There Would Always be Two Versions in a Story

The entire waiting room was quiet. Himari and Teacher Ayase conversed in a low voice while the students including Izumi stood in a line, facing Teacher Goda.

Because it was a big fight, the discipline teacher was there as well. He was sweating profusely as this kind of fight rarely happened in their school.

How should they answer the parents?

It was alright if the parents were reasonable but, what if they met the 'my-child-is-an-angel' kind of parents who insisted on saying there would be no way for their dearest child to commit such an act?

"Yo, your parents are already on their way here! Don't you want to tell me what the hell exactly happened?" Teacher Goda slapped the table next to him.

The discipline teacher flinched, "Teacher Goda, language..."

"Huh?! You want to lecture me?" Teacher Goda opened his eyes wide and stared at the bald and chubby discipline teacher.

The discipline teacher shrank what was left of his neck.

Himari glanced at Izumi. He stood a bit far from the students of Class 3-2 and he was the only student from Class 3-3.

From what she knew, the three boys of Class 3-2 were friends, or in the same clique if she rephrased it. The other two students were like little followers to Kasai Yuuto who always acted like the boss.

Himari pursed her lips with a troubled expression on her face. She walked closer to Izumi.

"Izumi, do you want to tell us anything?" Himari asked in a quiet voice, "Are you in trouble?"

Izumi didn't lift up his head. He kept staring at the floor.

"Of course he won't have anything to say since he's the one who started the fight!" The boy named Yuuto burst into anger.

"Oho, so that's it?" Teacher Goda asked in a mocking voice, "Even if he did, there must be something which you're at fault, right?"

"I said I have nothing to do with this!" Yuuto retorted. He didn't even show respect to the teachers around him.

Teacher Goda let out a snort. He had met this kind of spoilt brats before.

In the next second, the door of the waiting room was knocked on the outside.

"Excuse me," A man in a black suit opened the door, "I'm Hayashi Izumi's guardian."

"Mr. Hayashi, please, come in," Himari shifted her eyes from Izumi to the man.

Both of them greeted each other with a nod. Kazuya quickly went to Izumi's side.

"Teachers, what happened? Did something happen involving Izumi?" Kazuya was calm despite facing the teachers, "Teacher Kato didn't make it clear during the call earlier."

"Mr. Hayashi, I caught these students fighting at the back of the class building," Teacher Goda explained, "Your nephew was among them."

"A fight?" Kazuya was surprised. He lowered his eyes to Izumi who hadn't looked at him ever since he entered.

"This cocky brat here," Teacher Goda pointed at Yuuto, "He said Student Hayashi was the one who initiated the fight. When I asked Student Hayashi, he didn't want to say anything until now so it's hard to resolve it unless we call the parents here."

No matter how many times Yuuto claimed it was Izumi's fault, they shouldn't rely on his words alone. Especially his reputation as a bully had been known to the entire school. The brat had been using his father's identity to have his way in the school.

"Izumi," Kazuya put one palm over Izumi's right shoulder, "What happened? Care to tell me?"

His tone remained calm and gentle as he asked his little nephew. Never did Kazuya show that he was angry with Izumi despite the accusation thrown at him by another student.

More footsteps were heard from the outside of the room. Soon, once again the door was opened.

A man in his late 30s entered the room. Behind him were two women who dressed elegantly. The women rushed to their children who were the followers of Yuuto.

"Hello, teachers," The man gave the teachers a slight bow, "I'm Kasai Yuuto's father. I was called here regarding my son's matter, isn't it?"

Kazuya turned to look at the familiar man. Both men locked their gaze.

"...Mr. Hayashi?" The man was shocked.

"President Kasai," Kazuya greeted the man, "You're here for..."

Somehow, a hunch surged up in his mind.

"Did my boy cause trouble, teachers?" President Kasai stood behind Yuuto, "Tell me, what has happened?"

Maybe because he had always been a man standing at the top, even though President Kasai showed his respects to the teachers, his tone sounded a bit demanding. Nevertheless, the teachers didn't mind about it because President Kasai didn't blindly show his power to them.

Teacher Goda recounted the event.

