(Author: Kiriha-kun has completely turned into a comic relief character.) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Time flies like an arrow, as they say, and the day that would decide Sudo-kun’s fate arrived in the blink of an eye.
I don’t know what Cozy and his group were up to, but it seems Bankai-chan was gathering information on the student message boards and such.
Hmm, not a bad approach.
Not great either, though.
After finishing my usual morning routine (I ran into Mr.
Six during my run, but as usual, he was drunk on himself; he probably couldn’t care less about what happens to Sudo-kun), I met up with Arisu in the dorm lobby and headed to school.
“…Come to think of it, Kamuro used to walk to school with us, but lately not at all.
What happened?
Did you guys get into a fight?” “There’s no way we did.
We just went to the movies together, the three of us, yesterday.” “Ah, that was fun.
Kamuro was totally terrified around the part where the heroine got eaten alive by the monster.” “And you, who pulled a needless prank after the showing, got thoroughly yelled at by a teary-eyed Masumi-san, didn’t you?” I didn’t think she’d panic that much over a little innocent fun.
Sorry, Kamuro, I didn’t really mean any harm.
Thanks to that, Arisu and I were deeply satisfied.
“Then is it my fault?
But Kamuro stopping walking to school with us started quite a while ago, right?” “According to her, it’s because she doesn’t want to get kicked by a horse.
It seems she’s showing unnecessary consideration once again.” “Similar things have happened off and on since middle school.
We’re not even dating, so she really doesn’t need to mind it.” “In truth, she simply finds it uncomfortable.
If I pushed the matter, she would walk to school with us, but…
I don’t particularly wish to do that.” While looking composed on the surface, your ears are bright red, Arisu.
If you’re going to get embarrassed, you don’t have to say it every time.
“Does that mean you want to walk to school alone with just me?
Kyaa~ Arisu-chan, you’re such a maiden~☆” “I’m going to get angry, you know?” “Sorree~” “Honestly, now…” Arisu puffed her cheeks slightly and turned away, but I didn’t feel even a shred of displeasure from her; if anything, her face was even redder than before.
As expected, she’s shockingly cute today too—thanks to that, all my accumulated stress feels like it’s bursting away.
…Not that I was bottling up any stress to begin with, though.
And so after school came, I headed to the faculty room to see how the result turned out.
Well, even though I say ‘see’, I’m a 100% outsider, so I’ll probably just hear the result after everything is over.
“Excuse me~ How did the skirmish between Class C and Class D turn out~?” “Huh?
Honjo-kun from Class A?” When I entered the faculty room triumphantly and announced that, Hoshinomiya-sensei, the homeroom teacher of Class B who was at a nearby desk, stood up and hurried over.
At a glance, she’s just a pretty teacher, but according to the Class B kids, despite her looks, she’s an extraordinarily heavy drinker, with a disappointing side of holding homeroom without getting over her hangovers.
“Why do you want to ask about that?
Ah, could it be that you were helping Class D like our Ichinose-san?” “That was the plan, but I got turned down.
Turns out Horikita-chan seems to hate me.” “My, my~…
Horikita-san does seem a bit difficult to deal with, after all~” Well, more than half of the reason she hates me is my own fault, though.
“So there was a bit of a dispute there, and if they manage to win Sudo-kun’s innocence, she’s supposed to grant me one wish.
That’s why I came to find out the outcome.” “My oh my, things are getting interesting on your end too.
If it’s about that deliberation, it’s being held in the Student Council room on the 4th floor.
Timewise, it should be wrapping up soon, I think~” “Seriously, Sensei?
The Student Council…
by any chance, is Tachibana-senpai participating in the deliberation too?” “Tachibana-san?
Probably so, I think.
…Could it be, Honjo-kun, that you’re close with Tachibana-san?
Even though you have Sakayanagi-san, cheating isn’t good, you know~?
Poke poke.” “Tachibana-senpai is just the senior I respect the most in this school; I don’t have romantic feelings or anything like that.
