C49

Chapter 49: Moving Forward

In the student guidance room, only Mr. Hirano and Ms. Nishikawa remained.

After a short while, the door opened quietly.

Mr. Yamaoka, who had taken Kujo back to the classroom, returned. Glancing at the two teachers, he closed the door quietly and walked over to them.

"Thank you for your hard work," Mr. Hirano said.

Mr. Yamaoka gave a small nod and returned to his desk. "I've sent Kujo back to the classroom."

"Thank you."

Mr. Hirano lowered his gaze to the documents at hand.

Spread out across the desk were the records from the interviews conducted today with six students: Takamiya, Kitayama, Sugisawa, Suzumura, Kano, and finally, Kujo.

With this, all scheduled interviews regarding this matter were complete.

"So, that concludes everyone," Ms. Nishikawa confirmed, looking over the documents.

"Yes. Is there anything else we need to ask from our end?" Mr. Yamaoka asked the two.

Mr. Hirano checked the records one by one.

Comparing the testimonies, minor differences in individual memories and perceptions were visible, but the contents gathered from the four—Takamiya, Kitayama, Sugisawa, and Suzumura—did not have any major contradictions.

On the other hand, Kano and Kujo's testimonies included several explanations that differed from those four.

In particular, clear discrepancies appeared regarding how the fake confession was scheduled to take place and how they perceived the interactions on the day of the incident.

By lining up the contents heard from all six, the school was gradually beginning to see the overall picture.

"For now, I think we're fine," Mr. Hirano said, closing the files.

"Then, the interviews are finished," Mr. Yamaoka said, letting out a breath.

Mr. Hirano nodded and looked once more at the documents lined up on the desk.

"...Yes. From here on, we need to organize today's interview results as a school."

A brief silence fell among the three. Each cast their gaze down at the records for the six students laid out on the desk, organizing the contents heard so far in their minds.

"Shall we report to the vice principal first?"

At Mr. Hirano's words, the other two nodded.

The three gathered the interview records from the desk and picked up the necessary materials.

Starting with the review of the surveys conducted since morning, the interviews with the six students that continued through the afternoon were now over. All that remained was for the school to organize the gathered testimonies and decide on future responses.

Having put the materials together, the three left the student guidance room and headed toward the vice principal's office.

◇

"Vice Principal, we've just finished interviewing all six students," Mr. Hirano reported.

The vice principal nodded. "Thank you for your hard work. I have already informed the principal of the background so far and that we were conducting interviews today."

The vice principal's eyes turned to the materials in the three teachers' hands.

"Regarding this matter, the principal also wants to hear directly from you teachers. Let's report the detailed contents in the principal's office."

"Understood."

Accompanied by the vice principal, the four headed to the principal's office.

Led by the vice principal, the four stepped out of the staff space, walked down the corridor, and upon reaching the front of the principal's office, the vice principal knocked lightly on the door.

"Come in," a calm female voice replied from inside.

"Excuse us," the vice principal said as he opened the door, prompting a "Please, go ahead" from within.

As the four entered, their gazes naturally drifted toward the reception area at the back of the principal's office. The principal was sitting on the opposite side of a table, flanked by sofas.

"Thank you for your hard work," the principal welcomed them.

"We've just finished interviewing all six students," the vice principal reported.

The principal gave a small nod and lowered her gaze to the materials at hand. "I see. Then, please let me hear the details."

At those words, the four seated themselves in the reception area.

Mr. Hirano spread the materials he had been holding out across the table. There, the survey responses from the morning and the records of the six students compiled from the afternoon's interviews were laid out.

Faced with the information gathered over the course of the day, the school would now organize this incident moving forward.

◇

Mr. Hirano opened the materials at hand and arranged several survey sheets on the table.

"First, I will report on the survey conducted this morning."

The principal turned her gaze to the arranged papers.

"Regarding this matter, we collected responses from everyone in the class. Among them, multiple students wrote about the events of that day with common details."

Mr. Hirano pulled a few of those sheets toward him.

"It's about being sworn to secrecy last Monday after school, telling them not to speak outside the class about this matter."

The principal silently read through the papers.

"It's not just one student; multiple students recorded the same thing. While there are slight differences in expression, they agree on the point that they were told not to talk about it."

Mr. Yamaoka also cast his gaze down at the materials he had checked earlier.

"Also, among the surveys, there were some responses where what could be confirmed on video did not match the student's own answers."

Mr. Hirano pointed to another sheet.

"There was a response to the effect that the student did nothing in particular, but the video clearly shows them laughing along with others at Tachibana-kun."

The principal raised her head from the papers and turned her gaze to the three teachers. "...I see."

After a brief reply, she lowered her eyes back to the survey.

"In other words, the survey has revealed several movements within the class that couldn't be confirmed through video alone."

