The Sakura Incident Ends

"This can't really be called acting, after all, the cast wasn't set and there was no script until I happened to run into you."

Onizuka said this while glancing at Sakura Airi, who was still slumped on the ground, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery.

"Who told the 'lead actress' not to tell me who the villain was?"

Hearing him say this, Sakura bashfully buried her head.

Seeing this, the corner of Onizuka's mouth twitched slightly, then he released the clerk's wrist, walked slowly to Sakura Airi's side, and helped her up.

He reached out and pried a miniature surveillance camera from the eaves of the wall nearby, shaking it at the clerk.

"How about it, Mr. Clerk, does this look particularly familiar?"

"It's just as you said, it's incredibly convenient for doing just about anything~"

Hearing Onizuka say this, the clerk's face instantly twisted into a fawning expression. His eyes darted toward the camera, and a sense of unease and panic welled up in his heart.

"You... no, no, no, that was just a misunderstanding, please, let me off the hook..."

Having said that, the clerk crawled on the ground, wriggling toward Onizuka.

Just as he was about to reach Onizuka, he suddenly lunged, trying to snatch the camera from Onizuka's hand.

"BANG!!!"

With a dull thud, Sakura Airi, who was nearby, was choked by the stirred-up dust and covered her mouth with her sleeve, her eyes full of terror and confusion.

As it turned out, Onizuka had kicked the clerk toward the trash can he had just knocked over. After a dull sound, the clerk lay on the ground with limp limbs, seemingly having lost the ability to resist.

"Ah~ Mr. Clerk, can't you come up with something new?" Onizuka shook his head, his tone tinged with disdain.

"I'm getting tired of such cliché plots."

Seemingly thinking of something, Onizuka checked the time while pulling Sakura Airi back two steps, keeping a distance from the man.

After all, the clerk had been "enchanted" by the trash can and was now dealing "magic damage"; Onizuka didn't want to have any form of physical contact with him again.

Seeing the clerk regain some consciousness, Onizuka had no intention of letting him off just like that.

"Mr. Clerk, you must be very clear about what kind of fate awaits you, right?"

"Stalking, harassing a female student, and attempted assault—these charges combined aren't exactly major crimes, so is that why you're so confident?"

"Thinking that after being locked up for a few days, you'll still be able to live freely once you get out?"

The man just lay where he was, saying nothing. He didn't react to Onizuka's words, his eyes fixed solely on Sakura Airi, who was hiding behind Onizuka.

Seeing this, Onizuka stepped sideways, completely blocking that naked gaze.

"Hey~ Mr. Clerk, do you know how many points it costs to send something out of this school?"

Seeing the clerk remain unresponsive, Onizuka shook his head and continued.

"If it's a video that doesn't involve any school regulations, it costs a full two hundred thousand points."

"Of course, if only non-students are in the footage, it only costs twenty thousand points. How about it? Isn't that cheap?"

Hearing Onizuka say this, the clerk finally seemed to realize something and struggled to crawl up.

Unfortunately, because Onizuka's kick had been so heavy, he couldn't do anything but lie on the ground and wail.

"Ah!!!! I won't let you get away with this!!!"

Onizuka smiled when he saw him like this.

"That's the spirit~ Anyway, after I edit this video, I'll send it to all your relatives outside the school."

"How about it, looking forward to it? By the time you're released from your 'rehabilitation,' you'll have a memory worth cherishing for a lifetime~"

Afterward, ignoring the clerk who was still begging behind him, he took Sakura Airi's hand and walked outside.

When they reached the end of the alley, Onizuka looked to the side.

"It's up to you now, President Horikita."

Standing outside was, naturally, Horikita Manabu, whom Onizuka had contacted in advance, along with a group of school security guards.

Seeing Onizuka and the girl emerge, the security team rushed toward the clerk, leaving the three of them alone outside.

If one wanted to send items outside the school or discipline school staff, the Student Council was naturally the best choice.

President Horikita adjusted his glasses and spoke:

"Wasn't that a bit too heavy-handed, Onizuka?"

Sakura, standing to the side, seemed to be thinking of the Sudo incident and looked at Onizuka with concern.

However, Onizuka remained calm, patted Sakura's hand to reassure her, and shook the miniature camera in his hand at President Horikita.

"Mr. President, this was self-defense. Self! Defense!"

President Horikita nodded noncommittally, giving him a meaningful look.

"If there is video evidence, then that is indeed the case. Otherwise, the Student Council would have to impose penalties according to school rules."

Clearly, President Horikita was hinting at something else; the hearing for Sudo was supposed to be held next week, right?

But that didn't matter anymore; it only depended on how much profit he could dig out of this incident. The Student Council would have no chance to intervene in the Sudo case.

That said, Onizuka still had to deal with President Horikita for now to avoid any further complications.

"The Student Council should naturally uphold justice impartially, but I really didn't expect President Horikita to show up in person this time."

Hearing Onizuka say this, President Horikita looked him straight in the eyes.

"How about joining the Student Council? I believe that with your abilities, you would perform very well."

Onizuka was quite surprised by the sudden invitation.

He hadn't expected President Horikita to allow someone like him into the Student Council; wasn't he afraid that he would turn the council into his own personal tool for extortion?

One had to remember that President Horikita was about to step down, so under these circumstances, he shouldn't be inviting a first-year freshman like him at all.

"Sorry, I don't really want to join the Student Council yet. I prefer acting freely and without restraint."

"President Horikita, surely you wouldn't force me to join, would you?"

"Eh?"

Standing to the side, Sakura Airi looked at Onizuka in astonishment.

She had heard before that many first-year students had applied to join the Student Council, only to be rejected.

She never expected Onizuka to be personally invited by the president, and even less did she expect Onizuka to turn that invitation down.

Seemingly realizing her lack of composure, she lowered her head, her face turning slightly red.

Seeing Sakura like this, Onizuka smiled.

"President Horikita, Airi has been through enough today, so I'll take her back to her dormitory first."

Hearing Onizuka's valid reason, President Horikita naturally had no grounds to stop him.

"No problem. If you discover any issues later on, contact Secretary Tachibana; she will arrange the school's compensation for you."

"One more thing, Onizuka: if you change your mind, come find me at any time."

Onizuka, who had already started walking away, didn't even turn his head when he heard this, simply waving his hand.

"Got it, President Horikita!"