"Cough, cough. Come on, President, when you're out in the world, who doesn't have a few friends?" Kitahara replied, looking at him with utmost sincerity.
After hearing Kitahara's serious tone, Horikita slowly spoke.
"I didn't realize I'd underestimated you. I thought it was impressive enough that your club had people from Classes A and B. Now it turns out you're connected to Class C as well."
Hearing Horikita's words, Kitahara knew he'd believed him. After all, that was the only way to throw off Horikita's judgment of him.
After all, at this school, you didn't just reveal your trump cards to others so easily.
"Who do you think will win this showdown?" Having received the answer he'd expected from Kitahara, Horikita immediately followed up with another question.
"Much as I hate to admit it, even though Class C has the upper hand right now, Class D should win in the end—assuming that guy steps in."
"Yeah. We still don't know Ayanokoji's full capabilities, but from what he's shown so far, it's clear Ryuen is no match for him," Horikita replied in agreement.
"What's more, Ryuen united Class C through violence. Against Ayanokoji, he'll be crushed without mercy, even with the strength he's so proud of."
"After all, even you, President, couldn't get the better of him."
At Kitahara's seemingly casual remark, Horikita couldn't help feeling that he was taking a jab at him. But remembering the few brief exchanges they'd had, he realized there was no denying Kitahara's point.
"Let's wait and see what happens at the final hearing a week from now," Horikita Manabu said calmly.
But Kitahara noticed a fleeting look of worry in the president's eyes.
"Worried about your little sister again, huh? A brocon and a siscon—what a pair."
"Man, if I told the president that Sudo was about to try and pursue his little sister, Sudo's fate would be..."
"Man, I can't even imagine."
Kitahara shifted his expression as he looked at Horikita, thinking.
Noticing Kitahara acting a little strangely, Horikita asked, "What are you doing?"
"Cough, cough. Nothing, President." Kitahara quickly came back to his senses, his thoughts interrupted.
"By the way, President, since I've agreed to help with this, you can give me that thing now, right?"
After Kitahara finished speaking, Horikita took a key from his drawer and tossed it to him. "The classroom is on the third floor, Room 305. You can use it however you like."
Kitahara caught the key, thanked him, and quickly left without the slightest hesitation.
After leaving the meeting room, Kitahara was about to gather the members of his club, but then remembered that this was probably not the best time.
He decided to hold the club's first meeting after this matter was settled.
"For now, I'll go enjoy this all by myself." Kitahara grinned excitedly.
He quickened his pace and headed for the room.
Meanwhile, things were very different by the school fountain.
Two members of the Loser Trio sat leaning against each other on a bench, then turned to Kushida and asked, "We can't find any leads on witnesses at all, can we?"
"Come to think of it, could Sudo be lying?"
"Yeah..."
Hearing their complaints, Ayanokoji asked, "How are things on Hirata's end?"
"I contacted them, but it seems they haven't found anything either," Kushida said helplessly.
"Hey, Ayanokoji, Kushida!" Ichinose called as she ran over after spotting them from a distance.
"Ichinose?"
"I heard from my classmates that you're investigating something?" Ichinose asked as she reached them.
Kushida exchanged a glance with Ayanokoji, then explained what had happened to Ichinose.
"I see. So it has to do with Class C..."
"Yeah, so if you know anything, Ichinose, please tell us first."
"Sorry, I don't know anything myself. But isn't Kitahara in charge of handling this? Have you asked him for help?"
"..."
"This is a bit complicated, actually. Sudo and Kitahara had a conflict before all this happened, so..."
"I see..." Ichinose hadn't known that had happened. It didn't fit with the impression she had of Kitahara.
But she wasn't sure what else to say, so she replied, "Class B will help you look for clues, too."
"Would you? Thanks so much." Kushida hugged Ichinose in gratitude.
The next day, a notice appeared on the electronic bulletin board in the school courtyard:
[June 30, around 6 p.m. Anyone who witnessed the incident in the special teaching building, or has information about the people involved, please contact Kanzaki Ryuji of Class 1-B.]
"Ayanokoji."
Seeing Ichinose approach, Ayanokoji spoke. "This notice..."
"Mm. It was Kanzaki's idea. We also posted the message on the school's electronic bulletin board."
"Oh, right. This is Kanzaki, standing beside me. You two haven't met yet, have you?"
"No, we haven't."
"Hello, I'm Kanzaki Ryuji of Class 1-B. Nice to meet you."
"Hello, I'm Ayanokoji Kiyotaka of Class 1-D. Nice to meet you, too."
"By the way, Ichinose, have they replied to the message yet?" Kanzaki prompted her.
Just as Ichinose was about to take out her phone and check, a voice suddenly came from Kanzaki's phone:
[20,000 points have been deposited into your account]
The unexpected message left both Ichinose and Ayanokoji standing beside him astonished. How could so many points have suddenly been deposited?
Feeling that something was off, Kanzaki Ryuji took out his phone and checked who had sent the money.
It was the big spender, Kitahara Seiichi.
Ichinose, standing beside him, saw the sender's name, too. The two of them could only exchange baffled looks, unsure what Kitahara meant by it.
Noticing their expressions change, Ayanokoji asked from across from them, "Did something happen?"
Ichinose came back to her senses and explained what had just happened.
After hearing the details, Ayanokoji was surprised, but it also seemed reasonable. After all, there weren't many people in their year with that many personal points.
"Kanzaki, why don't you ask Kitahara what he means?" Ichinose suggested.
"Mm, I'll ask."
Before Kanzaki could type out his question, Kitahara sent several more messages.