Vol. 2 Chp. 4: Dealing With Stalker

'...': Writing

'...': Sign language

Day of the trial

Ayanokouji's POV

"Sorry that we were late," Chabashira apologizes.

I briefly made eye contact with Manabu before his gaze fell onto Horikita, causing her to momentarily pause before continuing to walk forward.

"It's before the scheduled start time. There's no need for apologies," the male teacher says.

"Have you already met?" Chabashira asks.

I have never met this man before.

"This is Sakagami-sensei, the homeroom teacher for class C."

"We will now discuss the violent incident that occurred last week. As the student council secretary, Tachibana Akane, presides,"

"The student council president, coming in over a little brawl like this? Wonders never cease, I suppose," Chabashira says.

"Due to my busy schedule, there are some agendas that I will miss. As a rule, though, I do attend," Manabu explains.

"So, it's a coincidence?"

"Yes."

"I thought Kagurazaka-san would be here," Manabu says.

"Why are you asking about him?" Chabashira-sensei raised an eyebrow.

"I was wondering, is all."

"To both sides: I wish to ascertain which version of the events is the truth. Is that acceptable, President?" Tachibana says.

"Begin."

"Komiya, the other two insist you were called to the special annex by Sudo and then attacked by him, but Sudou denies this and insists that Komiya was the one to call him there," Tachibana says.

"I will admit that I hit them, but I got called over to the special building," Sudou says.

"That's a lie. Sudo called us to the special annex building," Komiya retorts.

"Don't fuck with me! You're the ones who called me," Sudou yells.

"Horikita..." I whisper, but she remains quiet and keeps her head down.

This situation was terrible. We needed to stop Sudou from getting carried away. She wasn't showing any reaction.

"You just kept running your mouths! You're jealous because I'm on the list of potential regulars! And at basketball practice, you always get in my..."

"Silence, please," Tachibana said.

Sudou clicked his tongue before sitting down.

"Without new testimony or evidence, we will proceed under these assumptions. Is this acceptable?" Tachibana asked.

Things aren't looking good for us.

"It seems there was no need for discussion," Manabu said.

"It's clear from the state of their injuries that the violence was one-sided. I should base my decision on that. Class D's insistence that it was self-defense is contradicted by Sudou-kun's lack of injuries and the condition of Ishizaki-kun and the others," Tachibana said.

Feeling desperate about my party's state, I resorted to pinching Suzune Horikita's side, causing her to react strongly as if tickled.

"Eh?... Aya-- What? S-Stop it! What are you... Hey...

When someone's spacing out, a solid physical stimulus will snap them back to reality.

"If you don't fight, we're going to lose," that seemed to snap Horikita back to reality.

"I beg your pardon. I want to question the witnesses. May I?" Horikita asked.

"President?" Tachibana turned to Manabe.

"I'll allow it."

"Horikita stood up from her chair, "Earlier, you said Sudou-kun called you over to the special building. Who and why did he call you over?"

"After practice ended, he said he wanted to talk to me."

"What was Ishizaki-kun doing there with you? He had no reason to be there. He isn't even part of the basketball team," Horikita says.

"I... wanted insurance."

"Insurance?" Horikita raised an eyebrow.

"Everyone knows what a violent guy Sudo-kun is. He's a big guy too!"

"Ishizaki-kun is also a big guy. He has a reputation for being a strong fighter. How did you lose against a single person?" She asks.

"I wasn't expecting Sudou to be that strong," Komiya retorts.

"He wasn't a perfect bodyguard then. I have some knowledge of martial arts myself. The difficulty would increase if you were fighting multiple enemies. Sudo-kun should have come out with some bruises. It shouldn't have been so one-sided."

"I didn't want to fight at all!" Komiya argues.

"Well, we have a witness that saw the entire thing."

The class C students seemed surprised by this, "Can the witness please enter the room?"

Sakura opened the door and entered the room. She still looked frightened. She took a seat in the middle and refused to make eye contact.

"Would the witness state her name?" Tachibana asks.

"A-Airi Sakura. Class D," she stammers.

"Sakura-san, can you give us your testimony of what you witnessed?"

"Y-Yes, well... umm...," Sakura said nothing, turning into complete silence. She started to look pale as she kept her eyes on the ground.

Sakura shakes her head and looks back up, "I-I did see it. The class C students attacked Sudo-kun first. I'm sure of it."

"There is something that is bothering me. Why didn't you step forward sooner?" Sakagami-sensei asked.

