Friday, July 10th.
With the "retrial" of the first-year violence incident scheduled for the afternoon, the atmosphere among the students felt strangely unsettled—part nervous excitent, part oppressive tension.
After all, the private point paynts for every first-year student had been suspended until the incident was resolved. Even if it was another class's conflict, very few students could remain completely unconcerned.
Lunch Break
As Hiyori and I were eating lunch in our usual premium seats, Class B's class representative, Honami Ichinose, and vice representative, Ryuji Kanzaki, approached us with serious expressions.
"Aizen-kun, Shiina-san. We wanted to ask you sothing… if that's okay?"
Lowering her voice and checking that nobody else was nearby, Ichinose began explaining.
"Actually, Horikita-san from Class D asked to cooperate with a… 'plan' to make Ishizaki-kun and the others withdraw their complaint."
The plan Horikita proposed was as follows:
They would install a highly realistic dummy surveillance cara behind the special building where the incident had occurred. Then they would summon Ishizaki and the others there and threaten them:
"Everything you did to Sudou-kun was recorded by this cara. If you don't want the footage submitted to the school, withdraw the complaint."
Horikita wanted Ichinose—who was highly trusted by the students—to help finance the fake cara and act as a witness to make the deception believable.
"I see. A rational strategy."
After hearing the explanation, Kanzaki crossed his arms and nodded.
"There's a high chance the people from Class C are lying. In that sense, it's their own fault. If this pointless deadlock continues, the suspension of our point paynts will drag on as well. From a practical standpoint, there's rit in helping bring this farce to an end quickly. …Wouldn't cooperating be acceptable?"
Kanzaki's logic wasn't wrong from a profit-and-loss perspective.
However, Ichinose still looked conflicted. She turned toward Hiyori, who had been quietly listening beside .
"What do you think, Shiina-san? Aizen-kun probably can't say much since he's acting as the moderator in today's retrial…"
"I see…"
Hiyori tilted her head slightly and looked up at .
"…Sousuke-kun, what do you think?"
Receiving the baton from Hiyori, I internally panicked.
(Wait wait wait!! What the hell is this dummy cara operation!? Using fake evidence to force soone into compliance is straight-up criminal behavior!)
As an ordinary modern Japanese citizen, my moral compass was spinning at full speed.
(If the fake gets exposed, it's over. Even if they don't get expelled, not only Class D but also Ichinose for cooperating could receive severe penalties! Class B might lose a massive amount of points through collective responsibility! This is absolutely unacceptable!!)
Determined to stop Ichinose at all costs, I fixed her with a cold gaze and opened my mouth.
"—How disgraceful. To fabricate truth through illusion… such foolishness is beneath even a third-rate magician."
(Translation: Don't do it! Threatening people with a fake cara is literally a cri!)
"To stain one's own hands with mud and descend willingly into an obvious abyss…? A true king shatters such vulgar ga boards and walks the path of light. …What I desire from you is not to be tainted by such malice."
(Translation: If you get caught, even Class B could receive serious penalties as accomplices! And besides… I don't want you taking such dangerous risks, Ichinose-san!)
My overwhelmingly oppressive poetic condemnation caused both Ichinose and Kanzaki to hold their breath.
Then Hiyori quietly and seriously translated.
"…Souusuke-kun is saying this: 'Using fake evidence to threaten soone into compliance is unquestionably criminal behavior. If it's exposed, the risk of Class B being treated as accomplices and receiving severe penalties is far too high. And… he doesn't want Ichinose-san doing sothing like that.'"
Hiyori looked directly into Ichinose's eyes.
"I agree with Souusuke-kun. I don't want Ichinose-san becoming involved in sothing criminal. We should search for another solution honestly and fairly."
""...!!""
Hiyori's sincere words and the kindness behind them struck deeply.
Kanzaki snapped back to his senses.
"…You're right. Aizen and Shiina are correct. The price of dirtying our hands carelessly is too high."
