Ryuen was now bewildered.
Just one night had passed, and he was still waiting for Kaoru to be embarrassed when his own plan backfired.
Who would have thought Ishizaki Daichi would drug Kushida Kikyo? And to be caught in the act?
In front of everyone in the café, Ishizaki Daichi fled in panic, reportedly running all the way back to the dormitory—so fast no one could catch up.
He ran away, but carelessly left the laxative behind.
Initially, upon hearing the news, Ryuen Kakeru thought, "We're done for."
It must be Ishizaki's fault.
He had told them to stand down—why were they caught?
Though shocked, the café's surveillance footage didn't lie.
The figure in the video really looked like Ishizaki Daichi, and everyone present could recognize him as Ishizaki Daichi.
Faced with this situation, Ishizaki Daichi had no way to defend himself.
He kept insisting he had been sleeping in the dormitory—how could he have been in the café drugging Kushida Kikyo?
Watching Ishizaki argue with Class D first-years, Ryuen gradually calmed down.
He understood Ishizaki's character—essentially a simple-minded fool who was good at fighting but lacked brains.
There was no way this guy could be a spy.
Besides, who would employ such an idiot as a spy?
Publicly administering drugs? Causing such a huge scene that immediately drew the attention of both the school and the Student Council?
Ryuen suspected Kaoru had set a trap, but that made no sense.
He had already ordered Ishizaki to withdraw—how could he have been caught?
Had Kaoru bribed the entire café staff to provide false testimony for him?
The surveillance footage hadn't captured Ishizaki's face clearly, giving Ryuen a sliver of hope.
Otherwise, he couldn't make sense of today's events—they were utterly baffling.
"Damn it! Normally we tolerate Class C's harassment, but why target Kushida with drugs?" Sudo was furious with Class C.
He had initially assumed Ryuen would at least cast his Praise Vote for his close friend, but that hadn't happened.
"This is a frame-up! I was sleeping in my dorm at the time—the person in the café definitely wasn't me!" Ishizaki's face flushed crimson as he swore he'd truly been asleep.
After all, Ryuen had told him to stand down—why would he have done it?
"You can keep denying it, but we don't care about your excuses," Horikita crossed her arms.
"Or perhaps you should explain to us what this is?"
Sudo immediately chimed in: "We also found laxatives in your dorm room! What were you planning to do?"
Indeed, Sudo had led the group that dragged Ishizaki from his dorm, and Ayanokoji, who accompanied them, had discovered a packet of laxatives in his room.
"I... I..." Ishizaki's face turned beet red, but he couldn't form a coherent sentence, eventually casting a pleading look toward Ryuen.
Ryuen felt utterly exasperated, but he detected something off in the opponents' statements.
He had only given Ishizaki one portion of laxatives.
If Ishizaki had already used one, how could another portion be found in his dorm?
"Silence." Kaoru cleared his throat. "As vice-president of the Student Council, I now require Ishizaki to provide an explanation."
Sae Chabashira, who had been observing quietly, added coldly.
"The school is also awaiting your explanation. Such behavior is absolutely intolerable—I hope you understand this clearly."
Ishizaki's face turned pale.
He felt certain he was doomed this time, though he still couldn't comprehend why everyone believed he was the culprit.
"Everyone, I request to speak," Ryuen declared.
Kaoru smiled faintly, "As a member of Class C defending Ishizaki, you have the right to speak, Ryuen."
Ryuen asked: "How does the Student Council intend to handle this matter?"
"If proven true, first—apologize to Kushida and seek her forgiveness. Second—administer appropriate punishment to Ishizaki, such as suspension." Kaoru added, "However, considering Spring Break is approaching, the Student Council's punishment may be adjusted depending on the involved parties' perspectives."
"I have a question," Ryuen said, turning toward the Class D first-years. "Who claimed to witness Ishizaki allegedly administering drugs?"
Horikita Suzune said calmly, "It was me. At that time, Kushida went to the restroom, leaving only me at the seat. Ishizaki spilled some powder as he passed by."
"Was any testing done?" Ryuen asked.
At this point, Kaoru spoke up, "The school has sent some of the powder for testing. The specific results should be out this afternoon."
Ryuen suddenly smiled, "It seems there's been a misunderstanding."