"Well..." Sakura stopped talking and pulled her camera out of her pocket. The class C student and Sakagami-sensei's expressions stiffened.

"Here's the e-evidence."

"President," Tachibana says, and Manabu nods his head.

Sakura hands the camera to Tachibana. Tachibana connects the camera to a projector.

The first one had Sakura smiling, with something happening in the background. The second picture was a zoom-in on what was happening in the environment. It had Sudou grabbing one by the collar while one of them grabbed Sudo's arm. It looked like Ishizaki was reaching for Sudou.

"Well, it does seem like you were present there, but it doesn't mean you saw the whole thing."

"But..."

"Sakura-san, you did enough," Horikita says with a small smile. Sakura nods her head and rushes out of the room.

"Might I propose a compromise?" Sakagami speaks up.

"A compromise?" Chabashira-sensei raises an eyebrow.

"Despite your pictures, you don't have definitive proof. However, I will admit that it does appear that the class C students may bear some responsibility...," he started to grin.

"A two-week suspension for Sudo-kun and a one-week suspension for the class C students. How about it? The difference in punishment is based on the difference in harm done to them. What do you think, Chabashira-sensei?" Sakagami-sensei says.

Chabashira-sensei chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest, "One of your students isn't innocent as it seems."

"You."

"Me?" Ishizaki points at himself.

"Yes," Chabashira-sensei said, "I heard you had a confrontation with a couple of students of mine."

Ishizaki stiffened up upon hearing this.

"Could you elaborate?" Manabu asked.

"I don't think this is..." Manabu's stare silenced Sakagami-sensei.

"Gladly," Chabashira-sensei smirked, "Here's the first photo."

Chabashira-sensei pulled out a photo and tossed it onto the table. It showed Ishizaki grabbing Hirata by the collar.

"While my students were looking for a witness, it seemed that you were bothered by that," Chabashira-sensei explained.

Ishizaki started sweating slightly.

"Are you not going to say anything?" Chabashira-sensei asked, "That's fine... Let's move on to the next picture."

She pulled out another photo, tossing it onto the table. It showed Ishizaki holding Kagurazaka by the collar, but Kagurazaka was showing any reaction.

"My student hit you with a basketball, but he's mute, so he can't shout out. It seemed your temper got the better of you," Chabashira-sensei pulled out one more photo, "Finally..."

The last photo landed on the table. It showed Ishizaki ready to slap Mori in the face.

"I think the picture explains everything," Chabashira-sensei said.

Ishizaki's face turned pale.

"It makes me wonder what you were doing at the gymnasium if you aren't part of the basketball club," Chabashira-sensei's smirk widened.

Manabu looked at the three photos, "Interesting..."

He sent the photos down, "There seems to be more to the case than we realized."

"I do have an important question," Manabe said, shifting his attention to Ishizaki, "In these photos, you look healthy and not beaten up."

"Why did you come here today? Looking like you lost a one-sided fight?" Manabe asked.

Ishizaki shivered, "I... uh..."

"I've concluded that one side is providing false testimony. What do you think, Tachibana?" Manabe asked his secretary.

"I would have to agree, President."

"I would like to ask. Where did you get these photos?" Manabe asked.

"Kagurazaka," Chabashira-sensei answered.

"Then I'll give my judgment tomorrow at 4:00. If I receive no proof of your opponents' lies or admissions of your guilt by then, I'll also be putting expulsion on the table. That is all," Manabe dismissed everyone.

Corridor

"Do we have a chance?" I asked Horikita.

"I don't intend to lose. I don't give up," Horikita walked away, leaving me with Sakura.

"I'm sorry. I should've just spoken up from the start, but I didn't have... the courage..."

"Hold your head high, Sakura," I told her.

"But..."

Sakura stopped when Manabu and Tachibana walked out of Student Council Office.

"You're still here? When you showed up with Suzune, I assumed you had some strategy in mind," Manabu said.

"I'm neither Zhuge Liang nor Kuroda Yoshitaka. I have no strategy."

"Went rogue in proclaiming his innocence, then?"

"I guess it's a wild idea, huh?"

"It is," He turned his focus to Sakura, "Sakura, was it?"

She gasped, "Yes."

"Those last three photos... Were you the one to take the pictures?"

"Y-Yes..."

"I see. In that case..."

Manabu adjusts his glasses and swiftly corners me with his right hand, but I remain unfazed. Tachibana and Sakura are surprised.

"I considered she could be lying until your teacher pulled out those three photos. It seems there's more to the story."

So, Kagurazaka's pictures managed to get us a bit more time. I'll have to thank him sometime.