But—
Sothing was clearly wrong with Honami Ichinose.
"C-cri…"
The color drained rapidly from her face.
Her pupils trembled. Her shoulders began shaking uncontrollably.
As if invisible hands were choking her, her breathing grew ragged.
"Threats… cri… staining my hands with mud…"
Wrapping her arms around herself, Ichinose staggered backward while trembling violently.
"Eh? Ichinose-san? What's wrong?"
"Hey, Ichinose, you look pale…"
Hiyori and Kanzaki called out worriedly, but Ichinose shook her head frantically in panic.
"S-sorry…! I'm not feeling well…! I'll decline Class D's plan. …I'm sorry!!"
Shouting that, Ichinose fled the classroom as if escaping.
(Huh!? What's going on!? The mont she heard the word 'cri,' she completely broke down!)
I was internally shaken. Had I accidentally touched on so deep trauma of hers?
"Souusuke-kun. Ichinose-san was clearly acting strangely."
"Yeah… It seems my words inadvertently clawed open the depths of her soul."
(Translation: Yeah… I think so too. Maybe I phrased it too harshly…)
"…Souusuke-kun, you have to attend the retrial in the student council room after school, right?"
Hiyori looked at with determined eyes.
"Please leave Ichinose-san to . I'll go talk with her."
"…I'm counting on you, Hiyori. Deliver your light to her soul."
(Translation: Hiyori, please! Go comfort Ichinose!)
Entrusting Ichinose's care to Hiyori, I headed off to fulfill my role as the judge of hell.
After SchoolHiyori's Dorm Room
"Here, Ichinose-san. I made so warm tea. …Are you feeling a little calr now?"
Hiyori handed a steaming teacup to Ichinose, who sat curled up on the sofa hugging her knees.
With trembling hands, Ichinose accepted it.
"…Thank you, Shiina-san," she whispered weakly.
After chasing after Ichinose when she fled the classroom, Hiyori had brought her back to her room.
"Sorry, Shiina-san… Even though I'm supposed to be the leader, I'm pathetic…"
"That's not true. Everyone has one or two things in their past they'd rather not rember."
Sitting beside her, Hiyori gently stroked her back.
Touched by that warm, all-embracing kindness…
Tears began pouring from Ichinose's eyes.
"I'm… the worst."
As though a dam had burst, she began speaking of the "past" she had always hidden.
"In middle school… my family was really poor. It was just my mother, my little sister, and . I really wanted to buy my sister a cute hairpin for her birthday… but we had no money. …So I shoplifted."
Her trembling voice echoed through the quiet room.
"My mother found out, and we went to apologize while crying… The store forgave , but my mother collapsed from the stress. Our family nearly fell apart. …I stopped trusting myself and shut myself away for half a year. Then I ca to this school because the tuition was free… basically running away."
Covering her face with both hands, Ichinose sobbed.
"So when I heard you and Aizen-kun say the word 'cri,' it triggered everything again… Aizen-kun was right. No matter how much you want to help soone, you can't choose thods that stain you with mud…"
"Ichinose-san…"
"I really am unfit to be a leader… Deep down, I'm dirty, selfish, and weak…!"
Ichinose cried out in anguish.
But Hiyori showed not even the slightest hint of shock.
Instead, she gently embraced Ichinose.
"—Shiina… san…?"
"You're a very kind and admirable leader, Ichinose-san."
Hiyori's clear voice softly reached her ears.
"The mistakes of the past can never disappear. But… the heart you have now—the one that treasures your classmates and works hard for others—is real. I really like that part of you."
"Ah… ahh…"
"And Souusuke-kun believes that too. That's why he desperately tried to stop you from taking the wrong path. Because he didn't want to lose your bright light."
"Aizen-kun… Shiina-san…!"
Burying her face in Hiyori's chest, Ichinose cried like a child.
Hiyori continued gently stroking her back until every last tear had run dry.
