CH 18

Thinking about it, I thought it might not be a good idea to go to that family restaurant, but since the two of them didn’t know about it, I thought it would be hard to change now, so I decided to just go.

“Welcome… Yuuki kun, huh. What’s up today?”

“Hello, Iino senpai. I just came here to eat as usual.”

“I see….. Well, then, please go to that seat in the back.”

“Okay.”

I looked around the restaurant, but it seemed like those guys weren’t here today.

Anyway, I went back to the seat. It wasn’t visible from the outside, nor was it visible from the other seats. Iino senpai must have thought of something.

When I sat down, my sister sat down first, then I was made to sit next to her, and Natsuki came to sit next to me. It was a very tight space.

I could smell the sweet-scent from both sides, and I felt nervous because we were so close to each other.

I was careful not to show it on my face, and after ordering some food, we started talking.

“Okay, let’s get right to the point. I haven’t told you everything that was done to me, so let’s start there.”

“Eh, there’s more?”

“I’m sorry, I forgot to tell you.”

“I see……”

I told them what had happened at the restaurant last month.

“….Why doesn’t anybody call the police? Isn’t that crazy?”

“Yeah, about that. I told them not to do it. It’s too much trouble.”

[[Huh?]]

“Well, I didn’t want to go to the police either, and I didn’t really care. It’s pretty much a personal thing. I got some proof from the guy who was taking videos and pictures.

Both of them seemed to be at a loss for words. At the same time, I think they’re angry about something. Why?

I wasn’t particularly concerned, but when I told them at the time that they didn’t have to report it, the whole store was noisy. I have told Iino senpai and others that there was no need to report the incident, so I just got the evidence for now.

It doesn’t matter. I don’t care, I don’t think anything of it.

“Well, this won’t be the statute of limitations for a while yet. I’ve got some more work to do.”

“…well, okay. What do you mean by work?”

“First, I need more time. About…..three months, I guess.”

“Why? That’s a long time.”

“We need to gather other evidence and reduce the number of people who are on their side.”

“Is that so? If Yuuki kun says so, I guess it’s fine.”

As long as those guys continue to be popular, there’s a possibility that what they can do at school will decrease. 

“Well, everything I just said is based on the premise that I’m going to get back at them.”

[[You’re not going to get back at them?]]

“Eh? No, I don’t really–“

[[You’re not going to get back at them?]]

“…..Okay, I will. Yes.”

Scary. They seem angrier than me.

Angry? I’m not angry. I don’t really understand.

“Okay, good. Then let’s have a little discussion about the future.”

☆☆☆

We talked for about 30 minutes and came up with a general plan.

First, I would gather evidence as close to them as possible. Specifically, audio. I might be able to record their confession.

Next, Natsuki and my sister are going to hear rumors from the other seniors and investigate them.

They seem to be the type who do a lot of things, so we’ll find out a lot of things if we look for them.

I personally don’t want to get close to those guys, but if I don’t do it as soon as possible, I might get in trouble.

The troublesome part is–. …Huh? What is this?

I don’t know what I felt. No, maybe I don’t feel it.

Either way, it’s another feeling I don’t understand.

…Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that I have one more thing to do.

To the police. For the time being, I thought I would just go and tell them what had happened.

I didn’t want to tell them later, in case it’s too late. It was better to do it as soon as possible.

Once we made a decision, we acted immediately. So we headed for Natsuki’s father’s place.

Natsuki’s step father seemed to be one of the senior police force.

It’s a little scary, but I decided to go.

☆☆☆

We waited in front of a room at the police station.

Then someone came in front of us. He seemed to be a gentleman.

Then Natsuki,

“Stepfather, over here.”

Said Natsuki. I was relieved that he seemed kinder than I had expected.

“You guys… Well, come in.”

With that being said, we entered the room.

We were sitting on chairs on one side, and Natsuki’s step father was sitting on the other.

“First of all, let me tell you about myself. My name is Nakano Masayoshi, and I am Natsuki’s stepfather. I am a police superintendent.

Superintendent. I don’t know much about it, but it sounds pretty important.

While I was in a daze, Nakano san spoke to me.

“So? Why did you come here today?”

I told him what we had been doing.

“I see……. So you want to file a damage report?

“No, I don’t. I’d like to wait a bit before filing, but I thought it might be a good idea to come and tell you first. I don’t know much about these things…” 

I see. Right… I won’t ask the reason. May I see the evidence for the time being? The things that were done to you, and the things that happened in the store.”

“Yes. …..Um, is it okay if I don’t file a damage report yet?”

This is the one I’m most concerned about. I wasn’t familiar with this kind of thing, so I didn’t understand it well. As long as I could manage this, the rest would be no problem.

“Truthfully, I’d like you to file it immediately, but I’m sure you have your own reasons. I don’t really like to do this, but I’ll figure it out and let you know when I’m ready. But I want it done as soon as possible.”

‘So you don’t need me to file it yet?”

“….Yeah. For now.

“Thank you very much. I’ll be leaving then.”

When I was about to leave, Nakano san stopped me.

“I don’t know what you are going to do, but I can’t allow you to commit a crime yourself. Can you promise me that?”

“Yes. I don’t want to be like them either.”

With that, we left.