Trial

Under everyone's attention, Shinichi smiled and clasped his hands together.

"Everyone, don't panic, sit down and resolve the situation!"

This sentence acted as a pacifier, calming the tense atmosphere filled with anxiety.

Led by Shinichi, thirteen women followed to the Sakura Pavilion and sat around a table and stone chairs.

Due to insufficient space, three younger sisters stood behind Chika, while Hayasaka and Mafuyu stood on Shinichi's left and right like protectors.

The two with the same cold expression couldn't help but glance at each other and quickly averted their gaze out of embarrassment.

Shinichi looked around at everyone and cleared his throat, breaking the solemn atmosphere.

"Was anyone followed on the way here?"

To prevent anyone from following them to the Sakura Pavilion, he asked this question first.

Everyone looked at each other, then shook their heads.

Fumino: "Because they had to escort us away from the crowds, Kashima-san and the others already knew we were in the maze garden... But, I believe we can trust them."

Yotsuba: "Same here, Asahi-senpai has asked the Information Club to delay any pursuit for the time being. I shouldn't worry about paparazzi sneaking up from my perception..."

Chika: "I also asked everyone in the TG club! Although there's no direct way to stop it, at least this can delay it for a while..."

Hayasaka: "Don't worry, I used the Shinomiya family's hidden secret path on the way here. I'm now guarding the outside of the maze garden. If there's any mishap, I'll be informed immediately."

"That's good."

Shinichi nodded and went straight to the point without any further ado.

He laid the paper in his hand on the stone table and spread it out for everyone to see. Although everyone had the same information, he didn't have a projection screen. He compared it this way and explained the situation well.

"No matter who did it or for what purpose, we can understand it once the situation is under control."

Shinichi tapped the words on the paper with his finger and said in a deep voice:

"The current intelligence is that someone or some organization has been monitoring us and has long been preparing to target us... Targeting me."

"The other party might want to take this opportunity to make it impossible for me to continue schooling. They didn't even consider how many people would be involved and the impact it would have."

"And this 'leaflet' is the opponent's first shot."

Shinichi's statement wasn't just pure speculation.

The layout of the "leaflet" was very simple.

There were only a row of thick black characters at the top, and below were all photos, printed in full color, and each snapshot was very clear.

[Actual Notes of Asada Shinichi Adultery, Student Council President Cheating on Dozens of Women at Once! The real harem king!]

Photo secretly kissing Yotsuba in the corridor... Photo walking into a hotel with Nino...

Photo kissing Ichika at the station... photo mouth to mouth sharing a chocolate bar with Miku...

With Fumino, with Rizu, with Hayasaka...

There's even a photo of him confessing to them in class in the afternoon and handing over that small box to Mafuyu on the stairs. The small leaflet was almost filled, making it fascinating.

From then until now, from inside the school to outside the school, Shinichi's close contact with the girls was all photographed from various angles and printed on it.

Apparently, everyone who received the brochure was witnessing those scenes right now. For Shinichi, it was surely a "record" of precious memories.

Students, teachers, parents, people from all walks of life...

Imagining how many reactions and uproars it would cause made some of the girls present shudder.

Only Shinichi's expression remained calm, analyzing without any personal feelings:

"The puppeteer clearly planned it for a long time. What happened in the evening appeared on this sheet of inorganic paper within a few hours. It must have known my 'plan' for a long time, and hastily printed it afterward..."

"It also proves that the other party knows our intelligence very well, and they started monitoring us early on, even having these photos taken outside of school."

"At the same time, that person also has formidable power—"

Shinichi spoke in a low tone.

"At least considering the security level of Shuchi'in Academy, it's impossible for others to leak these things without permission."

He seemed like a death row convict with his hands and feet shackled by chains yet still showed no expression on his face.

"Intelligence capabilities and power like this in a school are surely several times more frightening than the 'Thorn Club'."

When Fumino heard this, she immediately stood up and shouted anxiously, "It wasn't Kashima-san and the others—"

"I know." Shinichi waved his hand for her to sit down and smiled helplessly.

"Although the photos in the church were taken from Kashima-san, it's impossible for her to do something like that even for you, Fumino."

"...Um, that's also what I think."

Patting her flat chest and heaving a relieved sigh, Fumino sat back down and shook the small hand extended by Rizu, only to find that her palm was covered in cold sweat.

Slightly frowning, Hayasaka analyzed with a cold expression: "The other party might have copied the photos from the memory card when Kashima-san wasn't paying attention, and then returned it without anyone noticing."

