#69 Aftermath 1

"What is so funny, Chabashira-sensei?" Naturally, Sakagami wasn't exactly pleased when Chabashira chuckled so he asked with an irritated tone.

"Oh, excuse me, I was just surprised by this abrupt change. " Chabashira replied with a faint smile.

"We really want to apologize for taking everyone's time but...We don't want anyone to get expelled from this situation. This is escalating too fast and...n-nothing serious happened anyway." Ishizaki said while gritting his teeth between his words.

"What are you saying? Surely you can't accept it! What do you mean by "nothing serious happened"? Three of you were beaten by Sudo and you are just going to take it without fighting back for justice?" Sakagami tried to persuade them otherwise however Ishizaki just shook his head while keeping his eyes down.

"This...What did you do? Have you threaten my students with violence once again?" As if he sensed that there was nothing he could do, he turned to students from Class D and asked with rage-filled eyes.

"What?! *smack* How would I even threaten them?! I was sitting here the entire time without saying a word!" Sudo slammed his hand against the table and replied, enraged by this blind accusation.

Sakagami's glare just redirected from Sudo to Yuichi since he was aware that Sudo did absolutely nothing ever since entering this room, however, Yuichi was the only one who had such suggestions like the expulsion of whole 3 students at the same time.

"Eh? You can't be serious Sakagami-sensei! Do you suspect me from threatening your students?" Yuichi put his hand up and asked with a confused expression.

"I swear that I have never threatened anyone in my life." Yuichi pressed his hand to his heart and said with an honest expression.

"Sakagami-sensei, we weren't threatened by anyone. We really want to withdraw our complaint" Ishizaki interrupted which garnered Sakagami's attention as he turned to his students once again.

"*Twisting the words isn't exactly honorable*" Chabashira muttered in a whisper while glancing at Yuichi's face from the side.

"*I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, sensei. I was just truthful as any youngling should be to the older people*" Yuichi whispered back before turning slightly to the right with an honest smile and closed eyes.

"*Referring to yourself as youngling is very rare among your peers, isn't it?*" Chabashira chuckled.

"*I don't see how does that affects the truthfulness of my words...*" Yuichi replied in a confused tone.

"Well, if the damaged side wants to withdraw their complaint, we can do so, however, someone will have to compensate the school for taking everyone's time. You would be informed about the exact amount of points later."

Sudo was completely confused about why would they want to withdraw their complaint but he himself wasn't complaining if it would save him from any kind of punishment. As for Horikita...she was as confused as Sudo but she didn't let it be seen on her face, she just acted regular. She also calmed down from her angry state caused by Yuichi's words and it was visible that she wants to have a word with him after this discussion ends.

"?! That...W-we will pay" Ishizaki agreed although, by the sound of his teeth grinding against each other, it was visible that he wasn't exactly pleased. It almost looked like he is about to lose all of his points by his reaction.

'Was I perhaps too cruel in our "trade"' Yuichi thought, inwardly releasing a silly smile, thinking as if he actually forgot that school might demand some compensation for the trouble.

"Very well, we are officially done here. You will be informed of the cost later, your entire class can gather those points and pay together or you can pay it from your allowance, that's for you to decide."

After Manabu informed them, he excused himself and rather quickly left the room, most likely due to his busy schedule.

Although Horikita was still slightly confused, she confirmed with Chabashira that Sudo can continue playing and attending his club activities without a problem. Chabashira confirmed it while also slightly reprimanding both sides for their behavior and also warning them that there might not be the next time without any punishment.

Sakagami left with his students in quite dissatisfied manner and even Sudo wasn't exactly happy upon being lectured by Chabashira.

"Sudo-kun...What is sensei saying is the truth, if you won't fix your behavior a bit, we might face the same problem. This time you were safe due to them starting it first and in the end they reflected on their actions but there might not be the next time..." Yuichi said with a serious expression, backing Chabashira's words in this matter.

"Wait, you really think they have withdrawn their complaint just because of their...morals? Because they regretted their actions?" Horikita asked with a blank expression as if she couldn't bealive it.

