Chapter 241: Chapter 240: Lending a Hand.
The student council meeting room was unexpectedly full today, with members from first to third year all present.
Everyone looked grim. After all, they had already been informed about what had happened.
"The remote-controlled car and the camera found in the first-year girls' changing room have been handed over to the school for investigation. We've just received the results."
Horikita Manabu spoke in a cold tone.
Hikigaya was slightly surprised but also found it completely reasonable.
The school was taking this matter far more seriously than usual. According to Horikita Manabu, as long as something was purchased on campus, the school could trace it back to the buyer if they wanted to—down to the exact time, quantity, and cost.
Of course, they normally wouldn't use this method, since it involved privacy issues.
But after investigating, they had already identified the buyer. The school also reviewed the water park's surveillance footage, which perfectly matched the list of suspects Hikigaya had given to Horikita Manabu.
"Since the evidence is clear, there's nothing to discuss. Expel them and report them to the police."
Nagumo spoke as if he were just making a casual decision, sealing the fates of several students in a few simple words.
Surprisingly, no one objected to his proposal. In fact, even Tachibana Akane and the other girls thought this was the best course of action.
Especially when they imagined that someone at school had the audacity to secretly film the girls' changing room—it made their blood boil!
Hikigaya frowned slightly at Nagumo's words but didn't say anything.
This was something he shouldn't be speaking up about. In fact, to avoid suspicion, he probably shouldn't even be attending this meeting. But unfortunately, he was also the one who reported the incident.
"I'll pass on the school's message first."
Horikita Manabu adjusted his glasses and looked around the room.
"This peeping and recording incident is extremely serious. The school is taking it very seriously and has made it clear that the involved students must be punished. However... incidents like this can have a huge impact on public opinion, both in society and among students. So, the school hopes that we, the student council, can come up with an appropriate way to handle it."
After he finished speaking, the room fell into silence.
Everyone seemed deep in thought.
Horikita Manabu's words might seem ordinary on the surface, but they carried a deeper meaning.
The phrase "appropriate solution" was especially thought-provoking.
First, it showed the school's stance—this matter had to be handled seriously. However, since it could have a big impact on both society and the students, the school didn't want it to escalate further. After all, it would also affect the school's reputation.
So, the school's message was clear: the offenders must be punished, but not to the extent that it blows up the situation. The student council had to decide on the right balance.
Everyone present understood what was really being said—the school was tossing this tricky problem back to the student council. No matter how things turned out, whether good or bad, the school could always shift the blame onto them.
Hikigaya was a little surprised. He had thought the school would directly interfere with the decision, but instead, they handed the power over to the student council. At the same time, he also got the sense that the relationship between the school and the student council wasn't as close as he had imagined.
"Hikigaya, I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Horikita Manabu suddenly looked at Hikigaya, and all eyes in the room followed. Everyone knew that he was the one who reported the incident—and that the culprits were from his own class.
Some people were simply curious, while others had more complicated feelings. A few even seemed to be thinking deeper about why Horikita Manabu asked him this question.
"I think Vice President Nagumo is right. The main culprit must be punished severely—expulsion is necessary as a warning to others."
After a moment of thought, Hikigaya continued, "But I've already reported more details of the incident to the president earlier. There's also a recording that helps distinguish between the main offender and the accomplices. I believe the main culprit should face the heaviest punishment, while the accomplices should be punished based on their level of involvement."
Hikigaya had already listened to Ayanokouji's recording. Just like Ayanokouji had claimed, the contents matched the facts. However, if Ayanokouji thought this would completely clear his name, that would be difficult. There was no guarantee that it wasn't just a convenient excuse after being caught. It was only after Horikita stepped in that his real intentions were confirmed.
Hikigaya's reasoning made sense and also aligned with what the school wanted. However…
"I have a question. If we're going to punish the main culprit but let the accomplices off lightly, isn't that completely pointless? It would only make it seem like the student council is deliberately protecting them."
Nagumo stepped forward, questioning Hikigaya's proposal.
Hikigaya glanced at Nagumo. He hadn't expected him to step in at this moment, but after thinking about it for a bit, he could guess why—was he targeting Hikigaya?
Yes, but not just him. More than that, Nagumo was going after Horikita Manabu.
This incident had happened while Horikita Manabu was president. If it wasn't handled properly, it would leave a stain on his record. That would be great news for Nagumo, who was about to take over as president. After all, Horikita Manabu was seen as nearly perfect by both students and the school.
But Horikita Manabu remained calm, his expression unchanged. He showed no reaction to Nagumo's words.
As for the others, most were hesitant to speak—except for one person.
"I think Vice President Nagumo has a point."
A surprising voice joined in. Haruno suddenly spoke up, siding with Nagumo. Nagumo's eyes lit up as he turned to look at her.
"The punishment for the main culprit isn't really in question. What we need to focus on now is how to deal with the accomplices."
Haruno always had a slight smile on her face, giving off a friendly vibe. But at times, she could feel completely unreadable—just like now.
"The school doesn't want this incident to spread too far. If it gets out, it'll definitely cause a huge uproar among the students. So, we need a solution that will satisfy everyone while making sure we don't tolerate this kind of behavior."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "I have a suggestion."
"Peeping and secretly recording in the girls' changing room—it only takes a small tweak to completely change how this situation is seen."
Haruno smiled and looked around at everyone. "So, how about we change it to peeping and recording in the boys' changing room instead? What do you all think?"
The room fell silent.
Everyone's faces turned into a mix of confusion and disbelief.
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