Chapter 4

After school, I returned to my room to rest. I had been invited to go searching for witnesses today as well with Kei's group but I declined the offer. I told them I was busy with something. It was a relatively peaceful time, until I received a call from somebody unexpected.

I picked up my phone and the caller ID read, Kikyou Kushida. I was a bit surprised, considering we didn't really talk much. Had something happened?

[Kushida]: Hello? Shiro-san?

[Me]: Yea. Hello, Kushida-san.

[Kushida]: Are you busy right now?

[Me]: Erh,..

[Me]: Not really. Is something the matter?

[Kushida]: Oh, it's just that I was hoping we could meet up. I wanted to talk to you about something.

[Me]: About what? It's already late.

[Kushida]: Sorry, but I need to talk with you face to face on this matter.

Face to face? Where is she going with this?

[Me]: Very well then. Where are we meeting?

[Kushida]: I'll text you the place.

[Me]: Hmm, ok.

[Kushida]: Ok then.

[Me]: Ok then. I'll try to get to you as soon as possible.

I cut the call and checked my messages. She had sent me a room number.

"Room 401, huh? But that's on the boys' floor. What is she doing there at this time? She couldn't be planning something stupid, right?"

After reading my novel, I picked up my red hoodie and left the room.

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Kushida POV

"Ok, everybody. She said she'd be over soon."

Just as I finished my call with Tatsumaki-san I informed the others in the room.

"It's good she's coming."

Sudou said. He laid on Ayanokouji-kun's bed while playing a game. It were almost as if the current predicament had nothing to do with him. To be honest it was infuriating how lax he was, whereas I was helping him, but as usual, I'll put up a smile and ignore him.

"Are you sure Sakura-san is the witness?"

I asked Horikita who was sitting on a chair cockily.

"Of course. There could be no one else. Like I said, her actions before made it obvious. And I'm certain Tatsumaki-san is aware of this."

Sudou got off the bed and clicked his tongue.

"Tch, if she really does know why wouldn't she tell me?"

"Maybe to protect Sakura-chan?"

I suggested.

"True. Tatsumaki-san does look like the loyal type."

Ike pointed out.

"Ah~ Beautiful, smart, friendly and loyal. The perfect girl."

Yamauchi said dreamingly.

"Oi! You better watch your mouth."

Sudou grabbed Yamauchi in a headlock.

"Ah! Ah! What did I say?"

Yamauchi complained. He seemed to be in a very difficult situation.

"You only say that because you aren't the one who gets bullied by her words every day."

Ike grunted.

"Ha! That's because you're an idiot."

"Yeah. Stop being stupid in class and you won't receive those kinds of comments from her."

Both Sudou and Yamauchi teased Ike, infuriating him.

"Shut it! You're both dumber than I am!"

"What was that?"

Sudou left Yamauchi and Ike's head replaced Yamauchi's in the headlock.

"Ah! I'm sorry Ken! Stop! Ah! No! Sttooop!"

The trio continued with their stupid banter so I changed my view to Ayanokouji-kun who had been weirdly quiet this entire time. I had been very cautious of him ever since the day I received the mail. He hadn't made any moves or showed any signs that he knew of the video, but I couldn't let down my guard around him.

All this because I left my phone on his bed. So stupid!

"Ayanokouji-kun, what do you think?"

"About what?"

He asked.

"About Tatsumaki-san."

"Uh... I'm not sure. She might have just not seen Sakura-san. She seems like the honest-type. I believe what she is saying."

Huh? Honest-type? Well, I haven't really seen her do anything too.

"Yeah. You're right."

I then shifted my gaze to Horikita-san. She had folded her arms and closed her eyes in wait of Tatsumaki-san.

"What about you Horikita-san?"

"... Hmph. I would say she actually didn't see any one."

The whole room turned silent after hearing what she said. We were all stunned that Horikita actually supported somebody from our class. Come to think of it, Tatsumaki and Ayanokouji-kun are the only ones who talk to her. Were they friends?

"Huh? You are siding with her? You think there was no witness?"

"I'm not necessarily siding with her. I just said, she probably didn't see anyone. It's possible that Sakura-san left before the two could see each other."

"Hmm. Yes. True."

DDIIIIIINNGG!!!~~~

Suddenly the doorbell went off.

"She must be here."

Saying that, I walked over to the door. When I opened it, she was standing there, wearing a red hoody and sweat pants.

"Tatsumaki-san. You made it."

"Yea. What did you need?"

"Oh come on in."

"Erh, sorry, but I'm not comfortable with entering a random guy's room."

"Oh? You don't know whose room this is?"

