Some people living in this world are inherently a mistake.
After Jo-kun was caught again, Teacher Hamasaki's patience with him had reached its limit.
She had clearly become a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.
Framing a classmate for stealing money, secretly taking photos of female classmates—either of these acts should warrant being sent to the Police station.
But the most infuriating part was that Amano Academy's rules stipulated that teachers were not allowed to do so; they needed to prioritize mediation, and only if mediation failed should the matter be handed over to the police.
'For this trivial matter, I have to work overtime again. Who's going to pay me for overtime? Seriously.'
Teacher Hamasaki, whose anger had been ignited, had already severely reprimanded Jo-kun before the victims and the perpetrators' families arrived.
She spoke of him as utterly worthless, making him stand in the corner, head bowed, not daring to utter a sound.
But he was truly wronged. Jo-kun could say with full responsibility that he absolutely did not secretly photograph Kato Nana.
He had always been photographing Hoshino Jun; it was Kato Nana herself who inexplicably walked into the frame.
She was simply a jinx.
This feeling of being wrongly accused and successfully convicted made Jo-kun quite uncomfortable.
However...
No matter how uncomfortable Jo-kun was, it was useless. Teacher Hamasaki had clearly made up her mind and simply wouldn't trust him.
And she had also notified his mother to come.
Now, Jo-kun didn't know how he would explain it if his mother arrived later.
'But, if it's Mom, she should believe me, right?'
'Last time I made Mom angry in the restaurant, she forgave me after I cooked a meal.'
'It should be similar this time.'
Those who are favored tend to be fearless.
Jo-kun wasn't too afraid of this hurdle with Takayanagi Yuki; what truly made him feel disheartened was the situation with Yamada Kaoru.
If this matter reached Kaoru's ears...
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Just as Jo-kun was thinking of Yamada Kaoru, the office door was knocked upon.
The one who opened the door was none other than this time's "victim," Kato Nana.
"Hello, Teacher Hamasaki, I am Kato Nana."
Kato Nana knew Teacher Hamasaki of Class 3-B because her long legs under her 1.7-meter height were simply too striking to ignore.
Especially compared to Kato Nana, who was only 1.5 meters tall.
She really wished Teacher Hamasaki could give her five centimeters.
"Kato-san, please come in. First, on behalf of my student, I want to apologize to you."
Teacher Hamasaki bowed in apology. Although she was annoyed by the unpaid overtime, she was never careless in her work.
After apologizing, Teacher Hamasaki began to explain the details of the incident to Kato Nana, as well as the school's decision to give Kato Nana the power to decide.
Whether to send Jo-kun to the Police station or to forgive him for this mistake.
It all depended on whether Kato Nana would be merciful.
If it were someone else, seeing Jo-kun's current state, they might pity him.
But the first moment Kato Nana saw him, she frowned.
"Isn't this Takasaki Yusuke's scoundrel friend?"
Kato Nana shook her head and said directly:
"Teacher, this scumbag already secretly photographed me once in the library. I already forgave him that time."
An unexpected reply.
Teacher Hamasaki's gaze completely turned cold.
'This unrepentant bastard, it's better to send him to prison.'
Unfortunately, as a teacher, she couldn't make decisions for her students.
Jo-kun's face was extremely grim. He didn't expect Kato Nana to bring up that incident.
"Jo."
Takayanagi Yuki, who had rushed over with Hoshino Jun, just happened to hear Kato Nana's words. She bit her red lip and asked incredulously:
"Is what this girl is saying true?"
"These are all well-substantiated facts. Do you think I would lie to gain sympathy?"
Kato Nana noticed the figure standing behind Takayanagi Yuki, pouted, and retorted mercilessly.
"I didn't, don't talk nonsense!" Jo-kun roared.
"Shut up! The evidence is right in front of you, and you're still quibbling!"
Teacher Hamasaki slammed the desk heavily, staring at Jo-kun.
Her cold eyes seemed to contain endless ice.
"You said you were photographing Hoshino Jun. Fine, now Hoshino Jun is here. Speak up, why were you photographing Hoshino Jun?"
Outside the window...
Was the rustling of trees.
Jo-kun fell silent.
He couldn't give that answer.
Exchanging Hoshino Jun's whereabouts for Yamada Kaoru's daily movements?
This reason would surely provoke Kaoru, and it would definitely make Kaoru say some very hurtful things.
Jo-kun could already foresee it. He dared not face Yamada Kaoru's look of utter disgust towards him.
"Can't answer, can you? Then what to do is up to Kato-san."
Teacher Hamasaki was too lazy to waste any more words and said directly: "I support all of Kato-san's decisions."
It would be best to send this scoundrel away, and certainly not let him be like that simple and kind fool Hoshino Jun, who doesn't care about anything.
Jo-kun turned his head away defiantly, only to meet Takayanagi Yuki's reddened eyes.
The beautiful woman's heart ached as if being twisted by a knife, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
"Mom." Jo-kun panicked a little, opening his mouth to say something, but saw his mother shake her head at him, full of disappointment.
Her sorrow and despondency, along with her tears, spread throughout the office.
A mother's tears silenced everyone in the office.
Even Teacher Hamasaki, who had been determined to punish Jo-kun, stopped her aggressive attitude. She hadn't intended to be kind to Jo-kun's mother.
She had already prepared her lines.
'What kind of parents could raise such a failed son?'
But seeing her bitter tears, Teacher Hamasaki chose to remain silent.
Everyone, including Teacher Hamasaki, could feel the beautiful woman's despair at that moment.
She had never imagined that her son was actually a serial secret photographer.
And both times, he had secretly photographed the same girl named "Kato Nana."
Now, the girl no longer wanted to forgive him, so what should be done?
After all, he was her child. Takayanagi Yuki still wanted to plead with Kato Nana on Jo-kun's behalf, even if it meant kneeling to apologize.
Just as she was about to take that step, Hoshino Jun grabbed her wrist, stepped forward, and once again stood in front of her.
"Kato-san, how about giving me some face and treating today's matter lightly?"
"We'll give Jo a minor punishment, making him write a hundred self-reflection essays."
"As for sending him to the Police station, let's not do that, okay?"
The white office lights shone on the handsome face of the young man. He smiled as he pleaded for Jo-kun.
Everyone, including Jo-kun himself, looked at Hoshino Jun in surprise, wondering why this guy was choosing to help him again.
Only Kato Nana's eyes sparkled with a different light.
She suddenly remembered what Hoshino-kun had asked her to do not long ago.
So...
This was all Hoshino-kun's doing.
What did he want to do?
Kato Nana seemed to have guessed something, turning her head to look behind Hoshino-kun, her gaze fixed on the beautiful woman who was staring intently at Hoshino-kun's back.