Setting Off (Seeking Everything)

The moment the sound of Chabashira Sae's heels vanished at the end of the corridor, Class 1-D erupted like a kicked hornet's nest. A boy in the front row slammed his textbook onto his desk; the sharp crack of the plastic cover against the wood served as the starting gun for the chaos. "What the hell! Are we losing points just because of this guy?" Someone pointed at Akito Miyake in the back, his voice raspy as if scrubbed with sandpaper, his spit flying onto the hair of the girls in the front row with every angry gesture.

"Exactly! Thirteen class points only translate to 1,300 personal points. It's not much, but why should we be dragged down by him alone?" Several girls stood up with their arms crossed, their hairbands slipping onto their shoulders as they shook with agitation. "I had my eye on the limited-edition set meal at the cafeteria last week, and now I have to think twice before even buying a juice!" Her complaint was like a spark in a pan of hot oil, instantly igniting the dissatisfaction of others. Over a dozen mouths opened and closed at once; accusations, sighs, and the screech of dragging desks blended together, drowning out even the cicadas outside the window.

A different voice rose from the other side of the classroom. A boy wearing glasses pushed up his sliding frames and shouted in rebuttal, "Get your facts straight before you start yelling! Akito Miyake said he was surrounded by three people. If it were me, I would've fought back sooner!" The girl beside him nodded repeatedly, her pen scribbling aimlessly on her notebook. "Class C has always had it out for us. Who's to say they didn't set a trap on purpose?" The two groups were soon embroiled in a heated argument, spittle flying through the air. Some even leaned forward so aggressively that they would have grabbed each other's collars if not for the desks standing in their way.

"Um, everyone, could you please listen to me for a moment?"

The clear, melodic voice flowed like a spring over a noisy, rocky riverbed, instantly suppressing the clamor. Kushida Kikyo stood in the aisle between the desks, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her face wearing an expression of perfectly measured concern. Sunlight streamed through the window onto her fair cheeks, and even the angry students fell silent, dozens of gazes converging on her at once.

Once the classroom was completely quiet, she turned to Akito Miyake, her tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable earnestness. "Akito Miyake, would you mind telling us the sequence of events?"

All eyes were drawn like magnets to the back of the room. Akito Miyake's fingers, which had been gripping the hem of his uniform, slowly relaxed, and his Adam's apple bobbed. He swept his gaze over the faces filled with suspicion or anger, let out a muffled grunt, and finally spoke. "Last Friday, I went to the track to work out after school, just like always." His voice was raspy from the exercise, yet exceptionally clear. "On my way back, I passed the special building and spotted three suspicious figures."

He paused here, his fingertips tapping the desk unconsciously. "I followed them. They stopped behind the special building and suddenly turned around to surround me—as if they'd known I was following them all along." Akito Miyake looked up sharply, a flash of ferocity in his eyes. "They started with insults, saying we in Class D were all trash. I figured I was outnumbered, so I kept quiet, but they just kept pushing."

He clenched his fist so hard his knuckles turned white. "Verbal provocation wasn't enough; they started shoving my shoulders and tripping me. I held back, refusing to fight, until one of them pulled out a utility knife—" A collective gasp echoed through the room, but he immediately added, "It was a folding knife. It wasn't open, but the way they were acting, they meant business. I lost my patience and knocked them back with a few strikes."

"They ran off the moment they realized they couldn't win. They didn't have a single scratch on them!" Akito Miyake slammed his hand on the desk, the chair legs scraping half an inch across the floor. "Serious injury? That's total bullshit!"

Despite his firm declaration, some in the front row still curled their lips in doubt, and a girl in the back even shook her head while tugging on her seatmate's sleeve. Skepticism spread through the classroom like a fine, silent spiderweb.

"I see." Kushida Kikyo's voice rang out. She had been listening with intense focus, her eyelashes fluttering as she blinked. "So, it wasn't Akito Miyake's fault." She turned to the whole class, her smile as bright as sunlight after rain. "I will help Akito Miyake clear his name. Watanabe Hayabara, could you please accompany me to Class C to check on those three students?"

Akito Miyake looked up abruptly. "Thanks, Kushida." His voice still held lingering heat, but it was softened by a touch of warmth.

Watanabe Hayabara froze at Kushida Kikyo's words. The entire class's gaze focused on him once more, like countless needles pricking his back. He saw the anticipation in Kushida Kikyo's clear eyes and the grateful look from Akito Miyake—the refusal stuck in his throat, ultimately dissolving into an almost inaudible sigh.

You really love giving me trouble, Kushida Kikyo.

"Fine, Kushida." Watanabe Hayabara replied helplessly.

With a determined expression, Kushida Kikyo promised the class, "Please trust me. I will uncover the truth, see that justice is served for Akito Miyake, and ensure the class doesn't suffer any unnecessary losses." Her words were sincere and powerful, causing many students to look convinced.

Yosuke Hirata added, "I'll do my best to help as well. If there's anything that needs coordinating or any way I can pitch in, just let me know."

Under their reassurance and promises, the gathered crowd gradually dispersed, returning to their seats. Order slowly returned to the classroom, though a trace of tension still lingered in the air.

"Watanabe...?" A cold, clear voice came from behind. Watanabe Hayabara was about to leave with Kushida Kikyo when he stopped.

He turned to see Horikita Suzune standing there, her posture upright, her eyes fixed on him with resolve. "What is it, Horikita?"

"I will help as well." Horikita Suzune's tone was firm, without a hint of hesitation.

Watanabe Hayabara blinked, then offered a faint smile. "Then I'll thank you on behalf of Akito Miyake."

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, meanwhile, had remained in his seat the entire time, head bowed, hands folded on his desk. No one could read his expression. He was like a detached bystander, or perhaps someone deep in thought. Everything around him seemed irrelevant, save for the occasional slight furrowing of his brow, which suggested he wasn't truly indifferent to what was happening.

"We should get going, Watanabe." Kushida Kikyo tugged gently on his sleeve, whispering a reminder. Her eyes were full of urgency, eager to begin the investigation.

Just then, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, who had been silent, looked up. His gaze swept over them calmly as he spoke slowly. "I think if we need to question students from other classes, we should start with Class B."

Horikita Suzune looked puzzled, her brow knitting slightly. "Why Class B?"

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's pace remained slow, as if he were weighing every word. "Because I'm hoping the eyewitness is in that class... though that's all the reasoning I have."

Kushida Kikyo looked confused as well. She blinked and said earnestly, "I'm sorry, Ayanokoji, I don't quite understand what you mean."

Watanabe Hayabara stood silently to the side, but his slight nod indicated he had clearly grasped Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's intent.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't answer directly, instead asking, "To Class B, which is more of a nuisance—Class D or Class C? In other words, which class is more likely to threaten their standing?"

Kushida Kikyo answered almost without thinking. "That would be Class C, of course. So we should go to Class C last, right? But then, couldn't we go to Class A?"

"For one thing, we have too little information on Class A, and I don't think they'd want to get involved in a mess that seems to involve points," Ayanokoji Kiyotaka explained logically. "Besides, from Class A's perspective, it might not matter to them what happens to Class C or Class D. So, questioning Class B is the best choice."