Chapter 140: Nagumo Miyabi's Heart Sank!
"I don't know! Stop asking me!"
Shiraki walked straight past Yuto and Chabashira.
The corners of Chabashira's lips rose slightly. Her argument with Ninomiya had left her frustrated, yet speaking with this troublesome boy somehow made her feel considerably better.
"Chabashira-sensei, what happened? You don't look very happy."
"I'm fine." Chabashira shook her head, making her high ponytail sway behind her.
"Tell me. Otherwise, I'll cause trouble later and give you a headache."
Chabashira rolled her eyes at Yuto's threat, though a trace of amusement appeared on her face.
"Nothing serious. A former teacher mocked me."
"What kind of teacher?"
"What do you mean? You already know I attended this school. She was one of my teachers and is now the homeroom teacher of Class 2-A."
"It seems the student council summoned her too."
Yuto lightly raised an eyebrow.
So she was Nagumo's homeroom teacher.
That made sense. Since the forged-paper incident involved Nagumo, both he and his homeroom teacher would naturally be summoned.
"Why would your former teacher mock you?"
"Many things happened, so Chie and I have a terrible relationship with her."
"Our relationship with that woman is similar to your relationship with Ryuen."
Yuto understood immediately.
"So you want her expelled too?"
"What nonsense are you saying?" Chabashira rolled her eyes at him again.
"I merely used your relationship with Ryuen as an example of how much we dislike each other."
"Since you dislike her so much, I'll help you get revenge," Yuto offered cheerfully.
"What are you planning— No, what exactly have you already done?"
"Why were both Ninomiya Hozuki and I summoned by the student council?" Chabashira quickly asked.
"It's slightly complicated. I'll explain while we walk."
Yuto pointed toward the student council building.
"Fine."
The incident involving the forged midterm papers was not particularly complicated. Yuto explained everything to Chabashira in only a few sentences.
After hearing the entire story, the smile on Chabashira's lips grew wider.
This troublesome boy truly was wicked.
He had also taught both Nagumo and the ill-intentioned Shiraki a harsh lesson.
Chabashira eagerly anticipated what would happen next. She wanted to see the expression of that arrogant old woman after learning that Nagumo, the student she constantly praised, had been defeated by Yuto.
Within a single year, Nagumo had advanced from Class B to Class A and nearly brought the entire second year under his control.
Ninomiya never stopped boasting about those achievements.
Whenever she had an opportunity, she claimed Nagumo's excellence resulted from her guidance, speaking endlessly until the other teachers developed headaches.
Chabashira wanted to know how Ninomiya would continue bragging after this incident.
Although Ninomiya frequently praised Nagumo before the other teachers, she no longer did so in Chabashira's presence.
Chabashira believed she owed that peace entirely to Yuto.
Everyone at the school knew Shimizu Yuto had challenged nearly every club and achieved an unbelievable series of victories.
Anyone with common sense was now too afraid to wager against him.
Since Yuto gained his reputation, Ninomiya had stopped mentioning Nagumo around Chabashira.
She probably assumed that if she praised Nagumo, Chabashira would respond by praising Yuto and turn the conversation into a competition.
With a smile on her face, Chabashira teased him.
"Shimizu, haven't you offended far too many people?"
"You only dealt with Ryuen's conspiracy several days ago, and now Nagumo from the second year is targeting you."
"Sae-chan, you should ask why this school contains so many villains who refuse to tolerate an innocent student like me."
"Pfft~"
Chabashira laughed.
Only this troublesome boy, his girlfriends, and perhaps some Class C students believed Shimizu Yuto was a good student.
No one else at the school would agree.
Rapid footsteps approached from behind.
Chabashira turned slightly and saw Nagumo hurrying toward them.
"Shimizu, the main culprit has arrived."
"Hmm? Oh."
Yuto turned and saw Nagumo. He greeted him with a refreshing smile.
"Nagumo-senpai, why are you running so quickly?"
"Huh? Shimizu Yu— Shimizu-kun, why are you here too?"
"The student council summoned me," Nagumo answered while maintaining a smile.
Chabashira and Yuto exchanged a glance.
Since Nagumo could still face Yuto so calmly, he clearly did not know why the student council had called him.
"What a coincidence. Chabashira-sensei and I were also summoned."
"They didn't explain the reason to us either. It's rather confusing."
Chabashira pressed her lips together.
This troublesome boy was remarkably skilled at pretending to know nothing.
"Is that so? Then let's go to the student council office together."
"No need. Chabashira-sensei and I still have something to discuss. You can go ahead, Nagumo-senpai."
"All right."
Nagumo nodded and entered the building alone.
He was not foolish. A student capable of advancing from Class 1-B to Class 2-A could sense that the sudden summons probably concerned something unfavorable.
However, Nagumo initially believed he had done nothing recently.
No—that was incorrect.
He had committed an impressive number of questionable acts.
He had encouraged Ryuen to frame Yuto.
He had stamped Ryuen's application without obtaining Manabu's approval.
He had ordered Tonokawa to forge examination papers and instructed Shiraki to sell them to Yuto.
...
With growing unease, Nagumo reached the student council office.
Since the door was open, he walked inside directly.
"President, why did you call me— Ninomiya-sensei? Chairman?!"
