In room 301 at night, Kushida stared at the young man whose face still wore a smile, feeling somewhat annoyed.
She didn't know if it was because his attitude had become uncontrollable or something else, but thinking about how he had been ingratiating himself with Sakura Airi made her very displeased.
After Hashima Hikaru insisted he was telling the truth, he took a drink from the refrigerator and offered it to her, seeming completely unbothered by her questioning.
"Is Kushida-san thirsty? Would you like some juice?"
Annoyed by Kushida's accusatory attitude, Hashima Hikaru had already made up his mind to interact with Horikita Suzune in front of her tomorrow to see if this short-haired "angel" would go crazy.
So being extra gentle now would make tomorrow's impact even greater.
I'm really looking forward to it.
Kushida Kikyō, with complex emotions, accepted the juice. The cold sensation in her palm helped her thoughts begin to calm down.
So the girl's expression transformed back into a gentle one as she smiled at Hashima Hikaru and said, "Thank you, Hashima -kun. I'm really sorry about just now. I was just curious about the answer, so I got a bit anxious."
"It's fine. I've always been completely honest with Kushida-san and would never hide anything from you."
Hashima Hikaru waved his hand, his expression still gentle.
"I know."
"That's good. Since Sakura-san has already agreed to help you, is she planning to appear as a witness during the hearing?" Hashima Hikaru decided to change the subject to more serious matters.
"Yes, from what she said, she can testify at the hearing that she saw the other side initiate the attack, and that Sudō-kun was acting in self-defense."
"That's good. If we can get this hearing rejected, there shouldn't be any major problems."
Hashima Hikaru touched his chin, though he was still somewhat concerned.
Because the last time he tricked Ryūen, he had used video recording as a method. Now, with such a serious fight incident, D Class hadn't submitted any crucial evidence.
If this was simply an oversight on Ryūen's part, that would be fine. But if he had other motives, such as saving the recorded video to present during the hearing process, that would be a direct checkmate, making any defense useless.
"I hope we can get through this crisis smoothly." Kushida, seeing the young man's contemplative expression, wanted to ask for his opinion. "What are you thinking about, Hashima -kun?"
"Oh, nothing much. I'm just recalling the photography techniques from earlier. As a beginner, I have a lot to learn and remember."
Hashima Hikaru brushed it off, since these thoughts were unverified and there was no point in discussing them.
"Alright, I'll head back for now."
Realizing she wouldn't get any insights here, Kushida stood up to leave.
After the door closed, Hashima Hikaru immediately took out his phone and started contacting Horikita Suzune.
Hashima Hikaru : Horikita-san, do you have time right now?
Horikita Suzune: ...What is it, Hashima -kun?
Seeing the message from Hashima Hikaru, Horikita Suzune rubbed her temples. She was thinking about how to handle the upcoming hearing, as Hirata-kun had already nominated her as the main spokesperson.
Hashima Hikaru : You should know that earlier I was asked by Hirata-kun along with Ichinose-san to help your class find a witness for the Sudō incident, right?
Horikita Suzune: Yes, the witness has been confirmed now.
Hashima Hikaru : I hear you'll be the main spokesperson. Have you figured out how to handle the student council's hearing?
Horikita Suzune: I'm thinking about it. This matter should no longer concern you and the others, Hashima -kun.
After seeing this message, Hashima Hikaru immediately typed a reply.
Hashima Hikaru : Has Horikita-san overlooked something?
Horikita Suzune: What?
The black-haired girl raised an eyebrow, not understanding his meaning.
Hashima Hikaru : The hearing will be presided over by the student council, which means Horikita-senpai might be there. Do you think you're prepared to perform in front of Horikita-senpai?
Seeing this message, Horikita Suzune's expression suddenly changed. She had almost forgotten about this.
The girl had been thinking about how to extricate Sudō from this fight incident after confirming Sakura Airi would help, so she had overlooked this point.
If my brother is present to preside over the hearing, can I... really perform perfectly?
Thinking about this, Horikita Suzune suddenly felt uncertain. While she was very confident in her abilities, she was actually afraid of making a fool of herself in front of her brother. If she was challenged and left speechless, wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Hashima Hikaru : So, this is where I need to fulfill our agreement.
Horikita Suzune: What do you mean?
Hashima Hikaru : Let's find a chance to meet and discuss this hearing. I want to hear your plan and make some additions.
Hashima Hikaru : Don't forget, this is part of my agreement with Horikita-senpai. I'll only give you hints; the specific execution still depends on you.
The black-haired girl holding the phone recalled their meeting that night. Although she felt somewhat reluctant, thinking about her brother possibly showing a disappointed expression made her press the send button.
Horikita Suzune: Alright, when and where shall we meet?
Hashima Hikaru : I'll send you the specific time later. Make sure you don't get the place wrong.
Horikita Suzune: I won't.
Closing her phone, Horikita Suzune continued pondering her plan in her notebook. She believed her approach was mostly problem-free, but if she was to face her brother's scrutiny, she needed to make it even more perfect.
After contacting the black-haired girl, Hashima Hikaru's next step was to confirm Kushida's movements, since he could only actively control when to meet with Horikita, not predict Kushida's actions.
To create a coincidence, more detailed preparation was needed.
In his chat with Kushida Kikyō:
Hashima Hikaru : Kushida-san, do you have any plans tomorrow afternoon?
The short-haired girl, already changed into her pajamas, saw this message and quickly picked up her phone to reply.
Kushida Kikyō: Tomorrow afternoon? I arranged to go shopping with friends at the Zelkova Shopping Center's market street. Does Hashima -kun need me for something?
Seeing this message, the young man smiled. This girl truly lived up to her reputation as a popularity queen, enjoying life every day.
Hashima Hikaru : Nothing major. I just wanted to invite you to dinner when you're free.
Kushida Kikyō: I can cancel my plans tomorrow if you want to meet?
Hashima Hikaru : No need. I don't want to put Kushida-san in a difficult position. We can talk about it later. There's always time.
Kushida Kikyō: Okay.
After confirming Kushida's movements, Hashima Hikaru began messaging Horikita Suzune. Since she was going to the market street, he would choose that coffee shop. Not only was it in the center of the market street, but its glass windows offered clear visibility, making it easier for Kushida to spot who he was with.
In his chat with Horikita Suzune:
Hashima Hikaru : Tomorrow after school, at the coffee shop in Zelkova Shopping Center. I'll reserve the seats.
Horikita Suzune: I'll be there on time.
Hashima Hikaru : Good, see you tomorrow, Horikita-san.
The actors were in position, just waiting for Kushida to enter the scene.