…Besides, in the first place, isn’t the person she likes the President?” “Ah~ so you noticed after all?
It’s cute how she thinks she’s hiding it, isn’t it?” “Right?♪ But it’s somewhat frustrating how only the President himself seems completely oblivious…
Well, that in itself is very entertaining, though☆” “Ah~ I get it~” “What are you two doing…
The faculty room is not a place for idle gossip.” As Hoshinomiya-sensei and I were having a blast talking about romance, Mashima-sensei arrived with an exasperated look on his face.
“Don’t be so stiff, Mashima-sensei.
It’s just a little girls’ talk, isn’t it?” “There isn’t a single girl in this place…” “Mashima-kun, are you trying to pick a fight by any chance?” “You’re hardly at an age to call yourself a girl either.” “You really lack delicacy, Sensei.” “Silence.
Giving you a hundred—no, a hundred million steps of the benefit of the doubt and counting Hoshinomiya as a girl…” “Mashima-kun, remember this for later, okay?” “…
Honjo, you are different.
Either way, it isn’t a girls’ talk.” “A pointed observation worthy of an English teacher.
But sadly, I was probably a woman in my past life.
As a capybara.” “It doesn’t change the fact that you are male in this life.” Yeah, fair enough.
Even as I said it myself, I thought it was a weak argument.
“Well then, I’ll be off to the Student Council room soon…
Good luck dealing with Hoshinomiya-sensei, alright?
If I feel like it, I’ll collect your bones.” “…Remember this next time, Honjo.” “Since it’s Sensei’s fault for bringing up the topic of age to a woman, I’ll forget it clean and clear.” Escorted off by a tired-looking Mashima-sensei and Hoshinomiya-sensei with an intimidating smile, I left the faculty room.
…For mere colleagues, those two have a remarkably casual relationship.
Are they actually from the same year or something?
“I’m sorry, Ayanokoji-kun…
If I had stepped forward from the beginning, this wouldn’t have…” “It would be the same.
Even if Sakura stepped forward first, they would have ultimately attacked the fact that the witness was from Class D.” “But…!” Uh…
What is this situation?
When I made my way to the Student Council room, standing there was a girl with glasses breaking down in tears, and Cozy standing frozen, not knowing what to do.
Judging from the conversation just now, this glasses girl…
Sakura-chan seems to be the witness to that incident, but…
Hmm, should I lament that a witness came from Class D, or celebrate that it wasn’t Class C…
Well, if they want to win complete innocence, either way it’s a minor difference.
“Yahoo, Cozy.” “Honjo, huh.” Handing a handkerchief to Sakura-chan, I joined the two.
Sakura took the handkerchief while thanking me, looking slightly frightened.
Sorry for the scary look in my eyes.
“What, were you still here…
Honjo?” “Honjo-kun?” Almost at the exact same time, Tachibana-senpai and the President came out of the Student Council room.
And the moment Tachibana-senpai turned around to lock up, I immediately took a position behind her, pulled out a music player from my pocket, turned the volume way up, gently put the earphones in Tachibana-senpai’s ears, and pressed play.
『Urameshiyaaaaaa!』 (Spookiiiesss!) “Ngyaaaaaaaah?!” “”!?”” Flowing from the player at maximum volume was a truly creepy, eerie ghost voice.
Having pulled the prank I did on Kamuro yesterday once again, it turned out to be a thoroughly satisfying reaction.
You’re the best, Senpai.
Jumping up on the spot, trembling and crouching down, after a moment she tentatively looked behind her to find me holding a small placard reading “Prank Complete!” with a beaming smile.
Tachibana-senpai’s teary eyes rapidly narrowed, and an aura of anger seemed to bubble up from her entire body.
Ah, crap…
“You…
You you you, YOUUUUU!” “Ouch, ouch ouch ouch?!
Sorry, my bad, Tachibana-senpai!
Don’t kick my shin so relentlessly, it’s gonna break?!” “Shut up, it might as well break, you idiot!
