[POV :Yukinoshita Yukino]
Silence settled over the Student Council room after both parties involved in the dispute from Class C and Class D entered. The atmosphere was filled with tension and anticipation; no one knew how things would unfold or which side the scales would tip toward.
I sat in the seat assigned to me. Chabashira-sensei sat on my right, and Horikita-san on my left. Her behavior today caught my attention. Unlike her usual firm and strict demeanor, she seemed unusually weak, visibly unable to face the confrontation ahead.
Ayanokōji-kun accompanied us, as Horikita-san had requested his presence. Naturally, Sudō-kun was here as well.
I had asked Hikigaya-kun to come with us, but he refused. I am certain his presence today would have had meaning, even if he never spoke or actively participated. His peculiar way of viewing things might have been useful.
I clenched my hands tightly on my skirt.
I felt genuinely frustrated.
Why does he always act like this?
I glanced toward the president sitting at the head of the table. Behind him stood a girl with purple hair tied in a simple hairstyle.
I believe she was Tachibana-senpai. Hikigaya-kun never stops talking about her—about how she dislikes him and buries him in work—but she looked nothing like that.
Even the president seemed like a disciplined and strict person. It was impossible to ignore the overwhelming presence he carried throughout the room, completely unlike the "demon president" title Hikigaya-kun always used.
I could not help but laugh inwardly.
Just how much does he hate work to describe his older Student Council colleagues as demons?
I shifted my gaze to those seated opposite us.
The Class C homeroom teacher and three students sat there, their faces covered with bandages concealing their injuries.
After seeing them up close, I found it difficult to believe Sudō-kun had caused all of those injuries by himself. Some of them even appeared more recent, as though someone had struck them again and worsened their condition.
There was no point worrying about that now.
Class D had come to this meeting confident in Sudō-kun's innocence. We had even secured a witness on our side.
All that remained was to observe the proceedings and see where things would lead.
"Isn't he coming...?" the Student Council President asked his assistant standing behind him.
"He said he won't attend because he's busy..." the girl replied, lowering her head slightly.
I did not fully understand the context, but I assumed they were talking about Hikigaya-kun.
Perhaps they had invited him and he refused on the grounds of treating everyone equally.
I began rubbing my temples.
What is he thinking this time?
All he ever does is run away when things become important.
The president let out a slow sigh, clearly annoyed by his behavior.
"You may begin. But contact him as soon as we're finished."
"Understood."
The girl nodded and stepped forward before everyone.
"We will now begin deliberations regarding the violent incident that occurred last Tuesday. As the Student Council secretary, I, Tachibana, will be presiding over this session."
Under the supervision of the Student Council President and in front of all those present, Tachibana-senpai officially opened the proceedings.
"It isn't common for the Student Council President to attend something as minor as a fight," Chabashira-sensei remarked.
What seemed even stranger to me was the fact that the Student Council was handling this kind of dispute at all.
At any normal high school, the administration would be responsible for intervening and making judgments.
But this school was clearly different.
"Because of my busy schedule, there are matters I am forced to miss. However, attending these meetings is generally my policy," the president answered without the slightest hesitation or discomfort.
His position alone made him seem equal to any teacher.
"So it's merely a coincidence?"
"That's right."
The president's eyes remained fixed on our side, especially on the girl sitting beside me—Horikita-san.
I knew from Hikigaya-kun that they were siblings.
Perhaps he had come to observe her performance after hearing she would be attending today.
I only hoped that would not influence matters against Class D.
"I would like both parties to confirm which version of events is true."
Tachibana-senpai immediately began listening to both sides while reading from the orange file she held in her hands.
"Komiya and the other two students insist that Sudō summoned them to the special annex and then attacked them. Sudō denies this and insists that Komiya was the one who called him there. Your accounts are contradictory. The only fact we can verify is that the aggressor, Sudō, injured Komiya, Kondō, and Ishizaki, the victims."
Tachibana-senpai continued outlining the details of the case until the sound of a hand slamming against the table interrupted her.
Sudō-kun struck the table with his palm and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"I admit I hit them! But they're the ones who started the fight!"
