Chapter 268: The Club Manager’s…

The Club Manager’s…

The day of my juvenile hearing had come.

As expected, the details of the incident were reviewed calmly and methodically, just like in the rehearsed questioning.

I answered honestly so I wouldn’t make the same foolish mistake Kondo-kun had. Then I added a few words of token remorse.

It would be fine. I was a minor, so they couldn’t give me a heavy sentence. Besides, Ikenobu Eri, who was supposed to be the main concern, had only suffered minor injuries. That would be taken into account. Everything would be fine.

After a short wait, a middle-aged female judge returned and looked straight at me with a firm, unwavering gaze. I thought I could see a kind of resolve in her eyes. A bad feeling began to rise in my chest.

“Tachibana-san, your disposition has been decided. In this assault case, you are deemed the instigator and the leading party. Furthermore, the attack on Ikenobu Eri is viewed as a deliberate act carried out to conceal the evidence of your repeated harassment and criminal behavior toward Aono Eiji.”

She spoke in a calm, steady voice, but my sense of dread grew stronger. Wait, that couldn’t be true. There was no way. I was still a minor!

“Even taking your age of eighteen into account, this case remains extremely malicious. At your age, you should already have the judgment to tell right from wrong, yet you went as far as to cover up your actions. You used another person for communication and chose a foreign social media platform to hide your tracks. This clearly shows planning and awareness that what you were doing was a crime. In light of this, we must take the matter seriously and impose a strict punishment.”

It felt like I was being judged as a true criminal.

“Therefore, you are to be referred to the public prosecutor. Simply put, you will be tried as an adult for this case. Do you understand?”

Her words were cold yet powerful, and although I was momentarily overwhelmed, I couldn’t stop myself from speaking up.

“I’m still a minor. I can’t accept a ruling like this.”

At my words, the judge let out a heavy sigh.

“How disappointing. So your expressions of remorse were only for show. Listen carefully, Tachibana-san. Being a minor does not exempt you from guilt. You have committed a deeply malicious crime.”

She dismissed my protest completely and stood up from her seat. I sat there in shock, unable to move. If things stayed like this, I would have a criminal record. The thought terrified me.