Saipan System

The silence in the room was suffocating.

Takama 's decision , as if he were a judge.

"I've already decided what I'm going to do," he said, crossing his arms.

Fujimoto 's heart seemed to be beating so loudly that you could hear it.

—Satoru​ Fujimoto , you will be punished.

A jolt of shock ran through the room.

— But… why?! — she shouted Fujimoto , desperate.

Takama adjusted his glasses, looking impassive.

" Satoru , what evidence do you have for yourself and against Takashi ?" the teacher asked.

The boy remained silent.

"You only have your word. And that's not enough," he continued . Takama .

"The cameras can prove it!" he tried . Fujimoto , her voice choked with emotion.

"Are there cameras in the bathroom?" he retorted. Takama .

— N-no , but if you could see—

"Enough talk. You will be punished," he said . Takama .

The sound of the sentence weighed like a stone.

"Class is over for today. Fujimoto , come with me to the courtyard. Takashi , you go to the principal's office," said the teacher.

Before leaving, a girl raised her hand.

Koharu .

"Professor, what was today's lesson?" the girl asked.

Takama seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"I was going to give you a test to assess your level... So I'll do it now," said the teacher.

He picked up a stack of papers from the table.

"I'll hand out the tests, but I'll collect the answer sheets afterward so that no one copies the answers," he said . Takama .

— (Seriously? We're going to pretend nothing happened and still take a test?) — I thought , incredulous.

"Furthermore, I will inform the administration that you will not have a break. Everyone will remain in the room, waiting for me to correct them," he added .

He closed the door and left with Fujimoto and Hiroshi.

The papers arrived on my desk.

I looked at the statement.

"Damn... this test is absurd. It looks more like an entrance exam for an elite wizard."

While I was trying to decipher the exercises, I noticed a murmur.

Almost the entire class was gathered around Koharu .

"Calm down, everyone. I can explain, but I can't give you the answers," she said calmly.

She picked up a piece of chalk, went to the board, and began to solve the problems, step by step.

Every gesture was clean, precise, and her patience was almost irritating in its admirable quality.

A few minutes later, he returned to his place.

— (She's amazing… I understood everything just by watching the explanation. She made the impossible seem simple.) — I thought , smiling to myself.

But the gentle sound of the chalk was replaced by something irritating.

Tap - tap-tap .

I looked to the side.

Fubuki Shouta , typing on his cell phone as if he were alone in the world.

I touched his shoulder. He was so startled he almost dropped his phone.

"Hey, can you stop making that noise?" I said .

" Okay ... okay," he replied , embarrassed.

That's when I noticed: he was wearing black gloves, even in the sweltering heat.

" Fubuki ... why do you wear gloves even in this heat?" I asked.

He looked away.

"Yeah... style. Now I need to sort something out," Shouta replied.

"Liar. What are you going to do?"

Shouta stood up and, before I knew it, climbed onto the table of the students in front.

The entire room turned around.

"What is he up to now?"

— Guys! I know you're confused about what happened earlier today, but there's no reason to doubt it! It's obvious what happened! Satoru Fujimoto is a pervert! He tried to blame Hiroshi to appear innocent! — He raised his voice.

A murmur echoed through the room.

"I know Hiroshi isn't perfect, but he would never do something like that. Now, Fujimoto ... just looking at him gives me the creeps and disgusts me! So, what do you think?!" Fubuki continued.

The silence lasted a second, and then came the sound of applause.

Many, almost all.

I looked around.

Counting mentally… only five students weren't applauding.

"So that's it... Fubuki is Hiroshi's little dog. And the rest of the class... the chorus of fear."

I crossed my arms, leaned back in my chair, and sighed.

"Saipan... you stink. And I'm going to find out why."

After Fubuki 's speech , the room calmed down.

He got down from the table, satisfied, and returned to his seat, full of swagger.

