Wanting to see her opponent’s reaction, Sakayanagi deliberately avoided mentioning the volatile situation between Shimizu and Tokitou, and instead threw out words that sounded like she was teasing.
“What are you gonna do, eh, Sakayanagi? Don’t look at me to see how I’m doin’. Nominate. It’s easy, ain’t it?” replied Ryuuen.
“It does not work that way. As soon as we proceed with the nominations, more people will be removed from the room. That wouldn’t be very interesting now, would it? Or would you perhaps deal with the person you are concerned about right away? Fortunately for me, I have already used my right to send in a traitor.”
“So, Shimizu is your handiwork, eh?” replied Ryuuen.
“He is not the only one,” she replied. “I had the opportunity to speak with various classmates before the special exam, and I let them know that Tokitou-kun could be a potential weak point.”
Shimizu, wanting to be useful to Sakayanagi and to the class whatever way he could, attacked Tokitou relentlessly.
“Unfortunately, the rules this time made it impossible to make any effective implications, but I appreciate him honestly listening to my advice and following it obediently,” added Sakayanagi.
Although the audio was cut off right now, Tokitou was clearly growing more frustrated.
“As for our match, I am sure his reckless behavior will not have much of an effect. But what about everyone from Class C participating in the discussion and their classmates watching it all play out? Depending on how Tokitou-kun handles things, it could lead to ill will later on,” said Sakayanagi.
In the first discussion, there was nothing suspect about Tokitou, nor the one who attacked him, Shimizu, and so it was currently impossible for either side to determine whether they held a position. However, there was a strong possibility that a desire to deal with the troublesome matter at hand could come into play.
“However…if you nominate Tokitou-kun, I am sure that everyone will realize that you have some prejudice toward him, won’t they?” said Sakayanagi.
Sakayanagi had finished using her tablet and looked at Ryuuen, who was unsure of what decision to make. Shimizu or Tokitou? Or the safe option, passing? He made his choice.
After he had finished operating his tablet, he lightly tossed it on the desk.
“Did you choose to pass, by any chance? Your pride wouldn’t allow you to nominate either one of those two at this stage, would it?” asked Sakayanagi.
“I ain’t gonna play along with your cheap provocation,” said Ryuuen.
“So you are saying you did nominate one of them, then?” replied Sakayanagi.
An announcement was made immediately afterward, revealing the answers chosen by both parties.
“Sakayanagi-san and Ryuuen-kun had both nominated Asagaya-san as a position holder. Therefore, this nomination will be declared a draw.”
“I see. It appears that you did not fail to notice. In the earlier discussion, Shimizu-kun and Tokitou-kun were unusually conspicuous and drew everyone’s eyes, but behind them, Asagaya-san’s reactions were clearly suspect. I suppose I am grateful for the fact that her presence was diminished,” said Sakayanagi.
Ryuuen was unable to ignore Tokitou’s outbursts, but he was watching things closely and with a wide range of vision. Sakayanagi had also made the insinuation that she would pass, but Ryuuen had made his decision without letting himself get drawn in by that.
“But if those two rowdy individuals remain, there will be problems in the next discussion and beyond, you know,” said Sakayanagi.
“Who can say? Look, here…” began Ryuuen.
Ryuuen seemed like he wanted to say something in response to Sakayanagi’s question, but then the corners of his mouth curved upward, and he turned his gaze back to the monitor. He seemed to be saying that the answer could be found on the other side of the screen.
9.5
THE SECOND ROUND of discussion once again started with comments made by Shimizu and aimed at Tokitou, sparking a fire.
“I do think that you’re suspicious after all, Tokitou. You’re the model student, aren’t you?” said Shimizu.
“I’m not!” huffed Tokitou.
Tokitou, who had regained a little of his composure after the break, denied Shimizu’s assertion. However, Shimizu persistently continued to provoke Tokitou, and only Tokitou. When other students tried to talk, he interrupted them, repeatedly bringing it up: Tokitou, Tokitou, Tokitou. If all of Class A were saying this in unison, that would likely be a problem, but it was only Shimizu.
“Enough already, Shimizu!” shouted Tokitou.
“J-jeez, what’s the deal? You’re a scary guy. I’m simply making an argument is all. I’m just saying that you’re suspicious,” said Shimizu.
“And I’m telling you to make a real case and give a reason!” Tokitou snapped.
“A reason? A reason, huh… Well, there’s the fact that you didn’t hesitate to betray your class, isn’t there? From the sounds of it, you made an attempt to get Ryuuen expelled in the Unanimous Special Exam. That’s not something you do to a class leader, no matter how much you dislike them, is it?”
“Who did you hear that from?” asked Tokitou.
He had heard it from Machida. From the way he spoke, it was obvious that Tokitou wasn’t really interested in knowing the source of the story, but rather he was talking on the assumption that he already knew.
“I can’t say. Y’know, there are a lot of folks in Ryuuen’s class who talk a lot, though. Anyway, I don’t know how you could even come to school after failing to overthrow your leader. If it were me, I might’ve been too embarrassed to even come to cla—”
“Enough already!” snapped Tokitou.
Tokitou, who had been trying to hold himself back somehow, seemed to have reached his limits and shot upright with great force. Without caring about his chair toppling behind him, Tokitou used that momentum to rush at Shimizu some distance away, who wasn’t showing any signs of shutting his mouth at all.
“This is a discussion, Tokitou. All I’m doing is operating within the rules, questioning people in the hope of finding out who has what role. You don’t have any right to stop me,” said Shimizu.
Shimizu, though intimidated by Tokitou’s intensity, stood his ground without budging an inch. In fact, if he could make Tokitou get violent, it would certainly be helpful for his class, and with that in mind, he decided to continue provoking Tokitou until the end.
“You’ll be the next person to get cut anyway, so go ahead and betray Ryuuen before that happens,” said Shimizu.
Tokitou, figuring that if he couldn’t stop Shimizu with his words, then he’d settle it physically, raised his fist. If he took a swing at Shimizu, he could silence him. Ryuuen would be penalized, but getting the person he hated in trouble was fine, so—
“Tokitou-kun. Could you please lower your fist?”
No one was taking Tokitou’s side. It was in this kind of atmosphere that Shiina, standing next to Tokitou without making a sound, gently held his trembling fist.
✦ ✦ ✦