"But can you prove that Class C is lying?" Manabe asked.

I learned this from Kagurazaka, but I added another part to it.

I shrugged, "Who knows."

He stared me down briefly before removing his right hand from the wall and walking away.

~Timeskip~

Kagurazaka's POV

Sakura asked me to come to her room and hang out. I was relaxing on her couch while she sat beside me, scrolling through her phone.

She told me what happened at the trial. I don't know if the pictures delayed the judgment, but I had to put my trust in Chabashira-sensei.

I checked out what Sakura was doing on her phone, and she was reading blog comments.

Post # 13: No Subject

You're as cute as ever! This one's more mature, which I think makes you even prettier. Shizuku-chan, your smile keeps me going every day! Please keep it up.

Post # 12: Hello

It's been so lonely lately without your updates! I'm still cheering for you! I'm looking forward to the next update.

Post # 11: No Subject

At last, an update! The pictures are so cute! Shizuku-chan, you're a goddess.

Those are some positive comments. I glanced at Sakura and saw a slight smile of satisfaction.

Her expression changed quickly to a surprised one. I brought my attention back to her phone.

Post # 29: I'll always be with you.

It's too bad we couldn't be alone before. You wanted to be with me. We'll see each other again soon. You'll come to see me all by yourself this time, right? Then it'll finally just be you and me.

Post # 25: I'll always be with you.

We're destined to be together. That's why you feel so close to me.

Post # 24: I'll always be with you.

I'm not just a fan. You love me too, right?

Post # 23: I'll always be with you.

Shizuku-chan, you saw me, right? It feels like destiny, huh?

Post # 19: I'll always be with you.

Do you believe in destiny? I think I'm breathing the same air as you, Shizuku-chan. You breathe in part of the air I live out.

I felt disgusted reading these comments. I could feel my skin crawling from how each word got creepier from the last.

Sakura dropped her phone, and she was terrified, "K-Kagurazaka-kun...!"

The sound of her phone notifies her of new blog comments.

I saw the words... I'll always be with you.

Sakura broke down into tears as the notifications continued. Grabbing her phone, I turned it off.

I wrapped my arms around her, and she buried her face into my chest, "I-I'm scared...!"

She pulled away and got up from the couch. She walked over to her dresser and opened it. I watched as she pulled our photos and letters.

Love letters and...

My eyes widened in horror when I saw the photos. It showed Kushida, Sakura, Ayanokouji, and I visiting the SIVCAMERA together.

I felt my blood run cold when I remembered the digital camera resting on the counter.

"P-Please... Please help me... I think... I have a stalker," Sakura was gasping for air as the tears continued to pour.

Ayanokouji's POV

I was relaxing on my bed, scrolling through my phone, when a knock was on my door.

I wasn't expecting any company.

I made my way over to the door and answered it. Kagurazaka stood there with a severe expression.

"What brings you here?" I asked.

'There's a problem.'

Problem? It must be severe. But why is he coming to me about the situation?

"Couldn't you have texted me?" I didn't want to be disturbed.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out multiple photos.

It showed the four of us hanging out on that day. One thing stood out, and each photo had Sakura in it.

A sigh escaped my lips, "Come in."

I stepped to the side, allowing Kagurazaka to enter my room. He walked into the room and sat down on the floor.

See? Kagurazaka doesn't complain about there being no carpet. I know he's mute, but he truly understands my minimalist lifestyle.

I walked over to my bed and sat down, "What's going on?"

He pulled out his phone and showed images of a familiar girl. Have I seen her somewhere before?

'Does she look familiar?'

"Is this Sakura? It's hard to say just from the face and build, but this picture was taken in one of our dorms."

Kagurazaka nodded, 'This Sakura's other form... She's a gravure idol that goes by the name Shizuku.'

"I thought it was strange that Sakura wore fake eyeglasses," I said.

'So, you noticed, huh?' Kagurazaka signed.

I nodded, "I think I understand where this is going. Someone is stalking her."

Kagurazaka nodded.

"Do you have a faint idea who it could be?"

He nodded.

It looks like we are thinking of the same person. Taking pictures of me without permission is a no.

~Timeskip~

Next Day

3rd POV

"So damn hot..." Ishizaki complained.

"Why the special annex?" Komiya asked.

"I wonder what Kushida-chan wants to talk to us about," Kondou answered.

"Think she wants to ask me out?" Komiya asked with slight hope.

"Yeah, right! You punk!" Kondou wrapped his arm around Komiya and aggressively ruffled his hair.