Eventually, after calming down, Ichinose looked up with a slightly embarrassed but refreshed smile.
"…Shiina-san. Actually… can I call you 'Hiyori-chan'?"
"Yes! Of course, Honami-chan."
Wiping away her tears, Ichinose looked straight into Hiyori's eyes.
"Hiyori-chan… Tomorrow, I'm going to tell the whole class about my past. Everything. Even the shoplifting."
"…"
"I know my sins won't disappear. Everyone might despise . They might even tell to step down as leader. …But even so, I still want to aim for the top together with everyone in this class. I want to keep doing my best for them."
Though trembling, her voice carried a firm determination.
Hiyori smiled gently and squeezed Ichinose's hand tightly.
"Everyone will definitely accept you, Honami-chan. …And no matter what happens, Souusuke-kun and I will always be on your side."
"…Mm! Thank you, Hiyori-chan!"
The heart that had nearly been crushed under the weight of guilt found salvation through the embrace of a silver-haired angel and the awkward kindness of a clumsy demon king.
And thus, a true and deep friendship was born between the two girls.
anwhile…
(…This is hell. The atmosphere is so heavy I can't breathe.)
Sitting at the retrial table, cold sweat poured down my back like a waterfall.
On one side sat the Class C faction—Sakashita, Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondou.
On the other sat Class D—Chabashira, Horikita, Sudou, and Ayanokouji.
Beside were Student Council President Manabu Horikita and secretary Akane Tachibana.
Since Ichinose had refused to help with the dummy cara plan, Suzune Horikita had completely run out of options. They still had no evidence, and the retrial had devolved into the sa endless deadlock as yesterday.
"Therefore, it is obvious that Sudou committed unilateral violence. Class C demands strict punishnt—"
"Bullshit! You guys were the ones who called out and attacked first!"
Sakashita's polite yet condescending accusations clashed with Sudou's roaring protests.
Chabashira remained silent as ever.
(God, what do I do!? Because I stopped the dummy cara plan, Class D has no way to win now! Both sides are clearly at fault, but if this keeps up, we'll never finish!)
I clutched my head internally.
No matter how I looked at it, Class C was guilty for calling Sudou out, but Sudou was also guilty for beating them half to death.
(This is so annoying! Fine! Both sides are guilty, so I'll just punish both equally! If I stay here any longer, my stomach's going to rupture!)
Making up my mind, I slamd the desk with a loud BANG!
Every eye in the room instantly turned toward .
"—Enough of this farce."
Slowly rising to my feet, I looked down upon both factions and declared with overwhelming pressure:
"If neither side possesses a tongue willing to speak truth, then further deliberation is rely a waste of ti. …What I shall grant is only equal punishnt."
"W-what… punishnt!?"
Both Class C and D stared at in shock.
"To the beasts of Class C who first bared their fangs and disrupted the board, I shall deliver pain sufficient for them to regret their recklessness. …And to the mad dog of Class D who tore flesh apart through excessive violence, I shall bind even heavier chains."
(Translation: Both sides are guilty, so both get penalties! Sudou injured people worse, so his punishnt is heavier!)
"I now deliver judgnt. …Class C shall lose fifty class points. Furthermore, the three insects ignorant of their place—Ishizaki, Komiya, and Kondou—shall receive one week of suspension."
"W-what!? We're the victims here!" Ishizaki shouted.
"…Class D shall likewise lose fifty class points. And the rabid dog who indulged in excessive self-defense—Sudou—shall receive two weeks of suspension."
"You've gotta be kidding ! Why the hell am I getting suspended for two weeks!?" Sudou yelled, kicking the desk.
I pierced him with a cold stare.
"—Because I have decided so. …This is heaven's judgnt. If you object, pray to God."
(Inner thoughts: Yes! Perfectly settled! I even accounted for the severity of the injuries! I'm such a genius judge!)
My absolute declaration froze the entire student council room.