Idiot idiot idiot idiot idiot!” “I’m sorry, I know I was wrong, it was just a sudden impulse, your scream was cute!” “You don’t feel remorse at all, do youuuuu!” An enraged Tachibana-senpai delivered a storm of surprisingly sneaky and precise retaliatory attacks on me.
To be honest, with Tachibana-senpai’s kicking power, it didn’t hurt much at all, but to help lower her resentment even a little, I’ll act like it hurts here.
Thanks to desperately apologizing while taking a beating, Tachibana-senpai was temporarily satisfied and returned to locking the door, while the President cleared his throat once to reset the scattered atmosphere.
You’re putting on an attitude like “this has nothing to do with me,” but I won’t miss the fact that you didn’t try to help while I was being lynched and were secretly laughing, okay?
Cozy, Sakura-chan, you guys too.
“…Honjo, what business do you have at the Student Council room?
Don’t tell me you came all the way here just to pull a foolish prank on Tachibana.” “Calling it foolish is rude.
…I have a little bet going on with your little sister regarding this matter.
So what happened to Sudo-kun?
Did he get acquitted?” “The retrial is tomorrow at 4 o’clock.
…I see, so proclaiming complete innocence was Suzune running wild, after all.” When the President shifted his gaze toward Cozy and asked that, he didn’t deny it either.
Hmmm…
Horirin might have actually arrived at the answer.
“And you said your name was Sakura, right?
Your witness testimony and photographs were sufficient evidence to present at the deliberation.
However, remember this: how far that evidence is trusted depends on its evidentiary power.
As long as you are a student of Class D, your testimony will not be recognized as the truth this time.” The President turned toward Sakura-chan out of nowhere, showering her with unmercifully harsh words.
…No, President, what you’re saying is sound logic, but how about reading the room a bit?
You shouldn’t kick a stranger girl while she’s down when she was probably crying.
“I-I just…
wanted to tell the truth…” “If it cannot be fully proven, it is nothing more than foolish chatter.” As if to shield Sakura-chan, who hung her head and began tearing up again, Cozy—and incidentally me—stepped in between Sakura-chan and the President.
“I believe her.
Sakura’s testimony, that is.” “Count me in too.” “If you’re classmates, wanting to believe her is only natural.
…And Honjo, outsiders aren’t invited.” “Since I’ll forgive you for earlier, let’s step to the side together, Honjo-kun.
Please don’t complicate the conversation.” Pulled by the hand by Tachibana-senpai, I faded out to the side.
Sorry Cozy, I’ll leave the rest to you.
“It’s not that I ‘want to’ believe her.
I said I do believe her.” “Is that so…
Then prove it.
Prove that Sakura’s testimony isn’t foolish chatter.” “The one who will do that isn’t me, it’s your sister.
I believe in Horikita, too.” No, based on the flow of the conversation, that’s your cue to step up, right?
Why are you relying on others after building it up this far?
Even after those two left, Sakura-chan remained crying on the spot, unable to move.
“Still, you went through a rough time too.
Does the President lack delicacy or something?
Tachibana-senpai’s gonna suffer in the future like this.” “Raise your head, Sakura.
Crying won’t help.” “But…
because of me…!” “You did nothing wrong.
You just told the truth.
Thanks to you, a possibility opened up for Sudo and everyone to be saved.” “…But…!” Well, Cozy’s point isn’t wrong.
If not for this girl, Sudo-kun would have been found guilty without even holding a retrial.
After this, as long as Horirin does what she needs to do, it’ll be a splendid, complete victory for Class D.
“I believe in you.
That’s what friends do.” Cozy grabbed Sakura-chan’s shoulders, forcibly turning her toward him, and declared that while looking straight into her eyes.
Yeah, yeah, seriously cool, Cozy.
…But listen, man, if you’re gonna make such a cool, impactful declaration, take care of it yourself.
What’s up with dumping everything onto Horirin?
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Author’s Note: By the way, the real reason Kamuro-san doesn’t want to walk to school together is because they flirt naturally, which is extremely terrible for her mental health.