Although she had been a member of the Service Club for a while, she still felt somewhat out of place. Being able to help Yukino made her genuinely happy.
"No, that's all for now," Yukino said with a smile after confirming the contents of the email once again.
"Eh? That's it?" Yui blinked, confused. Was that all she could do?
At that moment, a chatter of voices could be heard outside the Service Club room.
"I'm only coming here because of Hayama!"
"Yeah, yeah, we're the victims, and yet we're the ones being interrogated? This is ridiculous!"
"After this, you better treat us to a good meal, Hayama, or we won't forgive you!"
"Sorry, sorry, I can't help it. I was the one who asked them to investigate. I'll definitely treat you all to a feast after this is over!"
The noisy group approached, and soon there was a knock on the Service Club door. Hayama Hayato and the others entered.
"So, hurry up and get this investigation over with!" Tobe, with his orange seaweed hair, declared in his loud voice as soon as he stepped in.
Yukino's brow furrowed before she even began her questioning.
After the lunch break, there were only two classes left before the school day ended and club activities began.
As soon as school was over, Hayato Hayama approached Tobe and the others. "Could you three do me a favor?"
The sunny, golden-haired boy wore his usual smile, but in Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes, Hayama's smile seemed strained and forced, lacking its usual ease and naturalness.
"Heh..." Hachiman let out a short, derisive chuckle, then got up and left for the Service Club alone.
Hayama and the others wouldn't be coming over so soon, as Yui was still dealing with Yumiko Miura. He wanted to take this opportunity to ask Yukinoshita about the solution Sukuna had proposed.
He was eager to improve.
Arriving at the Service Club room, instead of barging in as he used to, he politely knocked on the door. After hearing a "come in" from inside, Hachiman opened the door and entered.
"Good afternoon, President Yukinoshita."
Hachiman's overly respectful tone made Yukino frown. "What's with that way of speaking?"
"You jest, President," he said, forcing an awkward smile. "I'm merely overwhelmed by your awe-inspiring presence and wisdom."
Why does that sound so disgusting?
Seeing Hachiman's unwavering determination to be a loyal follower, Yukino pinched the bridge of her nose, too tired to correct him further. "Forget it. Why are you here alone? Where's Yuigahama-san and Hayama-kun?"
"They're still in the classroom. They should be here soon. It's just, that..." Hachiman scratched his head, beating around the bush with a shifty expression.
"If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you being so evasive?"
"It's just, I want to know what method Sukuna told you to find the culprit."
"You're acting like this just to ask that?"
Yukino chuckled and shook her head, then explained, "By using the changes in cursed energy caused by negative emotions, I can sense those changes to deduce who the culprit is."
"I see. Thank you for explaining, President."
Hachiman's eyes widened in understanding. He had a deep understanding of the changes in cursed energy caused by negative emotions, after all, he was the one who had his arm chopped off.
Not long after, with an energetic "Yahallo~," Yui Yuigahama arrived at the Service Club.
She bounced over to Yukino with excitement. "Yukino, I'm here~ Is there anything I can help with? I'm so looking forward to your deduction! It feels like we're in a mystery drama!"
No, that's not really deduction anymore. It's skipping the deduction process and directly identifying the culprit, Hachiman thought to himself.
But, how is President Yukinoshita going to gather the crucial evidence?
Could it really be torture?
A gruesome scene unfolded in Hachiman's mind. One of the three boys, possessed by Sukuna, having their arm severed by Yukino to force a confession, then healed with Reverse Cursed Technique.
Hmm... Surely not?
"Actually, there is something you can help with," Yukino said with a smile. "Could you lend me your phone for a moment, Yuigahama-san?"
"I just need to open the chain mail. I won't invade your privacy."
"Eh? Of course!"
Yui readily took out her phone, opened the strange email, and handed it to Yukino. Then, she rested her chin on her hands, beaming at Yukino. "It's not really about invading privacy or anything. We're friends."
"Cough... R-right." Yukino blushed slightly and took Yui's phone.
