Despite Manabe's performance, which greatly displeased Sakagami-sensei, he still extracted key information from Manabe's words.
"So, Koenji peeked at Manabe's clue slip and thereby stole the deserved benefits of Class C, is that right?"
Seeing Sakagami-sensei misinterpret Manabe's words like this, Amane's gaze also became somewhat unkind. As a teacher, it's normal to favor one's own students; even Amane didn't intend to dwell on such things.
But Sakagami was a bit excessive, constantly using terms like'stole' and 'deserved benefits,' as if he wanted to nail Koenji to a board of shame as a criminal.
"Sakagami-sensei, it seems your Japanese language skills still need some improvement. Or perhaps you don't understand the rules of this exam either?"
"Miyako-san, watch your tone! Is that how you speak to a teacher?"
Sakagami sternly reprimanded Amane.
At this moment, he finally looked somewhat like a teacher.
"This is my attitude, so please bear with me, Sakagami-sensei. Also, the 'theft' you speak of doesn't exist. Which eye of yours saw a rule that forbids peeking at other classes' information slips? And 'deserved benefits' is even more ridiculous. Why didn't Manabe-san answer the question immediately after getting the answer? Because she wanted to maximize her benefits by utilizing the special effect of the Big ghost card. As a result, she mishandled it, and someone saw the answer. Her goal was never Result Three or Result Four. How can something that hasn't even happened yet be related to 'deserved benefits'? How does that saying go..."
Amane seemed troubled, scratched her head, and then clapped her hands.
"I remember now, 'The older the ginger, the spicier it is,' right, Sakagami-sensei?"
Amane's playful expression completely infuriated Sakagami.
"You!!!"
"Oh dear, oh dear, Sakagami-sensei, you must take care of your health. It wouldn't be good to get angry now, after all, you still have more anger to endure later."
Amane's sarcastic concern made Sakagami-sensei glare at Amane, then he left, flicking his sleeves, without looking back. It seemed he was going to complain.
So, adults also like to tell on others, huh?
Amane turned her gaze to the bewildered Manabe.
Manabe could be said to have shot herself in the foot this time. From today onwards, Manabe's life would probably be quite difficult.
However, this had nothing to do with Amane. Of course, if Manabe one day managed to lower her proud head, Amane might consider helping her out, but of course, that would come at a certain price.
Manabe noticed Amane's gaze, but she didn't dare to look back. Seeing Sakagami-sensei inexplicably leave, leaving her alone here, the crowd that had gathered had already dispersed when Sakagami-sensei arrived. One could say that only Manabe and Amane were left here now.
Manabe couldn't help but try to run away, but Amane, quick as a flash, grabbed her wrist.
"I... that... I'm still feeling a bit unwell, so..."
"Feeling unwell? How about resting in the discussion room?"
Amane showed a gentle expression Manabe had never seen before.
No, she had seen it before. It was during the Uninhabited Island special exam, the first time Amane stayed in a tent with everyone from Class C. Amane had shown such a smile.
"No need… I'll just go back to my room and rest."
Manabe had lost the courage to confront Amane. She only wanted to leave this terrifying place as quickly as possible.
The adjacent room was the Monkey Group's discussion room.
She knew there were no surveillance cameras in the discussion room.
If something happened in the hallway, she would still have a way to collect evidence, but if she were taken into the discussion room… Manabe didn't even dare to imagine what terrifying things might happen.
"But I hope you can come in and sit with me for a bit."
Amane's direct words were even more effective.
Facing Amane's almost coercive methods, Manabe had no means of resistance. In the end, she could only follow Amane into the discussion room.
Click.
As soon as they entered the discussion room, Amane locked the door from the inside.
That crisp click of the lock made Manabe freeze in place, not daring to move an inch.
"M-Miyako-san… if you do anything excessive to me, you could be expelled…"
Manabe knew that at this moment, she shouldn't say such threatening words, but her brain was already a muddle. Her survival instinct made her react in the most direct and effective way.
"Today's discussion has concluded. In another hour, all rooms will be closed and access will be restricted until tomorrow morning. Manabe-san, do you know what this means? If I wanted to do something to you, I would have plenty of time."
Amane said, then walked over and sat down on a nearby chair.
Her gaze scrutinized the anxious Manabe.
"I-I'm sorry."
Manabe bowed her head to Amane, choosing to apologize.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
"I know I was wrong, and I will correct it in the future. Please, Miyako-san, spare me this time…"
"What exactly was your mistake?"
Amane's words made Manabe pause.
What was her mistake? Was it wrong to help Morofuji, or was it wrong to try and reclaim her own interests? Perhaps from the school's rules and perspective, these were indeed Manabe's problems.
But from Manabe's perspective, she didn't believe she had done anything wrong. Yet, at this moment, she could only lower her head and beg for Amane's forgiveness.
If she had made a mistake, the only one she could think of was provoking Amane.
But she was unwilling to consider such a thing a mistake. There was nothing to say about lacking strength, but if even provoking someone was a mistake… "I know you still hate me quite a bit, don't you?"
Amane said nonchalantly.
But these words startled Manabe.
"It's not like that, I didn't…"
"You hate me for intervening and stopping you when you had the advantage, for protecting Karuizawa. You also hate me for letting Karuizawa get her revenge by slapping Morofuji's face, which made you lose face. And most of all, you hate my appearance, which completely extinguished any hope of reclaiming the clue paper you had so painstakingly drawn, which would have increased your influence in the class. Am I right?"
Amane's voice seemed to possess a magical power that could penetrate one's heart.
Manabe, who had already bowed her head, now showed an unwilling expression. Amane liked such an expression; a docile prey would make Amane feel a certain loss of fun.
"Do you want to know why I did that?"
"That's… because we made a mistake."
Although Manabe was unwilling, she was much clearer-headed now. She knew that in the current situation, if she didn't want to be bullied, she could only lower her head.
"Huh? If you really think that, then I can only say you deserve to be bullied. You don't even know who instigated me to do this, yet you're humbly bowing your head and admitting your mistake here. Don't you find it ridiculous?"
Amane's mockery made Manabe look up in surprise.
"How is that possible… You're already so powerful, how could anyone be able to command you? Is it Horikita-san? But she…"
Manabe felt a headache coming on. She wasn't good at thinking, and suddenly encountering such a situation made it impossible for her to think normally. She couldn't understand why someone as powerful as Amane would help others bully insignificant people like them, who couldn't even get on the stage.
Nor could she understand who had such great power to make Amane act on behalf of a few insignificant people.
"Guessing wildly is useless. If you want to know who it is… come and sit here, and I'll tell you."
Amane patted her lap.
Manabe's expression immediately changed.
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