Evidence

The Student Council hearing room was as still and oppressive as the calm before a storm. The long, dark table divided the room into two clearly defined sides.

On Class D's side, Chabashira Sae sat with a stern expression, while Horikita Suzune sat ramrod straight, her cool, almond-shaped eyes fixed on the people opposite her. Ken Sudō struggled to contain his anger, his hands clenched into fists on his knees, his knuckles white. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka sat in the corner like part of the background, his face expressionless.

On Class C's side, their homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, wore an indifferent expression, as if none of this had anything to do with him. Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune all had visible injuries on their faces, but their eyes were full of malice and provocation. Every so often, they shot a smug glance at Sudō.

At the head of the table sat the Student Council president, Horikita Manabu. He rested his crossed hands on the tabletop, as steady as a mountain, his gaze sharp as an eagle's. To his left and right sat vice president Kazama In and secretary Tachibana Akane.

When Kazama In entered the hearing room calmly alongside Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane in his capacity as vice president, then took his seat to Horikita Manabu's right, a silent tempest swept through the Class D side!

Ken Sudō's eyes nearly popped out of his head, and his mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg. "V-Vice president?! Kazama?! What kind of joke is this?!" he cried out, completely unable to make sense of what he was seeing. His taciturn classmate, who was always reading strange books, was actually the lofty Student Council vice president?!

Even Horikita Suzune's usually cool face showed an exceptionally intense look of shock. Her gaze shot toward Kazama In like a searchlight, filled with disbelief and deep scrutiny. At last, she understood why Kazama In could get his hands on past exam papers and why he always seemed so sure of himself. Vice president... that title meant he had access to far more resources and information than an ordinary student! She instinctively looked toward Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, only to find him still wearing that unchanging poker face, as if Kazama In's identity came as no surprise to him. He knew all along! The realization made Horikita Suzune's heart sink.

Identity revealed. Class D's shock was expected. Sudō's reaction was too obvious, but it won't affect the bigger picture. Kazama In's position as vice president is a valuable asset at this moment.

"Silence!" Secretary Tachibana Akane shot Ken Sudō a stern look. "Please remain quiet during the hearing, Ken Sudō."

Tachibana Akane's presence cowed Ken Sudō into grudgingly shutting his mouth, but his eyes remained fixed on Kazama In.

Horikita Manabu surveyed the room and announced the start of the hearing in a steady, authoritative voice. "The Student Council has formally accepted Class C students Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune's complaint that Class D student Ken Sudō assaulted and injured them. Secretary Tachibana Akane will now read the complaint and explain the relevant procedures."

Tachibana Akane picked up the documents and read out Class C's allegations in a clear, cold voice, emphasizing Sudō's "unprovoked violence" and the "serious injuries" they had suffered. Then Kazama In took the documents and, in his distinctive, utterly even yet penetrating voice, outlined the Student Council's investigation process and the possible penalties, including expulsion. He then indicated that both sides could present their statements and arguments.

The verbal sparring that followed almost exactly retraced the course of the original story.

The three Class C students insisted that Sudō had attacked them without provocation, vividly describing their "pitiful condition" and Sudō's "brutality."

Ken Sudō was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged. He shot to his feet, slammed the table, and denounced them for provoking him first, insisting that he had merely acted in self-defense.

Horikita Suzune calmly pointed out numerous contradictions in Class C's testimony and inconsistencies in their timeline.

Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami Kazuma, made a sarcastic remark about how "Class D students are known to be ill-mannered and prone to violence," implying that Sudō's defense could not be trusted.

Ishizaki and the others grew even more brazen. "Then show us some proof! Who saw us provoke him? Are there any witnesses?!"

The room reached an impasse, and the scales seemed to be tipping toward Class C.

At that moment, following procedure, Tachibana Akane presented a key piece of evidence. "According to the Student Council's investigation, we have a video statement provided by an anonymous witness."

The screen lit up, and a voice altered to conceal its identity rang out in halting bursts, trembling with fear and nerves. It described what Sakura Airi had witnessed with her own eyes at the back entrance of the gym that day: how the three Class C students had cornered and provoked Sudō, and how Ishizaki had been the first to shove him, forcing Sudō to fight back!

"Lies!" Ishizaki's face changed dramatically as he interrupted her, his voice sharp. "That voice is distorted! Who knows where you found some actor to say that! This evidence is invalid!"

"Exactly! She didn't show her face. Who knows who she is! Class D must have faked it!" Komiya and Kondo immediately chimed in.

Class C's homeroom teacher, Sakagami, promptly challenged the authenticity of the video testimony and the reliability of the anonymous witness. The hearing was deadlocked once more. A statement from a witness who dared not show her face didn't seem enough to turn things around completely.

Horikita Manabu's brow furrowed slightly. He glanced toward Kazama In, seemingly waiting for the vice president to state his position or make his next move.

Kazama In remained calm and impassive, as if the heated argument had nothing to do with him. His gaze, as precise as a probe, passed over the long table and settled on Ayanokoji Kiyotaka in the corner. There was no emotion in his eyes, yet they carried a silent instruction and a request for confirmation.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka received Kazama In's signal. Sakura's testimony won't settle the matter on its own. We need more evidence to complete the chain. Execute Plan B. He lifted his eyes slightly and spoke in his usual flat, unremarkable tone. "Regarding the witness's identity and the credibility of her testimony, I have some additional evidence that may help clarify matters."

