Chapter 23: Did You Really Betray Us, Mr. Kagura!

"Hello, I would like to interview..."

"I refuse."

"But..."

"I refuse."

Facing the aggressive Society Discussion Meeting, Chiyoko Ayakoji wasted no time mourning her social demise and immediately rushed to the battlefield — the "No interviews" free pass!

Kagura Hikaru definitely didn't want to make the same mistake as Ai Cheng Hua Lian of talking too much and getting it wrong, and decided he wouldn't give them any material to work with.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

"We..."

With a demeanor that showed he wasn't listening, Kagura Hikaru coldly pushed past those so-called reporters and quickly left the classroom.

"President, this..."

"What are you waiting for, chase him!"

The members of the Society Discussion Meeting hurriedly followed him but soon lost sight of him in the corridor downstairs.

The members split up to search but regrouped shortly after without any success.

One member asked confusingly, "President, Kagura Hikaru isn't cooperating, what do we do?"

The girl, referred to as the president and a senior, was biting her nails as she muttered darkly, "He won't say anything... Fine, there are ways to write about non-cooperation too."

She revealed a confident smile.

Did they really think they couldn't fabricate news just because he didn't say anything? Naive.

Journalists are not so easily defeated!

The next day, in the Society Discussion Meeting Daily:

[Reporter A: "Today our target is Kagura, a first-year student. Reliable sources indicate that he is very likely the bullying victim of Kiryu, the Student Council President."]

[Reporter B: "I heard he's quite a handsome guy."]

[During lunch break, our reporters rushed to Kagura's class with a sincere desire to interview him but faced a firm refusal. His attitude was very strong, showing a great aversion to being interviewed. He even ran away in the midst of speaking, disappearing after rushing down the stairs.]

[Afterward, we learned from his classmates that on the day the bullying incident occurred, Kagura left early after lunch break for unknown reasons.]

[Other multiple witnesses claimed they saw a male student resembling Kagura covered in yogurt on his head and body, entering the restroom to wash his hair, possibly a victim of bullying.]

[This inevitably leads our reporters to suspect.]

[After three days of following the story, we can briefly disengage the entire process.]

[About seven days ago, Kiryu, the Student Council President, was suspected of bullying a fellow student.]

[On the day of the incident, Kagura, a first-year student, left early during lunch break, with yogurt poured all over him.]

[Classmate Ai Cheng, a sophomore, vigorously denied the rumors, but his expression flickered, suggesting something hidden.]

[The suspected bullying victim, first-year student Kagura, refused interviews and even fled the scene.]

[The truth becomes increasingly elusive, but our reporters will continue to provide follow-up coverage.]

This isn't 'elusive'; it's clearly insinuating!

When this issue of the Society Discussion Meeting Daily came out, it immediately caused a huge uproar, much more severe than when it was merely rumored.

Bullying, bullying, bullying!

This is a sensitive topic that should not be mentioned in schools, yet it keeps getting linked with the outwardly perfect image of the Student Council President.

The corruption of a clean politician, the criminal tax evasion by a charity star, and the moral monk's affair—just like how good people do dirty deeds behind closed doors, the contrast between hypocrisy and the dark truth is the topic that the public is most enthusiastic about.

Therefore, Hina Kiryu was once again thrust into the crucible of public scrutiny.

"No matter what you do, it seems it's wrong."

Back in the usual Kafka Cafe, Kagura Hikaru sipped his coffee, "The Society Discussion Meeting group are indeed very skilled."

Sitting across from him, Ai Cheng Hua Lian fiercely stirred her coffee cup, "That reporter from the Society Discussion Meeting, constantly making up stuff about me, taking things out of context—it's infuriating!"

The two being seen together outside school, having what seemed like a date in a cafe, of course, was due to only one reason—

Society Discussion Meeting daily.

