True Colors

"You sit on that side, Tanaka. She might go on a rampage while we're having our conversation," said Suzuki.

Nothing bad is going to happen, right? Guess I'd take her offer.

"What are we discussing, Suzuki-san? Is this about the election? I think it is unnecessary to bring your friends here plus the Vice President. I believe she is occupied right now." said Miyuki.

"We're not going to talk about the voting or such. Well, it's part of it but this is mostly about you," answered Suzuki.

About her?

"W...What about me? I am sure there's no reason for you to take a peek in my life, am I wrong?" asked Miyuki.

"Look. Do you recognize this?" answered Suzuki as she shows a written paper.

T...That's the love letter that Akari-san placed under my table!

"A l...love letter, eh? So?" answered Miyuki.

"You were the one who wrote this, right?" asked Suzuki. "I mean, the writer of this letter has identical penmanship as yours. Look at this picture on my phone screen."

Suzuki gets her phone and shows Miyuki a picture of her writing on the board during a recitation.

"See? The stroke of your writing is also the same as this in the letter. Perhaps, a great coincidence?" said Suzuki.

"Y...You're not making sense. What's my purpose in writing that?" answered Miyuki.

"Theoretically, you want Akari and Tanaka to be together. Well, not for long," said Suzuki. "Once the two were already in development, you attempted to do something to broke the two apart, am I wrong?"

B...Broke? Miyuki planned on doing something like that?

"T...That's not true! I don't get where you're going but everything you're saying is pure fallacies!" shouted Miyuki.

"Of course, you'll not get it. We're just starting, after all," answered Suzuki. "I'll be straight. You threatened Akari that you'll spread her private photos, right?"

W...What?! Miyuki extorted?! T...That's not possible!

"Y...You're weird, accusing me all of a sudden..." responded Miyuki.

"But I am correct, aren't I?" answered Suzuki. "Of course, since Akari told me everything."

"What?!" reacted Miyuki.

"I was thinking that this wouldn't work at all. I'm glad Akari acted well that she's really has a crush on Tanaka," said Suzuki.

All of that was acting? A...Akari-san never was interested in me?

"She was so into it, to the point that I can see Miyuki peeking at the student council door maybe because she is infuriated that Akari might really take Tanaka away," added Suzuki.

"Wait, when did the extortion happen? While Akari-san and I are together or before the love letter scenario?" I inquired.

"It was before the love letter plan, Tanaka-san," answered Akari. "Miyuki tried to intimidate me just for me to join her plan on taking you."

"When Akari told me everything, that's when I realized the idea that we can truly stoop so low just for our ambition or wants to be granted. Human beings are scary, aren't we?" asked Suzuki. "Akari and I formulated a counter plan which was to let you do what you want. We also did something for this exposure act to work out."

"You don't have any evidence that I did it. This doesn't make any sense. I'm leaving!" said Miyuki.

"Sorry to say, but I have two shreds of evidence here," replied Suzuki. "People claimed that Tanaka's account posted the pictures which is visibly true."

"But I was not the one who uploaded those!" I reacted.

"Y...Yeah, we do not have any clue on who's the hacker!" added Miyuki.

"Oh, but we do have," said Suzuki. "This platform has a feature called 'Saved Log-ins" which identifies where the account was last used."

"And so?" answered Miyuki.

"I did a little bit of research about you. Though in reality, I just stalked your Kwitter account and I saw your address in your profile. Who even shows their address in that section?" said Suzuki.

"So you did stalk my profile, huh? How could that benefit you?" asked Miyuki.

"My, oh my! The last location where Tanaka's account is opened..." said Suzuki.

Miyuki's gulping at the moment. Is she nervous? Then so...!

"...was at your address, Miyuki-san." continued Suzuki.

Wait, so the one who hacked my account was Miyuki all along?!

"T...That doesn't add quite right! How did you even know that?! Maybe, you're the one who opened his account!" rebutted Miyuki.

Miyuki is starting to lose her composure while on the other end, Suzuki has somehow been calm since the beginning. She's just smiling at Miyuki.

"The moment I heard that news, I didn't suspect Tanaka. Yes, not even an inch of doubt," said Suzuki. "That same morning, I started to look for potential proofs. Here I thought that it would be difficult but..."

"Don't stop! You're hesitating, aren't you?! Stop lying once and for all!" reacted Miyuki.

"Tanaka, remember when you borrowed my phone some time ago 'coz yours was battery depleted?" asked Suzuki.

"Yeah, that was months ago," I answered.

