As the self-procimed Vice President of the Student cil ehe room, Hikaru noticed that the purple-haired uppercssman holding a notebook—Tachibana Akane—visibly tensed.

  Even Manabu, who remained seated, showed a slight rea. It was subtle, but his sharp gaze locked onto Nagumo Miyabi as he approached.

  "Why is everyone looking at me like that?" Nagumo spoke with a warm smile, his tone full of apparent siy. "As a member of the Student cil, it's only natural for me to step in and help out my adorable undercssmen, isn't it?"

  With an air of fidence, he walked straight toward Ibuki.

  "So, this junior here was bullied?"

  "Vice President Nagumo, this case is already being handled by President Horikita," Tachibana interjected, her tone carrying a clear hostility. "The matter should be left in his hands."

  "Oh, but why say it like that? Horikita-senpai already has plenty on his pte managing Student cil affairs. Wouldn't it be better for me to take care of this i involving first-years?" Nagumo chuckled lightly. "That way, he foore important matters."

  "…But—"

  Tachibana waue further, but Manabu stopped her with a look. The bespectacled president didn't seem bothered by Nagumo's intrusion. Instead, he turned his attention to Hikaru.

  "Hikaru-kun, this is Nagumo Miyabi, a sed-year student and the Vice President of the Student cil."

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nagumo-senpai."

  Hikaru had been the situation sihe moment Nagumo stepped into the room. After Manabu introduced him, he quickly bowed iing, dispying perfect etiquette, leaving no room for criticism.

  Not only that, but he subtly tugged on Ibuki's sleeve, signalio do the same.

  "…Nagumo-senpai, hello."

  Caught off guard by Hikaru's cue, Ibuki hesitated for a sed but still mao respond cooperatively.

  "Haha, such well-mannered juniors." Nagumo grinned in satisfa before tinuing, "Since you're here to file a pint, I ha for you."

  "This…"

  Hikaru's expression wavered slightly—not out of fear of offending Nagumo but to gauge Manabu's rea.

  "We've already submitted the video to Horikita-senpai. Wouldn't it be better to let him decide?"

  "Well then, I'd also like to hear what Horikita-senpai pns to do."

  Nagumo didn't seem particurly bothered by Hikaru's attempt to defer. To him, a first-year student wasn't worth paying much attention to.

  "If you're so eager to lighten my workload, Nagumo, then I'll leave this hearing in your hands," Manabu said, his tone calm as ever. He then turo two Student cil members nearby.

  "Go to Css 1-d bring Ryuen Kakeru here."

  Ohe order was given, Manabu looked back at Nagumo, whose smile remained unged. "However, as the Vice President of the Student cil, I trust that you're well-versed in schutions. Be sure to judge this case correctly—any misjudgment could damage the credibility of the Student cil."

  "Of course, Horikita-senpai. Rest assured, I'll make the fairest and most impartial decision possible."

  Nagumo accepted the task without hesitation, but as he turoward Hikaru and Ibuki, his gaze briefly flickered with i. It seemed he wao take a closer look at their phones.

  "Nagumo-senpai, this is the video we recorded. It clearly captures Ryuen attag Ibuki."

  Hikaru timely handed over his phone, immediately shifting to an indignant tone.

  "Ibuki did nothing wrong. She simply refused to vote for Ryuen as css representative. A, he resorted to violeo force her into submission. A male student attag a female—it's disgraceful! Nagumo-senpai, please ehat justice is served!"

  "…Rest assured, I will make the most just decision."

  Nagumo took the phone and carefully watched the entire video. As he did, a faint glimmer of doubt fshed across his eyes.

  From a superficial ghe footage indeed showed Ryuen aggressively attag a girl. However, upon closer iion, the girl's body movements and expressions seemed too posed. Despite the apparent danger, she appeared unfazed, as if she had no real fear of being struck.

  No—this was staged.

  Nagumo immediately reized it as a setup.

  A premeditated trap.

  His gaze drifted baanabu, who was calmly reviewing dots on his desk, seemingly indifferent to everything happening around him.

  So that's how it is. You wao take the fall for this.

  Nagumo's expression darkened for a brief moment, but he didn't reveal any outward rea. He simply made a mental note of the situation.

  "What's wrong, Nagumo? Are you saying you're incapable of handling this case?" Manabu finally looked up, his sharp gaze log onto Nagumo. "If you have more pressing matters, I always take over."

  At those words, the Student cil members who had alighemselves with Nagumo turo watch him closely, eager to see how he would respond.

  "Of course not. Since you've entrusted this task to me, Horikita-senpai, I'll see it through to the very end. Otherwise, it would be disgraceful for a Vice President to back down."

  Regaining his usual posure, Nagumo's expression brimmed with fidence. Looking at Hikaru and Ibuki, he decred, "Rest assured, if Ryuen truly itted such a violent a school grounds, I will make sure he receives the punishment he deserves."

  "In that case, we'll leave it in your hands, Nagumo-senpai. We trust you to deliver a just verdict."

  Hikaru swiftly bowed in gratitude, his expression humble and respectful. Even Ibuki, standing beside him, was momentarily taken aback.

  In her mind, this pretty-boy was nothing more than a smooth-talking liar. Ever since she met him yesterday, not a single word from his mouth had sounded like the truth.

  "Rest assured, I will deliver the fairest judgment," Nagumo decred, his gaze sharp and desding. "However, during the review process, for the sake of fairness, I will also allow Ryuen to present his side of the story. You will ue against him."

  "After all, if we falsely accuse someone i, that would be a grave mistake on my part."

  The blond uppercssman scrutihe first-year student before him. Hikaru had strikiures, his face exuding an air of harmlessness, yet Nagumo could tell at a ghis boy was the mastermind behind the entire scheme.

  Hmph, this year's first-years are something else. Barely a few days into the school year, and they're already delivering su eaining spectacle?

  "Uood. We will provide all the necessary information to ehat Nagumo-senpai does not make a misjudgment," Hikaru replied with unwavering politeness, his demeanor filled with nothing but apparent admiration for the sed-year student cil vice president.

  "Hah."

  Seated nearby, Manabu observed Hikaru's dispy with quiet i. Internally, he made another narding the first-year.

  Highly intelligent, but incredibly thick-skinned. Should be approached with caution.