15 Chapter 15 - The First Bout
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***Kiyotaka Ayanokoji POV - The day before midterms***
Chabashira's voice cut through the tension. "Are you four prepared?" she asked us—Horikita, Hirata, Sudo, and myself—as we were about to present our case to the student council.
"We are," Horikita confirmed with her usual stoic demeanor, and we followed Chabashira out into the hallway.
The walk felt longer than it was, filled with silent speculation. Who would stand for Class C? Ryuen, whom I had yet to meet, or Yagami, whose capabilities were still somewhat of an enigma to me? Or perhaps there was another player in Class C altogether.
Hirata's reassuring voice broke the silence. "Don't worry, Sudo. We'll sort this out with Class C," he said, though Sudo's anxiety was tangible.
"We're here. Ready?" Chabashira prompted as we entered the student council room and proceeded to the meeting room at the back.
Inside, the representatives of Class C were already seated. Sakagami, their teacher, was present, seated next to three students who bore the marks of injury.
At the table's head sat the student council president, Manabe Horikita, and his secretary.
We took our seats, and the room settled into a heavy quiet.
"Shall we begin?" Chabashira inquired, looking around the room.
Sakagami's smirk was barely noticeable. "We're waiting on one more," he informed us.
As if on cue, the door opened, and Light Yagami entered with a charismatic smile. "Apologies if I am late," he said smoothly.
The president glanced at the clock before acknowledging Yagami's arrival. "Just in time, though I didn't expect to see you again so soon," he remarked.
Yagami's response was tinged with regret. "Unfortunately, the circumstances are less than ideal," he said, taking his place.
With everyone present, the president signaled the start of the proceedings.
Chabashira's skepticism was clear. "It's unusual for the student council president to oversee such a matter involving first-years," she pointed out.
The president's smirk mirrored Sakagami's earlier expression. "Given that it's my final year, I've found myself with more time to attend to matters that pique my interest," he replied.
Chabashira's eyes narrowed slightly. "Is that so?" she pressed.
The president simply nodded, and the hearing commenced.
"Let's start. We're here to uncover the truth about the incident at the special annex involving Classes D and C. Is that acceptable, President?" Tachibana inquires, seeking affirmation.
"Proceed," he responds, his interest piqued more than before.
Tachibana elaborates, "Komiya, Kondo, and Ishizaki claim they were called to the annex by Ken Sudou, where he assaulted them. Conversely, Sudou insists it was he who was summoned and attacked. The stories conflict, but one fact is clear: Komiya, Kondo, and Ishizaki sustained injuries from Sudou. We'll proceed with them as the victims and Sudou as the defendant."
"This is nonsense!" Sudou erupts, slamming his hand on the table. "I won't deny the fight, but they lured me there. It was self-defense. They're always spouting nonsense, jealous that I'm first string and-" His outburst does us no favors; if we don't act swiftly, this could escalate poorly.
"Quiet," Tachibana commands, altering the room's atmosphere. "Given the plaintiffs' condition, it's evident the violence was one-sided. I believe we have enough to decide the case."
I had to intervene before it was too late. Subtly, I tickled Horikita, prompting her to stand.
"Stop that," she demands, rising to her feet.
"We'll lose if you don't act," I whisper to her, and she grasps the situation immediately.
"I request to question the witnesses before any decision," Horikita asserts.
"Granted," the president concedes.
Yet, the odds seemed against us; the three from Class C and their teacher wore smug grins as if they had anticipated this.
"What prompted your meeting with Sudou?" Horikita probes.
"I was invited to discuss a basketball play," Komiya answers smoothly.
Horikita, slightly flustered by his composure, continues, "Then why was Ishizaki at the annex? He's not on the basketball team, and practice had ended."
"Ishizaki can explain," Komiya defers.
"We're close friends and planned to dine out after their practice. I joined them in the annex afterward, and I have the message history to prove it," Ishizaki interjects confidently.
As time ticks, Horikita's anxiety mounts, but Hirata steps forward. "No offense, but messages can be fabricated."
Yagami takes the floor, addressing Horikita and Hirata, "You might think so, but the school's system can verify the authenticity, including the timing of these messages. Moreover, we have this," he says, brandishing papers. "These records show their consistent dining out after practice."
The student council president examines the papers and nods. "These are legitimate," he acknowledges, turning to Class D.
Horikita and Hirata appear at a loss, but then Horikita speaks up, "How did you lose so easily to Sudo? It's common knowledge that fighting multiple opponents is more challenging."
"We had no intention of fighting," Komiya replies.
"But you were aware of Sudou's aggressive nature when you agreed to meet him," Horikita presses on.
"Yes, but—" Kondo starts.
