Chapter 204 A Schemer Who Drowns in Her Own Schemes

A Schemer Who Drowns in Her Own Schemes

Manager Tachibana’s PoV

What’s wrong with this old man?

I’m being cornered?

Don’t underestimate adults? I won’t accept this. I have to get through this….

“Well, let me hear it again. Tachibana-san. You were the one who planned the bullying and the attack. You’re the other mastermind, along with Kondo-kun. Am I wrong?”

That hoarse voice is driving me into a corner, step by step.

“No, no, absolutely not.”

I deny it so desperately and emotionally.

“Okay, why don’t you tell me why not? After all, you were at the scene of Aono Eiji’s beating.”

“That was really just a coincidence… I just wanted to see what was going on because there was some kind of commotion nearby, and I was curious like any other bystander.”

“Heeh, you just wanted to see, huh? But you also took pictures, didn’t you? You found out that a junior in your club and a classmate were fighting, but you walked away without asking either of them what was going on. That’s weird.”

“I just didn’t want to get involved in anything uncomfortable. I just took the picture without thinking about it.”

I know this is a last-minute excuse.

“Hoho, you said you ran away because it was uncomfortable. But you took the picture. I think you are contradicting yourself.”

“It was a spontaneous act. People are full of contradictions, aren’t they?”

“Well, that’s true, I guess.”

Saying this, the old detective bursts out laughing.

But my heart was still pounding. This man is too dangerous.

“But you know, Tachibana-san. You made a mistake. It was a fatal mistake. Do you know what that is?”

This is a bluff. It’s just a bluff. There is no way I made a mistake.

“I see, you don’t know. We’re the police. Do you think you hid it well? But the truth is, the same photo that was on your phone when Aono-kun was beaten up was posted on SNS. The original SNS account was deleted. After making inquiries and gathering information from other people’s accounts, I found out that the original account had tweeted the following—”

He deliberately pauses to wait for my reaction.

“[Breaking news, the picture right after Aono Eiji, who DV’d his girlfriend, was beaten to a pulp.] This is strange, isn’t it? Why did you post something that seemed to believe 100% of what Kondo-kun said when you just watched the scene where it was clear that Aono-kun was just beaten? It’s weird, isn’t it, like you knew it all along?”

“I don’t even know that account in the first place.”

“Yes, of course, we thought you would say that. So we looked into it. We checked the IP address when the post was made and the location when that account logged in, and you know what we got—it turns out it was at your house. And no matter how much you destroy your account, the company will keep a record of it. Of course, the company is cooperating with the police. This is just the latest information we’ve gotten, and I’m sure they’ll restore everything soon.”

I was so pale that I realized I was completely backed into a corner.

“…”

“Oh, and one more thing. I heard that the place where Matsuda-san talked to the soccer club member was the park in front of the station. To be sure, we also checked the nearby security cameras and interviewed people who work there. We think the Tachibana-san we have in mind would probably do that. Besides, there is no way that a high school student would suddenly do such a thing. This series of events is connected. It’s reasonable to think so.”

“…”

It’s frightening how well he analyzes it.

“Well, that’s enough for today. But, Tachibana-san. Considering what you have said and done, your character, and the crimes you have been involved in, you will not be forgiven easily. And if left unchecked, you are expected to become even more evil. If you settle for a lenient punishment, it will leave a legacy of trouble in the future. At the very least, I cannot tolerate it. I will expose everything you are trying to hide… I am persistent.”

With that, the devilish old detective left with a noh mask smile.

How did it come to this? I feel myself being spiritually destroyed. I wonder how many more times I have to go through this harsh interrogation.

Hell had begun.