The headteacher and his assistant got shocked and confused because of Kaede's weak response. They expected a strong response like a normal mother would do or simply accepting what Hiroki said but not a response like this same goes for Bert. He thought Kaede will immediately accept and support Hiroki's plan for saving him but hearing a vague answer shocked him too.
'As I expected, Kaede's devotion for Bert is breaking. This response is the proof of it. Everything I did showing Kaede that she lost the respect I had for her is not impacting her at first but slowly it's start to affect her and I'm sure Kanoko told her what happened to her and knowing her. She didn't believe her own daughter that Bert could sold her daughter to get raped by others but it's still have it's impact on her. Just one more right move and she will broken too.'
The headteacher clear his throat.
"OK, I understand your wish, Hiroki-kun to save our school's reputation. I will do as you say. Now, you all can leave."
"Thanks, sensei" Hiroki said and get up to leave.
"Bert and Ericka remember this, you two are only here until the term ends. Try not to do anything to tarnish our school's reputation more." The headteacher said. Bert reluctantly grits his teeth but nods in agreement and get up to leave. The four of them leave the principal's office.
In the corridor
The four of them calmly walks towards the school's exit but before they can reach the exit. Bert tries to punch Hiroki on his face.
*thud*
But before Bert's fist could connect to Hiroki, Ericka steps in and takes the punch to her face, shocking Bert and Kaede.
"Why? Why did you step in, Bitch?" Bert asks furiously while grabbing Ericka by her shirt's collar. Blood starts to drip from Ericka's nose.
"Because I understand now, how wrong I am to follow you and your stupid lies. You are nothing but a self-centred bastard, who cares for nothing except sex. How can I be this foolish to follow you?" Bert grits his teeth and pull back his arm to punch Ericka once more but before his punch could land on Ericka's face. Hiroki intervene and stops him by catching his fist in mid air.
"You nearly got saved by getting expelled. Don't waste this chance." Hiroki said while looking directly in Bert's eyes. Bert greets his teeth in frustration and pulls back his hand from Hiroki's grip.
"Don't think you win, pipsqueak." Bert said and left the school. Kaede follows him after giving a last glance towards Hiroki. Tears start to run from Ericka's eyes.
"Thank you, Hiroki for saving me and I knew this is not enough but let me apologise to you... for betraying you and supporting him. I don't kno-" Before Ericka can finish her sentence, Hiroki stops her.
"I only saved you because you saved me by taking Bert's punch on your face." Hiroki said.
"I am not talking about that-" Hiroki cuts her line again and sit on his knee in front of her.
"I know you are talking about my plan of saving you from getting terminated from your job. Let me tell you, I never intend to save you from the start, it's just you and Bert got saved in the process and think about it. Did you think any sane person will save their tormentor and his supporter? And if you were thinking that I saved you because you are someone close to me, than rethink about our relationship. You and I are just a student and teacher, you are not a friend of mine nor a family member. So, why do I care who you fuck behind my back?" Hearing this Ericka got shocked, she always thought Hiroki and she have a special relationship between them, not like other teachers and students, but hearing this from Hiroki broke her delusion.
"I hope you, don't waste your time you have here doing something foolish again." Hiroki said and left the school.
'I-is it true? Hiroki and I never had any special connection? Is it all my mind's creation... my delusion?' Tears starts to drop from Ericka's eyes.
'No, we had it but before the flower could bear fruit, I plucked it myself and destroyed it. I even got the chance to get Hiroki all for myself, If I just resisted Bert, I could have Hiroki all for myself but I destroyed it by myself.'
"AHHHHHHH" Ericka shouts while grabbing her head and starts crying but unbeknownst to her Hiroki is still watching her.
'with this Ericka broken too and by how Kaede is acting today. She will get broken too just one last step.' Hiroki thought and went towards his apartment.
Meanwhile in the headteacher office.
The headteacher is thinking about something and got lost in it.
"Sensei" His assistant called him but he didn't answer, she tries to called him again, but he didn't reply this time until she grab him by his shoulder.
"Sensei!"
"Ah, what? What happens?" The headteacher got shocked.
"What happens to you, sensei? I am calling you and you are not answering, What are you thinking and got lost in it?" The assistant asks while getting worried about him.
"I was thinking about the boy." Headteacher said.
"Sensei, you don't need to think about that boy this much. I don't think that foreign student will do anything foolish again, not if he wants to get expelled." the assistant said.
"I am not thinking about Bert, I am thinking about Hiroki"
"What about him?"
"Don't you think it's suspicious, how he uncovered Ericka's cheating and even got a plan to save our school's reputation."
"Sensei, you are thinking too much, he is just a little boy."
" Yes, a boy ... a mere 15-year-old boy, who caught a drug trafficker's organization all by himself, caught a teacher who is purposely making his marks lower and even make a plan by himself to save our school's reputation. Do you think this is normal? Try to remember what are you doing when you are 15. Playing games and eating junk food, right?" After the headteacher point this things out the assistant got shocked too. This is true all this things Hiroki's did is not normal to do by a mere 15-year-old boy.
"You are right, sensei. This is not normal but what we should do now?"
"I don't know, for now keep an eye on Hiroki too. I need to know what is happening around him. Every little detail about him."
"Yes, sensei"
Meanwhile on an empty street
Hiroki is walking towards his apartment, he rented by the money he earned by selling the sex tapes he got from his family but before he can cross the street a girl appears in front of him. Who wore black hoddie and styles her hair in pigtails.
"Did you miss me, Hiroki?"