Chapter 8: 2nd year Class C, Ai Cheng Hua Lian!

"Spill it, when did Kiryu Hina bully you?"

"She didn't bully anyone," Kagura Hikaru said.

"If I say she did it, then she did," Ayakoji Chiyoko said with a cold smile, tilting her chin up. "This is a golden opportunity, you understand, right?"

He certainly understood.

If he now claimed that the rumors of Kiryu Hina's bullying were true, then Ayakoji Chiyoko could immediately solidify it as a fact with her authority as the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

With Kagura Hikaru's testimony as a victim, Hina would undoubtedly be ousted from the position of Student Council President and have a stain on her record.

Campus bullying was common in the Island Nation, but it had not yet reached the point of numbness, and most people were extremely resentful of it.

If the bullying by Kiryu Hina became an established fact, she would face widespread condemnation, and might even be bullied by others in return.

The prerequisite was that Kagura Hikaru would stand on the opposing side.

"President Kiryu did not engage in any bullying, those outside are purely rumors," Kagura Hikaru maintained his stance resolutely, utterly unwilling to give ground.

That stern expression reminded one of rock.

The reluctance of the witness made Ayakoji Chiyoko feel helplessly frustrated, and she clucked her tongue softly.

Honestly, she had anticipated this outcome; it was clear that Kagura Hikaru would not agree to a plan that would cause significant harm to Kiryu Hina. She had laid out her boundaries with him just yesterday.

He clearly still had feelings for his ex-girlfriend.

Now, the only person who could complicate matters for Kiryu Hina on this issue was Kagura Hikaru, the party involved and the sole witness, so she had to try.

No one had witnessed Kiryu Hina's bullying firsthand; without eyewitness testimony, rumors would ultimately remain just rumors.

No choice but to let her off the hook like this...

However, it couldn't be said there were no gains.

The underlying implications of this matter were indeed worth pondering. When Ayakoji Chiyoko had just left yesterday at noon, Kagura Hikaru was still unscathed, yet shortly after her departure, he was seen walking into the restroom covered in yogurt.

Was that a coincidence?

Nobody would believe that.

What really happened, Ayakoji Chiyoko did not want to expend brain cells on that, she could just ask the person involved directly.

"Yesterday, Kiryu Hina found you after I did, didn't she?" Ayakoji Chiyoko asked, arms crossed.

Kagura Hikaru hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Did she know we had met?"

"She warned me not to contact you."

Ayakoji Chiyoko understood.

That so-called sign of bullying was probably the result of the warning.

No, in her view, it seemed more like a threat than a warning.

[Interesting, did that woman ever lose her composure like this in the past?]

[Just a private meeting and she's this sensitive, it's either jealousy or fear. So, Kagura Hikaru is really important to her? Indeed, I didn't choose the wrong person!]

[Now, how should I use him next...]

[You have gained insight into the mind: Piano +3]

[Piano lv4 (59/100)]

Ayakoji Chiyoko found Kiryu Hina's stress reaction quite interesting.

Compared with Kagura Hikaru, who clearly harbored no thoughts for him and appeared completely ruthless.

From this perspective, Kagura Hikaru and she were indeed on opposing sides.

If they were friends, Kiryu Hina would definitely not let her suffer embarrassment; that was the kind of person she was. Witnessing her losing control was a rare experience.

Ayakoji Chiyoko's mood was quite good as she slightly curled up the corners of her mouth.

"After school today, come to the Disciplinary Committee room, I have something to tell you."

"Can't it be now?"

"Class is about to start, we don't have enough time, and I'll be leading a patrol during the lunch break, so I won't be available," Ayakoji Chiyoko said.

Kagura Hikaru frowned slightly, "I have plans after school."

"What plans? I can come with you," Ayakoji Chiyoko interrupted, saying so unapologetically.

"It could be alright...."

Kagura Hikaru pretended to be somewhat troubled, but his heart was very calm, as if anticipating the other's response.

Luring Ayakoji Chiyoko out of the school, away from her comfort zone, and using the time spent alone together to further close the distance between them was Kagura Hikaru's plan.

Simple, unsophisticated, but effective.

He mentioned the address of a livehouse and arranged a meeting time with her.

Although the purpose was to deceive Ayakoji Chiyoko into a date, he indeed had a live performance to attend that day.

As a model student in the eyes of parents and a top caste in the eyes of classmates, Ayakoji Chiyoko obviously was not aware of what a so-called 'livehouse' was, had never been to such a place, and did not care.

She even thought that avoiding her classmates' eyes and meeting Kagura Hikaru outside the school was a good strategy, to prevent Kiryu Hina from being overly sensitive and causing a secondary bullying incident that might hurt her informants.

The two reached a consensus, agreed to meet at the store's entrance when the time came, and then left separately.

They were both first-year students and actually had classrooms on the same floor, so they should have gone back together, but Ayakoji Chiyoko was stopped midway by a Discipline Committee member who seemed to have something to say.

Kagura Hikaru didn't think much of it and went back first.

Ayakoji Chiyoko watched his figure disappear at the stairwell, then turned to her subordinate and spoke in an indifferent tone, "What is it?"

"President, our team members in the second grade heard some news that you might be interested in."

"Stop beating around the bush, get to the point!"

"Yes!" The Discipline Committee member immediately stood straight, his face showing a look of reverence, "A second-grade girl claimed she witnessed the scene of the Student Council President's bullying, but the authenticity of the message is not confirmed!"

"Oh....?"

Upon hearing this, Ayakoji Chiyoko's eyes lit up like she had spotted prey, causing the Discipline Committee member beside her to tremble.

But he seemed to somewhat enjoy it.

"Name, class."

"Second-year C class, Ai Cheng Hua Lian! President!"

"I understand, you've worked hard, well done."

Ayakoji Chiyoko casually patted the shoulder of the Discipline Committee member, who was so moved that he trembled all over, nearly wetting himself.

"No, where, it is my honor...."

However, Ayakoji Chiyoko's attention was no longer on him as she strode toward the stairwell, intending to immediately go to the second grade's floor to have a good talk with Student Ai Cheng.

She had thought that without Kagura Hikaru as an eyewitness, dealing with Kiryu Hina would be impossible, but unexpectedly, another potential witness had emerged.

She needed to protect her before the cunning Student Council discovered her.

In time, Ai Cheng Hua Lian would become the secret weapon of the Disciplinary Committee to defeat the Student Council!

As Ayakoji Chiyoko walked, the smile on her face gradually widened.

But just then, the class bell ringing interrupted her thoughts.

...Almost forgot about the morning class, looks like I can only go during the break.

That's fine, it won't make much difference; she's not going anywhere.

Ayakoji Chiyoko calmed down and headed downstairs to the classroom.