"Mhm! What's next? What else do I need to do?" Yui's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
\"We're here. Can we begin now?" Hayama Hayato pulled Tobe behind him and asked Yukinoshita Yukino with a smile.
"Let's begin then," Yukino replied indifferently. "The orange-haired gorilla can stay. The rest of you, please leave."
"Eh? Is there a particular reason? Can't we stay and listen?" Hayama seemed surprised by this request.
Then, he met Yukino's calm, unwavering gaze.
Hachiman Hikigaya, who had been observing the situation, immediately stood up. "The president has her own methods. Let's head out for now."
He winked at Yui Yuigahama, then stepped in front of Hayama, wrapping an arm around his shoulders and ushering him out.
"But..." Hayama was surprised to find that, despite being the ace of the soccer club, he couldn't resist Hachiman's push.
Helpless, he exited the Service Club room with the others and waited in the hallway.
Ooka and Yamato's faces were tense, clearly displeased. Even the easygoing Hayama wore a grave expression.
"Ah, um, it's not a big deal, right? Yukino probably just wants to ask some simple questions!"
Caught between the Service Club and her classmates, Yui Yuigahama was probably the most awkward one present. She forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood, but aside from Hayama's brief agreement, the other two ignored her.
"Yuigahama," Hachiman, noticing her discomfort, said softly, "Could you buy me a drink? Max Coffee. I'll pay you back."
"Ah... Okay, okay!" Yui glanced at him, then quickly left with her head lowered.
After watching her leave, Hachiman turned his attention back to the three boys in front of him.
...
...
I have classes during the day, so I can only write updates in the evening. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Hachiman leaned against the door, silently observing the three people in front of him.
There wasn't much to say about Hayama. He was still the same nauseatingly good guy, his face etched with worry. He was probably anxious about how to handle the situation if the culprit was actually exposed.
Yamato was a sturdy guy with an honest face. The term "gorilla," however, was more fitting for him than the loud and boisterous Tobe. His thick eyebrows were furrowed, making him look even more like a gorilla.
Ooka was the shortest of Hayama's group, with a chestnut-colored buzz cut. He was impatiently tapping his foot, looking anxious.
As for Tobe...
"Hey, is it really necessary to kick everyone else out? We're just here to provide information, right?" Tobe pulled over a chair and sat down, grumbling. "Why does this feel like an interrogation?"
The chair legs scraped against the floor, causing Yukinoshita Yukino to frown. Her sharp gaze pierced Tobe like a sword. "Please be quiet."
Like a chilling wind, a shiver ran down Tobe's spine. He muttered softly, "...Sorry."
I just saw a flash of crimson in Yukinoshita's eyes... Must be my imagination, right?
After silencing Tobe, Yukino took out Yui Yuigahama's phone and showed the screen to him. "I'll get straight to the point. Was this your doing?"
Tobe, who had been quiet for barely two seconds, started yelling again. "How could this possibly be my doing!?"
"That email is complete nonsense! I have friends at Nishi High. Why would I pick a fight with them?"
"If you really find the person who sent this email, you have to tell me so I can beat them up!" he shouted indignantly.
"Is that so?" Sensing anger from the slight changes in his weak cursed energy, Yukino withdrew the phone. "You can leave now. Call the next person in."
"Huh?" The abrupt end to the conversation left Tobe bewildered. "That's it?"
"That's it," Yukino confirmed with a nod.
"No, how can you find the culprit like this?"
Tobe frowned. He had thought that Yukinoshita Yukino, who was famous throughout the school and entrusted by Hayama, would have some real skills. He had been expecting her to actually find the culprit, but this was just a joke!
"You can leave now. Call the next person in," Yukino repeated softly.
After a pause, her tone suddenly shifted, becoming strangely oppressive. "Don't make me repeat myself a third time."
A sense of dread washed over Tobe, as if he were being targeted by something dangerous. He could only mumble to himself as he obediently left the Service Club room.
"I'm done. Who's next?"
"What did she ask you?" Yamato asked as soon as Tobe emerged.
