An Unknown Realm

"You have the evaluations of Sudo from the D Class students that you got out of Yamauchi with your beauty. That's one thing.

I have information on Hirata and Kushida from D Class. Hirata was a bully back in middle school! As for Kushida, what she did was far crueler than physically hurting someone. And with no chance of D Class overturning the verdict, Sudo is bound to be branded a bully.

In this case, the defendant from D Class is a bully, and the leader D Class sent to seek B Class's help and form an alliance is a bully. We in C Class are the victims.

D Class is full of bullies from top to bottom. So what role does Ichinose's B Class play in this case?"

"A bully's accomplices are bullies too. Even if the B Class students know nothing about the truth, they won't escape that label.

You really are something. I'll have the B Class students help D Class gather even more 'evidence,' so they'll trust D Class even more and be even more convinced they're in the right. Hahahahaha!"

Partway through the conversation, Ryuen and I couldn't help laughing.

Once this was over, B Class would be ready to live with regret for the rest of the time.

"By the way, did you see the notice board on the school network? B Class posted a plea for help there, too, and someone left an anonymous comment underneath."

After sitting down to rest in the Activity Room, Ryuen asked me a question while scrolling through his phone.

As soon as Ryuen saw the comment, he'd asked everyone in C Class to send him their browsing and posting histories for inspection. He found that none of them had left it.

"Oh, that one? That was my anonymous comment. B Class wants to know who witnessed the violence that took place on campus, right?

They never said it had to happen at this school. I'm planning to make up a past for those two, Hirata and Kushida, and send it to them for fun.

If you've rested enough, you can get ready to head back. I'm about to get started."

As I answered Ryuen, Sakayanagi and Hiyori pushed open the Activity Room door and came in, so I told Ryuen to leave.

"Hey! Is that really necessary? It's not like you're doing anything shameful."

Ryuen reclined his chair and glanced at the two of them changing their shoes by the door, protesting.

"Fine. But once Hiyori and I get into character, you're not allowed to make a sound. If you ruin the mood, next time you can sit at a table with the girls from our class all by yourself."

"Sure. I want to see what you two can come up with."

Ryuen, now determined to be contrary, muted his phone and moved his chair to the side. He even helped Sakayanagi move one over.

In the compartment Sima had set up, Hiyori changed into the clothes she'd borrowed from Sakayanagi.

When Hiyori stepped out, her figure caught my eye. I straightened my posture, like a male peacock showing off his best side to attract a mate.

Perhaps it was Hiyori's own choice, or perhaps I simply hadn't written that bit into the scene, but she slowly walked up to me.

As she bent down to sit, she deliberately brushed my foot with her toes. Was that because her character wasn't some flawless, sheltered young lady?

Sakayanagi had really gone to the trouble of finding a geisha outfit that was only sort of convincing.

"Your humble servant was born and raised in Japan. My grandmother fell gravely ill, my mother became addicted to gambling, and my father was lost to drink. When I was sold to work as a maid at a hotel in Tokyo, someone bought my freedom.

I had planned to become a novelist like my benefactor, but just two and a half years later, he passed away. I had no choice but to stay here for a while and return to the life I used to lead."

That routine sounded familiar. Did the stories told by women of the pleasure quarters update in sync, across eras and cultures?

"Such is life. When fate turns against you, it's hard to get what you want. The brighter the light, the deeper the darkness.

The busiest place around here is Tobita Shinchi, and the most famous is Shinjuku East Exit. There are countless stories in between, and all kinds of joys and sorrows to behold. The world's sadness and happiness may differ from person to person, yet people can still find common ground in that world."

The saddest thing that had happened to me was that I'd wanted to go there to find inspiration, but my age had become the biggest obstacle. What a sad story.

"The food streets in Osaka always bring joy to their customers, while Tokyo's entertainment districts are stages that never sleep. Legends abound there, and countless writers and artists have lingered in their midst, falling so deeply in love that they can't tear themselves away."

"I never would've guessed you knew so much about red-light districts. You're something else!"

"My image of you has been shattered, Masaryu~"

Once Hiyori and I got lost in the moment, we talked at length about the pleasure quarters. Ryuen and Sakayanagi, sitting off to the side, were both thoroughly entertained.

One of them couldn't go because of his age, and the other would get nothing out of going anyway.

Neither of them knew anything about what Hiyori and I were talking about, which was why we managed to fool them.

It was the same between Hiyori and me. Neither of us had actually been there, so apart from the real locations and establishment names, all the stories we told were made up.

"We really are on the same wavelength. Though Hiyori was a little mischievous this time~"

To effortlessly weave several fictional tales of talented writers and geishas together without a single awkward pause—that was what you could call being on the same wavelength.

"If I were Komako, I wouldn't be so mischievous. But I know I'm not her, and Masaryu isn't Shimamura, either.

I can see traces of Shimamura in you, Masaryu, but I'm willing to trust that feeling in my heart. Don't underestimate me."

Standing in front of me with her hands behind her back, Hiyori leaned forward and gently bumped her head against my chest. Then she lowered her head and walked out of the Activity Room, pretending not to care.

"Ooh~!"

After Hiyori left the Activity Room, the C Class students gathered inside burst out in unison, delighted to have witnessed some juicy gossip.

As soon as Hiyori and I started performing, Ryuen had sent a message to the class group chat, telling anyone who wanted to watch the show to come to the Traditional Literature Club. They had to come quietly, though—not a single sound.

As a result, every C Class student had shown up, and the entire class, along with Sakayanagi from A Class, had watched Hiyori and me perform.

Hiyori's bashful reaction just now was probably because she'd noticed all the C Class students watching from another corner of the club, rather than just Ryuen and Sakayanagi as at the start.

"Um, well, you can watch, but don't go telling people about this! We'll have a meal together here later, and we can treat it like a class meeting.

Everyone, go to the cafeteria and get Mountain Vegetable Set Meals to go. Ryuen, take a few people to the supermarket and buy some meat and snacks. Get what's on the list I gave you."