Hishida POV

Hishida: I see, so in other words, you're really in deep trouble.

Sudo lowers his head to the ground and pleads:

Sudo: Please, Hishida, Kushida told me you could fix this problem and that you were someone I could trust.

Given how I am, I can't really qualify as someone trustworthy. However, I understood why Kushida had advised Sudo to come to me. But she forgot that I solve things in the shadows, and helping Sudo like this would, in a way, put me in the spotlight.

I smiled inwardly, things were unfolding exactly as I wanted.

Sudo was about to be made a regular member of his basketball club; that was good news in itself. He could bring in class points this way. However, it seemed some students were jealous of this promotion because a sophomore shouldn't be able to get such a position so easily, especially in such a short time. According to him, those students were seniors.

They waited for him in a building away from prying eyes and attacked him in a group of three. Of course, Sudo defended himself, but the next day he was accused of assaulting those very students. It was an injustice because it was those same students who had come to attack him. Sudo gave his version of the events. The school gave him a week to gather evidence in his favor. But he couldn't handle it on his own, and the only person who would keep it a secret and help him willingly was Kushida. However, Kushida had followed my instructions to bring any problems concerning the class to me. That's why they were here, in other words.

Hishida: You realize it's going to be difficult to defend yourself, Sudo, given the current state of things?

Sudo: WAIT, WHAT?! YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME? IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE!

Kushida: Sudo, please calm down.

Sudo calms down, and he seemed sorry for losing his temper so easily. It was also clear how easily he could get angry. A trait I had to change, otherwise, he would likely cause more problems for the class. And I emphasize the word more.

Kushida: Hishida, why do you say his situation is complicated to defend?

Hishida: From the school's perspective, we have three seriously injured students accusing someone with a history of violent behavior, who gets easily upset and claims to have beaten them up. If we look at it from that point of view, admit it—you'd have a hard time believing Sudo's version of events.

Sudo: But I'm not lying, Hishida! I swear, they were three against me, and they attacked me first!

I knew Sudo wasn't lying—if he had been, I would have figured it out long ago. Luckily, he wasn't lying, or defending him would have been much harder, even pointless.

Hishida: That's true, but if they've given you a week to gather your evidence, it's because the school doesn't have enough information to back up your side of the story.

Kushida: That's true, but they also have no proof that they are the victims in this story, so they can't accuse anyone.

Hishida: But the act itself won't go unpunished. The school will give its verdict based on the little evidence there is. And with the little evidence that exists, there are significant injuries on the senior students.

In other words, even if they didn't have proof, the school would have to make a judgment based on the limited data they have. Even though the verdict will likely be wrong, society is made that way—if humans are imperfect, justice administered by humans will also be imperfect.

But because it's imperfect, it brings both advantages and disadvantages, which we'll have to use to our benefit.

Hishida: And even if you call what you did self-defense, it would still be hard to prove. Self-defense is only valid if your life is at risk. If your attackers had bats or knives, we could justify it, but from what you've told me, they didn't have any such weapons. And that's the problem—due to your impulsive and easily irritable nature, and the fact that they're the ones injured and not you. Saying you acted in self-defense is like saying a wolf didn't eat the goat.

The wolf usually eats goats, but there's no proof that it ate one today. That was my quote at the moment.

Sudo: But they were three against me. Can't that be considered self-defense?

Hishida: It depends on the context. And that's why I think the school needs more evidence.

Kushida: But if we have a witness, that changes everything, right?

Indeed, a witness would help us a lot, but I doubt it would solve the problem entirely.

Hishida: Even if we had a witness, Sudo would still be punished for the injuries and blows he inflicted. Even if we prove Sudo wasn't the one who started it, we're 100% sure he'll still be punished.

Maybe not as severely as his attackers, but he'll still be punished. The fact that he was attacked doesn't change the fact that the other side is injured.

Hishida: In my opinion, your position as a regular member of the team is ruined...

Sudo: You don't understand, Hishida!

He shook me, as if trying to make me understand something obvious.

Sudo: Basketball is my whole life! I can't be punished by the school, do you understand???

Hishida: You realize you're asking for the impossible.

