Class C's Offensive (2)

After leaving the classroom, Sakura followed behind Takahashi.

"Takahashi-kun... I..."

"You want to talk about Sudo, right?"

"Huh? You... you already know?"

Takahashi turned around and patted Sakura on the head. Her hair was as soft as he'd expected, and he could even catch a faint scent.

"It doesn't matter whether you step forward or not. Helping him is a kindness; not helping is your right. If anything comes up, you can message me. I'll always be behind you."

With that, Takahashi left, leaving Sakura with a face flushed crimson.

Heh, the obedience test can begin now.

Two days later, the group, having made no progress, gathered in Ayanokouji's dorm room.

"Sudo, are you sure someone was there?" Yamauchi complained to Sudo.

"Yeah... I think so." Sudo stammered. To be honest, he wasn't entirely certain.

"How about we ask Takahashi to help us think of something?" Ike suggested.

"Don't even mention him. He's not a real friend at all. I already asked him before, and he said his fortune was Great Misfortune. I think he was just making excuses, didn't want to help me." Sudo said with a frown.

"No, I think Takahashi already knew who the witness was." Horikita, who had been silent until now, spoke up.

"What?" x4 (Ike, Sudo, Yamauchi, Kushida)

"You're saying Takahashi knew the witness? And he still wouldn't help me? That's really infuriating." Sudo said angrily.

Glancing at Sudo, Horikita continued: "Not help you? Do you remember why his last exam scores were perfect in every subject except English, where he got a fifty?"

"Huh?" Horikita's words left Sudo completely baffled.

"During the Midterm Exam, the average score was 39 points, and your English score happened to be exactly 39 points. The truth is, if it weren't for Takahashi, you'd already be expelled."

Hearing Horikita's words, everyone fell silent.

"Then if he already knew the witness, he should have helped me too. Besides, we're classmates. Helping each other is only right." Sudo tried to argue back, but his voice grew quieter and quieter.

"I actually found out who the witness was because of Takahashi." Horikita looked at the silent group and continued, "After Teacher Chabashira told us about Sudo's situation, I asked Takahashi. He didn't say anything, but he took Sakura, who looked panicked at the time, out of the classroom. So I guessed Takahashi knew the witness was Sakura. After that, I specifically asked Sakura if she was the witness. She didn't say anything, but whenever Sudo's situation came up, she got very flustered. I think even if she isn't the witness, she must know something."

"Um... who's Sakura? Is she in our class?" Ike asked in confusion.

"I think she's the girl who sits next to Takahashi. She wears glasses." Kushida said.

"Oh, oh, that's the ugly girl with the huge... rack." Ike said with sudden realization.

But his blunt words earned him cold stares from the two girls present, Horikita and Kushida.

"I remember Yamauchi mentioned her, right? Isn't she the girl Yamauchi rejected?" Sudo said after thinking for a moment.

Feeling everyone's gaze on him, Yamauchi panicked slightly. "Th-this... after she got rejected by me, I haven't had any contact with her."

"I'll call her and ask." Kushida said. Not long after school started, she had already added the contact information of everyone in the class.

"Beep... beep... beep"

Putting down her phone, Kushida said apologetically, "Uh... sorry, Sakura didn't pick up."

"We can just ask Sakura at school tomorrow. Right now, I'm going to find Takahashi and ask him why he won't help me." Perhaps seeing hope of avoiding suspension, Sudo grew bold.

"Hey..." Horikita tried to stop him, but Sudo had already opened the door and left.

With no other choice, everyone followed.

Ayanokouji and Takahashi's dorms were very close—401 and 403, with only one room between them.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

"Hey, Takahashi, come out! I have something to ask you!" Sudo pounded on the door and shouted loudly.

After a moment, the door opened. But it wasn't Takahashi who answered—it was a beautiful girl with long orange hair.

Seeing a pretty girl at the door, the arrogant Sudo instantly deflated.

The girl showed no sign of panic at the crowd at her door. Instead, she introduced herself generously. "Hello there! I'm Asahina Nazuna. And you are?"

"Haha, hello, hello! I'm Ike Kanji. We're Takahashi's classmates."

"Oh, I see. Well, go on in then. Takahashi's inside." With that, she left.

"What do you want?" Takahashi walked over and said. "With this many people, I might not have enough coffee."

Takahashi unceremoniously gave them the boot.

"Hey, Takahashi, did you know Sakura was the witness all along? Why didn't you help me?"

"What are you talking about? I don't understand."

"That's enough, Sudo." Horikita cut off Sudo before he could say more. "Takahashi, are you saying you didn't know Sakura was the witness?"

"I don't know. My fortune has been Great Misfortune lately. Aside from going to school, I've just been holed up in my dorm."

"Then who was that Asahina just now?" Ike cut in.

"Oh, a very interesting senior I happened to meet. Since my fortune's been Great Misfortune these past few days, I asked her to help buy some daily necessities."

"Alright, Ike, that's not what we're here to ask," Horikita said, a little annoyed at his interruption. "Then why did you take Sakura away when Teacher Chabashira brought up Sudo's matter in class?"

"Hey, that's my personal business, but it doesn't matter. Like that pretty senior just now, I know Sakura—is there a problem with getting closer to her? You can't say that just because I know Sakura, it means I know she's a witness. And do you have any proof that Sakura is a witness?"

Listening to Takahashi's string of words, the group fell silent.

"Sorry, Takahashi."

"It's fine. Want to come in for a cup of coffee?"

After seeing them off, Takahashi checked his phone. There was a message from Sakura: Kushida called me.