Class C's Plan (6)

"Regarding the witness..." Before Horikita could finish, she noticed a few extra pairs of shoes on the floor and immediately said:

"I'm going back."

This sudden shift left Ayanokoji a bit confused, but then another voice rang out:

"Horikita, you're here!" Kushida said happily as she arrived at the door.

Taking advantage of this gap, Ayanokoji leaned toward her ear and whispered:

"I think it's better to share information. Since it's come to this, you might as well come in and listen."

"I'll give you people who are running around fruitlessly a piece of advice: there is a witness, and they are right under our noses," Horikita said with a sigh.

"Actually, this..."

Before Ayanokoji could finish his sentence, Horikita was pulled inside by Kushida.

Once Horikita sat down in a chair, Kushida asked her, "Who exactly is that witness?"

"Sakura Airi," Horikita stated directly.

Ayanokoji, standing to the side, really wanted to interrupt them to point out that he already knew this information, but both of them were ignoring him.

Horikita then provided her reasoning:

"When Kushida was in the classroom calling for everyone's help, almost everyone was looking at her, but only she kept her head down."

After Horikita finished speaking, Kushida hurriedly dialed her phone, intending to ask her.

But after a long time, the call still wouldn't connect.

Lying on the bed, Sudo said powerlessly, "We finally saw a glimmer of hope; could it be that she isn't the witness?"

Ayanokoji, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up: "No, she should indeed be the witness."

He then proceeded to explain to them what had just happened, as well as the information they currently possessed.

"It seems my guess was correct." Upon hearing Ayanokoji's words, Horikita became even more certain of her own thoughts.

"Doesn't that mean if we can just get her to testify, Sudo will be able to prove his innocence?"

Kushida said happily, but she was quickly rebuffed by Horikita:

"Even if she is willing to come forward and testify, it won't have any meaning."

"Ah, why?"

"Whether this incident was self-defense or not is only a minor issue."

"Have you noticed this point?"

"What do you mean?" Kushida asked, puzzled.

"Nothing." After speaking in riddles, Horikita left, leaving everyone behind with confused expressions.

After Horikita left, the group had no desire to continue discussing the matter; after all, none of them understood what she meant.

Once they had left, Kushida, who was standing at the door, hesitated for a moment before speaking up:

"Ayanokoji, you should understand what Horikita meant just now, right?"

After Ayanokoji and Kushida went outside, he said:

"Assuming this incident really was self-defense, that isn't the root of the problem."

"Sudo is always foul-mouthed and arrogant; it wouldn't be strange for him to be resented given his usual attitude."

"The impression he has made on the people around him is, frankly, terrible."

"Suppose there was a murder case. There are two suspects: one has a prior criminal record for murder, and the other is an ordinary person living an honest, hardworking life."

"Who would you believe?"

"The person living an honest, hardworking life, I suppose..." Kushida replied.

"But the reality might not be like that. However, if there is very little evidence to make a judgment, you can only judge based on the materials at hand."

"So, is it Sudo's own behavior that brought about this trouble?"

Actually, this whole thing is just an attack on us by Class C; Sudo just happened to be the breakthrough point for their offensive.

Ayanokoji sighed and said, "Moreover, Sudo hasn't realized his own mistakes. That might be why Horikita refuses to help."

"But even so, we should at least warn him; that's what friends do," Kushida replied.

"Kushida, you just need to act according to your own will. Helping him in itself isn't right or wrong," Ayanokoji said, glancing at her.

"..."

Just like that, it was the next morning. When Sakura left the classroom, she was called out by Kushida.

"What is it?"

"I have something I want to ask you, is that okay? It's about Sudo."

"I... I'm sorry, I have something urgent to do later..." After saying that, she prepared to leave, but her right hand was grabbed by Kushida.

"It won't take long, this matter is very important," Kushida pleaded once more.

"I... I don't know... I don't know anything," Sakura began to struggle, preparing to flee.

Caught off guard by this sudden movement, Kushida inadvertently loosened her grip for a split second.

As a result, Sakura lost her balance after breaking free and tumbled to the ground, her camera hitting the floor with a heavy thud.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Seeing this, Kushida quickly apologized.

However, Sakura, still sprawled on the ground, grabbed her camera to inspect it, then said uncertainly:

"No way, it won't turn on."

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault..."

"No, it was my own carelessness..." After saying this, Sakura clutched her camera and hurried away.

No matter how much Kushida called out from behind, she could not be stopped.

I don't want to get involved, I don't want anyone to know my true colors.

Once out of their sight, Sakura finally stopped and began to carefully examine her camera.

After trying several times, she had to admit that it was truly broken.

On the other side, Kushida walked up to Horikita and Ayanokoji, saying with a troubled expression:

"Sakura-san doesn't want to talk to me at all."

"But I won't give up." For the remainder of the time, Kushida searched everywhere for Sakura's location.

However, she could not find her, and the next day arrived.

Sakura ran toward Ayanokoji and Kushida, saying:

"I'm sorry, making you both come along for such a trivial matter."

"I'm the one who should be apologizing; I'm the one who broke Sakura's digital camera," Kushida said sheepishly.

"Th-that was my own carelessness..."

"To fix the camera, we need to go to the electronics store at the shopping mall. This guy knows that, but why do I need to tag along too?" Ayanokoji asked, looking at them.

"Actually..."

"Actually, you're just afraid to go alone, aren't you?" Before Sakura could answer, a voice came from behind.

"Hm? Kitahara, and President Horikita, why are you here?" Kushida asked, looking at them as they appeared before her.