Chapter 3 Part II

After school, the class divided into groups to meet up with people and ask around. However, there weren't that many helping to search for an eyewitness. Hirata and Karuizawa led the Hero & Gal Team, while Kushida led the Beautiful Girl & Entourage Team. They intended to search the campus themselves. Even so, it'd be difficult to get results in such a short span of time.

There were around 400 students in this school. Even if you left out everyone from class 1-D, it wouldn't make a big difference. Finding everyone would still be difficult even if you included break times, lunch, after class, and early morning.

"All right, I'm going to the dorms."

"Are you really heading back? Horikita-san?"

Horikita nodded without hesitation, and promptly left the classroom, just as one would expect. She didn't quail under everyone's gazes, which all expressed variations on "You're leaving?" She would probably grow up to be a fierce woman, the type that leaves social outings without reading the room and concludes meetings exactly on time.

"Well then…"

If Horikita's tactic was to stride out of the classroom with confidence, mine was the opposite. I tried to slip into the shadows.

"Ayanokouji-kun."

I had tried to exit stealthily through the classroom. I'd tried to be swift as a ninja, but had been discovered. Kushida stopped me in my tracks, a slight hint of unease in her voice.

"What? Do you need something?" I asked.

I'm sorry, Kushida. I'm going to steel my heart and refuse your invitation. And then I'll go back to the dorms.

"You will…help us out, won't you?" she asked.

"Of course."

I couldn't refuse. Slightly upturned eyes + pleading = lethal. I couldn't help but feel like Kushida was controlling me. Irresistible. No matter how someone might resolve not to fall asleep, for example, they would still drift away after 24 to 48 hours, tops. Sooner or later, no matter the person's willpower, they'd exhaust themselves. In other words, everyone has their breaking point. It's a human mechanism.

After I was done excusing myself, Kushida made a suggestion.

"I want to get Horikita-san to help us out this time. Can you try asking her again?"

"But she already left."

They'd failed to stop her mere moments before. Was it already time for revenge?

"Yeah. I want to chase after her. If Horikita-san helps, I think she'll make a big difference."

"Well, I can't argue with you there."

"If we take the time to convince her, do you think we'll have a chance?"

If she wanted to try again, I didn't really have a right to stop her. I nodded.

"Ike-kun, Yamauchi-kun, could you two please wait here? We'll be back right away," Kushida said.

"Okay!" the boys chorused.

You certainly couldn't claim those two were friendly with Horikita. Kushida seemed to notice that.

"Let's go."

Kushida took my arm, and we left together. What in the world was this unprecedented feeling of elation? For some reason, I thought I heard Ike and Yamauchi angrily yelling at me, but it must've been my imagination. Heh.

By the time we'd made it to the building's entrance, Horikita was nowhere to be found. I thought she'd probably left. She wasn't the type to stop for anything, so she probably headed straight towards the dorms. I made my way past students putting on their shoes, getting ready to go home. Most people strolled in groups of two or more as they headed back, but I glimpsed a lone figure walking with confidence. It was Horikita.

"Horikita-san."

I hesitated, but Horikita responded at once.

"What is it?"

Apparently she hadn't thought we'd chase after her. She turned, looking surprised.

"I really want you to help us with Sudou's case. Is that possible?"

"I thought I already declined? A few minutes ago, no less." Horikita shrugged, as if expressing how idiotic she found us.

"I know you did, but…but, I think this is necessary to reach Class A."

"Necessary to reach Class A, hmm?"

Horikita looked unconvinced. She didn't seem to be listening to Kushida.

"You're free to run about for Sudou-kun's sake. I've no right to stop you. However, if you need help, try someone else. I'm busy," Horikita said.

"Busy? But everyone else is busy with Sudou's case right now," I blurted out, earning a glare from Horikita.

Her eyes seemed to say, Why are you still talking?

"I have an important daily routine, so I need my alone time. It's unpleasant to have that time stolen from me."

