Bong Bong Bomb

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 rested his hands on the table. His predatory eyes locked onto Sudo Ken, and a cruel curve tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"It's simple. Yesterday, after school in the old building, three students from my Class C—Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondo—were subjected to a one-sided, violent assault by Sudo Ken of Class D. They are still lying in the infirmary as we speak. The school doctor's report is right here: fractured ribs, concussions, and multiple soft tissue contusions across their bodies. Sudo, the evidence is irrefutable. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Sudo Ken erupted like a powder keg, slamming his hands onto the table with a loud bang as he surged to his feet.

"Cut the bullshit, Ryuen! You guys were the ones provoking us with your mouths, and you threw the first punch! I was acting in self-defense! If I hadn't fought back, I would've been beaten to death by the three of you!"

"Oh? Self-defense?"

Ryuen Kakeru acted as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world, theatrically digging at his ear before his expression sharpened and his tone turned aggressive.

"Where's the proof? You say we provoked you—where are the witnesses? You say we struck first—where's the surveillance footage? Sudo, don't treat everyone like idiots. The objective fact is that people from your Class D sent three defenseless Class C students to the hospital."

"You—!"

Sudo Ken was choked with rage, his chest heaving violently. He opened his mouth to retort, only to realize with a jolt of terror that he couldn't produce a single shred of substantive evidence.

There was no surveillance in the old building at the time, and there were no other witnesses—only the conflicting testimonies of the two parties. Faced with the documents Ryuen had meticulously prepared, his desperate words felt utterly powerless.

Watching Sudo Ken struggle to articulate his defense, frantic and cornered, Amasawa Reigetsu, who sat at the center of the judge's bench, sighed softly. He picked up the wooden gavel and tapped it lightly against the table. The crisp sound instantly cut off Sudo's unfinished protest.

"Sudo-kun, do you have no room left to defend yourself? ...It seems Class D has suffered a total defeat this time. And here I was, holding out hope for you."

Amasawa Reigetsu rested his chin on one hand, his gaze sweeping calmly across the room before settling on Horikita Suzune, who seemed to be holding her breath.

"Class C has provided a detailed medical report. The facts are clear, and the chain of evidence is complete. Meanwhile, Sudo Ken of Class D has failed to provide any substantive evidence to prove self-defense, relying solely on emotional verbal retorts."

At this, Amasawa Reigetsu gave a slight shrug. He truly hadn't expected Horikita Suzune to remain silent the entire time; it didn't fit his impression of her at all.

"In the absence of evidence, we must render a verdict based on the existing objective facts. Therefore, the charges are upheld. Sudo Ken of Class D is sentenced to expulsion for intentional violent assault."

Ichinose Honami was equally astonished by the silence of the Class D leader. Could things really end like this? No, if that were the case, Horikita Suzune wouldn't have shown up at all—

"Objection!"

Horikita Suzune crossed her arms, eyes closed in a profound manner, as if she still held an ace up her sleeve, stopping Amasawa Reigetsu from bringing the gavel down.

Is it finally time? Horikita Suzune, let me see the growth you've achieved over this past month!

Even without Horikita Manabu's request, Amasawa Reigetsu was personally eager to see just how far Horikita Suzune had grown.

The more formidable the opponent, the more fun it is to play with a beautiful, long-haired girl, right?

Almost everyone in the room had their eyes fixed on Horikita Suzune, with the exceptions of Shiina Hiyori, who was busy reading, and the expressionless Ayanokoji Kiyoko.

"I object to this trial!"

Amasawa Reigetsu and Ichinose Honami: ?

"The composition of this trial panel is insufficient to hold legal weight. As judges, Amasawa Reigetsu and Ichinose Honami are both first-years and representatives of Class A and Class B—our direct competitors. In other words, there is a possibility they are targeting Class D for the sake of class competition!"

Horikita Suzune opened her eyes, her pupils shimmering with a ruby-like luster, radiating absolute confidence. She stood up and looked down at the members of Class C and Amasawa Reigetsu on the dais, as if she had found everyone's weak point and had already secured victory.

What is this person talking about?!

Amasawa Reigetsu: Horikita Manabu, do you want to come hear what your sister is saying? Is there anyone here listening to her? Is there even a human left in this room? There are only three groups here; Class C is your enemy, and instead of winning over the third-party neutral force, you're attacking us directly!?

"Hahahahahahahaha!!"

Ryuen Kakeru burst into laughter, rocking back and forth until he nearly fell off his chair. Seeing their leader laugh, Kaneda couldn't hold it in either and began to laugh, though his voice lacked Ryuen's booming resonance and sounded more like—

"Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh!"

Shiina Hiyori happened to be reading Douluo Continent. Her pale fingers tightened around the pages, her lips pressed firmly together, and her body trembled slightly.

Shiina Hiyori: Struggling to keep a straight face.

Meanwhile, the reactions in Class D were varied. Upon hearing Horikita Suzune speak up for him, Sudo Ken first felt the warmth of the beautiful girl, nearly reaching a state of euphoria, before being completely captivated by her intellect!

To reverse the logic like that—not picking at Ryuen's flaws, but finding a loophole in the procedure! So brilliant, Horikita! It's our blessing to have you in Class D!!

Sudo Ken already felt victory was within his grasp.

Ayanokoji Kiyoko, sensing Horikita's hostility toward Amasawa Reigetsu, cast a warning glance at her.

I am watching you...

Ayanokoji Kiyoko is this protective of Horikita Suzune? This is the first time since we established our relationship that the vicious dog that is Ayanokoji hasn't lunged to tear someone apart when they acted against her.

Amasawa Reigetsu, on the other hand, was impressed by Horikita Suzune. Could she really be Ayanokoji Kiyoko's friend? If so, you're even more formidable than Kushida Kikyo!!

Ichinose Honami, however, was suddenly at a loss, because that was exactly what she had been thinking. She also believed that as a competitor in the same grade, she wasn't fit to judge Class C and Class D. Horikita Suzune's counter-argument had struck the very heart of Ichinose Honami's concerns.

Ichinose Honami cast a look of distress toward Amasawa Reigetsu on her left, only to see him wearing a strange expression like a confused bear, and then looked over to see the members of Class C erupting into wild laughter—

Ichinose Honami: What is going on?

This chapter's "straight-face" rankings, from rock-solid to crumbling:

Amasawa Reigetsu: Rock-solid. Easily kept a straight face; his bear-like expression only highlighted his immense composure.

Shiina Hiyori: Top-tier. She managed to keep a straight face while reading Douluo Continent and hearing the laughter of a Soul Hall elder. Though it was a bit difficult, the degree of difficulty is high, earning her the top spot.

Kaneda Satoru: Total failure. No ability to keep a straight face; his emotions were fully exposed, showing the true colors of the weak.

Ryuen Kakeru: Bong Bong Bomb.