He began throwing accusations at the opposing side without restraint, causing the discussion to devolve into mutual blame and chaos.
"Silence, please."
The girl at the head of the table gave them no opportunity to continue arguing and quickly restored a temporary calm.
"Without new testimony or evidence, we will proceed under these assumptions. Is that acceptable?"
Neither side answered her question.
However, Class D already had a witness.
We needed to intervene now before it was too late.
I looked toward Horikita-san.
She remained seated quietly, withdrawn into herself, staring at her fingers as they fidgeted nervously on her skirt.
She had asked me to lead Class D during this session.
Perhaps she viewed this as an opportunity to prove herself or something similar.
I could understand her situation to some extent, but remaining motionless like this was not helping us in the slightest.
I noticed Ayanokōji-kun glancing sideways at her.
I suspected he had also realized that she was not acting like herself today.
Something needed to snap her out of it before things worsened.
I slowly exhaled.
This was not the time to deal with that problem.
I turned my head toward her.
Ayanokōji-kun noticed me moving closer and slightly withdrew, as if he had been about to do something himself.
"Horikita-san... I believe you should stand up and intervene now."
Even after hearing my words, she showed no reaction whatsoever.
It was as though she existed in a completely separate world.
In that case...
"If you're going to sit there like that and become an obstacle to us, then it would be better for you to step aside and make room for someone else."
Without giving her the chance to respond, I pushed my chair back as though I intended to stand.
Finally, Horikita-san moved.
She grabbed my arm, silently conveying:
No. I'll do it.
Perhaps all she had needed were a few harsh words to bring her back to reality.
I adjusted my chair and sat down again, folding my hands as I waited to see what would happen next.
I felt a strange gaze from my left.
Ayanokōji-kun.
Since childhood, I had grown accustomed to being looked at.
Sometimes the gazes carried admiration.
Sometimes jealousy.
Sometimes irritation.
But Ayanokōji-kun's gaze always felt different.
It resembled a camera.
It simply observed and recorded.
I could never sense any clear emotion behind it.
Horikita-san stood up in the middle of the Student Council room, overcoming her hesitation and drawing everyone's attention.
"Excuse me... I would like to question the witnesses. May I do so?"
There was obvious weakness and hesitation in her voice, yet she still forced herself to face the challenge.
"President?" Tachibana-senpai asked for approval before granting permission.
"I'll allow it."
Resting his clasped hands beneath his chin, he gave his approval while carefully observing her every move.
After hearing his answer, Horikita-san let out a sigh of relief and prepared herself for the next stage.
"Under what circumstances did Sudō-kun summon you?"
"Uh..."
The Class C students exchanged glances, unable to decide who should answer.
"Answer me."
Horikita-san pressed them further, demanding a response.
"After practice ended, he said he wanted to talk with me..."
The student sitting at the end of the table finally began answering her questions as the primary person involved in the incident.
"Why was Ishizaki-kun in the annex with you? He is not a member of the basketball club... there was no reason for him to be there."
"I brought him as a precaution..."
"A precaution?"
"Everyone knows Sudō-kun's violent nature, and he has a large build."
A logical answer.
Anyone in our year would know that. His bad reputation has already spread throughout the entire school.
"So you thought he might attack you?"
"Correct."
I think Class C had already anticipated questions like this. It was clear their answers were prepared—perhaps they had even simulated the entire scenario beforehand.
"So you brought Ishizaki-kun, who is known as a strong fighter from middle school, as your personal bodyguard?"
"I did it to protect myself."
"I have knowledge of martial arts... facing multiple opponents increases difficulty exponentially. It is not logical that you would be overwhelmingly defeated despite having Ishizaki-kun with you."
Any reasonable person would understand this. Even children who watch cartoons know that unfair fights are difficult.
"This is because... we didn't want to fight."
He means that the Class C students had already given up before the confrontation against Sudō began.
If you bring a bodyguard, and the other side starts attacking you, but you neither defend yourself nor run away... it makes no sense at all.
"If you had no intention of fighting or attacking, then it is highly unlikely that the three of you would have been injured."
"That makes sense," said Chabashira-sensei after Horikita-san successfully crushed their claims and lies completely through logic.
