Manabe Shiho didn't think she had done anything wrong.

After all, Karuizawa Kei was at fault first and now she was about to bring this stubborn girl before Sakagami-sensei, their homeroom teacher, to let him handle the situation.

Therefore, she didn't pay attention to the strength of her grip and forcefully dragged Karuizawa Kei into the emergency stairwell.

Heading down one flight of stairs, they would soon reach the third floor.

In this situation, there was hardly any difference between taking the elevator or the stairs and Manabe couldn't be bothered to choose either.

"It hurts! Let me go!" Karuizawa face twisted in pain.

With her hair being pulled, she had almost no strength to resist.

"I'll let you go if you come with me right now to apologize to Rika—and to me as well!" Manabe sneered.

"And remember, you better kneel and give me the most proper kneeling apology!"

"N-no way! You're the ones who used violence! You should be the ones apologizing to me!" Karuizawa continued struggling, trying to break free from them.

Manabe glanced up at the ceiling.

After all, this wasn't in the school—there weren't cameras installed in every corner.

"Hah, how long are you going to keep up this act?" Manabe decided to ignore her resistance.

"No one's coming to help you here. And since you're the big shot of Class D, if you're not convinced, you can either fight us or obediently apologize!"

"Ugh…" Karuizawa bit her lip hard, desperately holding back the tears in her eyes.

The same weakness from before once again took hold of her heart, her legs trembling uncontrollably—she felt like she might collapse to her knees at any moment.

"Hey, she doesn't look so good..."

"Shiho, are we going too far?"

Faced with her companions' concerns, Manabe waved them off dismissively.

"What does it matter? She's the one in the wrong anyway."

Seeing Karuizawa struggling to endure, Manabe couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt, but she still said coldly.

"Hey, Karuizawa, if you don't make a decision soon, I'll make it for you, got it?"

Karuizawa shuddered.

She didn't want either option—she definitely wasn't good at fighting, and kneeling to apologize was out of the question, let alone going with them to see their homeroom teacher.

At this moment, she realized she hadn't changed at all—if anything, things had gotten even worse than before.

Wait… if she screamed for help, maybe someone would pass by.

The thought made her eyes light up, and she was just about to call out when Manabe suddenly spoke beside her.

"You're not actually thinking someone will come to help you, are you?"

Meeting her icy gaze, Karuizawa shivered.

"Hah, so that's what you were thinking. Whatever, there's no point talking to someone like you. Guess we'll just have to trouble Sakagami-sensei." Manabe grabbed Karuizawa Kei's wrist and started dragging her downstairs by force.

"No! Stop it!" Karuizawa naturally resisted, trying to break free.

So the others forcibly seized her again, treating her almost like a criminal.

As Karuizawa struggled, Manabe gradually resorted to violence.

With no cameras around, she grew even more unrestrained.

"Did I walk into the wrong scene?"

Just as the situation was spiraling out of control, a resigned voice suddenly rang out.

Manabe snapped back to awareness and turned toward the source of the voice.

Below the stairs stood a tall, handsome boy holding up his phone.

Click—

The sound of the shutter made Manabe flinch as if she was electrocuted.

She immediately let go of Karuizawa ponytail and glared furiously at the boy.

"Hey, you creep! This is the girls' floor—what the hell are you doing here?"

Kaoru Mitoma noticed the glimmer of tears in Karuizawa eyes and slightly furrowed his brows before speaking calmly.

"It's nothing. I heard some noise, so I came to check."

"Ha, are you some kind of peeping tom pervert?"

Though she said this, Manabe found the boy strangely familiar, as if she'd seen him somewhere before.

At that moment, she heard Karuizawa beside her utter a dazed voice.

"Mitoma-kun?"

Manabe suddenly snapped back to reality—she remembered this boy's name!

"An A-class guy trying to meddle in other people's business?" Manabe looked down at Kaoru with arrogance.

"Hey, I remember you're part of the student council, right? Since you want to interfere, why not do me a favor?"

As she spoke, she yanked Karuizawa in front of her, causing the latter to briefly wince in pain.

"See this? This girl deliberately knocked Rika over in the café and then smashed my phone. How is the student council going to deal with someone like her?"

Under Kaoru's gaze, Karuizawa parted her lips hesitantly, wanting to ask for his help but unsure how to refute Manabe's accusations.

Moreover, he'd seen her in this pathetic state—he must be laughing at her inside.

"Disputes between students are typically resolved by hearing testimonies and evidence from both sides. Baseless claims won't be accepted." Kaoru paused. "Are you asking the student council to intervene in this matter now?"

Manabe sneered, "Isn't the evidence obvious? Just go ask at the café—someone will tell you what happened. Hurry up and decide how to punish her!"

Karuizawa bit her lower lip, staring intently at Kaoru.

"Punishment depends on your demands. What do you want Karuizawa to do?"

"Hah, of course I want her to kneel in public and apologize to us!"

"That's a clear and reasonable request."

Hearing his words, Karuizawa face turned ashen, the light fading from her eyes.

Manabe grew even more smug.

Though she didn't know much about Kaoru Mitoma, having the student council vice president obey her felt exhilarating!

"So, because Karuizawa knocked over your friend and broke your phone, you want her to apologize—is that correct?" Kaoru reconfirmed with Manabe.

"Yes, exactly." Manabe sounded impatient. "You talk too much. Can't you just punish her already?"

"I'll try to be quick, but we still need to hear the other side's perspective." Kaoru turned to Karuizawa, softening his tone.

"Karuizawa, regarding the violent acts Manabe and her group just committed against you, do you have anything to say?"

Karuizawa froze momentarily.

Manabe hadn't expected him to bring this up either.

A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes before she forcefully suppressed her unease.

"Wait, what violent acts? Don't just accuse us—"

Before she could finish, she saw Kaoru point his phone at her and press the shutter.

Click—

"Sorry, but all I see right now is your group assaulting Karuizawa. And I have evidence on my phone."

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