#30 Tension between boys and girls

The same day the underwear incident happened...

"Walker-kun, can we talk in private, please?" Hirata came to rescue me from Ike's gang so I happily nodded my head. Ike and Sudo just looked at two of us weirdly but didn't say anything since we just had prevented the calamity and we perhaps had to discuss something important.

When we moved to a more secluded location, Hirata turned at me with a slightly serious expression.

"Walker-kun, I will be completely honest with you. I need your help..."

"...You want me to find the real culprit?" He was surprised by my question so I knew that I was right.

"You know, even if I find out the real culprit then I doubt I would be able to find solid evidence for you to believe me. Plus, why me?" I said with an apathetic expression.

"I don't know if Ike-kun is the real culprit or not but one thing is certain. There is still the culprit among us and I am afraid that boys might not be able to keep our earlier discussion in the tent secret, that's why I think we need to find the real culprit. As for why you...I noticed how you handled the situation with calmness and I believe that you aren't the culprit for sure" He explained his reasons with a determined expression.

"And what if it was really some of the boys? What would you do then?" I asked him, a bit amused by his determination.

"...I would take care of it in secret, if such thing came out on light then our class would be thrown into an uproar" Hirata was a bit startled by my question but after he calmed down, he answered with a strong voice.

"Since we are all alone here, let me ask you one thing too. Are you really dating Karuizawa-san?" I asked with a curious expression if my suspicion was right.

"...I-" He had a problem answering that question since I already made it sound like I was doubting them.

"No need to say anything anymore...I understand. Let me ask you a different question. Do you know about her past?" I asked with a bit more serious expression.

"I am sorry but I can't answer that question, Walker-kun" Hirata said with an apologetic face since he was asking for my help yet he couldn't even answer my question.

I guess she told him about her past and him being the "nice guy" accepted to be her boyfriend to protect her. What a fucked-up situation...

"...I will try but don't expect much from me, you should also ask for help from Horikita-san. She might be a girl but I think she would choose to keep it a secret rather than throw our class into an uproar and destroy our class's unity" I agreed to his request and added advice for him.

"Thank you! But I don't think Horikita-san would agree to my request, she is a bit distant from most of the people and only a few people talk to her regularly. I know I am already asking much but could you help me with this matter too?" Hirata was happy after I agreed but then his expression became helpless when he mentioned Horikita.

"...You know, I am not really closer to Horikita-san than you are. I can try but maybe you would do better if you asked Ayanokoji-kun" So many problems... It makes me tired. Who would ever think that solving a theft of the underwear would be so complicated...

"Alright, thank you once again!" Hirata bowed a little to show his appreciation.

"Stop it, we are classmates and this matter involves entire class so it's normal that I help"

"We should head back, the girls said that they have something to discuss with all of us" Hirata smiled at me and suggested.

Ah, another problem...I can already feel it.

When we came back, everyone was waiting there for us.

I noticed that there was also Karuizawa who was absent during the morning. She was trembling with anger and her eyes were red. It was pretty hard to say if it was because she has just cried or because she wanted to see the blood of the culprit. But she looked pretty cute when she was trembling like that... Ugh, I hope this doesn't make me a sadist.

Karuizawa also noticed me and I gently smiled at her which probably made her regain her composure since she stopped trembling and looked more embarrassed than angered.

"...So, what's the matter?" Hirata also noticed strange change in Karuizawa's behavior but he decided to ignore it.

"I know that matter got already resolved but I am not feeling safe while sleeping in the same place as boys and it's not just me but the majority of girls in our class agreed to this. We will draw a dividing line between boys and girls. And boys are prohibited to cross that line" Shinohara said while looking at us with contempt.

"Huh? If you want to do it then it's ok but we aren't moving our tent, move your own tent! Do it yourselves, you are the ones who want to leave" Sudo fired at her rude comment.

"We don't even need your help, you would have just fished through our luggage while doing it anyway...Hirata-kun? You will help us, right?" Shinohara fired back at Sudo but she still turned her head at Hirata to ask for his help.

