The hearing

"Ding."

The elevator doors opened, and both the person inside and the person waiting froze for a moment, neither expecting anyone else to be up so early on a Sunday.

As usual, Shiina stood leaning in a corner of the elevator with a book in her hands, while Lezheng stood in front of the doors.

"What a coincidence, Shiina." Lezheng was the first to break the silence.

"Good morning, Lezheng." Shiina smiled faintly.

"Off to the library again?"

"Yes."

"What kind of person do you think Jack in The Shining is?" Noticing the book in Shiina's hands, Lezheng struck up a conversation.

"I think Jack is a tragic figure." Shiina's eyes lit up, and she began explaining her views in detail.

Most of the students in Class C were troublemakers. Few were even good at studying, let alone willing to read in the library, making Shiina something of an oddity in Class C.

And so, Lezheng spent the entire morning reading with Shiina in the library. When he left that afternoon, he also borrowed Wuthering Heights at her recommendation.

In the Student Council Activity Room, Horikita Manabu was walking Lezheng through the formalities and procedures of the hearing. Lezheng was rather excited about it; after all, this was his first time judging others.

"How will the losing side be punished?" Lezheng looked inquiringly at Horikita Manabu.

"If Class D loses, Sudo will be suspended to reflect on his actions. If Class C loses, those three will be suspended to reflect on theirs," Horikita Manabu answered solemnly.

"President Horikita, can a class still move up after having a student expelled?"

"Yes. As long as its Class Points exceed those of the class above it, it can take that class's place."

"Can Private Points buy a place in Class A?"

"Yes."

Lezheng asked about a few more details concerning the hearing, noted them down, then excused himself.

In fact, Lezheng had already formed a suspicion after reading the documents. This dispute was most likely Ryuen Kakeru's doing, exploiting Sudo Jian's hot temper. Sudo Jian was already a regular player in the Basketball Club, someone who could affect their Class Points down the line.

Club members could increase their Class Points by winning awards in club competitions. Moreover, the new students had only just enrolled, yet Sudo Jian had already become a regular player. That showed considerable talent in this area, so it was only natural for Ryuen Kakeru to target him.

If this was Class D's maneuver, however, things would be interesting. They were most likely trying to weed out a student with obvious flaws and make the class more manageable. It would also show that whoever was behind it was very confident in their ability to lead Class D upward.

After leaving the Student Council Activity Room, Lezheng did not return to the library but went to the shopping street instead. As he passed a repair shop, he spotted Kushida from Class D with two students he had never seen before.

The day of the hearing finally arrived. To Lezheng's surprise, Ryuen Kakeru had not accompanied the three Class C students. Their homeroom teacher attended with them instead. Class D had four students and their homeroom teacher present.

"Now that everyone is here, let the hearing begin. This is the Student Council president, and this is the Student Council recorder. I, the Student Council secretary, will preside over this meeting." Secretary Tachibana gave everyone seated below a brief introduction.

The Horikita down there is nothing like the Horikita up here. Lezheng observed Horikita Suzune, who sat restlessly below.

"How unusual. Does even a small dispute like this require the Student Council president to question everyone personally?" Chasuke gave a meaningful smile.

"Originally, the recorder and Secretary Tachibana were to preside, but the recorder has no experience in this area," Horikita Manabu said calmly.

What followed was a debate, with both sides blaming each other and arguing furiously. Horikita Suzune, however, remained seated in silence. After watching her for a while, the boy beside her reached out and grabbed her flank. An ill-timed burst of laughter rang through the classroom, after which Horikita Suzune went on the offensive.

Since both sides insisted the other was lying, but neither had decisive evidence, Horikita Manabu scheduled the final judgment for the following afternoon.

After both sides left, Horikita Manabu asked, "What did you notice?"

"One person. Someone who helped Horikita Suzune at a crucial moment," Lezheng replied.

Horikita Manabu nodded without saying more.

Lezheng packed his things and left, catching up with the Class C students, who had not gone far.

"If you don't want to lose, you need to stand firm. Remember to have Ryuuen attend tomorrow's hearing with you."

"What do you mean?" Ishizaki was a little bewildered.

"Never mind. Give me Ryuen Kakeru's contact information."

Horikita Suzune's obvious unease in front of Horikita Manabu, along with the hint that boy had given her at the last moment, showed that he was no ordinary person. Lezheng would have Ryuen Kakeru face him and test the waters.

Back in his dorm room, Lezheng called Ryuen Kakeru directly.

"Who's this?" A flippant voice came through the phone.

"Lezheng Youyan, Class A."

"Heh, someone from Class A. What do you want with me?"

"Are you at karaoke?" Lezheng asked.

"If you have something to say, say it." Ryuen Kakeru sounded a little impatient.

"In your dispute with Class D, their leader has made a move. Things aren't looking very good for your side."

"They're just a bunch of useless idiots."

"Are you scared, Ryuuen?"

"Trying to goad me won't work, kid," Ryuuen replied disdainfully.

"As the saying goes, 'Opposition against opposition, general against general.' Class D's 'king' has appeared. Aren't you going to meet the challenge?"

"Heh, don't think I don't know what you're up to."

"That's all I have to say. Goodbye."

Lezheng hung up, tossed his phone onto the bed, and went into the bathroom.

The next day, Lezheng had barely taken his seat when Kamuro came over.

"I heard you were at yesterday's hearing. As a judge, too?"

"Yeah. Listening to those two groups argue gave me a headache." Lezheng rubbed his forehead.

"Looks like you're doing pretty well in the Student Council."

"You only see the glamour on the surface, not all the hard work and sweat behind it."

"You? Give me a break. How did the hearing turn out?"

"We'll find out this afternoon."

At the final hearing, both sides consisted of the same people as before. Ryuen Kakeru still had not come.

Although Ryuen Kakeru was absent, the three Class C students had changed noticeably. Their words were more aggressive than yesterday, and they also played the victims at appropriate moments. Ryuen Kakeru had probably coached them. Horikita Suzune argued her case just as firmly on Class D's side, leaving both sides deadlocked once again.

"Mr. Chasuke, how about finding a compromise?" Sakagami proposed.

"A compromise? We could try that." Chasuke nodded.

"The Class C students are the victims, but they also bear some responsibility. So how about suspending Sudo for two weeks and the three Class C students for one week?"

"I think Mr. Sakagami's compromise is very reasonable."

"Are you kidding me?! I'm the victim here! Why should I be suspended?! Horikita, say something!" Sudo slammed his hands on the desk and stood up in anger.

"..." Horikita Suzune sat without speaking, recognizing that this was as far as they could go.

"Ayanokoji." With no response from Horikita, Sudo pinned his hopes on someone else.

"..." Ayanokoji did not respond either.

They had tried bluffing about the presence of surveillance cameras. The other side had clearly agreed to withdraw the complaint then, so why had the hearing still happened? It was obvious that Ryuen Kakeru had disrupted their plan.

And so, Sudo's defeat was certain.

Ayanokoji watched the furious Sudo coldly.