Chapter 21: Scandal

"This is..."

They were in complete shock when Minoru presented his report on Ishigami Yu, in which he firmly concluded that Yu was entirely innocent.

[With this report, I recommend that Ishigami Yu be allowed to enroll at Shuchi'in High School without any impediments. I propose the Shuchi'in Middle School faculty issue an apology for their incorrect judgment in the incident and provide compensation to Ishigami Yu for the psychological distress he has endured...]

"Finally..." Minoru said calmly, his gaze half-lidded as he fixed his eyes on the trio, "Your expressions are finally changing," But he wasn't done.

"...solid evidence regarding Ishigami Yu's stalking incident. I still have more evidence, but it's rather unpleasant to watch."

When Minoru had taken on this responsibility, his top priority had been compiling this report from his thorough investigation.

The rumor had circulated that Ishigami was stalking his friend, Otomo Kyoko, and her ex-boyfriend had framed him out of jealousy after Ishigami had soundly struck him in front of a crowd.

However, the truth was; that Ishigami Yu was furious because Ogino Ko had recorded his sex with Kyoko and planned to use it as a stepping stone for his career in the entertainment world.

How did Minoru manage to do it?

Before he killed Murdoch Swan, he had already planned all the shit he'd done as the head of school affairs. Consequently, he worked so fast that everyone was shocked about it.

To simplify, he had taken it from Ogino Ko's computer memory disk, which he 'found' in Ogino Ko's bedroom. Once in possession of the video, he discreetly auctioned it on the black market by using Ogino Ko's name and then purchased it back at the highest bid to prevent its wider dissemination.

'The principal won't give a shit, he'll probably throw me a party for squashing academy scandal, instead of giving a damn about where I snagged that video. But, I've got no reason to spill anything to these three. Anyway...'

Minoru glanced over at Kaguya, her eyes focused intently on her tightly clenched fist in her lap.

"Shinomiya Kaguya."

His voice sliced through the air like a chill wind, and her expression seemed to silently question him. How could he possibly do this?

"Does this satisfy your curiosity?"

His words dripped with a sense of triumph.

Kaguya found herself at a loss for words, her expectations completely shattered.

'Isn't he just a new teacher and recently appointed as the head of school affairs?'

Her pupils quivered as she met his intense gaze, eventually lowering her eyes once more. She wasn't alone; no one dared to look up.

"Y-Yes, Sensei..." She stammered.

"Do you acknowledge your disrespectful behavior, interrupting me without even hearing me out due to your foolish prejudices and arrogance?"

"Y-Y-Yes..."

Kaguya bit her lip. She couldn't find any words to defend her arrogance. It was a harsh realization that this man was nothing like Murdoch Swan, a harsh slap to her pride.

Her cold-hearted father had once told her...

'I'm not interested in you, Kaguya...'

This resounding defeat triggered painful memories from her harsh childhood, where her father had always regarded her with cold indifference. She had tried everything to gain his attention, but he remained uninterested.

'Tch!'

Kaguya fought back tears as Minoru's gaze seemed to mirror her father's.

"For your behavior towards a teacher, which can be considered an act of rebellion against the teacher's authority, I could punish you..."

A warning was nothing unusual for students, but this was Shinomiya Kaguya, and no one had ever thought she would receive one. Even Miyuki and Chika were surprised by Minoru, the newly appointed head of school affairs, giving Kaguya a warning on his first day.

"As the head of school affairs, it is my duty to discipline students, and a penalty can be considered as one option. However..."

Minoru looked at them, particularly Kaguya, and sighed internally while maintaining his composed posture.

'Did I come off that damn intimidating? Why the hell did she have to act like that? If she'd just asked politely, I wouldn't have had to spill this shit. I ain't want the rumor to spread that the new head of school affairs was a pushover.'

Miyuki and Chika waited patiently, wanting to argue that it wasn't Kaguya's fault alone. They admitted to their own biases in thinking that Minoru was like Swan, yet, he wasn't.

"It wouldn't be fair if I immediately penalized you without giving you a chance to correct your mistake. After all, you have a flawless record as a model student, and that would be unjust. Therefore, I will let this slide for now..."

"Thank you, Sensei..."

Kaguya pride stinging.

She felt Minoru's pity, but she had no right to refuse since she was in the wrong from the beginning.

'Phew... I'm glad.'

'It seems Sensei is a good person. I'm glad! And I'm sorry for my biased thoughts, Yanagi-sensei!'

Miyuki and Chika whispered to themselves, and now their perspectives on Minoru completely transformed.

"Now that I've shown you a little of the school's scandal, I hope you'll keep this information to yourselves."

They nodded silently in agreement.

"Good. You're already aware of an important event taking place in a few days. I trust that the student council will cooperate as they usually do to ensure its success without any issues."

