Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Everything Coming Together
I was supposed to upload yesterday but I had a really bad headache and couldn't write at all.
But enjoy the chapter!
***
I knew that what I was about to do was too risky.
It was, in fact, utterly foolish.
There was a reason why the school was desperately keeping the matter under the rug but I couldn't help it.
It was responsibility at first.
I'm the Student Council President.
Even if I didn't have much time left I still needed to make sure what was going on and thus I used my identity to negotiate for the surveillance footage.
It was by no means cheap.
But it was a worthwhile purchase.
It was utterly fascinating how instead of caring for the human being burnt alive my focus was on the unnatural appearance and behaviour of the flames itself.
It was not normal.
But that was where my responsibility should've ended fortunately I made a mistake and discovered something interesting.
The ominous premonition in my heart couldn't stop my mind from seeking answers and it didn't take long to narrow down the suspects from the data file of the clerk.
It seemed like the culprit of this murder was from Class 1-D.
Class 1-D.
Suzune.
The sole reason I decided to play with fire was because of her. My heart wouldn't allow such danger to be present around her.
I had to make her leave.
I knew I was powerless against someone with magical means but if I could make her even 1% safer then I would not hesitate to call the so-called murderer to the Student Council Room like this.
My eyes were involuntarily drawn to the bits and pieces of the now crumbled camera on the floor.
"Let's have a proper talk now shall we?" The first year in front of me sat down with an arrogant gait.
It was as if he didn't register us as a threat.
Nagumo was for sure irritated and I was sure he was going to do something foolish after I was gone. Everything depended on the conversation we were about to have.
But that wasn't what I cared about.
An odd unsettling feeling gnawed at my heart as I matched my gaze with the Tatsuya Yamamoto.
He was looking at me calmly but there were expectations in his eyes.
I wonder...
"Did you plan this meeting from the beginning?"
My words caused the silent Student Council Room to grow even more oppressive. Nagumo was looking at me with a surprised expression while Kiriyama had a confused look.
I'm sure Tachibana who was behind me was also wondering what I was saying.
But if what I thought was true...
"Assuming you were the culprit that would mean you had the ability to go invisible. If you could go invisible from the start then it would be foolish to take such conspicuous actions."
"Kaicho...?" Nagumo muttered as if finally grasping what I meant, "Do you mean he..."
Though it took him a bit more time I appreciated his sharpness.
Nonetheless, Tatsuya ignored Nagumo.
"Oh? What do you mean?" As if interested he leaned forward wanting to hear more.
"I can see that you have some kind of distorted relationship with the student named Sakura Airi, is that correct?"
"Yes."
"Then that would establish the motive behind you murdering him since he was stalking and harassing her. However, I would have to say killing for such a matter seems a bit excessive.
But what I'm trying to say is that if all you wanted to do was kill him then you could've done it without leaving behind so many sloppy trails."
"Huh? What do you mean sloppy trails!?" Kiriyama bellowed from his seat and Nagumo shook his head.
"Senpai is correct. Look we've narrowed down our suspicions from just a few clues in a mere few hours. Anyone taking the case seriously would immediately be able to identify him as the most likely culprit."
I nodded at his words but Tatsuya interjected.
"Wow, what a show. You all seem so convinced of your theories that it's funny. What if I'm just an overly impulsive teenager with a few magical abilities that couldn't control himself?"
His words weren't without merit.
But—
"For an impulsive teenager, you sure took the perfect time to murder somebody."
"Let's say you were an overly impulsive teenager why did you wait for so long before killing him? I mean you wandered the mall for a bit before joining Ichinose for lunch. I believe an overly impulsive teenager with invisibility and fire magic abilities would act earlier." I continued.
"Hmm, your words make sense but as you seemed to have guessed I have a certain relationship with Airi-chan." He spoke without a change in expression, "With how much interest you've given this case you surely know what her personality is like. I'd rather not leave her alone so Ichinose and Kanzaki were a godsend."
"Hmph, if you didn't want to leave her alone why bring her with you in the first place?" I wasn't speaking this time.
