Every Sin Deserves Punishment - Chapter 23: Senior and Junior

Chapter 23: Senior and Junior

After spending my days diligently studying and volunteering, I managed to get through the summer break with no plans. I opened the curtains and bathed in the sunlight, then put on the shirt that was required by the school, rolling up my sleeves.

I got ready and left through the front door.

I’ve been thinking about it ever since I went to watch the basketball club. I don’t know who to believe, Saotome-san or Kazama-san. No matter how much I wrack my brain, I can’t find an answer. I don’t have enough information to make a decision.

I looked into the middle school which Kazama mentioned. As far as I can tell, it’s just an ordinary middle school. No, it ‘was’ really an ordinary middle school. There was a bit of a stir a while back when a member of the board game club was caught drinking. The member involved was suspended, and the board game club was given a one-year suspension. That’s about the only notable thing that happened.

If you work it out, it was around the time when Saotome-san was there. I looked through a few news sites, but I couldn’t find any articles that listed the names of the members who were disciplined. It was no different from not knowing anything at all.

The only thing I’m sure of is that Saotome-san has the bullying letter as evidence. She sent me a picture of it through the communication app, so there’s no mistake. It took about a minute for the image to be sent. It wasn’t just one or two lines of text. She wouldn’t have had time to write it after I asked her.

Of course, there’s a possibility that she prepared it in advance, anticipating my request. But if she was that clever, she would have come up with a better way to trick me. There’s no point in using a method that leaves room for doubt.

I can’t take that step. I can’t be sure, so my feet just won’t move. I can make guesses based on the clues I’ve found, but the fear of convincing myself is strongly etched in my heart along with the strong regret. No joke, my way of life can completely change the lives of these two students. I’ve already destroyed some student lives, but that doesn’t mean that I’m used to the feeling of someone’s life being on my back. I don’t want to make the same mistake again.

As I saw the boys and girls in their uniforms, my feet, which I was about to step forward with, became as heavy as lead. I pretended to be calm, rushed into the entrance hall, and entered the classroom with a nonchalant expression. I greeted Yoshiki, sat down, and prepared for the proficiency test.

I faced the test without running away or hiding. I had plenty of time to study. Despite the tense atmosphere of the test, it was actually quite enjoyable to use my pencil. I was sure to get over 90 points in all subjects.

After finishing the rest of the classes, I went out into the corridor. As the saying goes, “Once is a coincidence, twice is a pattern.” I saw the two seniors ahead of me.

“Hey, junior.”

“Hello. We seem to be meeting a lot lately.”

“It’s because this is the way to the club room, and our schedules match up. But, you know, you’re looking glum again.”

Oops, my expression must have been influenced by my thoughts. I grabbed my face with one hand and showed off my practiced smile.

“How does it look?”

“Don’t ‘how does it look’ me, you scoundrel. Tell me what’s going on.”

“Spill it, go on, spill it.”

“Is this some new kind of bullying?”

I’m in trouble. I’ve already been lectured at the summer festival. If I act stupid again, I might be abandoned by my Senpais this time. Anyway, there’s no clue, so I might as well give up.

“Do you know Higashi Tsuitachi Middle School?”

To me, it was just a casual question. I wasn’t expecting any meaningful answers.

Even so, the two smiles tightened slightly, but definitely.

“Is this question related to your troubles?”

“Yes.”

Suga-senpai looked away. Namisugi-senpai’s small ponytail shook vertically.

“I know of it. I’m a graduate of that school.”

I almost widened my eyes in surprise. I thought there would be one or two if I looked, but it was a lucky coincidence that one of them was among my few acquaintances. I was grateful for the timing and circumstances, and I spoke.

“Didn’t something happen while you were there? Like, a student being bullied or something?”

“I don’t think so. If something like that had happened, it would have been a problem.”

“Yeah, right.”

I guess it’s not that easy to get the information I need. I’ve brought up a strange topic. I wonder if I’ve damaged the seniors’ impression of me.

“Regarding Higashi Tsuitachi Middle School, that guy who came crying to consul with you, Futaba, what happened to him?”

As I was about to leave after saying thank you, Suga-senpai said something interesting. I turned my attention back to the seniors.

“Crying? You mean that guy who cries? That’s a pretty big deal, isn’t it?”