Everyone's attention instantly focused on the Class D boy who had barely seemed to be there.

Under the doubtful stares of everyone in the room, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka took a USB drive from his bag and handed it to Tachibana Akane. "This is an audio recording made the day after the incident in a private room at an entertainment venue in the commercial district. It records Class C students Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune admitting that, at Ryuen Kakeru's direction, they deliberately attacked one another to aggravate their existing injuries, intending to frame Ken Sudō. It also records them discussing how to coordinate their false statements."

His words landed like a bomb in the hearing room!

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

"Lies!"

Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo instantly turned as pale as paper. They looked at Ryuen—even though he wasn't there—then at their homeroom teacher, Sakagami, whose face had turned livid. They had never imagined that their conspiracy in the karaoke room that day had been recorded!

Horikita Manabu's gaze sharpened. "Secretary Tachibana, play it!"

Tachibana Akane immediately inserted the USB drive into the equipment. Before long, the clear voices of Ishizaki and the others rang through the speakers over a noisy background:

(Ishizaki): "...Boss, are these injuries enough? Should I punch Komiya in the face again? Make it look more serious?"

(Komiya): "Ow... Go easy! Damn it, I have to get beaten up again just to frame that bastard!"

(Kondo): "...Have you memorized the story we agreed on? Stick to saying he struck first and beat us to a pulp..."

(A blurred voice, but one that clearly carried authority—it was Ryuen): "Yeah, make it look convincing. This time, I'm going to make that red-haired gorilla in Class D disappear for good!"

The recording was clear and complete, exposing the vile deeds of the three Class C students: framing Sudō and deliberately injuring themselves. The evidence was incontrovertible!

Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo slumped in their chairs as if their spines had been ripped out. Their faces were ashen, and they didn't even have the strength to argue back. Their homeroom teacher, Sakagami, looked just as grim.

Horikita Manabu swept his cold gaze over the Class C students before settling on Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo, whose faces had gone deathly pale. "You maliciously filed a false complaint, colluded to give false testimony, and injured yourselves to frame another student... Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune! Your actions have seriously violated school regulations, and the nature of your offense is extremely severe! Under the rules, this is grounds for..."

"President." Just as Horikita Manabu was about to announce the harshest punishment—expulsion—a calm voice interrupted him.

Everyone turned toward the speaker. It was the vice president, Kazama In.

Meeting Horikita Manabu's and the others' puzzled gazes, Kazama In slowly rose to his feet. His dark eyes swept over the slumped Class C students, calm and unwavering. His voice was not loud, yet it carried the weight of an unquestionable verdict.

"The evidence is conclusive, and the facts are clear. Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune maliciously filed a false complaint and disrupted the school's order. The evidence is conclusive and irrefutable."

He paused, then changed tack. "However, this is their first offense—at least, as far as anyone knows—and this incident has not caused Ken Sudō any actual consequences as severe as expulsion, since the truth came to light in time. Expelling them outright would be too harsh."

Ignoring the faint hope that had suddenly kindled in the eyes of the three Class C students and the confused looks from Class D, especially Sudō, he continued. "I recommend the following punishments:

1. Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune will forfeit all their personal points for this semester and receive a severe warning, which will be added to their records.

2. Class C will lose 50 Class Points because of its students' maliciously false accusations.

3. The three students must submit a public written apology to Ken Sudō and Class D."

The punishment allowed Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo to remain enrolled, but wiped out their personal points, gave them disciplinary marks on their records, heavily penalized their class, and forced them to apologize publicly, thoroughly humiliating them. The consequences were substantial, yet they were still given a way out.

Horikita Manabu gave Kazama In a long look. He understood his reasoning. Expelling all three would certainly feel satisfying, but it would completely enrage Ryuen and Class C, inviting even more vicious and unpredictable retaliation. Kazama In's proposal was at once a punishment, a warning, and a way to leave room for restraint, preventing the situation from escalating. Moreover, it did not entirely conflict with the spirit of the "contract" he had made with Ryuen. The contract mainly bound the other side not to attack Class D over this incident again or leak the video. It did not restrict the Student Council from punishing students based on new evidence.

In the end, Horikita Manabu nodded and announced in an authoritative voice, "The vice president's proposal is reasonable. I hereby rule that Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yogo, and Kondo Suzune will forfeit all their personal points for this semester and receive a severe warning, which will be added to their records! Class C will lose 50 Class Points! The three students must submit a written apology to Ken Sudō and Class D within three working days! Any further offense will result in immediate expulsion, with no exceptions! This hearing is adjourned!"

The verdict was delivered, and the matter was settled.

The three Class C students looked both relieved and utterly crushed. Under their homeroom teacher Sakagami's livid gaze, they slunk out of the room.

The Class D students breathed a sigh of relief, and Ken Sudō even pumped his fist in excitement. Horikita Suzune looked at Kazama In with an even more complicated, searching gaze. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained calm. The optimal outcome has been achieved. Kazama In's ruling balances the rules with the need to maintain equilibrium. The binding force of Ryuen's contract remains intact.

Kazama In calmly gathered the documents from the table. His dark eyes showed no trace of emotion, as if the verdict that had just changed the fate of several people had been no more than routine business. The Arbiter's mercy was never weakness. It was precise control, guided by consideration for the bigger picture.