"Okay, I will help but it will take some time for one person to move the entire tent, is that alright?" Hirata agreed with a helpless smile. He knew that dividing boys and girls will make it worse for our class.

Helping to unify this class will be a real challenge...

"You know, if we do this then the same thing will apply for the girls..." I calmly stated and this made Shinohara turn at me.

"What do you mean?" She asked in a different tone than when she addressed all boys. I found quite strange that she didn't hold any contempt or disgust while looking at me even after what happened between us.

"If you draw a dividing line between us and prohibit us to enter then same rules must apply to girls or it would be just complete tyranny..." I also changed my tone since she wasn't harsh with me, I had no reason to be mean to her.

"We are fine with it. And could we ask you to help Hirata-kun with moving our tent, please?" She asked me a question which quite surprised me.

"Me? Why?"

"We discussed it earlier when you were busy fishing through your belongings and 2 girls nominated you and most of the girls agreed while Karuizawa-san herself gave her approval too"

*sigh* "...I see, I will help" I agreed upon seeing Hirata's pleading face.

At least it will be faster this way.

"Thank you, both of you" Shinohara thanked me and Hirata with a small smile.

Why do I have a feeling that time flies slower when you have to solve stupid problems.

..

I and Hirata started to move the tent

"...Sorry, it feels like I keep bothering you" Hirata said with a guilty face.

"This time it wasn't you who asked for my help so you don't have to think like that" I didn't act overly friendly by telling him that he doesn't bother me and I neither told him anything harsh.

"Hirata-kun?! Can you please help us here with something?" The girl named Mei-Yu Wang called out.

"Huh? I-" He looked at me and then back to her, ready to refuse her I interrupted him.

"I am almost done here, just go there before any other problem arises" I said with an indifferent face.

He lightly bowed to me to show his gratefulness and left.

Horikita came to me once Hirata left to help the girls.

"Were you the one who nominated me?" I asked before she could say anything.

"Matsushita was the one who nominated you and I just joined in.

"Why? You don't even know me..." I asked another question to fill the boredom of building a tent.

"I already observed you a few times in the past and I believe that you aren't the culprit. You are too indifferent and disinterested to do that. I also observed you when you had that argument with Shinohara-san and I could positively say that you were genuinely disgusted by the idea of you being the underwear thief" Horikita explained her reasons.

"I see, you are really smart...So, why have you come here?" My expression didn't change a bit after listening to her reasons.

"To ask you if you know who is the culprit and inform you that a few girls bought a few items and reported it only to Hirata-kun while he had yet to tell me this"

"What good will it do if I know but have no evidence? As for your information...The leader is just trying to lead his group and control their desires but the leader isn't by any means a tyrant who is the only one who can spend points. We can't do anything about it, I think that Hirata-kun already warned them and didn't report it because he didn't want another problem to arise"

"You seem to really believe Hirata-kun. You also answered me with a question...Does it mean that you know the culprit but you don't have any evidence?

"Isn't it pretty obvious who is the culprit?" I asked her with a little annoyed expression.

"So it really was Ibuki-san? What should we do about her?" Horikita was also suspecting Ibuki but wasn't sure about it.

"Nothing" I answered with a smile.

"What do you mean nothing?! After what she did?"

"Kicking her out right now will only make the situation worse. We can still use her, she is probably here to find out our leader so we will give her what she wants" I explained and grinned evilly.

"You want her to find my fake card?" Horikita said weakly.

It seems that her condition is getting worse and worse. I noticed the second day that she was acting a bit weirdly and came to the conclusion that she is sick. Even though I would like to tell her that she should retire, I can't because she still has that fake card with her name.

Sorry, but you must fulfill your role.

"Yes but don't try to act or give her chances to do so. It would be better if everything played out naturally. Try your best to defend that card so it would be more believable that you are the leader"

"...Are you saying that she will take it even if I try my best to keep it safe?!" She appeared a bit angered by my statement.

That's right, at least in your current condition.