The recent edition of the Society Discussion Meeting daily on the 'Student Council President bullying incident' not only put Kiryu Hina through the wringer but also left Ayakoji Chiyoko and Kagura Hikaru, the two related parties, with no peace.

Since the interview report was published, they had been looked at with unusual eyes by their classmates every day.

Although the newspaper used pseudonyms like 'the second-year student Ai Cheng' and 'the first-year student Kagura', it had narrowed it down to the grade level, which was almost the same as naming them!

Kagura Hikaru even received pity snacks from the girls in his class, a testament to how severe the incident was.

These people completely regarded him as a victim.

And Ayakoji Chiyoko was automatically recognized as 'a poor and frail high school girl threatened by the Student Council President', being advised daily by those around her to make an official report to the Disciplinary Committee to clear the air.

To outsiders, the current situation seemed extremely bizarre.

The school generally believed the bullying rumors were highly credible.

And the public opinion led by the Society Discussion Meeting was indeed correct; the bullying incident had indeed occurred. Kagura Hikaru was splashed with yogurt, and Ayakoji Chiyoko was personally persuaded by the Student Council President to refrain from reporting it.

However, whether it was Kagura Hikaru or Ayakoji Chiyoko, both knew the 'true story' behind it all, so they did not feel like victims at all, but rather, they considered Kiryu Hina to be the most persecuted party.

Ayakoji Chiyoko's anger towards the Society Discussion Meeting could clearly be seen spilling over from her face.

Now, the Society Discussion Meeting, or rather, President Ayakoji, planned to bring down the prestige of Kiryu Hina to the common dust, their schemes making a loud clatter, even counting them into the equation and turning it into a part of the public opinion battle.

If things continued this way, Kiryu Hina might truly...

Kagura Hikaru: "This place's coffee really has a pure taste."

Ayakoji Chiyoko: "Mr. Kagura, could you please be a little nervous!"

Looking at someone whose eyes revealed no understanding, she lowered her head in defeat, "Can we only obediently wait for this to pass."

"Perhaps."

"Hmm, but if so, President Hina is really pitiful....."

Click.

Kagura Hikaru put down his coffee cup.

"Just by our words, it's indeed impossible to turn public opinion. But if this road is blocked, another might open; perhaps there's another way."

"Mr. Kagura~~"

Ayakoji Chiyoko's eyes lit up with hope.

Indeed, although she felt powerless, Kagura Hikaru's intelligence was evident, and once he took action, he might definitely turn the tide!

"Mr. Kagura said that the Society Discussion Meeting is controlled by President Ayakoji behind the scenes, right?" Ayakoji Chiyoko adorably clenched her fists, "I will also help, we must stop her evil plan, Mr. Kagura!"

Ring~

"Welcome to Kafka Cafe, what would you like to order?"

"A cup of Maruyama Coffee."

A somewhat familiar voice came from behind.

Then the sound of footsteps approached.

Ayakoji Chiyoko's face showed a horrified expression, she froze for a second, her neck creaked stiffly, and then, she watched as President Ayakoji walked past her, pulled out a chair, and sat next to Kagura Hikaru.

With an air of ease, she crossed her legs and folded her arms across her chest, like a queen descending into the common area, the kind that would torment the commoners.

Even in a school uniform, that cruel nobility could still be felt through her gaze, movements, and tone, clashing with the surrounding environment.

"I thought I just heard something about an 'evil plan'."

Ayakoji Chiyoko sat upright, sweating profusely, obediently still: "You must have heard wrong."

"Is that so..." President Ayakoji appeared indifferent, "So, what exactly did you call me here to talk about?"

Creak, creak, Ayakoji Chiyoko moved her neck, looking blankly towards Kagura Hikaru.

Then she saw her supposed comrade in arms, who put his elbows on the table, folded his arms, and turned to President Ayakoji to speak:

"Let's take down Kiryu Hina together, I look forward to working with you."

Is this your way of fighting evil, Mr. Kagura?!?!!