"It seems that life for that guy Satoru isn't going to be easy from now on... but honestly, that's not my problem."

I looked at Shouta . Something about him bothered me.

I touched his shoulder again.

"What is it now?" he asked , turning around.

"Do you know why Satoru went to the courtyard and Takashi to the principal's office?" I asked.

He looked at me with disdain.

"And what do I get out of telling you?" Shouta asked.

I crossed my arms.

"I can help you with the test. I'll give you the answers," I replied.

A small smile formed on his face.

— If it were Yui , I might even accept it. Yui Koharu is the smartest student in the school.

"So that's how it is? Everyone in this school drools over this girl?"

"Trust me. I give you my word that you will pass," I said firmly.

He studied my face, then gave a half-smile.

" Okay ," he said.

He looked around, making sure no one was paying attention.

"Apparently you entered this school without knowing anything, right?" Shouta asked.

"What do you mean by that?" I said, completely confused.

"Professor Takama has a black belt in karate and taekwondo ," Shouta explained.

— What?! — I almost blurted out.

— He “punishes” the students by hitting them in the courtyard. That’s his method. — Shouta continued the explanation.

I felt my stomach churn.

"So Takashi knew about this... that's why he set it up." Satoru knew he would be beaten up by his own teacher.

"Now, do your part, Mayumi . Help me with the test," Fubuki said impatiently.

" Okay . A promise is a promise," I sighed and said .

discreetly passed on some answers to him.

An hour later, the English class ended, and everyone awaited the return of Professor Takama .

The door opened. He entered with Takashi Hiroshi right behind him.

Fujimoto remained in the director's office after the punishment. But that doesn't matter. I've decided to call a break. Takama sat at the table, arranged the papers, and announced coldly:

The class reacted with a collective sigh of relief.

"But... on one condition," he said .

Relief turned into tension.

"I will evaluate the tests. Only those who received a B or A will be allowed to leave," said the professor.

A murmur echoed through the room.

"Amazing... the surprise test turned into a survival test."

Fubuki murmured beside me .

Takama began correcting the sheets, one by one.

The silence was so heavy that you could hear the sound of the graphite scratching on the paper.

After a few minutes, he stood up and began calling out names.

— Koharu Yui , Yumi Mayumi , Yuuki Tachibana , Sato Yuji and Shouta Fubuki .

Fubuki vibrated with excitement inside.

"The rest will stay here with me to review the content," he announced . Takama .

We got up, relieved, and headed down the hallway.

While the others ran towards the courtyard, I had another plan.

I went to look for Yui. Koharu .

I found her near the stairs, talking to two girls.

Her posture was calm, almost angelic.

"Hey, Yui . Can I talk to you for a moment?" I asked .

She looked at her friends.

"Girls, I'll be right back, okay ?" she said.

We went up to the terrace together.

The wind up there was light and cold.

"So... what did you want to talk about?" she asked .

"I wanted to know if you... are worried about Fujimoto ," I said.

Her eyes widened and her face flushed.

Smile.

"Then I was right," I said.

Before she could answer, we heard footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Damn. I wanted to talk to her alone."

The door opened, and it was Shouta .

"I finally found you, Yumi ," he said . Shouta .

— What?! — I blushed instantly.

"Idiot! Why are you calling me by my first name?!" I yelled.

He blushed too, trying to hide it.

But before he could say anything, Koharu grabbed his collar tightly and pulled him.

"Do you have a problem, Fubuki ?! Coming up here and interrupting a conversation without being asked?!" she said , with a furious look.

— I-I just—

"Shut up," she replied firmly.

Shouta froze.

I just stood there, speechless.

"That girl... has a frightening presence."

Koharu 's shoulder , trying to calm her down.

She was still holding Shouta by the collar, anger in her eyes, but she looked at me and, with a heavy sigh, let go of him.

Shouta coughed, adjusting his tie.