"It doesn't apply logically when it comes to Sudō. He's an extremely violent man!"
The Class C students began shouting in the same way Sudō-kun does when he is cornered. They really are the same type.
This is good evidence of their collapsing credibility, but there is still one more card on our side.
"There was a student who witnessed the entire incident," Horikita-san finally announced—the witness who could change the course of this case entirely.
I slowly opened my eyes, observing the other side of the room as tension filled the air.
The choice of location and timing had been made precisely to avoid any evidence or witnesses, but things do not always go according to plan.
I closed my eyes again, waiting for the next turn.
Let's see how things will unfold.
"Please bring in the witness."
The door slowly opened, and a girl with long pink hair and red-framed glasses entered. Her blue eyes never left the floor from the moment she stepped in until she stood before everyone in the room.
"Please state your name," Tachibana-senpai requested.
"C-Class 1-D... S-Sakura Airi," she introduced herself to everyone.
I had spoken with her briefly before the session. She is extremely shy and hesitant by nature. This may not work in our favor.
"Please take a seat."
"Okay..."
After being told to sit, she quietly took a seat opposite the president, who was observing her.
He was likely evaluating her, monitoring every reaction she made, as she was the one who could change the judgment by 180 degrees.
"Sakura-san," Horikita-san called out, causing her to flinch and straighten up immediately.
"I saw it... Sudō-kun was the one who attacked the Class C students first. I am... certain of it."
Sakura-san declared that she had witnessed everything that happened in the annex.
"Sakura-kun... if you really saw that, why didn't you report it earlier?" the Class C teacher personally intervened. It seemed he would handle the witness interrogation himself. That made sense—none of the students on his side seemed capable of it.
"This is... because..." Sakura-san hesitated, unable to respond in front of everyone.
"Good grief... Class D students..." the teacher muttered, openly showing his dissatisfaction with our side.
"I... am only telling the truth," she insisted, still refusing to back down.
"Sakura-kun, Sakura Airi-kun... are you being forced to lie for your class? To save Sudō-kun?" the teacher pressed further, exploiting her weakness and hesitation.
Perhaps having a witness from the same side as the accused raises suspicion, but his method is truly malicious.
"Sakura-san is here because she genuinely witnessed the incident. If she hadn't, we wouldn't have brought her here, even if we had asked," Horikita-san intervened at the right moment, pushing back against him.
"If we needed someone to fabricate a story, I would have chosen someone else—don't you think?"
That made sense. If the goal were fabrication, a more confident student would have been chosen.
"Perhaps you simply used someone like her to increase credibility," the teacher said, attacking every possible weakness in Class D's case.
"Credibility? Stop twisting everything, please. Sakura-san came here with good intentions..."
"Stop exploiting your polite, weak-willed classmates."
The Class C teacher said this, using provocative language designed purely to agitate.
"That's not what I'm doing!"
Horikita-san fell into his trap; her frustration was clearly visible after receiving his accusations.
"What about her trembling? Don't pressure her any further..."
He continued to use her hesitation and shyness against her.
What kind of teacher is this?
"I have evidence..."
But the person in question interrupted him herself.
"I... have evidence," Sakura-san announced.
"No need to push yourself further..." the teacher tried again to make her withdraw.
"This is evidence of my presence in the annex that day," she said, raising a small memory card for everyone to see.
Even the Class C teacher froze at the sight.
"Display it."
"Understood."
At the president's command, the assistant moved immediately.
The curtains automatically descended over the windows to block sunlight, ensuring clear visibility in the room. A laptop was brought in, the memory card inserted, and connected to a projector.
"That day... I was looking for an abandoned place to take some self-photos... with a timestamp," Sakura-san explained.
Images appeared on the screen.
Strange images.
Everyone was shocked.
I was stunned—I could hardly believe what I was seeing.
I never expected something like this from Sakura-san.
Photos of her in unusual poses... wearing revealing clothing that exposed a large part of her skin.
The students in the room stared blankly, as if dumbfounded.
Why would she take such photos?
"It is easy to manipulate timestamps on digital cameras. This is not strong enough evidence," the teacher, Sakagami-sensei, insisted, refusing to back down.
