokoji, if you are here to defend Sudo, please speak."

Stopped by the reprimand, Sudo, though still wanting to say something, sat back in his seat with a look of dissatisfaction. The meeting room suddenly fell into silence.

Sakagami-sensei gave Hoshino a meaningful look; this approach could also be interpreted as having a guilty conscience or shielding someone.

Glancing at Horikita, who was still shaken, Hoshino suddenly felt unsure. Could Horikita really be of any use in this state?

"...If there is no new testimony, we will proceed. Is that acceptable?... One-sided assault is already a fact, so, Class D's claim of self-defense and Sudo's plea of innocence..."

"Eh?..."

Just as Hoshino was resigned to reading out the next steps, there was finally some movement from Horikita's side...

The process wasn't really important; Hoshino was actually quite surprised that they had truly managed to persuade Sakura to provide a photo she had taken at the scene, though her testimony was quickly picked apart for many loopholes.

However, this was enough. Sakagami-sensei became somewhat wary and began to back down, proposing a one-week suspension for the injured and a two-week suspension for those without injuries.

"Does Class D agree with Sakagami-sensei's proposal?" This result wasn't what Hoshino wanted either, so he questioned Horikita loudly.

"I object. According to the witness's testimony, Sudo is the actual victim. I ask that a correct judgment be made on this point."

"We are the victims!..."

"What a joke!..."

"..."

These people were truly annoying! Hoshino suddenly understood why Ryuen had chosen these three.

Still, well done!

"Order! Do both sides stand by their claims, and do you maintain that what you have said is true?"

"O...Of course!"

"We aren't lying!"

"Very well! Then, we will deliberate again next Monday. If by then no evidence of perjury is found, or if no one admits to their mistakes, the Student Council will consider the situation and issue expulsion orders!"

Delaying it as much as possible—next Monday should be enough, Hoshino calculated.

Although he didn't know exactly how to handle it, by making the punishment sound severe, these people would likely be deterred by the fear of consequences.

"President..." After the meeting adjourned, Hoshino approached President Horikita with some trepidation.

"Well done."

Hoshino let out a sigh of relief. Although there were several moments where he couldn't help but feel tempted, he had managed to remain as neutral as possible.

"You must have some kind of evidence, right?" No sooner had he relaxed than President Horikita's words made Hoshino tense up all over again.

"Haha... what are you talking about, President?" He played dumb, attempting to muddle his way through.

"Both you and Chabashira-sensei were acting far too abnormally."

"Chabashira-sensei seemed indifferent from beginning to end, and you, while you looked nervous at times, always gave off a vibe of... feeling regretful that the results turned out the way they did?" Secretary Tachibana tapped her chin with her finger, pondering as she added her thoughts with a hint of uncertainty.

"..."

Was it really that obvious?

Hoshino suddenly felt a wave of awkwardness.