Actually, it is possible, but I didn't see the point in telling him that now.

Hishida: Given the current situation, I doubt I can do anything.

Sudo: Hishida, please! Kushida told me you're super smart, like, really super smart.

Hishida: She idealizes and overestimates me, in my opinion.

Sudo: If she says so, it must be true.

Hishida: You'll have to learn not to believe everything people tell you so blindly.

Sudo: PLEASE, HISHIDA!

He kneeled again, face to the ground, begging for my help to arrive.

Hishida: "You really didn't listen to what I said."

Sudo: "Man, be serious for once."

He shook me again as if I were a mere ragdoll.

He'll have to understand that I truly feel like a punching bag at this moment.

But making Sudo completely innocent is something important, even ideal, in our case. If Sudo gets punished, our class will inevitably suffer. It's in our best interest to solve this problem. But my interest in this whole situation isn't just about that; if we manage to fully clear his name, the class will benefit from a few more points.

However, the current situation is complicated to resolve, especially since everything is turning against us.

If we had a witness, it would be a different story, but the chance that one exists seems pretty slim. The seniors took him to a place where there was no one. Probably to avoid this kind of situation, they were being cautious. The altercation doesn't seem like a mere accident; it looks like it was planned meticulously.

This is going to be even more complicated than I thought. If this was planned and prepared, the chance that they anticipated our response is not impossible. We'll need to be unpredictable.

I let out a deep sigh.

Hishida: "I'll try to help you if you really want, after all, we can't let this situation get worse, or the whole class will go down with you."

Sudo: "Hishida, thank you a thousand times..."

He seemed relieved that I would help him, after shaking me about ten times and showing some persistence; he seemed grateful that I finally gave in to his pleas.

Hishida: "But I can't do this alone. We'll need Hirata and Horikita."

Kushida: "And I also want to help you! Sudo is a friend, he definitely needs my help!!!"

Hishida: "I suppose so."

Even though I knew Kushida's true nature, she acted as she saw fit. I let her do it because her status in the class was important. At least it gave Sudo the assurance that she would help him. He seemed relieved by this, even more so when I agreed to help him. We hadn't interacted much, but that was probably because Kushida had overhyped what I could actually do.

But I'm not a magician who can solve everything with magic.

But well, they probably won't want to hear that from me.

Kushida: "So, what do we do first?"

Hishida: "First, Sudo needs to stay out of it for now and not interact with the suspects or witnesses."

Kushida tilted her head at my instructions, and even Sudo didn't understand what I meant. I sighed again.

Hishida: "Everything you do will be held against you. We can't afford for you to do something stupid. Since the situation is already complicated, we have to be cautious. And caution starts with you staying out of it."

Eventually, they both understood. Meanwhile, Tokito was eating a pancake.

Kushida: "I get it, I understand. And you, Sudo?"

Sudo: "If it helps me keep my position as the regular member, I'll do it."

Hishida: "I'll take that as a yes."

But this whole mess wouldn't have happened if Sudo had acted like a controlled student instead of an impulsive one who reacts to every insult. The seniors wouldn't have targeted him if he hadn't been so impulsive. In short, even though he's the victim in this situation, it's mostly his fault. Every action has consequences, and his behavior got him into this mess. That's how it should be viewed too.

Sudo: "Sorry to ask, but can you keep this between us?"

Hishida: "Impossible."

Sudo: "What? Why not?? If my club finds out, they'll be skeptical about giving me the position. Can we keep this private?"

Hishida: "It's not that I don't want to, it's that we can't."

Sudo: "What do you mean?"

Hishida: "Since the school has no proof, they also need to gather some. It's very likely that this whole thing will be revealed to the entire class to find a potential witness. Hiding it from everyone will be useless, and for the search of a witness, we'll have to reveal some of the details anyway. What you're asking is unrealistic, Sudo."

Sudo: "Seriously?"

He seemed frustrated and started to realize the gravity of the situation. His wish was unrealistic.

Sudo: "So, what am I supposed to do now...?"

Kushida: "Is there really nothing we can do about this, Hishida?"

