24.
chapter twenty-four:
Clemont and his
genius brains saved
our hide, for real this
time!

"If I may interject."

All eyes turned to Clemont. He merely fixed his glasses.

"Yes?" the third officer, whose name I was yet to learn, urged.

"I had a webcam on me that started recording events ever since the first sabotage." He dug his hands into his pockets and pulled out a minute device. It was black all over, but upon closer inspection, I saw the lens of it. "It was initially Calem's—our leader's—idea. I don't know how far it went with the recording, seeing as I was... defeated fairly quickly, but there’ll still be something."

We gasped, and Sophocles clapped a hand on Clemont's back.

"Let’s see it."

In five minutes, we were all facing the huge screen present in the boardroom for PowerPoint presentations. I felt excitement course through me at the prospect of the fall of the bullies, and I firmly held Serena’s hand all the while.

The video started with us looking at a pair of feet—Clemont’s shoes—before it rumbled and was adjusted so that the long hallway came into view. Clemont skipped over the plain scene, stating that it had been on the entire time since the start of the show.

None of the officers disagreed, and when Francis tried to object, he was quickly dismissed by the third officer. I had a feeling that the third officer would be more inclined to justice than his colleagues.

At approximately half past six, the three boys entered.

"Listen up, Four-Eyes! Turn off the lights, quick!" the leader, Fairmont, said. The video showed his face clearly, and I assumed Clemont had the camera fixed at the rim of his glasses.

"Why would I do that without the permission of our leader?"

"I’m the one in charge of Anistar High, and I command you to!"

The camera bobbed side to side. "I have no prior notice to do so, and therefore, I shall not."

"Yeah, you ain’t our leader!" This was Sophocles’s voice.

Suddenly, everything shook, and confusion spread. The camera focused on one of the cohorts punching Trevor. The poor boy covered a short distance before collapsing. The second of Fairmont’s henchmen lunged at Sophocles, and Clemont’s voice was faintly heard.

"Just who do you think you are? Cale—" Then, the camera showed a fist closing, and I quickly stood in front of Serena to block her view. There was a smack, and I could see myself rushing toward the camera.

"What on earth is happening here?!" the me in the video shouted.

The camera tilted up lightly, and for a minute, I saw my boots. "Clemont? You okay?"

"H-help—"

"Hang in—" Then the lower half of my body was shoved out of view. There was a minute of silence, then: "What do you want?"

"Victory, and that’s something everyone craves. Don’t you?"

"Victory by unfair means brings you everything but satisfaction." A hustle, and a short pause. The video blacked out, but we could still make out the audio. "And it’s time you learn your lesson to not sabotage for the sake of a fake win."

"Hey, does this guy know who he’s talking to?"

"Of course not. How else would he have the courage to talk down Champ and kick him?"

"Let’s get him."

"Hey, it’s the guy who danced with that pretty chick!"

"Oh, yeah. Do you even feel yourself cool enough for her?"

"Oh, my! Ash!" Serena had entered the scene. Her fingers trembled in my palm, so I started running my thumb over the back of her hand.

"G-get outta here!"

"Ash! ASH! HELP!"

Bam!

"No—more." I heard my feeble voice and cringed. A shriek followed, and I identified it as Misty's. There was faint sobbing in the background. I figured it was about the time I blacked out.

"Serena!"

"What are students of Anistar High doing in here?"

"He attacked us! Out of nowhere! Look at our Champ! He’s bleeding!"

"Ash seems to be in worse condition!" Misty shot back. "And, oh, my!"

"Call Nurse Joy, Calem!"

"On it!"

The third officer paused the video and turned his eyes to us. He examined us for a minute before turning to his colleagues. "I believe I speak for Justice when I declare the students of Kalos High innocent of the charges imposed on them."

Francis started to protest. "Ketchum attacked Mister Fairmont nonetheless!"

"It was an act of self-defense, Francis," Winston spoke up. "The question remains: what could possibly be the reason for Mister Fairmont and his friends wanting a blackout?"

All heads turned to Fairmont and his cohorts. They started stammering, and their principal dove in to rescue them, not knowing he would be caught as well. "Maybe they wanted to set off fireworks?"

I found my voice to retaliate. "It wasn’t a part of the agenda. If it were, we would have received a message about it. Then again, nothing took place according to the agenda!"

Professor Sycamore chimed in. "Yes, indeed. There was no freestyle performance as per the message received from Anistar High, and I was sure of it until the 'edited' message popped up." The principal gulped, and Diantha rose to her feet.

"I have all the more reason to believe that this sabotage was initiated by you, Principal Fleming."

"Pardon my intrusion," the third officer interrupted, "but the agenda was set by my colleague, Officer Francis." The man in question was sweaty and backing away by now. "And I think you might have caught the big fish in our department, Miss Diantha. Officers!"

Before Francis could yell, he was handcuffed to be interrogated in a more formal setting. The three students were set to receive heavy penalties, and the principal was to be fired. Diantha left with them to see them out, while Professor Sycamore quickly ushered us to chairs. He was quick to apologize when we let out relieved sighs.

"I’m terribly sorry to have kept you all standing!"

"That’s fine, sir," Sophocles said. "We’re glad to be declared innocent."

"I must applaud your chivalry, Ash, and your quick thinking, Clemont. All of you are resourceful beyond your age, and I’m proud of you!" He smiled. Professor Olympe nodded and posed her question.

"How are you all feeling now?"

"Recovering," Trevor grumbled, holding his chest.

"Just fine. Tired is all," Sophocles stated, and we agreed. Serena stayed silent still, and both professors looked concerned.

"I’m sure we’ll feel fine, ma’am," I added. The boys nodded at my affirmation, and we were seen to the hospital wing. Classes had been suspended for the day, rescheduled for tomorrow. Although I didn’t like staying in the hospital wing, it was better than sleeping through a class.

It took a lot for Serena to say anything, and all she did say, when we went to bed, was, "I’m sorry."