"Yes," Mr. Hirano nodded.

"Also, this survey confirmed that everyone was present at that scene... We also learned that while several students intended to report it, no one actually reported or consulted anyone."

"...Everyone was at that scene..." the principal murmured quietly.

Hearing those words, Mr. Yamaoka looked down without a word.

"Next, based on this morning's survey, I will report on the interviews conducted with the six individuals starting this afternoon."

Mr. Hirano closed the survey once and reached for a separately compiled set of materials.

"We confirmed the background leading up to this incident and the interactions on the day from each of the six."

The principal did not take the documents, quietly lending an ear to Mr. Hirano's words.

"First, regarding the four—Takamiya-san, Kitayama-san, Sugisawa-kun, and Suzumura-san—there were minor differences due to individual memories and perceptions. However, overall, there are no major contradictions."

Mr. Hirano lowered his gaze to the materials.

"On the other hand, for Kano-san and Kujo-kun, several explanations differing from these four have been confirmed."

At those words, the principal turned her eyes to the documents.

"The biggest difference is regarding how the fake confession was scheduled to take place."

Mr. Hirano lined up the records for all six.

"The four consistently explained that after Suzumura-san made the fake confession to Tachibana-kun, they were supposed to date for a few days, after which the two of them would reveal the prank."

The principal looked over the lined-up records in order.

"However, Kano-san and Kujo-kun explained that it was scheduled to be revealed in front of the classmates from the very beginning."

"...That differs significantly, then."

"Yes." Mr. Hirano nodded.

"Furthermore, regarding the events of that day, Kano-san and Kujo-kun explained with the understanding that there was a problem with Tachibana-kun, and that they acted to protect Suzumura-san."

Mr. Yamaoka remained silent, looking down at the documents.

By finishing the interviews with the six, the scope of what the school could confirm regarding this incident had expanded greatly.

At the same time, it was necessary to carefully judge whose testimony could be treated as factual.

After reading through the materials for a while, the principal quietly raised her head.

"There are some discrepancies in the contents heard from the six students, aren't there?"

"Yes."

The principal continued right away.

"However, just because a testimony comes from the side with more people, we cannot judge it as correct solely on that basis. From the incident last Monday until today, there must have been plenty of time for the parties involved to talk among themselves, so we must carefully judge which testimony is based on facts."

Mr. Hirano nodded. "Yes. Therefore, rather than judging by testimony alone, we need to cross-reference and check it against other materials, such as this morning's survey and the video."

The principal also nodded.

Mr. Hirano then opened his mouth regarding future responses.

"Now, as for our future course of action: first, our response toward Tachibana-kun and his parents. We need to contact his parents first to explain what was confirmed in these interviews. Following that, we would like to arrange an opportunity to speak with them directly once more. I would like to ask Yamaoka-sensei to handle contacting the parents and adjusting the meeting schedule."

As Mr. Hirano spoke, Mr. Yamaoka quietly raised his head. "Understood."

"Next, regarding our response to the class as a whole: from the survey and video, we have confirmed students who were involved in the events of that day in some form, or who provided answers differing from the facts. Based on each person's degree of involvement and their response contents, we believe individual responses are necessary."

"Following that, regarding the six individuals directly involved in this matter, based on the interview contents, we need to organize their respective levels of involvement and statements, and then individually consider future guidance and responses. In addition, the contents confirmed in these interviews must be explained by the school to each of their respective parents."

"Next is regarding the video recording of this incident."

Mr. Hirano shifted his gaze to the materials placed at the edge of the table.

"It has been confirmed that this video was sent by Kano-san to the agency to which Suzumura belongs. Moving forward, we need to confirm how the video is handled to ensure it does not leak externally any further."

"Also, regarding this matter, we must explain the fact that the video was sent to the agency to Tachibana-kun's parents. After doing so, we wish to handle the matter after confirming the future handling of the video with both Tachibana-kun's parents and Suzumura's agency."

The principal quietly lowered her gaze to the materials.

"Understood. Let's proceed with our response after confirming the intentions of both parties."

"Yes." Mr. Hirano closed the materials at hand.

"As things stand, this is as much as the school has been able to confirm. After organizing the background so far and the contents of today's interviews, we would like to determine our future actions."

The principal spent a short while with her gaze lowered on the documents, thinking to organize the contents discussed so far.

"Understood. Then, based on what we confirmed today, let's move forward with the actions Hirano-sensei just mentioned. Please proceed while confirming each step regarding contacting Tachibana-kun and his parents, dealing with the relevant students, and handling the video."

The principal paused for a moment.

"Also, regarding this matter, we need to inform the corporate side as well. After organizing the background up to today and the contents confirmed today, I will report it to the chairman myself. Following that, we will consult on future measures."

"Understood," Mr. Hirano replied, and the principal nodded quietly.