Vol 4.5 Chp.3: Troubled Individuals

'...': Writing

'...': Sign language

"...": Text to speech

I was invited by Katsuragi, along with Ayanokouji, to head to the student council. I didn't have anything better to do, so I joined them.

"If I recall, up until yesterday, they were renovating the room, and it was unusable," Katsuragi made a slightly surprised face.

I was a bit curious about how Ayanokouji knew about that.

"I happen to have some ties with the student council president. The same goes for Kagurazaka."

If you call blackmailing having ties with someone, I'm all for it.

"So you were acquaintances with that student council president?" Katsuragi asked.

"I wonder if you could call him my acquaintance, but... It's something like that anyway," Ayanokouji replied.

"Ahh, I see. Horikita of Class D is the student council president's little sister, huh?" It seemed Katsuragi had concluded.

"Thank you both for accompanying me," Katsuragi said.

"It's a coincidence," Ayanokouji responded, "I also have some business with the student council right now."

"So that's why you're also wearing your uniform?" Ayanokouji nodded.

"What about you, Kagurazaka-kun?" Katsuragi asked.

'I'm tagging along for fun.'

Nodding once, Katsuragi began heading towards the school, towards the student council room.

"Excuse me," Katsuragi knocked on the student council room door and spoke clearly.

Student Council President Horikita Manabu and Secretary Tachibana came out to welcome us. The older Horikita immediately noticed my presence.

"It seems the unexpected but welcome visitors came together," I lightly bowed to return the greeting.

On the other hand, Secretary Tachibana had an extremely disgusted expression.

"Today I came here because I have a request to make. I heard that student requests go through the student council, which is why I've come".

"It seems you came by yesterday and the day before yesterday. We were absent due to the renovations. I apologize," Manabu said.

"No. It is currently the summer vacation. The fault lies with the side pushing the matter. But I am glad I was able to meet you today. Depending on the situation, I had been thinking to go directly to your dormitory," Katsuragi said.

"In this school, during enrollment, we are forbidden to contact the outside without express permission. I would like to inquire further into that, and so I have come here".

"From the sound of it, you've naturally been looking through the school regulations? Extreme, unavoidable reasons as the exception; contact is strictly forbidden".

As Manabu stated, permission is only granted for severe illness or injury.

"Yes. But in regards to individual cases, how would I be best advised to deal with it? I want to deliver a package and a message card to my family outside the school grounds. Of course, I'm not expecting a reply from my family," Katsuragi said.

"It's the same thing. Even if this is unilateral, it still is forbidden". Those words were returned to Katsuragi professionally.

"Contact with the outside; I have heard that it strictly includes shipping of packages, too. However, as long as I don't send information in letters, wouldn't that be considered not breaking the rules?" Katsuragi asked.

"There's no change in the fact that the rules prohibit it. That is a rule that has not changed since the founding of this school. But it's not prohibited for no reason. When the school was founded, the rules were not as strict as now".

The Manabulooked at Secretary Tachibana, then slightly nodded while smiling.

"It is as he says. Originally, the package shipping that Katsuragi-kun hoped for was permitted. However, several students broke their promise. They hid letters inside the packages without permission. Such a thing happened, and now it is prohibited," Tachibana said.

"Then, once again, I must ask you. Please allow me to apply for the package's shipping directly at the shop. I will not lay a single finger on the package; I will only pay for its cost. If so, there can be no room for fraud," Katsuragi said.

"But even so, it's still against the rules..."

"Against the rules? This school is ability-based; if need be, I've heard you can do anything with enough points. Buying test scores or trading between students, there are many uses for points. Am I wrong?" Katsuragi continued.

The gift must be essential if Katsuragi isn't willing to back down.

"If that is the case, the situation will change slightly," Manabu answered, "Before we go into the details of the points, can you let me know who it is you're sending it to?" he asked.

"It's to my twin sister. Since we don't have any parents, I'm the only one who can celebrate her birthday," Katsuragi said.

No wonder you didn't want to tell me who you sent it to.

"I want to clarify something, but the point system is not absolute. The action you mentioned earlier may be allowed simply because it is not explicitly forbidden in the rules. However, changes to the list of prohibited actions in the school regulations are not easily made," Manabu answered.

"The rules of the school are there to be upheld."

"That's funny; if that is the case, then the rules of this school are full of loopholes."

"There's nothing strange about that. It just means that all the school is making rules that allow for a way out."

"You're saying even if I use my points, there's nothing I can do?" Katsuragi asked.

"There's nothing you can do. If this is something the school expressly prohibits, it will not be allowed even using points," Manabu said.

"If you're finished, please leave."

"I see... I understand; please excuse me," Katsuragi glanced at us before quietly leaving.

"You're not going back?" Manabu asked.

"What you said earlier, it's about when the act of breaking the rules comes to light, wasn't it?" Ayanokouji asked.

In the middle of that, I said that as though backing up Katsuragi.

"What do you mean by that?" Manabu's gaze was directed toward Ayanokouji.

"Do you remember, a while ago, Sudou from our class fought with some students from Class C?" Manabu nodded.

"In the past, the Class C students filed a complaint with the school, which resulted in discussions about punishment. However, currently, Katsuragi has not violated any regulations. He suggested an action that could potentially lead to breaking the rules. The only people aware of this are Katsuragi, myself, and the two student council members. If you choose to ignore this infraction, everything will be okay."

"And also, the usually difficult processing of such shipping. If it's you guys, it would be a simple task, wouldn't it?"

"I see. You're saying to resolve everything without first clearing it with the school, right?".

Katsuragi had righteously tried to secure permission from the school. But if that doesn't work, all he has to do is make sure the school never hears word of this. But it may be an idea the honorable Katsuragi could not think of.

