The Accomplice's Guilt

"Oh? Class B has actually chosen to wade into these muddy waters? Truly unexpected!"

Ryuen and I stood before the bulletin board on the landing near the shoe lockers, observing the desperate, dying struggles of Class D.

"To think Class B is willing to spend points for a Class D student. It seems they've formed an alliance. An interesting decision, though I wonder which faction within Class D they've actually aligned with."

Even with the timeline shifted so significantly, Class B, under Ichinose's leadership, still chose to ally with Class D.

It is possible that Class B merely chose to "help" Class D, but the extent of this assistance left both Ryuen and me feeling quite irritated.

"Has Class D really been reduced to just asking other students for information? Should we consider guiding them to initiate negotiations and discuss terms?"

If Class D continues to flounder like this, things will become far more troublesome once the Student Council hearing begins.

"Well, I'll head over to Class D myself in a bit."

Even Ryuen hadn't expected Class D to hold out for so many days; with the hearing tomorrow, they still hadn't come to seek out Class C.

"Good morning! Ryuen-kun! Sima-kun!"

Just as Ryuen and I were discussing our next move, Ichinose, dressed in casual clothes, greeted us from behind.

"We in Class C have taken note of that notice you posted, Class B. If the opportunity arises, we will certainly return the favor in full."

Ryuen struck a menacing pose, his tone provocative as he issued what was essentially a declaration of war against Ichinose and Kanzaki, who stood behind her.

"It was just a notice. We in Class B aren't afraid of your threats, Ryuen."

Kanzaki stood beside Ichinose, pushing back slightly against the pressure Ryuen was exerting, though it was only by a hair.

"To dare make such a rash decision without understanding the full scope of the incident, interfering in the conflicts of other classes—so that's the nature of this 'central air conditioner' of yours.

For the sake of so-called camaraderie and unity, you've chosen to shield someone who bullies their peers, someone who resorts to one-sided violence against club members at the slightest provocation, leaving them bloodied and battered on the spot.

As the young master of Kanzaki Heavy Industries, I imagine this isn't your first time doing something like this.

I'm not surprised that someone like you, with both power and influence, would act this way.

It seems this school is no different from the ones I've visited before; they all have a group of sanctimonious elites whitewashing the perpetrators.

All it takes is for those 'peers' with human faces but beastly hearts to step forward and offer their own hollow reputations as collateral, and they become willing accomplices to the aggressor."

After I finished speaking, before Ryuen could even open his mouth, applause echoed from the stairwell.

The four of us turned our gazes toward the sound, seeing Sakayanagi laboriously climbing the stairs with the aid of her cane.

"As expected of Masaryu-kun, that biting wit never fails to disappoint."

Having heard the entire exchange, Sakayanagi walked up to me with a pleased expression and straightened my collar with one hand.

"If Class B chooses to remain obstinate and continue acting as an accomplice for Class D in this incident, then I have nothing more to say. After all, this is the choice the leader of Class B has made for her class."

After leaving those words behind, I took Sakayanagi's hand and, along with Ryuen, left the area.

According to the intelligence gathered and summarized by Class C, the primary contacts between Class D and Class B were Hirata, Kushida, and Horikita.

Hirata and Kushida were pushed forward, while Horikita took the initiative after realizing the ranking gap between the classes.

Horikita's involvement is irrelevant; in fact, one could say that if the BD alliance is still being led by her, we have gained yet another card to play.

The core of this incident remains with Sudo, Hirata, and Kushida.

I had already resolved Ichinose's dark past, and the way she looked at me just now didn't seem simple—it was as if her eyes were speaking.

But I am no longer the person I was back then; even a scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days apart, and it has been over three months. The plans from that time can no longer keep up with the changes.

The strategy needs adjustment. Since Ichinose no longer has a dark past, why don't I just help her create an even more devastating one?

You value your class and your bonds, Ichinose? Then I shall strike exactly there, cutting deep into those very things.

If a minor theft, once known by her mother and followed by a public apology on her knees, could cause such severe psychological trauma, won't my upcoming plan shatter her completely? It shouldn't, right?

"Ryuen, we can stop worrying about Class D for now. Whether they come to negotiate or not is up to them. A much bigger fish has just become meat on our chopping block."

After dropping Sakayanagi off at her destination, I laid out my plan to Ryuen on our way back to the activity room.

"Are you aiming for Class B? That class is a bit too united; they won't be easy to infiltrate."

Ryuen, connecting my words to what I had said earlier to Ichinose and Ishizaki, deduced my new target.

"Bingo. Ryuen, which do you think is more torturous: collective guilt or individual guilt?"

"Individual guilt, without a doubt. A collective can always dissipate that guilt internally, or even transform it into strength and become more extreme."

Ryuen gave his answer after only a moment of thought.

"In the long run, your answer is undoubtedly correct. Let me ask you another question.

Ryuen, which do you think carries more weight: collective guilt or individual guilt?"

"From the short term to the long term, the weight of collective guilt gradually diminishes, but individual guilt tends to grow heavier."

These two questions don't actually differ in essence. A collective always possesses a certain magic—it has great power, but it struggles to accomplish things. Without an excellent leader, a collective is just a synonym for failure.

"I don't think I need to explain the role of an excellent leader to a collective. Ryuen, do you think either Ichinose or Kanzaki is an excellent leader?"

"If they were excellent leaders, they wouldn't have brought Class B into this doomed, muddy water. If we weren't fighting a war of points, I'd want to drag Class B down with them and carve a deep wound into them."

"Don't worry, Class B won't escape our grasp this time. Have you seen how the students of Class B have been acting toward Ichinose these past few days? It's almost like 'dependency.'

Class B is a collective without an excellent leader, but this leader of theirs possesses a very unique personal charisma. That is her trait, and it is also Class B's fatal flaw.

The relationship between time and guilt can be reversed in the case of Class B. No matter how much guilt we impose upon them, they cannot escape.

Because Ichinose will subjectively shoulder the class's guilt herself, and because it is precisely because of Ichinose that they are a collective, Class B will voluntarily share the burden of the sins she carries.

Stepping on one's own left foot to ascend—that is Class B. Such a plump, delicious fish; how could we possibly let it go?"