It was Nagumo.
Indeed, if he ventured toward Keyaki Mall with a crime in mind then bringing Sakura Airi with him made absolutely zero sense.
Especially, if he said that he didn't want to leave Sakura Airi alone.
"I see..." Tatsuya nodded his head with understanding before looking at me with a deep gaze, "Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, what conclusion have you come to?"
Was he bored? Or was he tired? I didn't know but it seems like he didn't want to continue any longer.
"In simple words, you left behind simple clues that the less observant would've ignored. It was not us that called you here but you who wanted to come here in the first place."
"Let's have a proper talk now shall we..." I repeated his words which had a suspicious undertone and he looked impressed.
"Hahaha," he laughed unabashed.
I knew I was poking the devil but I had no choice.
Even if the person in front of me wasn't human...
Even if he was a monster, demon, or devil...
I had to confront him.
Not for my safety or the school's safety—
For her.
***
I didn't expect this at all.
I knew he was someone amazing and impressive but I was still a little surprised.
He had guessed everything.
Yes, I was enraged that someone dared to hurt my toy but if I simply wanted to kill the clerk I didn't have to take Airi with me.
That was completely unnecessary.
She would soon realize that the stalker had disappeared and at that point, like the guardian angel I promised to be her faith in me would skyrocket.
I had already planned to play around with the school and to do so more openly without using my abilities I needed the Student Council under me.
Yes, I could simply go to them and threaten them but that would be...
Boring, no?
Sure, I was using knowledge of the light novel to force girls to sleep with me but if I simply went and overpowered all of them that would be too boring.
Of course, revealing myself to him like this had a few downsides but they were negligible. The gains far outweighed the loss.
Ultimately, this world was not my focus. I would soon leave and whatever the consequences of my actions were I would not have to bear them.
Even if I revealed myself to the Student Council they could not do anything against me. I never once considered them as an 'enemy' or 'threat'.
What can the Student Council do?
Capture me?
Hahaha.
That's impossible, the smart students of the Student Council know why they should never attempt that.
Report me?
That'll be stupid as well, what if they make me angry and I decide to kill them? They could capture me by surprise but that would be too much of a gamble to take considering I had done nothing wrong till now, even now my action of killing the Clerk wasn't considered 'Evil' but Cruel and Ruthless considering Airi is 'close' to me...
Though I'll still have to see what actions the authorities will take, there's more merit than demerit to what I'm doing.
The whole purpose of this meeting was to make my future life easier, to achieve the end goal of this meeting I had to reveal myself.
Even though I didn't want this trip to be boring that wouldn't mean I would cause myself intentional trouble or headaches.
So, I intentionally set up a few clues and deliberately invited Ichinose to have lunch with us.
Knowing the personality of Horikita Manabu, he would definitely investigate the matter and if he did things right then everything would lead to me.
It wasn't a matter of if he found the culprit but when.
And he didn't disappoint.
It wasn't some kind of master plan worthy of praise but when confronted with matters that went far beyond the normal and mundane world I was curious as to how he would react.
Would he still have the same composure he showed in the light novel or would he crack?
I guess I had my answer.
All I saw was worry in his eyes.
But I suppose that worry wasn't misplaced.
After all—
I was in Class D.
And his sister...
Was one of my targets.
***
Advanced Chapters- Patreon.com/AlmightySkyDxddy.
Lemon coming in a few chapters~
Did you like the First POV? It will happen often from now on.
Also if anyone is mad he revealed himself then do understand that the student council has minimal involvement in the plot, especially the first year. So it doesn't matter if he reveals himself to them.
The end of the Exam arc is going to make me cream. I've thought of doing something outrageously funny and horrifying I can't believe it hahaha.
What I'm going to do is something that's probably never happened in a COTE Fic!
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AlmightySkyDxddy We didn't reach top 3. No extra 3 chapters unfortunately but no worries try again! powerstone time.
(Whistling innocently as if I didn't just not post the last three days.)
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