"Being able to talk about overlooking school rule violations so boldly, what a scary delinquent!" Only Secretary Tachibana turned to point that out to Ayanokouji.

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"This school forbids acts of violence. But you, in your first meeting with me, showed no signs of holding back. That is proof enough that as long as the school does not find out, anything can be passed off."

Well, I did blackmail him...

"That's right. If one is to contact the outside, there is no other method. But Katsuragi did not realize that fact. In that instant, he lost his only remaining option."

"Don't you think of helping him out now?"

"No. For that man's sake, I'm not the type to help violate school regulations."

"You're rather strict," Ayanokouji said.

"If you feel that way, you should have told Katsuragi of this method before he left the room. But you didn't do that."

"I'm done cooling off; I'm going back."

"I could tell Tachibana-san to prepare some tea."

"I'll pass," Ayanokouji said, "I don't know what you're going to put in it."

"W-what a rude first-year!" Tachibana said.

'I will stay for some tea.'

"At least you're not a rude first-year," Tachibana huffed, crossing her arms.

Ayanokouji left the room, leaving me with Tachibana and Manabu.

Manabu and I sat in silence while Tachibana was preparing the tea. No one said a word until Tachibana returned with the tea.

'Thank you.'

Tachibana smiled, "You're welcome."

Manabu took a sip from his tea, "I heard about the results of the deserted island and cruise ship exams," Manabu said.

'What about the exams?'

"It's impressive that Class D managed to get first in both. I should congratulate your class," Manabu said, adjusting his glasses.

His eyes narrowed, "Or should I congratulate you?"

'I didn't do much for the island exam. I retired early.'

"What about the cruise ship exam?" Manabu asked.

'I had too much free time.'

"So, that's your answer," Mambe said, taking another sip from his cup, "I need to warn you, though. Two second-years have looked into you."

'You're just giving information away like it's a charity.'

Manabu smirked, "One of the individuals is the Vice-President, while the other is a narcissist."

I drank the entire tea in one gulp before setting it down, 'Are you trying to make my life difficult?'

"No, you're doing a good job by doing that yourself," Manabu responded, drinking his tea.

~Timeskip~

Manabe's room

I was alone with Manabe in her room. I should have been concerned about this, but she seemed more nervous.

"Fuck!" Her outburst came out of nowhere.

"Sorry, sorry... I need to ask you something," Manabe took a deep breath.

'What?'

"Are you the anonymous messenger?" She asked.

I stared at her with confusion, 'Anonymous messager?'

"I fucked up big time..."

She told me about the conversation between her and the mysterious messenger and what happened between her and Karuizawa on the cruise ship.

'Dumbass.'

"What?"

'What were you expecting? For things to go your way? You were set up.'

"I know, damn it!" Manabe yelled, burying her face into her hands, "I don't know what to do..."

I sat there briefly before clearing my throat, "Why?" I spoke quietly.

Manabe lifted her head and was shocked, "You spoke?!"

'Please don't yell.'

"What made you stop hurting Karuizawa-san?" I asked.

Manabe said nothing and looked away, "It reminded me of the past..."

"Rika... Even gigantic bitch... I was like that..."

"You know about those stories where the child had abusive parents..."

A dry chuckle escaped her lips, "That's the one I have... Cowering in the corner, holding up my hands, while my father was an alcoholic throwing beer bottles at me or beating me for doing anything wrong..."

"My mother was a drug addict, struggling, but she tried her best to love me... She overdosed..."

Manabe paused, taking a deep breath, "I ran away... because I was scared and couldn't do anything."

"Fuck... I don't know why I'm telling you this..." She flopped back onto her bed.

If you continue to flop around like a fish, you're not making this conversation easy to talk about.

"I couldn't tell Rika to run away from her problems," Manabe said, "I wanted to help her confront the bitch."

"The three of them are good people, while I'm a piece of shit..."

"Idiot."

Manabe sat up and glared at me, "Hey, I don't care if you're talking, but I'm the only one that dishes out the insults, you annoying bastard."

'I'll agree... You can be a piece of shit.'

"Wow, thanks for pointing out the obvious," Manabe said, glaring at me.

'I don't think you need to change yourself.'

"I don't think you're listening," Manabe crossed her arms, "I'm a rude person who beats up for no reason. I have an attitude, and I haven't done anything good!"

'Despite your faults, you managed to make a couple of friends. Am I wrong?'

"Yes, but..." I hit her with a paper ball, "You did not do that!"

'I did. I don't want to hear "but" in your sentence. You acknowledge that those three are your friends. You don't need everyone to like you.'

'If you want to continue being rude and won't take anyone's shit, you continue being yourself.'

Manabe snickered, "You're annoying, and you piss me off, but I get an understanding of what you're saying."

"Now, get the hell out of my room before I force you," Manabe glared at me.

I shrugged before getting up and making my way over to the door.

"Thanks..." I glanced back, seeing Manabe looking away, and saw the corner of her ear being pink.

Oh, I'm teasing you if we talk again.

~Timeskip~

August 29th

Katsuragi's POV

I returned to my floor and headed toward my room when I saw Kagurazaka holding a white box.

"Kagurazaka-kun, what are you doing here?"

He handed the box over to me. On top of it, the words written "Happy Birthday" could be seen, "What...?"

'I'm here to celebrate your birthday with you. You don't need to celebrate it alone.'

The only person I could celebrate my birthday with would be my twin sister.

"Forgive me, I wasn't expecting this. I want to thank you since I can't eat this all alone," I said, "Why don't we head inside my room and share it?"

Kagurazaka nodded.

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