After the unfortunate incident involving Shiho Suzui, Shujin Academy descended into chaos. Students began filming the girl's fall and uploading the video onto social media, causing it to trend rapidly. It wouldn't be long before the video went to the news tonight. In response, Principal Kobayakawa decided to release the students early for the day so he and the teachers could devise a place to address the situation.

Kawakami anxiously waited outside her classroom, scanning the hallway for Makoto or Akira. As the students returned to their classes, she noticed Akira was conspicuously absent, and based on what Inui had mentioned, Sakamoto was also missing. Frustration welled up within her, manifesting an exasperated sigh. "This is such a pain in the ass. My relatives are sure to ask about the incident," she grumbled, glancing down at her watch. "Not to mention, I'm going to be late for this damn meeting and work. Ugh, I'll have to work overtime tonight."

"Kawakami-sensei!" a voice called out.

Kawakami turned to see Makoto striding towards her. When she stopped before the older woman, Kawakami did a double take. Usually, the student council president exuded discipline, but at this moment, Makoto appeared confused and stressed. "Yes, Niijima-san? Did you fine Kurusu-san?"

Makoto hesitated and began to explain, "Yes, but –"

"Good, well then," Kawakami interrupted as she closed the classroom door, "I have to attend an emergency meeting, which I'm already late for."

"But –"

Kawakami pinched the bridge of her nose in annoyance. "Niijima-san, thank you for finding Kurusu-san, but I don't have time for this. I already told you I have to go to the faculty meeting. We will talk tomorrow, okay?" Before Makoto could respond, Kawakami briskly walked toward the faculty room.

Upon her arrival, Kawakami could hear frantic voices among her colleagues and the principal. She took a deep breath before entering the room, drawing everyone's attention. "Late as always," Chouno mumbled to Usami.

Kawakami rolled her eyes at the English teacher's snide remark before saying, "Sorry I'm late. Had to deal with a student." She found an empty chair next to Hiruta.

Kobayakawa scolded her, "This is a serious situation we're in, Kawakami-san. Please don't come in late again." Before she could apologize once more, Kobayakawa moved on to the next topic. "We must ensure that students are always off their cellular devices. It's the reason why Suzui-san's fall is all over the web. Shujin Academy is a place for learning, not for spreading anything that can damage the school's reputation. I'll talk to Niijima-san tomorrow to make a sign. Any comments?" Kobayakawa asked, and to everyone's surprise, Kamoshida raised his hand. "Yes, Kamoshida-san?"

"Principal Kobayakawa, I hate adding more stress, but we must discuss this." Kamoshida shot a disapproving look at Kawakami. "With everyone distracted by Suzui-san's fall, Sakamoto, Mishima, and Kurusu decided to come to my office and threaten me."

Kawakami's eyes widened. "What?" Is Kamoshida telling the truth? Was that the reason why he wasn't in attendance? And Mishima-san, too?

Kamoshida smirked before continuing. "I warned you, Principal Kobayakawa, that having a troublesome student in Shujin would cause problems. Not only that, but he teamed up with Sakamoto and probably blackmailed Mishima into their little scheme. So, during the next board meeting, I suggest expulsion immediately."

"I understand, Kamoshida," Kobayakawa said.

"Hold up," Kawakami was about to voice her opinion until Chouno intervened.

"Serves them right," Chouno said. "I overheard my students saying that Sakamoto and Kurusu were harassing the volleyball team. They were asking strange questions about Kamoshida-san. Not only that but Kurusu was also seen harassing poor Suzui-san. Maybe he's the reason why she jumped in the first place."

Kobayakawa raised his chubby hand to silence Chouno. "Chouno-san, don't make such terrible accusations," he scolded. She scoffed but went silent. "But it's true that Kurusu-san has been causing trouble alongside Sakamoto-san. Given both of their troubling past, I'm not surprised. I foolishly believed that Kurusu-san would change for the better."

