Outside Punishment

The chaos by the pool was like a stone thrown into water, sending ripples ever outward.

Ken Sudō's exaggerated cries of "cramp!" sounded especially grating and stupid amid the loud thud of Ryuen kicking the sign away and the girls' startled gasps. Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki stood frozen in place, faces ashen and minds blank. Ichinose Honami, Hirata Yosuke, Karuizawa Kei, and the others watched the sudden turn of events and the undisguised malice on Ryuen and his companions' faces. At last, they realized that this was about far more than a "cramp." Horikita Suzune's usually cool face was wreathed in frost as she glared like a blade at Sudō rolling on the ground and Ike and Yamauchi standing there dumbfounded.

Kazama In stood at the edge of the commotion, his ink-black eyes calmly taking it all in. Chaos, stupidity, malice... It was all within his expectations. He was like a chess player behind the scenes, who had already set the board and was simply waiting for the pieces to fall where he wanted them.

Time turned back to when Kazama In learned of the foolish plan by Sudō and the other two to secretly take photos.

The first thing he did was contact the Student Council president, Horikita Manabu.

"President, four students from Class D—Ken Sudō, Kanji Ike, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sotomura—are planning to sneak into the women's changing room at the Water Park during the summer event and install hidden cameras." Kazama In's voice came through the encrypted call, utterly calm.

"...Utterly foolish." Horikita Manabu's voice was cold. "What are you planning to do? Stop them in advance?"

"No." Kazama In's reply was firm. "If we stop them in advance, the punishment won't be enough. They won't truly learn their lesson. I need them to taste what it's like to be on the verge of success, then have everything crushed when they're closest to their goal. That'll be more effective than any lecture."

"...You want to use someone else to do your dirty work?" Horikita Manabu immediately understood his intention.

"Yes. I need a sufficiently 'vicious' troublemaker to expose their plan and make sure the photos are never taken. The target: Ryuen Kakeru."

"Ryuen? Why would he help you?"

"Tell him there are idiots in Class D playing with fire, and that it's happening in the women's changing room at the Water Park. Give him the chance to humiliate Class D in public, take Sudō down a peg as a continuation of the last incident, and 'show me favor' or 'send me a message.' He won't turn it down." Kazama In's voice was cold with calculation. "In return, he can 'do as he pleases,' as long as no one is seriously injured and no irreparable privacy violation takes place. Also, we need to block off the possible backup entry point through the women's changing room vent in advance."

"The vent?" Horikita Manabu sounded surprised by Kazama In's thoroughness.

"Insurance. Sudō's plan might involve using the ventilation ducts. I need to make sure there's no chance of failure. That'll require... Sakayanagi Arisu's help. Kamuro Sumire, one of her people, can take care of this little job silently and effortlessly."

"...You've even factored Sakayanagi into this?" Horikita Manabu's voice held a hint of mixed feelings.

"It benefits us both. I owe her an 'apology,' and she's happy to have me in her debt. She's even happier to cause trouble for Class D. She won't refuse when it comes to the vent." Kazama In's thinking was frighteningly meticulous. "Finally, the miniature camera hidden in the 'Cleaning in Progress' sign will be the only 'evidence.' It'll be found, but the offense won't warrant expulsion. It'll be enough to humiliate the three of them and make sure they receive a serious punishment, while also giving the school grounds for a reasonable disciplinary decision."

And so, an invisible net quietly spread.

Using his position as Student Council president and certain "information channels," Horikita Manabu leaked the foolish Class D students' plan to Ryuen Kakeru and hinted that he had room to "do as he pleased."

When Sakayanagi Arisu received Kazama In's "request for help blocking off the women's changing room vent," she smiled knowingly, clearly delighted. "Big Brother In is finally going to 'pay his debt,' huh~" She immediately ordered Kamuro Sumire to sneak into the Water Park before the event and seal the ventilation duct completely, without anyone noticing.

After hearing the news, Ryuen Kakeru let out a sinister grin. "Those Class D scum... Talk about a gift falling right into my lap! Kazama In... Is he asking me to clean house for him, or does he want to watch me put on a show? Heh, whatever! I'm definitely joining in on this!"

By the pool, Ryuen's kick sent the sign flying and lit the fuse. Ignoring Sudō's "cramp" and the girls' questions, he swept his taunting gaze over the Class D students, then fixed it on Kazama In. His voice was full of mockery. "Class D's trash can't manage anything better than this lowlife stunt? Secretly taking photos in the women's changing room? That's disgusting taste!"

"Ryuen! Stop making baseless accusations!" Horikita Suzune snapped, but she clearly lacked conviction. She had guessed the truth, too.

"Baseless accusations?" Ryuen laughed exaggeratedly and pointed at the wreckage of a miniature camera that Albert had crushed underfoot. "Then what's this? A new toy for the cleaning staff? Want me to have Ibuki read the memory card so everyone can enjoy the contents?" Ibuki Mio wore a cold smile, playing along.

The Class D students' faces changed dramatically. The evidence was conclusive! Sudō's groaning stopped, and his face went ashen. Ike and Yamauchi wished they could crawl into a hole in the ground.

Just then, Kazama In's phone rang. The distinctive ringtone made his ink-black pupils contract slightly. He took out his phone. The screen read "Horikita Manabu." He answered and held it to his ear.

Horikita Manabu's steady voice came through. He said only one thing: "Kazama, the farce should end now. Let me see how you 'handle' things."

Kazama In was silent for a second, then replied with a single word: "Understood."