"During that time period, the only person who could approach the camera was a student from Class B. Ask Kashima-san and check monitors again. Maybe you can find something."

"However, we need to have time to do it."

"I've been lurking by your side for a long time. Not only the Thorn Club, but also the hidden relationship between me and the Shinomiya family hasn't been discovered... This person is very dangerous."

As she said this, her tone was slightly serious, and her eyes turned cold.

After all, she was the one who came first.

Precisely, when Shinichi first joined the student council, Hayasaka lurked around him on Kaguya's orders, gathering information about him.

She knew Shinichi earlier than anyone else, and in terms of the amount of information about him, not even Fumino could compete with her.

However, until this brochure fell, Hayasaka didn't know that there was another force targeting the man, let alone that photos of her and Shinichi being intimate were taken secretly and openly printed on it for all the teachers and students to see.

If someone else brought a gun instead of a camera, they might enter hell and they wouldn't even know who the killer was.

The worst could happen.

Compared to the family's reaction after learning about their relationship, what Hayasaka was concerned about now was the person she liked being targeted by dangerous people, yet as a maid, she hadn't fulfilled her responsibility at all.

She would never let something like this demean her professional dignity!

"Give me three days... No, two days, I can definitely find this scumbag!"

Hayasaka suppressed her emotions and spoke to Shinichi word by word.

Shinichi neither denied nor affirmed, just sighed lightly:

"Alright, let's divide the work and cooperate like this... But the most important thing now is how to calm the inevitable turmoil that will occur later. After all, those who saw this brochure are not only teachers and students, but also adults from all walks of life who came to play."

Chika seemed to be thinking:

"Does anyone believe that the photos... Asada-kun has bad behavior, and public opinion will overwhelm in a short time..."

Mafuyu crossed her arms in front of her chest, biting her thin red lips until they turned white, and muttered to herself:

"The other party just confirmed what Asada-kun has done. Even if he uses dirty methods like making secret films, as long as it arouses dislike towards Asada-kun, the goal will be achieved..."

Fumino added softly, "It's equivalent to adding fuel to the fire. Once everything is ready, just wait for the big waves to break the dam, and the puppeteer can watch a good show without doing anything."

"That's outrageous. Who would do such a thing..." Rizu was angry.

The group of younger sisters and the quintuplets were also discussing something quietly. After Shinichi listened for a while, he was ready to express his opinion.

At this moment, the rabbit ear headband on Yotsuba's head suddenly moved, she pulled out a bamboo stick from the unused oil paper bag in her pocket, flicked it at a speed that couldn't be clearly seen by anyone, and shot it towards the entrance.

"Who's there?"

Everyone stopped discussing at the same time, stood up one by one, and looked in that direction with anxious expressions, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"...Yes, it's me. Don't be impulsive. The old man is as fragile as a bamboo stick."

From behind the labyrinth wall, a strange old man with gray hair slowly emerged.

He raised his hands in a surrender position, shuffled his feet tremblingly, and stared at Yotsuba with fearful eyes.

"This is very scary. I didn't expect the girls at our school to be more frightening than Piccolo..."

Shinichi moved the corner of his mouth and complained without saying a word:

"The examples you give are too chronological."

"Principal."

The other girls couldn't help but exclaim, and Mafuyu looked at the old man slowly approaching them with a puzzled expression.

It was her boss, Adolfo Pescarolo, the principal of Shuchi'in Academy.

Because he was French, his surrender attitude was very standard, except for the white flag symbolizing friendship.

Adolfo cleared his throat and spoke sincerely.

"I know you want to ask me why I know you're here, and I also know you want to ask me why I'm here right now."

It seemed like he wanted to use this tongue twister to make them laugh, but after seeing them still staring at him nervously without even showing a smile, he said with a hint of sadness:

"I'm here just to deliver a letter to the student council president, and to inform you of the true identity of the mastermind behind the scenes... Facing the pitiful and powerless old man, you shouldn't do anything excessive, right?"

After saying that, he winked at them, and even pursed his lips pretending to be sad.

Everyone collectively shuddered, feeling quite disgusted, and the solemn atmosphere from earlier had disappeared.

Shinichi asked the others to sit down first, and as his representative, he stood in front of Adolfo.

"A letter for me? Was it written by the 'mastermind behind the scenes'?"

"That's right! Oh, that villain~"

Adolfo glanced briefly at the brochure on the table and couldn't help shaking his head and sighing:

"She's causing a big mess just out of her intentions. After living for so long, this is the first time I've seen a villain who only appears in comics."

