After breaking up, my ex asked me to win her back

Kagura Hikaru could understand people's hearts, yet he wasn't good at handling interpersonal relationships—as one could see from his interactions with Kiryu Hina.

But the good news was that he was sufficiently introverted and knew how to enjoy solitude; even without friends, even if no one spoke to him, he still managed to live contentedly.

This was also why, although he could have deceived Ruzaki Mami and secretly handled the matter, he chose to remain 'honest,' the core reason being that he wasn't afraid of being disliked.

Indeed, he had come to solve a problem, not to make enemies.

So his promise to Ruzaki Mami was genuine; Kagura Hikaru would ensure that when the truth came out, the innocent wouldn't get hurt.

Ironically, this 'Teacher Sato,' despite being the central figure in the entire blackmail incident, had yet to be seen.

Previously, he hadn't cared, but now he couldn't help but want to know more about him.

Kagura Hikaru thanked the member who had shown him the way and opened the door of the Disciplinary Committee office without surprise to see Ayakoji Chiyoko flipping through documents.

He knew Ayakoji Chiyoko wouldn't return home that early; after school, she would handle official duties at the Disciplinary Committee until the patrols were finished to ensure nothing went wrong at school in the absence of an authority.

Being diligent and conscientious was one of the reasons she was respected.

Upon hearing the classroom door open, Ayakoji Chiyoko looked up and, slightly surprised, raised her eyebrows, "Is there something?"

"Yes."

Kagura Hikaru sat opposite her and got straight to the point, "At noon, I came here to check on student records, remember?"

"Of course." Ayakoji Chiyoko set down the file in her hands and met Kagura's gaze, "Before, you said it was a personal matter and asked me not to intervene."

"Sorry, I was arrogant before. Now, there's been a mishap, and before it gets worse, I need the help of the Disciplinary Committee."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

Kagura Hikaru laid out the entire issue: the blackmail Ruzaki Mami faced, the involved language teacher, and the blackmailers he saw choosing to flee.

"Those three people hold a compromising photo of Ruzaki Mami and are using it to extort money," Kagura Hikaru said, "There might be copies of the photo."

"Photos, huh..." Ayakoji Chiyoko's gaze grew colder, then she nodded, "I will make those people spill everything they know."

"It would be good if the money taken from Ruzaki Mami could also be returned."

"I'll do my best."

"Thank you for that."

Given Ayakoji Chiyoko's character, even Kagura Hikaru couldn't predict how she would react to knowing a teacher was crossing the line within the school.

But fortunately, after he suggested keeping things confidential, Ayakoji Chiyoko agreed.

It wasn't that Kagura Hikaru had no opinion about the one who targeted the underage, but it was a matter of priorities and considering Ruzaki Mami's feelings.

After all, the main reason Ruzaki Mami was blackmailed was fear of her boyfriend's expulsion; it was best not to put the cart before the horse.

"That language teacher, Teacher Sato." Ayakoji Chiyoko clasped her hands on the table, thoughtful, "I have some impression of him, a young teacher who's fairly popular among the female students."

"Is there a problem with him?"

"No, on the contrary, he has an excellent reputation. Handsome, gentle and patient, high-quality teaching, and has solved a few problems for students in his class. From what he's shown, he doesn't seem like someone who would commit evil."

Ayakoji Chiyoko stood up, pulled out a rather thick file from a file cabinet beside her, and handed it to Kagura Hikaru.

The latter opened it to find that it indeed registered all the school teachers' details, even those who had left.

The first teacher on the first page, named 'Sato Seiji,' was a handsome, bespectacled man, fitting the current trendy intellectual male image.

It noted that he had joined as a new language teacher last year, replacing a retired staff member, and he was presently responsible for teaching second-year students.

Kagura Hikaru firmly memorized this person.

He must be Ruzaki Mami's boyfriend, and he too had suffered from extortion because of him.

Ruzaki Mami had said that she only told her boyfriend about seeking help.

Therefore, aside from random factors, looking from the existing clues, the person who leaked Kagura Hikaru's information to the third-year students allowing them to successfully escape, was very likely this Teacher Sato.

If this speculation were true, one could imagine, he definitely participated in extorting his own girlfriend, thus is also one of the criminals.

"Public opinion can't represent everything, right?" Kagura Hikaru raised his head and said.

Ayakoji Chiyoko smiled, a cold smile, her mood had been bad since she heard about the extortion in the school.

"If public opinion could represent a person's true quality, then the President of America would be both senile and a master strategist, both a warmonger and a savior of the world—others' opinions are just that, others' opinions, they represent nothing.

Including Ruzaki Mami, the Sato Seiji she sees, and the one we see are definitely not the same person."

"But whether Teacher Sato is innocent or a perpetrator in this extortion case hasn't been concluded yet, has it?"

"That's what we need to confirm next."

Ayakoji Chiyoko called the Discipline Committee member, instructing him to investigate the second-year national language teacher.

"Yes, President."

The Discipline Committee member promptly left.

After the person left, Kagura Hikaru tried to tease, "You're not the president anymore."

"Mouths are on their own bodies; I can't control them," Ayakoji Chiyoko hummed, saying this.

But by her appearance, she didn't seem displeased.

"So now there are two presidents in the Discipline Committee?"

"That's only in the clubroom. Outside, they won't talk too much."

Being able to chat leisurely like this was also proof of the improvement in their relationship.

Kagura Hikaru came to find the Discipline Committee this time not just for efficiency's sake, but also to deepen his connection with Ayakoji Chiyoko, which was also part of the reason.

He hadn't forgotten the task entrusted to him by Hina.

Task content: Befriend Ayakoji Chiyoko, then go to her house and retrieve something.

Anyone who had ever interacted with Ayakoji Chiyoko would be deeply impressed by her aloofness; it was hard to imagine who could become her friend, let alone enter her house.

Kagura Hikaru was aware of the difficulty of this task, yet he was undaunted.

Even the hardest iceberg would eventually melt if one was willing to spend time chipping away at it.

Indeed, Kagura Hikaru's 'friendship plan' had been underway for two years.

To conquer Ayakoji Chiyoko, the alpine flower upon this iceberg, it wouldn't be enough without this level of effort.

He believed that before graduation, he would definitely have a chance to fulfill Hina's purpose.

However, this time, increasing Ayakoji Chiyoko's affinity was just incidental, helping Ruzaki Mami solve her problem was the most urgent.

Lunch break was almost over without him realizing; Kagura Hikaru bid farewell to Ayakoji Chiyoko and rushed back to the classroom.

Before he left, Ayakoji Chiyoko told him that they would carry out the extortionist's arrest after school the next day if Kagura Hikaru was interested, he could come to watch.

Having the entire Disciplinary Committee as a backup was indeed reassuring; with their capabilities, this matter should be resolved quickly.

The next day, Kagura Hikaru was informed that the third-year students involved in the extortion were already under surveillance.

Ayakoji Chiyoko contacted him, and they arranged to act after school.