"Yes, Sensei. Please take care of us from now on." 3x

After that discussion, Minoru used the opportunity to delve into the details of the upcoming event, and in the process, he managed to gain their trust. But what mattered most was that Minoru had made such a strong impression that it had become etched into their souls.

---

Minoru abruptly turned on his heels and strode off toward the teacher's room without uttering a word. Miyuki and Chika, finally feeling a sigh of relief, took in the fresh air.

"I guess we finally have a job to do," Miyuki trying to lighten the mood. Kaguya cracked a smile in response.

"Let's discuss our plan before we meet Yanagi-sensei again, okay?"

Kaguya suggested, even though it was already afternoon.

The three of them nodded as they made their way to the Student Council room together. However, they couldn't help but worry about Kaguya after what had happened earlier. With a concerned expression, Chika couldn't hold back her question.

"Kaguya-san, ar-are you okay?"

Kaguya looked at her, a faint smile on her face.

"Yes, I'm fine, Fujiwara-san..."

Despite the painful memories that had resurfaced. Kaguya didn't let on that she was hurting.

"As expected from Kaguya-san!"

Kaguya just smiled as Chika praised her.

'If it were me... sniff! I'd probably be in tears under Yanagi-sensei's pressure.'

Chika felt relieved, and even Miyuki, who was walking ahead, shared the sentiment as he eavesdropped on their conversation.

"Sigh," he mused.

'Yet another formidable rival. Well, he's a teacher, not a rival, but he's only twenty this year. Why does this have to happen now? I need to step up my plan to grab Shinomiya's attention.'

Miyuki had already felt defeated upon seeing Minoru alone. Unlike him, who had yet to graduate from high school, Miyuki was shocked to discover that Minoru had earned a Ph.D. from Oxford at the age of nineteen. Wasn't that what some people admired in a person?

On the other hand, Kaguya was determined.

'I'll show him what I'm capable of...'

Although she was a genius, facing that man had made her feel like an ordinary student for the first time. But she was determined to change that. She would remember this defeat and use it as fuel to excel at the Welcome Ceremony event.

'Let's finish the paperwork before heading home...'

Unbeknownst to Minoru, he had unknowingly sparked a fire in Kaguya's eyes and captured her attention.

---

On March 29, 2014, just three days before the welcome ceremony, Minoru dropped a bombshell on the principal.

"Th-Th-This is...!"

The revelation left Principal Henry stunned, and Minoru was worried that Henry might have a heart attack.

Minoru took a seat across from Henry, who began perusing the files he had gathered about Ishigami Yu. There was also a disk containing a video of the incident, but Henry, convinced of Minoru's credibility, didn't bother asking how he had obtained it. He clutched onto that disk as if the entire fate of the Academy depended on it.

The expression on Henry's face shifted from shock to intense anger as he grappled with the reality that the student previously regarded as a villain was, in fact, the true hero who had become a victim.

"Yanagi-sensei, I need to have a word with the CEO, so please wait for a moment. But keep in mind, you have my full support in bringing this boy to our school," Henry declared.

"I understand." 

Minoru was aware that this revelation was a massive blow to the Academy's reputation. With a nod, Minoru left the room.

---

Time slipped away.

"Huff..."

Alone on the rooftop, he figured he might as well light up while he waited.

'So far, so good. Let's just hope Ishigami Yu decides to enroll here...'

With that thought, he took a drag on his cigarette, but he sure as heck didn't expect the rooftop door to creak open. He closed his eyes and tuned into the footsteps approaching, trying to guess who it was. Considering the situation and the fact that he'd just resolved a massive School Affairs crisis, Minoru had a pretty good hunch.

"Just as I expected from our super rookie," Sae's footsteps slowed down, and she gave him a once-over with her arms folded beneath her chest, "Looks like my recommendation was spot-on."

Minoru crushed the cigarette and shot her a glance.

"What's this about the CEO's decision?"

Sae didn't respond immediately. Instead, she pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

"You probably already know how they reacted..."

Sae flashed back to that meeting with Sumiragi Rikka and the principals from Shuchi'in Middle School and High School. The CEO was so mad it felt like they could've snapped someone's neck right then and there.

"Anyway... Huff..."

Sae pulled out an envelope and handed it over to Minoru.

"The CEO decided to give Ishigami Yu a full-ride scholarship and refund his Middle School fees to his parents. If he opts for Shuchi'in University, they're offering the same deal. Even if he decides to study abroad, they'll still do the same..."

Minoru nodded and accepted the envelope. He planned on handing it to Ishigami Yu himself. He took another drag of his cigarette, and Sae couldn't help but look at the guy who was shaking the school to its core with his achievements. She couldn't deny a twinge of envy.

"How'd you pull it off?"

"I don't get what you're asking."

"Don't play the fool. How did you uncover this scandal?"

Minoru's lazy gaze said he didn't feel obligated to say anything.

"I had my methods."

As the smoke drifted from his lips, Sae couldn't help but chuckle at his predictable response.

