While Hirata was searching the others, Haruki Yamauchi slipped over to Kiyotaka Ayanokoji. His face was panicked, and his voice was hurried and pleading. "Ayanokoji, please help me!"
Kiyotaka turned his head and looked at Yamauchi's frantic expression. His voice was calm and utterly unruffled. "What is it?"
Yamauchi hurriedly lowered his voice and gripped Kiyotaka's arm tightly with both hands, fear filling his eyes. "I... I don't know who put Karuizawa's underwear in my pocket. When Hirata searches me, he'll definitely think I stole it. I really didn't! I don't know who put it there! Ayanokoji, just help me hide it, or... or say you accidentally picked it up. Please, I don't want everyone to think I'm a thief!"
Kiyotaka frowned and gently pulled his arm free. His voice remained calm, but there was a note of unmistakable refusal in it. "I can't help you. This has nothing to do with me, and I won't take responsibility for something I didn't do." Then he instinctively took a step back, putting some distance between himself and Yamauchi. His expression was cold, and he didn't look at Yamauchi again, clearly unwilling to get dragged into this.
After Kiyotaka turned him down, Haruki Yamauchi panicked completely. His legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground. He looked at Kiyotaka's cold back, then glanced at Hirata, who was slowly approaching. Despair washed over him. His face went deathly pale, and he trembled even harder.
"Yamauchi, you're next." Hirata's voice was gentle, but carried an undeniable firmness. He had already searched the other boys, leaving only Yamauchi. Seeing how flustered Yamauchi was, Hirata's eyes flickered with confusion, but he didn't think much of it. He assumed Yamauchi was nervous because he was under suspicion.
Yamauchi stood rigidly as he slowly held out his hands and let Hirata search him. Hirata's movements were gentle. He quickly felt something in the pocket of Yamauchi's jacket and paused, his fingertips stilling for a moment. Then, without a change in expression, he pulled out the underwear and quickly clenched it in his fist, keeping it hidden from everyone around them.
Hirata's gaze passed over Yamauchi's ashen face and panicked eyes. He knew that if he showed the underwear now, everyone would blame Yamauchi, and the class might even ostracize him. That would only intensify the discord within Class D—the very outcome their enemy wanted. Besides, he had his own reasons for protecting his classmates.
With that in mind, Hirata discreetly tucked the underwear into his pocket. Then he looked up at everyone with a warm smile and announced loudly, "Don't worry. We didn't find anything unusual on Yamauchi. So far, we've searched all the boys and their tents, but we haven't found the missing item."
Everyone froze. The girls looked incredulous and began voicing their doubts. "How is that possible? Hirata, did you miss a spot? How could it not turn up?" "You must have gone easy on him. Maybe Yamauchi stole it, and you're covering for him!"
Hirata still wore his warm smile as he patiently explained, "Please trust me. I searched carefully, and we really didn't find it. Maybe Kei put it somewhere by mistake, or perhaps the strong wind last night blew it into the woods. We can look around the campsite again; we might find it. Besides, I believe the boys in Class D are honorable. They wouldn't do something so despicable. Let's stop suspecting one another before we damage our friendship."
Kei Karuizawa was still somewhat dissatisfied, but when she saw the determination in Hirata's eyes and thought about the kind of person he was, she finally nodded. "Hirata, I trust you. Let's look around again."
When Kei Karuizawa relented, the other girls stopped questioning him. The boys breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Hirata with gratitude. They all knew he had probably found something but was deliberately hiding it to put an end to the commotion and keep the class from falling into deeper conflict.
Hirata motioned for everyone to spread out and search around the campsite. Then he quietly drew Haruki Yamauchi aside and led him to a secluded spot beneath the trees. In a low, serious voice, he said, "Yamauchi, I know you didn't do it. I've put the underwear away, so you don't need to be afraid."
At those words, Haruki Yamauchi's eyes instantly reddened. He hurriedly bowed to Hirata. "Thank you, Hirata. Thank you for helping me. I really didn't steal it. I don't know who put it in my pocket..."
"I know." Hirata patted Yamauchi on the shoulder, his voice softening. "Someone may have framed you. I didn't say anything because I didn't want everyone to ostracize you, and I didn't want conflict within Class D to give our enemies an opening."
Yamauchi nodded quickly, tears spilling down his cheeks. "I understand, Hirata. I'll be more careful from now on."
"Good." Hirata nodded, took the underwear from his pocket, and quietly slipped it deep into his backpack. "Let's leave it at that. Don't tell anyone else, including our classmates. I'll investigate what happened. You should keep an eye on the people around you too, especially Mio Ibuki. If you notice anything strange, tell me right away."
"Okay, I'll keep an eye out!" Yamauchi nodded quickly. At last, the weight on his heart lifted, and he felt deeply grateful to Hirata.
The two returned to the group, and Hirata said to everyone, "Search carefully, especially along the edge of the woods and around the tents. We might find it there. Also, those on watch should stay alert. Let's tighten security today to make sure nothing like this happens again."
Everyone agreed and scattered to search around the campsite. Mio Ibuki stood among them, watching everything unfold. Confusion and resentment flickered in her eyes. She had clearly put the underwear in Yamauchi's pocket, so why had Hirata said he hadn't found it? Did Hirata fail to find it, or had Yamauchi moved it?
She was anxious, but didn't dare show it. She pretended nothing was wrong and joined the search, secretly watching Yamauchi and Hirata for any sign that might expose them. Suzune Horikita stood off to one side, watching Mio Ibuki's expression and recalling Kiyotaka's warning from the night before. A note of wariness flashed in her eyes. She was certain Mio Ibuki was involved. Hirata had probably kept quiet to quell the commotion while he investigated in secret.
Kiyotaka Ayanokoji remained at the edge of the group, his expression calm, as if none of what had just happened had anything to do with him. But he alone knew that he had seen through it all: Mio Ibuki had framed Yamauchi, and Hirata had covered for him. This chaos was merely Ryuen's first step in disrupting Class D's order. Kiyotaka had already planted the seeds of his counterattack in his mind, waiting for the right moment to tear away Mio Ibuki's disguise for good.
Before you continue