Beginning of the Sudo Incident

After the day's classes ended, the students of Class A did not leave the classroom, because they had all received notice from Shiraishi Makoto.

Shiraishi Makoto stood outside the door and kept watch for a while. Only after the students from the other classes had mostly left did he close the classroom door and step onto the podium.

"Everyone, I'm sorry to disturb your break after class, but there is something very important that we need to discuss together." Shiraishi Makoto cleared his throat and began. "First, I should say that what I'm about to talk about is rather long. At first, you may not understand why I'm bringing this up, but whatever your opinions may be, please listen until I finish. Don't interrupt me."

"After school yesterday afternoon, Ichinose told me about her past..." Shiraishi Makoto first glanced at Ichinose Honami. Seeing that she had no intention of stopping him, he slowly relayed Ichinose's story to everyone.

Her family's misfortune, her younger sister's expectations, her own choice, and the final outcome. Shiraishi Makoto's account carried little personal bias; he simply recounted what had happened.

As they listened to Shiraishi Makoto's story, the Class A students could not help revealing shocked, astonished expressions.

It was hard for them to imagine that something like this had once happened to Ichinose. Quite a few people, especially several friends close to Ichinose Honami, instinctively looked toward her.

Under her classmates' gazes, Ichinose Honami felt her whole body trembling. Yet she continued to look up at Shiraishi Makoto, barely maintaining her composure. She knew this was a hurdle she had to overcome.

"To sum up, Ichinose is worried that she is no longer qualified to continue leading the class. She believes herself to be guilty." After finishing the story, Shiraishi Makoto swept his gaze across the class.

"So, I hope everyone will vote now. Those who believe Ichinose can still lead the class, please raise your hands."

Because the turn had come so suddenly, the classroom fell into dead silence.

Many people's eyes shifted back and forth between Shiraishi Makoto and Ichinose Honami, though more of them looked at Shiraishi Makoto, seemingly trying to determine the other leader of the class's stance.

However, the first person to raise his hand soon appeared. It was Kanzaki Ryuji.

Not only did he raise his hand to vote, but he also stood up and looked at Ichinose Honami.

"Since the start of school, I have trusted Ichinose." Kanzaki Ryuji placed his right hand over his chest, his voice firm and powerful. "I recognize Ichinose's character and abilities, and she has never disappointed me. Therefore, I will assist her in continuing to lead the class forward."

"That's right, Honami only made a tiny mistake." Shiranami Chihiro was the second to speak. She had been somewhat listless because of what happened yesterday, when she had been rejected. But after hearing Shiraishi Makoto's account, she immediately realized this had happened after she left.

She jogged away from her seat and threw her arms around Ichinose Honami.

"We're best friends. We won't part ways over something this small!"

"Chihiro..." Tears instantly welled up in the eyes of the Ichinose Honami whom Shiranami Chihiro was embracing. She wrapped her arms around her school friend in return.

"That's right, that's right. Honami just didn't want to disappoint her younger sister. We won't blame her either." Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, and the others gathered around as well.

"I also think Ichinose is very dependable. She is a class leader worthy of trust."

"Ichinose, don't blame yourself. The shop owner has already forgiven you, and we all understand!"

Hamaguchi Tetsuya, Shibata Sō, Watanabe Norihito, and the other boys spoke up one after another as well.

More and more people raised their hands, until everyone below the podium had done so.

Everyone looked toward Shiraishi Makoto on the podium, and Shiraishi Makoto finally smiled and raised his right hand.

He had not raised his hand all along because his prestige in Class A was rather high. If he voted directly, he would influence many classmates' views and attitudes. He wanted more to see them make a choice based on their true feelings.

He looked at Ichinose Honami below the podium and said with a smile, "I told you yesterday that everyone would forgive you."

"Mm..." Ichinose Honami wiped away her tears and gently patted Shiranami Chihiro, who was holding her. Understanding what she meant, Shiranami Chihiro let go.

Ichinose Honami slowly walked onto the podium and gave the entire class a deep bow.

"Thank you, everyone..."

Tears slid down her cheeks, and what answered her was applause that echoed throughout the classroom.

"Ichinose, please continue leading Class A forward from now on." Shiraishi Makoto stood beside her and spoke solemnly.

"Ichinose, please continue leading Class A forward from now on!" That was the voice of Class A.

Thus, Ichinose Honami's matter came to an end, and Class A returned to calm once more.

Shiraishi Makoto had no intention of concealing Ichinose's past, nor did Ichinose Honami, so the other classes gradually learned about it as well.

Although Ichinose Honami's reputation at school was no longer flawless, she became more real.

More importantly, everyone discovered that Ichinose was such an angel that she would blame herself to the point of taking a leave from school over such a small matter. Rather than declining, everyone's trust in her increased. Ichinose Honami did not betray that trust either, devoting herself wholeheartedly to protecting the class. Class A's cohesion rose to another level.

Amid this atmosphere, time reached June 30.

"Shiraishi, there's a student dispute case here. Please submit it through the system." Tachibana Akane approached with a set of documents and handed them to Shiraishi Makoto, who was seated before a computer.

"Understood." Shiraishi Makoto accepted the documents and looked over their contents.

Komiya Yogo, Kondo Reon, and Ishizaki Daichi of Class 1-C had filed an accusation, claiming that Sudo Ken of Class D had beaten all three of them. Attached was an injury assessment report issued by the school doctor, namely Hoshinomiya Chie.

According to the injury assessment report, all three had suffered serious injuries. Their statements also clearly indicated that Sudo Ken had continued beating them after they surrendered, making the nature of the incident exceptionally vile. Their demand was equally clear: that this cruel bully be expelled.

Only after entering the documents into the system and uploading them did Shiraishi Makoto take them to Horikita Manabu.

"President, if the documents are accurate, Sudo must receive a one-month suspension under school regulations, along with a deduction of 100 Class Points. However, since this occurred this month, Class D should have its Class Points deducted this month. But tomorrow is already July, so should the July Private Points for each class be temporarily withheld?"

"Temporarily withhold the Private Points for Classes 1-C and D. Issue them afterward once the incident has concluded." Horikita Manabu had already reviewed the documents. "If this incident involves Class A, Class B, or even upper-year classes, deduct the Class Points next month. At the same time, additionally deduct from that month's Private Points the amount of Private Points overissued this month."

"Understood." After receiving his instructions, Shiraishi Makoto returned to the computer and submitted an application to the school.