"Ishigami, why are you turning yourself in to the Public Morals Committee?"
"Huh?"
Takamine had pulled Ishigami into a quiet hallway outside the office.
"If you have a girlfriend, there's no need to co to the committee office. If you want to investigate whether she's cheating, you can just tell in private. Coming here will just make us try to stop you," Takamine said earnestly.
"...Isn't stopping campus romance literally your job as a committee mber?"
"But you're my bro. If you break the rules, I'll turn a blind eye. Who would know if you don't tell anyone?"
"Is this really sothing a Public Morals Committee mber should say?!"
"You know where I used to study, right?"
"Yeah, Arica," Ishigami replied.
Takamine was a Chinese-Arican, and he'd studied in the US. He ntioned this during his self-introduction.
"Right. So do you know what I learned all those years in Arica?"
"Uh… open school culture?"
"Wrong."
"Freedom and democracy?"
"Wrong again."
"Then what?"
"Double standards."
"…"
"If I'm a committee mber, of course I'll use one standard for regular students and a different one for you. If you really had a girlfriend, I wouldn't say a word or try to sabotage it."
"That's too twisted, Rinji. Your mindset is seriously ssed up."
This wasn't the first ti Ishigami had said that. And yet every ti, Takamine managed to sink lower.
"So tell , what did you co to the office for this ti? Is your girlfriend acting strange? Want us to investigate? Though we're not detectives, that might be a bit out of scope."
"Haven't you been doing detective work lately anyway?"
Ishigami sighed deeply, his voice serious.
"I want you… to investigate soone."
"Who?"
"Ko Ogino."
"Ogino… oh, that classmate, right? He's rumored to have a super cute girlfriend. But what's it got to do with you?" Takamine was confused.
This didn't seem related to Ishigami himself.
"To be honest… Ogino's girlfriend, Kyoko Ootomo… she's soone I care about."
"Got it."
"What do you an 'got it'?"
"You want to take down Ogino so you can snatch Kyoko Otoomo, right? Honestly…"
"You totally don't get it!!" Ishigami shouted.
"Relax, I never said I wouldn't help you."
"Helping is the worst possible thing you could do!!"
He couldn't handle Takamine. He had no clue what was going on in that guy's head.
"Okay, then what do you want to do?"
"Whew… I'll explain from the beginning. So basically—"
…
"So I think I get what you're saying. You overheard Ogino talking on the phone, booking a room and inviting his girlfriend, Kyoko Ootomo… and then also inviting other guys to join in… Damn, what is wrong with you Japanese high schoolers!?"
Takamine was genuinely shocked.
He really didn't expect them to be this wild, though he'd heard stories from his dad.
"Aren't you also a Japanese high schooler now?"
"Don't lump in with them! I'm pure! A model student!"
"…So anyway, I ca to tell you…"
"I got it."
"You got it again?"
Takamine narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"You want to eliminate Ogino. Got it, easy."
"No!! Stop thinking like that!!"
"Ishigami, you clearly don't understand my capabilities. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"You saying that makes even more worried!!"
After taking a few breaths to calm down, Ishigami's eyes turned serious.
"Takamine, I hate couples just as much as you. Sotis I even want to curse them. But Kyoko Ootomo always took the initiative to talk to soone gloomy like . I don't even have feelings for her, and Ogino is president of the drama club, has perford at national events… I genuinely wish them the best. It's just… I don't want soone that kind to get hurt."
"…"
"I'm not asking for anything else. Just… please stop Ogino from doing things like this. Even though I want him to disappear, if he does… Kyoko would be heartbroken."
"…"
"Please."
Seeing Takamine silent, Ishigami bowed deeply.
"Hey hey hey, that's too much."
Takamine quickly helped him up.
"Didn't I say earlier? You're my bro. If you're in trouble, I'll take it for you. Coming to proves you trust , and that's good."
"You'll do it?"
"Of course. Leave the investigation to . You just go to school, eat properly, and don't overthink things."
Takamine patted his back reassuringly.
"Thanks for indulging my selfish request."
"Forget thanks. Just treat to a good al soday," Takamine laughed.
As he watched Ishigami leave, Takamine stroked his chin and started thinking.
He had accepted the request, which ant he had to handle it properly. But…
The cost was too high.
The reason he usually went straight to eliminating or removing soone was because it was the cheapest and most efficient. Making soone change for the better could take a massive investnt—and the outco wasn't even guaranteed.
Everyone was an individual, with their own thoughts. Trying to reform soone… was hard. Sending them to Africa would be easier. Get a few guys to rough them up, buy a plane ticket, done.
Sighing, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Hello? Yeah, it's . Help look into soone. Ko Ogino, first-year Class B at Shuchiin… No no, don't eliminate him, just get his file. ASAP… It's fine, I'll handle the rest."
After hanging up, Takamine's gaze turned sharp.
Since it was Ishigami's request, he'd give it a shot. Hopefully, Ogino would value the chance.
If not…
Well, it'd save him the cost of a plane ticket. International flights aren't cheap.
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