July 1st. Wednesday.
I woke up in my dorm room with the morning sunlight pouring through the window, stretching lazily on my bed as usual.
Today marked the beginning of July.
Which also ant it was the day the school deposited our monthly Private Points.
In May and June, the amount deposited had matched each class's Class Points. But after spending all twenty million points to transfer into Class B, my current balance was only around one hundred thousand points. Since joining the student council, I'd been spending points on snacks for the upperclassn and slightly fancy tea to drink with Hiyori in the library, so I'd secretly been looking forward to this month's paynt.
(Alright, alright… how much did I get this month? We all survived the midterms together, so it should be a decent amount, right?)
Excited, I picked up the student terminal beside my pillow and opened the balance app.
The number displayed on the screen was—
105,420.
(......Huh???)
I rubbed my eyes and looked again.
Nothing had changed.
Not a single point had increased from yesterday's balance after buying groceries for dinner.
(Wait, what!? Today's the first, right!? Did I sohow get penalized and lose all my points without noticing!? But I haven't skipped student council work or classes!)
My heart started pounding unpleasantly first thing in the morning.
Suppressing my panic, I hurried into my uniform and headed to school.
Horoom
The classroom was unusually noisy that morning.
Apparently, I wasn't the only one who hadn't received points. My classmates were whispering anxiously:
"Is my terminal broken?"
"I didn't get anything either…"
The door slid open, and our horoom teacher, Chie Hoshinomiya, entered the classroom.
She wore her usual soft smile, but there was a slight tension in the air.
"Okay everyone, good morning~! Looks like you're all pretty worked up about the point issue, but sensei has an important announcent!"
Hoshinomiya-sensei wrote the latest Class Point standings on the board.
Class A — 1004 CP
Class B — 732 CP
Class C — 508 CP
Class D — 87 CP
"These are the current Class Points for this month. Class B even increased slightly from last month! Think of it as a bonus for surviving the midterms. You all worked really hard!"
Ichinose and Kanzaki visibly relaxed at her words.
But one question still remained.
"Um, Hoshinomiya-sensei," Ichinose asked on behalf of the class, "if our Class Points were maintained, then why haven't our Private Points been deposited?"
"Right, about that…" Hoshinomiya-sensei lowered her brows slightly. "There's currently a bit of a trouble happening among the first years, and the school has been busy investigating and handling it. Because of that, point distribution for all first years has temporarily been suspended."
"Trouble…?"
"Yes. But don't worry! Once the investigation is over, this month's points will be properly calculated and deposited. So just continue living your school lives normally."
Without elaborating further, she ended horoom and left the classroom.
Lunch Break
Hiyori, Ichinose, Kanzaki, Shibata, and the rest of Class B's main mbers gathered around pushed-together desks while eating lunch and holding a strategy eting.
"What kind of trouble happened among the first years?" Amikura asked nervously.
Shibata, our information broker, lowered his voice.
"I actually heard a rumor. Apparently so guy nad Sudou from Class D got into a huge fistfight behind the special building with Ishizaki and the others from Class C a few days ago."
"A violence incident…!" Ichinose widened her eyes. "That's why the point distribution's delayed?"
"Yeah. Sounds like the school's investigating who was at fault."
(I see. So it's the delinquents from Class C and that red-haired Sudou from Class D. Honestly, because of those hotheaded idiots, even our points got frozen. What a pain.)
I sighed inwardly and quietly opened my mouth.
"—A truly laughable story. Beasts incapable of noticing the mud beneath their own feet, knowing only how to bare their fangs according to instinct alone… To think the stench of their lowly blood would taint even the fragrance of the tea I brewed."
(I just wanted to say it's annoying that a violence incident stopped everyone's points, but once again it got converted into ridiculously arrogant chuuni poetry!)
As expected, my classmates froze completely.
"Beasts…?" Shibata blinked blankly.
Kanzaki crossed his arms. "Aizen's words are difficult as always… but I believe he's lanting how another class's foolishness has affected us as well."
Imdiately, Hiyori smiled gently beside while eating her sandwich.
"Sousuke-kun is saying: 'It's really troubleso that Class B's points are being delayed because of another class's violence incident, even though we've all been working hard honestly.'"
"Haha… yeah, that makes sense," Ichinose laughed awkwardly.
"But if one side in that incident is being treated unfairly, maybe there's sothing we can do to help? I can't forgive people trying to fra soone with lies."
Ichinose's sense of justice was genuine.
"—Fufu. Your dazzling righteousness may soday beco a wildfire that burns even yourself… But if that is your wish, then gather those pebbles called truth to your heart's content."
"'If Ichinose-san wants to help, then I'll assist however I can,' is what he ans."
"Thank you, Aizen-kun! Shiina-san too!"
And so, it was decided that Ichinose would investigate Class D's situation and offer assistance.
After School — Student Council Room
I sat at the vice president's desk and addressed Manabu Horikita.