Nagumo froze in astonishment.
Three people who should not have been present were already inside.
Chairman Sakayanagi.
His homeroom teacher, Ninomiya Hozuki.
And his subordinate, Shiraki Ryuichi.
Nagumo's expression gradually darkened.
Shiraki had lowered his head deeply and did not dare look toward him. That reaction allowed Nagumo to roughly understand why the student council had summoned him.
Shiraki had made a mistake.
Something had gone wrong when he attempted to sell the forged midterm papers to Yuto.
Nagumo remembered Yuto's earlier confused expression as he claimed not to know why the student council had called him.
That bastard had known everything.
He had merely been mocking Nagumo!
However, another question remained.
Why was Chairman Sakayanagi present?
'Shimizu Yuto must have brought the chairman here to support him!' Nagumo thought through gritted teeth.
Could an ordinary student summon the chairman merely to support them?
Probably not.
But Nagumo believed Yuto could.
Only a month earlier, Yuto had called Chairman Sakayanagi to the basketball court and used him as support during another dispute.
Manabu sat with his hands folded and looked at Nagumo's increasingly troubled expression.
"You've arrived, Nagumo. Sit in the seat on the left."
"..."
Nagumo's heart sank.
Manabu had ordered him to sit on the left side of the office instead of in the vice president's seat.
That clearly meant Nagumo would be treated as a defendant.
The student council office followed specific seating arrangements during hearings.
Student council members occupied the central seats, the complainants sat on the right, and the defendants sat on the left.
Nagumo, Ninomiya, Shiraki, and Tonokawa had all been assigned to the left.
They were unmistakably the accused party.
Remaining silent, Nagumo sat in the empty seat beside Ninomiya.
Ninomiya cautiously glanced at Chairman Sakayanagi, who was resting with his eyes closed on the right side.
She leaned toward Nagumo and whispered, "Nagumo, what happened?"
"I don't know," Nagumo answered quietly.
In reality, Nagumo had already guessed nearly everything.
However, he still clung to the faint hope that the situation was not as terrible as he imagined.
After more than thirty seconds of suffocating silence, Yuto and Chabashira leisurely entered the office.
"Shimizu-kun, Chabashira-sensei, please sit on this side." Manabu gestured toward the empty seats on the right.
"Thank you, senpai."
"Call me President."
"Understood, senpai."
"..."
Manabu fell silent.
This was probably the second time he and Yuto had repeated this exact exchange inside the student council office.
Had Shimizu visited this office far too frequently?
He was practically becoming a regular.
Yuto and Chabashira sat on the right with relaxed smiles.
Nagumo stared sharply at Yuto from across the table, but Yuto continued smiling as though he had not noticed the gaze.
"Now that both parties have arrived, the hearing requested by Shimizu Yuto will formally begin," Tachibana announced.
She delivered the usual opening statement before continuing.
"Since Shiraki Ryuichi has already admitted his offense and accepted responsibility, we will omit the initial statement of claims."
Nagumo's heart jolted.
Shiraki had already confessed.
It was over.
This hearing truly concerned the forged examination papers.
"Shiraki Ryuichi, please explain the complete sequence of events," Tachibana instructed.
Shiraki shakily stood.
He was so terrified that his speech had become incoherent, making it impossible for him to explain the incident properly.
Yuto raised one hand with a smile.
"Do you have a question, Shimizu-kun?" Manabu asked.
"Not exactly. This good senpai doesn't appear capable of giving a clear verbal statement."
"I suggest having him write everything down, then distributing copies to everyone."
Manabu looked toward Sakayanagi.
"Chairman, what is your opinion?"
"You don't need my permission."
"I'm present only as Shimizu Yuto's witness. The student council may conduct the hearing however it considers appropriate," Sakayanagi answered.
"Understood."
Manabu turned toward Tachibana.
"Secretary, take Shiraki into the adjacent room. Have him write a complete account, then make copies of the document."
"Understood."
"Shiraki-kun, please follow me."
"Okay!"
Shiraki had wanted to escape the terrifying office for some time.
He hurriedly followed Tachibana out of the room.
Once they left, the office returned to complete silence.
Several people unconsciously softened their breathing, afraid of making even the slightest sound.
Yuto behaved entirely differently.
He took his phone from his pocket and began chatting with his three girlfriends through Line beneath the table.
Chabashira glanced at him.
When she noticed he was playing with his phone, the corner of her mouth twitched discreetly.
She then shifted slightly and used her body to block the view from Manabu and Sakayanagi.
This troublesome boy was truly fearless.
Did he not understand where he was?
Ninomiya, who lacked the patience to endure the suffocating silence, finally displayed a gentle expression and addressed Manabu.
"Student Council President, we don't know when those two will return."
"Why not explain what this hearing concerns while we wait?"
"That's reasonable." Manabu nodded slightly.
He looked toward Yuto, who still had his head lowered toward his phone.
"Shimizu-kun, you are the alleged victim and the person who requested this hearing."
"Explain the complete incident."
"Okay."
Yuto temporarily ended his Line conversations and smiled at Nagumo, Tonokawa, and their homeroom teacher, Ninomiya.
"The matter is actually quite simple."
"During lunch today, I went to the student cafeteria..."
Yuto repeated the same explanation he had already given Chabashira.
…
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