"Um, Ichinose, why is Kitahara here?"
"Um, I'm sorry, Chihiro. I brought someone else along." Ichinose hurriedly explained.
"So that's it... No wonder you kept defending him. He's your boyfriend, isn't he? No wonder you turned down my confession." Shiranami Chihiro said, her eyes reddening.
"Um, Kitahara actually..."
"Ahem. Ichinose and I are just friends." Seeing that things might get messy, Kitahara quickly spoke up.
"Really, Ichinose?" Shiranami looked at Ichinose and asked.
"Yeah, Kitahara really isn't my boyfriend."
"Then... why is Kitahara here?" Shiranami continued.
"Well... he's just..." Ichinose didn't know how to explain it.
"Ahem. Actually, I came here today to confess to Ichinose, too. Unfortunately, she turned me down. She said she hasn't given it any thought yet, and that right now, she only wants to get our class into Class A. She'll think about it after that."
"And just as I was about to leave, you showed up." Kitahara explained without batting an eye.
Ichinose and Shiranami Chihiro both looked at Kitahara in shock. However, because Kitahara was blocking her view, Shiranami didn't notice Ichinose's expression.
Otherwise, it would have been even harder to explain.
"Is what Kitahara said true, Ichinose? Did you really turn him down?" Shiranami looked at Ichinose and asked.
"Yeah... that's right." Ichinose nodded in confirmation.
"I see... Ichinose has so much responsibility on her shoulders, and I only made things harder for you... I guess I really should..."
"Ahem. Uh, Shiranami, you don't have to be so down about it. Besides, I got turned down, too." Seeing Shiranami give up on everything, Kitahara tried to comfort her.
"Chihiro, even though I can't return your feelings, aren't we still best friends?" Ichinose said to her.
"Yeah... I've thought it through. I won't consider this again until we've made it to Class A."
At her answer, Ichinose and Kitahara finally breathed a sigh of relief. The matter was finally settled.
But Kitahara didn't know that this incident would have a small impact on him in the future.
After she left, Kitahara and Ichinose sat down on the chairs nearby.
Ichinose said to Kitahara, "I'm really sorry for the trouble today, and for making you come up with that lie. I've put you out again."
Faced with Ichinose's gratitude, Kitahara waved a hand lightly. "It's no big deal. Besides, given my reputation at this school, whether they believe it or not won't make much difference."
"Still, I owe you one for today, Kitahara."
"Why don't I buy you a meal, to thank you for helping me?" Ichinose said with a smile.
"Sure." Faced with Ichinose's smile, Kitahara accepted her offer.
"Ha..." Kitahara walked down the hallway looking exhausted, as if he'd been completely drained.
After settling Ichinose's matter yesterday, he'd gone back and spent several more hours fighting in the Dragon Hidden Cave Heaven. He hadn't gone to bed until four that morning.
"I told you, that's not what happened!"
"There were three of them..."
"But still..."
"Yeah..."
Before Kitahara even reached the classroom, he heard arguing inside. He recognized the first two voices right away. They belonged to Sudo.
It seemed they already knew what had happened.
When he entered the classroom, he saw the girls, led by Karuizawa Kei, gathered around Sudo.
So they'd been the ones arguing just now.
The bell rang, and Chabashira walked in as usual. Nothing about her expression suggested that anything had happened.
Once at the podium, Chabashira looked at them and said:
"The Basketball Club players from Class C have filed a complaint with the school against Sudo."
"They claim that after club activities ended, Sudo attacked them without provocation and injured them."
Before Chabashira-sensei could continue, Sudo, seated below, banged on his desk and said:
"It was self-defense! Self-defense!"
"They were jealous I'd made the starting lineup, so they came looking for trouble."
"But you have no proof." Chabashira said without mercy.
"If there were any witnesses, this would be easy to resolve."
Hearing Chabashira's response, Sudo could only clench his fists.
Seeing how quiet the class had become, Kushida stood up and asked everyone:
"Everyone, did any of you see Sudo and the others fighting, or do you know anything about it?"
At Kushida's question, Kitahara, who had been watching Sakura Airi the whole time, clearly noticed her body tremble.
So even with me here, things still turned out the same as in the original story.
Ayanokoji had noticed it, too. He was exceptionally observant, and had realized that Kitahara's gaze had been fixed on her.
So Kitahara knows something, then.
Ayanokoji silently wondered as he watched Kitahara.
"I think you'd be better off dropping out, Redhead."
"Your existence is utterly unappealing."
Koenji's tone was as familiar as ever. He had his legs up on his desk, holding a mirror in one hand while fixing his hair with the other.
"You!" Sudo sprang to his feet.
"Heh. Redhead, if you're still thinking of starting a fight, then we'll have to say our final goodbyes."
"That's enough, Sudo." Hirata stood up to stop him.
"In one week, the Student Council will step in and negotiate with Class C. The point deduction will be decided based on the outcome, and Sudo's punishment will be determined as well."
Chabashira looked at them calmly.
"The Student Council is stepping in? Then Kitahara should be able to help, right?" Kushida said.
As soon as she spoke, everyone in the class looked toward Kitahara, who had been slacking off in the back row.
Under so many gazes, Kitahara answered without the slightest sign of nerves:
"Sorry, but I really can't help this time."
But as soon as Kitahara finished speaking, President Horikita's voice came over the intercom:
"Kitahara Seiichi of Class 1-D, please report to the Student Council."
When the announcement ended, the class's expressions all turned strange. He'd just said he couldn't help, and now he'd been summoned to the Student Council.
It was obvious his earlier words had just been an excuse.
But Kitahara, who knew the truth, really was innocent. He genuinely hadn't expected Horikita to summon him.
And what impeccable timing.
What was that saying again? Only someone who's been wronged knows just how wronged he is.
Meanwhile, the mastermind behind it all was enjoying himself at a karaoke place in the mall, confidently saying:
"Those monkeys in Class D must be panicking by now..."
Just then, the door suddenly swung open. The person who came in was...