"Ow! Not so hard! Damn it, let me go!"

Ishizaki sighs as he watches them do silly actions. However, he notices Ayanokouji on the staircase.

Ayanokouji's POV

"Huh? What are you doing here?" Ishizaki asked.

I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news, "Kushida won't be coming," I told them.

"Huh?"

"That email she sent you was fake. I asked her to send it."

"Why would you do that?"

"It was the only way I could get your attention, right? I wanted to talk with you," I explained my reason.

"Listen up, Sudou called us out here and beat us up. That's the truth. He should accept his punishment like a man. So long," Ishizaki is about to walk away when Horikita emerges from behind.

"Is that what you want? If you leave here now, you'll regret it for the rest of your lives," Horikita said.

Komiya clicked his tongue, "What the hell is your deal?"

Is there any reason for me to be here at all?

"Let's go," Ishizaki said.

"What's that over there?" Horikita asked.

The three of them followed her gaze.

"What are you talking about..." Kondou stopped speaking when he saw an installed camera in the special annex.

They were shocked.

"What's the matter? You seem a bit shaken."

"A security camera?"

"The special annex contains a science lab. There are many hazardous chemicals there. Why wouldn't there be cameras?"

Ishizaki looked at another corner and found another security camera, "How... Wait a minute. If there's footage of us on those security cameras, they'd know you were innocent. You'd have no reason to tell us about it.

"The moment the incident occurred, both parties were doomed to suffer for it. Regardless of why he did it, Sudō did hit you. That's an immutable fact," I said.

"So you'd be hurt by the camera footage, too."

"Of course, Sudou will be punished, as well. But you three might be expelled. You told a malicious lie and got the whole school involved. What would you expect?"

"Well, why hasn't the school said anything to us?" Kondou asked.

"The school is testing us. They want to see if we can resolve the problem ourselves. So they're testing us to see what conclusion we reach after being granted extra time. When you think back on the hearing from yesterday, don't you think it felt like they already knew everything?"

"No way... I can't be expelled."

"Ishizaki, let's tell them it was a lie. The school might let us off the hook if we admit it!"

"What're we gonna do, Ishizaki?" Kondou was panicking.

"Shut up!" Ishizaki seemed furious.

"Your conclusion seems a little too hasty. There's still a way to save both Class C and D."

"Like hell there..."

"Take the incident off the table. It's simple. If you withdraw your complaint, it'll be like it never happened."

"L-Let me just make one call... Hey!" Horikita snatched his phone and looked at who Ishizaki would contact.

"Can't you decide anything by yourself?"

"Give it back!"

Ishizaki tries to get his phone back, but Suzune Horikita swiftly dodges away.

"How pathetic," Horikita taunted him.

"Why, you..." Ishizaki grabs Suzune Horikita's uniform.

"Resorting to violence? Are you going to try and slap me like you did with one of my classmates?"

Daichi Ishizaki realizes that there are cameras around him.

"Go ahead and do it," Horikita goaded him.

"Ishizaki, we've lost."

"Let's accept Horikita's offer. We can't afford to be expelled."

"Fine. We'll take it back."

~Timeskip~

Park

I met up with Ichinose with a set of uninstalled cameras inside the paper bag, "I promise I'll pay back the points I borrowed yesterday. Let's discuss the terms."

"An eye for an eye, a lie for a lie, huh? Oh, boy, I wasn't expecting a kid like you to be in Class D."

"It was Horikita who thought up the plan. I just did what I was ordered to," I lied as I breathed.

"Oh... Well, okay."

I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and pulled it out. It was a text message...

Kagurazaka: He's on the move.

"I'm sorry to cut this conversation short, but I need to be somewhere," I didn't hear what she had to say and rushed off.

Sakura's POV

I dropped my phone, trying my attempt to text Kagurazaka. I was assaulted by the store clerk who worked at the electronic store.

He covered my mouth using his left hand while his other hand and left hip pinned me against the wall.

"Shh! Keep it down."

"D-Did you ... Did you read my letters? Y-You see how I feel now, right? Right? Wh-Why'd you keep avoiding me? Y-You're so precious to me ... You know that, don't you?"

He unpinned me as I dropped to my knees.

Please... someone help me...

I glanced over at my phone, which was on the ground.

I tried to get away from him and get my phone back.

"Let me go!" I screamed.

"Cut it out! Damn it!" He successfully took my phone from me and forcefully threw me to the side.

He was now on top of me, "Now, listen well. If you don't do what I say, I'll put the real you on the net for all to see."

No... Please stop...