"I discovered the same morning that you forgot to sign out your account on my phone. That's why I took the opportunity to check your saved login and the rest is atrocious history," said Suzuki. "Just by these statements, you can clearly conclude who's the hacker."

"F...False claims! I...I'm sure there had a network interferences within our area so..." said Miyuki.

"Oh, Miyuki-san, you're sweating too much. Want me to lower the thermostat? Or is it because you can't keep up with the act anymore?" asked Miyuki.

Suzuki gets closer to Miyuki and looks at her, eye to eye. She's so close that their nose tips are almost touching each other.

"Get away from me!" reacted Miyuki who then shoves Suzuki.

"It doesn't end here, of course," said Suzuki. "Your accomplice should be behind that door, embarrassed about entering this trial."

So Miyuki had a subordinate?! Wow, this has been going that far?!

The door has suddenly been opened by someone, who then turns out to be...

"So this is the reason why you called me out, Suzuki-san?" asked Sakurai.

S...Sakurai-senpai?!

"You're perspiring much, Sakurai-senpai. Was it too humid outside? I doubt it is since the weather was visibly overcast today." said Suzuki.

"N...No, I ran all the way from the courtyard..." answered Sakurai.

"If you say so, then fine," said Suzuki. "But it doesn't change the fact that you were the source of those photos."

Source?! I thought those were Akari's.

"I'm sure you're like, 'Huh?! How did you know any of that?!'." said Suzuki. "Let's get straight to the point. Tanaka, listen carefully to the audio that I'll play right now."

Suzuki holds her phone and plays an audio file that sounds like a conversation.

(The following dialogue inside the [bracket] is deemed as the people speaking in the sound recorder.)

[Sakurai: So, what did you need from me? Calling me to the library all of a sudden...]

[Miyuki: It's about the plan. I thought I explained everything to you the other day. How come you forgot it?]

[Sakurai: Sorry, I was busy with the student council that my thoughts were rumbled.]

[Miyuki: Are there some updates from what I requested to you?]

[Sakurai: I am working on it, though I have a sample here. Take a look.]

[Miyuki: Hmm... This is quite excellent. I'm lucky to have a partner that is good at photo editing.]

[Sakurai: I had a hard time finding a nude star that has an almost identical body figure with Akari, you know.]

[Miyuki: I just need five more and I shall commence the scheme. I need it three or four days from now. Have you also tried to check on Tanaka's account?]

[Sakurai: I haven't, but I told my older brother about it. He wouldn't accept my offer unless I told him that Tanaka is a big bully in the school and I claimed that I wanted to get my hands dirty by hacking his account.]

[Miyuki: You're quite a liar, aren't you?]

[Sakurai: Don't worry, I wouldn't betray you. After all, I'll benefit from this plan as well. Win-win, that's why I accepted your proposal.]

[Miyuki: You sure like Suzuki Kotori that much, huh? I mean, resorting to such an idea is quite bold.]

[Sakurai: Who are you to talk? We both wanted those two to be separated for us to make our move flawlessly and with ease. That Tanaka, he's the biggest obstacle.]

[Miyuki: Your obstacle is the trophy that I am seeking. You don't have to worry as soon as he adapts with me. He'll develop a grudge against Suzuki soon enough.]

Suzuki ends the audio. Everyone was shocked, except Akari who must have already listened beforehand.

Oh yes, I said "everyone", meaning Okamoto, Tatsumi, and Koyanagi are here.

"Miyuki-san, you used the incident for everyone to hate on Tanaka and act like the heroine towards Tanaka so that he'll gradually develop feelings for you. Am I wrong?" asked Suzuki. "And for the plan to be successful, you were certain that his friends will react madly on him. Isn't that also part of your estimate?"

"Hmph. Hahaha. HAHAHA!" laughed Miyuki.

Miyuki's tone and breathing have changed all of a sudden. I...Is she going to burst now?

"Yeah, all of those," answered Miyuki while glaring towards Suzuki. "And I was right! HAHAHA! These guys were so angry at him, even this fatso punched him so hard in the face. Man, Tanaka even teared up when we were at the nurse's office. What a softy!"

S...So she did execute everything?! Damn it! Why haven't I noticed everything?!

"C'mon, are you really this dude's friends? You haven't even listened to his explanation! That sums it up, right?! Tanaka needed someone who will care for him when he is in trouble, that's why I showed up! You guys are a clueless bunch of fools who are not even considerate of their close friends!" ranted Miyuki. "Even you, Suzuki Kotori! You didn't even send a mail to Tanaka that day. Are you even a friend of him? No, you only consider him as a laughing stock! You should know it, Tanaka! She's a big bully that always mock you 'coz you are a softy! Man up!"

