3.7
“What are you all doing?”
Katsuragi, usually so calm, couldn’t hide his surprise when Ike and the others surrounded him. Kushida quickly spoke up. After the last test, Katsuragi would be most familiar with her.
“Sorry for bothering you, Katsuragi-kun. Do you have a moment?” she asked.
“Kushida? What’s going on?”
“To be honest, I heard about all this from Ike-kun and the others. Isn’t it your birthday today, Katsuragi-kun?”
“Well, yes, but…I’m surprised you found out.” Katsuragi wore a slightly puzzled expression, as if he couldn’t remember telling anyone his birthday.
“The four of us wanted to celebrate with you, Katsuragi-kun,” explained Kushida.
“Oh, that’s all right. There’s no need for you to do anything special.”
Far from being welcoming, Katsuragi appeared guarded. That was to be expected. He probably thought this was a trap laid by Class D. The fact that he hadn’t immediately shot us down was likely due to Kushida.
“Do you have plans today?” asked Kushida.
“Well, no. Not exactly.”
Kushida clapped her hands and smiled, almost as if she were saying, “I’m happy to hear it!” If an ordinary guy saw that smile, he would’ve been smitten right then and there. Katsuragi, the leader of Class A, probably wasn’t quite as easy a target.
“I’m terribly sorry to be rude, but we’re not exactly close friends. If you have an ulterior motive, please tell me,” he said.
“No, we don’t have an ulterior motive. We really just wanted to celebrate your birthday, Katsuragi,” said Ike, wearing a serious look. He probably felt genuine sympathy.
“Hrm.”
Katsuragi’s mouth tightened, and it looked like he was about to turn us down. Then I realized that he still held the birthday present bag from yesterday. He’d purchased it two days ago; why was he was still walking around with it? Ike and the others didn’t seem to share my suspicions (or pretended not to).
“I’m sorry, but I have some business in the school building. Excuse me,” Katsuragi said.
“School? You know, that reminds me. You’ve been wearing your uniform a lot recently. What’s going on?” asked Ike.
“What do you mean by that?” Katsuragi asked. His expression changed, as if he had switched into battle mode.
“Huh? What do you mean, what do I mean?” Ike looked startled.
“How did you know I’ve been wearing my uniform?” Katsuragi glared so intently, it was like he was devouring Ike.
“Huh? Well, no. That’s not—” Ike gulped reflexively.
“After you and I talked yesterday, I met up with Ike and the others. I told them. Was that bad?” I asked. Given no other choice, I offered Katsuragi an explanation. “I thought it was rather unusual to wear that uniform during summer vacation.”
“I see. Well, when you put it that way, I suppose you’re right,” Katsuragi answered.
“Yeah. That’s what I was getting at, dude,” added Ike.
“So, why are you going to school?” I asked. I’d successfully changed the topic, at least for the time being.
“It’s personal. Nothing to do with you,” he replied.
“Well, maybe I’m prying too much, but is something bothering you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You were also carrying that bag around yesterday, weren’t you? It’s a bit unnatural to take that with you to school. You’ve been holding it since we met at the store yesterday. I think I must’ve seen you with it at least three times so far. Right?” I asked.
“I have some business with the student council. That’s all,” he said.
Once again, a certain organization’s name had come up.
“Were you wearing your uniform yesterday because you were going to the student council room?” I asked.
“That’s right. However, they were out,” answered Katsuragi.
“If I remember correctly, the student council room was being renovated until yesterday. It should’ve been unusable,” I told him.
Katsuragi looked surprised. He asked how I knew.
“I happen to have a slight connection to the student council president,” I told him.
“You’re an acquaintance of his?” Katsuragi asked.
“Well, I wouldn’t say we’re really well-acquainted, but…something like that.”
“Ah, I see. Horikita from Class D is the president’s little sister, hmm?” Katsuragi had arrived at that conclusion rather quickly. “In that case, it might be better for you to accompany me, if time permits. Would you mind?”
With that, I more or less understood what Katsuragi was after.
“What a coincidence. I also happen to have some business with the student council,” I replied.
“Is that why you’re wearing your uniform?” he asked.
Of course, I’d only worn it to discover Katsuragi’s intentions. Now, however, I thought I should be able to slip into the student council room easily and get close.
Katsuragi nodded. Leaving the others behind, we headed toward the school building.
“Pardon the intrusion,” said Katsuragi in a loud, clear voice, as he knocked on the council room door. Student council president Horikita Manabu and Secretary Tachibana greeted us. The older Horikita immediately noticed my presence.
“It would seem we have some unexpected visitors.”
I bowed slightly in greeting. Secretary Tachibana looked disgusted.
“I came here today with a request. I heard that student requests go through the student council,” began Katsuragi.
“Apparently, you stopped by yesterday. The day before, as well. We were absent because the room was being renovated. I apologize,” explained the elder Horikita.
“Oh no, it’s quite all right. It’s summer vacation. The fault is mine. However, I’m glad to meet with you today. I was afraid I’d have to go directly to your dormitory to find you,” Katsuragi continued.
Why did Katsuragi want to come to the student council office in the middle of summer vacation? What exactly was he after?
“The school forbids students to establish contact with anyone on the outside while we’re enrolled here. I’ve come to inquire further into that.”
“It sounds as though you’ve looked through the school regulations. No, outside contact is not allowed, unless there is a compelling reason such as severe illness or injury.”
“Right. However, I’d like to send a package and message to my family off-campus. Of course, I don’t expect a reply,” said Katsuragi.
He was describing one-sided communication, then?
“Even if communication is one-sided, it’s still not permitted,” the president replied, in a very professional manner.