Everyone was taken aback—what was there to misunderstand?
"Are you trying to deny the facts?!" Sudo glared at him with clear displeasure.
"Heh, that's not my intention," Ryuen replied dismissively. "Actually, the responsibility for this lies with me. I wanted to play a joke on Kushida, so I instructed Ishizaki to pull this prank."
As he finished speaking, he bowed slightly to Kushida. "I apologize to you, Kushida."
Kushida was stunned, clearly not expecting Ryuen to take the blame voluntarily.
"Ryuen!" Ishizaki was deeply moved, almost wishing he could take the punishment in Ryuen's place.
In contrast, Horikita Suzune quickly regained her composure and said coldly, "A joke? Drugging a classmate can hardly be called a prank. I can't agree with that. You knew perfectly well that the exam is tomorrow and that Kushida is our Command Tower. You wanted her to miss the exam."
"I simply don't like Kushida," Ryuen avoided addressing her point directly. "Every time I think about how such a cute girl like Kushida can't be my girlfriend, I get angry, and that's why I made this mistake."
Everyone knew he was lying, but no one could refute him.
"How does the Student Council plan to handle this?" Ryuen narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see through Kaoru.
Kaoru smiled, "Don't rush. I've already asked Katsuragi to represent the Student Council in investigating the source of the laxative. We will definitely find out who sold the laxative to students and who received it."
Ryuen's expression stiffened for a moment before gradually turning serious.
Although he had purchased the laxative online, if they seriously investigated the package delivered to the school, they might indeed trace it back to him.
He had intended to take the fall alone, and being caught might not matter, but if Kaoru discovered he had so much laxative, even if he were expelled, Class C of the first year might also be implicated.
After all, this guy was the vice president of the Student Council and the next Student Council president.
Ryuen gritted his teeth.
Shouldn't Nagumo be stepping in at a time like this?
Damn it, this guy had him cornered!
If he didn't offer something now, Kaoru would have him completely at his mercy.
Wait, just yesterday he had been thinking about how to enjoy seeing Kaoru humiliated—why had the situation reversed so suddenly?
"Can I discuss this with Class D?" Ryuen asked.
Kaoru didn't seem surprised and instead nodded with a smile.
So, Ryuen called Horikita Suzune outside.
"What does Class D want?" His directness caught Horikita slightly off guard, though she showed no outward reaction.
The severity of the drugging incident depended largely on whether the victim was willing to forgive the perpetrator.
With the victim's forgiveness, the school was unlikely to take it too seriously.
But if Ryuen refused to cooperate and Class D of the first year insisted on pursuing the matter, the school would probably handle it strictly.
Therefore, Ryuen could only reach a private settlement with her.
"Compensation—give us 5 million Personal Points." Horikita Suzune stated.
Ryuen laughed in anger.
It was indeed a case of jacking up prices and making exorbitant demands.
"Hah, do you really think you have me cornered?" Ryuen said, "To be honest, the trap you set is full of holes. The laxative was prepared by you yourselves, wasn't it?"
Horikita Suzune remained silent.
She was shrewd and guarded against Ryuen secretly recording her.
Seeing her tight defense, Ryuen snorted coldly and bluntly said, "At most, I'll give you 1 million Personal Points."
Horikita Suzune couldn't be bothered to continue the conversation and turned to leave.
"1.5 million."
"I might as well apply to the Student Council to penalize you with 200 Class Points."
"Worst case, I'll just drop out."
The two stared at each other, each testing the other's psychological limits.
"At least 2 million, or no deal."
If he didn't agree now, Horikita Suzune would really leave.
Ryuen had no choice but to accept the outcome—after all, he was the one caught with a weakness.
The two returned to the office, and Horikita Suzune immediately presented Class 1-D's demands to Kaoru: Ryuen Kakeru and Daichi Ishizaki were to publicly apologize to Kushida Kikyo, and Class 1-C was to compensate with 2 million Personal Points.
Faced with these demands, and under the witness of the Student Council and the school, Ryuen, representing Class 1-C, agreed.
Additionally, considering the severity of the incident, the school issued its own disciplinary decision.
Class 1-C was deducted 100 Class Points as a warning for violating the rules.