"Well, maybe also the pressure from the chance of getting expelled. That's why I suggested that idea, I also noticed that they turned quite nervous when I mentioned it so I immediately knew that they were reconsidering the entire idea of framing Sudo-kun." Yuichi explained with a confused expression as if he didn't understand what's Horikita's problem.

"Anyway, thank you Sakura-san. We really appreciate your help" Horikita ignored Yuichi as if she didn't trust a single word of his and thanked Sakura who was slightly surprised by this.

"Y-yeah, thanks" Sudo received a glare from Horikita and so he also thanked Sakura while scratching the back of his head.

"Eh?" Sakura nodded her head before looking towards Chabashira who just nodded her head. Having her permission, Sakura quickly ran out of the room.

'She has done well, looks like she will be able to keep developing her confidence further after this day.' Yuichi thought, watching Sakura's back leaving the room.

"Well, I guess we can go attend our club activities right now, what do you say Sudo-kun?" Yuichi put his hands behind his head and asked in a relaxed manner with a satisfied smile.

"Yeah! Finally, this ordeal is resolved and I can return back to the club." Sudo immediately turned excited when Yuichi mentioned the basketball.

"I am glad for you, Sudo" Chabashira said with a faint smile but she didn't really sound all that genuine. It didn't sound sarcastic but something was missing in her tone.

Sudo thanked her due to his excitement but he was suddenly once again lectured but this time it wasn't anything forceful, it felt as if she was trying to help him, for the first time it felt like she was acting as homeroom teacher. In the end, Sudo apologized and acknowledged that his behavior was truly at fault here.

"There is a strength in admitting your mistakes and faults, Sudo. However...sometimes it's perhaps better to ignore them." Chabashira said to Sudo before she turned to Yuichi and added which confused everyone.

"...Well, let's go, Sudo-kun." Yuichi said, grabbing his bag from the ground but he was interrupted before he could leave.

"Wait, Sudo can go first, I still want to talk to you two, Horikita and Iwamura." Chabashira said with folded arms.

Sudo nodded his head and left while Yuichi wore a slightly tired expression, indicating that he didn't want to be here any longer.

"So, what happened? What method did you use to make them stand down" Chabashira asked while looking at Horikita who frowned down.

"Yeah, I would like to know that too..." She folded her arms too and glanced at Yuichi with visibly irritated expression. She was most likely still holding grudge due to his harsh words.

"Don't be like that...I said those words only to wake you up, I didn't truly mean them. You are amazing person, Horikita-san." Yuichi said with an honest expression.

"Really? Something tells me that it was the real you talking to me at that time..." Horikita narrowed her eyes and said.

"The real me? What do you mean by that? Like...what I truly think of you? If that's so...It's not truth at all!" Yuichi replied with closed eyes and apologetic smile.

"...*sigh* Well, thank you for waking me up, I thought that I would be completely fine but then I suddenly froze and didn't know what to do. Your plan worked well but I still don't appreciate you exploiting my emotions." Horikita sighed and dropped her grudge.

"Don't worry I won't do it again...Ah! Sensei, regarding your question...I think I have already mentioned it before." Yuichi said to Horikita before turning to Chabashira.

"You wouldn't be able to bet your own high-school life without a backup plan" Chabashira insisted.

"But I can, doesn't sensei remember my match in basketball against our core team? I have challenged them and bet all my points without a backup plan too. As I said before, I am greedy and not afraid to play big" Yuichi shrugged his shoulders with a smile.

"Iwamura-kun...As your homeroom teacher, I can track all the transfers of your points." Chabashira faintly smiled and said in a slightly provoking tone but it felt more playful and amused. She wasn't trying to anger him or anything.

"Can't person get a bit of privacy? Anyway, can I go? I really need to attend my club activities." Yuichi rolled his eyes as he said rhetorical question, trying to convey the meaning that she is shameless for checking on him.

Chabashira chuckled before she let him go as she understood that he doesn't want to say anything, at least not in Horikita's presence.