The search for any information related to Sudou's case had begun, and groups from Class D spread throughout the school asking around for evidence or witnesses.
Meanwhile, I chose to remain in the student council room, doing my duties surrounded by piles of paperwork.
If you asked me to choose between student council work or an investigation, I would definitely choose staying home.
But since that option wasn't available, I chose the student council.
Maybe becoming a corporate slave really does suit me more.
My working hours in the student council room eventually ended, so I left in the evening as usual to return to my dorm room.
However, I didn't take my usual route. Somehow, my legs led me toward the special annex instead.
"What am I even doing here...?"
Like an idiot, I found myself standing at the exact place where the incident had happened.
Why did I come here?
Am I stupid?
I spotted a bench in the empty hallway and walked over to sit down.
Maybe exhaustion was starting to drive me insane, so it was probably better to sit and rest for a while.
The hallway was quiet and empty, but without air conditioning, the temperature was high.
I placed my bag on the bench beside me, unbuttoned another button of my shirt, and stretched my legs out in front of me.
The special annex was probably the quietest area in the entire school, so seeing people pass through here was rare.
My eyes moved across the corners that, just as the president told me, were completely free of security cameras.
Even though the laboratories and equipment were located here, there were no surveillance systems at all.
That was strange.
If this really was a trap, then whoever chose this location was very clever.
No passersby.
No witnesses.
No cameras.
No evidence.
That drastically reduced the number of cards on the table.
I stood up from the bench to leave. There was no point sitting here forever waiting for something to suddenly appear.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and exited the building.
The sky had already turned purple, and darkness wasn't far away anymore.
It was probably better to return home and prepare dinner.
I started walking toward the dorms when I noticed a group of students sitting on a bench in the garden. They looked genuinely exhausted.
I recognized Ayanokouji immediately because of his strange hairstyle.
Maybe they were another Class D group searching for clues.
I stopped in place and watched them from a distance.
Should I go ask them?
Would they even want to share information with me when I wasn't helping with the search?
Well, even if the others refused, Ayanokouji might still agree.
I approached the group, which consisted of Ayanokouji, Yamauchi, and Ike.
The other two were sitting on the bench panting heavily, probably exhausted from searching.
I stood beside Ayanokouji, who looked at me the moment I approached, while the others didn't even notice my existence.
"Yo..."
"Hello."
Ayanokouji didn't seem tired from the investigation at all. He stood there calmly as if nothing had happened.
"Any progress?" I tried to find out whether they had discovered anything, but Ayanokouji merely shook his head.
Several days had already passed, yet they still hadn't found any evidence.
At this rate, the deadline would arrive before they found anything.
I glanced toward Yamauchi and Ike.
The two of them looked like they were about to fall asleep next to each other.
Did they really push themselves this hard for their friend?
That might actually be admirable.
"Ichinose Honami from Class B is helping us too."
"Class B?"
"Yeah."
"Helping you?"
"Yeah."
I couldn't help being surprised by Ayanokouji's words.
Wasn't Ichinose the leader of Class B?
Then why was she helping another class like this? Weren't we supposed to be rivals?
And they trusted her this easily?
She could easily be cooperating with Class C and misleading us.
This was strange.
"She was here just now. She told me she found some information because of the announcement."
"Announcement?" I hadn't heard anything about an announcement, so hearing that from Ayanokouji surprised me.
"She offered a reward to anyone who provides information about the incident." Ayanokouji pointed toward the bulletin board nearby.
Yukinoshita had mentioned something similar earlier too.
But for the leader of Class B to think of it as well...
Still, what information did they actually find?
"So what did she learn?"
"One of the students who fought Sudou used to be a bully in middle school."
"Hmm..."
I looked at Ayanokouji before turning my gaze forward again.
That didn't really feel new or useful.
Everyone already knew that the students from Class C were delinquents.
Some people even considered Sudou a delinquent too.
So their fight might simply have been a clash between delinquents.
Well, they should at least thank her for trying to help.
Unlike certain people hiding behind student council work as an excuse.