"I've heard enough," Yagami interjects, cutting Horikita off. "If your brother was attacked at night, would you blame him or the assailant? If you were robbed, is it your fault for allowing your belongings to be visible, or the thief's? Even if they provoked Sudou, the blame lies with the aggressor."
Class C's students, previously faltering under Horikita's questioning, regain their composure as Yagami speaks.
Horikita seems momentarily lost, but Hirata supports her. "I see your point, Yagami, but what Horikita suggests is fair. This may have been a setup by Class C," he clarifies.
***Light Yagami***
"Why?" I inquire, my tone laced with a feigned curiosity. "Sudou bears no marks of an attack, and he failed to report any such incident from the time of the alleged assault until Monday. He didn't refute the accusations, effectively admitting his use of violence. What then could possibly suggest this was a setup? It's quite amusing that Sudo claims self-defense," I remark, gesturing towards my visibly injured classmates.
Continuing, I analyze, "Self-defense, legally, requires a proportional response to the perceived threat. Comparing my classmates' injuries to Sudou's unscathed appearance, it's clear that even if he acted in self-defense, his reaction was excessive. Moreover, at the start of this hearing, Sudou didn't express regret for the harm he caused. He didn't claim to have felt endangered. Instead, he fixated on how my classmates provoke him, their jealousy, their gossip."
"There's no indication that Sudou's actions were defensive. He shows no remorse, appearing self-absorbed and volatile. There's no credible reason to suspect a setup by my classmates. On Monday, when Class D was informed of the incident, Sudou didn't deny the assault. The level of force he used was clearly excessive. And while Class C has presented various pieces of evidence, Class D has yet to offer a single piece to substantiate their claims," I conclude.
Upon hearing this, Ayanokoji, the quiet member of Class D with brown hair, closes his eyes. He's been quiet, but his subtle encouragement of Horikita has been evident; he is collected. Now, it seems he's come to realize the gravity of the situation.
"What the hell did you say?" Sudou yells, his voice rising in anger as he stands abruptly.
This is your second outburst since we began," I note, my voice calm and measured."And it only reinforces my point. You claim self-defense, yet you offer no explanation for the supposed threat that warranted such a response. Your lack of remorse is… sickening."
Ryuk's laughter echoes in the background as Sudou's frustration grows.
"Please, take your seat," Hirata intercedes with a plea, his voice carrying a mix of authority and concern. Sudou hesitates but eventually complies, influenced by the collective gaze of the room.
"If there's nothing further," the president begins, poised to deliver a verdict, "then I shall—"
"Wait," Horikita interrupts, her voice cutting through the tension. "Can we resolve this with points?"
"Don't look at me," I deflect, turning to my classmates. "I wasn't the one harmed."
Komiya, Kondo, and Ishizaki exchange glances, their smiles showing at the thoughts of compensation.
"We'd be content with settling for a mere million points," Komiya suggests, his tone casual.
The audacity of their request is obvious even to me—they're asking for a fortune. Class D's point reserves are already stretched thin; this demand would consume them entirely.
"Class D can't afford such a loss," Hirata argues, his concern evident.
"Half a million points is more than generous," Horikita counters, seeking a middle ground.
I weigh in, "The penalty should match the offense, shouldn't it? Let's consider the points Class D is likely to earn this month. A hundred seems reasonable, given their efforts."
"A bit less, but yes," Horikita concedes.
"Then let's say 90 class points, equivalent to 9,000 private points. Over two months, that's 720,000 private points before summer, assuming no further incidents. Add to that the fact Sudo wouldn't be punished and would continue to contribute to the class, and I'd say seven hundred fifty thousand points is a more than fair compromise."
"Have you reached a decision?" the president inquires.
Horikita closes her eyes and sighs in resignation. "Yes, Class D accepts Class C's terms."
"The matter is settled," the president declares. "The points will be deducted accordingly."
Horikita's gaze locks onto mine, a question in her eyes. "Do you truly believe Class C is innocent?"
I respond with a story: "The tale of the boy who cried wolf has always resonated with me. I think it's one of the saddest stories out there. Whether my classmates are innocent or guilty, I cannot be certain. But I'll gladly be the fool and choose to stand by them, regardless of the truth. In the moments they need me the most, I want them to know they can lean on me no matter the situation or circumstances."
My words take aback the room; they were lies, but in a way, they were also the truth. That's indeed how I acted in public, so what's wrong with claiming it as the truth?
"It doesn't make you a fool," the president acknowledges, "but know where to draw the line."
"Understood," I reply.
The hearing concludes, and we all depart, but I understand that my little bout with Class D wasn't over.
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I hope you guys are excited for the next chapters. I know I am. This arc isn't over yet, so don't be disappointed if you were expecting something better than this. I promise I have something good in store.
