Chapter XCVII: The Passive Cooperation
It's another busy school day for Class 3-A, filled with activities like On-the-Job Training and other lessons that keep everyone on their toes. After a packed morning session, a few students decide to wind down before lunch. Satou, along with Toshiro, the Class President, the Assistant Vice President, and Katsu, opt to stay behind in the classroom to watch a movie on someone's tablet. It's their way of escaping the chaos for a little while.
Enmei, meanwhile, heads out with Yui, and Asahi leaves with Natsuki. Gin is absent for the day, leaving Kota and Akiko to have some time of their own. As the classroom empties, Tengen and Hanako hang back. Tengen, with his usual cocky attitude, suggests they join Kota and Akiko, but Hanako refuses, preferring to do something else.
Kota and Akiko head over to a cozy ramen shop located in the old mall nearby. The restaurant's familiar warmth offers a nice break from the usual school hustle. They sit at a small table in the corner. They then start by exchanging memes, both of them laughing as they scroll through their phones. But soon enough, the conversation shifts to something heavier—Tengen and Hanako. Kota, still shaken from the strange events of the previous sleepover and Tengen's recent behavior, can't help but express his concern.
"What do you think's going on with them?" Kota asks, twirling his chopsticks between his fingers.
"I feel like something's brewing, and I can't shake this weird feeling."
"What do you think they're planning?" Kota asks between bites, his brows furrowing with worry.
"I mean, after what happened, it's hard to tell what their next move will be."
Akiko places her hand on his, smiling softly.
"You worry too much, Ai. It'll be alright. We'll figure things out. Besides, you have me, remember? I'm here for you. Whatever happens, we'll handle it together."
Kota smiles, feeling a little reassured by her words. They glance at the time and realize they need to head back to school soon. After finishing their meal, they hop on Akiko's motorcycle and ride back, the wind helping clear Kota's mind of his concerns.
When they arrive back at the classroom, the atmosphere feels strange. Everyone is sitting at their desks, heads bowed down in a weirdly synchronized manner. It's quiet—too quiet.
"What's going on?" Kota asks as they walk in.
The Class Rep gestures toward them hurriedly, whispering, "Bow down! Dr. Yamada might come in any moment."
Confused but not wanting to stir the pot, Kota and Akiko quickly join in, bowing their heads like the rest of the class. The minutes crawl by, the tension in the room thickening with every passing second. Finally, the door swings open, and Dr. Yamada steps into the room. He takes one look at the students, all hunched over their desks, and his irritation is immediately evident.
He grumbles something under his breath before leaving just as suddenly as he arrived. A collective sigh of relief spreads through the classroom.
"Phew," someone mutters.
"He's gone."
But the moment of peace is short-lived, as Ms. Soumei soon enters with some bad news.
"Dr. Yamada is very upset," she announces, her voice serious.
"All of you are getting call-parent notices for tomorrow."
The news is met with indifference from most of the class. There are a few nervous glances, but overall, they don't seem too worried about the consequences.
Later that afternoon, as Kota walks past Dr. Yamada's office on his way out, the door suddenly opens, and the intimidating teacher steps out.
"Mizushiro-san," Dr. Yamada calls out, stopping him in his tracks.
"Can you spare a moment?"
Kota's heart skips a beat, but he walks over.
"Yes, sir?"
Dr. Yamada crosses his arms, his expression stern.
"Can you tell me what really happened in class today. Be honest, I want to know why"
Without hesitation, Kota recounts the truth. He doesn't sugarcoat anything, explaining why the class bowed their heads and how it was meant to avoid an awkward encounter with him. Dr. Yamada listens intently, his face softening just a little by the end.
"Thank you for being honest," Dr. Yamada says, surprising Kota with a rare hint of warmth in his voice.
"You're a memorable student, Kota. Your honesty sets you apart."
Kota blinks in surprise, not expecting such a personal remark from the usually stern professor.
"Thank you, sir," he replies, bowing slightly.
Akiko, who had been waiting nearby, watches the interaction with a smile, proud of Kota for standing up and telling the truth.
The next day, the parents of Class 3-A are summoned to school as promised. The tension in the classroom is palpable as Dr. Yamada explains what happened, recounting the students' strange behavior the day before. As he speaks, the Class Rep's father, an older man with a nervous disposition, grows increasingly agitated. His face turns red, his breathing shallow, until he suddenly clutches his chest in what looks like the beginnings of a heart attack.
Panic sweeps the room as the other parents rush to his side, but fortunately, it turns out to be more of a scare than an actual medical emergency. The situation is brought under control, but the mood in the room has soured.
Dr. Yamada, seeing how serious things have become, calls the students back in. He stands before them, arms crossed, and orders them to apologize.
"I have baffled of what happened yesterday. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"
The students, some more sincere than others, mumble out their apologies.
Afterward, the day moves toward an early dismissal. Kota and Akiko, eager to escape the heavy atmosphere, decide to go on a casual date. As they leave the campus, Kota can hear Toshiro and Satou muttering under their breath, clearly not happy with how things have turned out.
As the sun sets, Tengen and Hanako remain behind, huddled together as usual. Their attention is focused on their phones, and they exchange quick glances before typing away. The mysterious chat head that had been looming in the background of their lives sends another message, and this time, it's clear.
"Proceed with the next step," the message reads.
Tengen smirks, and Hanako nods in agreement. Their next move is already in motion.