Hishida: "It depends on the club's perspective. If we can prove that the seniors lied, then Sudo could get the position. But make no mistake, that will be difficult. If the school doesn't have evidence, finding some will probably be hard."

The club will grant Sudo the position based on his reputation. If they learn about this incident, they'll be skeptical about giving it to him, which will penalize him. That's why clearing his name completely is essential—it's the only way to maintain Sudo's promotion.

But I can't help but see further than that.

Yes, I could gain more from this situation. If I play my cards right, Class D could gain a huge advantage over the other second-year classes.

Hishida: "When the teacher announces the news, we'll start acting. The teacher will make it clear to everyone what's at stake. Logically, Hirata will try to rally the class to help Sudo. So, we can already count on the help of at least all the girls in the class. However, Hirata won't be able to convince everyone."

Kushida: "Huh? But why?"

Hishida: Hirata is just liked by the girls in the class, the boys don't really like him. I'm sure you've noticed, Sudo, and you understand why he's not very well-liked.

Hirata has a bit of everything in the eyes of others—he's handsome, kind, compassionate, strong, and intelligent. He doesn't hesitate to help others, and people see him as someone who steals all the girls in the class. Jealousy is an inherent part of being human; we always want what others have and we don't.

I've been jealous myself, but it's not a feeling to be belittled, quite the opposite. Jealousy is what we call a kind of desire. We envy others, and when perceived correctly, it can transform into determination for us to achieve that same thing. However, showing your jealousy as revenge is a mistake.

The feeling is natural and present in everyone. It's just how we use that feeling that makes all the difference in who we really are. The boys in the class hate Hirata and refuse to help him out of simple jealousy. It's an utterly stupid thing, in my opinion.

Even though it's not the only factor that will define their choices, if jealousy wasn't there, we could have probably convinced a good portion of them to help us.

We could also add that their image of Sudo influences how they perceive the situation. After all, they've never interacted with him, and they've formed an opinion based on the little they've seen and what they've been told. It's very likely that they'll believe Sudo lied, and even though I'm sure he didn't, I've just intuited it from studying his reactions. So I have no proof to back up my words.

That's the weakness of intuition and reading reactions—we have nothing to prove it.

But in the end, Kushida will handle this situation for me. Some want to date her, showing an interest in helping us, or at least getting closer to Kushida. This problem could be solved. Otherwise, the rest will be handled by social control.

Sudo: Why won't the others help me?

Hishida: It's the same thing as at school. They'll judge based on the little evidence they have. And your image to them isn't that great either, Sudo.

Sudo: So what? They're free to think whatever they want.

Hishida: If you hadn't acted impulsively since the start of the year, the seniors wouldn't have targeted you, Sudo, and you wouldn't be here, complaining to me.

Sudo turned his head away from my arguments; he couldn't refute them.

I eventually got up and headed toward the door.

Hishida: If you want to avoid this kind of situation again, you need to work on that. Horikita won't want a guy who gets angry easily.

He blushed instantly. Since Suzune had recognized his worth and this was the first time someone had acknowledged Sudo for who he is, he'd fallen in love. I predicted this would happen, and it will probably be necessary for his development. That's why I mentioned it earlier.

Sudo: How do you know I'm... no, I mean, where did you get that from?

Hishida: Horikita said you acted weird around her. It was pretty easy to guess.

Sudo: Wait, do you talk to her???

Hishida: Calm down, we're just friends.

I lied, of course, since she herself is ignorant about such matters—or she doesn't care at all.

And yes, Kushida, I see you with your murderous look, but control yourself in front of someone who doesn't know your true nature. I understand that you're jealous.

Sudo: You'd better not be lying, or I'll beat you up.

Let him try.

Hishida: I'm not interested in her, otherwise, I wouldn't help you improve your image for her.

Sudo: Ah, yeah, that makes sense.

You're strangely easy to convince, especially.

Sudo: Damn, I hope she didn't figure out my feelings.

Hishida: No, if she had, she would have told me, and I would've known, logically.

By emphasizing the word "logically," I was highlighting that it was perfectly rational. In reality, I had no idea, but since it was based on a lie and Sudo is easy to persuade, I could deceive him in a subtle and effective way.

