C52

Chapter 52: Quiet Resentment

"Then, could you tell me a little more detail about that student?"

After a momentary silence, Hirano spoke up.

"Yes."

After dropping his gaze to the documents at hand, Hirano reached for a binder of materials placed beside him.

"Before that, we have organized materials compiled by the school regarding the students involved in this incident. They summarize their names, their relation to this matter, the contents confirmed from the surveys overall, and what was confirmed through interviews with each of them, so please take a look at this first."

"Thank you."

Accepting the documents, the father began looking over the papers placed on the desk. Checking them one by one, he quietly read through the written contents. Before long, he raised his head from the papers and turned his gaze to Hirano.

"The one who was filming was a student named Meiko Kano?"

"Yes. She was one of the students involved in this false confession, and inside the classroom on that day, she filmed the scene where Reo Tachibana was told it was a fake confession."

"And she has also admitted that she sent that video to the modeling agency where Suzumura-san belongs."

The father gave a small nod. "Understood."

With that reply, he once again dropped his gaze to the documents at hand. His eyes paused on the contents of Kitayama's interview notes.

"May I confirm a few things?"

"Yes, go ahead."

"According to the interview with Kitayama-san, it says she thinks there were no students other than Kano-san who were filming... Has this point been confirmed with the other classmates as well?"

"I am... very sorry. As for that point, it has not yet been confirmed."

"I see. Then, could you also confirm that point with the classmates?"

"Yes. We will confirm it as soon as possible."

The father gave a small nod and smoothly shifted the topic to another confirmation item.

"Also, I'd like to confirm one more thing about the video."

"Yes."

"Am I correct in understanding that currently, this video is saved at the school, at the modeling agency, and on the device of the student who recorded it?"

"Yes. We have the video submitted by the modeling agency at the school, and we hear that the original video remains at the modeling agency as well. As for the device used for the filming, it is currently being held by the parents. However, the school has not been able to confirm whether the video is saved on any media other than the device used for recording."

The father gave a small nod. "Understood. First, regarding the student who filmed it: when deleting the video in the future, I would like the student and their parents to bring all devices that may have the video saved to the school."

"Yes."

"Not only the currently confirmed devices, but also any tablets or personal computers owned by the student, I want checked to see if the video is saved on them. However, it is fine for the parents themselves to operate the devices."

The father paused for a moment. "On top of that, I would like to check not only the video itself, but also the transmission and sharing history. After confirming that there has been no saving elsewhere or sending/sharing with third parties, I would like the parents to delete the video in my presence."

"Understood."

"I would also like you to put into writing the date and time of deletion, the contents checked, and the fact that the video was deleted."

"Acknowledged."

"Thank you. Then, could you also convey this to the parents of the student who filmed it?"

"Yes. I will pass it on from our end."

The father nodded slightly once more. "Next, let me confirm about the modeling agency."

The father looked down at the documents at hand. "How is the agency saying they will respond regarding this video?"

"We've heard that if the video is leaked to social media or elsewhere, the agency will also consider legal action."

"...Is that so?" The father nodded slightly. "In that case, would it be all right if I contact the agency myself once?"

"Yes, of course."

"Thank you. Could you tell me the name of the agency and the name of the person in charge of this matter?"

Checking the documents at hand, Hirano turned the relevant page toward the father. "Here it is."

Looking at the documents, the father pulled a notepad from his briefcase and swiftly jotted down the listed agency name and contact person's name. "...Understood. Thank you."

Placing the notepad on the desk, the father turned his gaze back to the three teachers. "As for this matter, we will also consider it, including legal responses."

Stating this without looking at the reactions of the three, the father continued. "We will make a decision on how to respond after confirming the filming confirmed at this point, the transmission to third parties, its purpose and background, including the video itself, transmission records, and the interview contents so far."

"Furthermore, if this video is leaked to social media or elsewhere in the future, we will re-verify the facts at that point and consider necessary legal measures."

Hirano gave a quiet nod. "Understood. As a school, we will also convey all facts that have been confirmed."

"I'd appreciate that."

With that response, the father returned his gaze to the documents at hand. Checking that reaction, Hirano shifted his gaze to the next document.

"Now, moving on, I will explain what the school has confirmed regarding this matter." Hirano lowered his eyes to the papers. "This time, we conducted interviews with six students, and among them, we found that some testimonies regarding the events of that day contradict each other."

The father listened silently to Hirano's words.

"In particular, testimonies are divided regarding how they planned to end this false confession."

Continuing while checking the documents, Hirano said, "Four students, including Suzumura-san, state that they did not plan to reveal it was a fake in front of all the classmates from the beginning, but rather planned to tell him just between the two of them."

"On the other hand, Kujo-san and Kano-san explain that they planned to reveal it in front of the classmates from the very beginning."

With his gaze fixed on the documents, the father spoke after a short while. "The remarks directed at Reo at that place—is it correct to understand that Kujo-san and Kano-san each decided on them of their own free will? Were there any statements indicating that the other four were involved in the content of those remarks?"

"In both of their interviews, they explained that they made those statements of their own free will. Moreover, no statements indicating that the other four were involved in the content of those remarks were confirmed from the interviews of both individuals."

The father gave a small nod. "Understood."

