Tokyo: Restricted Tutor

Even if you want to speak ill of Hojo Saki Rei, you can only do it behind his back.

As the other person's words fell, the others also agreed with him and nodded.

"Yes, we all have the same thoughts on this matter, so there's no need to blame Saki Rei-kun."

"Saki Rei-kun isn't a god; if he really encountered ghosts or gods, he wouldn't be able to protect himself."

"But seriously, I thought Saki Rei-kun would be interested in the spiritual game in the art classroom and want to experience that thrill. But Saki Rei-kun hasn't gone near that place recently, which is a bit disappointing for me."

"By the way, do you think if Saki Rei-kun went, he would be taken away by those people? After all, he has strength."

"That's hard to say, who knows?"

"Those who played the spiritual game didn't make a sound when they were taken away, which is enough to show that the masterminds behind it are quite strong. It would probably be useless if Saki Rei-kun went."

"..."

As those two students spoke, the other students also started talking.

Hearing others defend Hojo Saki Rei, Esashi Ie Takuya became even more jealous of Hojo Saki Rei.

So, he said again, "Actually, I didn't mean to blame Saki Rei-kun. I just feel that although he has strength, he's too timid, and his belief in science is also a bit wavering; otherwise, how could he not go?"

Esashi Ie Takuya stopped there and sat directly in his seat.

It was as if the words he had just spoken were just casual remarks.

Of course, the speaker had no intention, but the listener took it to heart.

His words also made the other students feel that Hojo Saki Rei was indeed a coward.

After all, if it were someone else, they certainly wouldn't be afraid.

What's more, many of the students who went missing before didn't have the same strength as Hojo Saki Rei, but they still went.

Ultimately, this only shows that Hojo Saki Rei is timid.

However, although they thought so, these students did not dare to continue discussing Hojo Saki Rei.

Seeing the students around him, although they didn't say anything on the surface, it was clear from their expressions that they indeed considered Hojo Saki Rei a coward, and Esashi Ie Takuya's mood was excellent.

However, all of this was overheard by Asahi Rinka, who was not far away.

Originally, when Asahi Rinka heard the words Esashi Ie Takuya said, those words deliberately slandering Hojo Saki Rei, Asahi Rinka wanted to stand up and argue with him.

But seeing Hojo Saki Rei still eating, and seemingly eating very seriously and contentedly, she didn't want to disturb Hojo Saki Rei while he was eating.

But now.

She couldn't hold back anymore.

Looking at the people who had already shut up in the distance, Asahi Rinka slammed her hand on her desk, and then, as the other students looked over, wanting to see what had happened, Asahi Rinka spoke.

"Esashi Ie Takuya, how can you slander Saki Rei-kun? Don't you feel that what you said goes against your conscience? If you really have the strength, would you dare to go?"

Asahi Rinka's words came out of her mouth, and instantly, the entire Class Three became exceptionally quiet at this moment, as if a needle dropping could be heard.

And Esashi Ie Takuya, seeing that Hojo Saki Rei was just eating his breakfast, not bothering to argue with him at all, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But he never expected that while Hojo Saki Rei said nothing and didn't seem to plan on finding trouble with him, Asahi Rinka actually spoke?

For a moment, Esashi Ie Takuya was also intimidated by the aura Asahi Rinka displayed.

Because Esashi Ie Takuya saw that when Asahi Rinka looked at him, her eyes were full of coldness.

Seeing this, how could Esashi Ie Takuya not see that in Asahi Rinka's heart, he was just like an ordinary person.

At the same time, his already shattered heart shattered again at this moment.

"Yes, Rinka-san is right. What does strength have to do with courage? And so many people went missing during that time; everyone would be scared, right?"

"I don't think Esashi Ie Takuya is right. Whether others go or not has nothing to do with courage, and if they get caught, it just adds trouble and difficulty for the police."

"Exactly, every time the police came to our school before, they ended up helpless. Do you really think those police officers didn't feel any pressure?"

The students who had been misled by Esashi Ie Takuya just now immediately reacted after hearing Asahi Rinka's words.

At the same time, these students also recalled the grudges between Hojo Saki Rei and Esashi Ie Takuya.

Of course, it wasn't really a grudge; it was just that Esashi Ie Takuya wanted to pursue Asahi Rinka, was rejected by her, and that's why he kept trying to frame Hojo Saki Rei and make him look bad.

As a result, these students all started helping Asahi Rinka speak.

"Besides, how do you know that Saki Rei-kun hasn't been to that place?"

"And you've been praising the students who solved the case. How can you be sure it wasn't Saki Rei-kun who solved it?"

Just as the other students were reacting and starting to speak up for Asahi Rinka, they heard Asahi Rinka speak again.

Upon hearing this, everyone who was still helping Asahi Rinka speak also fell silent.

Then, they looked at Asahi Rinka with shocked and strange eyes.

Although they didn't know who solved the case, they were all sure that it couldn't be Hojo Saki Rei.

After all, Hojo Saki Rei was from Class 5; if Hojo Saki Rei had solved the case, wouldn't they, his classmates, know?

Of course, when they heard Asahi Rinka say this, they also felt that her words were a bit arrogant.

Although Esashi Ie Takuya's words just now were very unpleasant and directed at Hojo Saki Rei.

But they also felt that Asahi Rinka shouldn't put Hojo Saki Rei on the spot just because of Esashi Ie Takuya's few words.

Because who the person who solved the case was, it was impossible to impersonate them.

What's more, the school might actually hold an commendation ceremony today.

What if Asahi Rinka brings up Hojo Saki Rei now, and then at the commendation ceremony, the person isn't Hojo Saki Rei?

