"This can hardly be called acting. Before I ran into you by chance, the actors hadn't been chosen and there was no script."
As Onizuka spoke, he glanced at Sakura Airi, who was still sitting on the ground, a hint of teasing in his eyes.
"Who can blame me when the 'leading lady' wouldn't tell me who the villain was?"
Hearing him say that, Sakura bashfully lowered her head...
Onizuka's mouth twitched slightly at the sight. Then he released the clerk's wrist and slowly walked over to Sakura Airi, helping her to her feet.
He reached up and pried a miniature surveillance camera from the edge of the wall nearby, then waved it at the clerk.
"Well, Mr. Clerk, does this look familiar?"
"Just like you said, it's incredibly handy for all sorts of things~"
Hearing Onizuka say that, the clerk's expression instantly twisted into a fawning smile. His eyes darted over the camera, unease and panic welling up inside him.
"You... No, no, it was just a misunderstanding. Please let me off..."
With that, the clerk dropped to the ground and crawled toward Onizuka.
Just as he was about to reach Onizuka, he suddenly sprang up, trying to snatch the camera from Onizuka's hand.
"Bang!!!"
A dull thud rang out. Beside them, Sakura Airi coughed as dust flew up, covering her mouth with her sleeve, her eyes full of fear and confusion.
As it turned out, Onizuka had kicked the clerk next to the trash can he'd just knocked over. After the heavy thud, the clerk lay sprawled on the ground, his limbs limp, seemingly no longer able to resist.
"Ah~ Mr. Clerk, can't you come up with anything new?" Onizuka shook his head, his voice tinged with disdain.
"I'm getting tired of such cliché scenes."
As if he had thought of something, Onizuka checked the time while pulling Sakura Airi two steps back, farther away from the clerk.
After all, having been enchanted by the trash can, the clerk had become a magic attack. Onizuka didn't want any further physical contact with him.
When the clerk seemed to come around a little, Onizuka showed no intention of letting him go.
"Mr. Clerk, I'm sure you know exactly what kind of fate awaits you, don't you?"
"Stalking, harassing a female student, and attempted coercion. Taken together, those charges aren't all that serious, so is that why you've been so brazen?"
"Did you think you'd just spend some time locked up and then go right back to living however you pleased?"
The clerk lay where he was without a word, showing no response to anything Onizuka said. He only stared fixedly at Sakura Airi, who was hiding behind Onizuka.
Seeing that, Onizuka stepped sideways, completely blocking the clerk's brazen stare.
"Hey~ Mr. Clerk, do you know how many points it takes to send something out of this school?"
The clerk still gave no response. Onizuka shook his head and continued.
"If a video has nothing to do with the school's rules, it takes a full two hundred thousand points."
"Of course, if it only shows someone who isn't enrolled, it takes a mere twenty thousand points. How about that? Pretty cheap, right?"
Hearing Onizuka say this, the clerk finally seemed to realize something and struggled to get up.
Unfortunately, Onizuka's kick had been too hard. The clerk could do nothing but lie on the ground and groan.
"Ah!!!! I won't let you get away with this!!!"
Onizuka smiled at the sight.
"Now that's more like it~ Anyway, after editing this video, I'll send it to all your relatives outside the school."
"How does that sound? By the time you get out, you'll have a memory worth treasuring for the rest of your life~"
Then, ignoring the clerk's pleas behind him, he took Sakura Airi by the hand and headed outside.
When they reached the end of the alley, Onizuka looked to the side.
"I'll leave the rest to you, President Horikita."
Standing outside were Horikita Manabu, whom Onizuka had contacted in advance, along with a group of campus security officers.
As soon as Onizuka and Sakura came out, the security officers all rushed toward the clerk, leaving the three of them alone outside.
If someone wanted to send things off campus or punish an employee working on campus, the Student Council was naturally the best choice.
President Horikita pushed up his glasses and said:
"You went a bit too far, Onizuka."
Beside him, Sakura seemed to recall the Sudo Incident and looked at Onizuka with concern.
But Onizuka remained calm. He patted Sakura's hand to reassure her, then waved the miniature camera in his hand at President Horikita.
"Mr. President, this was self-defense. Self! De! Fense!"
President Horikita nodded without comment and looked at him meaningfully.
"With the video as evidence, that is indeed the case. Otherwise, the Student Council would have to punish you according to school rules."
Clearly, President Horikita was referring to something else. Wasn't Sudo's hearing scheduled for next week?
But that no longer mattered. It only remained to see how much benefit he could draw from this incident. The Student Council wouldn't get a chance to take part in the Sudo Incident.
That said, Onizuka still had to deal with President Horikita for now, to avoid any unexpected complications later.
"The Student Council should naturally enforce the rules impartially. Still, I didn't expect President Horikita to come in person this time."
Hearing Onizuka say that, President Horikita looked him straight in the eye.
"How about joining the Student Council? I believe someone with your abilities would do very well."
The unexpected invitation caught Onizuka by surprise, too.
He hadn't expected President Horikita to let someone like him join the Student Council. Wasn't he worried Onizuka would turn it into his own personal money-making tool?
After all, President Horikita's term was about to end. Surely this wasn't the time to invite a first-year student like him.
"I'm sorry, but I don't really want to join the Student Council. I prefer being free to act as I please, without restrictions."
"President Horikita, I assume you won't force me to join, will you?"
"Huh?"
Beside them, Sakura Airi stared at Onizuka in surprise.
She'd heard that many first-year students had applied to join the Student Council, but they had all been rejected.
She hadn't expected the president himself to invite Onizuka, and even less that Onizuka would turn down the offer.
As if she had realized she was acting out of character, she lowered her head, her face faintly red.
Seeing Sakura like that, Onizuka smiled.
"President Horikita, Airi has been through enough today. I'll take her back to her dorm first."
President Horikita had no reason to stop him from doing so.
"No problem. If any issues come up later, contact Secretary Tachibana. She'll arrange compensation from the school for you."
"One more thing, Onizuka. If you change your mind, come see me anytime."
Onizuka had already walked away. Hearing him say that, he didn't even turn around, just waved his hand.
"Got it, President Horikita!"