"Well, apparently, that didn't work," Kamoshida said. "I told you that Kawakami-san," he glanced at her, "wasn't fit to handle a delinquent. And now look what happened. I no longer want stress on my students or me before nationals."

"I understand."

###

It was late when Akira trudged his way to Café Leblanc. After leaving the school grounds, he roamed Central Street, trying to clear his mind about what lay ahead. Unfortunately, it didn't help, as Akira's phone buzzed with numerous text messages from Ryuji. Of course, Akira ignored them; he didn't want to trigger another panic attack thinking about the looming expulsion. So now, Akira stood outside in the chill air, staring at the neon 'OPEN' sign.

The French door suddenly swung open, revealing a worried Wakaba. She sighed in relief upon seeing her husband's ward, but her face quickly shifted to a stern expression. "Where have you been?" She inquired. Akira opened his mouth to respond, but the older woman wasn't interested. "Never mind that, just come inside."

Akira remained silent as he followed Wakaba into the café, where Sojiro was waiting. The café owner stood in the center of the room, arms crossed and eyes burning with rage. "So, you finally decided to bring your cowardly ass home, huh?"

"Sojiro!"

"Don't start coddling him now, Wakaba," Sojiro scolded, eyes fixed on Akira. "The boy doesn't seem to understand his position right now. He needs to face the consequences for his actions." He walked up to Akira, their eyes level, with Akira being only an inch taller. "Kawakami-san was here about two hours ago in distress. She informed me that a girl had attempted suicide, and all the students were allowed to leave. However, you were nowhere to be found when she took attendance. Moreover, while she was concerned about your dumbass, she had to attend a faculty meeting. And guess what she said to me?"

Akira's gaze dropped, and he remained silent.

Sojiro let out a snort. "Oh, now you don't want to say anything, huh? But you were perfectly fine threatening a staff member. Kawakami-san was bewildered and upset when she learned that a student she was responsible for had joined two others in threatening a teacher while the school was on high alert."

"That's not –"

"No," Sojiro shook his head. "No, this is where you stay quiet when an adult is talking!" He bit his lower lip and pointed an accusing finger at Akira. "I warned you the day you arrived here that you'd be gone if you caused any trouble. Dammit, Akira, don't realize what's going to happen to you now?" Akira said nothing, and Sojiro scoffed. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, boy!"

Akira lifted his head, tears finally streaming down his face. "I'm sorry, okay! Is that what you want to hear? I bet you'll be delighted when I'm out of your life. You've hated me from the moment I stepped foot in here." He tilted his head to the side. "How much money did my parents pay you, huh? That's the only reason you took me in."

Sojiro moved to grab the teenage boy, but Wakaba stepped between them, placing her tiny hands on her husband's chest, her eyes imploring him to calm down. Tension filled the air as Sojiro glanced at Wakaba, then rubbed his beard. "Go upstairs," he said quietly, "before I regret something."

Wakaba turned her gaze to Akira and gestured for him to follow Sojiro's orders. Akira threw an apologetic look toward Wakaba and went upstairs. He tossed his bag in the corner of the room, then slumped onto his bed, tears streaming down his face.

###

Ryuji entered the apartment complex, exchanging greetings with the residents as he went home. Upon opening the door, he found his mom sprawled on the couch, her work clothes disheveled and her hair a mess. "Hey, Mom," Ryuji greeted. "I didn't expect you home so early." He walked around the couch and took a seat beside her. She remained silent, her gaze fixed on the coffee table. "Mom, what's wrong? Did something happen at work?"

"No," she replied, rubbing her eyes. "Ryuji, honey, what's going on? Your school left a voicemail saying that the board discussed your expulsion. After the Kamoshida incident, I thought you'd stay out of trouble. You promised me."

"Look," Ryuji turned to face his mother, "I know this may seem bad, but this is Kamoshida's doin'. Even though I did punch that bastard in the face," he mumbled.

"What!?"

