The infirmary was filled with the faint smell of disinfectant. Ichinose Honami stood beside the bed, listening to the school doctor's instructions. "Don't worry. He's not in any danger. It's just a mild concussion and some cuts and bruises. He'll recover after a few days of rest."
Hearing the news, Ichinose Honami finally let out the breath she'd been holding. She looked at Wu Qiao, lying on the bed with his eyes closed and his face pale. (In reality, he was simply sleeping soundly after his plan had succeeded.) Her feelings were tangled.
In the end, she didn't wake him. She didn't even say a word, only gave him one long look before turning and leaving the infirmary with determination.
If she hadn't been able to stop the harm from happening, then after it had happened, she would do everything in her power to get justice.
She... needed to become decisive now, too.
Just as she stepped out of the infirmary, Ichinose Honami nearly collided with someone coming toward her. It was Ayanokoji Kiyoha, carrying a packed meal and apparently on her way to visit Wu Qiao.
Their eyes met. They exchanged a simple nod, then passed each other. Ichinose Honami didn't linger. She had a very clear goal.
Soon, with directions from her classmates, Ichinose Honami confirmed where the incident had taken place. It was a landing on one of the staircases in the school building, and fortunately, it was covered by a security camera.
With this crucial lead in hand, she wasted no time. She went straight to the Student Council Office and found the current student council president, Horikita Manabu, insisting that he let her review the security footage from the time of the incident.
Thanks to the good relationships Ichinose Honami had built over time and her excellent reputation, she quickly found and reassured several key witnesses. Faced with irrefutable evidence and consistent testimony, the school acted swiftly.
That afternoon, a special hearing on the incident was convened. Representatives from all four classes attended, and the atmosphere was tense. Kito Hayato of Class A stood in the defendant's seat, his forehead slick with cold sweat and his eyes darting around.
The security footage played clearly on the big screen. In it, Wu Qiao stood at the top of the stairs with his back to Kito Hayato, playing on his phone. Without warning, Kito Hayato reached out and shoved Wu Qiao down the stairs.
"N-no... That's not it! I just felt like he was in the way and got a little annoyed. I only gave him a casual push, really! I didn't mean for him to fall so hard!" Kito Hayato stammered, trying to pass it off as an unintentional accident.
But with the footage replayed and the witnesses' accounts all pointing to the same conclusion, Kito Hayato's excuses rang hollow.
In the end, the verdict was delivered: Kito Hayato was found guilty of negligently injuring Wu Qiao.
In addition to the disciplinary action he would personally face, Class A had to compensate Wu Qiao, including his medical expenses and damages for emotional distress. The exact amount would be negotiated privately between the two parties.
After the hearing, the crowd gradually dispersed. Ichinose Honami was about to leave the conference room when Horikita Manabu's steady voice suddenly called from behind her. "Ichinose, please wait."
Ichinose Honami stopped and turned around, somewhat puzzled.
Horikita Manabu stood by the window, gazing at her intently. "While handling this incident, I saw how decisive you were and how determined you were to defend your classmates' rights. Your judgment and sense of fairness are exactly what the Student Council is lacking right now."
He paused, then said solemnly, "Ichinose Honami, I'd like to formally invite you to join the Student Council. Would you be willing?"
Ichinose Honami froze. She hadn't expected that Horikita Manabu, who had refused to let her join the Student Council in her original simulated memories, would now take the initiative to extend an invitation.
Was it because of the way she'd handled Wu Qiao's case today? Had he seen a different side of her?
After a brief moment of surprise, Ichinose Honami took a deep breath, her expression growing serious and resolute. She didn't rush to accept. Instead, she bowed slightly and replied politely and earnestly, "Thank you very much for your confidence in me and for the invitation, Horikita-senpai. But this is very important to me. Please give me some time to prepare. I'll think it over carefully and get back to you."
When she stepped out of the conference room, the setting sun stretched her shadow along the corridor.
Ichinose Honami clenched her fists. Kindness and compassion alone weren't enough to protect the people around her; she also needed the means and influence to match them.
Whether it was Wu Qiao's accident or Horikita Manabu's invitation, both seemed to be pushing her down a path she'd never imagined taking.
The corridor outside the infirmary was quiet. The setting sun streamed through the spotless windows and spilled across the floor, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere in the air.
Sakayanagi Arisu and Ayanokoji Kiyoha stood side by side by the window. One was petite, with a frail air that nonetheless carried an undeniable authority; the other was calm and detached, as though she were merely an uninvolved observer.
Sakayanagi Arisu tilted her head slightly, watching the few figures moving around the schoolyard outside. She tapped her cane lightly against the floor.
"Did you order it?" Her voice was soft, yet held the certainty of someone who seemed to see through everything.
Ayanokoji Kiyoha gazed straight ahead, her expression unchanged. She only shook her head slightly. "No. I don't know anything about it either."
"Heh." Sakayanagi Arisu let out a cold laugh and turned to look at the girl beside her. A sharp glint flashed in her intelligent eyes. "Whether you're playing dumb or telling the truth doesn't matter. That boy named Wu Qiao was usually so inconspicuous he was practically invisible, yet he got into trouble at exactly this juncture—and conveniently gave Ichinose something to use against us. This time, Class A lost badly."
She paused, unconsciously rubbing the cane's finely crafted handle. Her voice carried a hint of self-mockery and resentment. "That idiot Kito let someone use him like a pawn and didn't even realize it. He's not only lost personal points, but damaged the class's reputation as well. Ichinose's performance this time was impressive. It seems the good-natured girl from Class B has started to show her fangs."
Ayanokoji Kiyoha didn't respond. She simply listened in silence. She knew Sakayanagi was telling the truth; Class A had indeed taken a major hit this time.
But that guy Wu Qiao... had he really just gotten lucky?
She pictured Wu Qiao's usual harmless demeanor and the strange remarks he occasionally made. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it.
"Ayanokoji," Sakayanagi Arisu suddenly called her name, her voice laced with amusement. "You're on pretty good terms with that Wu Qiao, aren't you? Aren't you curious why he suddenly went after Class A? Or was this all part of your utterly ordinary plan?"
"I told you, I don't know." Ayanokoji Kiyoha replied calmly, without a trace of emotion in her voice. "Besides, I only run into him now and then during morning training. We're not that close."
"Is that so?" Sakayanagi Arisu chuckled behind her hand, clearly unconvinced. "Never mind. Whatever the truth is, Class A won't forget this loss. Ayanokoji, our game is still going on. Don't disappoint me. After all... I can't wait to see that calm mask of yours get torn away."
With that, Sakayanagi Arisu gave Ayanokoji Kiyoha a long look, then turned and walked away, leaning on her cane with an elegant but somewhat labored gait.
Ayanokoji Kiyoha stayed where she was, watching the petite figure disappear at the end of the corridor. She lowered her head and looked at her open palm, her eyes flickering slightly.
Wu Qiao... What are you planning? And what schemes are hidden behind this seemingly accidental conflict?