"—President… it seems the noise of the lower world has reached even this white tower. The insects appear to have engaged in quite the lively skirmish."
(President, do you know anything about the violence incident between the first years?)
Ignoring my absurdly arrogant wording, Manabu answered without looking up from his docunts.
"…You an the violence incident involving Ken Sudou from Class D and Daichi Ishizaki and the others from Class C. Next week, on July 9th, we'll hold a formal hearing here in the student council room with both horoom teachers and the students involved."
"A hearing, hm."
"Yes. Class C claims Sudou assaulted them unilaterally. Class D insists Class C summoned him there and he acted in self-defense. The incident occurred in an area without surveillance caras."
(I see. So that's why things escalated enough to freeze point distribution.)
As I digested that internally, Manabu stopped writing and fixed with a cold gaze.
"…Aizen. Perfect timing."
The mont he said that, cold sweat ran down my back.
"You will oversee the proceedings and judgnt of the July 9th hearing as vice president."
"......What?"
Beside us, Tachibana let out a dumbfounded noise.
"P-President!? Why him!? He only just joined the student council…!"
"I'll attend as well. But this conflict occurred among first years. I judged it best for another first year—soone with the most impartial perspective—to handle the judgnt. It will also benefit future student council operations."
(No no no no no!! Please spare !! There's no way!!)
Inside, I was shaking my head at full speed.
(Without Hiyori—the strongest translator alive—I can barely hold a normal conversation! And you want soone like to act as a judge in a serious hearing!? Listening to both sides and making proper decisions!? Impossible! Every ti I speak, the atmosphere freezes solid!)
Desperately, I tried to refuse by saying the responsibility was too much for .
"—To judge the sins of others, hm… Fufu."
But rcilessly, my mouth brushed back my bangs and produced the most terrifying chuuni line possible.
"—I have no hobby of playing god… yet I suppose I shall scoop up the muddy mixture of lies and truth they spew forth with my own hands. Very well. I shall perform as the lead actor in this tedious play."
(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!! I DID IT AGAIN!!! I accepted it!! And in the most arrogant way possible too!!!)
Hearing my overwhelming and arrogant acceptance, Manabu nodded in satisfaction.
"…I'm counting on you, Aizen."
"…Are you really going to be okay, Aizen-kun…?" Tachibana sighed while pressing her forehead.
(Tachibana-senpai! Help! Please understand what I actually an!!)
My silent cry for help went unanswered.
And so, I was burdened with the most terrifying role imaginable:
Judge of a hearing where failure was absolutely unacceptable.
July 9th — The Hearing
The student council room was filled with oppressive tension.
Across the long table sat the two camps.
On the right side was Class C: their teacher Sakagami, whose gentle face hid cunning intentions, along with Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondou, all wrapped in bandages.
On the left was Class D: Chabashira-sensei, standing against the wall with folded arms while coldly observing the situation, and Sudou, who looked irritated.
Additionally, two students from Class D entered as attendants.
A beautiful black-haired girl—Suzune Horikita.
And a boy with lifeless eyes—Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.
Horikita entered confidently, but the instant she noticed the student council president seated beside —
Her face lost all color.
"…B-Brother…"
She stopped walking entirely, trembling slightly. The aura of confidence surrounding her vanished like mist, leaving behind only a frightened girl.
As Class D's side nearly halted completely, the air stagnated.
Then—
GNYU.
Standing behind Horikita, Ayanokoji expressionlessly grabbed her side with his fingers without rcy.
"—!? Hya—wha…!? W-What are you doing, Ayanokoji-kun!?"
"Don't stop walking. What are you going to do if you lose your nerve here?"
"Ah…"
Thanks to Ayanokoji's aggressive physical shock therapy (sexual harassnt), Horikita snapped back to reality and sohow managed to sit down with a stiff expression.
At the center seat—the most important-looking judge's chair—I sat with crossed legs.
(…I want to go ho. Right now. I want to run to the library and read with Hiyori.)
Inside, the pressure was wrecking my stomach.
But outwardly, I radiated the overwhelming intimidation of a demon king ruling the world.
(Alright! I have to do this! Umm… first I greet everyone and hear both sides, right!?)
I took a deep breath and slowly opened my mouth.
"—Silence."
The instant my low but absolute voice echoed through the room, everyone flinched violently, and total silence fell.
"…This stage covered in cheap decoration is dreadfully dull to watch. Co, let us begin. Let see how far your fragile lies can deceive my eyes… entertain , at least, with the shallowness of your deceit."
(AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!! I'm provoking everyone from the opening statent!! What kind of judge starts a hearing by saying 'show your lying contest'!? Everyone's terrified!!)
At my overwhelming chuuni opening declaration, Ishizaki and the others from Class C shrank back with frightened noises, while Sudou frowned.
"What's with this arrogant bastard…"
Even Chabashira simply narrowed her eyes and silently observed .
But Kiyotaka Ayanokoji alone reacted differently.