Wait... that sounds familiar.
"Good evening, Hikigaya-kun..."
Suddenly, Kushida stood in front of me with her bright smile.
I nearly jumped in surprise.
I didn't expect her to appear, and I had been completely lost in my thoughts too.
"Ah... hey." I tried to hide my surprise and greet her normally.
Was she part of this search group too?
"Hikigaya-kun, did you come to help too?" She stepped slightly closer, invading my personal space.
I instinctively stepped back.
Was she seriously going to stand this close just because we talked a couple of times?
This is bad.
This is really bad.
Besides, Kushida always scares me.
There's always something strange about her, and I still remember that sinister expression I saw from her in class.
I'll never forget it.
Maybe it only lasted for a moment, but it stayed burned into my mind.
"Well... I should get going now. See you." I quickly said goodbye and headed back toward the dorms.
I still needed to cook dinner.
Even with the class divided into groups and another class joining the investigation, no real progress had been made.
"Tch... heh..."
An involuntary laugh escaped my mouth, and I quickly covered it with my hand.
It seems Sudou's luck is truly terrible.
×××
I returned to my quiet room once again, placed my bag and jacket on the bed, then stood in the kitchen preparing my delicious dinner.
I think cooking suits me more than working as a corporate slave.
Maybe there's still a chance for me to become a full-time househusband.
No, that idea is stupid.
It would probably get me beaten up.
Once again, strange noise was coming from the room next door.
Was Ayanokouji holding another party or something?
This is annoying.
I ignored the noise and tried focusing on my current task instead.
Standing before the ingredients and cooking tools, I thought about what I should make tonight.
Rice and some vegetables should be enough.
Maybe I'll add boiled eggs too.
I chopped some carrots and vegetables, put them on the stove with seasoning, then started the rice cooker.
Maybe I should grab a drink from the vending machine too.
Then dinner would be complete.
I stood in front of the pot, watching it carefully so it wouldn't burn and ruin dinner.
But suddenly, I heard the room's doorbell ring.
What the...?
This room has a doorbell?
I never knew that. Nobody usually visits me.
Who could it be?
The landlord?
Ah, right. We don't pay rent here.
Then who—
I slowly opened the door to see Ayanokouji standing in front of me in his school uniform, with Horikita behind him.
What do they want?
Rent money?
I'm not paying.
"What is it?" I frowned at Ayanokouji standing in front of me.
Doesn't he know I'm busy cooking?
Well, there's no way he could know.
"Horikita found out something new and wanted to share it with us... I thought you might be interested." Ayanokouji stepped aside slightly, making space for me to come out.
Something new?
Maybe it was about Sudou's case.
"I contacted Yukinoshita-san, but she's busy preparing for the student council hearing, so I came to inform Ayanokouji-kun instead."
There's no need to phrase it like that, Horikita.
I already understood you weren't planning to tell me personally.
I closed my room door and leaned against the hallway wall.
"Horikita-san..."
Suddenly, Kushida appeared from behind Ayanokouji.
Did she just come out of his room?
Wait...
Was that the reason for all the noise?
No, hold on a second.
He invites girls into his room?
I narrowed my eyes at Ayanokouji.
I didn't expect him to do something like that, especially in the room next to mine.
This is unacceptable.
Horikita started turning away as if she was about to leave.
So we weren't going to hear the information after all?
Did she really hate Kushida that much?
Or did she realize Kushida came out of Ayanokouji's room and decide to retreat immediately?
"Horikita, Sudou and the others are inside too..."
As if Ayanokouji understood exactly what we were thinking, he quickly corrected the misunderstanding.
So the others were there too.
That explains the noise.
Actually... that's even worse.
I couldn't help frowning in dissatisfaction.
They were disturbing me during my moments of contemplation.
That's unforgivable.
"Horikita-san, did you come to help too...?"
It seemed Kushida and the others had gathered here simply to investigate the case further, using Ayanokouji's room as their headquarters.
Poor guy.
"Horikita, if you want to tell us something about Sudou's case, let's go inside... Someone might overhear us in the hallway." Ayanokouji looked around cautiously to make sure nobody was nearby.
