Megamo sat in the Student Council Room looking over papers. It was the information Ayoshi and Basu gave him. He looked over to Ryugoku Aoi. "Did you investigate the delinquents?"
"Yes, they haven't been around the school in weeks. None of the students saw any suspicious activities either."
"I assumed as much. It has to be a student at this school. We need to find any students who were around Ayoshi's classroom at the time. We also need to find the students who were by the field while Ayoshi was training." Megamo sat back in his chair and pushed up his glasses. "I trust you to find them for me and bring them here."
"Of course, President."
"You are dismissed." Megamo watched as she bowed and left. He typed in a few words into his computer: 'Girl with brown hair…' Several photos popped up on the screen. 'Hmm… nothing is ever a coincidence.' He picked up the phone and dialed, "Before you bring me the other students, bring me–"
***
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
"I brought her, President."
Megamo looked at the nervous girl and gestured to the couch. "Please sit."
"Oh… ok. Why am I here?"
"I just have to ask a few questions." The girl tucked a strand of her brown hair behind her ear with a nod. Megamo nodded back and placed his clasped hands in his lap. "What were you doing during lunch yesterday?"
"Umm, I was eating lunch in class with my friend."
'She's picking her fingers, she's obviously nervous… or lying.' Megamo took out a photo and pushed it towards her. "Is this who you were hanging out with?"
She wiped her forehead, "Ye-yeah!"
"What did you guys eat?"
"Umm, I ate egg rolls with rice and she ate… umm, I can't remember sorry."
"Were you together the whole time? She didn't leave, even for a few minutes?"
"... no, she didn't."
Megamo lifted his chin and stood up. "You may leave."
"... ok…"
Once she left, Megamo took off his glasses and massaged his temples. 'What a hassle.'
A few minutes later, two boys walked in and sat on the couch. "This won't take long. I just have to ask a question." Megamo showed them the photo, "Did you guys see this girl yesterday at lunch around class 2-2?"
One boy's eyes widened and he pointed at the photo. "Hey, it's–"
The other boy elbowed him in the stomach. "Shush!" He shook his head, "No, we didn't."
Megamo nodded, "Did you guys see this boy?" He showed them a photo of Ayoshi.
The two hesitated, "Umm… well…"
"Please be truthful," Megamo leaned forward, his cold eyes pouring into theirs. "I don't like liars."
The boys shrunk back and vigorously shook their heads. "No, we didn't!"
Megamo gently placed a paper in front of them, but the click of the pen rang in their ears. "Please sign this." The boys took the pen with shaky hands and signed their signatures. "You may leave."
After the boys ran away, the next person to come was…
"Why am I even here? If you don't explain, I'm calling my daddy!" Ronshaku crossed her legs, checking her nails with a frown.
"Did you see this boy yesterday during lunch at the field?"
Ronshaku looked at the photo and laughed. "Why should I have to answer? I don't have to do anything I don't want to!"
Megamo stood up and towered over Ronshaku, his gaze frosty. "Your father may be powerful, but the Saikou family is far more powerful, so it would be in your best interest to answer honestly."
Ronshaku lowered her hand and looked at Megamo. "Are you threatening me?"
"I don't threaten, I promise."
"Fine! When I was at the back of the school smoking, I saw him running with that handsome sports guy. That ugly garden girl was also there talking to that weirdo delinquent."
Megamo held out the pen and paper. "Sign."
Ronshaku unclenched her skirt and signed. Afterwards, she shot up and stormed off with a hair flip. On her way out Budo and Ayoshi walked in and she gave them a disgusted look and pushed past.
Budo looked at the slamming door. "Such a temper."
Ayoshi looked at Megamo's wrinkled face. "Is everything ok?"
"Well, I have all the proof we need to prove your innocence, and I may know who did it."
Budo's eyes widened, "Who?"
"You actually know her quite well." Seeing Budo's confused look, Megamo revealed the name, "Rai Mina."
"She would never do something like this," Budo said, frowning.
"I questioned the other girl in the Martial Arts club earlier. She was very nervous, and she couldn't remember what Rai ate. She must be lying. We don't have any physical proof, but she's the only one who could have done it."
