After monologuing a bit, I went to bed. It was a peaceful night and even a more peaceful walk to school despite the second storm coming.
I went to school as normal, though a little late because I needed to meet someone or rather, they would meet me.
I used a very secluded pathway to school, since the campus had many considering its size.
I kept walking like usual, even watching a video on my phone—it was called Introduction to Anime.
Of course I put my phone on 'do not disturb' so I could enjoy the video with no interruptions.
I was quietly enjoying the video until I saw Ito running to me while breathing heavily.
I silently wondered why he ran to me, after all we could meet in class.
Oh, so he's here already.
"Nakamura! I've been…looking…all…over…for…you," he said, catching his breath just being barely able to construct the sentence.
"Huh? You were looking for me?"
"Yeah, do you know how hard it was to find you?"
"Well, sorry about that. My phone was on 'do not disturb mode', I really am sorry."
"Don't worry about it though, why even use this pathway? Only those in Class Beta use here."
The entire class uses here, huh? I thought they lacked an elitist mindset and maybe only Shimizu would use here but oh well.
"Huh? Really? Well, anyway, why were you looking for me?" I asked.
"Oh, it's important. Today we might have another case on our hands," he replied, his hand on his knees as he was still catching his breath.
"Why didn't you just wait to tell me in class?"
"It's because I don't want to bring down the morale of our class," he finally stood up.
"I see, I hoped you removed those parts."
By those parts I meant my involvement, I didn't want my involvement to be mentioned.
"Yeah, I removed those parts, like you said I should, though I didn't tell Kagura to but I'm sure she won't tell anyone, she's good at being discreet."
Good.
"Anyway, how did you tell them in such a small amount of time?"
"Oh, it was sent through the class group chat by the girls I called yesterday—the ones who accompanied us to Class Beta. Everyone heard about it."
Not everyone. I'm not there, like come on we've been classmates for a week.
Heugh.
I sighed internally and barely manged to keep a normal expression.
"Ok, so is that all?"
"No, we need a gameplan. I told Kagura about the plan already, so I'll tell you too. Basically, I plan to use every form of assault they have done on us against them, framing it as bullying."
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
"What's all that rustling? Must be rodents."
"Yeah, maybe. Anyway if you tell the teachers, will it be bad?" I asked.
"Could be, it will at least help our case. However, if Class Beta prepares for it then they could counter it, but fortunately, they won't know what hit them."
"Nice, that's a good plan."
"Ok then. Let's leave before anyone eavesdrops. After school we'll head to the faculty room," Ito said looking at the bush the rustling came from.
"Ok, I'll be on my way then."
Class was as always, with me just staring at the clouds wondering how they could be so free with no restraints.
They were majestic yet humble, pure yet dirty—a contradictory existence.
…
Ring, Ring, Ring.
I might have fallen asleep mid-reverie; it didn't really matter though since I was talking to myself.
I went to the cafeteria to get some food, as I didn't eat breakfast this morning, despite leaving my room late.
"It will be takeaway, please," I gave the same order as usual.
"Ok, here you go."
I got my meal and ate it in class, alone. While I could meet with Suzuki, I didn't want to meet other gyarus as that would be kind of annoying.
Suzuki's humor was more than enough, although it did feel kind of lonely eating alone though it felt better since i had been doing this since my third day here.
Though it was boring just hearing the sound of my teeth grinding against the food, of course I just let it drown out by the noise of the people outside.
I slept after eating, and school went by normally—until the awaited time for the case.
I was curious about it all day and then became bored at the normal proceedings of school, as a result of it.
But now at last my boredom could be cured, I dashed to the faculty room just to find out I was late—
Or was I?
"S-sorry for being late, Sensei," I bowed deeply on entering the faculty room–I was referring to the two teachers.
I realized that I was 15 minutes later than I should be considering what was about to happen.
"It doesn't matter, Ito. This case is ours already," Shimizu smirked at Ito.
No one in the room paid attention to me, they were more focused on the argument happening.
Hey, I'm being ignored.
I tried waving voilently but I was still ignored.
Anyway, Shimizu must be ecstatic considering how things are turning out.
"You guys are the ones who harassed us first," Ito replied.
"While I admit we name-called you, you hit us first."
"Then when we name-called you back, you hit us also!" Ito screamed, he was quite exasperated at the situation though it was more than likely built up stress.
When stress is bottled up indefinitely, it will eventually erupt–similar to a volcano.
Ito's on his breaking point, should I…? No, Jackson-sensei will probably intervene soon enough.
"Yours was on several students while mine was on one."
"That's—"
"We have come to the decision that both parties are wrong, since this is above the power of teachers. We will involve the student council," Jackson-sensei stopped the argument.
"Huh?"
Everyone in the room was surprised, myself included of course, with the sole exception of the homeroom teachers of Class Epsilon and Beta.
Everything was going off script. This was complete unplanned chaos.
Perfect, just as planned.
"Can't we just—" Shimizu tried to speak but kept quiet.
"Please just leave, or do you want to come to a compromise right now?"
No one spoke up and we all eventually left the faculty room, Kagura ran out immediately, she probably had another engagement.
I and Ito went to a bench to debunk the situation that just happened, we were thinking on what to do—well mostly Ito, I was actually quite calm. I went to get a soda to cool him down.
"Here," I handed the soda to him.
"Huh? You didn't have to–"
"It's been a long day, just take it and relax."
"Are you sure? I can pay you back."
"Dude, it barely cost me anything."
"Well, if you're sure then thanks man," he said, finally taking the drink off my hands.
After that short interaction the silence became quite loud until it was disturbed by Ito opening the soda and finishing it up before swiftly throwing it into a bin.
"So, we're basically done for, right?" I asked in a somewhat sarcastic tone.
"Right off with the band aid," he laughed slightly. "Well, no use beating the bush, huh? You're right. To be honest, I don't even know what to do."
"…"
"I can't do anything now. We've already lost, right? I mean what else do we do now?" he laughed at himself–he seemed to have given up though he forced a smile.
Ito really sounded down in the dumps though I could tell that he was holding back quite a bit because I was there.
After all, he was intentionally trying to make it sound a bit funny rather than sad.
"Not really," I said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Huh? What do you mean?" he was immediately interested.
"I have a plan. Just sit back and watch."
"What?"
"Call that other Class Beta student that was in the faculty room, tell him to come here."
"Are you talking about…Arai Shidou?"
"Yeah, that one."
"…Well, ok I'll call him."
After a while Arai was called over and he came with haste, luckily, he came alone.
Now to enact my plan.
***
Author's Note:
This is getting interesting. Get excited, because there's a 1 billion percent chance that the next 3 chapters are a banger and don't worry because I'm sure you'll be moved by a millimeter.
Anyway, remember to comment, leave a review, and share.
Thanks for reading the chapter and see you in the next one.