Cote: Retelling

Chapter 9: Piano and Calligraphy

It's the day after I saw Kushida's hidden nature. Checking the GPS, I confirm Kushida is in her room. From the class chat I've gotten the contact info of every student in my class, meaning I can now check everyone's location (except Horikita and Koenji, who had yet to join). This GPS feature is supremely useful, especially in this early stage when people haven't noticed it yet. Of course, the feature can be disabled so the strategy will become less reliable the moment people realize. Right now, none of my classmates have disabled the feature.

It's currently 8:20 PM. This is a perfect opportunity to retrieve the camera. Confirming once again everyone's left the school, I leave my room without my phone.

It's quite paranoid of me, but the reason I left my phone is because the GPS tracking feature records one's location history. I can check where everyone has been ever since we've gotten our phones, which is honestly a bit horrific. The feature can of course be disabled, but currently no one has figured out this feature.

Let's say I blackmail Kushida with the video someday. If she recognizes the recording is from the roof, she might check people's location history to figure out who it could've been. If she sees that I went to the roof, it's all over. However, if I disable the feature, the problem is you can find out when the feature was disabled. If Kushida keeps a record of her venting sessions and she sees that my phone's GPS tracking was turning off and on around that time period, while it wouldn't be immediately incriminating it would still be suspicious. Keeping my tracking on and leaving my phone in my room would be the best way to blend in, like a dot in a polka dot pattern. I did the same back when I first placed the camera.

This is extremely paranoid of me, but I prefer to be cautious. This first month is crucial. Besides, I doubt there's a specific need for me to bring my phone. I have the area memorized already.

Leaving my room, I move carefully and deliberately since someone from a different class may notice me. Stealthily, I head to the school.

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"Camera retrieved...Good, it's still in near-mint condition." I taped the camera onto the overhang right behind the security camera. It's a dark colour so the shadow camouflages it, and the security camera serves as a distraction. Additionally, if I show this footage to Kushida she might assume it came from the school's security camera from the angle.

After securing my objective, I start heading back. I've put the Camera in a sports bag hidden under my gymwear. Today's study session was an absolute disaster, with no one being able to focus. Sudo was completely absent as well. I'll need to get my plan underway quickly if I want to prevent their expulsion.

Suddenly, I notice a presence in the alley by the dorm. Quickly hiding myself, I peek out the corner only to see Horikita with the...student council president? Why are they meeting in secret? I bring out the camera and start recording, just in case. Since Horikita didn't join the group chat, mainly because no one had her number and she refused everyone who asked, I couldn't track her movements.

I can just barely hear what they're saying, so I don't think the audio's picking up. Plus, the streetlight's too far away, meaning the visual isn't clear. Like this, I won't be able to get a decent recording of whatever's happening. I'm slightly regretting not bringing my phone.

"...I came to catch up to you, Nii-san." I can barely hear Horikita say so in a low, subdued voice. I assume she doesn't mean "catch up" in the "long time no see" sense? Well, this at least confirms they're siblings.

They said some things under their breath which I couldn't hear, Horikita's expression becoming increasingly desperate. Then, the president suddenly pins Horikita against the wall, lifting her hand above her head.