Check

"In any case, stealing underwear is an extremely disgusting and vile act, so Hirata-kun, I think this is a very serious issue. After all, it's impossible for us to live in the same place as a group that might include a panty thief. It makes us feel both psychologically and physically repulsed." Shinohara crossed her arms and spoke fiercely, looking like she was about to lose her temper at any moment.

"This really is a very serious problem." After hearing Shinohara's words, Hirata nodded while stroking his chin.

"So, Hirata-kun, could you please think of some way to find the culprit? After all, Karuizawa is your girlfriend, isn't she? You must be pretty angry too, right?"

"Well... but there's no evidence that it was one of the boys in our class who stole it. Couldn't it be that Karuizawa-san just lost it herself or forgot where she put it?"

"Yeah, yeah! You should have evidence, right? Don't just slander us without proof!"

The boys behind Hirata all shouted back at Shinohara in unison.

"I really don't want to suspect that any of my classmates would steal something, and especially not underwear."

Rather than covering for the boys, Hirata simply didn't want to suspect his classmates and wanted to maintain class unity.

"I know Hirata-kun definitely isn't the culprit... but I can't say the same for the other boys. If they all think they're innocent, then let them let us check their luggage first."

It seemed the girls' minds hadn't changed. They were certain that one of the boys had done this disgusting thing. Of course, it was only natural for them to think that way—after all, no girl would steal another girl's underwear, right?

"What the hell? Don't joke around. Why should we let you check our luggage? We don't have to put up with this. Reject it, Hirata." Ike said loudly.

"We need to get together and discuss this first. Can you give us some time?" The situation was giving Hirata a headache, forcing him to say this to Shinohara.

"Since Hirata-kun says so... fine. I understand. I'll also go ask Karuizawa-san if she might have forgotten where she put it. But if you don't come up with anything, we'll go straight to Teacher Chabashira and have her check the boys' luggage."

Shinohara left those words behind, and the group temporarily dispersed.

"Everyone, come closer."

Hirata immediately gathered all the boys and decided to hold a discussion in front of the tent.

"Let's just ignore what those girls said. Being suspected of stealing panties feels awful. I don't want to be stuck with this false accusation."

"There's no way we'd steal Karuizawa's panties."

"Right?" Yamauchi and the other boys chimed in one after another, exchanging glances.

It wasn't that Karuizawa wasn't pretty or cute, but everyone knew she was Hirata's girlfriend. Rather than targeting a girl who already had a boyfriend, it made more sense to aim for Kushida or Horikita.

"I don't intend to suspect any of you either, but I think ignoring the problem won't solve it..." Hirata said, looking a bit embarrassed. "So the best way to prove our innocence is to take out our luggage and let them check it."

As he spoke, Hirata pulled out his own bag.

"I'll let the girls check my luggage first. Then you can reluctantly cooperate and let them check yours too... That should work, right?"

"B-but..." Ike tried to say something but stammered and ultimately couldn't get the words out.

"If we just let this slide, you don't want to be permanently suspected by the girls in our class as perverts who steal panties, do you?"

Hirata hoped to start with himself and then lead the boys through the inspection. But not just the girls—even the boys themselves wouldn't think Hirata was the panty thief. After all, the girl who lost her panties was his own girlfriend. Stealing your own girlfriend's panties was, in a sense, pretty contradictory.

However, if Hirata didn't open his luggage for the girls to check, those who were unwilling to be inspected might start suspecting that Karuizawa's panties were actually in Hirata's bag.

In the end, under Hirata's lead, all the boys packed up their luggage and went to let the girls check it.

"Hey, we'll let you check our luggage, but we have a condition." Yukimura said to the girls. "We want Hirata to inspect our bags. Of course, you can watch from the side. After all, we have underwear in our luggage too. You girls wouldn't want to touch that, would you?"

The girls exchanged glances and agreed to Yukimura's request.

Then the boys lined up to have Hirata check their luggage.

At the back of the line...

"What's wrong?" Yamauchi asked, seeing Ike staring at his own bag in disbelief.

"Ah, no..."

Ike suddenly turned his back to Hirata and the others, checked the contents of his bag again, then frantically zipped it shut.

"Kanji?"

Ike's face was pale, his body stiff, standing motionless like an ice sculpture that had been frozen for a long time.

Seeing Ike's suspicious behavior, Yamauchi joked:

"Don't tell me... you're the one who stole it, Ike."

"I-I'm not!"

Ike quickly denied it, hugging his bag and shaking his head vigorously.

But Ike's state and reaction were way too abnormal.

"You wouldn't happen to..."

"What? Are you suspecting me?"

"No, we're not suspecting you... just let us see your bag."

"Hey, wait!"

Yamauchi swiftly snatched Ike's bag, unzipped it, and inside was... a bundle of underwear that definitely wasn't a men's style.

"I-I didn't steal it! Someone must have framed me and put it in my bag!"

"The girls aren't going to buy that excuse..."

Yamauchi looked at Ike's flustered state with a gaze that mixed pity with the desire to see a good show.

"But I really didn't steal any panties! Believe me, it's true! Ugh, why would there be pan... panties in my luggage bag! Someone must be framing me!"

"There's nothing to be done about it. Anyway, I'd advise you to just go confess to Hirata on your own."

"No way! If I do that, won't the girls all see me as a pervert?"

"Then I don't know what to tell you." With that, Yamauchi shot a sly grin at Ike and followed the group heading over to have Hirata check their luggage.

"Takahashi, Ayanokouji, you guys believe I didn't steal those panties, right?"

"I believe you. After all, if you were going to steal panties, you'd only be thinking about stealing Kushida's." Takahashi said, patting Ike on the shoulder before yawning and following the group.

"Ayanokouji..." Ike turned his last shred of hope toward Ayanokouji.