Sakayanagi Narimori: This is Arisu's Photo

Not long after Chihaya Rei finished speaking, Horikita Manabu arrived on the scene with three security guards carrying stun batons.

Horikita Manabu had initially worn a stern expression.

However, upon catching sight of the middle-aged man sprawled on the ground, clutching his crotch with a pained expression, Horikita Manabu's face froze, and his serious demeanor faltered slightly.

He shifted his gaze toward Chihaya Rei, his eyes filled with inquiry.

Didn't I tell you not to take action yet?

"There, that's the guy."

Chihaya Rei walked up to him as if nothing had happened and said indifferently, "The evidence of his crimes is all on his phone and computer."

He had just searched the stalker's body and retrieved his phone, which contained even more evidence.

Secret filming, stalking, and harassing students—this series of illegal acts was enough to send him to prison.

"Fine, leave the handling of this to me."

Horikita Manabu understood the gravity of the situation; if handled improperly, it would become a scandal for Advanced Nurturing High School.

The scene shifted.

The group arrived at one of the office buildings at Advanced Nurturing.

Horikita Manabu led Chihaya Rei and the two girls toward the Chairman's office.

At this point.

How to compensate the victim, Sakura Airi, and what kind of resolution to provide for the entire incident.

These were no longer matters that Horikita Manabu, as the Student Council President, could decide on his own.

After securing the perpetrator, he naturally had to report the matter to the school's upper management.

However, what surprised Horikita Manabu was that Chairman Sakayanagi Narimori had learned of the incident immediately and requested to speak with Chihaya Rei and the two girls himself.

Regarding this, Horikita Manabu had no objections.

"Chairman Sakayanagi is in this room. Just knock and go in."

In front of the Chairman's office, Horikita Manabu informed them solemnly before stating that he still had Student Council business to attend to and took his leave.

"If you two feel too shy to speak later, just leave the negotiation to me."

Chihaya Rei didn't enter immediately; instead, he glanced sideways at the two girls and said calmly.

Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi nodded repeatedly.

"You didn't tell me... we'd be invited to a place like this..."

Matsushita Chiaki's eyes were dim as she couldn't help but mutter a quiet complaint.

They were about to meet someone of the caliber of the school's Chairman.

"Cheer up, don't lose your composure."

As Chihaya Rei spoke, he knocked on the door.

The next second, a steady voice from inside the office called out, "Please come in."

The three of them pushed the door open and walked inside.

"Come in, Chihaya-kun, Matsushita-san, Sakura-san. No need to be nervous, please, have a seat."

Sakayanagi Narimori walked over to the sofa meant for guests with his hands behind his back, gesturing for the three to sit.

Like Sakayanagi Arisu, he had silver-white hair. He lacked the overbearing aura of a superior, and his face was kind as he smiled while observing the three of them.

"Hello, Chairman."

After offering his greeting, Chihaya Rei sat down generously on the soft leather sofa, taking a few extra looks at Sakayanagi Narimori.

Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi were indeed somewhat reserved.

Fortunately, the attitude Sakayanagi Narimori displayed made his goodwill obvious, and after greeting him, the two sat on either side of Chihaya Rei.

"Chairman, hello..." ×2

Seeing this, Sakayanagi Narimori nodded slightly while casting a thoughtful glance at Chihaya Rei.

He then sat in the seat opposite the three of them.

"Horikita Manabu has already explained the situation regarding this matter to me..."

As Sakayanagi Narimori spoke slowly, he poured a cup of tea for each of them.

Chihaya Rei couldn't help but feel surprised at the sight.

Sakayanagi Arisu's father was indeed a good Chairman who cared for his students.

It was no wonder he not only helped Ayanokoji Kiyotaka enroll but also helped him block the White Room assassins.

When they entered, he had been able to distinguish the three of them immediately; he had likely already reviewed all of their personal files.

Sakayanagi Narimori withdrew his smile and turned his gaze first toward the victim, Sakura Airi:

"Sakura Airi, on behalf of the school, I would like to apologize to you. The presence of such a criminal among the merchants of Advanced Nurturing High School is a failure of the school's oversight."

"The criminal and the evidence initially collected by the school will be handed over to the police, and the school will continue to follow up on this matter."

"Rest assured, we will absolutely ensure the perpetrator faces legal sanctions."

Sakura Airi listened with a nervous heart, then let out a sigh of relief and nodded, her movements slightly stiff.

"Okay, thank you, Chairman."

Sakayanagi Narimori nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze toward the three of them.

"Furthermore, regarding this incident, the school hopes that you can keep it confidential and not spread it around."

"After all, if this gets out, it will inevitably have some impact on the school's reputation."

Sakayanagi Narimori paused for a moment, then continued:

"Of course, as Sakura is the victim, and considering the courageous actions of Chihaya Rei and Matsushita Chiaki, the school has decided to provide you with some points as compensation."

"What do you think?"

After Sakayanagi Narimori finished speaking, he waited calmly for their response.

Then...

Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi both looked toward Chihaya Rei simultaneously, clearly intending to let him make the decision.

Sakura Airi, in fact, hadn't even dared to imagine that there would be compensation at all...

