"Ishigami, why are you turning yourself in to the Public Morals Committee?"
"Huh?"
Takamine had pulled Ishigami into a quiet hallway outside the office.
"If you have a girlfriend, there's no need to come to the committee office. If you want to investigate whether she's cheating, you can just tell me in private. Coming here will just make us try to stop you," Takamine said earnestly.
"...Isn't stopping campus romance literally your job as a committee member?"
"But you're my bro. If you break the rules, I'll turn a blind eye. Who would know if you don't tell anyone?"
"Is this really something a Public Morals Committee member should say?!"
"You know where I used to study, right?"
"Yeah, America," Ishigami replied.
Takamine was a Chinese-American, and he'd studied in the US. He mentioned this during his self-introduction.
"Right. So do you know what I learned all those years in America?"
"Uh… open school culture?"
"Wrong."
"Freedom and democracy?"
"Wrong again."
"Then what?"
"Double standards."
"…"
"If I'm a committee member, of course I'll use one standard for regular students and a different one for you. If you really had a girlfriend, I wouldn't say a word or try to sabotage it."
"That's too twisted, Rinji. Your mindset is seriously messed up."
This wasn't the first time Ishigami had said that. And yet every time, Takamine managed to sink lower.
"So tell me, what did you come to the office for this time? Is your girlfriend acting strange? Want us to investigate? Though we're not detectives, that might be a bit out of scope."
"Haven't you been doing detective work lately anyway?"
Ishigami sighed deeply, his voice serious.
"I want you… to investigate someone."
"Who?"
"Ko Ogino."
"Ogino… oh, that classmate, right? He's rumored to have a super cute girlfriend. But what's it got to do with you?" Takamine was confused.
This didn't seem related to Ishigami himself.
"To be honest… Ogino's girlfriend, Kyoko Ootomo… she's someone I care about."
"Got it."
"What do you mean 'got it'?"
"You want me to take down Ogino so you can snatch Kyoko Otoomo, right? Honestly…"
"You totally don't get it!!" Ishigami shouted.
"Relax, I never said I wouldn't help you."
"Helping is the worst possible thing you could do!!"
He couldn't handle Takamine. He had no clue what was going on in that guy's head.
"Okay, then what do you want me to do?"
"Whew… I'll explain from the beginning. So basically—"
…
"So I think I get what you're saying. You overheard Ogino talking on the phone, booking a room and inviting his girlfriend, Kyoko Ootomo… and then also inviting other guys to join in… Damn, what is wrong with you Japanese high schoolers!?"
Takamine was genuinely shocked.
He really didn't expect them to be this wild, though he'd heard stories from his dad.
"Aren't you also a Japanese high schooler now?"
"Don't lump me in with them! I'm pure! A model student!"
"…So anyway, I came to tell you…"
"I got it."
"You got it again?"
Takamine narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"You want me to eliminate Ogino. Got it, easy."
"No!! Stop thinking like that!!"
"Ishigami, you clearly don't understand my capabilities. Don't worry, I'll handle it."
"You saying that makes me even more worried!!"
After taking a few breaths to calm down, Ishigami's eyes turned serious.
"Takamine, I hate couples just as much as you. Sometimes I even want to curse them. But Kyoko Ootomo always took the initiative to talk to someone gloomy like me. I don't even have feelings for her, and Ogino is president of the drama club, has performed at national events… I genuinely wish them the best. It's just… I don't want someone that kind to get hurt."
"…"
"I'm not asking for anything else. Just… please stop Ogino from doing things like this. Even though I want him to disappear, if he does… Kyoko would be heartbroken."
"…"
"Please."
Seeing Takamine silent, Ishigami bowed deeply.
"Hey hey hey, that's too much."
Takamine quickly helped him up.
"Didn't I say earlier? You're my bro. If you're in trouble, I'll take it for you. Coming to me proves you trust me, and that's good."
"You'll do it?"
"Of course. Leave the investigation to me. You just go to school, eat properly, and don't overthink things."
Takamine patted his back reassuringly.
"Thanks for indulging my selfish request."
"Forget thanks. Just treat me to a good meal someday," Takamine laughed.
As he watched Ishigami leave, Takamine stroked his chin and started thinking.
He had accepted the request, which meant he had to handle it properly. But…
The cost was too high.
The reason he usually went straight to eliminating or removing someone was because it was the cheapest and most efficient. Making someone change for the better could take a massive investment—and the outcome wasn't even guaranteed.
Everyone was an individual, with their own thoughts. Trying to reform someone… was hard. Sending them to Africa would be easier. Get a few guys to rough them up, buy a plane ticket, done.
Sighing, he pulled out his phone and made a call.
"Hello? Yeah, it's me. Help me look into someone. Ko Ogino, first-year Class B at Shuchiin… No no, don't eliminate him, just get me his file. ASAP… It's fine, I'll handle the rest."
After hanging up, Takamine's gaze turned sharp.
Since it was Ishigami's request, he'd give it a shot. Hopefully, Ogino would value the chance.
If not…
Well, it'd save him the cost of a plane ticket. International flights aren't cheap.