2 Chapter 3.5: The unexpected witness Part 5

According to her mail, Ichinose seems to be planning a strategy so that we would come to trust her. She decided to ask for permission every time she would do something, but I didn't think it was necessary for her to restrict herself that much. After having returned to the dorms, I thought that Horikita would go her own way, but she followed me to my room.

"Sorry for intruding."

She said politely, even though there was no one else in my room.

I wonder why I feel nervous even though it's only Horikita in the room with me.

"Oh, by the way, do you also have a key?"

"To this room? Ike-kun asked me if I wanted one, but I refused."

As expected of Horikita. It seems like she's the only one with common sense around here.

"After all, it's rare for me to go to your room. Going to your room is like a shame, a disgrace. You understand, right?"

That reply was also within my expectations. I'm totally not hurt.

I totally didn't think, "It's harsher than I expected".

"Why are you tracing out characters on the wall with your finger?"

"To hide the unrest in my heart or something like that."

The most terrifying part is that she doesn't have any ill intentions.

If I brought it up to her, she'd probably go, "I only said the truth".

"I want to hear what you think about Sudou-kun's case again. Also, I think Kushida-san's actions are a bit troubling."

"Wouldn't it have been better to have participated from the beginning if you're worried about the situation?"

"That wasn't possible. I couldn't accept the person in the beginning. I'm only helping for the class right now—frankly speaking, I still think it's better to abandon him."

"Even if you pitched in and helped Sudou during the midterms?"

"That's a separate matter. Even if we manage to miraculously prove him as innocent, do you think he'll be helpful later? I think that it's quite likely that our help will backfire."

Her eyes said, "Do you know what I'm trying to say?".

"Is it for Sudou's sake that you're giving up on proving him innocent and letting him take the punishment?"

Horikita had a discontented expression, but then looked like she understood something.

"You already knew from the beginning that it would be very difficult to prove Sudou-kun innocent considering his personality, right? It makes it easy to think that it would be better for him to get punished. Especially for those who hate him."

It looked like she wanted to say, "You're thinking the same way, right?"

I feel like I've been cornered, unable to get away. If I try to force my way out by denying it, she'll just deliver the final blow.

"Well, isn't that obvious to anyone with a bit of thinking?"

"Probably. It's not like Kushida-san's group hasn't noticed. It's just that they believe Sudou-kun and working with the class to try and disprove the lie. They don't understand why this incident happened and the urgency of the situation at all."

Her remarks concerning her classmates were considerably harsh.

"At least Kushida is trying to help after understanding the situation already."

"After understanding the situation? Is that something she realized by herself?"

"Huh? No, that's..."

"You told her, right?"

It felt like I was being interrogated. Scary.

"Getting old test questions, buying points on a test... I'm not surprised because you seem to be quite cunning but even then... I'm discontent."

I guess she's learned that I'm a cunning person.

"Don't overestimate me."

She laughed—that's not what I meant to do. However, she immediately stopped.

"Honestly speaking, you're a mystery. You're the hardest person to predict in the class. Tactful yet idles often, and is never constant. It's like you're in a separate category of 'cannot be categorized'."

"All of those are questionable descriptions. Not what you'd say when you praise someone..."

I mean, there are better ways to put it, right? However, Horikita looked at me with distrustful eyes

"In other words, you're hiding your true ability. You make me feel the most disgusted."

...I see. I wonder if it's normal to not know what those five words mean together.

Somehow, I fell straight into Horikita's trap. A slight blunder on my part.

"At any rate, saying that I make you the most disgusted is too much. Koenji is somewhat similar too."

That is, without a doubt, a seasonal good. If she related him to me, I would feel hurt.

"He's surprisingly easy to understand—after all, he's smart and athletic. His behavior is the only problem, which is explained by the two words 'self-conceited'."

Actually, it's fairly easy to understand. Certainly, Koenji's way of life is pretty simple.

"I think you'd be a good teacher."

If I became a teacher... I feel like I'd be just like Chabashira-sensei.