" D-don't tell me you... like Satoru ?" she asked . Shouta

Koharu turned her face away, her gaze sharp.

"I just can't stand seeing people suffer injustice and bullying . That's all," she replied . Koharu .

"Fair and firm. This girl is different from the others."

I decided to seize the moment.

"By the way, I have a question for you," I said.

"You can do it," she replied , still tense.

"How do things really work at this school?" I asked, curious.

Her expression changed.

Seriousness. Distrust.

"Don't tell anyone what you're about to hear," she whispered, leaning closer.

" Okay ," I agreed.

Saipan School is one of the best in Japan. Significant investments, excellent facilities… and a highly respected administration. The principal is Takashi . Katamuta . — she began , slowly.

I felt a chill.

"Wait... Hiroshi is the principal's son?" I said, shocked.

"Yes," Koharu replied bitterly.

"And that's where the problem begins. The 'dark side' of the school is that the principal allows his son to do whatever he wants. Anyone who doesn't bow down to Hiroshi... becomes a target of humiliation," he continued . Koharu .

My fist clenched.

"So even if someone tries to take the case to court, nothing happens, right?" I asked.

Koharu nodded.

" Katamuta is a very wealthy man. And power buys silence," he said . Koharu .

"Besides, the reason Satoru became the target of all this started six months ago. On Hiroshi's birthday, he threw a 'party' at school and made everyone kneel to congratulate him. Satoru refused. The rest... you can imagine." Shouta crossed his arms and finished.

"A school where the weak kneel and the cowards applaud..."

"This is practically a dictatorship," I said .

Shouta looked at me, then at Koharu .

"I think I know two ways to make Hiroshi stop chasing Satoru ," he said . Shouta .

We both stared at him.

— What do you mean? — he asked . Koharu , suspicious.

Shouta took a deep breath.

Satoru 's mother agrees to become the director's 'wife'... or if you, Yui , become Hiroshi's girlfriend," he explained . Shouta .

A silence froze the air.

"Have you gone mad?!" I yelled .

"Don't get me wrong. Koharu wouldn't need to do anything intimate. Just pretend. For him, it would be like winning a trophy. The most popular girl in school, by his side," she tried to explain.

Koharu clenched her fists.

"And what makes you think he wouldn't try anything with me?" she asked . Koharu .

Shouta lowered his gaze.

— I can guarantee that's not the case. I have… contacts. — he replied . Shouta .

"That's a lie. But it's a type of lie that reveals desperation."

Koharu took a deep breath and looked at me.

"Let's talk later, before the principal actually calls Satoru 's mother ," he said . Koharu .

We came down from the terrace together.

The hallway was too quiet.

That's when she walked past us.

An elegant, tall woman with golden hair and flawless skin.

For a moment, time stood still.

"No... it can't be..."

I felt my heart racing.

"You saw who it was, right?" Shouta commented casually.

Satoru 's mother ," Koharu replied.

But I was motionless, my hands trembling.

Koharu approached, looking worried.

" Mayumi , are you okay?" he asked . Koharu .

— Y-yes … — I replied quickly.

"I just need to... use the bathroom," I said.

Shouta nodded.

— Go ahead. We'll wait here. — he said . Shouta .

I hurried away, following the woman down the corridors.

Each step seemed to echo like thunder.

"I hope I'm wrong. I really hope so."

I saw when she went into the women's restroom.

I waited a few seconds and went in behind them.

She was standing in front of the mirror, touching up her lipstick.

The white light reflected off my blonde hair, and the heart inside me screamed the truth I didn't want to hear.

She accidentally dropped her lipstick.

I bent down and picked it up, extending it back.

"Here it is," I said.

She turned her face away.

And when our eyes met, the ground disappeared beneath my feet.

That woman... was Karina.

The blood drained from my face.

"Impossible... Karina... here?! Why?!"

My fingers were trembling.

The lipstick fell from my hand.

And the only thing I managed to do... was take a step back.