Your case be judged

The hallway leading to the student council chamber was silent, save for the steady footsteps of two students. Horikita Suzune walked with purpose, her pace brisk, her narrowed eyes fixed ahead. Beside her, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka maintained his usual indifferent expression, hands tucked into his pockets, gaze drifting across the details of his surroundings.

"Well, isn't this great?" Horikita exhaled in irritation. "It seems like we'll have to deal with another one of Sudo's messes."

Her voice carried a mixture of exasperation and resignation. Ayanokoji observed her closely—her blazer was slightly unbuttoned at the middle, strands of hair clinging to her forehead from perspiration. The way her fingers twitched against the hem of her skirt betrayed her unease.

"She's nervous. The pressure of this hearing is getting to her, more than she'd like to admit."

Ayanokoji's expression didn't change, but his mind was already analyzing the situation. Sudo Ken, as reckless as he was, had been dragged into a fight. That was nothing new. What mattered was the hearing itself. The school had strict policies on violence, and given Sudo's history, his odds of avoiding expulsion were plummeting by the second.

"Forty percent... no, twenty percent now."

The doors to the student council room loomed ahead, imposing and refined, a stark contrast to the tension hanging in the air. The two of them stopped before it. Horikita inhaled sharply, her shoulders rising, then let out a slow breath.

A subtle gesture of relief—or perhaps steeling herself for what lay ahead.

The heavy doors swung open.

Inside, the student council room was bathed in the dim glow of recessed lighting, casting sharp shadows across the polished mahogany table that dominated the center. Framed portraits of past student council presidents lined the walls, their gazes cold and watchful. An air of authority settled over the room, a silent warning that this was not a place for reckless outbursts.

Seated at the far end was Horikita Manabu, the student council president, his posture perfectly upright, hands clasped before him in quiet authority. Standing beside him was Akane Tachibana, his ever-diligent secretary, her sharp gaze landing on Suzune with an almost scrutinizing intensity.

Across the table sat Daichi Ichizaki and Kyogo Komiya, the supposed victims. Their expressions were carefully composed, but Ayanokoji noted the subtle tells—Ichizaki's tapping fingers against the wood, the faint twitch at the corner of Komiya's mouth. Signs of restraint. Signs of calculation.

Sudo Ken sat at the farthest chair, his jaw clenched, eyes burning with frustration. He looked ready to jump from his seat at any moment, but a single glance from their homeroom teacher, Chabashira Sae, kept him in check.

Then, there was Kazuma Sakagami, the teacher overseeing Class C. He sat with one leg crossed over the other, chin resting on his hand, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"He's entertained. Not concerned. That means he already expects this to go his way."

Ayanokoji remained silent as Horikita took her seat. He could feel the weight of the gazes around the room, each one assessing, judging, waiting for the game to begin.

Tachibana's voice cut through the silence. "Since everyone is present, the hearing will now begin. President Horikita will present the details."

Manabu nodded, his voice measured and calm as he spoke. "We have received a complaint from Class C regarding an incident involving Ken Sudo. The report claims that he used excessive force against two students, resulting in their injuries. The victims in question, Daichi Ichizaki and Kyogo Komiya, bear visible bruises, which they claim were inflicted by Sudo."

Sakagami's smirk widened ever so slightly. Ayanokoji didn't miss the way his fingers tapped against his armrest—a rhythmic pattern, calculated.

Sudo slammed his hands against the table, his voice filled with indignation. "That's bullshit! They were the ones who—"

"Enough." Tachibana's tone was ice-cold, cutting through Sudo's anger with ease. "Disrupting the hearing will not be tolerated."

Horikita's sharp glare made Sudo sink back into his seat, his fingers curling into fists. Ayanokoji tilted his head slightly, observing the interplay of expressions across the room.

"Sudo's outrage is genuine. But so is Ichizaki's composure. He's too calm for someone supposedly 'attacked.' That means one thing—he's already confident in the outcome."

Horikita's voice rang out, steady and firm. "We understand the allegations, but I'd like to question the victims directly."

Manabu nodded. "You may proceed."

Horikita turned to Ichizaki, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You claim Sudo overpowered both of you, yet neither of you inflicted any damage on him. Why is that?"

Ichizaki scoffed, leaning forward. "Because we were defending ourselves. We didn't want to escalate things."

Sudo growled. "That's a damn lie! They were the ones who—"

Horikita turned sharply. "Sudo. If you speak out of turn again, I will drop this case."

The room fell into silence. Ichizaki smirked slightly, as if savoring Sudo's frustration.

"Interesting. He expected that reaction. He wanted Sudo to lash out."

Horikita continued, "A two-on-one scenario where neither of you could land a hit? That's difficult to believe."

Kyogo sneered. "He's a damn gorilla. You've seen how violent he gets."

Ayanokoji's gaze flickered toward Sakagami. The teacher's smirk remained, but there was something behind his eyes—subtle amusement.

"He's enjoying this. That means this was planned from the start."

Horikita turned to Chabashira. "Sensei, this incident took place in the gym, correct?"

Chabashira nodded indifferently. "That's right."

Horikita shifted her gaze to Manabu. "I'd like to request footage from the gym cameras."

The council room fell silent. Manabu let out a slow sigh.

"He already investigated."

"The footage exists," Manabu admitted, "but the quality is... compromised."

The projector lit up. The grainy, distorted footage played, figures barely distinguishable through the hazy lens. Only Sudo's red hair was visible.

Horikita exhaled slowly.

Ayanokoji leaned back in his seat, his mind processing the information.

"But the camera quality is severely deteriorated, likely due to the gym's conditions—humidity, dust, and the constant movement of weightlifting equipment. If I had that knowledge, would I really choose the gym as the setting for a staged fight? No, it seems too illogical. With the arrival of new first-years, the school would have ensured everything was in pristine condition, including the gym. So how did they know the cameras would be unreliable? Someone had prior knowledge and used these two as pawns to play the victims."

His gaze flickered toward Ichizaki and Kyogo. For just a fraction of a second, their expressions faltered. A brief glimpse of unease.

"They were used."

Ayanokoji's mind pieced the puzzle together. The deteriorated footage. The calculated timing. The baiting of Sudo. The way Sakagami subtly enjoyed the proceedings.

"This isn't just a school fight. This was a setup. A carefully orchestrated plan by someone who knew the limits of the system."

The answer became clear.

Ayanokoji pieced it together. "I see… so it must be the leader of Class C… Ryuuen. It's fitting for his nature to take risks and devise this kind of plan. I'll have to take measures if we are to ensure Sudo remains here."