S...She's right. Suzuki might only consider me as someone that only entertains her. I might be nothing to her at this point...

"Except that every one of us intentionally did it," revealed Suzuki.

"Huh?!" I reacted.

"Before the incident happened, I already made these three and Akari listen to the audio I played a while ago," said Suzuki. "I asked them to act that they are really angry towards Tanaka, just to make you think that your plan is absolutely working. You know, Akari is a kind and modest girl. It's impossible that she'll have those photos in the first place."

"S...So that was all an act too?!" answered Miyuki.

"Of course, it was. You expect these three to express disbelief towards Tanaka? If this was a gambling bet, you'd have already lost millions." replied Suzuki.

"Sorry Tanaka, I might have landed a strong jab on your face. I'll treat you some yakisoba later. I promise!" said Koyanagi.

"We will not ever doubt you, dude. We're best of friends, so we're not going to be mad at you if we haven't been oriented," added Tatsumi.

"You guys..." I uttered.

"Why are you and Akari are so connected, anyway?! I didn't even see you being so close until now!" asked Miyuki in anger.

"Why you ask?" said Suzuki.

"It's because... WE'RE COUSINS." answered Suzuki and Akari.

C...Cousins?! So that's why Akari-san called Suzuki by her first name during the nominations... Now, that makes sense.

"C...Cousins? H...How?" asked Miyuki.

"In school, we don't really converse that much since we reside in a different block but we talk via LINE. In fact, we even play games online using our phone," revealed Akari.

T...There's just a lot of revelation this afternoon. This makes me feel so worn out~

"To be clear, Miyuki asked me to meet Tanaka on the rooftop. That time, she threatened that she'll spread my photos if I didn't cooperate. Of course, I told Kotori about it and she said that I should act like I am startled and scared. Then, it worked so well. She's my cousin so I'll listen to her more than Miyuki." said Akari.

These two...What an unexpected turn of events.

"Back to the topic, as you were inching your way towards Tanaka, Sakurai-senpai does his work and entertains me daily. Hmm, what a scheme to make sure that he'll have me only for him," said Suzuki. "I'm sorry, even if you do that, I still wouldn't have a liking towards you romantically."

"W...What..." said Sakurai-senpai.

"Remember this, Prez," said Suzuki. "I will never LOVE anyone who succumbs their way into lowliness just to achieve what they seek."

D...Did she just plainly rejected Sakurai-senpai?!

Sakurai-senpai then lands on his knees, obviously heartbroken and ashamed.

"What are you gonna do now, Miyuki-san? You guys have been busted already," said Suzuki.

"Even so, how will you clear Tanaka's name?! HAHAHA! You're going to explain every single person in the student body that Sakurai and I were partners on this heinous plan? As if everybody will believe you! He's the President and everybody likes him. You'd be soon graduated before you finished convincing everyone!" shouted Miyuki.

"Well, I don't have to persuade one by one," answered Suzuki.

"Huh? Then, what..." said Miyuki.

"Our conversation from the beginning up to this time that we're speaking is being broadcasted throughout the school premises already," revealed Suzuki.

"WHAT?! HOW?!" reacted Miyuki.

"Tanaka-san, remember the boxes that we brought here to the stock room?" asked Akari-san.

"Yes, I do recall."

"Along with the other science tools were the cables and microphones mixed in together. Meaning, we just brought the tools that we needed for this eventful day. Plus, the broadcasting club room is right beside the stock room, that's why the installation of equipment was much easier. " disclosed Akari-san.

"So everything was set up from the start?!" I reacted.

"T...This is just...unfair..." uttered Miyuki. "How can you be this smart?"

"Hmm, lady's intuition, I guess?" asked Suzuki.

"That's quite an instinct you got, almost a cheat ability," said Miyuki.

Miyuki sounds like she's given up now. Both of them were already exposed, so I guess there's no point in resisting.

"That's it. Sakurai and I both surrenders," said Miyuki.

"Oh, let me ask you a final question, then." requested Suzuki. "You did it just because you simply like Tanaka, or is there another reason?"

Suzuki... She's giving her a chance to explain herself. That's so... right.

"Fine, then," said Miyuki. "I'll tell you a little bit about my past. Listen carefully."

---------------------TO BE CONTINUED------------