C47

Episode 47: The Guidance Room — Meiko Kano's Side

When the classroom door opened and Mr. Yamaoka returned with Suzumura, the students caught sight of the two and turned their gazes toward them all at once. Mr. Yamaoka walked straight to Kano's seat and stopped beside her.

Looking up at the teacher, Kano let out a heavy sigh. Then she pulled back her chair, stood up, and followed Mr. Yamaoka out of the classroom.

◇

Meiko Kano

Led by Mr. Yamaoka, Meiko arrived at the student guidance room. Standing before the door with a languid expression, she stepped right inside as Mr. Yamaoka opened it.

Seated inside were Mr. Nishikawa, the grade head, and Mr. Hirano, the student guidance counselor. Giving the two of them a brief, sideways glance, Meiko walked straight over to a prepared chair and sat down without a moment's hesitation.

Mr. Yamaoka took a seat next to them. Mr. Hirano didn't speak immediately, gazing intently at Meiko's face for a short while.

"……Well then, let's confirm a few things."

"Today, we want to talk about the fake confession made to Tachibana-kun after school last Monday."

Even after being told this, there was no change in Meiko's expression.

"Kano-san, is it correct that you were involved in this fake confession?"

"Yes."

Hirano continued his questioning.

"Then, please tell us the circumstances that led up to this fake confession happening."

"It was decided by a punishment game."

Without explaining the detailed context, Meiko answered briefly.

"Who was participating in the punishment game with you at that time?"

"There were six of us: Kokone, Rinko, Kaho, myself, Kujo-kun, and Sugisawa."

Mr. Hirano glanced down at the documents in his hand before continuing with the next question.

"Now, please tell us the detailed content of that fake confession."

Meiko answered with a flat tone.

"Kokone would give a fake confession, and after they started dating, we'd reveal it's a prank in front of our classmates. Just like you saw in the video."

Hearing Meiko's answer, the three teachers didn't reply right away.

Mr. Hirano looked back down at his documents, and Mr. Yamaoka cast a single glance at Meiko. Mr. Nishikawa remained silent, watching the situation unfold.

Mr. Hirano raised his eyes from the documents and asked Meiko:

"According to the accounts of the four students we spoke with earlier, Suzumura-san was planning to tell Tachibana-kun it was a fake in private, just between the two of them, rather than in front of the classmates. Is that wrong?"

"Eh?"

For the first time, Meiko—who had kept her expression unchanged until now—showed a slight hint of agitation.

"There's no way that's true. From the very beginning, the punishment game was a reveal in front of the classmates."

After listening to Meiko's words, Mr. Hirano looked back down at his paperwork.

"……However, Suzumura-san states that she planned to speak with Tachibana-kun alone. We've heard the same account from Takamiya-san, Kitayama-san, and Sugisawa-kun as well."

"Did they write that in the questionnaire, too?"

Mr. Hirano looked down at the documents to check the questionnaire responses.

"It is not written in the questionnaire."

Meiko replied without a pause.

"Then hours passed between filling out the questionnaire and the start of the interviews, right?"

Mr. Hirano stared at Meiko without answering.

"Besides, I was told during lunch break that the interviews would start in the afternoon. There was plenty of time for the four of them to get their stories straight during that time, wasn't there?"

Meiko continued in her flat tone.

"Just because four people are saying the same thing doesn't automatically mean it's the truth. Am I wrong?"

Mr. Hirano did not answer immediately.

Even upon checking the four students' questionnaires, there was no mention that the plan differed from what Meiko described. Moreover, considering that several days had already passed since last Monday's after-school hours, the four of them certainly had enough time to align their stories in the interim. The possibility that they coordinated their stories between filling out the questionnaires and the start of the interviews could not be ruled out.

"……No. Strictly speaking in terms of possibilities, what you're saying is correct."

After replying with that, Mr. Hirano cast his gaze back down to his papers.

"However, that doesn't mean it's certain that the four of them conspired."

"But it hasn't been proven that I'm lying either, right?"

At Meiko's retort, Mr. Hirano paused for a single moment.

"……That's correct."

Mr. Hirano jotted a note in the documents and shifted his gaze to the next question.

