Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing High School, Class Trial.
Ryuen Kakeru was the first to break the silence. He slowly uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, and braced both hands on the table. His predatory gaze fixed on Ken Sudō, and a cruel smile curled his lips.
"It's simple. Yesterday, after school, at the Old School Building, three of our Class C students—Komiya, Ishizaki, and Kondo—were attacked unilaterally by Class D's Ken Sudō. They're still lying in the infirmary. The school doctor's report is right here: fractured ribs, concussions, and multiple soft-tissue injuries. Sudō, the evidence is conclusive. Do you have anything to say?"
The moment Ryuen finished speaking, Sudō erupted like a powder keg. With a bang, he slammed his hands on the table and shot to his feet.
"Cut the crap, Ryuen! Your guys provoked me first, and they even laid hands on me! I was acting in self-defense! If I hadn't fought back, the three of them would've beaten me to death!"
"Oh? Self-defense?"
Ryuen acted as if he'd just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. He exaggeratedly picked at his ear, then his gaze sharpened and his tone turned aggressive.
"Then where's the evidence? You say we provoked you—where are your witnesses? You say we attacked first—where's the footage? Sudō, don't treat everyone like an idiot. The objective fact is that someone from Class D beat three defenseless Class C students badly enough to put them in the hospital."
"You—!"
Sudō's face flushed red as he struggled to catch his breath. He opened his mouth to argue, only to realize in horror that he really had nothing concrete to offer.
There had been no security cameras at the Old School Building, and no other witnesses nearby. It was just one side's word against the other's. Faced with the evidence Ryuen had prepared in advance, Sudō's feeble words seemed utterly powerless.
Watching Sudō struggle to defend himself, nearly jumping out of his seat in frustration but unable to do anything, Amasawa Reigetsu gave a soft sigh from the center of the judges' bench. He picked up the gavel and tapped it against the desk—not hard, but enough for the crisp sound to cut off Sudō's unfinished rebuttal.
"Sudō, do you have no grounds left to defend yourself? ...Looks like Class D has been completely defeated this time. And here I was, hoping you'd put up a fight."
Amasawa propped his chin on one hand and calmly scanned the room before settling his gaze on Horikita Suzune, who seemed to be holding her breath.
"Class C has provided detailed medical reports. The facts are clear, and the chain of evidence is complete. As for Class D's Ken Sudō, apart from an emotional verbal rebuttal, he has provided no concrete evidence to prove that he acted in self-defense."
At this point, Amasawa gave a slight shrug. He really hadn't expected Horikita to stay completely silent. It didn't fit his impression of her.
"Given the lack of evidence, we can only make our judgment based on the objective facts at hand. Therefore, the accusation is upheld. Ken Sudō of Class D is expelled for deliberately assaulting and injuring others."
Ichinose Honami was just as surprised that Class D's leader had remained silent. Could things really turn out this way? No. If they were, Horikita Suzune wouldn't have shown up at all—
"Objection!"
Horikita crossed her arms and closed her eyes, putting on an inscrutable air as if she still had a trump card to play. She stopped Amasawa Reigetsu from bringing down the gavel.
So it was finally happening? Horikita Suzune, let's see how much you've grown over the past month!
Even without Horikita Manabu's request, Amasawa Reigetsu was eager to see how far Horikita Suzune could grow, simply because he wanted to—
The more formidable the black-haired beauty's opponent, the more fun it was to play, right?
Almost everyone in the room turned to look at Horikita, except Shiina Hiyori, who was reading, and Ayanokoji Kiyoko, whose expression remained blank.
"I object to this trial!"
Amasawa Reigetsu, Ichinose Honami: ?
"The members of this trial are insufficient for it to be valid. Amasawa Reigetsu and Ichinose Honami, the judges, are both in the same year as us and represent Class A and Class B, our competitors. That means they could be targeting Class D to gain an advantage for their classes!"
Horikita opened her eyes, her pupils glinting like rubies with absolute confidence. She stood and looked down at Class C and Amasawa on the judges' bench, as if she'd found everyone's weak spot and already won.
What the hell was she talking about?!
Amasawa Reigetsu: Horikita Manabu, why don't you come listen to what your little sister's saying? Is anyone here actually listening to her? Is there anyone human in this room? There are only three groups here. Class C is your enemy, and yet instead of winning over the third party you've already bought off, you're attacking us directly?!
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Ryuen burst out laughing. He doubled over, nearly falling off his chair. Seeing their boss laugh, Kaneda couldn't hold back either and started laughing—though his voice wasn't nearly as hearty as Ryuen's. It sounded more like—
"Gyah hah hah hah hah!"
Shiina Hiyori happened to be reading Douluo Continent. Her slender fingers squeezed the pages tight, and she pressed her lips together as her body shook.
Shiina Hiyori: Holding on with difficulty.
Over in Class D, everyone reacted differently. After hearing Horikita speak up for him, Sudō first felt the warmth of a beautiful black-haired girl and nearly lost his mind with excitement. Then he was overwhelmed by Horikita's brilliance!
She'd turned the whole situation around, not by nitpicking at Ryuen but by finding a procedural loophole! So clever, Horikita! We're so lucky to have you in Class D!
Sudō already felt certain he'd won.
Meanwhile, Ayanokoji Kiyoko sensed Horikita's hostility toward Amasawa Reigetsu and shot Horikita a warning look.
I'm watching you...
Ayanokoji Kiyoko was really doting on Horikita Suzune that much? This was the first time since they'd confirmed their relationship that Ayanokoji, that vicious dog, hadn't gone after someone who'd done something to harm him.
Amasawa Reigetsu, on the other hand, was starting to see Horikita Suzune in a new light. Could she really be Ayanokoji Kiyoko's friend? That made her even more impressive than Kushida Kikyo!
Meanwhile, Ichinose Honami was suddenly at a loss. She'd been thinking the same thing: as a competitor in the same year, she wasn't suited to judge a case between Class C and Class D. Horikita Suzune's counterargument had hit Ichinose Honami right where it hurt.
Ichinose Honami glanced to her left for help from Amasawa Reigetsu, only to see him making a strange expression like Kumamon, while everyone from Class C burst into laughter—
Ichinose Honami: What's going on?
This chapter's ability to hold it together, from "solid" to "hopeless":
Amasawa Reigetsu: Absolutely rock-solid. He held it together with ease, and his Kumamon-like expression showed just how strong his composure was.
Shiina Hiyori: A cut above the rest. She managed not to laugh while reading Douluo Continent and hearing the laughter of the Soul Hall elders. It was a little difficult, but the difficulty rating was high, so she earned the title of a cut above the rest.
Kaneda Satoru: Completely hopeless. He couldn't hold it together at all, wore his emotions on his sleeve, and showed the weakness of a loser.
Ryuen Kakeru: Bong Bong Bomb.