Almost everyone present knew that Asahi Rinka liked Hojo Saki Rei, and also knew that Hojo Saki Rei and Asahi Rinka had a very good relationship.

But this kind of thing cannot be replaced rashly; if it is exposed, it would be so embarrassing.

"Um... Rinka-san, he didn't really mean that. Let's just drop this topic, okay?"

A student stood up and said at this moment.

Although his relationship with Hojo Saki Rei and Asahi Rinka was just that of ordinary classmates, he didn't want Hojo Saki Rei to be embarrassed, so he wanted to end this topic at this moment.

Otherwise, Hojo Saki Rei would definitely be the one embarrassed, and he didn't want such a thing to happen.

"Yes, Rinka-san, Esashi Ie Takuya's just lost his mind; you don't need to bother with him."

A classmate saw it and quickly chimed in.

As for Esashi Ie Takuya, his mood was exceptionally bad when he saw that everyone was siding with Asahi Rinka and helping her speak.

After all, just as Asahi Rinka and those people said, even if he went, it would likely just add trouble for the police for nothing.

But now, Asahi Rinka said, how could he say Hojo Saki Rei hadn't been there, and asked him, how could he think the person who solved the case wasn't Hojo Saki Rei?

For Esashi Ie Takuya, who had always wanted to cause trouble for Hojo Saki Rei and Asahi Rinka, wasn't this just hitting the bullseye and giving him an opportunity?

So, Esashi Ie Takuya, who had originally intended to let it go, ignored whether the people around him were trying to persuade Asahi Rinka, and instead stood up directly and said to Asahi Rinka, "What a joke, who in Class 5 doesn't know you like Saki Rei-kun? And your relationship with Saki Rei-kun is better than that of ordinary lovers, so of course you're going to help him speak."

"But what you just said, why do I think Saki Rei-kun hasn't been to the art classroom, and why do I think he's not the one who solved the case, right? Then I'd like to ask, when did Saki Rei-kun go to the art classroom, and when did he solve the case?"

"Saki Rei-kun hasn't been to the art classroom these past few days, and it's not just me who knows; everyone else knows too. And I also know who has been to the art classroom."

"If you say Saki Rei-kun has been to the art classroom and that he solved the case, then please provide evidence, okay? Even if you can't, it's fine. Anyway, even if the school doesn't hold a commendation ceremony, they will broadcast a notice and praise those students."

At this point, Esashi Ie Takuya stopped speaking.

Because he never felt that this matter had anything to do with Hojo Saki Rei.

"Esashi Ie Takuya, you should say less. What does this have to do with you? We're all classmates in the same class; do you have to be so disrespectful?"

"Exactly, exactly. Saki Rei-kun has at least helped Class 5 win honors. I think what you're doing is somewhat inappropriate."

"Let's just drop this, okay? Everyone stop talking."

The students around him originally wanted to persuade Asahi Rinka, but now hearing Esashi Ie Takuya say this, they knew that Esashi Ie Takuya was unwilling to let it go and wanted to insult Hojo Saki Rei and them.

So, they all started speaking to Esashi Ie Takuya.

However, Esashi Ie Takuya found it so difficult to find an opportunity to humiliate Hojo Saki Rei and Asahi Rinka; he just felt very uncomfortable seeing how well Asahi Rinka treated Hojo Saki Rei.

Now that this situation provided a perfect opportunity to embarrass Hojo Saki Rei, how could he easily give up?

So, Esashi Ie Takuya simply didn't listen to what others said, or perhaps he pretended not to hear.

As for Asahi Rinka, after hearing Esashi Ie Takuya's words, a look of mockery immediately appeared on her face.

Although she didn't know why Esashi Ie Takuya was suddenly targeting Hojo Saki Rei today.

But since Esashi Ie Takuya had pursued her before, she knew that Esashi Ie Takuya must have been doing it on purpose, or perhaps he had been unhappy with Hojo Saki Rei ever since she rejected him.

For such a person, if Hojo Saki Rei didn't bother with him, she would help Hojo Saki Rei deal with him.

After all, in her eyes, only she could bully Hojo Saki Rei; anyone else bullying Hojo Saki Rei was bullying her!

Looking at Esashi Ie Takuya not far away, Asahi Rinka just felt that he was a complete clown.

"Alright, you want evidence? I went with Saki Rei-kun that day, so I was also involved in solving the case. Is this evidence enough?"

Asahi Rinka said.

Originally, everyone just thought that Asahi Rinka was just saying it casually.

But they didn't expect her to say such a thing now.

Instantly, almost all the students looked at Asahi Rinka with disbelief in their eyes.

Because they never expected Asahi Rinka to say such words.

Just now, Asahi Rinka said that Hojo Saki Rei was among the people who solved the case, which was already a bit difficult for them to help Asahi Rinka cover up.

Now, Asahi Rinka actually said that she had been there too.

For a moment, those who wanted to help Asahi Rinka cover up didn't know what to say.

After all, this kind of thing is hard to resolve.

Of course, there were also some who, upon hearing Asahi Rinka say this, became convinced that what she said must be true.

After all, no one would casually lie about such a thing.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be very embarrassing when the truth was revealed?

They all believed that Asahi Rinka was not someone who would speak carelessly just for a moment of satisfaction.

"Hahaha, Rinka-san, can you be any funnier? You say you're the evidence for the evidence I asked for? Then I can also be the evidence that you didn't go at all, and I went that night."

"And your relationship with Saki Rei-kun is so good, your evidence won't do, and I don't believe it."

Esashi Ie Takuya couldn't help but burst into laughter when he heard Asahi Rinka say that she could prove it.

As for the other students, they all fell silent when they saw the scene before them.

However, after only a few seconds, when they reacted, some students also started discussing at this time. (End of Chapter)