"Hm?"
After asking those questions, Tatsuya Shiba immediately made a call, drawing puzzled looks from the others.
"Is this Mibu?"
"This is Shiba."
"So you're in this room right now too, correct?"
"That really is a shame."
"No, I'm not looking down on you, but you should calmly think about the current situation too. What is it you actually need? What you're doing right now is terrible..."
"Yes, sorry. Then let's get straight to the point!"
"Club head Jumonji has agreed to negotiate, giving you a reasonable, fair opportunity to present your demands."
"The Student Council?"
"The Student Council... the Student Council has also agreed to your request."
"Now, we'd like to discuss the time for the negotiations..."
"No, I guarantee your freedom. Yes, goodbye!"
Tatsuya Shiba finished speaking and took off his communicator.
"See? He's an absolute veteran at this!"
Chiba Yeyou lightly nudged Miyuki Shiba with his elbow, continually fanning the flames from beside her.
"She said she'll come out right away."
"Was that Sayaka Mibu just now?"
Mari Watanabe asked for confirmation, somewhat surprised.
"Yes. She gave me her private contact number so we could meet. I didn't expect it to come in handy now."
"Look, he's even got her contact details."
Chiba Yeyou poked Miyuki Shiba again.
Miyuki Shiba no longer cared... or rather, she had forgotten to take issue with Chiba Yeyou poking her. Her expression was utterly dark.
"You sure work fast!"
Mari Watanabe twisted the knife again.
"But we should make thorough preparations!"
"Preparations?"
"Preparations to arrest everyone inside!"
Tatsuya Shiba said mercilessly.
"But didn't you just say you guaranteed their freedom?"
Mari Watanabe asked incredulously.
"He said 'your' as in her alone, not all of them!"
Chiba Yeyou said with a smile.
"Exactly. I only said I guaranteed Mibu's freedom, not everyone's."
"Besides, I never said I was negotiating with them on behalf of the Public Morals Committee, the Student Council, or the Club Activities Group."
Mari Watanabe and the other two were dumbfounded.
"See? Your brother is definitely an old hand at sweet-talking girls. So practiced. Tsk, tsk!"
Chiba Yeyou whispered to Miyuki Shiba beside him.
Private contact, working fast, sweet-talking girls, a practiced veteran...
Miyuki Shiba looked as though she was about to break down, before all the darkness vanished from her face, replaced by a searing smile.
"My brother really is a bad man!"
"Hm? Why bring that up, Miyuki?"
Tatsuya Shiba had paid no attention at all and was even puzzled.
Chiba Yeyou moved a little farther away from the siblings, putting some distance between them so he would not get splashed with blood later.
After all, she was a ruthless one who could force Tatsuya Shiba to use his Self-Repair Technique with a single blow!
"Yes, indeed!"
"But, dear brother, you'll have to give me a proper explanation later about why you specifically saved Mibu's private contact number!"
Watching Miyuki Shiba say that with such a cute expression... the words seemed pretty cute too... damn!
"This girl is beyond saving!"
Chiba Yeyou remarked to the three beside him.
"Yes."
The three could not help nodding in agreement.
Sure enough, before long, the broadcasting room's door opened from within. The Public Morals Committee members, who had long been ready, immediately swarmed forward, took control of the doorway, and arrested everyone.
"What is going on?"
"Didn't you promise me you would guarantee our freedom?"
Still looking furious at being betrayed, Sayaka Mibu loudly demanded an answer from Tatsuya Shiba.
"You tricked us, didn't you!"
"Didn't he guarantee your freedom?"
"Look, you haven't been arrested, have you?"
A languid voice drifted over. Sayaka turned toward Chiba Yeyou, who was leaning against the doorframe, somewhat confused.
"What do you mean?"
"Just what he said. I only guaranteed your freedom, but that didn't include anyone else..."
"Shiba did not deceive you."
Jumonji walked over. The situation was under control, and he no longer needed to worry about anything.
"Club head Jumonji."
Sayaka Mibu looked at Jumonji in confusion.
"I agreed to negotiate with you, but hearing your demands doesn't mean I can approve of the means you used to seek dialogue."
"Tch!"
For Mibu and the others, this was the only way. Who ever paid attention to what they said normally?
So Sayaka Mibu scoffed at that argument.
"That may be true..."
The sudden voice drew everyone's attention, and its owner was none other than Mayumi Saegusa, who had finally arrived.
"But could you let them go?"
"But!"
Mari Watanabe looked at Mayumi Saegusa in surprise.
She was very worried that these people would cause more trouble after being set free.
"I know, Mari!"
The usual smile and playfulness were absent from Mayumi Saegusa's face. She simply looked at Mari Watanabe solemnly as she earnestly expressed her opinion.
"But Mibu can't complete the negotiation process all by herself, can she?"
"As long as they're still students at this school, they're unlikely to run away."
"After all, they're students too."
"We wouldn't run away!"
Hearing Mayumi Saegusa's words, Sayaka Mibu retorted indignantly.
In Sayaka Mibu's mind, this was their means of securing an opportunity for dialogue openly and fairly. Talk of running away was simply looking down on them!
So it was perfectly normal for those words to provoke her.
"The school wants to leave this matter to the Student Council."
Mayumi Saegusa walked unhurriedly up to Sayaka Mibu.
"What!"
Mari Watanabe found it utterly surreal!
An incident that could fairly be described as a serious offense had been handed over to the Student Council just like that?
This truly went beyond Mari Watanabe's expectations.
"Mibu, next I'd like to discuss the specific negotiation procedures and related matters with you. Could you come with us?"
"Yes, of course!"
Mibu naturally accepted President Saegusa's invitation, because this was precisely the opportunity she wanted. Naturally, she agreed without hesitation.
Having said that, Sayaka Mibu headed outside.
"I never thought things would turn out like this!"
Mayumi Saegusa sounded somewhat dejected.
She had always aspired to ease relations between Course 1 Students and Course 2 Students, and had tried to be as accommodating as possible toward conflicts between the two precisely to prevent this kind of situation. Yet it had still happened, and so suddenly that she had not even had time to mediate.
"Let's get ready to head to the lecture hall!"
"Have every Course 2 Student attend this time!"