章 70: Chapter 5 Part II
After homeroom finished for the day, we asked Chabashira-sensei to see us in the faculty room. We did this out of consideration for Sakura. Because I hadn't been able to discuss it with her fully over the phone yesterday, I waited towards the back of the room for an opportune moment. Kushida was probably going to be able to tell Chabashira-sensei everything that had happened.
"A witness? For Sudou's case?"
"Yes. Sakura-san saw everything from start to finish."
Kushida called for Sakura, who stood quietly behind her. She stepped forward, looking slightly nervous.
"So according to Kushida, you saw the fight between Sudou and the others."
"Yes. I saw it."
It's not that our teacher didn't believe us, but I felt ill at ease before her skeptical gaze. Sakura, true to her word, slowly gave us the truth. This was the first time that we had heard the full story. None of us, not even the teacher, spoke a single word or even moved until the very end.
"I understand what you're said. However, I can't simply accept what you're telling me," Chabashira-sensei said.
I would have thought that, as Class D's homeroom teacher, she would've been delighted to discover a witness from Class D. Kushida, betrayed by this turn of events, was flustered.
"Wh-What do you mean, sensei?" she asked.
"Sakura, why are you testifying now? When I reported the issue during homeroom, you didn't step forward. It's not as though you were absent that day, right?"
"Well… That's… I'm just not good at talking with other people…"
"You're not good at talking with other people, and yet you've decided to testify now? Isn't that strange?"
Chabashira-sensei started hounding Sakura, as was typical. If Sakura had stepped forward back when she'd first called for witnesses, though, I wondered if Chabashira-sensei would honestly have welcomed it.
"Sensei, Sakura-san is…"
"I'm speaking to Sakura right now." Chabashira-sensei cut Kushida off sharply.
"Umm… Well, it's because our…class is in trouble now, and…I thought if…if I testify, I can help…"
Sakura hunched and shrank away, much like a frog cornered by a snake. As our teacher, Chabashira-sensei should have understood what kind of girl Sakura was. She should have realized that merely by speaking up, Sakura had made great progress.
"I see. So, then you mustered up the courage to come forward?"
"Yes…"
"I see. Well if you are a witness as you say, naturally I'm obligated to relay that information to the school. However, while the school will listen to the whole story, Sudou may not be declared innocent."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Are you really the witness, Sakura? That's what I'm getting at. I think that it may be a lie made up by Class D because the students are afraid of receiving a negative evaluation."
"Chabashira-sensei, that's a horrible thing to say!"
"Horrible? If you really had witnessed an event, you should have come forward on the first day. It's natural to feel suspicious when someone steps up just in the nick of time. Considering that the witness is from Class D, it's doubly suspicious. Any reasonable person would have doubts. Don't you think so? Conveniently, a student from the same class happened to be in an infrequently visited building and happened to witness the entire event?"
Chabashira-sensei had plenty of good points. The fact that Sakura had witnessed the incident was too convenient. People would obviously have their doubts. If I were a third party, I'd probably think Class D had made this story up. Judged impartially, it was only natural to consider this eyewitness testimony weak.
"However, a witness is a witness. I cannot determine if she's lying, so for the time being, I will accept her testimony. So, Sakura, I will ask for you to join us on the day of deliberation. I understand that you do not like to associate with others, but can you do this?"
Chabashira-sensei's words shook Sakura, as if she were testing the girl. Sure enough, Sakura, upon imagining this, turned pale and anguished.
"If you don't like it, you do have the option to withdraw. Also, we'll tell Sudou that he will be participating in the deliberation."
"Are you okay? Sakura-san?"
"Y-yeah…" Sakura's reply lacked confidence. In addition to having to give her testimony in front of others, she was also going to have to sit alone with Sudou. It seemed a little cruel to force her…
"Do you mind if we participate as well, sensei?"
Of course, it was Kushida who spoke up, most likely to support Sakura.
"If Sudou himself consents, I will approve it. However, we cannot allow that many people. Only a maximum of two may sit in on the deliberation. Please think on that carefully."
We left the faculty room, though it felt more like we were being kicked out. Afterward, we returned to the classroom and explained everything to Horikita.
"Well, naturally that was the result. It's to be expected."
"The situation might be different now, but it's not that huge of a difference, right? I mean, the fact that our witness came from Class D does kind of mean we're out of luck, though."
I didn't know if it would comfort Horikita, but I said it to stick up for Sakura. If we hadn't convinced our eyewitness to come forward, it probably would've been impossible to prove Sudou's innocence.
"Now then, Kushida-san. It would be best for Ayanokouji-kun and me to sit in on the deliberation. I fully understand you supporting Sakura-san. However, if it comes to a debate, then that's a different story."
"That's… Yes, you're right. I don't think I'd be particularly useful in a debate."
I considered saying something about how it would be perfect if Kushida and Horikita worked together, but thought better of it. It was precisely because they might not make the best team that I'd been appointed as a substitute, I supposed.
"Sakura-san, do you mind?"
"N-no, it's fine."
She didn't seem to like this at all, but she also didn't have much choice right now.
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