"Nope. I don't really talk much with the boys."

"Oh. Sorry then. This is Ayanokouji-kun's room."

When I said that, she had this somewhat shocked expression on her face.

"Ayanokouji-kun's room?"

"Yea. I thought you would know it by now."

"Wait... Are you two... dating?"

She suggested something disgusting.

"W-what? No no. Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression."

I opened the door wide so that she could look inside.

"I'm not the only one here."

"O-oh. Ok. I don't really feel comfortable. Can I go back?"

"Sorry, but this will just be for some minutes."

Saying that, I dragged her into the room. When she got in, all the boys started fawning all over and she was rubbing her left arm. It was obvious how uncomfortable they were making her feel. Still though, something felt off about her.

"Tatsumaki-san. Welcome."

Yamauchi said

"Oh thanks."

"Yo, Tatsumaki-san, come sit on the bed."

Sudou suggested, but she turned him down immediately.

"Sorry, I'll be here for only a few minutes, so there's no need. Anyway, what were you guys saying again?"

"Oh that's right. It's about the incident."

For a moment, I saw her eyes flicker. They lost that bright kind light in them, and were replaced with cold glares, but this was too fast for a normal person to notice.

"Oh? I thought I had already said all I could."

"Hmm, yes you did, and we believe you."

"So why am I here?"

"Sakura-san. We wanted you to ask Sakura-san if she saw anything."

"Airi-chan? Wat would she have to do with this?"

"She was the witness is what!"

Sudou scram. He really needed to learn how to talk to others. This might have really made her cautious around us. If she was very loyal to Sakura, we were definitely not going anywhere after that outburst.

"What?"

"Um... I believe what Sudou-kun meant to say was, we believe Sakura-san may have some information on the current events."

"So because I'm her friend you were planning on using me to get an answer out of her?"

"Er-eh. That's not-"

"That's exactly what this is."

Horikita cut me off.

"Oh. In that case I've got only one thing to say."

She paused for a while, creating a dramatic effect.

"Please don't bother Airi-chan. She is a shy person and as such she can't talk to many people, so you would only be inconveniencing her."

"What!? So are you saying that you are willing to let your friend get kicked out this willingly?"

Again, her eyes adorned that dead look for a moment, before smiling an angel-like smile.

"I'm sorry, but I just don't want any one worrying Airi-chan. So please don't. If that's all I'll be taking my leave."

"Wait, Tatsumaki-san."

Horikita called out to her.

"Can I have your word that you really didn't see anyone there at that time?"

"Hmm... I remember seeing Onodera-san at the pool, but she wasn't around when I walking by the Annex room."

"Oh, then thank you for your time. If you are leaving, may I suggest we leave together?"

Since when did she invite someone for a walk with her? So she and Tatsumaki-san are friends. That explains quite a bit.

"Sorry, but I'll have to turn down your offer. I wouldn't want to waste your time."

"Oh please, we are on the same floor so there's nothing wrong with it."

"We are?"

'She doesn't know Horikita's room? Just what is their relationship? Or have I just made a mistake.'

"Hmm, sure let's go."

With that said, the two of them left the room. I wanted to follow, but I also needed to handle the current situation with these guys.

"So what are we going to do?"

I asked.

"Tsu, we are going to have to find another way."

Sudou surprisingly suggested.

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

Ike asked what all of us were thinking.

"Tatsumaki-san said we shouldn't bother Sakura-san, right? So I'm just not going to bother her. We need to find another way."

Honestly, was this guy an idiot? Just because a girl comes along and says something he is going to obey blindly? That's completely stupid.

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"What is it that you wanted to talk about?"

I asked.

"I wanted you to help me come up with a way to prove Sudou's innocence."

"Huh? You want to prove his innocence? I thought you weren't interested at all."

"If I wasn't, why would I be there?"

"Isn't it because Ayanokoji-kun is your only friend?"

"Please, never refer to him as that. He is only a grunt."

"... I see."

"So about the plan to prove Sudou's innocence."

"Horikita-san. Why do you want to prove Sudou's innocence?"

"Uh... Well, if Sudou gets expelled it'll affect our class."

"How though?"

"I don't know yet. For all we know, we might lose points for having one of our classmates expelled."

"That's an interesting way to look at it. And I guess you do have a point."

"Exactly. So now let's come up with a plan."

"Oh no. It seems Horikita san misunderstood me."

"Excuse me?"

"I said you have a point. I never said I was going to help you out. I'm not capable enough to do that anyways and I don't have any grandiose plans in mind."

"Ah-"

"Ah, we're here. My room. See you later Horikita-san."

I waved at her then slammed my door shut.