However, Katsuragi wouldn’t have come to the student council room if he could be discouraged that easily. “I heard that the rules about cutting off contact don’t apply to packages. Surely, if what is sent doesn’t include any text, information, or communication, that wouldn’t break the rules, would it?”
“The rules prohibit it. The restrictions exist for a reason. When the school was founded, the rules weren’t quite as strict as they are now,” the elder Horikita explained. He looked at Secretary Tachibana and nodded.
“It’s just as the president says. Originally, shipping a package would’ve been permitted. However, several students broke their promises. They hid letters in their packages without first seeking permission. So, such contact is now completely banned,” she said.
“And there you have it,” added the elder Horikita, dashing Katsuragi’s hopes with complete and utter rejection.
Katsuragi wasn’t ready to back down. Even though he was a first year, he was still tasked with leading Class A. He immediately reassessed the situation and composed himself.
“I must ask you once again. Please allow me to request direct shipping at the store itself. I will pay for the package to be sent to an address of my choosing, and nothing else. I won’t even touch the item. Under those restrictions, there’s no way for me to commit fraud.”
“But that still violates the rules—”
“Violates the rules? This school is all about fostering one’s abilities. I’ve heard that you can do anything, with enough points. You can buy test scores, or even trade with other students. Points have many uses. Am I wrong?” he asked.
Clearly, this birthday present was of great importance to Katsuragi.
“That makes things slightly different.” Katsuragi’s words changed Horikita’s brother’s attitude. “Before we discuss an expenditure of points, can you tell me whom you’d like to send this to?”
“My twin sister. Since we’re orphans, I’m the only one who celebrates her birthday,” replied Katsuragi.
That reason was entirely different from the sleazy theories we’d passed around earlier.
“I must make one correction to your theory. The point system is not all-powerful. It’s certainly possible to use points to buy test scores or barter with other students, but those things are never explicitly mentioned in the rules. The things that are explicitly prohibited can’t be easily altered using points. Without the school’s permission, it’s just impossible,” Horikita explained.
A tricky situation. Let’s use test scores as an example. I’d used points to buy a point on a test score for Sudou a while back, an act that was not illegal in and of itself. You were allowed to buy test scores with points. Trying to cheat on an exam, however, was against the rules, and could not be made legal through the use of points.
“The school rules must be upheld.”
“Well, that’s odd. If that’s true, the rules are full of holes.”
“There’s nothing odd. The school purposefully made rules that allow for loopholes,” Horikita responded immediately, as if this were easy to understand.
“…………”
The president was a tricky opponent, even for a quick-witted man like Katsuragi. The difference in their positions was stark. Horikita, who was a third year, in Class A, and the student council president, had no weaknesses.
“So, you’re saying that there’s nothing I can do?” asked Katsuragi.
“Correct. If school rules forbid something, you cannot circumvent them, even with points.”
Katsuragi had probably been prepared to spend a large sum, but this looked like the end of the line.
“If you’re finished, please leave.”
“I see. I understand. Well then, if you’ll please excuse me.”
Katsuragi glanced over at me just once. When I gestured that I was going to stay behind, he quietly left the room.
“You’re not going?” asked Horikita.
“Earlier, you were talking about what happens when a rule violation is exposed, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you remember an incident that occurred a while ago? Sudou, from our class, fought with some students from Class C.”
Horikita nodded. It’d been a huge deal, after all.
“Back then, the case went to trial precisely because the Class C students appealed to the school. Katsuragi, on the other hand, hasn’t done anything wrong. He only wanted to ask about doing something that could potentially break the rules. Only you two, Katsuragi, and I are aware of this. Shouldn’t you be able to overlook this particular instance?”
I chose my words carefully, but I was sure they understood what I was getting at. Say you committed a traffic violation; you’d be questioned by a police officer, but you could bribe the officer to overlook the issue.
“Shipping a package would normally be difficult, but it’s probably a simple matter for you. Right?” I asked.
“I see. You want to resolve everything without involving the school,” Horikita replied. Someone as upstanding as Katsuragi would probably never think of using such a loophole.
“Violating the rules! What a terrible delinquent you are,” Secretary Tachibana cried. I did my best to ignore her.
“How did you arrive at this conclusion?” asked Horikita.
“The school rules state that violent acts are forbidden. However, when we first met, you showed no mercy, did you? You proved that, as long as the school doesn’t know, you can get away with anything,” I answered.
President or not, Horikita definitely shouldn’t have raised his hand to strike someone in public.
“That’s right. There’s only one way to contact someone on the outside. But Katsuragi didn’t realize that, and he missed his chance,” admitted Horikita.
“Will you help him now?” I asked.
“Not at all. I won’t violate the rules for his sake.”
“You’re pretty strict.”
“If you think so, you should have told Katsuragi about the loophole before he left. But you didn’t.”
Dealing with such a clever guy was a pain. He saw through me completely. He understood that I had avoided warning Katsuragi.
“Well, I’m done cooling off. I’m gonna head back,” I said.
“I could ask Tachibana to prepare some tea, if you like?”
“No thanks. I have no idea what you’ll put in it, anyway.”
“Wh-what an incredibly rude first-year student!” Tachibana stammered.
For some reason, as I left, Horikita’s brother accompanied me to the exit.
“Officially, I didn’t meet with Katsuragi today. Even if you act behind the scenes, I won’t investigate. Do what you will,” he said.
“I don’t really feel like doing anything, though.”
“I’m simply telling you that I won’t get involved.”
I had the go-ahead to deceive the school as best I could. Horikita’s gaze cut right through me. He probably saw everything.
“Jeez, the president is shrewd,” I muttered.
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