"But Sakagami-sensei, these photos are different," the president said, scrolling through them on his digital panel.
Everyone looked again—and this time, there was a different kind of shock.
A selfie of Sakura-san, and in the background, four students fighting in the hallway.
"I hope... I hope this proves I was there that day," Sakura-san said, lifting her eyes slightly, her confidence growing a little thanks to the evidence she had just presented.
"Thank you, Sakura-san," Horikita-san stepped forward to express her gratitude. Even though she was a shy girl, she had pushed herself to come here and even exceeded her limits.
Sakura-san only responded with a small but sincere smile.
The atmosphere in the room changed after all that discussion. The curtains were drawn open again, allowing sunlight to pour back in.
We had come a long way, but the outcome was still unclear. I could not even begin to imagine how this would end.
"So that's how it is... it seems you were truthful about your presence... but we still do not know who initiated the fight. The photos also do not prove everything that happened," Sakagami-sensei said, refusing to back down from his position.
Without concrete evidence, they still had a chance.
Sakura-san shrank back into herself again, unable to respond.
"May I suggest a settlement?" the teacher said, adjusting his glasses.
That meant nothing other than that they were close to defeat.
A settlement is no different from a loss; it only means the damage is divided between both sides.
"A settlement?" Chabashira-sensei raised her head as the representative of Class D.
"Although there is no solid evidence on your side, it seems Class C may also bear some responsibility... two weeks suspension for Sudō-kun, and one week for Class C students. How about that? The difference in punishment is based on the severity of their injuries," the teacher proposed a settlement that was, at least on the surface, fair for both sides.
"Chabashira-sensei, what do you think?"
"It seems we have already reached a conclusion," she replied, agreeing that the arrangement was appropriate.
But this was wrong.
Losing because of such a cheap scheme from Class C was unacceptable.
I clenched my skirt tightly, frustration rising within me. Then I remembered my mother's words:
"Yukino, if you start something, finish it to the end."
There was still room to intervene.
Yes... I was not alone this time. I could rely on him a little. Even if he always tries to avoid things, if the opportunity appears, he will definitely help.
"We will not accept this settlement," I said, slowly raising my head.
Sakagami-sensei immediately fixed his gaze on me.
"I know Sudō-kun's behavior is no different from the students on your side, Sakagami-sensei. However, Class D is confident in his innocence this time."
"Yes, Yukinoshita-san is right. We will only accept Sudō-kun's acquittal," Horikita-san added.
The teacher's eyes shifted between us before finally settling on me.
"Yukinoshita-kun, was it? A settlement is the most reasonable solution. Matters of trust will not increase Sudō-kun's punishment any further."
"Trust? Sorry, but I did not come here to play a game of friendship. The settlement you proposed is nothing more than an attempt to conceal Class C's scheme."
Sakagami-sensei tapped his pen against his head while looking at me over his glasses.
"It seems your students have quite an imagination. What scheme are you talking about?"
He was trying to provoke me with cheap words, but it did not matter. I would not play by his rules.
"Chairman, I request a three-day extension. We will bring the decisive evidence that Sakagami-sensei wants."
I turned toward the president, who had been silently observing everything.
"Yukinoshita, was it? I believe the Student Council already granted you sufficient time..." President Horikita said.
He was right. We had already been given about a week, yet our results were still limited.
"Hmm... three days," the teacher muttered, tapping his pen on the table as if thinking. "Very well. We will give you three days. However, if you fail to provide any evidence, Sudō-kun will be punished alone."
He took advantage of my request.
Settlement or total defeat.
There was no choice but to win completely.
"Is that acceptable?" the president asked.
"If both parties agree, I have no objection."
I looked toward Horikita-san, and then at Sudō-kun, who seemed confused and unable to fully grasp what was happening.
"I agree," I said.
I was not sure whether my decision was correct, but I would see this through to the end.
"Very well. After three days, if no evidence is presented or the complaint is withdrawn, Sudō-kun will be judged as the sole culprit. Keep in mind that expulsion is also a possibility," the president concluded.
I nodded silently at his final words and glanced toward the opposing side, who now seemed relieved at escaping punishment.
