Chapter 26: What If He Could No Longer Make Excuses?

『Could you please look at this? This is a video I happened to see the other day of an exchange between Kiyama-kun and a group of delinquents...』

「He had something like that...」

「He's a sly one, oi.」

All of us in this room were now impressed by Taki, who looked like a gentle young man but was surprisingly capable.

『I will now play it.』

『Wha?! W-W-Wait a minute!!』

『Be quiet, Kiyama! Taki, go ahead. Show it to us.』

『Very well...』

The content that was played came through so clearly that it was strangely easy to hear even over the radio.

『I'm counting on you for the usual. Of course, I'll make sure the reward is handsome. This is the down payment, take it.』

『...Certainly. Well now, sorry to be a bother, young master Kiyama, we're always in your debt.』

『All of us can't sleep with our feet pointed towards Kiyama-sama! It feels bad just having to cause a little ruckus. Ahahaha!』

『If you overdo it, it will interfere with both of our future activities, so the current balance is best. It would be a problem for you guys too if you couldn't make easy pocket money, right? Let's continue to get along as business partners from now on.』

『Goodness, what a wicked man you are. Guhhihhihhi!!』

「To think an exchange like something out of a period drama could happen in real life...」

「I'm surprised too. To think that bastard Kiyama was such a textbook corrupt magistrate.」

I couldn't help but look at Yuu, and we both exchanged wry smiles.

『Kiyama-kun, what is this? If I recall correctly, you have settled their problematic behavior several times, have you not?』

『N-No! This is also some kind of mistake!!』

『A few hours after this exchange, just as Sensei said, the delinquent group was engaging in shakedowns on school grounds. Kiyama-kun swooped in as if he was aiming for that exact moment, and as a result, the victimized student did not have a single yen taken from them. And after that, Kiyama-kun met up with the delinquent group again in a place out of public view and gave them money. I have a picture of that moment here as well.』

Because it's over the radio, we can't see what's happening, but from the stir among the teachers, they were probably shown the photo in question.

『As for his relationships with women, I cannot say anything for certain as I have not seen it with my own eyes, but it is a fact that he used money to illicitly build his reputation. For that reason, I have judged Kiyama-kun to be a person who, while maintaining a good facade, is secretly a highly immoral individual who has no qualms about doing dirty things to satisfy his own desires. And I believe this current matter is of a similar nature.』

『L-Lies! This! How could this be!!?』

『Kiyama-kun, aren't you being a bit of a sore loser? As someone from the same student council, I can't bear to see you disgrace yourself any further. I think you should at least confess your crimes honestly in the end.』

「Hyuu! Taki's really laying it on him!」

「Idiot, I told you you're too loud. ...But it's a fact that was satisfying. I never thought he'd dish it out so bluntly.」

While scolding the excited Yuu, I was impressed by Taki's skill.

No, seriously, this guy is amazing!

It was just as I thought that.

──when Kiyama suddenly started to let out a strange cry.