Before the school day ended, Hikaru was carefully refining his planned conversation and predicting possible outcomes. This was an important first experiment—he needed to see how Kushida would react.
At the same time, his upcoming meeting with Suzune was just as crucial. Now that she had been designated as Class D's main speaker for the hearing, how she planned to counter their opposition was a major concern.
If he was committed to ensuring that Ryuen didn't climb any higher, he had to eliminate all uncertainties.
As Hikaru sat in deep thought, the pink-haired girl beside him suddenly spoke.
"Hikaru-kun, you have plans again today?" Ichinose's tone carried a hint of hesitation.
"Oh, yeah. I've got something to take care of this afternoon." Hikaru glanced at the girl beside him. Her clear blue eyes were fixed on his face, as if there was something she wanted to say.
"I was actually hoping you'd join our study group today. You've been skipping for days now." Ichinose's tone had a subtle hint of disappointment. "Even Shibata asked about you last time, wondering if you were avoiding us."
"Of course not. Please tell them not to overthink things," Hikaru replied with a casual smile.
While he did enjoy spending time with his classmates, there were far more important matters he had to handle right now.
With no direct class competition in play, it was best to leave the babysitting duties to Ichinose—the perfect person for the job.
"Anyway, I'll drop by when I have the time. Your grades are great, so you're more than capable of tutoring them." He chuckled. "I'm counting on you."
"Mmm, I know." Ichinose nodded, but despite her usual cheerfulness, she couldn't shake a feeling of unease.
Hikaru used to spend most of his time with her, and now that his presence was noticeably less frequent, she couldn't help but feel a little... lost.
Whether it was their dinners in his dorm or the study group sessions, she was beginning to notice the emptiness when he wasn't around.
Even though she knew that her top priority should be uniting Class B—ensuring their stability and working towards graduation—Hikaru's presence had already begun to shake her resolve.
He was her ally, her partner in battle, yet a strange fear lingered in her heart.
What if, one day, he left her side for someone else?
Would she still be able to prioritize her class above all else?
She had no answers. No matter how many times she asked herself, the uncertainty remained.
For now, she had no choice but to bury those emotions deep within.
After all—at least for now—she was still the closest person to him.
---
After school, Hikaru said goodbye to Ichinose before leaving the classroom.
When he arrived at Keyaki Mall's café, he was surprised to see a familiar figure already seated inside.
She's… faster than me?
"Horikita-san, good afternoon." Hikaru greeted her as he stepped inside.
"Good afternoon, Hikaru-kun."
Suzune turned her head slightly, her sharp gaze scanning his face before asking, "Where did you reserve the seats?"
"Over by the windows facing the street. Great view."
He led her to a window-side table, where the large glass panels provided a clear panoramic view of the shopping district. Ever the gentleman, Hikaru pulled out a chair for her.
"Thank you."
Once they were seated, Hikaru picked up the menu and asked, "What would you like to drink, Horikita-san?"
"Just water."
Suzune wasn't here for casual conversation—she wanted to finalize her strategy. She didn't need any distractions.
"Uh… alright then."
Seeing her unwaveringly serious expression, Hikaru decided not to push further and simply ordered a glass of water for her and a coffee for himself.
After the waiter left, Suzune spoke first.
"I'll explain my current strategy for the hearing. If you see any issues, point them out."
"Understood."
Hikaru's demeanor shifted, his usual easygoing air giving way to seriousness.
"First is the false accusation argument," Suzune began, maintaining her sharp focus. "There were two students on the opposing side, while Sudo was alone. Even if a fight broke out, the side with the greater numbers would logically have the advantage."
"Anyone engaging in a fight would mentally calculate their chances of winning—it's basic logic."
"Sudo may be a sports club member, but one of the two accusing students is also in the basketball club, while the other—Ishizaki—is rumored to have been a delinquent in middle school."
"And yet, despite the two-versus-one scenario, Sudo came out completely unscathed, while the other two had serious injuries wrapped in bandages. That outcome doesn't make sense."
"I see your point."
Hikaru rubbed his chin. If it were two versus one, there were only two logical possibilities—either Sudo had overwhelming physical superiority, or he had formal combat training.
Based on the available evidence, neither seemed likely.
"That's the first point. The second is the pre-arranged meeting." Suzune continued, her eyes scanning Hikaru's face for a reaction. "Sudo claims they were the ones who called him out, while they insist he was the one who sought them out."
"This will be one of the most critical arguments during the hearing."
Hikaru immediately understood. "So in order to prove Sudo's innocence, we cannot back down on this claim."
"Exactly."
Suzune nodded. She was pleased by how quickly Hikaru followed her reasoning.
"The third and final point is the witness testimony. If we bring the discussion here, we can introduce the eyewitness and solidify our case."
Her argument was sound, covering all key points.
Once she was done, Suzune leaned forward slightly, watching Hikaru closely.
If my brother acknowledged you, then let's see how good your analysis really is.
"Your analysis is well thought out, and you covered all the essential points." Hikaru smiled. "But, Horikita-san, have you considered another possibility?"
"What is it?"
Suzune's expression remained calm, but she was clearly intrigued.
"All your arguments assume that there is no additional evidence. But what if the opposition actually has evidence?"
At that, Suzune's expression shifted slightly.
"That's impossible. If they had evidence, why didn't they submit it right away? The Student Council would have already ruled a punishment."
That was the logical conclusion most people would reach.
Hikaru tapped his finger on the table rhythmically. He remembered Ryuen's smirk when he avoided suspension—if this attack on Class C truly had no evidence, getting Sudo expelled wouldn't be so easy.
The Student Council's decision-making process allowed room for negotiation.
If the situation was ambiguous, they might settle for a lighter punishment.
But if Class C was demanding expulsion, that meant they believed they could make it happen.
"Horikita-san," Hikaru said lightly. "Have you ever asked yourself… why they're pushing for expulsion?"
"?"
Suzune frowned, running through the school's official regulations in her mind.
Violent conflicts were punishable based on severity—ranging from suspension to expulsion. However, for the harshest penalty, the case needed to be undisputedly severe, with clear and damning evidence.
Because the injured students had bandages, many assumed it must be a serious case of violence.
But looking at it from the other side—was this really a case worthy of expulsion?
Or did Class D already have conclusive evidence, allowing them to control the narrative?
If they withheld the evidence until the hearing, it would be too late to counter.
Suzune's expression hardened.
She had never considered this angle. Her plan had been to counter every argument as it came, but she had completely ignored other possible factors.
Seeing the shift in her face, Hikaru calmly took a sip of coffee.
"You seem to have realized something, Horikita-san. Don't rush. We have time."
Just then, his gaze flickered toward the street, and his smile deepened.
The target had arrived.
Standing outside the Cafe, Kushida's pupils dilated sharply as her gaze shifted slightly.
Because she had just seen someone who shouldn't be there.
Hashima Hikaru.
Why is he drinking coffee with Horikita Suzune?!
And more importantly—
Why does he look so relaxed?!
Why is he smiling?!
What the hell is going on?!
The sheer shock of the scene made Kushida's body tremble slightly.
Her mind immediately began replaying every interaction she had ever seen between Hikaru and Suzune.
Aside from the rule-selling negotiations, she couldn't recall them ever spending time alone together.
So since when—?!
Were they actually familiar with each other in private?!
A chaotic mix of anger and disbelief surged through her chest.
She knew one thing for certain—
If she didn't do something about this right now, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
~~~
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