Chapter 6 : Involvement in the Violent Incident

July begins.

At this highly advanced developmental high school, an incident has occurred.

First-year student in Class D, Sudo Ken, reportedly assaulted students in Class C: Komiya, Kondo, and Ishizaki.

As Sakagami finished explaining this, it seemed everyone in the year was now concerned.

"Due to this incident, the point distribution for our year has been delayed. Please wait until the matter is resolved."

With that, Sakagami left the classroom after giving his instructions, leaving no room for further discussion.

Unlike the school's mishaps in June, the delay in point distribution this time due to the incident drew the class's attention to Ryuuen.

As if he had been waiting for this moment, Ryuuen stood up, surveyed the class, and declared:

"I absolutely won't let us lose over this matter. The class won't fall back either. Those who aren't victims should just quietly observe, especially those with nothing else to do."

Seeing Ryuuen so confident seemed to reassure the class, and the atmosphere returned to normal, if only slightly.

"Are you alright?" 

Unusually, Ibuki from the adjacent seat spoke up.

Ibuki must be referring to when I was called out by Ryuuen before.

"Yeah, seems like I don't have anything else to do."

"Then why were you called out?"

Ibuki's question was valid. At that time, I wasn't lightly injured like Ishizaki and the others, nor was I a victim.

"Who knows. Maybe it was just a whim?"

Just then, the chime signaling the start of class rang.

Ibuki seemed like she wanted to say more, but with curious glances directed our way due to the chime, we began preparing for class.

.....

Today is the day of deliberation.

I've told Ishizaki and the others that I'm responsible for conveying Ryuuen's instructions, so they shouldn't doubt my orders. It feels like lying, and guilt wells up inside me, but I silently apologize in my heart.

I've gathered them at a karaoke place where we won't be overheard, framing it as a report on today's events for Ishizaki and the others.

"So, tell me how the deliberation went and who from Class D participated."

"Yeah. First off, about the deliberation process, the student council showed up as observers."

"But the student council president mentioned they sometimes refrain from intervening in cases like this."

Komiya adds to Ishizaki's words. If the student council refrains, it means the teachers usually handle these matters.

"So, who from Class D participated?"

"It was Horikita and, um... I think it was Ayanokoji?"

So they did participate after all. I casually asked if Ayanokoji did anything, but it seems he just observed without doing anything in particular.

It seems there was some pressure on Horikita regarding the deliberation, but otherwise, everything went smoothly and it's headed for a re-deliberation.

"If nothing unusual happens, we've got this in the bag!"

Ishizaki and the others are getting excited, but that's assuming there are no unforeseen circumstances.

Unforeseen circumstances can happen.

I know.

A man who seems like a conglomerate of unforeseen circumstances.

...…

After the re-deliberation, Class D apparently brought evidence, which unsettled Ishizaki and the others. However, thanks to Sakagami's counterarguments, things managed to settle down somehow, but it seems another re-deliberation is on the horizon because the situation isn't resolving.

Feeling a bit pressured, but if things continue like this, we should be able to win.

"Hey, Hikigaya!"

As I ponder, the three victims wave at me.

"What's up?"

"Well, you see, Kondo got a message from Kushida-chan to come to a special practice. We got curious, so we're planning to check it out. Wanna come too?"

I've heard of Kushida before. She's well-known around the school, exchanging contacts with almost everyone regardless of grade. She's popular among guys for both her looks and personality.

"Yeah, I'm curious too, so count me in."

Called out at this timing.

... Ayanokoji, or was it Horikita?

No, Ayakoji would handle this better. If it was Ayanokoji, there should be a smarter way than this. Did Ayanokoji give a hint to Horikita? That's the most likely scenario.

If Ayanokoji is seriously aiming to win, this wouldn't be the strategy. Plus, he should have thought of countermeasures against me…

Yet, he hasn't done anything to me.

... I see.

While sensing Ayanokoji's intentions, I hurry towards the special practice.

"Security cameras...!?"

"What's wrong? You seem really shaken up."

As we arrived at the special practice, as expected, Ayanokoji and Horikita were waiting for us, and they had noticed the presence of security cameras.

"There's a science lab in this special facility with hazardous chemicals. It's not surprising they have surveillance cameras."

Horikita looked at us as if to drive the point home, while Ayanokoji observed us from above the stairs.

"Wait a second. If there's footage on those cameras, couldn't you win without doing anything!?"

From there, Horikita began hypothesizing. Just a hypothesis, but someone under pressure tends to believe even mere conjecture.

Confirming Horikita's talk, I switched on my phone.