"So, are you also her lackey? Principal." Shinichi revealed the truth without considering the meaning of the word "intentional".

Adolfo was not embarrassed at all, but rather shrugged his shoulders like a victim:

"I didn't want to, but she gave me too much... No, her abilities and power I couldn't refuse, so I just gave her the green light and sent the letter to her without telling the president~"

"You just let it happen! Isn't this just a dirty deal?" Nino complained, and then realized something strange like the others.

"Her?"

According to the rules, the girls shifted their sharp gaze towards Shinichi, full of murderous intent.

Shinichi quickly raised his hand and took on the same surrender posture as Adolfo earlier.

"I swear I didn't do it! Besides you, I really didn't fool around with women outside, and I don't know anyone who has such terrible power!"

Although Moeha accidentally fell into the group of "you." no one paid attention to such trivial matters at the moment, but continued to stare suspiciously at Shinichi from top to bottom.

After all, when it came to provoking women, this man had no right to say anything, and he had no credibility at all.

"Ehehehe, is this a teenage drama? I didn't have this kind of beauty decades ago. You truly deserve to be the student council president in our school~"

Adolfo who was watching, laughed cheerfully, without any feeling of breaking the murder scene.

"I don't want to raise the curiosity rate. Let's finish explaining this issue as soon as possible and let you handle external matters."

When everyone shifted their attention to him, the old man pretended to cough and said to Shinichi with a serious expression:

"Although I don't know the relationship between you and her, that person has been watching you since you entered the school. Since April of this year, she has been personally supervising the labyrinth garden, the student council study room, the student council room, etc. She used the power of the council to allow you to participate in various activities at school, and continuously gather information about you in the darkness."

Hearing this, Hayasaka narrowed her eyes, quickly surveyed her surroundings, and swiftly took the camera from among the flowers on the labyrinth wall.

"In the end, she also led the incident that put you in a reputation crisis, just to make you accept this 'test,' no matter what the cost, she is so relentless to the point of being scary."

"I'm afraid everyone here has heard all kinds of terrible deeds about her, not just her specific information that remains a mystery, even our teaching and school staff are reluctant to mention her name too much."

Adolfo suddenly remembered something and looked meaningfully at Mafuyu:

"Kirisu-sensei, you've never seen her, right?"

Mafuyu was stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened in shock: "Could it be that you're talking about—!?"

"Yes, it's her. It feels strange to say that she seems to deliberately avoid you. She won't appear whenever you're around."

"This..." Mafuyu opened her mouth, full of confusion, not knowing how to express her current mood.

Nino couldn't hold back anymore and stepped forward, saying, "Um, can you stop playing riddles? Principal, you just said that you're not interested in us, but now you're mentioning so many irrelevant things..."

Adolfo smiled and stroked his beard.

"It's not irrelevant~ What I'm saying is what she wants Asada-kun to hear."

"Is that so."

Shinichi frowned and spoke.

Some of the girls exclaimed "Huh?" and looked at him with surprise.

And he ignored the movements around him, only staring at the principal, and spoke with a very confident tone:

"She's the First Rank, right? But I might not know her or have ever talked to her."

Adolfo shrugged, it didn't matter to him.

"I don't know her either. But she said you might understand after reading the letter."

"Yes..." Shinichi took a deep breath.

"By the way about the First Rank..." Itsuki gently bit her thumb and murmured as she thought, "The person who gets perfect scores every time, I remember her name is..."

"Enoshima Junko." Mafuyu answered with a complicated expression, "She..."

"No, that must be a fake name."

Shinichi shook his head, took out phone, and opened the browser as he spoke.

"Why did I notice it now... No, I should have unconsciously avoided the past, and I don't remember much about the books I've read, let alone just played once and taken by those people."

He muttered to himself and scrolled down the search results. He didn't see any information about the "Danganronpa" series and the name "Enoshima Junko." so he put down phone.

There was a vague suspicion in his mind. Although it was hard to believe, Holmes once said: if all impossibilities are eliminated, then the remaining possibility, no matter how strange, must be an undeniable fact.

Evidence that could conclusively prove this fact could be found in this letter.

"Shinichi-kun, did you find something?" Fumino approached him and saw him using his finger to break the sealing wax and pull out the paper from the envelope, and asked:

"Why is 'Enoshima Junko' a pseudonym? Does it have any connection to the game?"

Shinichi responded softly and calmly, surprising Miku enough to slightly open her mouth.

"Enoshima Junko is the ultimate villain in a game called 'Danganronpa' that doesn't exist in this world. Her title is [Super High School Level Despair]."

