A Few Chaotic and Complicated Days (5)

"Houtarou, don't you intend to offer some kind of compensation?"

"Compensation?"

"Mhm. What about our agreed-upon temporary alliance?"

"This..."

Oreki was momentarily speechless.

Although he had been wary of Sakayanagi out of a cautious nature, it was true that this meant he hadn't fully trusted his ally.

That was quite normal.

If you don't backstab them, can you even call them an ally?

If anything, allies exist to be backstabbed.

"Right, aren't you supposed to play the emperor in the parade on the 30th?"

"Yeah, and?"

"I'll hold the umbrella for you, of course."

"Hmm... fine. Though that's not what I wanted."

Sakayanagi wore a cryptic smile.

Her expression made Oreki's heart skip a beat.

Hey, hey...

You aren't asking for my first time, are you?

Stop it.

Oreki was a pure boy who hadn't even held a girl's hand before.

"Let's leave the jokes at that."

"It's not a joke."

"Anyway! Let's focus on the task at hand..."

"Very well."

Sakayanagi rose from her seat.

She left the classroom together with Oreki.

As for Ayanokoji, she should be with Sakura Airi.

No...

It was also possible she was at yesterday's spot.

After all, Shiina Hiyori had said that she wanted to have a showdown with Oreki.

Since that was the case, she was surely waiting for Oreki at the original location.

A showdown, huh?

Oreki sighed inwardly.

Those words actually stirred up the little competitive spirit he had left.

He hoped Kiyoko would perform well.

At least don't make it too ridiculous.

Like, say, punching him away in one hit.

Building up a villain for so long only to have them punched away by the protagonist in one hit would be too absurd.

Before long, Oreki found Ayanokoji in front of the dormitory building.

She was sitting on a bench by a streetlamp with Sakura Airi.

The two looked quite close.

A friendship between girls, perhaps.

"It's you?"

"Uh... it's me."

"Didn't I tell her to tell you to give up on the investigation?"

"Who?"

"...I see."

Kiyoko rose from the bench.

She scrutinized Houtarou Oreki carefully.

Although Oreki had managed to fish information out of him a few times, that was all there was to it.

It wasn't quite like, nor was it quite dislike.

"So, you've already figured out the truth behind the incident?"

"More or less."

Oreki nodded.

He had deduced the art gallery incident with perfect clarity.

He was simply missing the key evidence.

Without evidence, no matter how brilliant a deduction might be, it remained nothing more than a theory.

"If that's the case, then a reconciliation seems impossible."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

Seeing Kiyoko closing in step by step, Oreki placed his right hand behind his back.

As long as he gave the signal, Hashimoto Masayoshi, who was lying in ambush nearby, would make his move.

But this was not the situation Oreki wanted.

A contest of brute force was simply too dull.

"I've heard a thing or two about that gymnasium incident."

"What are you trying to say?"

"No, I don't mean to threaten you. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"I imagine you'll be the one to suffer because of the person beside you."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Hmm... perhaps it would be simpler and clearer if I just showed you."

With that, Kiyoko tossed a mobile phone over.

Oreki caught it steadily.

Upon opening it, a video was displayed on the screen.

"Hashimoto Masayoshi?"

"...He's been discovered, then."

Oreki and Sakayanagi spoke at the same time.

However, Sakayanagi looked quite calm.

Could it be that she had even prepared for a situation like this?

What a terrifying woman.

It was a very short video.

The content was roughly...

Hashimoto Masayoshi feeding crows, and then a crow flying into the gymnasium window with a tennis ball in its beak.

"How about we both take a step back?"

Kiyoko pulled out another mobile phone.

Her intent was obvious.

Even if you delete the video, I still have a backup right here.

"I didn't expect... that you'd play this card."

Oreki began to think of a way to respond.

If this matter were to get out, it would be him, Oreki Houtarou, who would suffer the consequences.

Because...

With the influence of the Sakayanagi family, the principal naturally wouldn't dare say a word.

But it was a different story for Oreki, the one who had devised the plan.

He shook his head.

If he were to be targeted by that wretched man, his life from here on out likely wouldn't be very pleasant.

After all, the principal was the type to haggle over even the smallest trifles.

Let alone Oreki, who had played him for a fool.

If he found out the truth, the principal would absolutely never let him off the hook.

"Well, what do you think, Houtarou?"

"How to look at this..."

"Should we give up?"

"No. In terms of deterrence, I actually have something I haven't brought out yet."

Oreki took out his phone.

The task he had asked Shiina Hiyori to investigate last time wasn't that simple.

While collecting employee evaluations of Sakura Tanaka...

Shiina Hiyori had also incidentally obtained evidence of his embezzlement.

It was no wonder he had been demoted.

If it were an ordinary person, it wouldn't be as simple as a demotion.

They might even be thrown to the masses for a bit of catharsis.

What kind of catharsis...

Nothing more than a headline saying, "So-and-so was caught today, and the public immediately clapped in delight."

Even though that person didn't steal their money.

Even though they didn't know that person at all.

Even though the people oppressing them remained free and at ease...

But, most of the masses wouldn't consider these things.

They would just find an opening, and then vent the dissatisfaction they had accumulated in their daily lives.

And this news was just the right opening.

It both peacefully released their dissatisfaction and gave them a kind of hope... no, it should be an illusion.

They believed that what happened in the news would one day happen to the person oppressing them.

In reality, that was not the case.

Why?

Because...

It wasn't that the people oppressing them wouldn't be caught.

It was that they couldn't even distinguish who was actually oppressing them.

Oreki felt pity for this group of people.

But it was also quite good.

Sometimes, not knowing anything was better.

Knowing too much, yet being unable to change the status quo, was the most painful thing.

Idle thoughts ended here.

Having said so much, he actually only wanted to emphasize one point.

"To be cautious, I also made a backup."

Oreki swiped his right hand.

The photos were quickly shared with Kiyoko.

It served as proof of what he had just said.

"You're the one who should give up, Ayanokoji. Using an innocent girl, doesn't your conscience hurt?"

"Conscience? I don't understand."

"Is that so? You don't understand..."

"I warned you earlier, and I gave you a chance just now."

"Hey, hey, can't win so you're starting to flip the table?"

"No, this is just faster."

"Tsk... you really disappoint me."

Oreki quickly made a gesture.

Beside him, Hashimoto Masayoshi, who had been waiting for a long time, leaped up.

Kiyoko, who was rushing forward, did not retreat but advanced instead.

After passing Hashimoto Masayoshi by half a step, she clenched her right fist tightly.

Hashimoto Masayoshi immediately abandoned defense for offense.

Just as the two were about to clash...

"That's enough, both sides stop!"

Ichinose Honami walked out from behind a tree, holding her phone and recording.

Oreki was not surprised by this.

Because...

It was he who had Hashimoto summon Ichinose.

--To be continue