"Next, let's verify the video. Judging by the footage, it appears that Kano-san was filming on her own initiative. The previous student interviews yielded similar responses, but is there any mistake in this?"

"I suppose so."

"Is there a reason you decided to film it?"

"When we were first getting excited talking about the punishment game, we mentioned that it would be fun to look back on later. Since everyone was saying things like that, I just figured it would be fine to record it, so I did."

Mr. Hirano wrote that answer down in his notes as well.

"Now, a question about the content of the video."

Mr. Hirano let out a breath, paused slightly, and turned his gaze back to Meiko.

"In this video, Kujo-kun and Kano-san directed quite harsh words toward Tachibana-kun. Was that also part of the plan?"

Unfazed by Mr. Hirano's question, Meiko answered impassively.

"It wasn't in the original plan. But there is a reason. I thought Tachibana might take things seriously and potentially cause harm to Kokone. So, together with Kujo-kun, I communicated that to draw a line. I was worried he might turn into a stalker or something."

Deep wrinkles formed between Mr. Yamaoka's brows.

Mr. Hirano watched Meiko's face for a moment before continuing.

"I see…… Now, a question about Suzumura-san. In the video, she clearly looked shaken and was trying to stop Kujo-kun. What was that about?"

Meiko answered instantly, without a hint of hesitation.

"From my perspective at the time, Kokone seemed to have genuinely started enjoying the romance play before we knew it. It looked to me like she had developed real feelings for Tachibana. Perhaps she grew to like him while they were dating for a few days. So, I figured she was trying to protect Tachibana at that moment."

Meiko continued, as if to supplement her previous point.

"As for that, you'll understand if you ask our classmates. They were getting along well in the classroom, and I think it was a pretty big rumor around the school, too."

Mr. Hirano looked down at his documents. Indeed, this morning's questionnaires included several responses to the effect that Suzumura-san and Tachibana-kun were close in class and that people hadn't realized it was a fake. Checking those details, Mr. Hirano asked a follow-up question regarding Meiko's statement just now.

"A moment ago, you said, 'I figured she was trying to protect Tachibana at that moment.' Does that mean your view has changed now?"

A hint of what looked like anger leaked onto Meiko's face for the first time.

"At the time, Kokone acted like she was genuinely worried about Tachibana. But when Kujo-kun brought up in front of everyone that she had modeling work and asked him to keep it a secret, she didn't say a word. She had been defending Tachibana so much, yet when her own matters were brought up, she kept quiet."

"If she had truly been protecting Tachibana, I would expect her to say something like 'Don't use that as an excuse' precisely when her own work was brought up. Yet she didn't say anything at all."

Meiko leaned forward as she piled on her words.

"I let it slide at the time. But as time passed, the meaning of that action became clear to me. Kokone does modeling work. So she must have thought that if this turned into a huge deal, it would affect her career, and she tried to run away alone. Even though she agreed to be the executioner of the punishment game of her own free will!"

Having said her piece, Meiko slowly pulled back and leaned against the backrest of her chair.

"Here we were, worried about Kokone and directing harsh words at Tachibana, while Kokone—the one who made him take it seriously—tried to make a run for it by herself. I couldn't forgive that."

Looking straight into Meiko's eyes, Mr. Hirano asked:

"Was that the reason you sent the video to Suzumura-san's agency?"

Meiko answered without even a hint of thought.

"That's right. I intended to make Kokone take responsibility. Plus, hearing that the four of them are conspiring to lighten their guilt has made me certain of it."

Meiko's words created a brief silence among the three teachers.

Mr. Hirano kept his eyes on Meiko, while Mr. Yamaoka gazed down at the documents in his hands. Mr. Nishikawa also remained silent, watching the scene.

"I understand."

With those words, Mr. Hirano jotted down a note, neatly squared away his papers, and turned his gaze back to Kano.

"Then, aside from Suzumura-san's agency, have you sent the video to anyone else, or shown it to anyone?"

Meiko replied.

"I haven't sent it anywhere else besides Kokone's agency. I haven't shown it to anyone, nor have I uploaded it to social media. Therefore, I want you to contact my parents quickly and have them return my smartphone."

Mr. Hirano dropped his eyes back to the questionnaire and checked the response for item 7.