It might be distasteful to others, or perhaps a reminder specifically prepared for him.

Moreover, the only game Shinichi was allowed to play in that environment was "Danganronpa."

Although the intricacies and memories of completing levels could only be understood by carefully recalling them, the basic impressions of the protagonist and villain in the game were like forgetting the plot details of Naruto but knowing Naruto and Pain.

So where did this "First Rank" person learn about this?

"In this world?"

"In the damaged projectile?"

"Super High School Level Despair?"

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, not knowing what he was talking about.

Miku vaguely guessed, only staring at Shinichi's profile, with a hint of hidden concern in her eyes.

Without paying attention to their reactions, Shinichi opened the letter, and Fumino, beside him, also temporarily set aside her doubts and looked up to see.

She saw the white letter paper containing beautiful words, not following a strict format, but arranged casually like leaving a note.

Rather than its contents, Fumino first noticed the peculiarity of handwriting, and involuntarily exclaimed:

"This handwriting looks similar to Shinichi-kun's..."

Hearing her words, Hayasaka and Itsuki also stepped forward, their expressions slightly changed.

"It's not just similar, it's basically the same..."

"The hook after the character 'ふ' is Shinichi-kun's habit, and this 'み,' even the way of writing kanji characters... Is it a coincidence?"

"Let me see!"

The three of them moved away from Shinichi so everyone could see the contents of the letter.

They also noticed at the same time, as their eyes passed through the lines of words, Shinichi's brows furrowed deeper, and his fingers involuntarily used strength to crush the letter paper.

△

[Asada Shinichi, do you remember the tips I gave you?

I hope you won't forget the painful, lonely, and cold memories of the past. Without them, you wouldn't appreciate the present so much.

Let's get back to the topic. Unlike you, I'm not one to talk nonsense.

—I failed, we all failed.

Whatever the result, you won't gain happiness or smiles, you will always walk alone on this path.

Of course, I love learning, but why can't I learn how to fall in love?

Is it because of the same gender? No, even though they are they, we still missed it until the end.

Is it because there's simply no remedy for us? No, that's not true, because you're still here.

No.4369 [Asada Shinichi], you changed our fate and achieved the ending we dreamed of in a way I still can't understand.

It made people happy, but it also made them envious... Why? Why?

[Asada Shinichi] at No. 4368 and [Asada Mako] at No. 5631 – a total of 9999 of you asked this question.

Like you reading this letter, we all feel incomprehensible and disbelieving of something.

So, I tried to find evidence, I searched for "reasons" that convinced myself enough, and I tried to learn even though it's late.

This is the meaning of our lives, you should understand, right?

That's why [No. 1] arranged this "experiment"... Although this is not the first time I've disturbed parallel space and time, I thought you should be able to give me a different surprise.

Because in the past six months, you've allowed me to witness miracles.

You're the one who told me that I can also enjoy happy moments like that, instead of shrinking under the covers, unwilling to face their sad expressions and losses, and ending up alone.

Although scoundrels will surely die, sooner or later they will be pierced by a spear.

But, I have to say... It's good.

Can I see the future I want in the future? Can you bear the responsibility to make them all happy?

—An equal exchange, use this trial to prove your worth!

If you pass, I will give you all the assets I've accumulated in this world.

If you fail, I will go to [my next self]. Your future pain has nothing to do with me.

Because I'm much stronger than you now, so you have no room to refuse and can only accept it obediently.

Are you angry?

If you're angry, finish that event perfectly and then come to me.

It's okay to hit me, scold me, or even kill me, but never think about taking me to your harem, no one likes watching self-defense dramas.

I believe you can change the ending of despair, just like you believe in yourself.

Therefore, I will give you all nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine hopes.

Asada Shinichi, I hope you can become a real and unique miracle.

...By the way, help me apologize to Miku and the others.

Then, it's truly enjoyable to see their smiles again!]

△

"I love you? This!"

Before the girls next to him finished reading, Shinichi crushed the letter into easily flammable trash while smiling cynically.

"You're just trash who talks to yourself. Are you really fooling yourself like that?!"

And this overly pretentious tone was truly familiar!

How could he convince himself that "such a thing couldn't happen"?

He was not only forced to undergo an inexplicable trial, but also forced to incorporate science fiction settings like "parallel worlds" into the beautiful and peaceful everyday world.

Shinichi wanted to immediately meet the mastermind who wrote the letter, grab his hair, and say:

"If you're sick, take your medicine and don't disturb other people's romantic comedies!"