(…Sousuke is overseeing this? Why? I knew he joined the student council, but entrusting him with sothing this important imdiately… "How far your fragile lies can deceive my eyes"… Has he already seen through the truth of this incident? Or is this provocation ant to observe our reactions? Either way, careless remarks could be fatal.)
Only he interpreted my hopeless wording as a divine declaration of war born from godlike insight and entered maximum alert mode.
"—Now then, let us hear both sides. …Which side shall crawl forth first?"
"…I shall explain," Sakagami stood and politely presented Class C's claims.
"Ishizaki and the others were summoned by Sudou and assaulted without provocation. This is clearly a violation of school regulations, and we demand appropriate punishnt."
In response, Sudou stood up furiously.
"Bullshit! You guys called out! I only hit back after getting attacked—it was self-defense!"
Chabashira said nothing at all, remaining a silent observer.
(Hmm… with no evidence, this is just going nowhere. What am I supposed to do here?)
As I panicked internally, the student council room door was suddenly knocked on softly.
The one who entered was a timid-looking pink-haired girl from Class D—
Airi Sakura.
"U-Um… I saw it…!"
Sakura spoke with a trembling voice.
"On the day of the incident… behind the special building… Ishizaki-kun and the others had surrounded Sudou-kun and were about to attack him…"
"Wha—!?" Ishizaki and the others panicked.
"I-I even took pictures…"
Sakura placed digital cara images onto the table.
The photos clearly showed the scene from the incident day, with Sakura herself faintly visible in the fra.
(Oh! A witness appeared! And with evidence too! This should prove Class D acted in self-defense! Alright, as the judge I'll decisively declare this evidence valid!)
But before I could speak, Sakagami coldly smiled and objected.
"Please wait, Vice President Aizen. In this day and age, digital photographs can easily be edited or manipulated. We cannot deny the possibility that Class D fabricated this evidence together."
Sakagami's sharp rebuttal made Sakura tear up.
"T-That's not true… I didn't fake anything…"
(Ugh, he has a point… digital photos alone are weak evidence. But Sakura-san doesn't look like she's lying. As judge, I need to defend her!)
"—Fufu… I see."
I stood up and slowly spoke while looking down upon both sides.
"—Truth does not exist from the beginning."
(…Huh?)
"What exists are rely fragnts of 'events,' cut apart according to each individual's convenience. …Did you truly believe such a thin shard of glass could overturn this entire board?"
(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! I'M THE WORST!!! I TRIED TO DEFEND HER!!! Sakura-san gathered all her courage to testify and I completely denied her photos by calling them 'thin shards of glass'!!! Why is the judge philosophically denying the concept of photography itself!?)
My words plunged the student council room into complete chaos.
"…Eh? N-No…" Sakura covered her face in despair.
"Hey! We've got witness testimony and evidence, and you're still rejecting it!?" Sudou exploded angrily.
"Hahaha! Precisely! Just as the vice president says, those photos prove nothing!" Class C gained montum imdiately.
"Aizen-kun… what are you trying to do? What exactly are you plotting?" Even Suzune Horikita was completely confused.
And then—
(…What is this? Why would Sousuke thoroughly crush evidence favoring Class D using abstract rhetoric? …I see. If he allowed Class D to win easily here, the mastermind behind Class C would never stay quiet. By deliberately rejecting the evidence and intensifying conflict between both classes, he's shaking things up to observe my reaction. …What terrifying board manipulation, Aizen Sousuke.)
Ayanokoji completely misunderstood my catastrophic verbal failure as the incomprehensible test of a demon king who had calculated everything in advance, breaking into cold sweat while sinking into the abyss of deep thought.
Sensing the atmosphere spiraling out of control, Suzune Horikita steeled herself and stepped forward.
Enduring the pressure from her older brother seated nearby, she looked straight at .
"…We insist on Sudou-kun's complete innocence. It was self-defense, and he bears absolutely no fault. We will not compromise any further."
Horikita's dignified declaration rang out.
I realized that if I spoke any more, things would truly beco irreversible, so I desperately looked toward Manabu for help.
Manabu quietly exhaled and declared:
"…As Aizen stated, with the current evidence it is impossible to determine which side is telling the truth. Since Class D insists on complete innocence and both sides remain at an impasse, today's hearing will end here."
"Tomorrow, we will reconvene for another hearing. Until then, both sides are to prepare more conclusive evidence. …Dismissed."
With Manabu's final word, the hellish poetry trial was temporarily adjourned.
Both sides left the student council room carrying their own exhaustion and hidden motives.
(…I surviveddddd. Seriously, I thought my heart was going to stop. I never want to be a judge again! Tomorrow I'm absolutely bringing Hiyori so she can translate beside ! If that's impossible, I'm faking illness and staying ho!!)
I sank deeply into my chair, crying internally.
Yet even that appearance looked, in the eyes of Manabu and Ayanokoji, like the composure of a demon king calmly overlooking the next stage of conflict for his own amusent.
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