"We're being tested here. The school wants to see what decision we'll reach."

"That's...!?"

Facing the possibility of expulsion, Ishizaki and the others tried to retract their appeal for their own safety, wanting to confirm with Ryueen, but Horikita stopped them.

"Can't you decide anything on your own?"

"You bastard!!"

I stopped Ishizaki as he lunged forward.

"Calm down, Ishizaki, all of you."

While holding his arm that was about to strike, I turned to the two frantic behind me.

"No need to retract your appeal."

"What?! What are you talking about?! If we don't do something, we'll get expelled!"

Everyone except Ayanokoji was surprised by my words.

"Just watch."

And then I took off my shoes.

I threw them with all my might at the surveillance camera.

My shoes hit the camera dead-on, making a dull sound as it collapsed.

"What!?"

Horikita's voice leaked out in shock, and Ishizaki and the others beside me were visibly surprised.

"What the hell are you doing, Hikigaya!?"

"I told you to calm down. Besides, there wasn't even a surveillance camera here in the first place."

"What!?"

Horikita was bewildered by my words, as if herplan had been exposed.

"No, there was! You just destroyed it!"

"Then why isn't there any reaction? Huh, Horikita?"

"..."

Silent, Horikita showed confusion with my words, then continued to explain.

"Ishizaki, keep it down. I'll explain later. This is a plot by Ryuen."

After whispering, Ishizaki was a bit unsettled, but hearing Ryuen's name, they didn't interrupt my explanation.

"I'll tell you this upfront: the school knows you installed the cameras."

"What!?"

Horikita couldn't hide her surprise from the unexpected.

"If the school finds out, what will happen? It's an illegal installation on school property. Expulsion is very possible."

"... There's no evidence."

With confidence now gone, her voice cracked as her last resistance.

"If there's no evidence, how about this?"

I took out my phone from my pocket and played back the recorded conversation. This was decisive evidence.

"T-That's...!?"

"If there's no evidence, then there should be no problem submitting this to the school, right?"

Regretful, Horikita clenched her fists, shaking.

"P-Please stop..."

With a deeply bowed head and a trembling voice, Horikita pleaded. Ayanokoji, who stood beside me with his usual expression, silently watched her.

"... Alright, that's enough. If you lose without doing anything this time, it's your own fault. If anything strange happens... you know what I mean."

Still bowing her head, Horikita and Ayanokoji, who had been quietly observing, were warned.

"Let's go. All three of you."

Taking the bewildered three with me, we left the special practice room.

…..

The next day, as usual, homeroom began and we received a message from Sakagami. He seemed to be smiling slightly. The atmosphere in the class was a bit different from usual, filled with murmurs and tension.

The reason was the change in awarded points:

- Class A: 1004 cp

- Class B: 663 cp

- Class C: 492 cp

- Class D: 87 cp

Now that the incident had been resolved, there was supposed to be a distribution of 49,200 points. However, the class was visibly agitated by the apparent increase in points.

"As for the violent incident, due to our victory in the deliberation, 50 cp will be transferred from Class D to Class C."

With a smile on his face, Sakagami's words were met with cheers from the class. The directly involved parties, Ishizaki and the others, looked proud.

"It's the first time this class has earned CP through a separate channel so quickly. We're hoping to reach Class A."

The class bid farewell to Sakagami as he left with a smile, still pleased about the increase in CP. Then, Ryuen stood up.

"Well done, Ishizaki, Komiya, Kondo, and Hikigaya. This is your reward."

As Ryuen operated his terminal, a notification sound rang on our devices, indicating that 30,000 points had been transferred.

"No, this is all thanks to Ryuen's strategy! To be honest, I thought it was risky at the end, but Ryuen really read everything perfectly!"

While celebrating the reward, Komiya and Kondo nodded in agreement with Ishizaki's words. The class, hearing Ishizaki's praise, echoed their support for Ryuen. Everything I had done was attributed to Ryuen, so Ishizaki and the others expressed their gratitude to him... but.

... I had forgotten to relay something to Ryuen, and when Ishizaki's words sank in, I saw fierce glares directed at me.

Ignoring Ryuen's gaze and gazing out the window, I heard a sound from my device.

"Stay after school."

A message had come from Ryuen.

Give me a break...

Current Class Points:

- Class A: 1004 cp

- Class B: 663 cp

- Class C: 542 cp

- Class D: 37 cp

=================================

Want to support me? 

You can join as member in my P4TR30N

p4treon.com/ShirooYuki ( Change 4 to a)

See ya!!