"One of the students called me, saying there were students fighting behind the teaching building. Besides your son and his two fellow classmates, Student Hayashi Izumi was there as well. Student Kasai and Student Hayashi fought together before I caught them. Up until now, your son claimed Student Hayashi was the one who started it but, because Student Hayashi didn't say anything, we're currently in a deadlock."

President Kasai frowned. He looked at his son.

Right now, Yuuto's expression wasn't as haughty as before. He was clearly afraid of his father.

"Yuuto, tell us the truth," President Kasai's voice turned stern, "There must be something between you and Mr. Hayashi's nephew. Did you do something to him?"

"I've said what I said!" Yuuto stubbornly stood with his stance despite his fear, "That lowly child started it! It's not my fault!"

"Don't insult others!" President Kasai's voice increased one octave.

Yuuto shrank his neck. His eyes started to redden. His expression was twisted as he was trying to not crying in front of all of them.

Because of President Kasai's appearance, the two mothers swallowed down their dissatisfaction. They were inwardly blaming Izumi for making their children being summoned by the teachers for a fight.

"Then, Teacher, how should we solve this?" One of the mothers shifted her eyes to Teacher Goda.

"Geez, since Yuuto has said so, can't you settle this sooner? My child has always been a well-behaved one! He wouldn't be dragged in this mess if not for that boy," The second mother muttered under her breath yet her words were still audible in the room.

Himari refrained from sighing. She placed her attention back on Izumi.

"Izumi, there would always be two versions in a story," She softly persuaded him, "Why don't you tell us yours? Yuuto has told us his."

"Right! Right!" Teacher Goda slapped his thigh, "He only said you started the fight. He hasn't told us what the fight was about. What if you have a valid reason to initiate the fight?"

"Teacher Goda!" The discipline teacher gnashed his teeth, "Don't make assumptions, please..."

His high and might father was right beside him! No matter how did you think, it's not a good thing to voice it out loud!

Teacher Goda ignored the disciplined teacher. He looked at Yuuto's angry face to Izumi who only knew to stay in silence ever since the moment they entered the waiting room.

Kazuya gently rubbed the boy's shoulders, "This matter won't settle if you keep your quiet, and it would be dragged on. Do you want Chiharu to know about this?"

Izumi flinched.

That was the only thing he was really scared of.

He didn't want to make his only little sister worried about him. Even though she might not understand, he refused to take such a gamble.

Izumi finally lifted up his head. He looked from his uncle, his homeroom teacher, Yuuto and Yuuto's father.

"That, actually..." Izumi bit his lip before he spoke again, "It's true that I was the one who started the fight."

"See! I've told you!" Yuuto seized the opportunity to bare his fangs.

President Kasai glared at him. Once again Yuuto shrank his neck, not daring to act anymore.

"Teachers, let's just end it here," One of the mothers spoke.

"Yes, don't waste any more time since he has confessed," The second mother vehemently agreed, "Let him apologize then we could end this matter."

Teacher Goda rolled his eyes. He ignored the two mothers, "Then?"

Izumi glanced at his uncle. Kazuya gave him a reassurance look. The look mustered up Izumi's courage.

This time, he directly stared at Yuuto.

"But, I did it because Yuuto pushed me down first! I went looking for him because I do not want to do his homework anymore! He's angry with me!"

"That's a lie!" Yuuto cried. He looked at his father with teary eyes, "Dad! That boy lied! He..."

"Yuuto threatened me with my uncle!"

Izumi's shout deafened Yuuto's cries.

Both Kazuya and President Kasai were in shock. They stared at one another.

"What do you mean by that, Izumi?" President Kasai was the one who asked Izumi next, "What did my son tell you? That he used your uncle, Mr. Hayashi to threaten you?"

The tears that Izumi held back finally burst out of his eyes. He was sobbing terribly but he did his best to answer Yuuto's father.

"He said... Sobs... He would tell his father to not... cooperate with Uncle... Sobs... I know Uncle works hard for the company so... I don't want to hinder Uncle... Yuuto, he also likes to tear my books apart... I have to change to new workbooks because of him!"

President Kasai's face became ugly in a second. Yuuto moved away as he sensed his father's impending wrath to him.

He's... dead.