When the father answered thus, Hirano turned a page of the documents at hand. "Next, regarding this matter, it has been found that Kujo-san gagged the classmates. Not only was this confirmed through the survey of the classmates, but Kujo-san herself partially admitted to it."

The father dropped his gaze to the documents. He read through Kujo's explanation noted there and remained silent for a while. Eventually, he raised his gaze from the documents.

"...I see."

Saying only that, the father returned his gaze to the documents.

Hirano shifted to the next document. "And... regarding the events of that day, all the classmates were present at that place. However, no students consulted the school afterwards."

Hirano paused for a moment. "Not only because Kujo-san imposed a gag order, but through this incident, we also feel that the school side failed to build a sufficient environment where students could consult about such matters."

The father remained silent for a while with his gaze lowered to the documents. Eventually, he slowly raised his head.

"Regarding Kujo-san, how did the school view her as a student before this incident occurred?"

To the father's question, Yamaoka replied. "Well... she was quite a prominent presence in the class. She had a wide circle of associations and naturally drew people to her."

Choosing his words carefully, Yamaoka continued. "She was also a central player on the soccer club, and we recognized her as a student in a position to lead students of the same grade in school life."

Having finished listening to Yamaoka's words, the father spent some time looking over the summary of the survey. He quietly turned the pages as if overlapping the students' answers and what he had heard up to this point in his mind.

"...I see."

The father gave a small nod and lifted his gaze from the documents. "Then, please continue."

At the father's words, Hirano gave a small nod. "Yes. As for future measures, regarding the six students involved in this matter, the school is scheduled to contact each of their parents."

"We plan to explain the contents confirmed at the school to the parents as well. Based on that, we will be talking with each household regarding their future school life."

Hirano lowered his gaze to the documents at hand. "We also plan to deliberate on school guidance and our response to this matter based on the facts confirmed so far."

The father listened in silence.

"At this point, we have not yet decided on specific measures. We wish to make a judgment as a school after taking into account the facts confirmed regarding this matter and the degree of involvement of each student."

Hirano turned a page of the documents. "Also, regarding this matter..." Hirano directed his gaze to the father. "Among the six students involved this time, some have expressed a desire to apologize to Reo-san."

"Among them, Suzumura-san, who actually carried out the false confession, has shown a particularly strong desire to apologize directly to Reo-san, and has expressed deep regret for hurting Reo-san."

The father dropped his gaze to Suzumura's documents. He looked through Suzumura's survey and interview materials in order, quietly turning the pages for a while to check the contents written on each.

"...Understood."

The father directed his gaze to the three of them once. "Right now, Reo is getting sleep and his condition is stable."

"However, while consulting with the doctor at the psychosomatic clinic, we are currently monitoring his condition while trying to keep him from being conscious of this incident as much as possible."

At that point, the father's voice dropped slightly.

"Therefore, regarding the apology as well, I have no intention of deciding it here without looking at his own condition."

The father continued quietly. "After consulting with the doctor at the psychosomatic clinic, we will ascertain whether Reo is in a state to accept an apology."

"After that, whether or not to accept the apology will be confirmed with Reo himself."

Hirano gave a small nod. "Understood."

After continuing their conversation for a little while longer, the father reached for the recorder placed on the desk. He stopped the recording and packed it back into his briefcase.

"Thank you for your time today."

"Thank you as well."

The three of them saw the father off to the front entrance. When they reached the entrance, Yamaoka handed a tablet device to the father.

"Tachibana-san, let me hand this over to you."

"This is?"

"It's for Reo-kun's studies. We've put together the teaching materials and assignments used for this week's classes."

The father accepted the tablet. "Even while he's absent from school, he'll be able to check the class contents. He can also work on assignments from here."

"I understand. Thank you."

"His health is our top priority, so please feel free to have him use it within reasonable limits."

"Yes. I'll tell him that."

Stowing the tablet in his briefcase, the father turned to face the three. "Then, excuse me."

"Yes. Please be careful on your way home."

Seeing him off, the father left the school.

For a while after leaving the school, the father drove his car, organizing the talk he had heard in today's interview in his head. A traffic light turned red, and he stopped the car. With his gaze directed straight ahead, the father muttered softly.

"It was the right choice not to bring my wife..."

If she had seen that video, his wife would surely have shed tears. What was said to Reo in that place, and how he was treated? If she witnessed that from a mother's standpoint, there's no way she could remain calm.

"That's not something to be shown."

The traffic light turned green. The father pressed the accelerator and drove the car forward again. The names he had heard today floated into his head.

"Renya Kujo... Meiko Kano..."

The two who exposed Reo in front of the entire class and filmed the scene. Including their subsequent actions, this cannot be taken lightly at all. Inside the father, anger toward the two quietly swelled.

"And... Kokone Suzumura."

The girl who approached Reo with a fake confession, played with the heart of Reo who believed those words, and hurt him. No matter how much she regrets it, the wounds Reo received won't simply vanish.

However, as for Suzumura—I will leave that to Reo. Whether to accept the apology or not. He has no intention of parents deciding that much. Reo can decide for himself.

...However.

"Kujo and Kano..."

The father's voice lowered.

"You are mine."

Murmuring only those words, the father drove on, keeping his gaze straight ahead. What he needed to do beyond that—what needed to be considered was already clear.