Sudo put an arm around my shoulders as if we were friends.

Sudo: Hishida, we're friends, right?

Hishida: It's the first time you've spoken to me since the start of the year.

Sudo: Could you tell me what Horikita likes, or even her name?

Kushida's murderous glare was getting stronger, and there was no way I was going to become the intermediary between Horikita and Sudo, or even her invitation machine.

Hishida: I'd rather focus on the matter at hand. It's more important. Don't you think?

Sudo: I need to unwind because of this issue, actually.

Hishida: And I need more time to think about it.

Sudo: But...

Kushida: Come on, Sudo. Hishida is a smart guy. He needs time to think.

Sudo: Stop, he said he's not that smart.

Tokito: Sudo, stop.

Sudo stopped instantly. It was extremely rare for Tokito to speak. Perhaps Sudo's presence was beginning to annoy her.

Sudo: I see. I guess I'll give you time to think. Sorry, Hishida.

Hishida: No problem.

I opened the door for Sudo to leave. Tokito had a certain ability to convince and influence people, and she could do so with anyone, regardless of their power, control, or intelligence, as long as my presence didn't limit her intelligence. Sudo gave a small goodbye and an apology. He knew, and he was aware that what was happening was partly his fault, which showed a slight change in him.

Sudo needs a goal to grow, and his goal is Suzune. If I help him grow properly, he could become one of our main assets against the other classes.

Only Kushida, Tokito, and I remained.

Kushida: I see you're pretty close to Horikita.

Hishida: Yes, is there a problem with that?

Kushida: No, do whatever you want.

Hishida: Are you finally going to start insulting me while you vent at my place?

She blushed slightly and answered timidly.

Kushida: No...

She didn't seem to understand what I was doing with her.

And the fact that I mentioned Horikita wasn't just to help Sudo grow.

It was also to make Kushida jealous.

And thus make her a little more dependent on me.

Later, I found myself at a karaoke bar after Hiyori warned me about the danger that Akira represented. She asked me to come see Ryuen, the one who wanted to defeat Akira. Of course, I wasn't alone. Naturally, the class leader came along, and Horikita was with us too. We could also see Ichinose's presence.

Ichinose: Hishida and Horikita, is that it? I guess you're here to talk with Ryuen.

Horikita: That's the case.

Ichinose: I see, we're in the same boat then.

She said with a laugh.

Ichinose Honami...

She had a certain charisma, which explained why she was able to unify her class. Although she resembled Kushida in some ways, like both wanting to be friends with everyone, I could still perceive the differences between the two.

First, her movements are natural, unlike Kushida, which suggests she doesn't charm people on her own.

Second, her way of speaking; the tone is different. Kushida speaks in an adorable way to charm others, whereas Ichinose is energetic, which better reflects her personality.

Finally, the fact that she's in class B while Kushida is in class D just means her personality isn't problematic for society in the eyes of the school. But there's still a reason why she's in class B.

Maybe her ideology of wanting to beat the other classes fairly and without resorting to dirty tricks, or her desire to be friends with everyone.

But I can't deduce much more from just one meeting.

Ichinose: Hishida, is that so? You seem pretty quiet, and if you're here, you must be hiding something. I'd be wary of you.

Despite everything, she seems perceptive, more than I imagined.

Hishida: I'm just accompanying Horikita. She didn't want to come alone.

Ichinose: In that case, she should have brought someone useful to her, so you must have something special.

She said playfully. She was right, but even though her deduction was correct, I didn't have to worry about what it meant for her.

We entered the room and saw a boy with magenta hair. They were waiting for us eagerly. I would have thought he'd be late, based on the description Hiyori had given me, but it seemed that was wrong. I say this, but the situation could also be explained by the fact that he considered

this meeting important.

Akira's threat was extremely serious, and to take his place as leader, he needed the help of other classes. To have a good position in negotiations, he had to convince them, and image matters a lot in this kind of negotiation.

Ryuen: You're finally here... Let's get started with what we all came here for.

Everyone had a serious expression.

Everyone understood why we were there.

Everyone understood the current situation.

Thus, an alliance between two classes and a small group of students was formed.

And my plan continued to work, slowly but surely.