Manabu Horikita quietly nodded.
"…A reasonable judgnt. Aizen's ruling shall stand as the student council's final decision. No objections will be accepted."
Chabashira-sensei let out a small sigh.
"…It can't be helped."
Sakashita-sensei also nodded bitterly.
"…If this is the vice president's ruling, we shall comply."
However—
The person who felt the greatest shock of all was none other than Kiyotaka Ayanokouji.
(…I've been completely outplayed.)
Behind his empty eyes, he trembled before the shadow of a terrifying man.
(By penalizing both sides equally while giving Sudou the heavier punishnt… this isn't rely mutual punishnt. He completely shut down both Ryūen's sche to destroy Class D from the shadows and my own attempt to counter it with the dummy cara plan.)
Inside Ayanokouji's mind, the image of Sousuke Aizen warped into sothing increasingly monstrous.
(Even the dummy cara plan was crushed before it could begin… He's overlooking and controlling the entire board. …Compared to the White Room days, he's beco an even more troubleso monster.)
A complete misunderstanding.
Yet such misunderstandings were the very essence of the world of the Advanced Nurturing High School.
"…This concludes the retrial. Dismissed."
With Manabu's declaration, the long trial finally ca to an end.
(Finaaaaaally it's overrrrrr!!! I never want to play judge again!! I need to get back to Hiyori and heal my soul alreadyyy!!)
On the outside, I rely gave a cool "Hmph."
Inside, however, I was already sprinting ntally toward the dorms.
The Next Day
All first-year students received notifications on their terminals that the incident had been resolved and the delayed private points had finally been distributed.
At the sa ti, the latest class points were updated:
Class A: 1004 CP
Class B: 732 CP
Class C: 458 CP (-50)
Class D: 37 CP (-50)
Thanks to the Demon King's overwhelming judgnt, both Class C and D had their points reduced, making Class B's advantage even more secure at the start of July.
Right after horoom ended and Hoshinomiya-sensei left the classroom—
Ichinose stepped up alone before the podium and bowed to the class.
"Everyone… could I have a little of your ti? There's sothing I need all of you to hear."
The serious expression on her face caused Kanzaki, Shibata, and the entire classroom to fall silent.
Then, without hiding or sugarcoating anything, Ichinose confessed the sin she had told Hiyori about the day before—her shoplifting incident in middle school and the months she spent withdrawn afterward.
"…I know the sins of the past never disappear. I understand if you despise …"
Clenching her fists tightly, Ichinose shouted with a trembling yet determined voice:
"But… I love everyone in Class B! I want to keep doing my absolute best for all of you! So… even though I'm soone like this, please continue supporting !"
Silence filled the classroom.
The confession was simply too heavy.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
But the first person to break the silence was Kanzaki.
"…What, I thought you were going to say sothing much worse. It's not like you betrayed us and stole our points, right? Then I see no reason not to support you."
"That's right, Honami-chan! Everyone makes mistakes sotis! What matters is that you're always helping us!"
"Seriously! If Ichinose wasn't our leader, this class would fall apart!"
Amikura, Shibata, and Shironami all stood up one after another, offering warm words.
Not a single classmate condemned her.
"Everyone…!"
Large tears once again overflowed from Ichinose's eyes as she was enveloped by the circle of her classmates.
(…That's wonderful, Honami-chan.)
From her seat, Hiyori watched the heartwarming scene with a cheerful smile.
(…Wait, why is Ichinose suddenly confessing so super heavy cri from her past!? Is this sohow my fault!? Did she crack because I accidentally said harsh things in poem mode yesterday!? I'm sorry, Ichinose!!)
anwhile, completely unaware of the circumstances, I internally panicked at the sudden emotional developnt of tragic confession followed by inspirational class unity.
While Class B deepened their bonds and overca trauma through the healing of an angel—
Beneath the surface, the artificial genius quietly sharpened his fighting spirit toward the oblivious Demon King.
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