Just the answer I would expect from an unabashed misanthrope. If she'd simply said she didn't like spending time with other people, that would've sounded like an excuse.

"Even if I step in and save him now, he'll land himself in trouble again. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? You seem to think that Sudou-kun is the victim here, but I think differently."

"Huh? But isn't Sudou-kun the victim? Besides, it would be bad if he were lying." Kushida didn't seem to understand Horikita's meaning.

"Maybe the Class C students really did start this fight, but Sudou-kun was also one of the perpetrators."

"W-wait. What do you mean? Wasn't Sudou-kun dragged into the fight?"

Horikita slowly turned her gaze towards me, her expression saying good grief.

No, I didn't say anything. I averted my eyes as if trying to escape. After a silent moment, Horikita spoke in an exasperated voice.

"Why was he dragged into the fight? This problem will persist until we understand that fundamental question. Got it? I do not wish to help until that question is answered. Since you weren't able to convince me, why don't you ask the guy standing next to you? Even though he pretends not to understand what I'm thinking, he probably does."

Please stop saying that I understand you. Kushida looked at me, unable to hide her confusion. Her expression seemed to ask what I knew. Come on, Horikita, don't say anything unnecessary…

Horikita began to walk off, indicating that the rest was up to me. Kushida seemed to have finally listened to Horikita, and stopped chasing after her.

"Sudou-kun is a perpetrator? Is that…true?" she asked.

<Illustration >

Kushida turned to me, as if asking me to save him again. Since Horikita had revealed that I was feigning ignorance, things were probably going to be a pain in the butt. Besides, I'd gladly give Kushida my bank PIN if she asked for it with such a cute expression.

"I understand a little of what Horikita meant. At the very least, Sudou does share some fault in this case. He's the type who gets angry easily, right? Whenever he's faced with someone he doesn't like, he lashes out, and speaks and acts in an aggressive, domineering way. When I heard he was being considered for a regular spot on the basketball team, I was both surprised and impressed. No one disagrees that he's an incredible player, but if he acts so arrogant and prideful, some people will come to hate him. Those who work incredibly hard for their spot would probably see Sudou as a rather disagreeable person. Then there are the rumors, right? People say that Sudou's been fighting people since junior high. I haven't met anyone who knew Sudou at his previous school, but considering how many people are talking about it, there might be something to the rumor."

People didn't hold a very good impression of Sudou.

"This was bound to happen eventually. That's why Horikita said Sudou was a perpetrator."

"So…his typical behavior, plus his repeated actions, led to this situation, then?" Kushida asked.

"Yeah. As long as he continues to antagonize those around him, trouble will inevitably follow. Also, if there's no proof, then people will use his image against him. In other words, they'll judge him based on their impressions. For example, let's say there was a murder case. There are two suspects. One of them has committed murder in the past, while the other is a good, upstanding citizen. Based on that information, who would you believe?"

If asked, nearly everyone would give the same response.

"Well…I'd pick the upstanding citizen, of course."

"The truth might be different. However, the less information you have upon which to base your judgment, the more you have to rely on whatever meager information you have at hand. That's what's happening here. Horikita cannot overlook the fact that Sudou doesn't recognize his flaws."

I didn't think this was exactly a "you reap what you sow" situation, though.

"I see. So that's what she meant…"

Kushida gave a small nod.

"So Horikita-san isn't going to save Sudou-kun because she wants to teach him a lesson?"

"I guess so, yeah. By punishing him, she wants him to understand himself better."

Kushida understood, but clearly didn't agree. It seemed like she was a little angry, balling her fists in anger.

"I don't agree with abandoning Sudou-kun just to punish him. If she's dissatisfied with him, I think she should at least talk to him directly. That's what friends would do."

I didn't think that Horikita considered Sudou her friend, though. Besides, Horikita wasn't the type to teach through kindness. She didn't feel an obligation to others.

