"About the eyewitness..." Horikita started, but then she spotted several extra pairs of shoes downstairs and immediately said:
"I'm going back."
The sudden change left Ayanokoji a little confused, but another voice soon called out:
"Horikita, you're here!" Kushida said cheerfully as she came to the door.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ayanokoji leaned close to her ear and whispered:
"I think it'd be better to share information. Since you're here, you might as well come in and listen."
"I'll give you people who've been busy with nothing to show for it a tip. There is an eyewitness, and she's right under your noses." Horikita sighed.
"Actually..."
Before Ayanokoji could finish, Kushida pulled Horikita inside.
Once Horikita sat down, Kushida asked her, "Who exactly is the eyewitness?"
"Sakura Airi," Horikita said without hesitation.
Ayanokoji wanted to interrupt and tell them he already knew, but both girls ignored him.
Horikita then explained:
"When Kushida asked everyone in the classroom for help, almost everyone was looking at her. But Sakura was the only one with her head down."
As soon as Horikita finished, Kushida hurriedly called Sakura to ask her about it.
But even after a long while, no one picked up.
Sudo, lying on the bed, said weakly, "We finally found a glimmer of hope. Are you saying she wasn't the eyewitness?"
After a long silence, Ayanokoji finally spoke. "No, she should be the eyewitness."
He went on to explain what had just happened and what information they had so far.
"Looks like my guess was right." Hearing Ayanokoji's explanation only made Horikita more certain.
"Then all we have to do is get her to testify, and Sudo can prove he's innocent."
Kushida said excitedly, but Horikita quickly shot her down:
"Even if she's willing to testify, it won't make a difference."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Whether or not it was self-defense is only a minor issue."
"Have you noticed that?"
"What do you mean?" Kushida asked, confused.
"Never mind." After leaving them puzzled with her cryptic remark, Horikita walked out.
Once Horikita had left, the others had no desire to keep discussing things. None of them understood what she meant.
After they had left, Kushida lingered by the doorway for a moment before speaking:
"Ayanokoji, you understand what Horikita meant just now, don't you?"
Then, once Ayanokoji and Kushida had stepped outside, he said:
"Let's assume it really was self-defense this time. But that's not the root of the problem."
"Sudo is always saying nasty things and acting aggressively. Given how he usually behaves, it wouldn't be surprising if people held a grudge against him."
"He's made a terrible impression on everyone around him."
"Suppose there's a murder, and there are two suspects: one has a history of murder, while the other is an ordinary person who lives an honest, responsible life."
"Which one would you believe?"
"The honest, responsible person," Kushida answered.
"But the truth might not be that simple. When there's little evidence to go on, people can only judge based on what they have."
"So Sudo's usual behavior is what got him into this mess?"
This is really just an attack on us by Class C. Sudo just happens to be their opening.
Ayanokoji sighed. "And Sudo hasn't realized what he did wrong. That might be why Horikita refuses to help him."
"Even so, she should at least warn him. That's what a friend would do," Kushida replied.
"Kushida, just do what you feel is right. There's nothing wrong with helping him." Ayanokoji glanced at her as he spoke.
"..."
The next morning, after Sakura left the classroom, Kushida called out to her.
"What is it?"
"There's something I'd like to ask you. Is that okay? It's about Sudo."
"I-I'm sorry. I have something urgent to do..." Sakura said, turning to leave, but Kushida grabbed her right hand.
"It won't take long. This is really important," Kushida pleaded again.
"I... I don't know... I don't know anything!" Sakura began struggling to get away.
But Kushida wasn't prepared for the sudden movement and accidentally let go of both her hands.
Sakura stumbled as she broke free and fell to the ground. The camera hanging around her neck hit the floor hard.
"I-I'm sorry! Are you okay?" Kushida immediately apologized when she saw what had happened.
Still on the ground, Sakura quickly picked up her camera and checked it. Then, uncertainly, she said:
"No way. It won't turn on."
"I'm sorry. It's all my fault..."
"No, I was being careless too..." Sakura said, then hurried away with her camera in her arms.
No matter how much Kushida called after her, she wouldn't stop.
I don't want to get dragged into this. I don't want anyone to know who I really am.
Once she was out of sight, Sakura finally stopped and carefully examined her camera.
After trying several times, she had to admit it really was broken.
Meanwhile, Kushida walked over to Horikita and Ayanokoji and said with a worried expression:
"Sakura doesn't want to talk to me at all."
"But I'm not giving up." For the rest of the day, Kushida searched all over for Sakura.
But she couldn't find her anywhere, and then the next day arrived.
Sakura ran toward Ayanokoji and Kushida and said:
"I'm sorry for making you come with me over something so trivial."
"I'm the one who should apologize. I'm the one who dropped Sakura's digital camera," Kushida said sheepishly.
"N-no, I was being careless..."
"We're going to the electronics store at the shopping center to get the camera fixed. I understand why she's coming, but why do I have to go too?" Ayanokoji asked, looking at them.
"Actually..."
"Actually, she's afraid to go alone, isn't she?" a voice called out from behind before Sakura could answer.
"Hm? Kitahara, and President Horikita—what are you doing here?" Kushida asked, looking at them as they appeared before her.