Fair point.
No strangers should overhear anything, especially students from Class C.
They might interfere and cause problems.
Horikita reluctantly agreed to enter the room.
So she would be joining the meeting too.
Things might actually progress further now.
That was good.
But for some reason, Horikita, Kushida, and even Ayanokouji suddenly started staring at me.
Did I say something strange?
I was pretty sure I kept my thoughts to myself.
"What?" I don't like it when people stare at me directly like that.
"Aren't you coming in...?" Ayanokouji pointed inside the room.
Huh?
What does he mean?
Go into his room too?
No, that's way too weird.
"I'm not going in."
"Why not, Hikigaya-kun...?" Kushida stepped out of the room and stood directly in front of me.
"I just don't want to..." I had never visited a classmate's room before. I didn't know how I was supposed to behave, so refusing felt safer.
"Do you dislike entering other people's rooms? Then what about moving the meeting to your room?" Kushida placed a finger against her chin while looking upward thoughtfully.
What kind of terrifying suggestion is that?
I'm not letting anyone enter my den.
And I don't want to go inside either, but...
I also want to know what's going on...
"F-Fine... I'll come in."
Ayanokouji stepped aside to let me pass.
I entered the room awkwardly.
I honestly didn't even know what I was supposed to say.
"H-Hi..." My lips moved stiffly, and I barely managed to force out the words.
Horikita turned toward me after hearing that and immediately started staring.
"How pathetic. Is this your first time visiting someone's room?"
How rude.
I visit my relatives all the time...
Then I remembered I had gone to Yuigahama's house before too, but that situation had been easier somehow.
Well, whatever.
Let's just act normal.
I entered the room properly.
Yamauchi and Ike were sitting on the floor, while Sudou leaned against the bed.
Horikita sat on the chair near the desk, Kushida stood on the other side of the room, and both Ayanokouji and I remained standing near the door.
What surprised me was that Ayanokouji's room hadn't changed at all.
It looked exactly like mine, with the same design as on the first day.
Actually, it was even cleaner than my room.
"Ohh, Hikitani, you're here too..." Yamauchi suddenly shouted my name—or at least something close to it—from the middle of the room.
"It's Hikigaya. Hikigaya..." Sudou corrected him.
Looks like he still remembered my name from that conversation we had before.
That was... surprisingly considerate of him.
"Everyone... Horikita-san has something she wants to tell us." Kushida naturally took control of the conversation like any sociable person would in this type of gathering.
After her announcement, all eyes turned toward Horikita, who was staring at the desk in front of her.
Horikita put her hand in the pocket of her jacket, then took out her phone and placed it on the table.
"Hello? …" A familiar voice came from the phone.
It seems she had called Yukinoshita.
"Hello, Yukinoshita-san. I've gathered with the others and I wanted you to be present as well so you can hear what's going to happen…"
It seems Horikita had already decided that Yukinoshita's presence was necessary for this meeting, so she called her.
"Alright…"
"There may be a witness to Sudou's case..."
"Seriously?!" Sudou immediately stood up after hearing the news.
The tension in the room instantly rose, and Horikita wasted no time continuing.
"Sakura Airi from our class..."
Horikita revealed the name of the potential witness.
While excitement spread through the room, I glanced toward Ayanokouji beside me.
He immediately understood what I meant and started explaining.
"She's the girl who sits in the back row..."
Seems like Ayanokouji knows his classmates well.
I didn't recognize the name at all.
Maybe I simply never noticed her before.
But...
"Horikita, how did you figure this out?" We should confirm the source of the information before making any moves. It could just be an attempt to mislead us.
"When Chabashira-sensei announced the incident, most students were looking toward her... but Sakura seemed unusually nervous. It felt like she knew something."
Horikita explained her reasoning while everyone else merely blinked.
Most people probably wouldn't notice something as subtle as eye movement, but with enough focus...
"Horikita-san, although your conclusion seems weak, it might be useful as a starting point," Yukinoshita joined the discussion naturally, as if she were in the room.