"You should act according to your own principles, Kushida. I don't think it's wrong to want to help Sudou."

"Yeah."

Kushida nodded without hesitation. She would extend her hand to a friend in need as many times as it took. It sounds simple, but it was actually difficult. Only someone like Kushida could do such a thing.

"However, I think it would be better if we carefully considered whether or not to directly point out Sudou's problems. If he doesn't actually take the time to reflect, there's no point. There are certain realizations you can only come to on your own."

"Okay. I understand. I'll follow your advice, Ayanokouji-kun."

Kushida arched her back and stretched; I'd changed her thinking.

"Okay, let's go hunt for the witness."

We returned to the classroom, and rejoined Ike and Yamauchi.

"Huh? So, you couldn't persuade Horikita?" Ike said.

"No, I'm sorry. I failed," Kushida replied.

"No, no. You don't have to apologize, Kushida-chan. We should be fine with who we already have."

"I'm counting on you, Ike-kun. Yamauchi-kun," Kushida appealed with sparkling eyes. The two of them gazed back, love-struck.

"Okay, so where should we start?"

Randomly searching for a witness would be ineffective. It would've been better to come up with a plan before starting our search.

"If no one has any objections, how about we start by asking around Class B?" I asked.

"Why Class B?"

"Because that's the class that would most want a witness."

"Sorry. I don't quite understand, Ayanokouji-kun."

"Between D and C, which class most threatens Class B? Or to put it another way, which class is more likely to threaten B's place in the ranking?"

"C, of course. So we should ask C last, I suppose. But why not start with Class A?"

"We know too little about Class A. I don't think they'd want to get involved in a troublesome affair that might negatively impact their points. It's also possible that Class A students don't care, as they feel no connection to what goes on between C and D."

Of course, I still didn't know if we could trust Class B. If they had a particularly cunning person, he or she might have devised a plan to defeat not only C, but Class D as well. Even if that plan didn't exist, I believed we ought to prepare countermeasures based on that idea.

"Well then, let's go to Class B right away!" Kushida cried.

"Stop." I reflexively grabbed the back of Kushida's collar.

"Nyaa!" Surprised, Kushida let out a cat-like yelp.

"So cuuute!" After seeing Kushida's adorable reaction, Yamauchi had hearts in his eyes. She was probably being adorable on purpose… Despite thinking that, my heart pounded like crazy.

"It is certainly true that your excellent communication skills are indispensable. However, this isn't the same as casually strolling into another class and trying to make friends."

"You think so?"

If the witness was willing to help Class D for nothing, or if they were friendly, then there'd be no need to worry. However, it the witness was a calculating person, then he or she might not agree to help. We wouldn't know whether that person would assist Class D unless we tried asking, though. Even if we went to Class B to talk…how would things turn out?

"Do you know anyone in Class B?"

"I do. I've only gotten to know a few people, though," Kushida said.

"Well then, let's talk to those people first then."

We absolutely did not want word to get out that Class D was frantically searching for witnesses.

"Wait, ask them one by one? Wouldn't it be way easier to ask everyone at the same time?" said Ike. He didn't seem to like this roundabout way of doing things.

"I also think you're being too negative. I do think it's a good idea to ask Class B, but I also think we should ask several people at once. If not, we may not find the witness in time."

"I see. You might be right about that. We should do what you think is best, Kushida."

"I'm sorry, Ayanokouji-kun."

Kushida clasped her hands together apologetically. She hadn't really done anything wrong, though. It was only natural that we'd have different opinions on the matter. Besides, in times like these the majority should decide what to do. Kushida's plan had convinced me, so I withdrew my own.

Suddenly, I felt a sensation, like someone was watching me. I turned around.

About one third of our class remained in the room. Nothing here seemed especially odd. Still, I couldn't quite put my finger on exactly what was bothering me, or who'd given me the feeling of being watched.