Ishizaki Daichi's lips trembled. He suddenly stood up from his seat and bowed deeply toward Horikita Manabu, who was seated at the head of the table.
"I admit it! We falsely accused Sudo Ken!"
His voice carried a trace of relief, and also a trace of despair.
"This was all my idea alone! I couldn't stand Sudo's arrogant attitude, so I came up with this plan to frame him! It has nothing to do with Komiya or Kondō! And... it has nothing to do with anyone else!"
In this final moment, he still tried to use his foolish loyalty to protect the leader in his heart.
However, with the utterance of those words, the outcome of this farce was already clear.
This confession, like the final verdict before a judge strikes the gavel, definitively ended this farcical negotiation.
Once his psychological defenses collapsed, there was no turning back.
Under the scrutiny of Horikita Manabu's cold gaze, Ishizaki Daichi spilled everything, like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube, detailing how they disliked Sudo Ken, how they initiated the provocation, how they planned the frame-up, and how they coordinated their testimonies beforehand.
He took all the responsibility upon himself, claiming he was the mastermind and that the other two merely followed his instructions. He never once mentioned Ryuuen Kakeru's name.
After he finished explaining everything with a heart full of ashes, the entire Student Council office fell into a prolonged silence.
Finally, it was Horikita Manabu's emotionless voice that broke the silence.
"In that case, the matter is clear. The ruling for Class C is as follows."
He stood up, his gaze sweeping coldly over the Class C students.
"Due to Class C students Ishizaki Daichi, Komiya Yōgo, and Kondō Reion providing false testimony, the accusation of violence against Class D student Sudo Ken is dismissed."
"According to school regulations, false accusation results in reciprocal punishment. Class C will be deducted 100 Class Points as penalty."
"The mastermind of this incident, Ishizaki Daichi, is suspended for one month. The collaborators, Komiya Yōgo and Kondō Reion, are suspended for two weeks."
Finally, his gaze fell upon Sudo Ken.
"Sudo Ken, although the circumstances are understandable, his involvement in the brawl is also a fact. He is suspended for three days as a warning to others."
"This hearing is now concluded."
After Horikita Manabu finished speaking, he announced that everyone was free to leave and did not spare anyone another glance... Upon leaving the oppressive office, the air outside in the hallway seemed much fresher.
Sudo Ken let out a long sigh, his face showing the relief of surviving a disaster.
He hesitated for a moment, but eventually walked awkwardly up to Horikita Suzune.
"Uh... Horikita."
The always fearless red-haired boy now looked like a child who had done something wrong, hesitant to meet her eyes. A suspicious blush even crept onto his cheeks.
"For this time... thanks." He scratched the back of his head, his voice several tones lower than usual. "If it weren't for you, I would have really been finished this time. In the future... I'll try my best to control my temper."
This was the first time Sudo Ken had so solemnly bowed his head and thanked Horikita Suzune.
Horikita merely glanced at him indifferently, her tone still cool and detached.
"I didn't do it for you, only for the Class Points. I hope you use this incident to learn a good lesson."
Having said that, she ignored Sudo and walked straight toward the stairwell.
Natsukawa Sosuke walked at the very end of the Class D group. Instead of leaving with the other two, he turned into the restroom at the end of the hall.
When he finished washing his hands and slowly emerged, he noticed a tall figure standing silently in the hallway, seemingly waiting for someone.
It was the Student Council President, Horikita Manabu.
The two looked at each other, and invisible sparks seemed to collide in the air.
Horikita Manabu adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose, the lenses reflecting a cold glint. He spoke first, his tone casual, but the content went straight to the heart of the matter.
"When I spoke with Suzune before, she mentioned that this school does not simply divide ability based on academic performance."
"I originally thought she had finally improved and figured that out herself. Now it seems it was merely a conclusion told to her by someone else."
His gaze, like a surgeon's scalpel, precisely locked onto Natsukawa Sosuke.
"That person must be you."
He didn't give Natsukawa a chance to speak, continuing in a tone of stating facts: "Also, not long ago, Ichinose Honami, a first-year Student Council member, submitted a report to me concerning a school staff member illegally stalking a student here. I briefly reviewed the report, and there are traces of your involvement in it."
"In that case, the unusually high points of this year's Class 1-B..."
"Student Council President."
Natsukawa Sosuke suddenly spoke, interrupting Horikita Manabu.
His face wore a harmless, slightly confused expression.
"What are you trying to do? I am a law-abiding, good student, I just occasionally act righteously. Why is it that I don't quite understand what you are saying?"
He cleverly avoided all the questions, then shifted the topic.
"By the way, since you mentioned the stalker incident. I think the school should offer some compensation for the mental distress of the victimized student? After all, Sakura-san, being a young woman, was quite severely harassed."
Horikita Manabu looked at Natsukawa, who was clearly changing the subject, and did not pursue the previous topic.
"The school authorities did discuss that point," he replied. "The Student Council also sent a notice to Sakura Airi, asking if she would come to discuss compensation matters. However, she personally declined."
"Nevertheless, acting on my own initiative, I allocated fifty thousand private points to her account in the name of the Student Council as compensation."
This silly girl, she's really disappointing. She didn't even tell me about such a good opportunity.
Natsukawa Sosuke sighed helplessly in his heart.
Horikita Manabu scrutinized Natsukawa, his sharp eyes seeming to see straight through him, inside and out.
"Natsukawa Sosuke." For the first time, he used Natsukawa's full name. "You are a very capable person."
This was an extremely high compliment, especially coming from Horikita Manabu.
"Do you have any interest in joining the Student Council?"
Tachibana Akane, standing nearby, showed obvious surprise on her face. She also began to re-examine this seemingly ordinary Class D student, trying to figure out what was so unusual about him that the President would personally extend an invitation.
"I can give you the position of Secretary." Horikita Manabu's tone carried an undeniable confidence. "If your ability meets my requirements, it wouldn't be a problem for you to take the Vice President position in a few months."
This offer was fatally tempting for any first-year student.
However, not a trace of excitement could be seen on Natsukawa Sosuke's face.
"I'll think about it." He gave an ambiguous reply.
Having said that, he prepared to turn and leave.
Just as he brushed past Horikita Manabu, he suddenly stopped and muttered something that sounded like he was talking to himself.
"Sometimes, protecting something too well is also a mistake."
With that, he didn't linger, walked around Horikita Manabu, and headed straight out of the hallway.
Only Horikita Manabu remained standing there, and for the first time, a deep, unknown ripple appeared in his cold eyes...
....
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