Before the school day ended, Hikaru was carefully refining his pnned versation and predig possible outes. This was an important first experiment—he o see how Kushida would react.

  At the same time, his upiing with Suzune was just as crucial. Now that she had been designated as Css D's main speaker for the hearing, how she po ter their opposition was a major .

  If he was itted to ensuring that Ryuen didn't climb any higher, he had to eliminate all uainties.

  As Hikaru sat ihought, the pink-haired girl beside him suddenly spoke.

  "Hikaru-kun, you have pns again today?" Iose's tone carried a hint of hesitation.

  "Oh, yeah. I've got something to take care of this afternoon." Hikaru g the girl beside him. Her clear blue eyes were fixed on his face, as if there was something she wao say.

  "I was actually hoping you'd join our study group today. You've been skipping for days now." Iose's tone had a subtle hint of disappoi. "Even Shibata asked about you st time, w if you were avoiding us."

  "Of course not. Please tell them not to overthink things," Hikaru replied with a casual smile.

  While he did enjoy spending time with his cssmates, there were far more important matters he had to handle right now.

  With no direct css petition in py, it was best to leave the babysitting duties to Iose—the perfect person for the job.

  "Anyway, I'll drop by when I have the time. Yrades are great, so you're more than capable of tut them." He chuckled. "I'm ting on you."

  "Mmm, I know." Iose nodded, but despite her usual cheerfulness, she couldn't shake a feeling of unease.

  Hikaru used to spend most of his time with her, and now that his presence was noticeably less frequent, she couldn't help but feel a little... lost.

  Whether it was their dinners in his dorm or the study group sessions, she was beginning to notice the emptiness when he wasn't around.

  Even though she khat her top priority should be uniting Css B—ensuring their stability and w traduation—Hikaru's presence had already begun to shake her resolve.

  He was her ally, her partner in battle, yet a strange fear lingered in her heart.

  What if, one day, he left her side for someone else?

  Would she still be able to prioritize her css above all else?

  She had no answers. No matter how many times she asked herself, the uainty remained.

  For now, she had no choice but to bury those emotions deep within.

  After all—at least for now—she was still the closest person to him.

  ---

  After school, Hikaru said goodbye to Iose before leaving the .

  When he arrived at Keyaki Mall's café, he was surprised to see a familiar figure already seated inside.

  She's… faster than me?

  "Horikita-san, good afternoon." Hikaru greeted her as he stepped inside.

  "Good afternoon, Hikaru-kun."

  Suzuurned her head slightly, her sharp gaze sing his face before asking, "Where did you reserve the seats?"

  "Over by the windows fag the street. Great view."

  He led her to a window-side table, where the rge gss panels provided a clear panoramic view of the shopping district. Ever the gentleman, Hikaru pulled out a chair for her.

  "Thank you."

  Ohey were seated, Hikaru picked up the menu and asked, "What would you like to drink, Horikita-san?"

  "Just water."

  Suzune wasn't here for casual versation—she wao finalize her strategy. She didn't need any distras.

  "Uh… alright then."

  Seeing her unwaveringly serious expression, Hikaru decided not to push further and simply ordered a gss of water for her and a coffee for himself.

  After the waiter left, Suzune spoke first.

  "I'll expin my current strategy for the hearing. If you see any issues, point them out."

  "Uood."

  Hikaru's demeanor shifted, his usual easygoing air giving way to seriousness.

  "First is the false accusatiument," Suzune began, maintaining her sharp focus. "There were two students on the opposing side, while Sudo was alone. Even if a fight broke out, the side with the greater numbers would logically have the advantage."

  "Anyone engaging in a fight would mentally calcute their ces of winning—it's basic logic."

  "Sudo may be a sports club member, but one of the two acg students is also in the basketball club, while the other—Ishizaki—is rumored to have been a deli in middle school."

  "A, despite the two-versus-one sario, Sudo came out pletely unscathed, while the other two had serious injuries ed in bahat oute doesn't make sense."

  "I see your point."

  Hikaru rubbed his . If it were two versus ohere were only two logical possibilities—either Sudo had overwhelming physical superiority, or he had formal bat training.

  Based on the avaible evideneither seemed likely.

  "That's the first point. The sed is the pre-arranged meeting." Suzune tinued, her eyes sing Hikaru's face for a rea. "Sudo cims they were the ones who called him out, while they insist he was the one who sought them out."

  "This will be one of the most critical arguments during the hearing."

  Hikaru immediately uood. "So in order to prove Sudo's innoce, we ot back down on this cim."

  "Exactly."

  Suzune nodded. She leased by how quickly Hikaru followed her reasoning.

  "The third and final point is the witestimony. If we bring the discussion here, we introduce the eyewitness and solidify our case."

  Her argument was sound, c all key points.

  Once she was done, Suzune leaned forward slightly, watg Hikaru closely.

  If my brother aowledged you, the's see how good your analysis really is.

  "Your analysis is well thought out, and you covered all the essential points." Hikaru smiled. "But, Horikita-san, have you sidered another possibility?"

  "What is it?"

  Suzune's expression remained calm, but she was clearly intrigued.

  "All yuments assume that there is no additional evidence. But what if the opposition actually has evidence?"

  At that, Suzune's expression shifted slightly.

  "That's impossible. If they had evidence, why didn't they submit it right away? The Student cil would have already ruled a punishment."

  That was the logical clusion most people would reach.

  Hikaru tapped his finger oable rhythmically. He remembered Ryuen's smirk when he avoided suspension—if this atta Css C truly had no evidence, getting Sudo expelled wouldn't be so easy.

  The Student cil's deaking process allowed room fotiation.

  If the situation was ambiguous, they might settle for a lighter punishment.

  But if Css C was demanding expulsion, that meant they believed they could make it happen.

  "Horikita-san," Hikaru said lightly. "Have you ever asked yourself… why they're pushing for expulsion?"

  "?"

  Suzune frowned, running through the school's official regutions in her mind.

  Violent flicts were punishable based on severity—ranging from suspension to expulsion. However, for the harshest penalty, the case o be undisputedly severe, with clear and damning evidence.

  Because the iudents had bandages, many assumed it must be a serious case of violence.

  But looking at it from the other side—was this really a case worthy of expulsion?

  Or did Css D already have clusive evidence, allowing them to trol the narrative?

  If they withheld the evideil the hearing, it would be too te to ter.

  Suzune's expression hardened.

  She had never sidered this angle. Her pn had been to ter every argument as it came, but she had pletely igher possible factors.

  Seeing the shift in her face, Hikaru calmly took a sip of coffee.

  "You seem to have realized something, Horikita-san. Don't rush. We have time."

  Just then, his gaze flickered toward the street, and his smile deepened.

  The target had arrived.

  Standing outside the Cafe, Kushida's pupils dited sharply as her gaze shifted slightly.

  Because she had just seen someone who shouldn't be there.

  Hashima Hikaru.

  Why is he drinking coffee with Horikita Suzune?!

  And more importantly—

  Why does he look so rexed?!

  Why is he smiling?!

  What the hell is going on?!

  The sheer shock of the se made Kushida's body tremble slightly.

  Her mind immediately began repying every iion she had ever seeween Hikaru and Suzune.

  Aside from the rule-selliiations, she couldn't recall them ever spending time aloogether.

  So since when—?!

  Were they actually familiar with each other in private?!

  A chaotic mix of anger and disbelief surged through her chest.

  She knew ohing for certain—

  If she didn't do something about this right now, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.

  ~~~

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