COTE - The Devilish Conqueror

Picking Up a Dog

"Ehh? That's a cute choker, Horikita-san? It fits you so much! I never expect you as a kind of person who is into that. So, it was a really pleasant surprise!"

Brilliant wordplay, Kushida. I'm sure Horikita was pissed at you.

Though, from the look of it, I think Horikita would prefer to claw my face first before yours, so I beat you without any difficult in this one.

Surprisingly, the new addition to Horikita's choice of fashion had managed to caught interest of some people in our class. They were even brave enough to question her about it and surround her. Well, only for a few minutes before she start to direct her glare at them, that is.

Karuizawa obviously noticed about the choker she bought, which was on Horikita now, and seems like it took her best to hold down a snicker or laughter.

Unfortunately, although the classes started the day with a jovial atmosphere, thanks to Horikita, a problematic situation unknowingly appeared and caused a somber aura to hung in the air.

"I have an announcement for you all. There was a bit of trouble the other day, an incident between the students that had caused the point distribution to be suspended. Sudou, and some students from Class C were fighting the other day."

The classroom exploded.

It was quite justified for them to be enraged considering that this situation was the sole reason why we haven't yet to receive our point.

Not to mention, depending on the degree of responsibility that Class C saddled him with, Sudou could face suspension, and we might see a reduction in our class points. Chabashira-sensei laid the whole situation bare for the class. Her face was so devoid of emotion or interest when she spoke that there was a certain serene beauty to it. She inserted no personal bias whatsoever when she addressed the class, and explained the situation from a position of neutrality.

"Umm. So why hasn't this issue been resolved already?" Hirata asked a rather reasonable question.

"The complaint came from Class C. They claim that the fight was one-sided. However, when we spoke to the accused, Sudou said that their claims were false. He insists that the students Class C called him over and started the fight."

"It wasn't my fault! It was self-defense! Self-defense, I tell you!" shouted Sudou as he shouldered his classmates' icy glares.

"But there's no evidence of that. Am I wrong?"

"What evidence? I don't have any."

"So in other words, we don't yet know the truth. Therefore, we have put our decision on hold for now. Our response, and the punishment, will come when we find out who was at fault."

"All I know is that I'm innocent. If anything, I ought to receive a settlement for my trouble."

"So speaks the accused, but I wouldn't say that you have a high level of credibility right now. If there is an eyewitness, as Sudou seems to believe, then the situation may change. If anyone here witnessed the fight, please raise your hand."

Chabashira-sensei continued talking in a robotic, flat voice. No students raised their hands in response to her question.

"Too bad, Sudou. It appears there are no witnesses in this class."

"Looks that way," he grumbled.

When Chabashira-sensei cast a doubtful look at Sudou, he glanced downward.

"In order to check for witnesses, every teacher will inform their classes of the details of this incident."

"Huh?! You're telling everyone?!"
I cocked my eyebrows at his sudden outburst.