C12

Chapter 12: The Mask of Justice

After Tachibana Reo left.

Everyone stared at the closed door for a while.

As if trying to sort out what had just happened inside their heads.

Before long, triggered by Meiko Kano's voice, murmurs gradually returned to the classroom.

However, unlike the laughter from moments before, it was a murmur of people leaning in close to each other, speaking in hushed tones.

Gazes testing each other's reactions were exchanged all over the classroom.

Everyone seemed to harbor a similar sense of incongruity.

They were beginning to realize, bit by bit, that the spectacle they'd been watching half for amusement was far heavier than they had imagined...

Amidst that murmuring, Kujo slowly opened his mouth.

"...Everyone."

It wasn't a loud voice.

Even so, strangely enough, the gazes of everyone in the classroom gathered on him.

Kujo looked around his surroundings.

The classroom that had been bustling until just moments before grew quiet step by step.

"About today."

He paused once.

"Keep it strictly within this class."

A few people exchanged glances.

"Suzumura has her modeling work, after all."

"If something like this spreads weirdly, it'll just be an unnecessary burden."

Saying that, Kujo lowered his gaze slightly.

"Please."

And then.

Kujo slowly bowed his head.

"Everyone, cooperate with me."

For a split second.

Silence fell over the classroom.

No one answered right away.

However.

Eventually, a single boy let out a small breath.

It was a boy who had held romantic feelings toward Suzumura for a while.

"...Got it."

Triggered by those words, the surrounding atmosphere shifted slightly.

"Well... if Suzumura-san's going to feel uncomfortable about it—"

"It's not like we need to go out of our way to spread it, either."

Those who had been watching Tachibana and Suzumura's relationship half for amusement also nodded along to Kujo's words.

Putting a lid on the lingering sense of guilt deep in their chests, trying not to think about it anymore...

Kujo scanned the classroom, and figuring it was safe enough now, shifted his eyes to the smartphone in Meiko Kano's hand.

"Also, Meiko."

"Hm?"

Meiko raised her head, still holding her smartphone.

"The video."

He paused for a fraction of a second.

"Delete it."

Meiko cast her gaze down at the screen. The events of moments ago remained captured right there.

"This?"

"Yeah."

Kujo answered shortly.

"It'll cause trouble for Kokona."

Meiko curved the corners of his mouth slightly.

"Sure~"

It was a light reply.

Even so, looking satisfied, Kujo let out a small breath.

Then, calling out to the rest of the class in his usual tone,

"Sorry for making things awkward before you guys went home today."

Kujo laughed lightly, bringing his hands together in front of his chest as if clapping them.

"Well, anyway... I'll make it up to you guys some other time!"

"Do me a favor and let's wrap it up with this for today."

With those words, Kujo managed the situation just like he always did.

◇

Ending with Kujo's words, the classroom slowly returned to normalcy.

Before long, the classmates began preparing to leave little by little.

The sound of chairs scraping and bag zippers closing echoed softly through the quieted classroom.

Even so.

With everyone exchanging gazes somewhat awkwardly, speaking in hushed voices, one by one, they left the classroom.

Amidst that.

Only Suzumura was unable to move from the spot.

While her classmates left the classroom one after another, she simply stood frozen with her head bowed.

"...Kokona-chan."

The one who called out to her was Kaho Kitayama.

Carrying the regret of not being able to do anything moments ago, she slowly approached.

"Are you okay?"

Suzumura couldn't reply right away.

Watching that spectacle, Rinko Takamiya turned her gaze toward Kujo standing beside her, harboring lingering bewilderment.

She opened her mouth, looking somewhat hesitant.

"...Renya."

"What was that just now?"

"You said Kokona was going to talk to him herself at the end..."

Kujo furrowed his brow slightly.

"That's why."

Kujo continued as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

And paused for a slight moment...

"With Tachibana taking it seriously, if Kokona talked to him all alone... who knows what he might do."

"Kokona would end up having to force herself to say things that are hard to say. That's why I thought it was better for me to say it."

"Even so..."

Rinko searched for words.

"Not right there in the classroom, in front of everyone—"

"Whoops!"

Kujo suddenly raised his voice.

He casually glanced at the clock.

"Sugisawa, we're gonna be late for club!"

"Eh?"

Sugisawa let out a vacant sound for a fraction of a second.

"Ah, o...oh."

Hastily returning to his desk, he grabbed the bag he'd left there.

"Well, we're heading out."

Before leaving the classroom, Kujo directed his gaze toward Suzumura just once.

"Kokona."

Suzumura slowly raised her face.

Her pupils were unfocused, as though she still couldn't fully comprehend what had just happened in front of her.

"Today was... rough, huh."

Kujo smiled like he always did.

"Don't worry about it anymore."

"It's fine if I'm the one playing the bad guy."

With those words, Kujo left the classroom alongside Sugisawa.

Author's Note

What a guy...

From the next chapter onward, it'll be a string of chapters from Reo's side for a while.

Thank you as always!