Ryuji defensively raised his hands. "I had a reason, alright? A girl almost died today because of him, and he… he wants to expel us because we're nothin' but delinquents to the school."

"Us?" Ryuji's mother inquired.

"Mainly Akira and I," Ryuji explained. "Kamoshida said that the board will gladly kick us out due to our reputation. And Mishima was in the wrong place at the wrong time, even though the rat released Akira's criminal record."

The older woman ran her fingers through her hair in a sign of distress. "What on earth is happening at that school? Your father was right. Shujin Academy is nothing but garbage for people like us. I should have transferred you out of the school after what Kamoshida did to you and your leg. I'm a terrible mother!" Tears welled up in her eyes and fell onto Ryuji's hand.

Ryuji wrapped his arm around her and drew her closer to his chest. "Mom, don't blame yourself, and don't you dare say that Dad was right. None of this is your fault. Everythin' is happenin' because of Kamoshida. But I'm gonna do somethin' about it, Mom, so that bastard can't hurt anyone else anymore."

Ryuji felt his mom's body relax in his embrace. He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and noticed she had fallen asleep. Carefully, Ryuji laid his mom on the couch and found a blanket to cover her. He deeply sympathized with his mother, who worked all day and only earned enough for bills and food. Ryuji had wanted to get a part-time job numerous times, but she had told him that she was the adult and he was the child, emphasizing that he should focus more on school than taking care of her.

After kissing his mom on the cheek, Ryuji turned off the lamp and headed to his room.

###

Makoto took the key to her and her sister's apartment and entered. She switched on the lights and found it just as she left it: empty. Sae was nowhere to be seen, but that was hardly surprising. Her older sister had become a workaholic, rarely staying home. After their father's passing, Sae had changed, shifting from a friendly personality to a cold-hearted workaholic who put in long hours. Initially, Makoto had been concerned for Sae, but whenever she tried to talk to her sister about it, Sae would scold her. So, all the high schooler could do was strive to be the accomplished student her sister expected her to be.

Glancing up at the clock on the wall, Makoto headed towards her room to start some homework. She took out her pencil, paper, and math textbook but found it difficult to pick up the pencil. She sighed deeply, resting her elbows on the wooden desk. Her mind was preoccupied with the unfortunate events surrounding Shiho Suzui. Principal Kobayakawa hoped to sweep the incident under the rug. Still, it seemed impossible, with students already posting videos and pictures on social media, not to mention that Akira was a source of concern for Makoto.

Just then, Makoto's stomach growled, breaking the silence in the room. "Maybe a hot meal will calm my nerves," Makoto mumbled to herself. She went into the kitchen and decided to make Miso Soup, even making an extra serving in case Sae returned. While eating, Makoto unconsciously picked up her phone, logged into her social media account, and watched videos of Shiho's fall. The footage sickened her, and the comments were no better. Some students, even those from different schools, commented that Shiho was seeking attention, while others prayed for her recovery.

The front door opened, revealing a somewhat weary Sae. Makoto quickly closed the app and watched her sister unbutton her jacket and place her briefcase near the door. "Oh, Sis, you're here. I felt you'd make it home tonight, so I made dinner. I hope you have a taste for Miso Soup," Makoto said as she got up to bring Sae her meal.

A flash of annoyance crossed Sae's face. "Some employees fell ill, so the director sent everyone home for the night right when I was working on an important case." She sat down and glanced at the soup. "But I am hungry, and this does look delicious, Makoto," she admitted. Makoto quietly thanked her.

After a few minutes of silence, Sae decided to start a conversation. "So, how was school today?" she inquired. "I heard that a student jumped off of the rooftop. Thank God she's okay, but I hope that didn't interfere with your studies."

"Not really," Makoto replied. "The principal dismissed school early while the faculty had an emergency meeting. The Student Council also discussed how to support the students affected by the incident. Everyone was still in shock, so we didn't accomplish much."

