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After the Student Council deliberation ended, only Horikita Manabu, Tachibana Akane, and Kazama In remained in the room. The heavy atmosphere hadn't fully dissipated.

Horikita Manabu crossed his hands, his sharp gaze landing on Kazama In. "Kazama, you handled this incident cleanly. The video testimony from Sakura Airi—was it you who found it?" Though phrased as a question, his tone was certain.

"Mm." Kazama In didn't deny it, his movements in tidying the documents uninterrupted. "Ensuring stability within Class D was necessary."

Tachibana Akane added from the side, "That decisive recording evidence at the end... even though it was submitted by Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, the timing and content were too critical. Vice President Kazama, was this also within your plan?" Her eyes held a probing curiosity.

Kazama In looked up, his ink-black eyes calm and unruffled. "The chain of evidence needed closure. I only provided the direction; the executor was Ayanokoji. He did well." He didn't take credit, nor did he reveal further details.

Horikita Manabu gave a slight nod, seemingly unsurprised by the answer. He shifted the topic, lowering his voice. "How are the preparations for the election going? The votes from Class C..."

Kazama In pulled a copy of a contract from his folder and slid it across to Horikita Manabu. "It's settled. Ryuen signed. All valid votes from Class C will be cast for the candidate I designate." He didn't name the candidate, but Horikita Manabu clearly understood.

Horikita Manabu picked up the copy, glanced at Ryuen Kakeru's aggressive signature, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips. "Efficient work. It seems this position of mine has a worthy successor." He handed the copy back to Kazama In. "Go ahead and act. The Student Council needs someone who can control the overall situation."

"Understood." Kazama In tucked the copy away and gave a slight bow. "President, Secretary Tachibana, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Stepping out of the Student Council room, the corridor lights felt somewhat cold. As Kazama In closed the door, he saw several people standing at the entrance—Sudo Ken, Horikita Suzune, Hirata Yosuke, Karuizawa Kei, and Sakura Airi, who was hiding behind Hirata, her face still pale.

"Kazama!" Sudo Ken rushed up first, his face a mix of disbelief and awkward gratitude. "You... you're the Vice President?! Damn! You kept that hidden well! But... thanks for earlier! If you hadn't spoken up at the end, those three bastards would've been expelled!" Though crude, he understood that Kazama In's final "plea" had actually given the other side a way out, avoiding a complete fallout and potential future trouble.

Hirata Yosuke also stepped forward, smiling sincerely. "Kazama-kun, we really owe you this time. Not only did you resolve Sudo-kun's crisis, but you also secured justice for Class D. Thank you!"

Karuizawa Kei, arm linked with Hirata's, looked at Kazama In with less of her usual arrogance and more curiosity and respect.

Horikita Suzune said nothing, just stared at Kazama In with her cold, phoenix-like eyes, her expression complex—a mix of shock, scrutiny, and a hint of displeasure at being kept in the dark. She finally understood why Kazama In always seemed to be a step ahead, why he was always so confident. The Vice President's identity... the information gap was enormous.

Sakura Airi, hiding behind Hirata, stole a glance at Kazama In, her small face flushing slightly. Her lips moved as if to say something, but her overwhelming timidity crushed the attempt. She quickly lowered her head, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. "I want to thank him... but... he's so scary... the Vice President..." Her heart churned with conflict.

Kazama In took in everyone's reactions, his face still expressionless. He simply nodded lightly. "It was my duty. If there's nothing else, I'll be going." He offered no further explanation and walked straight past them.

In the evening, Kazama In arrived at a small park near the campus as arranged. Ichinose Honami was already sitting on a bench waiting for him, the setting sun's afterglow gilding her pink-gold hair with a warm golden edge.

"Kazama-kun!" Seeing him, Ichinose immediately waved happily and patted the spot beside her.

Kazama In walked over and sat down. They chatted about the afternoon's Student Council events, and Ichinose expressed understanding of his approach to handling the three Class C students. "What you did was right, Kazama-kun. It was satisfying, but expelling three people at once would have made Class C retaliate fiercely. This way is more stable."

Kazama In hummed in agreement, saying little. They enjoyed the rare tranquility, their conversation shifting to daily life and studies.

