C Class attempt to frame Amikura Mako quickly spread throughout B Class, leaving many people feeling indignant. After all, compared to Shiho Manabe, it was definitely Amikura Mako—someone they'd spent two months with—who was more trustworthy.
Not to mention, Ichinose Honami and the others had also been present at the scene.
"Amikura, did you notice if the girl who bumped into you was holding anything at the time?"
After hearing the whole story, Ryuji Kanzaki reacted quickly, immediately suspecting Ibuki.
"Sorry, I can't remember. She suddenly appeared from the corner, and before I could dodge, she ran right into me." Amikura Mako tried hard to recall what had happened, but if she'd noticed those details, she probably wouldn't have crashed into Ibuki in the first place.
Ryuji Kanzaki looked over at Ichinose Honami. As the class leader, it was up to her to give the next instructions.
"In that case, we'll have to see if there were any witnesses at the time." Ichinose Honami thought for a moment.
"I remember there are security cameras in the hallway. We can ask the school to let us check the footage."
"But the school probably won't let us access the security footage that easily, right?" Ryuji Kanzaki asked.
"It's fine, I'll use my position in the student council to negotiate. I do have a bit of special privilege, after all." Ichinose Honami winked, not wanting the class atmosphere to get too tense or anxious.
"That's great, I'm so glad you're here, Honami-chan!"
Amikura Mako suddenly hugged Ichinose Honami around the waist, rubbing against her a few times in excitement.
Ichinose Honami habitually patted her on the head, then paused for a moment, almost wanting to laugh. Was she becoming more and more like their big sister?
"The time the student council gave us to object is really tight, so I hope everyone can help out. For example, has anyone seen that student before, or maybe seen that bracelet in the library?"
When Ichinose Honami asked for help, the people in Class B immediately started chiming in.
"Of course we'll help!"
"Mako-chan could never be that kind of person!"
"I heard there are a lot of delinquents in Class C, some of them even got into fights at Suzuran High before. That's so scary."
Seeing everyone standing up for her, Ichinose Honami couldn't help but smile.
People like Kaoru Mitoma were definitely the minority—she really did like everyone in Class B.
....
"Huh, you guys want to check the security footage?"
"Yes, to prove Mako-chan innocence, we'd like to see what happened at that time." Right now, a few students from Class B were gathered in the teachers' office.
After thinking for a moment about Honami Ichinose request, Chie Hoshinomiya smiled gently.
"It's a bit against the rules, but I can't just stand by and watch when one of my students is being bullied."
"Thank you so much!" Honami Ichinose bowed to her, and when she looked up again, her face was beaming with happiness.
"But you can only watch for a little while. If it takes too long, the school won't be happy about it." Chie Hoshinomiya started contacting the security room.
"What time exactly?"
"Around the end of school, near the hallway by the classroom," answered Amikura Mako, who was standing nearby. A few minutes later, a surveillance video was sent to Chie Hoshinomiya phone.
On the screen, Amikura Mako appeared first, about to turn a corner, when a petite girl suddenly ran out and crashed right into her. Maybe because she was caught off guard, only Amikura Mako fell to the ground.
Her backpack dropped too, and all the books that had been inside spilled out onto the floor.
The other girl seemed to have expected this and bent down to pick up the books for Amikura Mako, then put them into her bag. But...
"That's so sneaky! She actually turned her back to the security camera!" Shiranami Chihiro fumed.
"I really was too stupid. I thought she just did it by accident, and when she helped me pick up my things, I even thanked her,"
Amikura Mako said, feeling guilty.
"Can you zoom in on that girl?"
As Chie Hoshinomiya paused the footage at the first scene, the focus on the screen shifted to Ibuki Mio, who seemed to be clenching something in her hand.
"Is she holding something?"
Amikura Mako finally realized. When Ibuki Mio helped her pick up her bag, she even deliberately showed both hands, completely empty, not holding anything at all, and even glanced at the camera, as if she wanted them to see it.
"She's so mean!" Shiranami Chihiro said angrily.
"Haha, well, even though we couldn't find any evidence, that actually proves Mako-chan innocence. It really was a malicious act from Class C, so we weren't wrong about them." Honami Ichinose forced a smile.
As the leader, she couldn't let herself show even a hint of discouragement.
"So, what do we do next?" Amikura Mako asked, a little worried.
When it came to that question, Honami Ichinose didn't really know how to answer. It was obvious that Class C had come prepared, and they'd even been careful enough to avoid the security cameras. They were clearly determined to get her today.
Just then, Ryuji Kanzaki's expression suddenly turned grim. He walked over to Honami Ichinose and whispered, "Check the school's anonymous forum."
Honami Ichinose took out her phone, confused, and followed his instructions to open the forum. The moment she saw it, her pupils contracted in shock. The hottest post of the day had a title—Exposing the First-Year Criminal!
Her fingers were trembling, and she forced herself to suppress the fear inside as she looked more closely. It turned out they weren't talking about her, but instead were exaggerating and spreading rumors about Amikura Mako, making a huge fuss. There were plenty of anonymous posts below, all claiming they'd been there in person.
"If we can't clear up the truth, Amikura Makoreputation is going to take a serious hit." Kanzaki Ryuji looked grim. He wondered if Class C had another trick up their sleeve—he hadn't expected them to go this far.
The student council hasn't even announced their findings yet, and rumors are already flying on our end.
Right now, things were looking bad for Class B. This kind of pressure might force some people to distance themselves from Amikura Mako.
Kanzaki Ryuji knew very well that in a social circle, once someone's reputation is ruined, they immediately hit rock bottom and get shut out. If these rumors kept spreading, Amikura Mako would be forced to shrink back into the tiny circle of Class B.
No, it could get even worse. Because rumors only get more out of hand as they spread. If someone's not mentally strong enough, even if the school doesn't expel Amikura Mako, she might not be able to handle the pressure and end up dropping out on her own.
Whoever came up with this tactic is seriously ruthless. Kanzaki Ryuji guard against Class C shot up to the max.
However, Ichinose Honami just pressed her lips together and stayed silent. In Kanzaki Ryuji' eyes, only Class C would stoop to such dirty tricks.
But she knew that Class C wasn't the only possibility—there was someone else who was just as likely.
In fact, her gut told her it was that person.
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