Pool Peeping Scandal (2)

Inside the girls' locker room.

Honami Ichinose followed the instructions of Yoshikage Kira, neither looking around nor appearing flustered. She simply walked naturally to an empty spot in the corner, set down her belongings, and swept her gaze toward the ventilation duct without drawing attention.

Positioned slightly inward on the ceiling, a tiny black silhouette was moving slowly.

A remote-controlled camera car.

Her heart tightened sharply, yet she maintained her composure.

She walked quickly out of the locker room, returned to Yoshikage Kira's side, and reported the situation.

"Kira-kun... I found it. It really is in the ventilation duct."

Honami Ichinose turned immediately, preparing to head straight to the teachers' office to put an end to this voyeurism scheme once and for all.

Yoshikage Kira lifted his eyes calmly: "Mm. Do as you originally intended."

"I'm going to the teachers' office now—"

"Wait."

Yoshikage Kira's gaze swept lightly toward the entrance of the pool area.

A cold, sharp figure was approaching quickly, her aura piercing and her target clearly set on the girls' locker room.

It was Suzune Horikita.

Honami Ichinose was stunned: "Horikita-san... why would she come here?"

Yoshikage Kira quickly ruled out the possibility of a coincidence: "She didn't come here by accident. There is another group within Class D making moves."

At the same moment, on the edge of the shadows.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji leaned quietly against the wall, like a shadow that didn't exist. He watched Suzune Horikita enter the locker room area, his eyes devoid of any ripples.

He had feigned agreement with the voyeurism plan of Kanji Ike and the others to lower their guard, then secretly passed the information precisely to Suzune Horikita, using her hands to retrieve the SD card and completely dismantle the entire conspiracy.

At the locker room entrance.

Suzune Horikita's footsteps were swift and calm; her goal was very clear—to retrieve the SD card from the remote-controlled camera car.

As long as the storage chip was removed, there would be no evidence of the voyeurism. This would protect the girls while keeping the incident contained to the smallest possible scope, preventing Class D from suffering another devastating blow due to the foolish actions of a few.

Just as she approached beneath the ventilation duct and began the process of retrieving the card, a light, clear reminder came from behind her.

"Horikita-san."

Suzune Horikita spun around, her eyes instantly tensing.

Honami Ichinose stood not far away, her expression earnest and serious.

"You... are here to take the SD card, aren't you?"

Honami Ichinose's voice was very soft, yet carried an inescapable sincerity. She didn't name the object, but it made Suzune Horikita realize instantly—

Her intention to quietly retrieve the SD card and cover up Class D's scandal had been seen through.

Suzune Horikita's brows furrowed slightly, and for the first time, a clear sense of wavering appeared on her cold face.

She had not expected that a secret line she thought only she and Kiyotaka Ayanokoji knew about would be stumbled upon by someone from Class B.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Suzune Horikita maintained her composure, attempting to mask her intentions with cold indifference.

But Honami Ichinose simply shook her head gently, her eyes warm yet firm:

"Horikita-san, I know you are protecting Class D, not wanting the class to be hit hard again because of the actions of a few. However... voyeurism is not a mistake that can be solved just by 'covering it up'."

Honami Ichinose looked left and right, then pulled Suzune Horikita aside, asking her to step out to talk further.

What Suzune Horikita did not expect was for Yoshikage Kira to walk up slowly.

He did not approach the locker room entrance, but stood in a safe position a few steps away from the two of them.

The three formed a quiet, inconspicuous circle in the corner of the pool area. After Honami Ichinose explained what had happened in the locker room to Yoshikage Kira, Yoshikage Kira spoke, his tone remaining flat, devoid of accusation, stating only the facts:

"She came to take the SD card with the goal of destroying evidence and suppressing the incident.

You intend to report it to the school to completely prevent a recurrence.

Your goals are the same, but your methods are opposite."

Suzune Horikita looked sharply at Yoshikage Kira, a flash of shock crossing her eyes.

"Just how much... do you know?"

"I don't know the parts that have nothing to do with me," Yoshikage Kira replied calmly. "I only judge one thing—whether this matter will turn into a disturbance and disrupt my peace."

Honami Ichinose took a deep breath and turned to Suzune Horikita, her tone so earnest it was almost pleading:

"Horikita-san, I am not trying to attack Class D.

But what Kanji Ike and the others have done has already seriously violated the privacy of others.

If this is quietly suppressed this time, they won't reflect on it; they will only think they can get away with it by luck."

"If you don't, they'll definitely do something even worse next time."

She paused, her voice soft yet exceptionally clear:

"I can choose not to go to the teachers' office right now.

But I have one condition."

Suzune Horikita looked up.

"The SD card must be destroyed, and the camera car must be disposed of.

You must give them a clear warning that there absolutely cannot be a second time.

If anything similar happens again, no matter how you try to cover it up, I will report it to the school immediately."

This was not a threat.

It was a bottom line.

Suzune Horikita fell silent.

She had always hoped to lead Class D to Class A with the belief that even flawed goods could pass, but only at this moment did she clearly realize for the first time—

Within the class she was desperately protecting, there truly existed inferior behaviors that could not be tolerated by reason.

Secret filming.

Peeping.

Malice.

It wasn't recklessness; it was pure depravity.

She looked at Ichinose's earnest gaze, then glanced at Yoshikage Kira, who remained calm at her side as if he had seen through everything, and slowly tightened her fingers.

"...I understand."

For the first time, Suzune Horikita's voice revealed exhaustion. "I will handle the SD card.

They... will not have a next time."

Kira spoke calmly from the side, providing the final conclusion:

"This matter ends here.

It is best for everyone."

Ichinose nodded gently, letting out a sigh of relief:

"That's good... I truly hope it never happens again."

Suzune Horikita took a long look at Kira.

This person hadn't participated in the actual events from start to finish, yet he had steadily controlled the entire rhythm.

He only held onto one principle: "Do not expand, do not stir up trouble, do not disrupt the peace."

He was terrifyingly calm.

"I will handle the internal affairs of Class D."

Leaving those words behind, Suzune Horikita turned, retrieved the remote-controlled car from the ventilation duct, checked that all SD cards had been removed, and walked quickly away from the pool.

Her silhouette was cold and taut, yet carried a weight she had never felt before.

The pool returned to silence.

Ichinose looked at Kira with a hint of apology:

"I'm sorry, Kira-kun... I invited you here to relax, and it ended up like this."

Kira's tone was indifferent:

"It has nothing to do with you. They were the ones who chose to create trouble."

"But, if I hadn't asked you to come—"

"Asking me to come was the right choice." Kira interrupted her. "The sooner trouble is handled, the smaller the scope, and the quieter it remains."

He paused, reiterating his sole stance once more:

"I simply do not wish for my peace to be disturbed by irrelevant prying."

Ichinose looked at him and offered a gentle, relieved smile:

"Yes. I understand.

I will keep it a secret."

Kira gave a slight nod, saying nothing more.

The sunlight fell upon the water, returning to its original, gentle state.