"She just asked if I sent the email. It's ridiculous!" Tobe grumbled. "Hurry up and go, or that woman will lose it again."
Hearing Tobe's disrespectful remarks, Hachiman held his breath and stared intently at him, fearing that he would be sliced into sashimi in the next moment.
Sukuna was very protective. This guy dared to badmouth President Yukinoshita? Didn't he value his life?
Fortunately, nothing happened. Thank goodness Sukuna was magnanimous.
"Tobe, stop it!" Hayama said, his tone unusually stern, stopping Tobe's rambling.
"I'll go next," Yamato said, entering the Service Club room.
Unlike the noisy Tobe, Yamato quietly sat down in the usual client's seat and said honestly, "Um, I'm Yamato."
"Mhm." Yukino's expression softened considerably. She took out Yui's phone again and showed him the email. "Did you send this email?"
Yamato immediately shook his head like a rattle drum. "I definitely didn't do it. I wouldn't do anything to hurt my friends."
"Hayama and the others know me."
"I may not be good with words, and I don't usually talk much. I mostly just listen to Hayama and the others chat. But even so, they consider me a friend. I wouldn't do something so two-faced."
Yamato's honest face was filled with sincerity.
Even from his weak, average-person level of cursed energy, there were no noticeable fluctuations. He didn't even seem to harbor much resentment towards the culprit who had slandered him. He was a genuinely honest person inside and out.
"I understand. You can leave too. Let the last person in," Yukino said, putting away the phone.
Having learned the questioning process from Tobe, Yamato didn't show the same confusion or anger. He simply got up and left.
"Ooka, it's your turn."
"How was it? Did she give you a hard time?" Tobe asked.
Yamato shook his head, answering truthfully, "Just like you, Yukinoshita-san only asked me one question."
"Tch, how could she possibly find the culprit like this?" Ooka scoffed and walked into the Service Club room.
He sat down impatiently. Before Yukino could speak, he blurted out, "I didn't do it, alright?"
"Please look at this before answering." As she had done twice before, Yukino showed him Yui's phone.
"Is there any need to look? Everyone in our class received the same email!" Ooka only glanced at it briefly, his gaze fixed on the Service Club room door.
Hey, I didn't receive it! Hachiman thought.
"Is that so? Then I'll be blunt." Yukino looked up, staring intently at him. "You were the one who sent this email, weren't you, Ooka-kun?"
"Hah!? I already said it wasn't me!" Ooka snapped, turning to glare at her.
There was a hint of panic in his voice, and his weak cursed energy fluctuated erratically.
"No, it was you."
Yukino's gaze suddenly deepened. An inexplicable pressure weighed down on Ooka. Sukuna subtly amplified this, releasing a hint of his own aura.
Fear and panic magnified, along with a trace of malice hidden deep within Ooka's heart.
"This is ridiculous! I'm leaving!" Ooka broke out in a cold sweat, standing up to leave, but Yukino grabbed his arm.
Despite her delicate hand, Ooka felt as if he were caught in a vise. He couldn't break free, and his arm throbbed with pain.
"Hey, you woman! Let go of me!"
In his panic, he swung his other hand at Yukino. She caught it, and the world spun around him. A sharp pain exploded in his back.
Reacting instinctively to Ooka's attack, Yukino had flung him against the Service Club door. His back slammed against the hard surface with a loud bang.
His phone slipped out of his pocket.
Yukino walked over, picked up Ooka's phone, and casually grabbed his hand to unlock it with his fingerprint.
After a few taps, her frown relaxed.
"You knew to delete the sent email, but you didn't delete the sent record, and you didn't empty the trash." Yukino showed him the phone screen. "You must not have good grades, do you, Ooka-kun?"
The commotion had attracted the attention of those waiting outside. Hayama opened the door to see Ooka crumpled on the floor. "What happened? Ooka!?" he asked in surprise.
"The culprit has been found."
Yukino handed the phone to Hayama. Tobe and Yamato crowded around to look.
A moment later, the three of them turned complex gazes towards the fallen Ooka.