Sakayanagi Narimori was naturally aware that Chihaya Rei was the backbone of the trio, so he fixed his gaze directly on him.

"Rest assured, Chairman, we never intended to spread word of this incident carelessly."

Facing Sakayanagi Narimori's gaze, Chihaya Rei did not flinch and said in a deep voice:

"It is just that because Sakura has been stalked and harassed, she has been under immense psychological pressure and is feeling depressed."

"Therefore, the school must carefully consider the amount of this point compensation."

"Also, I believe the criminal should be made to contribute a portion of the compensation as well."

Chihaya Rei said earnestly.

Making a criminal compensate their victim was a perfectly reasonable request.

"You are right."

Sakayanagi Narimori nodded in approval, then spoke in a gentle tone:

"Then, as compensation for this matter, how about the school gives you 10,000,000 points?"

"..."

Hearing this astronomical figure, Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi instinctively opened their mouths and couldn't help but gasp.

If the currently penniless students of Class D found out about this, they would likely be green with envy.

Chihaya Rei was not the type to push his luck, and he felt this amount of compensation was more than adequate.

"Very well, thank you, Chairman."

He readily accepted.

As his voice fell, Sakayanagi Narimori showed a satisfied smile and took out a terminal device to transfer the points to Chihaya Rei.

Chihaya Rei planned to distribute them with Sakura and Matsushita after they left.

"Thank you also for stepping in to resolve this, Chairman. Shall the three of us take our leave now?"

"Ahem, no need to rush."

Sakayanagi Narimori gave a light cough and raised a hand to stop them. Facing the questioning look from Chihaya Rei, he said with a kind smile:

"It's rare for you to be here, and I would like to chat a bit more with you young people."

"...Alright then."

Chihaya Rei was slightly stunned, but he sat back down.

After all, having just received so many points from the school, he had to give him this much face.

However, he felt that he didn't have much to talk about with Sakayanagi Narimori, and he couldn't find any reason to interrogate him either.

"Chihaya, you and Arisu have a good relationship, don't you?"

Sakayanagi Narimori initiated the conversation; it was clear that the person he wanted to talk to was Chihaya Rei.

Although Sakayanagi Arisu had said she hadn't seen her father since school started, that did not mean Sakayanagi Narimori wasn't keeping an eye on his daughter.

After all, the one thing this school had in abundance was surveillance.

Sakayanagi Narimori could observe his daughter's activities through the campus security cameras.

Naturally, he had noticed that his daughter was very attentive to a student named Chihaya Rei.

Furthermore, the rumor that Sakayanagi Arisu was pursuing Chihaya Rei had also reached the ears of the Chairman.

It was rare for Arisu to reach the age where she wanted to fall in love, after all...

As the doting father of Sakayanagi Arisu.

He naturally had to personally vet her, to understand exactly what kind of person his daughter had taken a liking to.

As far as today went, Sakayanagi Narimori was quite satisfied with Chihaya Rei in every aspect.

"Yes, Classmate Sakayanagi and I have had several pleasant exchanges."

This topic caught Chihaya Rei by surprise; he paused for a moment, gave a slight nod, and spoke.

Regarding the few clashes he had with Sakayanagi Arisu, his mood had indeed been quite pleasant.

Hearing this, the smile on Sakayanagi Narimori's face deepened, his voice tinged with a hint of sentiment:

"Arisu hasn't had many friends growing up, so I feel much more at ease knowing she has found someone she can talk to."

"Chihaya-kun, I hope you and Arisu will look out for one another."

"Rest assured, Chairman, we will get along just fine."

Chihaya Rei answered with a relaxed expression, appearing to be in full agreement.

He would, of course, properly torture Sakayanagi Arisu, and in time, return a well-behaved, obedient, and filial daughter to the Chairman.

At this moment, Sakayanagi Narimori suddenly produced a photograph from his person.

However, he played it coy, showing only the blank back of the photo.

"This is?"

Chihaya Rei couldn't help but ask.

"This is a photo of Arisu when she was little."

Sakayanagi Narimori flipped the photo over, looking at Chihaya Rei with an appreciative gaze.

"?"

Chihaya Rei blinked rapidly, unsure of what the Chairman meant by this.

Sakayanagi Narimori pushed the photo into Chihaya Rei's hand and asked with a meaningful tone:

"What do you think? Arisu was very cute when she was little, wasn't she?"

"Yes."

Chihaya Rei murmured in contemplation.

He also curiously took a few glances at what Sakayanagi looked like as a child.

Compared to her present self, she had simply shrunk in size; her features were just as delicate and adorable as they were now.

Sakayanagi Arisu hadn't grown much over all these years...

He sighed inwardly.

However, the younger Sakayanagi Arisu had a more dazed and innocent expression.

Unlike now, where she smiled with her eyes closed every day, plotting to incite a civil war.

"I'll give this photo to you, Chihaya-kun."

Sakayanagi Narimori suddenly made this declaration, unilaterally deciding the matter.

"?"

Chihaya Rei once again had a question mark hovering over his head, looking at Chairman Sakayanagi with a strange expression.

I mean, why would he give him a photo of Sakayanagi Arisu as a child?

And right in front of Matsushita Chiaki and Sakura Airi, too, making both of them look at him with strange eyes now...