After hanging up, Kazama In swept his gaze over the chaotic scene—Ryuen's brazen provocation, Horikita Suzune's anger, Ichinose and the others' shock and worry, and the despair of Sudō and his two companions... He sighed softly. The sound was barely audible, yet carried the helplessness of someone in control of everything.

He started forward, walking calmly toward the center of the confrontation—where Ryuen and Class D were facing off—as everyone watched in astonishment, confusion, and even a hint of expectation.

"That's enough." Kazama In's voice wasn't loud, but it carried with strange force, instantly drowning out the din. He stood between Ryuen and Horikita Suzune, looking calmly at Ryuen. "Ryuen, your 'performance' was impressive. You've accomplished your goal. You can leave now."

Ryuen narrowed his eyes at the "arbiter" who stirred up trouble while keeping himself apart from it. His sinister grin widened. "Oh? The vice president has spoken? What, are you trying to protect your Class D 'treasures'?"

"I'm not protecting anyone." Kazama In's voice was utterly calm. "I'm ending this farce. You kicked the sign and crushed the device. You've already 'helped' enough. Making a bigger scene won't do anyone any good." His words carried an unspoken warning for Ryuen to know when to stop. Otherwise, the Student Council might step in, and he could get dragged into it, too.

Ryuen stared at Kazama In for several seconds, apparently weighing his options. In the end, he scoffed. "Hmph! Boring! Let's go!" He waved a large hand and led Albert and Ibuki away from the pool area with the swagger of a victorious general. Before leaving, he made sure to throw a look of utter disdain at Sudō and the other two.

The pressure from Ryuen's group vanished, but the oppressive atmosphere within Class D grew even heavier. Everyone looked to Kazama In, waiting to see how he would "handle" things.

Kazama In didn't look at Sudō and the others. Instead, he lifted his head and gazed toward the roof of the Water Park's main building. His voice rang out clearly. "President, you've watched enough. It's time to come down and deliver your verdict."

Everyone followed his gaze.

Two figures had appeared by the rooftop railing at some point.

Student Council president Horikita Manabu wore casual clothes, but his presence was as commanding as ever. Beside him stood secretary Tachibana Akane, dressed in an elegant, tasteful purple one-piece swimsuit with a sheer sun shawl draped over it. She held a document in her hand.

The two quickly took the staff elevator down to the pool area. Horikita Manabu's arrival instantly made the atmosphere more solemn and tense.

"President..." Horikita Suzune looked at her brother, her expression complicated.

Horikita Manabu gave her a slight nod, swept his sharp gaze across the crowd, and finally fixed it on Ken Sudō, Kanji Ike, and Yamauchi Haruki, who were slumped on the ground.

Tachibana Akane stepped forward, opened the document, and read in her usual clear, composed voice:

"After investigation by the Student Council, three Class D students—Ken Sudō, Kanji Ike, and Yamauchi Haruki—conspired to commit and carried out the following serious violations of school rules during this summer's Water Park event:

1. They falsified a 'Cleaning in Progress' sign and illegally blocked off the women's changing room area, disrupting public order.

2. They intended to illegally install a hidden camera in the women's changing room, seriously violating other people's privacy. The nature of this offense is extremely serious.

3. After their plan was exposed, they attempted to muddy the waters with a false excuse—Sudō claimed he had a cramp in his leg—and obstruct the investigation.

The evidence is conclusive. It includes the remains of the hidden camera recovered at the scene, which Ryuen Kakeru and the others found and destroyed, preventing any violation of privacy; witness statements; and intelligence gathered by the Student Council beforehand."

Tachibana Akane's voice fell like a cold gavel. With every item she read, the three boys lowered their heads another notch, their bodies trembling even more.

"Accordingly, under Articles 3, 9, and 12 of Chapter Seven of the school rules, the following ruling is hereby issued:

1. Ken Sudō, Kanji Ike, Yamauchi Haruki, and Sotomura will forfeit all their remaining personal points for this semester.

2. All four will receive a severe warning for misconduct on school grounds, which will be entered into their records.

3. The incident will be publicly condemned throughout the school as a warning to others.

Any further violations of a similar or more serious nature will result in immediate expulsion, without exception!"

After the verdict was delivered, the poolside fell silent. Only the splashing of water and the distant noise of visitors remained.

Ken Sudō collapsed completely, his head hanging low. Kanji Ike and Yamauchi Haruki were ashen-faced and trembling all over. The immense humiliation and punishment hit them like a bucket of ice water, bringing them to their senses and filling them with a fear unlike anything they had ever felt before.

Horikita Manabu took the document Tachibana Akane handed back to him. His gaze burned as he looked at Kazama In, then swept over all the Class D and Class B students present. His voice rang with authority. "As students, you should focus on your studies and character! This kind of despicable behavior is disgraceful! I hope everyone will take this as a warning! The Student Council will notify Chabashira-sensei, Class D's homeroom teacher, separately. You're dismissed!"

With that, Horikita Manabu and Tachibana Akane turned and left, leaving behind a heavy silence by the pool.

The sun still blazed, and the pool water shimmered, but the cheerful atmosphere had long since vanished. Through the combined efforts of the arbiter's game and the troublemaker's fangs, the foolish misconduct had been exposed to the light of day and brought to justice. Kazama In stood where he was, his ink-black eyes reflecting the clear pool water and the backs of Sudō and the others, who looked as if they had lost everything. The farce at the summer pool came to an end with the harshest public punishment.