Hirata Yosuke walked onto the podium. He wore a gentle smile, acting as the cohesive force for Class D, as he always did.
"I understand that everyone is upset because points were deducted, but I believe what we should be doing now is not blaming each other."
His gaze swept across the class and finally landed on Sudo Ken, his eyes filled with sincere trust.
"I choose to believe Sudo-kun. Because he is our classmate."
Hirata's voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a strength that could calm people down.
"There is still a week until the Student Council negotiation. Instead of complaining to each other here, wouldn't it be better if we all worked together to find evidence and witnesses for Sudo-kun? This is not just for Sudo-kun, but for our collective, Class D."
The moment he finished speaking, a clear voice immediately responded.
"I agree with Hirata-kun!"
Karuizawa Kei was the first to stand up, expressing her support for Hirata without hesitation.
Following the statement from their female leader, the other girls nearby immediately echoed her sentiment.
"Since Hirata-kun said so..."
"Yeah, we should trust our comrades."
On the girls' side, the situation was instantly reversed.
Just then, Kushida Kikyo stood up again, her smile even brighter than before, and sweetly chimed in:
"Exactly! I believe Sudo-kun too! We are all classmates and partners; when a partner is in trouble, we absolutely cannot stand by and do nothing!"
Her words were like a spark igniting a prairie fire, instantly rekindling the boys' cooled enthusiasm. Under the call of Little Angel Kushida, the boys also expressed their willingness to help.
The tense atmosphere in the classroom immediately shifted under the instigation of Hirata and Kushida, transforming into one of "unity and overcoming difficulties together."
Kushida Kikyo looked at the scene before her with satisfaction, then walked with light steps straight to the back row of the classroom.
She stopped by Natsukawa Sosuke's desk, leaned in slightly, and smiled sweetly:
"Natsukawa-kun, you'll help too, right?"
Natsukawa Sosuke raised his head, meeting her eyes, which appeared innocent but secretly held shrewdness.
He glanced at Hirata, who was still appealing for unity on the podium, and then at the surrounding students, who were incited into a frenzy. He knew very well that in this atmosphere, hijacked by "collectivism," any opposing word would instantly make him the class's public enemy.
So, he simply nodded lightly and uttered a perfunctory syllable from his throat.
"Mm."
Having received an affirmative reply, Kushida Kikyo's smile grew even brighter. She seemed completely oblivious to Natsukawa's perfunctoriness, happily clenched her little fists, and said in an energetic voice:
"That's wonderful! Let's work hard together, Natsukawa-kun!"
...When the afternoon dismissal bell rang, everyone gathered their bags in twos and threes, preparing to leave.
But Kushida Kikyo, like a tireless butterfly, flitted through the classroom.
"Don't lose heart, everyone! We'll definitely find clues!"
After comforting several downcast girls, she took light steps and purposefully headed toward the corner of the back row.
"Natsukawa-kun, let's go!"
Kushida Kikyo wore a sweet smile and naturally stood beside Natsukawa Sosuke's desk, adopting the posture of "we're going to investigate together."
Natsukawa Sosuke lifted his gaze, looking at her calmly, his tone undisturbed: "Where are we going?"
"To investigate, of course!" Kushida said matter-of-factly, even with a hint of petulant complaint, "Didn't we agree during the morning meeting? We're going to look for eyewitnesses for Sudo-kun together!"
Natsukawa Sosuke's gaze passed over her and looked out the window. His voice was devoid of emotion: "That was what you guys agreed upon. I merely nodded."
His implication was clear: he had no intention of actively participating.
"Eh—" Kushida deliberately drew out the sound, leaning forward slightly, clasping her hands over her chest. Her large, watery eyes instantly filled with pleading and grievance, like a small animal abandoned by its owner.
"You can't do this, Natsukawa-kun! You clearly already agreed! Backing out now is too sneaky! Please, just come with me to ask around... I'll be scared by myself..."
She deliberately softened her voice; her pitiful, desperately pleading, cute appearance was enough to make any normal male unable to refuse.
Natsukawa Sosuke met her gaze for a moment. He knew very well that everything the girl displayed was merely a carefully calculated performance. But he had to admit, her acting was impeccable.
Finally, Natsukawa sighed softly inwardly. He wasn't truly soft-hearted; he simply felt that refusing such a persistent request might bring about more unnecessary trouble later.
"...Just this once."
He forced out a few words from his throat, signifying his agreement.
"That's amazing! I knew Natsukawa-kun was the best!"
Kushida Kikyo instantly brightened up, her smile even more dazzling than before. She even naturally reached out, wanting to take Natsukawa's arm, but Natsukawa subtly avoided her touch. She didn't mind, however, and just happily spun around beside him.
"Then let's hurry up and leave! Time waits for no one!"
Just like that, under Kushida's semi-coerced, semi-coquettish dragging, Natsukawa Sosuke followed her to begin this investigation, which he considered meaningless.
As the two walked across the campus, they naturally attracted many glances. Kushida Kikyo, famous as the super-popular beauty among the first-years, was a focal point wherever she went.
Of course, the so-called investigation had clear divisions of labor from the start.
Kushida Kikyo was responsible for utilizing her terrifying social skills, smilingly stopping student after student from different classes whom she knew, and questioning them in the gentlest, least aggressive manner possible.
"Oh, Tanaka-san! Long time no see! Um, I wanted to bother you for a moment, but did you happen to pass near the Special Instruction Building on the afternoon of the 28th, last Friday?"
Natsukawa Sosuke, meanwhile, consistently maintained the distance of an observer, hands in his pockets, standing quietly a few meters away, like a backdrop unrelated to the matter.
Kushida was currently stopping a Class A girl for questioning. The girl seemed to be her friend, and the two were chatting intimately.
Natsukawa's gaze wasn't focused on them, but his thoughts drifted back to fragmented memories of this plot point.
In his memory, the sole eyewitness to the Sudo Ken violence incident at this point in time should have been Sakura Airi.
On that day, she should have gone alone to the secluded Special Instruction Building to conduct her "Shizuku" photoshoot. It was precisely because of this that she happened to witness the conflict between Sudo and those few Class C students.
But now...
...
Read more at patreon.com/zeaser
Please donate power stones