If it's Plan B

Masumi Kamuro left the faculty office. Tomoya Majima stepped out from the break room where he'd been hiding, a complicated expression on his face.

"You handled that remarkably well. Are you really a high school student? You're like an experienced counselor or teacher."

"Reading a lot of random books gives you that kind of thinking."

Seishiki stood up, looking at Tomoya Majima.

"Just with words, you can change a problem child's mindset. Honestly, Seishiki Otonashi... you could totally work as a school guidance counselor in the future."

It's supposed to be the homeroom teacher's responsibility to educate and correct students with issues. But whether they can actually correct them is a headache for teachers too. If it were me... I doubt I'd have the same effect as Seishiki Otonashi. A teacher's duty is "education" and "correction," so from that perspective, there's always a lecturing tone, which ends up ignoring the student's inner feelings.

"I'll pass."

Seishiki gave a faint, bitter smile.

"Physics explores why ripples form when you throw a stone into water. Philosophy of man considers why words thrown at a person cause ripples in their heart."

"A person has to be strong and happy to help the unfortunate. If one day I fall into misfortune, Teacher, will you come save me?"

Seishiki's pupils, crowded with indescribable emotions, were like an abyss, like an unknown color. His words plunged Tomoya Majima into inexplicable thought. Seishiki's words were like a thrown stone, already splashing ripples in his heart.

"Just kidding~, don't take it to heart, Teacher Majima~."

Seishiki was as pure and innocent as a young girl, as if the indescribable monster that had just existed in the world was nothing but an illusion.

"See you this afternoon, Teacher Majima."

Kaneda Satoru, leaning against the faculty office door, nodded at Seishiki after seeing him.

The two arrived at the empty rooftop.

Seishiki pulled a Pack of Cigarettes from the inner pocket of his jacket.

"Hah..."

"Is that thief even worth saving?"

Kaneda Satoru didn't like people who caused trouble for others by stealing, so he had no good feelings toward Masumi Kamuro.

"She's in the same club as Kaneda, isn't she... Not worth saving? That's a wrong view."

"Wrong view?"

Kaneda Satoru looked puzzled.

"The good I treat with goodness; the bad I also treat with goodness—that is goodness of virtue."

"What does that mean?"

"For kind people, we treat them with kindness. For unkind people, as long as they're not too deeply mired in evil, we can still lend them a hand..."

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High-dimensional radio waves, a self-voice transmitted from the marrow of his bones, a "self-criticism" only Seishiki could hear. Injected into his brain via bone conduction...

"Mm, that's enlightening. Just like when you reached out to me back then? I'm really... grateful."

"It was nothing."

"So, should I delete those two videos?"

From the moment Seishiki noticed Masumi Kamuro following him, he'd already sent the theft video to Kaneda Satoru. Then he told Kaneda not to message him and just go to the agreed meeting spot on time.

"Wait until she properly apologizes to the store clerk first."

"Otonashi... you have some other plan, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do. If Masumi Kamuro sinks into the Abyss of Evil, I'll use the rules to completely correct her."

"Japan is a society that values interpersonal relationships. Theft is a lifelong stain. It could even lead to school bullying... rule-abiding people instinctively reject those who break the rules."

"Exposing her theft isn't nearly enough. That girl's personality won't care about that. If she gets bullied, she'll probably drop out immediately. That method wouldn't solve the problem at all... Another plan would be to trample her reputation relentlessly—not in the greenhouse of this school, but outside."

"Outside?"

Kaneda Satoru completely didn't understand Seishiki's words.

"Heh, this school isn't as wonderful as you imagine. Maybe in the students' eyes, it's a paradise. But in adults' eyes, it's pure hell."

"This school is funded by the Japanese government's investment. So where does Japan's money come from?"

"The people?"

"Exactly, your future selves."

Seishiki's lips curled into a classical smile. A kind smile? A pitying smile? A compassionate smile? No, not at all! There was no emotion whatsoever.

"Why should I have to support you students? We already have to pay taxes to support the elderly, and now we have to fund you troublesome students? Give me a break. Will raising these students make Japan better? After all these years, hasn't nothing changed?"

"That's how most working adults evaluate this school."

"This school has an exceptionally bad reputation online. But tragically, as a support project for an 'island nation,' no matter how much the people vent their dissatisfaction online, it ends up being a futile effort."

"In a sense, this school has transcended the scope of 'education' and become a tool for maintaining 'political' status. A stable foundation invites envy, and there are definitely those fanning the flames behind the scenes."

"This school's rules forbid any information from leaking outside. That's to cut off this situation at the source. The school has means to internally digest negative information. But I have ways to contact the outside... Society needs a flashpoint. A school shrouded in mystery, calling itself a 'talent cultivation education' institution, has students committing 'theft' and 'attempted Article 177.'"

(Search Article 177 of the Japanese Penal Code on your own.)

"If this were posted on the internet, how big of an uproar would it cause? Don't underestimate the malice of the web—the Newspaper Man from 2011 already proved plenty. Populism is terrifying. The moment people catch even a whiff of something, they'll magnify and spread it endlessly. Doxxing, harassment, all sorts of things will happen. It could even drag down your own parents' careers."

(Newspaper Man is from the manga The Fable.)

"Even if she's a high school girl, the Vengeful Spirits on the internet won't spare her pity, forgiveness, or mercy because of that. The school will go up in Flame War... Do you think the higher-ups care more about the school's reputation or the student? As someone who thinks realistically, Kaneda, you should know that better than anyone."

"Masumi Kamuro will soon become a sacrifice in the war between two political factions."

"Everyone will know Masumi Kamuro's face and name, like a Stray Dog branded with a Slave Mark. She might even drag her own parents down. In the end, she'll probably have to go to school in some remote countryside."

"People will shift their attacks from the school to Masumi Kamuro—that's a way to redirect the conflict. The people online are quick to change direction; they'll transfer their dissatisfaction with the school onto a person."

"Compared to the school's petty, painless punishments, this society will teach her what true malice means. Only the cruelest punishment makes those who fall into the abyss feel fear. They don't repent—they're just scared."

Seishiki Otonashi stubbed out the cigarette in his hand and brushed back his hair.

Such horrifying, dark thoughts, yet they came from that innocent, childlike face.

The purple in Otonashi's eyes dimmed, and a pitch-black, bottomless sense of inferiority stirred in the darkness.

(Afternoon)

Masumi Kamuro returned the phone.

"Um... can you come with me this afternoon?"

"Where to?"

Otonashi tilted his head in confusion.

"Come with me... to apologize."

Masumi Kamuro turned her head away, unable to meet Otonashi's gaze.

"Sure. Looks like Kamuro has stood back up."

Otonashi smiled with relief.

In Masumi Kamuro's eyes, that cute face shone with a brilliant radiance. Having Seishiki Otonashi by her side gave her an inexplicable, strange sense of calm.

"Kamuro is really beautiful right now... both inside and out."

Hearing this, Masumi Kamuro's face turned red like a steam engine, a faint wisp of smoke rising from her head.

"Don't say such embarrassing things."

What Masumi Kamuro was thinking at that moment was, at least save that kind of embarrassing talk for when they were alone.

"Otonashi-kun made another new friend?"

Tamiya Emi's beautiful eyes glared at Masumi Kamuro with dissatisfaction.

And Masumi Kamuro, sensing the hostility from another woman, darkened her expression and shot back with an icy glare, letting out a cold snort.

"Umm... what's going on with you two?"

As the culprit behind it all, Otonashi started playing dumb.