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Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: No Mouth That Can't Be Opened

"Move," Utaha ordered coldly.

She was certain—Yoru had stolen her panties and stockings.

Only someone like him had the guts to do it.

"But what if you don't find anything?" Yoru said, pain shooting from his palm as he stood in her way.

"If you don't find them, then what?"

"Are you going to say I hid them somewhere else?"

"And then what? What happens to me then, Kasumigaoka Utaha?!"

Yoru shouted back with all he had, finally fighting for himself.

This was the first time in Yoru's entire life that he had mustered up even a shred of courage.

And he used it all—just to prove his innocence.

"You're still trying to deny it?" Utaha hesitated briefly, then sneered coldly.

"So that's it—you hid the stuff in advance, and that's why you're acting all smug?"

"You… why can't it be that…"

"It's just… that…"

Yoru tried to defend himself, stammering helplessly under Utaha's pressure. His tongue felt tied in knots.

His hands flailed as he tried to find the right words, racking his brain in panic.

He had planned what to say.

But the moment grew too tense—and he forgot everything.

He just couldn't hold on to the point he wanted to make.

"What do you think, Hayasaka?" Kaguya turned to the girl beside her and asked in a low voice.

"Well…"

"Kaguya-sama, if we're speaking in terms of probability, there is still a slight chance he didn't steal the panties and stockings."

"But it's fine even if we don't find evidence."

"There are always ways to pry open someone's mouth."

Hayasaka stroked her chin in thought for a few seconds before replying.

If gentle methods didn't work, there were always harsher ones…

Lie detectors, psychological drugs, even torture—all viable options.

Hayasaka considered them silently.

Still, she believed without a doubt that Yoru was the culprit.

It wasn't unusual for physical evidence to be missing—it could easily be hidden or destroyed by fire.

"Let's wait a bit—hold on a moment," Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly said, puffing on her cigarette and squeezing through the crowd.

She stepped between Yoru and Utaha, separating the two.

"Hah… Utaha, don't push him too hard yet. Let him speak first," Hiratsuka said while exhaling smoke.

Yoru saw this and eagerly nodded, using the pain in his hand to keep himself focused, breathing deeply to calm down.

"…Fine. I'll hear what kind of excuse you've got," Utaha said with a sneer, stepping back in disgust.

"You too—don't rush. Take your time," Hiratsuka sighed inwardly.

She couldn't stand to watch anymore. Seeing how Yoru couldn't even speak clearly, she had to step in.

"Thank you, teacher. I… I'm okay now," Yoru nodded hard, his heart filled with gratitude as he looked at Hiratsuka.

At least she was giving him a chance to speak instead of immediately attacking him like Kirisu Mafuyu.

"What were you going to say?"

Hiratsuka stubbed out her cigarette and looked at Yoru, then continued on her own:

"Were you going to say—why must the culprit definitely be you?"

"Couldn't it be another boy, who saw a good opportunity and knew no one would suspect him, so he boldly did it—because you'd be the perfect scapegoat?"

"Couldn't it be a jealous girl who hated you, wanted to mess with your life, wanted revenge?"

Yoru's eyes widened with excitement—he almost bit his tongue.

Hiratsuka had basically said everything he wanted to say.

"Yes, yes, that's exactly it, Hiratsuka-sensei!"

"Why can't these possibilities be considered too?"

"You know as well as I do that plenty of girls at school are jealous of you, and lots of guys have a crush on you. Some people even offer high prices for your panties and stockings—don't those count as motives too?"

Yoru raised his head and boldly met Utaha's gaze.

Facing his determined eyes, Utaha hesitated for a second and took a deep breath.

She began to consider what Yoru had said.

Indeed, there had been rumors of people paying insane prices for her panties and stockings. She knew that.

And it was also true that some girls—especially ones from Shuchiin Academy—didn't like her and would occasionally cause trouble.

"But that doesn't clear your name," Utaha replied, her voice slightly softened but still stern.

Kaguya turned and exchanged a glance with Hayasaka—an unspoken, mutual understanding.

Kaguya wasn't all that concerned with who stole Utaha's underwear.

What she cared about was: who the culprit was, whether they had taken pictures of her, or done anything to her.

Yoru's response caused a bit of wavering in both Utaha and Kaguya.

But the crowd outside wasn't having it—neither the boys nor the girls could sit still.

Because Yoru had just shifted suspicion onto them!

"Hey, you disgusting fat creep—what the hell are you saying? Kasumigaoka-senpai's my idol! Who would want to hurt her?"

"Fat bastard, you were drooling over her thighs before, and now you want to act innocent? Innocent act, seriously?"

"I've never heard of anyone offering high prices for her underwear!"

"Kasumigaoka-senpai, don't be fooled by that pig-faced pervert! He must've prepared this whole excuse in advance. He's predicting your predictions!"

"Look at how he pretended to be clueless earlier. It was all fake. He's a damn actor!"

"He must've hidden the evidence somewhere, betting on the fact that you've got no proof and can't do anything!"

The crowd exploded again—outraged boys and girls alike took turns shouting their accusations and wild theories at Yoru.

To them, Yoru looked like the criminal.

And no matter what the suspect says, no one believes them.

"I think we should just call the police," Kirisu finally said in frustration.

"No. That's the last resort," Hiratsuka shook her head and glanced sideways at Yoru.

In this kind of case, the police might not be helpful at all.

They'd probably just gloss over the whole thing, especially since it involved someone like Shinomiya Kaguya.

Even if Yoru was innocent, he'd likely be treated as the scapegoat or get a lifelong criminal record.

That stain would ruin him—not just getting expelled from school, but even future jobs would be impossible.

His life would be completely destroyed.

If he wasn't the real culprit.

Maybe Yoru's sincerity had moved Hiratsuka a little.

Off to the side, Yoru stood silently in front of his tent.

While keeping an eye on Utaha, he also listened intently to the teachers' conversation.

When he heard Kirisu still wanted to call the police, he panicked again.

But hearing Hiratsuka speak up for him filled his heart with gratitude.

Aside from his parents, no one had ever genuinely cared for him like this.

"…Fine."

Kirisu opened her mouth, then looked away from Hiratsuka and turned to Yoru.

She took a step forward and stood directly in front of him.

Her tone and expression were cold, her eyes filled with open disgust.

"Yoru, if you did steal Kasumigaoka Utaha's belongings, then hand them over."

To Kirisu, if Yoru was innocent, why was he so afraid of the police?

Wouldn't letting them handle it be better?

Only criminals feared the police, right?

In cases of harassment and theft, these were serious crimes—of course the police should handle them.

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