She's right.
Even though her reasoning sounded weak, it wasn't a bad starting point.
Maybe it was only a rumor, but following this lead was still worthwhile.
"Kushida, do you know her?" Ayanokouji asked Kushida since she was the type who knew everyone in class.
Kushida played with a strand of her short hair while thinking.
"Yes... but Sakura-san is a shy girl. She doesn't like talking much."
Shy?
"Hmm… maybe that's why she hasn't spoken until now," Yukinoshita said, seemingly thinking about Kushida's words.
That might be possible, but she already knows that Sudou's class situation and future are in danger, and yet she hasn't taken any action.
Maybe she's hiding something.
Or perhaps Class C threatened her.
If they really were delinquents and learned she knew something, they wouldn't hesitate to do something like that.
No... it would be difficult for them to reach her before we did.
If she's as unnoticeable as Kushida says, then she probably flies under everyone's radar.
Maybe she's simply hiding something.
"Then, can you ask her about this…?" Yukinoshita understood that Kushida was the most suitable person for this task.
If someone intimidating like Horikita questioned her instead, things might only get worse.
"Okay, I'll try tomorrow..." Kushida raised her small fist energetically.
"Even if we find evidence or a witness, it still may not change much..." Horikita muttered quietly.
"What do you mean?" Sudou stood up once again, unable to understand what she meant.
That's true.
After all this effort, they might still hit a wall in the end.
"She means proving your innocence won't be easy even if witnesses exist." I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall behind me.
"What?" Sudou's confused eyes shifted from Horikita toward me.
He should probably understand this now before reality hits him later.
"Do you know what reputation means? It's the same thing here. Everyone already sees Sudou as a violent brute."
"The hell are you saying, bastard?!" Sudou jumped up angrily.
I pointed at him with my index finger.
"That's exactly what I mean. Everyone already knows Sudou as someone violent who loses his temper quickly. Any argument involving him could easily turn into a fight. So even if a witness says you're innocent, Sudou, things won't end that easily... this is bigger than simply asking who started the fight."
If you already have a bad record, then even if you're innocent, proving it becomes difficult.
Who would believe a criminal?
Sudou, Yamauchi, and Ike stared at me with half-open mouths as they tried processing what I said.
"Sudou-kun, Hikigaya-kun is right. Even if you're innocent, people will judge based on what they saw, not the truth…"
Yukinoshita's voice echoed in the room again.
I think Sudou understands that well. He might have faced something like this before.
Alright.
It seemed the discussion was over.
Kushida would speak to the girl tomorrow and hopefully learn something.
It was probably best for me to leave now.
"Hikigaya-kun, you don't seem cooperative at all... Do you at least have a plan?" Horikita suddenly spun her chair toward me before I could leave.
Our eyes met directly as she stared at me insistently, trying to force out whatever was in my head.
"Hahahaha! Hikitani has a plan? That's hilarious!" Yamauchi burst out laughing from the floor until everyone started staring at him.
"Heheheh, shut up, he's still here..." Ike started pushing his friend, trying to stop him.
"Hah..." A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips as everyone's attention returned to me.
"That's right. What kind of plan are you even talking about? I'm not helping because I'm busy with student council work..."
"Horikita-san, I know you see Hikigaya-kun as a strange eccentric person and that you can't understand what's going on in his head…"
But Yukinoshita-san, saying that in front of everyone is painful.
"Hikigaya-kun won't hesitate to help if the opportunity appears. That's what I know very well."
My eyes didn't leave the phone on the table, from which Yukinoshita's voice continued to come.
I waved my hand casually before leaving.
I didn't want to stay there any longer.
I stepped out of Ayanokouji's room and into the hallway.
Even if I did have a plan, carrying it out would be another matter entirely...
At least, that's what I thought.
I opened the door to my room and stepped inside.
Something felt strange in the air.
Almost like...
Smoke?
I quickly rushed toward the pot on the stove and opened it.
Its contents were completely burned.
"They... they ruined my dinner..."