Just then, a familiar figure approached from the other end of the park path—Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Ayanokoji-kun?" Ichinose spotted him first and greeted him warmly. "What a coincidence!"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stopped, his gaze sweeping over Kazama In and Ichinose, his expression as flat as ever. "Ichinose-senpai, Kazama. Good evening." His eyes lingered on Kazama In for a moment, and he gave a slight nod. "Thanks for this afternoon." He referred to Kazama In's role in backing up his recording evidence during the final Student Council ruling and steering the outcome.

Kazama In replied simply, "The evidence was yours to find."

Just as Ichinose was about to say more, a jarring phone ringtone cut through the park's peace from Ayanokoji's pocket.

Ayanokoji pulled out his phone; the screen showed "Sakura Airi." He pressed the answer button, but before he could bring it to his ear, Sakura Airi's voice, laced with immense terror and sobs, nearly screamed through the speaker:

"Ayanokoji-kun! Help—"

The sound cut off abruptly as the call was violently disconnected!

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's face instantly darkened! Brief as it was, the despair and fear in that voice were unmistakably real!

Ichinose Honami and Kazama In both caught the anomaly the moment Sakura screamed. They stood up simultaneously, their sharp gazes fixed on Ayanokoji!

"Ayanokoji-kun! What's wrong?" Ichinose asked urgently, her heart leaping into her throat.

Kazama In's ink-black eyes locked onto Ayanokoji. "Something happened to Sakura?"

Ayanokoji lowered his phone, his voice carrying unprecedented gravity. "She's calling for help. The location... should be near the employee entrance of that large electronics store in the shopping district." He made a quick judgment based on Sakura's part-time job information.

"Let's go!" Kazama In didn't hesitate, immediately breaking into a run.

The three dashed toward the back alley of the electronics store in the shopping district at full speed. As they turned into the dim employee passage, the scene before them made Ichinose gasp sharply!

Sakura Airi was pinned against the cold wall by a fat, middle-aged man in a greasy work uniform! Her uniform was disheveled, her face streaked with tears and terror, struggling desperately but unable to budge him an inch. The man was the store's owner, his face twisted with perverse desire and malice, spewing obscenities: "Playing innocent?! It's your luck I've taken a liking to you! What's wrong with taking a few photos?! Just behave..."

"Stop!" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka barked, simultaneously raising his phone. A harsh flash lit up as he snapped a photo, perfectly capturing the man's assault!

Startled by the flash, the fat store manager whipped around. Seeing three students, especially Ayanokoji's phone, a flicker of panic crossed his face, quickly replaced by deeper rage. "Little brats! What do you think you're doing?! Give me that phone!" He released Sakura and charged at Ayanokoji like an enraged boar!

Sakura Airi, losing her support, collapsed weakly to the ground, sobbing in terror.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka calmly stepped back, his voice cold as a blade, each word striking the man's weak points. "I've already called the police. This photo, plus the store's surveillance footage," he pointed to an inconspicuous camera above the passage, "is enough to put you in prison for a few years. Attempted indecency, violent coercion, false imprisonment... multiple charges stacked—do you think you can keep your store open on this street?"

The store manager's obese body froze! He looked up at the unnoticed camera, then at the photo in Ayanokoji's hand like irrefutable evidence. The color drained from his face, his arrogance deflating like a punctured balloon, replaced by sheer terror and panic. "No! That's not it! She seduced me! She..."

"Shut up!" A voice, suppressed with volcanic fury and cold as the depths of hell, suddenly rang out!

It was Kazama In!

The moment he saw that fat man pinning Sakura against the wall, Kazama In's mind went blank! The filthy scene before him instantly overlapped with the nightmare he most dreaded from his memories—that rainy night, the dark alley, his mother's desperate screams, the assailant's twisted face... The gentle smiles of his parents in the pocket watch seemed torn apart by this vile reality! His hand in his pocket clenched the watch so tightly the cold metal nearly cut into his palm, his body trembling with extreme rage. He fought to suppress the violent impulse to destroy everything, but every second he looked at that beast, his irritation and murderous intent surged higher!

Ichinose Honami keenly sensed something was wrong with Kazama In! His eyes were terrifying—cold, devoid of warmth, yet like a volcano on the verge of eruption! She immediately reached out and tightly grasped his fist, which was clenched so hard the veins bulged. The warmth of her palm carried silent concern and reassurance. "Kazama-kun... calm down..."

