Domino Effect and Backlash and Destruction
Local TV Station
“This is bad news! The ramen event we were supposed to cover live has been abruptly canceled. The organizers decided it was too dangerous because of the high winds.”
“What? What are we going to do? We’ve only got five minutes left. Is there any news that can take its place?”
“That’s…”
“You don’t have one? What are we going to do?! Hey, try digging deeper into other news material…”
“Oh, director, how about this one? It’s a video of students helping an old man that was just posted on a firefighting SNS. It’s getting an incredible number of views. Let me share it with you. Apparently, some students helped an old man who collapsed but left without giving their names. The fire department wants to give them an award and is looking for them.”
“We don’t have much time. Fortunately, there’s a video. We’ll use it. Get their permission right away. If we show it on TV, which has the power to spread the news, they’ll approve it immediately.”
Everything happened so fast.
Police Station Rest Room
“The video that Senpai just gave to the fire department was uploaded immediately. They worked quickly.”
“Yes, it seems the former chairman of the Prefectural Assembly is involved.”
“Oh, that’s why they’re moving so fast.”
“Hey, what’s going on, Minowa?”
“No, it’s the guy from the video Senpai showed me earlier. I thought I saw him somewhere else.”
“Do you know who he is?”
“No, I don’t know his name. But, Senpai, about a week ago, there was an incident downtown where a young boy got beaten up in a fight.”
“Ah, those people who left the scene immediately. If I remember correctly, the only footage of them is in Uncle Gourmet’s video.”
“Yes. To be honest, there was no damage report, so it stayed that way. Isn’t that similar?”
“I understand. I don’t really remember. But we’ll check it again after the break. Maybe we can get the fire department to owe us something.”
Ueda’s PoV
Damn, even though it was Sunday, the coach was furious about yesterday’s results, so we ended up practicing. Of course, the embarrassment from yesterday was still there, and Kondo-senpai was absent.
To be honest, I’m lazy when it comes to practicing. I was completely out of shape.
Maybe the next competition is just a dream. We all share the same resigned attitude.
“Let’s go home.”
Then, as I was changing my shoes,
“Hey, Mitsuda! What is this? Explain it to me!”
I heard the captain’s angry voice.
We juniors ran in the direction of the voice, startled by the unusual sound.
Mitsuda-senpai’s shoebox was open, and a large number of photographs were scattered on the floor.
The bizarre sight left us all speechless.
“So it’s you. I knew it. Kondo bothered you a lot, so you have a grudge against him! You ruined our lives. You laughed at us behind our backs!”
The captain shouted in a hysterical voice.
“No, no. I don’t know. Someone put it in my shoebox. I’m not guilty. I’ve been framed.”
Hearing those words reminded me of Aono. We were being used by Kondo-senpai for his benefit. Especially since Mitsuda-senpai is actively spreading rumors. This must be our punishment.
“I can’t trust you. I can’t trust anyone anymore!”
The captain pushed Mitsuda-senpai into the shoebox and left. The atmosphere felt suffocating for the rest of us.
“This is not the kind of soccer I wanted to play.”
Mahira, a first-year, said something like that. We looked at Mahira with shocked expressions. Since the first-years were hardly involved in this incident, they looked at us Senpais coldly, as if we were filth.
Damn it. It’s not my fault. It’s Kondo-senpai’s fault.
Mahira and the other first-years left without saying a word.
All that was left were photos and a few distraught third-years.