"The questionnaire states, 'As for the video, you may go ahead and verify that it has been deleted at that time,' but—"

"Confirming that the video was deleted from my smartphone is separate from this matter ending. The video in question has already been sent to Suzumura-san's agency. The school will explain that part to Tachibana-kun's parents as well. Future countermeasures are not a problem the school can decide on its own."

Mr. Hirano paused for a moment before looking down at the documents again.

"First, we will record the contents of what Kano-san has stated about this video as part of the school's records. Following that, we will explain the factual situation to Tachibana-kun's parents and Suzumura-san's agency, and confirm how the video is to be handled moving forward."

Mr. Hirano raised his head at that point.

"Yesterday, Mr. Yamaoka contacted Kano-san's parents, but during this interview, Kano-san herself admitted to sending the video to Suzumura-san's agency. We will explain those details to her parents once more."

"Based on that, we need to confirm with the parents how we will handle this video going forward. Just checking that the video was deleted from the smartphone does not mean her parents can simply return the phone to her."

Meiko directed a look at Mr. Yamaoka, as if to say she found this unacceptable.

"No way…… I'll be in trouble without my phone. I'll properly delete the video. I have no intention of sending it anywhere else, nor of uploading it to social media."

Mr. Yamaoka said in a quiet voice.

"Kano, deleting the video doesn't make the matter finished. We need to have your parents check it as well, and delete any video remaining on the phone. We also need to check if there is anything else saved. After that, we must discuss with the parents what to do if the video leaks in the future."

"……"

"That's why a simple verbal promise not to send it anymore or upload it to social media isn't enough to settle this. This incident involves Tachibana himself, his parents, and Suzumura's modeling agency. We need to properly confirm what to do from here on out and keep a record of it."

A silence persisted for a while.

Checking Meiko's demeanor, Mr. Hirano spoke up once more.

"Now, for the final question."

"Is there anything you want to convey to Tachibana-kun regarding this incident?"

"……"

Meiko remained looking down, her mouth moving slightly.

She seemed to be saying something, but no voice came out.

Even after waiting for a while, there was no sign that Meiko intended to make a sound.

Mr. Hirano asked Meiko once again.

"……Shall we assume there is nothing in particular you wish to convey?"

Sometime later, keeping her head bowed down, Meiko finally opened her mouth.

"……I want to ask Tachibana who hurt him the most after being fake-confessed to."

A prolonged silence followed.

Before long, Mr. Hirano let out a soft sigh.

"I understand."

"Now, we will inform you about how things will proceed from here. Regarding this incident, after organizing what we've confirmed at the school, we will make the necessary communications to the relevant parents and the agency. As for Kano-san, we will have your parents come in as well to confirm the handling of the video. We will contact you regarding the specific schedule at a later date."

"……"

"Also, please do not talk about or share the details confirmed here today with other students."

"……"

To Meiko, who remained silent with her head bowed, Mr. Yamaoka spoke up.

"Kano, that's it for today. We're heading back to the classroom."

Saying this, Mr. Yamaoka waited for Meiko to stand up.

After a moment, Meiko stood up and left the room alongside Mr. Yamaoka.

The two teachers silently watched their retreating backs.

Confirmation Regarding the Events of Last Monday After School

Name: Meiko Kano

① Were you inside the classroom after school last Monday?

□ Yes

□ No

A. Yes

(If you answered "No," please end here.)

② Please fill out what was happening inside the classroom at that time, to the best of your recollection.

A. We revealed the fake confession in front of the classmates.

③ If there was anything you saw or heard at the time that left a particular impression on you, please write it down.

A. Kujo-kun and I telling Tachibana that Kokone's confession was a fake.

④ If there is anything you yourself did or said on the spot, please write it down.

A. Please check the video.

⑤ How do you personally feel about what happened this time?

A. Kokone is at fault for accepting the fake confession and making Tachibana take it seriously, even though she could have refused if she didn't like it.

⑥ Did you ever think about consulting or reporting the events of last Monday's after-school session to the school or the teachers?

□ Yes

□ No

A. No

Please write the reason why you thought so.

(Left blank)

⑦ Is there anything else you would like to convey to the school?

A. I want my phone back, so please contact my parents from the school. As for the video, you may go ahead and verify that it was deleted at that time.