Sudō-kun might be facing serious consequences, but there was no turning back now.
I clenched my fist tightly against my knee, reaffirming my resolve, then stood up and followed the others out of the Student Council room.
Unexpectedly, Sudō-kun did not protest or shout. Perhaps he understood that without the class's support, he would have already been finished from the beginning.
Ayanokōji-kun and Sakura-san stood by the door while the rest of us left.
"Sakura-san, thank you very much for your effort today. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask," I said.
She nodded shyly, her eyes still fixed on the ground.
I took one last look at the Student Council room door, then walked down the hallway behind Horikita-san.
"Is this acceptable?" Horikita-san still seemed uncertain about the decision she had made, especially since I had not given her time to respond or think.
"It is appropriate. Even if we fail, Sudō-kun's punishment may at least improve his behavior slightly."
"Perhaps you are right."
At the end of the hallway, I noticed a woman leaning against the wall. I recognized her immediately from her familiar hairstyle.
Chabashira-sensei... I thought she had already left.
"Yukinoshita... you understand the seriousness of what you have done, don't you?" She pushed herself off the wall and stood in front of us.
"Yes. I will take responsibility, no matter the outcome."
Chabashira-sensei let out a deep sigh, then turned away from us.
"I told you before... Class D is the class of defects, remember?"
Horikita-san and I exchanged glances after hearing that same phrase again.
She had said the same thing on the rooftop before, and Hikigaya-kun had been extremely irritated by it.
"The most defective student in Class D is Ayanokōji Kiyotaka. And the one who understands what it means to be defective the most is Hikigaya Hachiman," she said, walking down the corridor.
I could not help but feel surprised by her words. Horikita-san seemed just as stunned as I was.
"What do you mean?" Horikita-san asked, staring at the teacher's back.
What does she mean... that they are the ones who will solve this problem?
Ayanokōji-kun is a mysterious person, impossible to read or predict. I suspect he was the one who convinced Sakura-san to testify in this case—there is no doubt about that.
I turned toward the Student Council room door, where Ayanokōji-kun, the president, and even Sakura-san were still standing.
As for Hikigaya-kun... from the beginning, he refused the idea of investigation. He even said he did not want to play the role of a detective.
Did he already know that things would not end so easily?
That... made sense.
This was bigger than simply figuring out who started the fight.
[POV :Hikigaya Hachiman]
I don't know much about court hearings. Most of what I know comes from TV dramas or books I've read. In other words, my knowledge is extremely limited.
And yet, in the Student Council right now, a kind of "trial" is taking place that could decide the future of Class D as a whole.
A trial concerning Sudō, accused of assaulting three students from Class C. And Class D's only witness is Sakura Airi. I don't actually know what she saw.
In fact, I haven't even met her properly yet, so I don't know what kind of person she is. All I know is that she's shy, according to what Kushida told me.
The president asked me to attend the hearing, and even Yukinoshita invited me to accompany her—but I refused both of them on the principle of treating everyone equally.
So now I'm sitting in class, staring at the blackboard with a blank expression.
Everyone from Class D left—Yukinoshita, Horikita, even Ayanokōji. As for Class C… I have no idea.
There was still some noise in the classroom from the remaining students. A group of girls… and Hirata as well.
I don't know why they're still here after class ended. Maybe they're just following Hirata since he refused to go to club activities until the hearing ended. They keep trying to pull him into conversations, but he just responds with an awkward smile.
Suddenly, he stood up from among them and walked toward my desk. He stopped in front of me and slightly raised his hand in greeting.
"Hey, Hikigaya-kun… can I sit here?"
"…Ah, yeah."
He pulled out the chair in front of me and sat down quietly.
"What is he doing here?"
"Who is that?"
Whispers started coming from the girls' side.
Well… what am I even doing here? Sitting outside is hot, standing in the hallway is tiring, and this classroom is air-conditioned. Clearly, the best option is to sit here and do nothing.
Let's ignore the murderous stares from the girls for now. I didn't call Hirata over, you know.
I preferred being alone like an idiot.
"I thought you'd go with them," Hirata said.
I lifted my head from my fingers.
