LMLCG – Episode 16 – What’s the Best Way to Handle This?

This isn’t a game or a manga. There is no way I can take on all these guys alone.

The only reason it had worked up to now was because of the momentum and the element of surprise. I wasn’t secretly strong or anything convenient like that.

To buy time while I searched for a way out, I decided to drag out the conversation.

Besides, I remembered Senpai once said the rooftop was off-limits, and people had been reported for being there.

If I could stall long enough, maybe someone from the student council, or anyone, would hear the commotion and come.

“That’s my line.”

I stood slightly sideways, using my body to shield Senpai from their view as best I could.

“Ah…”

I thought I heard Senpai let out a quiet, oddly misplaced sound, but I couldn’t worry about that now.

“What were you planning to do?”

I didn’t really want Senpai to hear this, but dragging the conversation out was my priority.

“Hah? Obviously, we were gonna mess her up, take a few souvenir pics, and make sure she never acts high and mighty again.”

“Uuh, such a badass.”

“Hey, you’re part of this too, aren’t ya?”

…I already knew that without even having to hear it.

“I’ll report exactly what I just heard, you know.”

“With no proof? All you’ve got is evidence that you beat one of us up. We’ll just say you were jealous and attacked a guy who was trying to confess. We’ll spin that story as far as it’ll go.”

“GYAHAHAHA!”

Seriously, why do guys like this always laugh in a way that screams, “I’m an idiot?”

“Thanks for the confession. Really helpful, how incredibly stupid you are.”

I don’t know when she arrived… Senpai’s friend was standing at the rooftop entrance, with her phone’s camera pointed straight at them.

Following her, a male student came in. I’m sure he’s the student council president…

“As you can see, I’ve recorded the whole ‘we’re gonna mess her up’ part. She just left, but someone else recorded it too, so breaking this phone won’t help.”

Looks like we were saved.

She must’ve picked up on something from the atmosphere earlier, even without a full explanation.

Either way, I was seriously grateful.

Then the president spoke.

“Even if it didn’t escalate to an actual crime, we have evidence of criminal act here. We can submit this to the police, have you all taken in for questioning. Or, we’ll call your parents and show them the video of their sons attempting group assault on a woman… So, what’ll it be?”

“……………”

“Let me add this: civil lawsuits, social repercussions, there are a lot of ways this can go. You were prepared to face those consequences before taking action, right?”

“Wait, that’s way too much…”

“I wasn’t even involved…”

“He’s the one who touched her!”

So now they’re trying to pin everything on one guy?

“Please spare me! I swear I’ll never do anything like this again!!”

The guy I punched, still sitting on the ground, looked like he was panicking. Probably realized he’d take the biggest fall.

Honestly, I wanted to beat the hell out of all of them and see them suffer under police custody.

But when I thought seriously about Senpai… Making this a big public case… I wasn’t sure that was right either.

If it became a legal matter and the idiots’ parents got involved, not only would the video be evidence, but the fact that Senpai was their target would have to come out.

Even if we kept her name out of it, people who already knew would talk. It would definitely become a topic at school.

And what would happen to Senpai then…?

As I thought that, I realized, I still hadn’t let go of her.

“Sorry, Senpai. Looks like it’s safe now.”

When I let go of her, she looked at me.

She wasn’t crying anymore.

Her usual blank expression, but it looks like she was trying to say something.

The student council president continued.

“However, if you all swear not to breathe a word of this, and never approach Sakugawa-san again, including your friends, I’ll consider holding off on punishment. If the police get involved, we’ll have to deal with the wider impact on the school and other students. But if I determine any part of the agreement was broken, I’ll take everything, including the video, to the police and follow through to the end. If that happens, not only you but your families will also… I don’t think I need to spell it out for you any further, do I?”

…I see. Maybe the president was thinking the same things I was.

But honestly, I didn’t know if this is the right decision.

A part of me felt like letting the police handle it would be best, but what if doing that cornered them so much it made them vengeful?

Would it be cleaner to let them off in a way that forced them to back off without leaving lasting resentment?

All kinds of possibilities ran through my mind. I didn’t know what the best course of action would be.

While I was worrying, the president didn’t give them a chance to think. He finished his explanation in one go.

If people believed it was about protecting the school’s image, and not leniency, then even if the law got involved later, it wouldn’t fall on us.

“P-please! I swear, we won’t do anything!”

“I was just watching! I won’t come near her ever again!”

“I’m so sorry, Sakugawa-san!!”

“Please! Please forgive me! Don’t call the cops!!”

…In the end, I could only leave it to the president. It was frustrating.

Still, how could they do something this extreme and not even consider how bad it could get?

Seriously immature.

…Speaking of which, Senpai hadn’t said a word for a while now.

I glanced over at her. She was still expressionless, just staring silently at my face…

And now that I noticed…

Uh… She’s holding onto the hem of my blazer, and not letting go…? And she’s been staring at me this whole time…

What… does this mean…?