But the store manager, terrified out of his wits by Ayanokoji's words, only wanted to flee! He panicked, his bulky body lurching toward Ichinose and Kazama In, trying to shove past them to escape!

Just as he was about to crash into Ichinose!

"I can't take it anymore!"

Kazama In growled, his pent-up fury bursting like a breached dam! He wrenched his hand free from Ichinose's grip (carefully avoiding her in the motion), his figure darting out like a ghost!

His left hand clamped onto the store manager's thick wrist like an iron vise, twisting it with precision! His right hand shot out to press down on the back of the man's neck, and with a deft foot sweep—

"BANG!!!" A dull, heavy crash rang out!

The obese store manager, like a heavy sandbag, was slammed to the ground by Kazama In with lightning speed! Face-first, he hit the cold, rough concrete floor with a solid thud!

"Ugh—!" The manager let out a miserable scream, blood spurting from his nose instantly!

But it wasn't over! Kazama In pressed one knee heavily into the small of his back, pinning him to the ground. His hands, like precision torture devices, locked the manager's arms behind his back, twisting them at an excruciating angle in a reverse joint lock!

"Aaaah—! Let go! My arm! It's breaking! It's going to break!" The manager squealed like a pig being slaughtered, his fat trembling violently from the pain.

Kazama In lowered his head, his jet-black hair shadowing his eyes. All that could be heard was his voice, cold and devoid of any human emotion, like a pronouncement of judgment:

"Admiration? You dare speak of admiration?"

"Using such vile methods to trample on someone's dignity?"

"A scumbag like you only deserves to eat dirt!"

With that, Kazama In's hand on the manager's nape suddenly pushed down, slamming his blood-and-dust-smeared face into the rough, filthy ground again and again!

"Eat it! Taste the filth you love so much!"

"Mmph... pfft... cough..." The manager choked, his eyes rolling back, his mouth filling with grit, his screams reduced to whimpers.

This scene, filled with brutality and ruthlessness, left Sakura Airi, who had been crying, frozen in terror, her eyes wide. Ichinose Honami also covered her mouth; she had never seen Kazama In so... frightening. Only Ayanokoji Kiyotaka remained calm, silently filming Kazama In's actions—necessary evidence for self-defense.

Soon, the sharp wail of police sirens grew closer. The police arrived and quickly subdued the manager, who was now limp as jelly, his face covered in blood.

Kazama In stood up, dusting off his hands, as if the violent Arbiter from moments ago had never existed. But his aura remained icy, and a lingering ferocity lurked deep in his eyes.

"Officers, we are witnesses and friends of the victim." Kazama In's voice had returned to calm as he pointed to Sakura Airi, who was sitting on the ground, and Ayanokoji, who held the evidence. "This is the victim, Sakura Airi. This classmate recorded key evidence. As for this man," he cast a cold glance at the manager being held by the police, "attempted indecency, violent coercion, attempted false imprisonment. There are surveillance cameras, witnesses, and physical evidence."

After understanding the situation, the police immediately handcuffed the manager and requested that Sakura Airi, Ayanokoji, and Kazama In and Ichinose Honami—as key witnesses and the one who stopped the crime—accompany them to the station for detailed statements.

"I'll go with you." Kazama In didn't hesitate. He glanced at Sakura, who was still in shock, then at Ichinose, whose face was also pale, and said to Ayanokoji, "Ayanokoji, please take Sakura back."

Ayanokoji nodded. "Yeah."

Just as Kazama In and Ichinose were about to follow the police, Kazama In paused. He turned around and walked over to Sakura Airi. Sakura flinched, but Kazama In simply reached out, his movements a bit stiff but as gentle as he could manage, and patted her trembling shoulder.

"It's over." His voice still lacked warmth, but it seemed a touch softer than before. "Be more careful... from now on."

With that, he didn't linger. He got into the police car with Ichinose. The flashing lights carried them toward the station, taking away this night of terror. Ayanokoji watched the police car disappear into the distance, then looked at the sobbing Sakura beside him. He calmly assessed: Kazama In's emotional loss of control stems from deep trauma. Ichinose Honami's reassurance was effective. Sakura Airi's safety incident was an accident, but it's resolved. He helped Sakura up. "Come on, I'll take you back."