"You mean the hearing? No, I don't like attending those kinds of things." Also, Yukinoshita and Horikita are way better at talking than I am.
"Really… I wanted to go too, but I wouldn't be of any help," Hirata said with a slightly sad tone.
He probably felt helpless after failing to find any evidence to help Sudō.
None of us found anything, so all of us are powerless.
"I always talk about helping my classmates… isn't that strange?" Hirata said with an awkward smile.
That is strange to me. I don't really understand it.
"Hirata…"
"Hmm?"
He lifted his head, waiting for me to continue.
"You want to protect all your classmates, right?"
"Ah… yes."
"Then get stronger…"
I looked at him half-lidded. He was staring at me with his mouth slightly open.
Did he not understand what I meant?
"I don't mean physical strength, obviously…"
Hirata is smart and talented. He could contribute a lot to the class.
That way, Yukinoshita wouldn't drag me into things anymore, and I could enjoy my peaceful retirement plan for high school.
Haha… I should probably work on my evil laugh.
"Yeah… I get what you mean… maybe I should become strong like you," Hirata said with a bright smile.
"No, I'm actually terrible at sports…" I really hate physical activity. Even PE class is a pain.
I won the school marathon once, but only because other students deliberately slowed down so I could win and stand on the podium just to laugh at me.
Damn it… I accidentally stepped on a landmine.
"Haha… Hikigaya-kun, but I didn't mean physical strength," Hirata said.
Right… he's correct. We weren't talking about that.
But I'm not strong.
Suddenly, my phone vibrated in my pocket.
A call?
Who is it?
I pulled out my phone. The name "Tachibana-senpai" was clearly displayed on the screen.
We exchanged contact information because she said she would call me when they decided to expel me from the Student Council.
Wait… is that moment finally here?
"Hikigaya-kun, why are you crying…?" Hirata noticed the tears forming in the corners of my eyes.
"Idiot… I'm not crying. These are tears of joy."
Yes… overwhelming joy.
I pressed the green button and answered without saying anything.
"Hikigaya-kun, come to the Student Council room. Now."
Tachibana-senpai's voice sounded irritated.
So I'm not getting expelled.
If I were, she'd probably sound happier.
"Has the hearing ended?" Hirata stood up and looked at me from above, waiting.
"Ah… I don't know, but probably, yeah."
Tachibana-senpai didn't say anything else.
"I should go now," I said, standing up and leaving the classroom, heading toward the Student Council room.
Judging by the time… Sudō's hearing must have already ended.
I reached the corridor where the Student Council room was. Ayanokōji and the president were standing in front of the door.
Maybe the others had already left.
"Hikigaya, you're here. Go inside," the president said, half annoyed, half irritated.
That makes things confusing.
Before entering, I glanced at Ayanokōji, trying to read the situation—but as usual, he had the same boring expression.
No way I'm getting anything from him.
I entered the room.
Tachibana-senpai was organizing some documents and only gave me a brief glance before returning to her work.
The president closed the door and sat down at the head of the table.
"Hikigaya, why didn't you attend the hearing?" he asked, fingers interlocked in front of his face.
"Ah… well… I was busy…" I scratched the back of my head slowly.
I wasn't actually busy… I was just looking for something to keep myself busy.
So technically, I was busy.
I nodded to myself internally.
"That's not acceptable. If I call you, you must attend," he said, tapping the table with his finger.
I don't like attending these kinds of gatherings anyway. Isn't that enough reason?
"…Sorry," I replied.
The best way to calm your boss is to apologize, even if you're not wrong.
"Anyway… the hearing ended due to lack of evidence. Class C proposed a settlement between both parties," the president said.
I don't know what kind of evidence Sakura Airi presented, but if they moved to a settlement, that itself is a kind of result.
"But Yukinoshita refused… and requested a three-day extension to find conclusive evidence. If she fails, Sudō will be punished alone," he added.
That froze me.
Yukinoshita doesn't even accept a draw.
Searching for evidence again won't help… because there probably isn't any in the first place.
"Hey, President… what happens if Class C withdraws the complaint?"
"The case ends. The school won't intervene if the victim doesn't press charges."
I see.
So if a problem stops causing trouble… it stops being a problem.