"Bu–"
"I have proof," Ayoshi said.
The two looked over at Ayoshi, "You do?"
"Yes, I have a video."
Megamo's brows furrowed, "How? The school doesn't have cameras inside the building, only outside."
Ayoshi looked down, "I have my sources."
Before Megamo could say anything more, Ayoshi started playing the video. It showed Rai walking into Ayoshi's classroom and putting something in his bag. Obviously it was the ring.
Budo flopped on the couch and rubbed his face with a sigh. "I knew she… but I never knew she would do something like this."
Ayoshi sat next to Budo, "You know why she did this?"
"... Rai-san has liked me for a long time. She never hid it well, but I don't feel the same way. I hoped that my actions would make her realize that, but obviously it didn't."
"Why would her liking you make her hate me?" Ayoshi asked, tilting his head.
Budo's face softened. He placed his hands on Ayoshi's cheek, squishing them and causing his lips to pucker. "It's because… I lo–"
"It's because you guys have such a close friendship," Megamo interrupted, drawing their attention away from each other.
Budo's face hardened, slightly glaring at Megamo as they communicated with his eyes. "What are you doing?"
"I won't let you confess."
"It isn't any of your business."
While the two were distracted, Ayoshi took out his phone.
[Ayoshi:
Thank you for the video.
Info-kun:
Of course, anything for you. Also, I heard
you protecting me. So sweet~.
Ayoshi:
Mm, you are my friend.
Info-kun:
Yeah… friend.]
Meanwhile…
"Ugh! I can't believe my daddy only gave me ¥500,000 in allowances instead of my usual ¥2,000,000!"
"Why did he do that?"
Ronshaku snapped her lip gloss shut with a huff. "That jackass of a school president must have called him after I finished talking to him!"
"Oh my god, what an asshole!"
"If I were you, I would never forgive my dad."
"That arrogant bastard, if only there was something I cou–"
"Umm… I'm so sorry to bother you, bu–"
Ronshaku looked up from her mirror with a huff. "What do you want?"
"Uhh, I have something to tell you about this student…"
Ronshaku's pink-colored lips formed into a smirk as she flipped her hair. "Ohh, do you now? Go on."
"Well…"
The group of girls burst into loud laughter. "Oh, this is so good, girls. We have to share this with everyone!"
***
After coming to an agreement, Budo and Megamo decided to take Ayoshi to Mrs. Kunahito to show her the evidence they gathered.
Budo could feel dozens of eyes on him. He lowered his head and whispered, "Why are they all staring at us?"
"Isn't that Aishi Ayoshi? Did you hear, he has some weird thing going on with Kina-san?"
"Oh my god! I heard that he likes to sleep around with multiple guys, including the Student Council President."
Another student heard them and joined in. "I have class with him and I heard that he uses the Student Council President to get exam answers, and that's why he always gets such high marks."
"I heard he has something going on with Rana-san and is always getting special favors."
"I don't get it. He isn't even that pretty."
Megamo clenched his fist, his body hot from anger. "All you shut your mouths! School is for education, not for your petty gossip!" The students squeaked and looked down at their feet with fear. "I want you all to get to class before I take you all with me to Mrs. Kunahito for bullying." Without a second thought, they all scurried away.
Ayoshi placed his hand on Megamo's shoulder blade. Megamo whipped his head around, the wrinkles on his face relaxing. "It's ok. Don't get mad."
"How… how can I not get mad?"
Ayoshi paused for a second, "Come with me. I will give you something to make you feel better." He led them to his classroom, but when they reached his desk, a loud silence fell over them.
Megamo stormed off and came back with a wet rag. He scrubbed the desk vigorously. As he cleaned, the words subconsciously came out of his mouth. "Slut… whore… kill yourself! How dare they?!"
Budo clenched his fist and his nail dug into his flesh, causing him to bleed. "Ayoshi, I'm so sorry! I couldn't protect you…"
Megamo paused, dropped the rag, and hugged Ayoshi tightly. "I promise you, I will ruin their lives for doing this to you."
Ayoshi's eyes lingered on the desk, 'This is not something new to me, but… thank you for caring.'