"What's wrong? Why're you looking at me like that? D-Don't look at me like that!"

I tried to fight and struggle for my life, but he continued holding me down, "No! Let me go!"

"I'm going to show you how much I love you."

I don't want your love!

He started unbuttoning the outer coat that covered my breasts.

"Th-Then you'll u-u-understand me, Shizuku-chan..."

I don't want to understand you.

A camera flash goes off, stopping him. I saw Ayanokouji holding his cell phone in his hand.

"Huh?"

"An electronics store employee is assaulting a female student. You'll be a celebrity on TV tomorrow."

He got off me and turned nervous, "Th-that's not it! I-I'm..."

"What is it, then? The security cameras caught everything. Even if it's only "attempted," you still assaulted an underage girl. With a criminal complaint lodged against you, you'll lose your job. The press might even go after your family."

"Your life is over," Ayanokouji stated.

The store clerk tried to run away from the scene frantically. However, Kagurazaka arrived with a band of police officers.

Ayanokouji pulled out his phone, and it showed a map with a GPS-like feature.

"That's how I knew you were here," Kagurazaka helped me reach my feet.

"I'm sorry. I'm such a failure. I really couldn't do anything alone," Kagurazaka patted my head, causing me to blush.

I'm lucky that I managed to stop him... I don't want to think about what would happen if they didn't arrive in time.

Rooftop

3rd POV

Chabashira was on the rooftop while keeping her cigarette lit.

"Why did you call me out here?" Horikita asked.

"I'll get straight to the point. How did you do it?" She asked.

"How did I do what?" Horikita was confused.

A dry chuckle escaped Chabashira's lips, "Don't play dumb. Those boys wouldn't just withdraw their complaint for no reason."

"I'll leave that to your imagination," Horikita said.

"I'll change the question, then. Who thought up the plan to get Class C to back off?"

"Why does that matter to you?"

"If you're aiming for Class A, my advice is to learn as much as possible about Ayanokouji and Kagurazaka while you still can. Otherwise, it might be too late," Chabashira told her.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Horikita was confused.

It started to rain.

"Why do you think Ayanokouji is helping you people? Why does he refuse to reveal what he can do despite his excellence?" Chabashira asked.

"I don't know."

"The same thing can be applied to Kagurazaka, but he's a bit different," Chabashira paused, "Class D is, in this school's words, a place for people with defective aspects. Those two are the most defective of everyone in Class D."

School corridor

Ayanokouji's POV

I was walking through the school corridor when I bumped into Manabu and Tachibana.

"Class C asked to withdraw their complaint, and I accepted."

"Did they? It's a weird world we live in, I guess," I will pretend that I didn't do anything.

"Is this way of proving that they were the ones to lie? Well done," Manabu complimented.

I shook my head, "Your little sister made it happen. I didn't do anything."

Manabu glared at Kiyotaka before turning to his secretary, "Tachibana. There's an open secretary position, isn't there?"

She nodded.

"Ayanokouji, "You can have that position if you like."

Tachibana seemed surprised, "Mr President! Are you serious?"

Manabu glares at her, "Are you objecting to my decision?"

Tachibana became nervous, "No... if that's what you want, I won't object."

"Ayanokouji, join the student council."

"I refuse. I don't like expending more effort than I have to. The student council is out of the question. I intend to live an everyday student life."

"Acceptable, for now. Ayanokōji, do not disappoint me. The same thing goes for Kagurazaka."

They pass by me as rain-soaked Suzune Horikita appears.

~Timeskip~

"It's nice that the plan worked, huh?"

"You manipulated me, didn't you?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"You pointed out the lack of cameras in the special annex to lead me to forge that false evidence."

"You're overthinking it," I told her.

"You promised that you'd help me reach Class A."

"Yeah, after you forced me," I tried to walk away, but she grabbed my arm.

"Wait, I'm not finished yet. I want to know what you're thinking," Horikita demanded.

"I want to live my days in peace. That's all," I answered honestly.

"You wouldn't help me if you didn't want to."

"I supposed I just wanted to help a friend," I told her.

"That's a lie. You've never cared about your friends. Just who are you?" Horikita asked.

Flashback

There's a line of kids wearing white lab gowns. I was one of them.

"Line up!"

The child to my left suddenly showed signs of chest discomfort and collapsed, surprising the other children. Despite this, I failed to react and looked on with indifference.

End of Flashback

"I will help you get into Class A. But..."

"But?"

I looked Horikita straight into her eyes, "Don't pry into my life."

----------------------------------------------------------