Avenger’s Plan
Caller’s PoV
I made it back to the station closest to school by three o’clock.
I took out my uniform, which I had left in a coin locker at the station, changed in the bathroom, and walked to school with a normal expression on my face.
Classes were over, and club activities had begun. I had called the school to let them know I was absent, so no one suspected me.
Even if I ran into someone I knew, it wouldn’t be a problem if I told them I wasn’t feeling well but had to come back to retrieve something I forgot.
My top priority right now is revenge.
Our school’s clubroom was far from the field. No one would find it suspicious if I walked near the field in my school uniform. So I managed to approach the soccer clubroom without anyone noticing.
All I had to do was drop an envelope containing the photos into the soccer clubroom with a normal expression on my face.
These are people obsessed with Kondo. They actively participated in Aono-kun’s bullying under the guise of their own twisted justice. No mercy for the criminals.
“The soccer team will definitely be disbanded because of these photos. Even if they survive, they won’t stand a chance in the competition. The rest will unfold on its own. I’m sure the club members will create their own narrative.”
Mitsuda, the senpai of the soccer club, is just a loser who borrowed Kondo’s prestige. The bullying of Aono-kun was mostly carried out by second-year members. Idiotically, they used SNS. If we investigate the bullying posts on SNS, the soccer club’s involvement will be clear.
The school’s investigation has already started, so they likely know most of it.
However, the fact that the school hasn’t taken action suggests something is going on.
Hypothesis 1: The school is looking for solid evidence to ensure that Kondo, who is the mastermind and might cowardly shift blame onto others, can be prosecuted and held accountable.
That would make things easier for me. I have photographic evidence against Kondo. If I actively cooperate with the teachers, we can catch him.
However, there’s also the possibility of the next hypothesis.
Hypothesis 2: The school is actively involved in a cover-up.
That would make things more complicated.
There’s a chance that the photos I have as evidence might be discarded, even though the crime is clear.
The fact that Kondo’s parents are a local construction company president and a city council member complicates things further.
If Hypothesis 1 is true, the school is likely waiting for the right time to secure solid evidence before Kondo’s parents, who are the biggest obstacle, step in and use their influence to silence the case.
If Hypothesis 2 is true, I may need to report to the city council and school board that the school is actively working to cover up the case out of fear of Kondo’s parents.
I considered going to the press, but I decided against it. I wasn’t sure if they’d handle the case properly, and there’s a big risk they’d sensationalize Aono-kun’s story to suit public taste.
“Even if the soccer club collapses and loses an important tournament, Kondo’s career will only take a minor hit, and he’ll quickly move on with his life. He’ll keep hurting people, just like he did to Aono-kun.”
To be honest, I can’t forgive myself. If I had acted back then, Kondo might not have gone this far. I was the only one who could’ve stopped him.
I pictured my former childhood friend’s face, and hatred filled my heart. This incident would surely break her already fragile mentality, but I didn’t care. Of course, I valued the friend who stood by me in pain more than the one who abandoned me.
Because I was broken and withdrawn, I only managed to get into this school after truanting for a year. In the end, it was my failure that allowed Kondo to inflict more harm.
“Eh, Endo? What’s wrong? Aren’t you supposed to be off today?”
Suddenly, a voice called from behind me, and I instinctively turned around. There he was, dressed in his kyudo uniform—my classmate, Imai-kun.
I felt grateful for this chance encounter. Imai-kun is Aono-kun’s other childhood friend and best friend. He was the second friend I made in high school thanks to Aono-kun. He must know something.
With this, my revenge will be complete.
The die is cast.