Ichinose's inquiry prompted Yukio to introduce himself and casually respond to the question: "Oh, Ishizaki injured himself from a fall."
Such a direct question was overly straightforward. Yukio allowed himself a certain degree of arrogance but wouldn't permit small mistakes, suspecting that Ichinose might have a phone recording in her pocket.
"You don't need to be so guarded against us, we mean no harm," Ichinose said, understanding Yukio's caution. She pulled out her phone to show there was no recording and even emptied her pockets to prove she had no other recording devices. However, a small battery was in her pocket, which she then handed to Kanzaki, who also showed his phone as a sign of good faith.
Yukio, with a smile, quietly observed Ichinose, ready to adapt to any changes, curious about what the people from Class B intended to do.
Ichinose, unlike typical shy girls, confidently met Yukio's gaze and said, "You're too cautious, Yukio-kun."
"Alright then, we were just passing by and happened to see someone with injuries similar to Ishizaki's coming out of the woods, it was Sudo from Class D."
"But when we asked him, Sudo refused to disclose any information."
"Haha," chuckled Ishizaki, pleased to see his belief confirmed that neither he nor Sudo were the types to resort to sneaky tactics. He prided himself on his accurate judgment of people.
Ryuen, overhearing the laughter, looked back at Ishizaki with pity. "Laughing, huh? If Ichinose found out anything, Ishizaki, you might be in trouble."
"So?" Yukio, maintaining his composure until understanding how much Ichinose knew, commented, "Sudo was also injured from a fall, I see. We might need to suggest to the school authorities to fix the pathways to prevent such accidents."
Ichinose paused, then laughed, amused by Yukio's remark: "You're quite funny, Yukio-kun."
"I understand we're from different classes, and being cautious is reasonable. I didn't come here to help Class D or go against Class C, but rather for the good of everyone."
"I personally dislike violence and think it's wrong, but I won't inform the school authorities because it would inevitably lead to punishment for both classes, which isn't good for anyone."
"So, I was concerned about Ishizaki and Sudo, who might not have been aware of their surroundings. I checked the area and found it free of school surveillance, but I did find this."
Finishing her explanation, Ichinose handed over the small battery she'd retrieved from her pocket.
Yukio, now more convinced of Ichinose's benign intentions, inspected the battery, noting its code and manufacturing date. "It's a digital camera battery," he deduced.
"Yes," confirmed Ichinose. "I didn't recognize it at first; it was Kanzaki who identified it. Most importantly, we found it in the woods where you fought."
The implication was clear to everyone present: there might have been an unintended witness to the fight between Ishizaki and Sudo.
They suspected that there might have been an accidental witness to the one-on-one fight.
A witness was one thing, but if this witness also happened to have a digital camera, the situation could become complicated. The key questions were: Who was this witness? Did they secretly capture photos of Ishizaki and Sudo's fight? Could this bring trouble for Class C?
There was a slight chance that the battery was there before the fight, meaning no witness existed, and their concerns were unfounded. But with such clues, it was always better to investigate.
Ichinose, having found and approached them with the battery, showed that she genuinely considered the well-being of both classes. She didn't seem to intend to use the witness as leverage against Classes C and D.
"So, you're giving us the battery for free," Yukio said, looking intently at Ichinose, hinting that her actions didn't seem to benefit her and probing if she had any other motives.
"It's not exactly for free," Ichinose finally showed a hint of embarrassment, playfully touching her cheek and avoiding Yukio's gaze. "Our Class B will also help in looking for this mysterious witness."
"Of course, students should help each other without expecting anything in return. But Yukio-kun, may I ask for a small favor? Can Class C please stop disturbing our Class B students? Many are troubled by some of Class C's actions."
Yukio, speechless, looked at Ichinose, marveling inwardly at how selfless she was. Despite Class C's constant disturbances to Classes A and B for information, Ichinose didn't express anger but rather 'pleaded' for Class C to cease such actions.
The interaction with Ichinose left an impression on Yukio. He admired her noble character, almost angelic, but felt that such a person was too easy to deal with. Regardless of intelligence, with such a personality, they were unlikely to be a threat to him. "I'll control Class C's students usually, but if it's a competition arranged by the school..."
"Then of course Class C will act freely." Ichinose happily accepted Yukio's assurance, understanding the nature of competition. "But that's only because of the school's arrangements. In a regular high school, I believe any class could become friends!"
"Perhaps," Yukio responded ambiguously, signaling a farewell without wanting to prolong the conversation. He felt guilty continuing a conversation with someone so naive and honest.
Ichinose cheerfully waved goodbye, seemingly not viewing the disruptive Class C as an enemy. "We'll also help look for the witness!"
Yukio, without looking back, heard her remark. Ryuen, intrigued, asked, "What do you think?"
Confused, Ishizaki and Albert wondered if the question was for them. But Yukio quickly responded, "Too naive, easily broken down."
"Coincidentally," Ryuen ran a hand through his hair, "I think the same. But what about the digital camera?"
"Let's not go back to the dorms just yet." Yukio led the way, instructing Ishizaki, "Send a message or call everyone in the class. Ask them to come here."