Sae frowned. "Well, just make sure you're not distracted from your studies. Do you understand?" Makoto nodded, and Sae sighed. "You're already busy with that troubled transfer student. Speaking of him, has he caused you any trouble?"

"No," Makoto shook her head. "I canceled our session today because of Suzui-san's incident. Kurusu-kun knows the girl's best friend, so I thought it would be difficult for him. Besides, the entire school is on edge because of the event. The principal and teachers are working to help the students feel at ease."

The two sisters ate in silence for the remainder of dinner. Afterward, Sae got up and left her plate in the sink. "I'm going to take a bath," she announced, gathering her things and heading to her bedroom. Makoto let out a sigh and slumped her shoulders as she heard the sound of the bath running in the background. She got up, washed the dishes, and headed to her room.

###

Wakaba couldn't bear to look at her husband as she went through her nightly routine before bed. Since they left the café after Akira went to his room – Wakaba still called it an attic – she hadn't spoken to Sojiro. She couldn't get over that he would have kicked the young boy out if she hadn't been there. At that moment, Wakaba saw a side of her husband she never wanted to see again. Sojiro was strict, but sending a kid into the cold was unreasonable.

Wakaba turned off the bathroom lights and headed to her side of the bed while Sojiro lay on the covers, engrossed in a crossword puzzle. She took off her glasses and set them on the nightstand before crawling under the sheets. Sojiro glanced at her and then back on the puzzle, clearing his throat. "What's a nine-letter word that means medicine of varying legality?"

"Narcotics," Wakaba replied dryly.

Sojiro snorted. "Oh, now she wants to speak to me."

"You're the one that asked me a question. What else am I supposed to do? Ignore you?"

"Well, you've been giving me the silent treatment since we left the café."

"And whose fault it that, I wonder?" Wakaba retorted.

"You know what?" Sojiro mumbled, closing the puzzle book and placing it on his nightstand. He turned his upper body toward Wakaba. "Let's talk like adults. What got you so goddamn pissed?"

Wakaba huffed, rolled onto her back, and sat up, leaning against the bed frame. "Don't act stupid. You know why."

"No, I don't," Sojiro said, then his memory recalled the events at the café with Akira, and he let out a dry chuckle. "Are you angry at me because of my reaction to Akira's little stunt at school? Are you serious right now? So, I'm not supposed to be angry at that?"

Wakaba closed her eyes, slowly inhaling and exhaling. She rarely got angry at anything Sojiro did, but she was about two seconds away from screaming. "I'm not mad at you about Akira's expulsion," she clarified. "Trust me, I'm angry too. I'm mad because you were about to kick the poor boy out of the only place he could stay… for free."

"If I had known what a pain in the ass he'd be, I'd have taken the money," Sojiro mumbled.

"Oh, shut up. No, you wouldn't," Wakaba retorted. "I was the one who suggested that you accept the money, but what did you tell me?" She tapped her index finger on her chin. "Oh, I remember now. You said – and I quote – that Akira reminds you of your younger self, and it felt wrong to take money from a kid who did the right thing."

Sojiro cast his eyes downward. "You have the memory of an elephant, which can be a gift or a curse."

"So," Wakaba continued, "it disappointed me that the same man would so easily send the boy out onto the streets."

"I wasn't going to kick Akira out entirely, alright?" Sojiro argued. "I was going to send him to Takemi's place until I'm ready for him to return."

"And when will that be?"

Sojiro shrugged. "A few days before the board meeting."

Wakaba stared blankly at her husband before turning onto her side to sleep. "You're unbelievable, you know that?" The bedroom fell silent until Wakaba spoke up again. "Do you honestly think Akira would assault a teacher? I know he has that criminal record, but don't you think it's strange?"

"I thought so too when Kawakami-san spoke to me," Sojiro agreed. "But we won't know anything until Akira tells us. And until then," he stretched out his arm to turn off the lamp. "Let's get some rest."