"This is a letter! It's wrong to open and read someone else's letter without permission!"
Ms. Chono's brow furrowed, her face darkening. She thought this student was challenging her authority.
Hands on her hips, she sneered mockingly. "However, as a teacher, I must know who brought it to school!"
"As long as I finish this puzzle, I'll know the student's name…"
Truth be told, from Mayumi's behavior, Ms. Chono had already guessed it was hers. That said, given the chance to bully a student, why pass it up?
Her hands worked faster, the name section nearly complete—
"That's mine!"
'Téa?!'
Yuto turned in shock, though it was clear she was standing up for Mayumi.
Ms. Chono clicked her tongue, glaring hard at her. "So, it's yours, Gardner. Come to my office after class."
Her little "show" ruined, Chono seethed, determined to make Téa pay. How dare she!
After class, Téa was called to the office. Yuto, Miho, and Mayumi waited outside, listening nervously.
"This isn't good. You know, bringing something like this to school violates the rules."
Chono struck first, using school policy as her weapon. Anyhow, if Téa were the type to be cowed by that, she wouldn't have claimed the puzzle in class.
"I don't think it's wrong at all!"
The false politeness Chono had honed in the workplace faltered before Téa's bluntness, yet she quickly recovered.
"What do you mean by that, Gardner?"
"I didn't disturb anyone or cause trouble."
"But school rules forbid disrupting the atmosphere."
"Disrupting the atmosphere"—the vaguest catch-all offense.
"Ms. Chono, what does that even mean? That rule is far too vague. Our whole code is too strict!"
Chono didn't want to hear any more naïve student talk. So what? Once, a strong student named Ushio kept teachers in check, yet now…
Who dares to oppose me?
This Gardner girl was far too arrogant.
"So, Gardner, have other students complained too?"
"No… but everyone feels the same."
Foolish, naïve student—just walked right into her trap. Chono smirked.
"So you don't actually know if anyone else agrees. Then prove it with signatures. If you can gather enough, I'll bring it up at the staff meeting."
"Signatures? I understand."
The office door opened. Téa stepped out. Yuto held her hand gently, worried.
She'd fallen into Chono's trap. What now? If even one teacher opposed, no student would dare sign.
"Here, take it back." Téa handed the puzzle box to Mayumi. "The rest is up to you!"
"Thank you…"
Téa clenched her fist. "Now it's my turn to fight!"
During lunch break, she and Yuto made posters and put them up. After school, she stood at the gates with a petition.
At first, a few signed. Albeit, soon, not only did signatures stop, one student even begged to have his name erased.
Yuto understood—Chono had made her move. They needed another plan…
The posters were defaced at the shoe lockers. Reality was harsh. Those who carry firewood for others often freeze in the snow.
"Hurry up already!" a teacher barked at Téa at the board.
"But we haven't learned this yet…"
"If you'd studied ahead, you'd know! Don't waste your time on useless things!" he snapped, alluding to her petition.
Still, Téa pressed on. "Please! Sign, so we can claim the rights we deserve!"
Chono, watching from afar, sneered. No one would dare sign—they'd all be targeted.
After school, Téa kept asking, but this time three boys surrounded her.
"Want us to sign?"
"Who'd sign? The rules are fine as they are!"
"No one's gonna sign!"
They closed in. Yuto rushed over, when, abruptly, one snatched the petition and tore it in half. "This belongs in the trash!"
They stepped toward her again—
"Stop right there, you bastards!" Yuto charged, fists flying, flooring two of them instantly.
The last, a lanky one, faltered. Remembering Ms. Chono's orders, he feigned fear. "W-what are you doing?"
"Touch Téa, and I won't forgive you!" Yuto barked.
Thud! The sound echoed as Téa later emerged from the office, sighing as if her strength had been drained.
"Yuto…" she whispered, conflicted.
Since she hadn't fought, Yuto alone was called in next.
"Using violence on classmates is a serious offense, Tenshou," Ms. Chono said smugly, like a cat with a mouse.
Nevertheless, Yuto wasn't unprepared. He smirked faintly. "And coercing students to sabotage Téa's petition in exchange for wiping their records—isn't that a violation too?"
Her face went pale. "W-what are you saying…?"
Still, she tried to resist. Anyhow, Yuto calmly pulled photos from his pocket and tossed them onto the desk.
"Ms. Chono, still full of life—dating college boys, huh?"
Her eyes widened. The photos showed her with three students—one even kissing her.
Her face twisted as she lunged to grab them, but Yuto's voice cut cold. "Do you think I don't have backups?"
Her hand froze mid-air, despair flooding her face. The tide had turned.
"What do you want?"
"Let's play a game… a Shadow Game."
...
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