Next to the Sakura Pavilion, the atmosphere suddenly became very strange.

Seeing him grit his teeth, the girls who hardly understood the contents of the letter blinked blankly. After exchanging glances, they spoke hesitantly:

"Um, Shinichi-kun..."

"Shinichi-san..."

"Shinichi-kun..."

"Shinichi-san..."

"Asada-kun..."

"Shinichi..."

"Shinichi..."

"Onii-chan..."

"Senpai..."

The clear and cheerful voices overlapping helped Shinichi calm himself from depression and sadness.

He tucked the letter into a crumpled ball in his pocket, lifted his gaze, and looked at the cute, beautiful, mature, or childish faces around him.

They looked at him, and those eyes seemed filled with warmth, making his heart always beat so warm and energetic.

Although his mind was still full of confusion, as [No.1] stated in the letter, Shinichi undoubtedly was much happier than most people in the world right now.

With so many emotions, could he bring them to the other side of happiness?

Shinichi became calm.

—That person clearly conducted some kind of trial like a scam because of lack of confidence.

A group of idiots who don't even know how to fall in love, still want to entrust their hopes to him?

Truly perplexing. If you have spare time, you'd better learn quickly!

"It's nothing. I only know the identity and purpose of the mastermind. It won't help us with what we'll do next."

After Shinichi adjusted his glasses and answered their questions, he glanced at the principal who was watching the show, turned around, and walked back to the Sakura Pavilion.

"I will inform you of the specific situation after this matter is resolved. Let's continue the meeting now and make sure this storm is overcome as quickly as possible."

As he spoke, he stopped and half-turned.

"Do you trust me?"

Everyone was stunned.

Immediately, without hesitation, the pleasant voices sounded again, and they all said to him:

"Of course!"

Shinichi couldn't help but laugh.

Concealing an overly happy expression on his face, he turned and looked at the December moonlit sky outside the pavilion.

The dead branches reflected the dark starry night, the gentle breeze echoed everywhere, and the cold air seeped into every corner of the labyrinth garden.

It was in stark contrast to the warm spring scenery in April and the fluttering cherry blossoms.

Shinichi liked to have lunch here.

He liked the feeling of being alone, as if the entire cherry blossom forest and warm spring scenery belonged to him alone.

However, this was extraordinary.

Although he was no longer lonely now, he still liked this place and the Sakura Pavilion with everyone.

He liked this world and this life, he liked learning, and he even liked falling in love more.

Shinichi lowered his gaze and looked at the brochure full of many memories on the table, feeling nostalgic.

In this journey of learning, even if you're alone, as long as you work hard to study, work hard to love, and work hard to keep growing...

In the end, there will come a time when there will be a lot of noise.

"If you exchange your sincerity, you will receive your sincerity in return."

Sorry, this is not an equal exchange.

It's just a [miracle] that will continue from the beginning of the story to the end of the life for an idiot who keeps moving forward to learn how to love.

"Well, I have to start getting busy again~"

Shinichi turned his stiff neck and sat on the stone chair effortlessly. He waved to the still-dazed girls and said with a smile:

"Since you said you trust me, then don't worry and just relax!"

"I already have an initial idea. Let's discuss it."

"If nothing goes wrong, this issue will be resolved within three days, and I will be the first to win."

"Ah, Principal, you may return. There's nothing you need to do here."

Adolfo looked surprised: "Am I just an old man?! That's outrageous. The school didn't teach you respect like this towards teachers!"

Shinichi spread his hands: "The school didn't teach me that the principal would collude with other students to trap the student council president in our school."

"Oh, is that so..."

Turning his face with a guilty feeling, Adolfo said nothing more, touched his beard, and left the Sakura Pavilion.

"Phew..."

"Hahahaha~"

After he left, some of the girls finally couldn't hold back their laughter, and the laughter seemed contagious, causing Hayasaka, Mafuyu, and others who were tense before to gradually relax.

The cheerful atmosphere slowly warmed up the Sakura Pavilion in the harsh winter.

Seeing the smiles on their faces, Shinichi couldn't help but remember the last paragraph of the letter.

He pursed his lips in disgust:

"Who wants to send a message to the enemy..."

"If you want to apologize, just come and say it in front of them!"

If it's [Asada Shinichi]... [Asada Mako], it's okay, if the First Rank is truly [her].

Apologizing repeatedly for hurting them is pointless; you must still stay with me and spend the rest of your life repaying them!

Anyway, the smiles on their faces.

It's Shinichi who's willing to chase miracles in his life.

E.N.D