Chapter 97: Resolve
Oba Yozo had lived in a wealthy family since childhood. Their household was large, with over ten family members, and he was the youngest of the brood.
During his youth, Yozo often acted the clown to draw the attention of his relatives. He did things just to make people laugh, even though he felt nothing but a deep, hollow boredom inside; he simply craved the sensation of being watched.
For the sake of that feeling, he was willing to mold himself to their whims. When they told him to eat more, he would force food down his throat even if he wasn't hungry. When his father bought him gifts, he would carefully divine his father's thoughts and accept things he didn't actually like. When scolded, he never talked back; he simply lowered his head and took it.
The behavior of his father's friends and the house servants shaped how Yozo dealt with the world later in life. Once, Yozo's father—a member of the Diet—took the stage to deliver a speech. Afterward, the servants and his father's friends mocked the speech right in front of Yozo's eyes (thinking the child was too young to understand). Yet, the moment those same friends met his father face-to-face, they showered him with sycophantic praise. This was the moment Yozo truly grasped the hypocrisy inherent in human nature...
...
Akishin folded his arms, shaking his head. "Hayama-kun, go and call them here. Hiratsuka-sensei and I will interrogate them one by one to find the culprit... We'll give them a warning. As for the result... it won't be leaked, nor will we let the other two know who it was."
Akishin stared at Hayama Hayato with a gravity that brooked no argument. His hands were empty, yet Hayama felt a lingering sensation, as if a sharp blade were being pointed directly at his throat.
It was just like that time before—a cold, uncomfortable feeling around his neck—though this time, the pressure was significantly lighter.
Hearing this, Hayama looked at Akishin in surprise. After about thirty seconds, he straightened his posture and exhaled, his tightly clenched fists slowly relaxing.
——I'm satisfied with my life right now. Even if it's a sham, I want to keep it going.
"Are you serious, Sensei?"
"I am. Hiratsuka-sensei is right here, so stay calm." Akishin nodded.
This matter could be seen as either incredibly simple or terribly complex, depending on how it was handled. The easiest way, of course, was to have Hayama tell the three of them that he wasn't part of their group.
But that was merely treating the symptom, not the disease. The culprit who caused the chaos wouldn't receive a fitting punishment, while the innocent party would be the one suffering the loss.
Next time, they might get even bolder. Hayama's guarantee carried no real weight; he was a facade himself, so how could he guarantee the truth?
Akishin wanted to make these people understand a simple principle: before you do something, think long and hard about the consequences you'll have to bear. If you decide to go through with it—regardless of whether you can actually handle it or pay the price—that shows resolve. But if you act on a momentary whim without considering the fallout, it just proves you're a fool and a coward.
——The world is full of people like that. Who knows how many tragedies they've caused? And after the dust settles, they still put on that pathetic face, saying things like [I didn't know], [I'm a victim too], [I didn't think they'd be that weak], or [It was an accident]...
Among students, there were very few who could actually grasp and shoulder consequences. Or rather, very few had true "resolve." That kind of steel usually only came from experiences that tested the soul; how much of that could a mere student have gone through?
Akishin's gaze inadvertently drifted toward Hachiman.
In society, there were plenty of people like that—parents, for instance, who were actually...
Hayama looked toward Shizuka. She was sitting upright, instinctively reaching for a cigarette before remembering she'd left them at home. She could only settle for telling Hayama, "He's right, Hayama. I'm here. Don't worry, I will protect the students' privacy."
"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei."
Hayama offered his thanks sincerely, then turned to Akishin. "Sensei, please wait a moment. I'll go bring the three of them here right away."
Hayama left. Shizuka turned to Akishin and asked, "I didn't get to ask earlier, Chishima-kun—how exactly do you plan on finding the culprit?"
The Hachiman trio also stared at Akishin, filled with curiosity. How could he determine guilt without a shred of evidence?
"It's easy. Just scare... I mean, ask the three of them a few questions. At that moment, the culprit will naturally show a guilty expression."
"Hey, Chishima-kun, you were about to say 'scare the life out of them,' weren't you?"
Shizuka swung a playful fist toward Akishin. He caught it mid-air, gently pushing it back with a smile. "A slip of the tongue, purely a slip of the tongue. It's best to solve this using the most comfortable and efficient method. The fallout is lower that way. Relax, there aren't many high schoolers who can pull off a perfect poker face. They'll crack the moment I look at them."
Shizuka thought about it for a second. There really wasn't a better way. She sighed. "Fine. Since you're the one who figured it out anyway, I'll leave it to you. I'll stay right here to watch, though. I trust you won't do anything... weird."
The Hachiman trio exchanged glances but remained silent, returning to their posts by the window.
Five minutes later, Hayama Hayato pulled open the Service Club door. Behind him followed Tobe Kakeru and the other two.
"Hayama, what are we doing here? Oh, Chishima-sensei! Hiratsuka-sensei! Hikigaya! Yui, why are you here too?"
"Hayama, you don't look so good..."
"What's going on..."
Hayama led the three of them in front of Chishima Akishin. He turned back, flashing his usual warm smile. "It's nothing. Chishima-sensei and the others just wanted to ask you guys a few things."
Akishin observed the trio. According to Yukino's description, Tobe was a frivolous guy who just followed the mood—a very accurate summary. Dressed like a wannabe delinquent, hair a bit long and messily tied back with a headband.
Yamato was slow to react and prone to hesitation—he was tall and well-built with a buzz cut, which should have made him look gallant, but his expression was stiff.
Ooka was the opportunist who just tagged along—thin and short, barely reaching Yamato's shoulder, with a slightly fawning smile. These types were easily bullied in class, so they usually clung to the 'big brother' of the group.
As his gaze swept over Tobe Kakeru, he saw no issues. The guy was still annoying enough to make you want to punch him, but he lacked any real cunning. He was the one who stood out during the first lesson; the impression was deep enough.
Then, he stared at Yamato...
Yo~. The moment their eyes met, Yamato looked away.
Akishin had his answer. A small smile played on his lips. Yamato was also watching Akishin, and seeing that slight curve of the lips, the panic in his eyes intensified.
Finally, he looked at Ooka. This one was perfectly ordinary, still laughing and chatting with Hayama. His gaze only occasionally flickered toward Hachiman, likely assuming Hachiman was in some kind of conflict with Hayama again.
Having formed a plan, Akishin spoke to Hayama. "Tobe stays here. Hayama, take Yamato and Ooka out to the stairwell. Make sure they can't hear what we're saying."
Hayama hesitated, glancing specifically at Shizuka before looking at the Hachiman trio. Noticing Yukino's cold stare, he opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. He led Yamato and Ooka out of the Service Club.
"Chishima-sensei, Hiratsuka-sensei, can I ask if something happened? Hayama's face looked kind of dark."
"Tobe, do you know about the attack messages being sent around the class these past few days...?"
Chishima Akishin pulled out his phone and showed him the chain mail...
After questioning Tobe, he moved on to Ooka, and finally, Yamato.
Ten minutes before the next period was set to begin, Akishin looked at Hayama, who stood before him with a grim expression. "You know who it is now, don't you?"
The matter had been settled perfectly, easier than imagined. Putting the evidence right in front of them and following up with a few choice words made everything clear.
It was just like a student facing the police—how many wouldn't be terrified? With Akishin's current reputation, even without unleashing his aura, a simple stare carried more weight than a badge.
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