It only took a moment for my free research project, "White Dragon," to be destroyed and for it to spread throughout the school.

It spread from the onlookers to the students, and from the students to the teachers, and by lunchtime on the day of the incident, it was rare for anyone not to know about it.

During lunch and recess, the incident, commonly known as the "White Dragon Dismemberment Incident" (I'm just naming it, it's not widely known), was a constant topic of conversation.

For example, some rumors linked it to a crime syndicate without any evidence, that it was meant to be a death threat to the creator, which was not funny to the creator himself, and even something incomprehensible like "Black Dragon Strikes Back" theory.

This incident has caused such a sensation that such speculations have been made, and all the children want to know the truth of this incident.

Naturally, I, being in the middle of the incident, was being asked.

"Hey, Itosaki-kun, are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine."

"Itosaki-kun worked so hard to make this, but it's terrible!"

"Oh, I don't mind so much."

"I'll take care of the assassin and the black dragon, so don't worry!"

"Oh, yeah. Thanks."

I had attracted the most attention ever.

It was lunchtime and many of my classmates were surrounding me, offering words of concern and encouragement.

――This is certainly the situation I wanted to be in.

But honestly, I'm not happy at all.

This attention is not because I've become popular, but simply because of my position as the victim of a high-profile case.

And as an adult, it's a very complicated feeling to be cared for by a first grader.

I feel somewhat ashamed of myself...

The situation is what I wanted, but the process and motivation that led up to it are what I don't like.

This situation will probably end today anyway.

It's just a case of one thing being broken, and I, the victim, don't care about that.

This was a story that should have been settled quickly. It couldn't have lasted a week or a month.

Elementary school student who gets bored easily anyway. The next day, they might have forgotten all about the incident.

I thought optimistically.

――But that's not the end of it.

◆

After school, after the sixth period.

It took place during homeroom on the way home.

Normally, Misato-sensei stands at the podium, but today, the teacher sat in the corner of the classroom and Mizui-san stood in her place.

Come to think of it, Mizui-san is the class president.

She's more mature than anyone else in the class, so I guess she's the right person for the job.

But what the hell is going on here?

Was there ever a system where the class president took charge of the homeroom once a week?

Despite my doubts, I sit down and look at Mizui-san standing at the podium.

Then she slowly opens her mouth.

"We will now begin the emergency class meeting. The topic of discussion will be Itosaki-kun's free research."

..................eh?

What do you mean by class meeting?

My eyes light up at the sudden start of the class meeting.

If my white dragon is on the agenda, then it must be about that incident, right?

But why do we have to call all of our classmates over and hold a class meeting about it?

I-I don't think so, but you're not going to do "that," are you?

I had a bad feeling about this, but I listened to Mizui-san as she continued.

"I'm the class president, so I'll be running the class meeting.

And the purpose of this class meeting is to find the person who destroyed Itosaki-kun's free research."

My premonition came true.

Only when I have a bad premonition does it often come true.

The future is really an unreasonable place to be...

I was referring to the search for the culprit.

Why do I dislike the search for the culprit?

It is because the act is infinitely meaningless.

There are many reasons.

Again and again, I don't care about this case, and I don't want to blame the culprit.

And what is the point of finding and condemning the culprit? Even if the purpose is to make them reflect on their actions, hanging them up at a class meeting is an excessive act. There will only be two victims if you do that.

This is just a child's prank. As they grow up, they will naturally stop doing such things. If that's the case, it's better to forgive this incident for the sake of the culprit.

――And that's why the class meeting is pointless.

The culprit may not be in this class.

If he did it because he had a grudge against me, I can understand why he would choose a classmate who had some connection with me as a suspect, but it could be that he didn't.

Because it was.

My free study was in the multipurpose hall, a place where anyone can come and go.

From the cruel corpse of the white dragon, it seems unlikely that it was destroyed by accident, but it is also possible that a completely unrelated person intentionally destroyed it as a prank.

There is nothing more meaningless than searching for a murderer when there is no murderer.

After all, there is no one to look for.

However, none of the students noticed this.

All of their classmates are so busy looking for the culprit that their vision and thoughts are narrowed.

Misato-sensei, who must have been aware of this, stood on the sidelines this time.

The teacher probably wants the students to notice it voluntarily, but from my point of view, it's annoying.

I think I'm the only one in the class who noticed it, so I should tell them about it...

To be honest, it's a high hurdle...

I can't even talk to my classmates properly yet.

But could I really do such a thing as to speak out alone against everyone who was suddenly so motivated?

But I have no choice but to do it...

When I reluctantly tried to open my mouth with a nervous look on my face.

"Yes, we should! We have to!"

What?

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Huh?

"Itosaki-kun, I feel sorry for you!"

No, wait... wait!

Before I could say anything, my classmates were united.

This makes it even more difficult to say something!

"Hey! I think you should do it too, don't you?"

A classmate whose name I didn't know waved those words at me.

Hey, stop it! You can't shake your head if you're asked that at this time!

And on top of that, all of my classmates have their eyes on me.

I was unfortunate enough to find myself in a situation where everyone was waiting for my answer.

This makes it even harder for me to say no!

I'll never forgive that classmate of mine whose name I don't know!

Even though I was justifiably angry with culprit A, I was baffled by this emergency.

I don't feel like I can object.

But I have to say it.

I'm the only one who's noticed. If I don't say something here, this pointless class meeting may go on forever.

Say it! "There's no point in having this class meeting!" Say it!

I make a strong fist as if to clinch the sweat on my palm and muster up all the courage I can.

I can say it, I can definitely say it!

I force myself to open my mouth with my signature self-deprecation.

"This is.............................., yes......, is............."

Why can't I say it!!!!!!

I'm an asshole! Chickenshit! I'm such a jerk!

I was so enraged by my own behavior that my heart exploded in a scream.

Intense self-loathing hits me.

"It's true! I knew it!"

"We should do it! That's what Itosaki-kun says!"

I'm really sorry! I'm really sorry for being a failure at communicating!

Whether it was to a classmate who was wasting my time, a murderer who I didn't even know existed, or someone else, I called out my apologies in my mind.

I'm really ashamed of myself...

I didn't realize I was so disheartened. I'm really sorry.

I was so sorry that my voice became respectful.　

This is the class meeting where I did everything wrong.

Will this class meeting ever come to an end?