During lunch break, after eating, students generally have free time.
Some exercise a bit, some nap to recharge for the afternoon classes, and of course, there are those...
...flirting couples.
Shuchiin Academy might be an elite school, but there's no way they could completely stop students from dating. Even with strict school rules, someone always breaks them.
Scenes of young couples interacting in gardens or on the lawn are quite common.
"Tch, these kids have no sense of crisis. All they do is waste time like this. I can't see a future in any of them."
Takamine Rinji observed the corners of the schoolyard through binoculars while gnawing on a red bean bun for lunch.
"What's with you all of a sudden? You're radiating this aura of 'I hate youth'."
Ishigami Yuu, eating his lunchbox at his desk, looked somewhat embarrassed at Rinji, who was muttering by the window.
"I wish these clueless little lovebirds could spend a few days in Lebanon carrying rifles."
"Hey, now that's going too far. They're just dating, it's not like they did anything to you."
"If they did, they could go pick out their tombstone."
Rinji put down the binoculars, quickly swallowed the rest of his bun, and returned to his seat.
"...Didn't you go check in with the student council earlier? How did that go?"
"Success. I'm now working as the treasurer."
"Oh! You actually joined? Congrats." Ishigami smiled.
"Unfortunately, the student council doesn't seem to have authority over these law-breaking couples."
"That's not the student council's job. That's the Public Morals Committee's responsibility."
"Shuchiin runs a 'separation of powers' system?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. It's just that each group has its own job." Ishigami sighed. "By the way, why do you hate couples so much?"
"I just get mad seeing those people happily enjoying the present without thinking about the future."
Rinji replied with disdain.
"Let's face it—school relationships are basically 'once school ends, so does the love.' I'm looking forward to their breakups."
"That's way too dark!"
"I can't take it anymore. I'm going to report to the Public Morals Committee."
With that, Rinji left the classroom.
"..."
---
Later, outside the Public Morals Committee office...
Rinji knocked on the door. When someone inside called "Come in," he pushed it open and entered.
The Public Morals Committee at Shuchiin had only two members—one was Iino Miko, the other, Osaragi, a girl wearing such thick glasses her face was practically hidden.
Because of those glasses, Rinji hadn't even realized she was in the same class as him.
"Huh? Rinji-kun?"
Iino Miko, who was eating her lunch here, was surprised to see Rinji enter on his own.
He gave her oversized bento box a curious glance but didn't dwell on it. He marched up and slapped the table.
SLAP!
"Wh-What's wrong?!"
His intimidating presence gave Miko quite a shock.
"Cop—"
"It's Public Morals Committee Member!"
"Public Morals Committee member, I have serious opinions about the state of school discipline." Rinji declared.
"School discipline? Do you also think I've been too strict?" Miko frowned.
She knew her uptight personality had rubbed many students the wrong way, but she always believed she was doing the right thing...
SLAP!
Rinji slammed the table again.
"I think your management has been far too lenient!"
"...Huh?"
Not just Miko—even Osaragi looked at Rinji like he was crazy.
"During my lunch break observations, I noticed way too many couples engaging in inappropriate behavior. It seriously impacts the school atmosphere and must be eradicated!"
"So you think so too?!"
Miko stood up, visibly moved.
She had thought only Osaragi supported her cause—now here was a like-minded ally.
"I do. The school clearly forbids improper contact between boys and girls, yet those people behave like the rules don't exist. It's appalling."
"You're absolutely right. This kind of behavior must be dealt with!"
"Now, I'd like to hear your plan." Rinji pulled up a chair and sat down.
"First, I think boys and girls must stay at least 50cm apart at all times."
SLAP!
Rinji slammed the table again.
"Uh… Is that too strict?" Miko seemed shaken by his intensity.
"50cm? No less than 150cm!"
Miko: "...Isn't that a bit much?"
Osaragi: "That's just tyranny. The school only forbids indecent behavior. With decency, we can look the other way."
"If we set a low standard, they'll just keep pushing boundaries. Better to go high from the start."
"...Miko and I have already made a lot of students unhappy. If we push it further, we might face serious backlash." Osaragi's glasses glinted as she adjusted them.
"Send any complaints to the student council. Get them expelled—or send them to do team-building in Africa."
"...That's way too extreme."
"Extreme is the only way! Public Morals must rule with an iron fist. Make those degenerates feel fear! No mercy!"
Rinji's words even shocked the righteous and principled Iino Miko.
But amidst her shock was also relief—finally, someone who understood her intentions.
"I've already joined the student council and have a bit of influence there. I'd like to take a role in the Public Morals Committee as well, so we can clean this school up together."
"That's... wonderful."
Miko looked at Rinji gratefully. Students like him were rare at Shuchiin.
"No need to thank me."
Rinji smiled.
"It's all for school discipline."
That was a lie.
This man, having suffered heartbreak and taken a critical hit from Chika Fujiwara, had grown resentful. Seeing couples at school made his blood boil.
In truth, he thought: If I can't date, then no one else should either. With the school rules as cover, he joined the Public Morals Committee purely out of spite.