That afternoon, on the day of the hearing, Kiryu Yume ran into Kushida Kikyo in the hallway. She had just returned from outside, clutching her phone in her hand.
"The hearing is this afternoon."
Kiryu Yume leaned against the wall. "Oh?"
"What do you mean, 'oh'? I've looked for everyone I was supposed to look for and asked everything I needed to ask. I couldn't find even half a witness." Kushida Kikyo's expression did not change as she said this. "Whatever. It's just going through the motions anyway."
Kiryu Yume did not comfort her and casually asked where it was being held.
Kushida Kikyo glanced at him. "You're going too?"
"I've got nothing better to do. I'll go take a look. Might be something entertaining to watch."
Kushida Kikyo did not press further. She merely said, "Then don't be late," before turning and leaving.
The hearing began promptly at three that afternoon.
By the time Kiryu Yume arrived, more than half the observer seats were occupied. He sat in a corner of the back row, shoved his hands into his pockets, and leaned against the chair back.
The hearing chair sat in the middle of the long table. "We will now conduct the final deliberation regarding the physical altercation that took place in the stairwell of the Special Teaching Building between first-year Class D student Sudo Ken and first-year Class C students Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Eigo, and Kondo Reo."
Class C's homeroom teacher rose to speak first and recounted the incident from beginning to end—Sudo Ken had invited them out, Sudo Ken had thrown the first punch, Sudo Ken had injured three people by himself. In short, every fault lay with Sudo Ken.
Next, Ishizaki Daichi was called to the testimony stand. Standing before the table, he spoke in an