Did she hide it?

I must have shown my doubts on my face, because Namisugi-senpai shook her head with her hands raised.

“I didn’t mean to hide it. I said I was a graduate of that school, so I thought it had nothing to do with you.”

“Oh, I see. Could you tell me about it if it’s not too much trouble?”

“Hmm…”

Namisugi-senpai frowned.

I blinked in surprise. Namisugi-senpai is a bright person. I’ve seen her get surprised or angry, but this is the first time I’ve seen her look so troubled and groaning. I thought she was someone who didn’t have to deal with such things.

It was a difficult atmosphere to ask in. But this was a clue I had just found. I couldn’t back down easily either.

“Please, senpai.”

I looked straight at her troubled expression. Suga-senpai relaxed her mouth as she looked at her young face.

“Why don’t you tell him? I know it’s hard, but he doesn’t seem like he’s just curious. You can hide the core part if you want.”

The groaning got louder, and Namisugi-senpai raised her face quickly.

“Okay, I’ll tell you. Let’s move to another place first.”

“How about the corridor? If someone comes, we can see them right away.”

“What about the rooftop?”

“It’ll look like we’re strangling Ichigaya-san on the rooftop.”

“Me?”

“Sorry, that was a slip of the tongue. You’re the man who destroyed everything out of love.”

“Never mind. Let’s go to the corridor.”

The three of us stepped on the floor of the corridor. We stopped in the middle of the corridor, and Namisugi-senpai checked that no one was around before speaking.

“It was around June, I think. A drunk idiot showed up at the junior’s club activity.”

“You mean the board game club?”

Namisugi-senpai widened her eyes.

“You knew?”

“I looked it up.”

“Oh, then we can talk about it quickly. The junior was the club president there, and I often received consultations from that junior about the operation of the club.”

“You were close, then.”

“She was a cute junior. Well, it’s because I started the club.”

I widened my eyes.

“You mean you started the board game club?”

“UmU, I was the first club president. I was the first president.”

Namisugi-senpai crossed her arms and puffed out her chest. It was like a child’s stretch, but it was also adorable. I was more surprised than that. I knew Namisugi-senpai was an active person, but I didn’t know she had started a new club activity. She’s really energetic.

“Maybe that’s why…”

Namisugi-senpai’s tone of voice became darker, and I brought my attention back to the conversation.

“That’s why?”

“Right after the drinking incident, the junior came to me crying. She was a serious and responsible girl, so she regretted not being able to protect the club. As I listened to her confession, I couldn’t help but cry with her.”

Namisugi-senpai laughed bitterly. Her voice seemed to shake slightly, almost imperceptibly.

“By the way, could you tell me the name of that student?”

“I’m sorry, but I’d rather not.”

There was a clear rejection. I didn’t expect her to answer, but I was taken aback by the unexpected rejection. I wondered if I would feel this way if the seniors abandoned me. I didn’t want to experience it again.

“Don’t get me wrong! I’m not doubting Ichigaya-san, but right now, we don’t know who might be listening. Some people will look at you with colored glasses just because you’re from Higashi Tsuitachi. And that girl is now living her student life at a new school. So please don’t pry into her, Ichigaya-san.”

I couldn’t refuse, given the seriousness of her tone. It’s clear that she understands the risk of her Tou Saku origins being exposed from her determination to hide the junior’s name. And yet, she told me that she was a graduate of Higashi Tsuitachi Middle School. Namisugi-senpai trusts me. That alone is enough.

“I understand. I won’t ask about the junior’s name. I’m sorry for bringing up bad memories.”

“It’s okay. We were the ones who got you to talk about your troubles. Sorry for stopping you. Did you have any urgent business or anything?”

“No, I’m basically free.”

“That’s good. We’re going to the club room now. Bye.”

“Yes. See you somewhere.”

The seniors walked down the corridor they had come from, and I watched their backs. A bitter smile came to my lips.

“Again…”

It’s a strange story. After I took my revenge, I thought I could be alone, but now all I can think about is getting along with the seniors. I’ve become quite weak.

I let go of my relationship with Nakiri. So at least I don’t want to let go of what’s still in my hands. That’s what I think, even though I’m waiting for my punishment.