Their interactions were limited to work, even when they were up on the rooftop smoking like this.

The two weren't personally close, and he was aware that Sae saw him as a competitor. Therefore, she never tried to be friendly; instead, she aimed to outperform him.

Yet, he did the unexpected.

Now, the CEO had her eyes on him with interest, knowing that it would be difficult for her to become the principal if the situation stayed the same.

"Yanagi-san, how about joining my side?"

Minoru didn't expect it.

'So, she finally decided to pull me in, huh?'

Had this woman finally let go of her pride and said those words to him? After all, there's no such thing as an eternal enemy. An enemy today might become a friend tomorrow, or maybe not.

"What will I get from it?"

He didn't trust anyone here, but he wanted to know what Sae would offer if she wanted to collaborate.

"If I become principal next year, maybe I'll give you the vice principal position if you're interested."

"Oh... and?"

Minoru wasn't interested in that position. However, he realized that this might be why she was wary of him. Perhaps he also had the same goal of becoming principal before her, and Henry might be considering him as a candidate.

'Crap! Don't tell me Henry's question was also about this shit?'

Minoru remembered when Henry suddenly asked him about the qualities an educator should have. At the time, he thought it was some sort of test.

'Hahahaha! Fuck, let's hope nothing happens.'

This was outside his control, and he couldn't lower his work quality to become a low-key teacher. Anyway, he just needed to decline if they asked him to become one.

'Sigh, I knew it...'

Judging by his tone, Minoru was not interested at all.

'Tch! Does he not consider me a big threat? Just how low does he see me?'

Sae was never a threat to Minoru, but she had a knack for distracting him with her melons, like right now as he tried not to be drawn to her exposed chest. Minoru, being the kind of guy he was, found it intriguing to conquer women like Chabashira Sae. However, he was now a family man.

'No. Even after her mommy kissed me yesterday, Ruby still hates me. Damn, I'm really a dad now, huh?'

Given his family situation and newfound dad mindset, he abandoned his 'adventurous' spirit for a more stable path. Sae sensed that Minoru wasn't interested in this topic, so she decided to dangle a juicier offer.

"One question."

Minoru nodded.

"Are you gay?"

He opened his eyes and shot her an unamused look, making Sae shiver under his dangerous gaze. Did he really need to prove that he wasn't?

"I like women only."

"A-Ah, is that so? I'm glad, then..."

Sae cleared her throat and continued, "Here's the thing. I promise to treat you well. For instance, how about a daily blow job under your desk?"

Minoru inner soul was screaming, what the fuck?

And more than that, he was dumbfounded as she said that with a straight face and tone.

'That was a genius move...'

There's a wise saying that goes, "Adult problems sometimes require adult solutions." However, there's also a quote from the bald man in the american muscle, "Family! motherfucker."

'Huh, man. I'm excited as fuck. Apparently, Being a dad isn't as easy as it seems...'

Minoru didn't want his family beat the shit outta him.

'Yet, it's funny...'

He imagined that strict Chabashira Sae willingly sneaked under his desk every day to "polish his weapon." He didn't care about her offer and he wasn't going to lecture her about morality either. As he was, in fact, also a deviant.

"Chabashira-san, are you aware that I've been digging into an Academy scandal, and this could be a new one?"

"I was aware of that. I'm just suggesting we become friends with benefits. So, what do you think?"

Her cheeks turned red, and she closed her eyes, annoyed.

Sae was a woman who didn't open her legs easily. Sae is also an ambitious woman, as she is uninterested in romance but keenly aware of men's desires. So, she'd use this tactic to her advantage. However, despite her provocative proposition, she had little experience in adult things. She'd been approached by a lot of lecherous guys offering substantial incentives, but she always refused them.

It was challenging to think of anything else to offer, as Minoru seemed to have everything, including money, but...

'I'm confident in my looks, and if it's him, I'd be fine with it...'

Minoru was actually Sae's type, and Her proposition hit two birds with one stone.

"Sorry, I refuse."

Minoru's voice was cold. He walked away from her without a care for the conversation, knowing that by rejecting her, they were now close to becoming enemies.

"Uh, um, I see."

Sae remained calm, taking a drag from her cigarette and exhaling smoke, her eyes narrowing as she looked out at the school garden.

"Sigh, what's this uneasy feeling? Am I not that attractive?"

Sae finally admitted these words as Minoru disappeared from the rooftop. She wasn't angry, but she didn't understand why he had rejected her sincere offer. Nevertheless, Sae was determined to make him pay for rejecting her.

---

A/N:

Hohoho~! Aren't things becoming more intense?

2,729 words mf!

Is this too long? How is the story pacing? I still need some antagonist for the upcoming plot, maybe a bit of drama. Haha, what are your thoughts?

Don't take this seriously okay? I read comments that he should become a degenerated man... should he? 😂