The Interlayer Paper silenced them face-to-face for the first time.
The Academic Affairs Director opened the evidence bag and placed the thin sheet in the middle of the lectern. That single gesture seemed to hold the entire classroom still. The paper was thin, but the writing was forceful. Numbers, short phrases, red marks-all neatly arranged. It looked less like notes made on the spot than something rehearsed many times.
"Susceptible to validation," the Academic Affairs Director read aloud.
Naruto heard that his name had not been written down, yet it hurt more than if it had. Those words were like a gentle knife, first telling you what you were susceptible to, then telling you how others would treat you.
"Competitive but restrained."
Sasuke's hand went still on the edge of his desk.
"Habitually hides behind a smile."
Che did not move, but those words felt as though someone had gently pressed them against his chest. He suddenly understood that Mizuki was not merely looking for "who could be led away." He was looking for the shell each of them used most often.
Iruka asked, "Why didn't you say these things to their faces?"
"Because children put up their guard when you say it to their faces," Mizuki replied. "Paper lets them see themselves first."
"Paper can also make them fear themselves first," Che said.
Mizuki looked at him. "That's why I said the order was wrong."
"The order being wrong isn't a minor problem," Sasuke said coldly. "You write someone up, then leave them to think it through themselves. Isn't that handing them the conclusion first?"
Mizuki did not answer immediately.
The Academic Affairs Director held the Interlayer Paper up to the light and examined the back.
"There are indentations on the back, too."
Iruka immediately stepped closer. "What words?"