Seeing Ken Sudō's anger subside, Hirata Yousuke released him and stepped back a few paces.
The tension in the room finally eased a little.
"What matters most right now... is finding someone who witnessed it, or going to the scene to check for cameras."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had stayed out of it until now, turned his head and glanced at Horikita Suzune's troubled expression before speaking.
"That's right. Now isn't the time to blame each other."
Kushida Kikyou stood up and clasped her hands together, her delicate features full of sincere concern.
"We only have one day, but if the whole class asks around the school, maybe a miracle will happen!"
"Yeah! We could post on the school forum!"
Kanji Ike slapped his thigh as though he had found a lifeline.
Sudo had a rotten temper, but Ike was his friend and genuinely wanted to help.
"We can post a reward. If anyone passed by the Special Teaching Building that day, even if they only heard something, we can offer them points."
"Points? What points do you have, idiot?"
Beside him, Yamauchi Haruki pulled a long face and promptly poured cold water on the idea.
"Our class hasn't received any points since May. Besides... people only go to the Special Teaching Building for home economics and audiovisual classes. There's not a soul in that dump. Who'd wander over there for no reason?"
With that, the little hope Kushida Kikyou had stirred up vanished.
A deathly silence settled over the classroom once more.
Ken Sudō leaned against the wall and raked a hand through his red hair, unable to hide the worry in his eyes.
"Our class representatives will attend tomorrow afternoon's meeting."
The calm statement came unexpectedly from the back of the classroom.
Everyone paused and turned to look.
Horikita