After leaving the principal's office, Taichi couldn't help but roll his eyes. Did they really think he was some big, selfless saint who wouldn't ask for anything or extort them? Not at all! It was all because of X. Using the evidence he had to demand a fair outcome was one thing; at most, it would just establish him as someone who despises evil. But if he dared to use it for personal gain, X wouldn't abandon him, but he would certainly lose the Ultra's trust. Was a bit of money and a chance at a full-time job more important than X? He was Ultraman X, after all!
Beyond the Shiho Suzui incident, the entire school was probably buzzing with all sorts of rumors today. As for classes... who was in the mood to study? And as for his job... the principal likely didn't want to see him at school. So Taichi left the school gates and took the bus straight to the hospital. He felt he should check on the person he had saved.
The pig-headed principal was a man of action. He agreed to Taichi's demands and immediately took care of them. The room wasn't a VIP suite, but it was a high-end single room in the hospital's inpatient ward. In addition to covering other fees, the principal paid for a full half-month of hospitalization for Shiho Suzui in one go.
When Taichi arrived at the hospital room, the only people there were the still-unconscious Shiho Suzui and Ann Takamaki, who was sitting on a single sofa, clutching Shiho's hand.
"How is she?" Taichi asked, tapping the side of the sofa as he approached.
"Hiss—! It's you." Ann Takamaki, who had been lost in thought, was startled but then relieved to see it was Taichi. "The doctor has seen her. He said she fainted from extreme anxiety. She should be fine after the IV drip."
"The principal already paid for a half-month of hospitalization. Tell her to rest here for the next two weeks," Taichi said.
"The principal?" Ann Takamaki looked at Taichi, stunned. "Why would he...?"
"Oh, simply put, it was to shut me up," Taichi said with a shrug. "That guy Kamoshida didn't communicate well with the principal when he tried to smooth things over. It led to the principal's attempt to threaten me failing miserably, and he ended up having to accept my demands."
"Kamoshida... that bastard! Did he do this to Shiho?!" Ann Takamaki asked, gritting her teeth.
"Yesterday after school, Suzui was almost... by Kamoshida in the lounge. I found out and ruined his plan."
"Then, as soon as I got to school today, I received a farewell text from Suzui. I looked up and saw her on the rooftop getting ready to jump."
"My only interaction with her was that incident last night, so Kamoshida must have done something to make her so desperate."
"Last night... that damn Kamoshida! He actually... to Shiho?!"
"You seem to know something," Taichi said, raising an eyebrow at Ann Takamaki. "Can you tell me about it?"
In short, it was the story of a foolish high school girl who, to help her only friend become a key player on the volleyball team, decided to play along with the teacher. But she couldn't bring herself to go through with it and ultimately refused his inappropriate request.
"...I think I know why this foolish girl jumped," Taichi muttered, stroking his chin.
"Huh? Wasn't she forced by Kamoshida?" Ann Takamaki asked, looking at Taichi in confusion.
"No, I threatened Kamoshida yesterday. He probably wouldn't be bold enough to do anything that could ruin him in the short term," Taichi said, shaking his head. "So, after I left with Suzui, Kamoshida must have told her about the sacrifice you made for her."
"That's why she sent me that text, 'all the blame is mine,'" Taichi said, pulling out his phone and showing Shiho Suzui's message to Ann.
"How could that be... So, I'm the one who drove Shiho to this desperate situation?" Ann Takamaki whispered, her body trembling.
"It wasn't you. It was her guilt and self-blame, plus Kamoshida's manipulation," Taichi said, shaking his head. He patted Ann Takamaki on the head to comfort her. "After all, she's someone who is exceptionally kind to others but overly harsh on herself."
Taichi's words were helpful, but not entirely. Ann Takamaki cried her heart out. By the time she had composed herself and reapplied her makeup in the bathroom, it was past noon.
Shiho Suzui's parents were away on a business trip and weren't in Tokyo. Although the school had contacted them after Shiho's jump, it would still take them a while to get there.
But Ann Takamaki was still a student. Even though her teacher temporarily left her alone because of the chaos, her homeroom teacher, Ms. Kawakami, called her after lunch and urged her to return to school as soon as possible.
"I understand, Kawakami-sensei." Ann Takamaki hung up the phone, her eyes filled with worry as she looked at Shiho, who was still asleep in bed.
"I'll watch over her," Taichi said cheerfully, having saved the 800 yen for lunch by eating at the hospital. "I'll stay here until Suzui's parents arrive."
It was actually better for Taichi if Ann Takamaki left. With her there, it was hard for him to talk to X.
"Please!" Ann Takamaki bowed deeply to Taichi before leaving the hospital.
"X, how is Suzui doing now?"
"From a medical standpoint, her physical condition is quite good. It's just that the psychological trauma is a bit too much, so she's not willing to wake up just yet," X replied. "If you want to snap her out of her self-denial right now, we can intervene."
"...No, let her rest a little longer," Taichi said, shaking his head. "Running away isn't very helpful right now, but at least it will give her mind a chance to recover."
"That's true," X agreed.
The Suzuis arrived at the hospital around three in the afternoon. After telling the parents what had happened to Shiho, Taichi left the hospital with their thanks.
Even though he had the principal in his pocket, he still had to give him a little face. He didn't want him to actually dock his pay again.
He also needed to relay the news of the Suzuis' arrival to Ann Takamaki. Taichi didn't have her contact information.
Just as he was about to reach the school gate, Taichi happened to see Ann Takamaki hunched over at the entrance of a small alley across from the school, peering inside.