Sudo Incident Concluded

"Witness? Someone who saw the Sudo incident?"

"That's right, Sakura saw the whole thing."

Kushida waved over Sakura, who had been standing quietly in wait behind her. Sakura looked a little nervous, carefully stepping forward.

"Kushida says you witnessed the entire conflict between Sudo and Class C?"

"Yes, I saw it."

Sakura's answer came hesitantly. It wasn't so much a lack of conviction as it was the discomfort of being pinned under Teacher Chabashira's sharp gaze.

But remembering Takahashi, she slowly began to speak, laying out the full truth of the incident.

Throughout the entire account, Teacher Chabashira listened intently, not interrupting a single word.

"I've noted your statement. However, I can't accept it outright."

Kushida had assumed that, as Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira would show at least some relief at seeing a key witness come forward. But reality was the complete opposite. She hurriedly pressed for an explanation: "May... may I ask why?"

Teacher Chabashira ignored Kushida and addressed Sakura directly: "Sakura, why did you only come forward to testify now? You were present when the class meeting called for information—why didn't you speak up then?"

"Because... I'm not very good with people..."

"If you're not good with social situations, then coming forward now of your own accord is rather contradictory, isn't it?"

Teacher Chabashira's questioning was perfectly reasonable. If Sakura had stepped forward from the start, the teacher would have gladly accepted this important witness.

"Teacher, Sakura actually—"

"I'm asking Sakura. Don't interrupt." Teacher Chabashira's tone was harsh as she cut off Kushida's defense without mercy.

"Well... because everyone in the class... cares so much about this, so... I thought if I could testify, it might help them..."

Sakura's voice grew quieter and quieter.

As Class D's homeroom teacher, Chabashira knew Sakura's shy, timid personality inside and out. She understood that for this girl, who couldn't even hold eye contact with classmates, to recount the incident fully was already a huge breakthrough.

"So, you overcame your psychological barriers and decided to step forward?" Teacher Chabashira softened her tone.

"Yes..." Sakura clutched the hem of her uniform, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Understood. Since you're a witness, I'll naturally report this to the school authorities. But this testimony alone probably won't be enough to prove Sudo's innocence."

"Why...?" Sakura's head shot up, ripples of unease flickering in her eyes.

"Who can prove you really witnessed the whole thing?" Teacher Chabashira tapped her fingers on the desk with a crisp sound. "A Class D student suddenly coming forward with testimony on the eve of the hearing—it's bound to raise suspicions that it's a fabrication to escape punishment."

"Teacher, that's too much!" Kushida's eyes reddened with urgency. "Sakura is shy by nature. It was already incredibly hard for her to muster the courage to testify!"

"Too much?" Chabashira let out a cold laugh. "If she was truly a witness, why didn't she speak up during the class meeting? Showing up right before the hearing—anyone would be suspicious. And on top of that, a Class D student just happens to witness a violent incident between her own classmate and another class's student in an empty classroom with no surveillance and in an out-of-the-way spot—don't you find that coincidence a bit strange?"

These questions cut like sharp blades, exposing the most fatal flaw in the testimony. Even an outsider had to admit that this belated statement was indeed riddled with doubts.

"However, since there's no proof it's a lie, I'll process it according to procedure." Chabashira adjusted her glasses, her gaze falling like a hawk's on Sakura's pale face. "But the school may require you to testify in person on the day of the hearing. You, who's used to hiding behind the crowd—are you sure you want to stand in the eye of the storm? It's not too late to back out now, before you embarrass yourself in public."

Sakura's face instantly turned paper-white, her fingers gripping her skirt so tightly they trembled. Having to speak in front of the entire school administration, facing Sudo and students from other classes—just imagining the scene made her start shaking.

"Are you really okay?" Kushida asked, gently supporting Sakura's swaying shoulders.

"I... I can..." The answer came with a trembling, cracking voice, but it was stubborn enough to tug at the heart.

Witnessing this, even Teacher Chabashira showed a flicker of reluctance. But she quickly looked away and added in a businesslike tone, "If you need accompaniment, I can consider allowing two students to go with you."

When Sakura and Kushida walked into the classroom, Sudo and the other two immediately crowded around them.

"Little Kushida, how did it go? Is this thing settled?" Ike spoke first.

"Sakura, are you dating Takahashi? Is that popular idol Shizuku you? I'm a huge fan. That bracelet you're wearing is so ugly—want me to buy you a new one?" Yamauchi launched a barrage of words at Sakura.

But Sakura ignored Yamauchi entirely, clutching the bracelet protectively to her chest.

"Kamiya..." Sakura sidestepped the three of them and came up beside Takahashi, softly murmuring his name.

Meanwhile, Kushida recounted to Horikita and the others what Teacher Chabashira had said in the office.

"You've already done enough." Takahashi ruffled Sakura's hair.

"If only I could have stepped forward sooner..."

"Even with testimony, the situation wouldn't have completely turned around. It's just our bad luck that the witness happens to be from Class D." Horikita walked over, her tone carrying a hint of resignation. She was always blunt, but this time her words almost sounded like she was defending Sakura.

The facts were clear. With only a single, highly questionable classmate as a witness—even if the camera had been repaired in time, with just those few photos of the fight—it wouldn't be enough to convince everyone. Unless irrefutable, ironclad evidence appeared, clearing Sudo's name would be next to impossible.

"Takahashi, can you attend the hearing tomorrow?" Horikita hoped he would. First, because Takahashi was capable; second, because he was close to Sakura and being by her side might give her some psychological comfort.

"Horikita, do you know why I don't want to get involved in Sudo's matter?"

"Why?"

"Because I believe you all can handle it."

Horikita: "..."

Sakura didn't blame Takahashi for not attending the hearing. She knew he had secrets he couldn't share, just like her secret was being a popular idol on her blog. She wouldn't pry into Takahashi's secrets, nor did she care what they were. She only knew that if anything happened to her, Takahashi would be by her side.

"It seems there's still someone quite remarkable in your class." Ryuuen spoke.

"Oh, don't bother trying to pry it out of me. I kept my end of the deal and didn't get involved." Takahashi took a sip of his drink as he replied.

"Hmph, Takahashi, are you interested in making another deal?"

"Let's hear it. If it catches my interest, I think I'd be happy to do business."

"The study trip during summer break—didn't you figure anything out?"

"I'm sure we'll spend some truly dreamy time there. Ha, nice words, though."

"Haha, I hope we can get along as well then as we do today. Co-op-er-a-tion."

"You're not exactly happy, are you? After all, you could say your class lost."

"I'll deal with those three wastes later. They didn't even realize they were being played for fools."

That was right. The final hearing ended with Class C withdrawing their complaint. The reason was simple: Ayanokouji and Horikita had set up the three Class C students who clashed with Sudo, making them admit they were the ones who provoked Sudo first. But that didn't matter anymore. The upcoming study trip was what really counted. It seemed Ryuuen had already started planning for it.

Back in the dormitory, Takahashi looked at the person sitting on his bed and asked with some exasperation, "How did you get in?"